“The NHS is urging pregnant women to have a Covid jab because data shows they are many of the sickest patients. Between July and September about one in six coronavirus patients being given extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (Ecmo) treatment were pregnant. Ecmo is used for patients whose lungs are so badly damaged by the virus that their blood must be taken from their body to be oxygenated by a machine. It is one of the highest forms of lifesaving treatment a person can receive. Out of 118 people given Ecmo between July and September, 20 were pregnant. Of those 19 were unvaccinated and the other had had one dose. Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “The disproportionate number of unvaccinated pregnant women in intensive care demonstrates that there is a significant risk of severe illness from Covid-19 in pregnancy.”” – The Times
A tribute by May: British politics worse off without James Brokenshire — a decent and loyal friend
“James Brokenshire was a shining example of what every MP and minister should be, thoughtful, diligent and completely committed to public service. Through the nine years we worked together in government he never failed to step up to the plate when asked, always willing to put his duty to the government and the public before his personal interests. He was respected across the House of Commons and by all he dealt with, politician and civil servant alike. But he was far more than that. He was a devoted husband and loving family man. When he had to stand down from the cabinet following his initial diagnosis with lung cancer the main concern he raised with me was the impact on his wife Cathy and their children. And at various stages during his ministerial career he was not only doing his two jobs as MP and minister, but was also caring for his parents as they went through periods of ill health.” – Times Red Box
Patel urged ‘to come clean’ as 1,100 migrants try to cross Channel in two days
“Priti Patel has been urged to “come clean” over her strategy to curb Channel crossings after more than 1,100 migrants tried to make the journey over two days. On Saturday, Border Force officials picked up 491 migrants on 17 boats, while the French authorities prevented 114 people from making the dangerous journey. The previous day, 624 people made the crossing on 23 boats, and 300 were intercepted by French officials. The figures emerged as Patel, the home secretary, faced criticism from a French minister who said the UK had not paid the £54 million it had promised to France to help tackle the crossings. Patel recently said the government would withhold the funds unless French authorities stopped more migrants from reaching the UK. “For now, not one euro has been paid,” Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, told the Associated Press. “We are asking the British to keep their promises of financing because we are holding the border for them.”” – The Times
£220m levelling up fund for deprived communities has not been given out by ministers seven months on
“Boris Johnson’s flagship levelling up strategy has been undermined as it emerged that a £220 million fund to boost deprived communities unveiled several months ago has not yet been allocated to councils. The UK Community Renewal Fund was launched in March this year to replace EU regional funding lost after Britain left the EU, with local authorities invited to submit bids for the cash. But a promise by ministers to allocate the funding in July has been broken, and last night the government admitted the bids are still being assessed. The failure to meet the target was exposed by the Liberal Democrats, who said councils were running out of time to spend the money before the deadline of March 2022. Lib Dem communities and local government spokesman Tim Farron accused ministers of “abandoning deprived communities and leaving local councils in the dark”. Emails seen by i from councils reveal that town hall chiefs are exasperated by the lack of clarity from the government, as they are unable to make plans or meet targets without confirmation that the funding is coming.” – The i Paper
Average GP now working three-day week after ‘worrying’ drop in hours
“The average GP is now working a three-day week following a “significant” drop in working hours, government research shows. The research, commissioned by the Department of Health, is from before the Covid pandemic – during which concerns have grown that it is getting harder to see a GP. There are particular tensions over access to face-to-face appointments, with Boris Johnson intervening last month to say every patient has the right to see a GP in person. The new figures show that GPs carried out just 6.6 half-day sessions a week – the equivalent of just over three days – in 2019, the lowest on record. In 2010, it was 7.5 sessions. The data also show a fall in the proportion of time spent on “direct patient care”. Just 59 per cent of GPs’ time was spent in this way in 2019, down from 63.1 percent in 2010. The National GP Worklife Survey of 1,332 GPs, carried out by the University of Manchester, shows that the average number of weekly hours “decreased significantly” between 2017 and 2019.” – Daily Telegraph