Latest news with #ICB
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerns over fall in MMR vaccine uptake in North East after Liverpool measles death
The fall in uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in children in the North East over the last ten years has been described as "concerning" - despite still being well above the national average. The death of a child from measles in Liverpool shows that the nation needs to 'redouble its efforts' to vaccinate more children, according to Wes Streeting. The most recently available figures show that vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months - the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine - and the second dose (MMR2) at five-years-old have both fallen across the region. The percentage of children who had the two vaccines in the North East in 2013/14 was 95.5 per cent (MMR1) and 92.9 per cent (MMR2). But the rates had fallen to 93.9 per cent (MMR1) and 89.7 per cent (MMR2) in 2023/24. Despite the fall, the North East continues to buck the trend as the vaccination rate ranks as one of the highest in the country and is still above the national average. The percentage of children receiving the MMR1 vaccine nationwide in 2023/24 was 88.9 per cent, and the figure for MMR2 was 83.9 per cent. The national target is 95%. Dr Catherine Monaghan, medical director, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "Whilst uptake of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine in our region continues to be higher than the national average, any fall in vaccination rates is concerning for us. "Measles is a highly infectious illness, and can cause life-changing complications including blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain. Very sadly measles can sometimes be fatal." County Durham is the best county in the North East for vaccine uptake, but rates there have fallen over the last ten years. Children in with both doses of MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday (Image: PA WIRE) In 2013/14, the vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months was 97.2 per cent, which fell to 95.7 per cent in 2023/24. The vaccination rates of MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14 was 94.6 per cent, which fell to 94.2 per cent in 2023/24. The rates also fell in Darlington, where the leader of the council noted the "downward trend" and encouraged residents to "protect your family". Councillor Stephen Harker said: "All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated and I would strongly encourage parents and carers to check that their child is up to date with their MMR vaccination. "This is usually administered at around one year and then again at three years and four months." Last year, there were 79 confirmed cases of measles in the North East, the lowest of anywhere in the country. The next highest was the North West (99), with London having the highest (1,305). So far in 2025, there have only been six recorded cases in the North East, the lowest in the country by some distance. The next lowest is the East Midlands (17), with London again being the highest (233). Dr Monaghan spoke further of the dangers of coming into contact with someone who has measles. She said: "Spending just 15 minutes or more in direct contact with someone infected is enough to catch measles, making it one of the most infectious diseases in the world. "Anyone who has not yet had their MMR vaccination (or is not otherwise immune because they have previously had measles), is at risk of catching this very serious but completely preventable disease, which is highly likely to spread rapidly if people remain unvaccinated. Recommended Reading: Steve Cram launches Durham City Run Festival with talk at Gala Theatre County Durham mum who lost son, 14, in river tragedy issues holiday water safety plea Partnership launched to give 'green skills' to people across North East "Anyone whose immunity is compromised, including pregnant women, are also at increased risk of severe disease from measles." Dr Monaghan stressed that NHS health teams across the region are working to increase uptake by identifying the areas with lower MMR rates and engaging with these communities around their vaccination needs. The full list of vaccine uptake in the last ten years across the North East can be found below. MMR1 at 24 months in 2013/14 County Durham - 97.2% Darlington - 93.4% Hartlepool - 91.7% Middlesbrough - 92.7% Redcar and Cleveland - 95.5% Stockton-on-Tees - 94.6% MMR1 at 24 months in 2023/24 County Durham - 95.7% Darlington - 91.9% Hartlepool - 93.5% Middlesbrough - 86.9% Redcar and Cleveland - 92.7% Stockton-on-Tees - 93.3% MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14 County Durham - 94.6% Darlington - 91.3% Hartlepool - 90.3% Middlesbrough - 90.3% Redcar and Cleveland - 93.4% Stockton-on-Tees - 90.6% MMR2 at five-years-old in 2023/24 County Durham - 94.2% Darlington - 87.9% Hartlepool - 89.2% Middlesbrough - 77.9% Redcar and Cleveland - 89.1% Stockton-on-Tees - 89.7%
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Protest against permanent closure of Lichfield birthing unit
Residents from Lichfield took part in a walking protest to oppose the permanent closure of a maternity unit in Staffordshire. Campaigners said that "mothers need a real choice" and closing the birthing unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital for good would take away options for local families. Families took part in a pram push on Saturday after a public consultation was launched by the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) last freestanding midwife-led birthing units (FMBUs) at Samuel Johnson and County Hospital in Stafford were temporarily stopped due to the pandemic - the body is gathering views on whether they should reopen. Pregnant mothers have still been able to attend the hospitals for antenatal and postnatal appointments but have been unable to give birth at the many have been waiting for the midwife-led services to resume, the ICB said the viability of the units was being questioned. Local residents, families who had used the maternity units in the past and pregnant mothers all gathered in the pouring rain in protest as they walked from Lichfield guildhall to Samuel Johnson. Hannah Weaver, who gave birth at the Lichfield unit before the pandemic, told the BBC her experience there was "empowering".She said: "I had an extremely positive and extremely empowering experience [at Samuel Johnson]."I think it's important women have a choice about where they want to give birth, and that choice is being taken away from the residents of Lichfield."The pram push is to show people we are against the proposal for closure and that we really make sure we keep safe births in Lichfield where there's choice. "That's the main thing - maternity choice."If services at the facility do not resume, the closest birthing unit for expectant mothers in Lichfield is at Queen's Hospital, in Burton. Speaking on the original decision to close the services, the ICB said it was made to ensure there was enough staff for the maternity departments at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Queen's Hospital in Johnstone, chief nursing and therapies officer, told the BBC if services were to resume, the midwives staffing the units would be taken away from the county's busiest hospitals. She said: "The units have been shut for five years, so the most recent data we have is from 2020."There were around 18 births a month, so 220 births a year. It requires a lot of midwifery staffing to safely staff that unit."It's taking those midwives away from facilities where they could be providing care to a broader range of people."The public consultation will run until 3 August and people have been urged to share their views on the ICB's website. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
