What the papers said in the week ending 15 May 2021
Care – especially care for older people – has been in the headlines:
Social interactions are to be allowed as the risk of transmission of Covid-19 is felt to have diminished Johnson to allow hugging and indoor venues to reopen in England from 17 May | Coronavirus | The Guardian
But the picture is not uniformly reassuring as new variants of the virus are identified and there are increased numbers of cases in some areas – so caution must still prevail Bolton’s care homes urged to keep lockdown measures | The Bolton News
The effects of lockdown on the emotional life of many continues to be recognised and the learning explored: Covid’s cruellest blow? Keeping the dying from their loved ones | Rachel Clarke | The Guardian
Despite all the trauma of the past year, the Queen’s Speech said very little about how care will be improved. This has caused anger and responses which seek to ensure that the issue is not lost. We must support the initiatives by MHA and Age UK Anger over failure in Queen’s speech to set out social care plans | Queen’s speech | The Guardian
This is the week where we learned of the death of Graham Pink, school teacher and nurse who drew attention to failings in the care of older people in hospital. He tried to achieve improvements Graham Pink obituary | Nursing | The Guardian
Consequences of Covid-19
There is concern that unscrupulous exploitation of tax evasion has marred the process by which workers have been paid: Tax dodging concerns over small firms used to pay NHS test-and-trace workers | Business | The Guardian
People are waiting for hospital care for non-covid illnesses Almost 5m people now waiting for hospital treatment in England | Hospitals | The Guardian
Education has been set back Covid catch-up: £13.5bn scheme should include longer school days and teacher incentives, says EPI report | Tes
But some industries and activities are finding new followings: Net profit: tackle shop sales soar as UK catches fishing bug in lockdown | Retail industry | The Guardian
Medicine:
Screening for ovarian cancer identifies more cases early, but this has not resulted in a reduced death rate: Annual screening for ovarian cancer does not save lives, study finds | Ovarian cancer | The Guardian
Encouragement to spend time in natural environments has health benefits, especially when water is involved: Nature on prescription: wetlands project aims to boost mental health | Mental health | The Guardian
- Walking is good – sometimes with a carrot: Health benefits of a walk for ice-cream | Letters | The Guardian
Zoom may reduce the incidence of dementia. Using Zoom could help older people avoid dementia, study reveals | Dementia | The Guardian
And a new theory suggest purpose in our dreams: Weird dreams train us for the unexpected, says new theory | Neuroscience | The Guardian
Other news:
There is more suspicion of the Queen’s Speech as extra requirements to prevent fraud in voting is thought likely to disadvantage certain groups: Queen’s speech: voters will need photo ID for general elections | Queen’s speech | The Guardian
A happier consequence is proper recognition of the status of our fellow, non-human, creatures: Animals to be formally recognised as sentient beings in UK law | Animal welfare | The Guardian
Disposable barbecues are banned in civilised parts of the country. Let us hope that others will follow their lead: Disposable barbecues banned in parts of Hampshire and Dorset | UK news | The Guardian
Violence in religion is to be explored in a display at the British Museum British Museum to show how Thomas Becket’s murder shook Europe | British Museum | The Guardian
There is good news suggestive that ethics are having their way with industries: 14 major UK employers join socially focused Purposeful Company scheme | Corporate governance | The Guardian
- Global renewable energy industry grew at fastest rate since 1999 last year | Renewable energy | The Guardian
- This is just as well, for the evidence of damage from our recent and current activities is undeniable: Climate emissions shrinking the stratosphere, scientists reveal | Greenhouse gas emissions | The Guardian
99 year old Harry Shingler has battled for 20 years to secure voting rights for expats – and he has won Britons living abroad for more than 15 years to be given right to vote | Queen’s speech | The Guardian
The Guardian has included within its celebrations of 200 years in print, rueful reflection on typos and worse which have been one of its hallmarks: Typo negative: the best and worst of Grauniad mistakes over 200 years | The Guardian | The Guardian
David Jolley
