Chart of the week: Substantial deterioration in A&E waits, even for youngest

Chart of the week: Substantial deterioration in A&E waits, even for youngest Last month, the then Health Secretary acknowledged the issues that exist around ambulance handover delays, patients being delayed when ready to leave hospital, and variation in waiting times across the country. But what about variation by age group? Jessica Morris takes a closer look at the data, which reveal very interesting findings. Nuffield Trust

What influences the organisation of nurse staffing in intensive care?

What influences the organisation of nurse staffing in intensive care? Nurse staffing in intensive care is typically based on the number of nurses per patient (nurse to patient ratio), with more nurses needed to care for the most unwell patients. New research showed that many other factors influence how nurse staffing is organised. The mix of nurses’ skills and experience, the layout of the ward, and the availability of other professionals in the team, all had an impact. The potential impact on patient safety and nurses’ wellbeing was considered. National Institute for Health and Care Research

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK.

A number of Omicron variants are currently circulating in England, many of which have acquired mutations which may produce a degree of immune escape. Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB have been given UKHSA variant designations to facilitate continued studies. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern.

See also:

• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: The R value and growth rate UK Health Security Agency

Concern over flu and RSV as Covid stays level

Concern over flu and RSV as Covid stays level Covid infections remain fairly stable across the UK, but other viruses such as flu, norovirus and RSV are increasing, latest data shows.

The flu season has started early and some children under five are ending up in hospital, health officials say.

They are also reminding parents that all two and three-year-olds can have a flu nasal spray vaccine.

Another common winter virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also on the rise in young children. BBC News

See also: 

• US is suffering 'worst flu outbreak in 13 YEARS', CDC report warns The Daily Mail
• Health bosses are now officially tracking pair of Omicron splinter strains The Daily Mail
• UK scientists created mutant Covid strains in 'high-risk, low-benefit' lab experiments The Daily Mail
• Scientists in furious row over 'lab-made Covid' claims The Daily Telegraph
• Plea to vaccinate children against flu as hospitalisations rise in England The Guardian
• Two new Covid variants found in UK with hundreds of cases detected The Independent
• Flu infections rise again with young children worst affected - but COVID situation continues to improve Sky News

Croydon Hospital: Patient tells PM to pay NHS staff more

Croydon Hospital: Patient tells PM to pay NHS staff more Rishi Sunak has been told he needed to "try harder" over plans to give pay rises to hospital staff.

Visiting Croydon University Hospital, the prime minister spoke to in-patients, including Catherine Poole, aged 77.

After telling him he needed to pay medical staff more, she rejected his answer over his efforts, and told him he was "not trying". BBC News

See also:

• 'I wouldn't bring a member of my family to this hospital,' says medic BBC News
• Hospital patient challenges Rishi Sunak over nurses’ pay The Guardian
• NHS staff ‘forced to choose between rent and childcare’ as pay fails to meet soaring cost of living The Independent

NHS yet to see ‘a single penny’ of promised £500m emergency fund

NHS yet to see ‘a single penny’ of promised £500m emergency fund Hospitals and care homes have not received a single penny of a £500m emergency fund promised by the government to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed this winter, the Guardian has learned.

Ministers announced they were injecting the cash into the health and social care system last month, to help get thousands of medically fit patients out of hospital into either their own home or a care home as soon as possible in an effort to better prepare the NHS for the coming months. The Guardian

‘This cannot go on’: rise in under-18s on adult psychiatric wards in UK

‘This cannot go on’: rise in under-18s on adult psychiatric wards in UK Services struggle to meet the needs of children with mental health issues as adult units see 30% more admissions of younger people

A growing number of children with mental health problems are being treated on adult psychiatric wards as services struggle to cope with a surge in demand following the pandemic, the NHS watchdog has warned.

There were 249 admissions of under-18s to adult psychiatric wards in England in 2021-22, according to data provided by NHS trusts to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), up 30% on the year before. The Guardian

More jabs needed to halt second wave of monkeypox despite number of infections falling

More jabs needed to halt second wave of monkeypox despite number of infections falling The UK could be hit with a second wave of monkeypox cases if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned.

While the number of infections has fallen, doctors believe this is due to changes in sexual behaviour rather than the success of the vaccination campaign.

Just over half of those eligible for the jab, which provides strong protection against the painful blistering disease, have come forward. The Daily Mail

NHS patients first in the world to benefit from gentle electric shock that calms racing heart safely

NHS patients first in the world to benefit from gentle electric shock that calms racing heart safely NHS patients are among the first in the world to benefit from a ground-breaking treatment for a racing heartbeat. 

The technology, which uses pulses of electricity to reprogramme the heart’s rhythm, is gentler than current methods – reducing the risk of complications.

It involves an electric probe which is fed into a vein in the thigh and then steered through the body until it reaches the heart. The Daily Mail

A decade of pay erosion: The destructive effect on UK nursing staff earnings and retention – October 2022

A decade of pay erosion: The destructive effect on UK nursing staff earnings and retention – October 2022 London Economics were commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing to undertake a detailed analysis of the evolution of registered nurses’ and nursing support workers’ NHS Agenda for Change pay over the last decade, across the UK. 