St Peter's Hospital in Maldon to shut stroke and birthing units
NHS leaders have decided to move the majority of a 151-year-old hospital's services to elsewhere in Peter's Hospital in Maldon would no longer have a birthing unit or 16 stroke rehabilitation services and ambulatory care were due to remain at the site until 2030, when they would be replaced by a new health NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) claimed the building was "dilapidated", but campaigners said closing it would have been a "disgrace". Closure plans were paused in September due to widespread backlash from the community. But on Thursday, the ICB decided to press ahead with ending most care provided at the the new arrangement, it agreed to:Offer 25 stroke rehabilitation beds at Brentwood Community Hospital and 22 at the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre in RochfordMake 25 intermediate care beds available in BrentwoodPermanently close the stroke rehabilitation unit at St Peter's HospitalRelocate the midwife-led birthing unit 16 miles (25km) away to Braintree Community HospitalKeep outpatient services and ambulatory care at St Peter's Hospital for five years while the new health hub was built It came as the ICB branded the hospital building "high-risk and unsuitable for long-term clinical care", citing flooding and unreliable Abell, the chief executive of NHS Mid and South Essex, said he "listened carefully" to all feedback."The decisions reached today reflect our ambition to improve health services for everyone who lives in mid and south Essex," he Abell vowed to work closely with staff and the community to achieve "the best possible outcomes for patients".When the BBC was allowed inside the hospital in 2024, cracks could be seen in the walls and water damage was the facility fit for purpose was estimated to cost £18.7m - a price the ICB said was "more money than is available".It said a future health hub or replacement for the hospital must be opened within five years. About 500 people a year in mid and south Essex need to stay in hospital for specialist stroke Peter's saw about 300 patients a day with more than 80,000 appointments a year, according to the tests, X-rays, dermatology, maternity and orthopaedics were among the services provided at the Beckett, who campaigned to keep the building open, said keeping some services was good news."I'm very, very pleased with the outcome," she said."Not everyone's going to be happy, but what we've got is certainly a lot more than we would've if we didn't take part in the campaign." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bexley GP surgery to get £360k to help reduce wait times
Nearly £360,000 will be given to a Bexley surgery in a bid to increase its clinical capacity and reduce waiting times for appointments. Bexley Council has confirmed it will give a grant of £359,196 to Crayford Town Surgery to implement work which will see the creation of two new clinic rooms. The money was gathered from unallocated Section 106 (S106) contributions from the redevelopment of the former Electrobase site in Crayford. S106 agreements between developers and local authorities are used to mitigate the negative impacts of a new development on the local community. A total of 559 new homes will be built as part of the redevelopment of the brownfield Electrobase site, likely resulting in increased pressure on local infrastructure and in particular health services. Bexley Council was approached by the NHS South East London ICB (integrated care board) with a request for the money to 'enable them to develop and implement a scheme to increase clinical capacity at Crayford Town Surgery in partnership with the practice' following confirmation that the residential development would be going ahead. The ICB considers that the S106 funds will cover the entire project which aims to increase patient capacity 'through reconfiguration' and through the constitution of two new clinic rooms. The ICB has welcomed the cash injection for the surgery. A Bexley spokesperson for the South East London ICB said: 'Investment received because of the Electrobase residential development Section 106 contributions, will allow Crayford Town Surgery to reconfigure and refurbish its current site. 'This will include two additional consulting rooms and a hot-desking room, for primary care colleagues from the wider neighbourhood team, to provide more joined-up care to patients. 'This investment will enable the surgery to increase its clinical capacity (GPs and multi-professional clinicians) and meet the health and care needs of the new population moving into the Electrobase residential development. 'NHS South East London Integrated Care Board has worked in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley and is supportive of this investment.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Barrow hospital could stop treating sickest patients permanently
Sick and injured people requiring the highest level of intensive care may have to be transported more than an hour's drive away to a neighbouring county under a plan to permanently reduce a hospital and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to make permanent the temporary suspension of the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital (FGH), in Barrow-in-Furness, due to a lack of who require lower levels of critical care will continue to be treated at FGH, but the sickest patients would have to attend Royal Lancaster director Prof Andy Knox said the ICB would engage with the community and staff before confirming the cuts. FGH suspended the provision of the highest intensive care services last September due to the impact on patient safety caused by issues with recruiting enough qualified and experienced ICB said only three of the required eight permanent consultants were in Knox said: "Medical staffing within the unit at FGH has been a concern for several years, with consultant cover not meeting national guidance despite significant efforts from the trust." Michelle Scrogham, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, said she believed it was the wrong decision."For as long as it's been announced I've been opposed to it, I don't think they've taken into account that it's one road in and one road out [of Barrow]."She said the route was often closed due to accidents, floods or roadworks and it was only "a matter of time before somebody pays the price for that"."We've got a growing population in Barrow and we need to offer those services." Since the suspension, over a six-month period 30 people have been transferred to chief medical officer Dr Caroline Brock said University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust was "absolutely committed" to FGH and its future as a district general hospital."We understand the impact this will have on our colleagues and local community and that there may be concerns about what this means for FGH," she added."If the decision is made to make the changes permanent, we will work with our teams to develop a safe and effective treat and transfer model - using evidence-based learning from other trusts across the country who run similar services in geographically isolated areas like Barrow."We will continue to work with the ICB and support colleagues, patients and families throughout." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
