What's New

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently urged people not to wash fruit and vegetables with disinfectant, explaining that using water alone can remove surface contaminants.

All practice staff must be made aware of the NHS England standard operating procedure (SOP), and the latest case definitions and guidance on patients at most risk of severe illness as a result of COVID-19, including those advised to shield themselves and other at-risk groups.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that the legal requirement on GPs to alert Public Health England (PHE) of any "suspected" cases of Coronavirus, which was listed as a "notifiable" disease at the beginning of March, remains in force.

NHS England has launched a specific support service for diabetes patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antibody tests will be available to all NHS health and care staff, eligible patients and care residents in England to see if they have had coronavirus as part of a new national antibody testing programme.

Acas, the independent public body providing impartial advice to employers and employees, has published new guidance to help staff manage their mental health during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reminded building occupiers, businesses and other duty holders restarting operations after the COVID-19 shutdown to review their water systems maintenance arrangements to avoid creating a public health hazard from waterborne bacteria such as legionella.

With the Government encouraging more people to return to work, assuming they are not among the group who can work from home, employers are having to think seriously about what measures they will need to ensure workplace safety.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a new Emergency Support Framework (ESF) document, which is part of its regulatory approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kindness is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, currently taking place up to Sunday 24 May 2020, which aims to highlight the benefits of helping others to improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce stress during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.