The analysis provides an evidence-based assessment of the extent to which remuneration in the nursing profession has been impacted by years of pay stagnation and the current cost-of-living crisis. In addition, the analysis addresses a number of common misconceptions about the relative outcomes of nurses compared to other occupations; the particularly damaging effect of inflation on nurses; the relationship between turnover rates amongst the nursing profession and pay settlements; as well as the true costs to the Exchequer associated with ever-increasing nurse vacancies.

See also:

• Nursing staff are working one day a week for free, new data reveals Royal College of Nursing
• Nurses 'work one day a week for FREE', analysis claims The Daily Mail
• Nurses ‘working one day a week for free’ after 10 years of pay cuts The Independent

Tuberculosis deaths and disease increase during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tuberculosis deaths and disease increase during the COVID-19 pandemic An estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) in 2021, an increase of 4.5% from 2020, and 1.6 million people died from TB (including 187 000 among HIV positive people), according to the World Health Organization’s 2022 Global TB report. The burden of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) also increased by 3% between 2020 and 2021, with 450 000 new cases of rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) in 2021.This is the first time in many years an increase has been reported in the number of people falling ill with TB and drug resistant TB.

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Positivity for flu has continued to increase and is now at 5.2%. It is the highest in 5 to 14-year-olds at 12% followed by 15 to 44-year-olds at 9.6%.

Hospitalisation rates for flu are highest in those aged 0 to 4 at 3.19 followed by those aged 85+ at 2.48 per 100,000. Health Security Agency

Record numbers of staff working in the NHS

Record numbers of staff working in the NHS There are over 1.2 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England - over 31,000 more people compared to a year ago, up by over 2.5%.

Latest data published by NHS Digital shows that, compared to August 2021, there are also over 3,700 more doctors and over 9,100 more nurses working in the NHS. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NHS Workforce Statistics - July 2022 NHS Digital

Minorities 'face discrimination' in NHS blood services

Minorities 'face discrimination' in NHS blood services People from a black and ethnic minority background "experienced inequality and discrimination" while working for NHS Blood and Transplant, a report says.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected blood services operations at its Bristol headquarters, and five other centres in August.

It found "safe and effective care" was given by "competent and skilled staff, working together effectively".

However, "there was a mixed view" in relation to its organisational culture. BBC News

See also:

• CQC reports on its review of NHS Blood and Transplant Care Quality Commission

Wave of Covid cases in England may have peaked as hospital admissions fall

Wave of Covid cases in England may have peaked as hospital admissions fall The number of people in hospital in England with Covid-19 has started to fall, suggesting the latest wave of admissions may have peaked.

A total of 9,131 patients testing positive for coronavirus were in hospital as of October 26, according to NHS England.

This is down 12 per cent from 10,387 a week earlier. The Independent

Harrowing ‘systemic abuse’ at children’s hospitals revealed

Harrowing ‘systemic abuse’ at children’s hospitals revealed Children say they were “treated like animals” and left traumatised as part of a decade of “systemic abuse” by a group of mental health hospitals, an investigation by The Independent and Sky News has found.

The Department of Health and Social Care has now launched a probe into the allegations of 22 young women who were patients in units run by The Huntercombe Group, which has run at least six children’s mental health hospitals, between 2012 and this year.

See also:

• 'Treated worse than animals': Huntercombe investigation reveals decade of mistreatment in care of more than 20 teenagers Sky News

Patients dying outside A&E, hospital corridors as makeshift wards – and it’s only October

Patients dying outside A&E, hospital corridors as makeshift wards – and it’s only October | Gaby Hinsliff  Last week, a hospital trust in Bury offered its condolences to the family of an elderly patient who died in the back of an ambulance after waiting a reported three hours just to get into A&E.

Doctors came out to try to treat the patient in the vehicle, but unfortunately to no avail. It’s the sort of story that sounds as if it should be a shocking one-off, but may soon become more common. One anonymous paramedic spoke afterwards to the Manchester Evening News of patients waiting for up to eight hours in ambulances, being treated inside them, and then being driven home without ever actually managing to get through the doors of a hospital that was full to overflowing. The Guardian

See also:

• It is not true the NHS is ‘envy of the world’, says Wes Streeting The Guardian

Number of missed GP appointments hits highest in a YEAR

Number of missed GP appointments hits highest in a YEAR The number of people who missed GP appointments has hit a year-high, statistics revealed today as plans to fine culprits £10 were renewed.

Almost 1.4million GP appointments were missed in September this year, according to official NHS data.

It is the highest monthly toll since November last year (1.43m). The Daily Mail

Flu and RSV coinfection creates entirely new untreatable hybrid

Flu and RSV coinfection creates entirely new untreatable hybrid The flu and a seasonal common cold virus can fuse together and create an entirely new pathogen, scientists have shown for the first time.

Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - which is wreaking havoc on US hospitals - were found to combine and create not one but two new hybrid viruses.

The experiments were done in human lung cells in a laboratory, but there is nothing to suggest the same process won't occur in a person infected with both illnesses. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Coinfection by influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus produces hybrid virus particles (open access) Nature Microbiology

Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals to host first joint annual meeting since joining forces - public are invited

Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals to host first joint annual meeting since joining forces - public are invited Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals will host their first joint annual meeting since becoming a University Hospital NHS Group last year.

The event is being held online on Thursday, November 3, from 10am until midday and is open to the public who will be able to ask live questions. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Kettering and Northampton hospitals have their first joint annual meeting (includes details of how to join the meeting) Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Northampton General Hospital team 'highly commended' at national awards for patient safety work

Northampton General Hospital team 'highly commended' at national awards for patient safety work Northampton General Hospital’s patient safety improvement team are runners-up in a prestigious national award.

The team, led by Dr Jonathan Hardwick, were ‘highly commended’ in the Health Service Journal Patient Safety Awards in the early-stage patient safety innovation category. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Winter warmth packs on offer at Northampton day care centre

Winter warmth packs on offer at Northampton day care centre A day care centre has begun offering winter warmth packs to its older clients to help keep them out of hospital this winter.

Affinity Daycare in Duston, Northampton said they were among the most vulnerable to the effects of rising prices as they were on fixed incomes.

Many of the 90 people using its services are in their 80s and 90s. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Cost of living crisis: Northamptonshire village youth club welcomes residents into ‘warm room’ Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northamptonshire village sets up ‘community living rooms’ to help residents keep warm this winter Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Has the public fallen out of love with the NHS?

Has the public fallen out of love with the NHS? Earlier this year The King’s Fund and The Nuffield Trust published the results of the 2021 British Social Attitudes survey, which asked members of the public about their views on health and care services. The results were stark, with unprecedented drops in satisfaction across the board. But can we conclude that there has been a fundamental rupture in the relationship between the NHS and the public?

Public health grant: what it is and why greater investment is needed

Public health grant: what it is and why greater investment is needed The public health grant is paid to local authorities from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) budget. It is used to provide vital preventative services that help to support health. This includes smoking cessation, drug and alcohol services, children's health services and sexual health services, as well as broader public health support across local authorities and the NHS. 

The public health grant has been cut by 24% on a real-terms per person basis since 2015/16. The Health Foundation

Hygiene poverty 2022

Hygiene poverty 2022 This report is the first comprehensive, national, mixed methodology research study into the issue of hygiene poverty in the UK. It establishes not only the incidence rates and risk factors but provides a clear picture from those with lived experience about the impact of hygiene poverty on their daily lives and their futures. The Hygiene Bank

See also:

• Many skip work over hygiene poverty shame, charity says BBC News

A working partnership: a guide to developing integrated statutory and voluntary sector mental health services

A working partnership: a guide to developing integrated statutory and voluntary sector mental health services Increasingly, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector (VCS) are being expected to work together to shape and deliver integrated mental health (and other health) services. This guide has been developed drawing on the experiences of a significant number of people actively involved in the development of integrated mental health services across the country from a range of perspectives. It reflects the many common themes and suggestions they shared. Centre for Mental Health

Biggest NHS union ballots staff over strike action

Biggest NHS union ballots staff over strike action he biggest health union is beginning to ballot its members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on strike action.

Unison is asking 350,000 NHS staff, including porters, nurses, paramedics and cleaners, to vote in favour of walking out in a dispute over pay.

But a ballot of its 50,000 members in Scotland, which was already under way, has been suspended after a new offer.

The government in England has urged staff to consider the impact of a walkout on patients. BBC News

See also:

• Strikes across the NHS edge closer as latest industrial action ballot begins UNISON
• Biggest NHS union ballots staff over strike action Evening Standard
• Around 350,000 NHS workers to vote on possible strike action over pay ITV News
• Sunak urged to act on NHS pay and funding amid strike ballot Nursing Notes

'Dark matter' find could change cancer treatment

'Dark matter' find could change cancer treatment Scientists have discovered more about the mysterious role of epigenetics, the study of how genes change, in controlling the way cancers develop.

Often called "dark matter", it could alter the way cancer is detected and treated, research from The Institute of Cancer Research suggests.

And it could lead to new forms of tests for the disease which would help tailor treatments. BBC News

BMA warns NHS app records rollout may be illegal

BMA warns NHS app records rollout may be illegal GP IT system suppliers who turn on automatic patient access to their records without the explicit consent of practices may be acting illegally, the BMA has said.

In new guidance published yesterday, the BMA suggested that doing so would mean breaking data protection laws. Pulse

Long Covid: ‘fraction’ of sufferers getting NHS help in England

Long Covid: ‘fraction’ of sufferers getting NHS help in England Just a “fraction” of long Covid sufferers are getting the help they need, with a third of them waiting more than three and a half months to be assessed after a GP referral, rising to almost half in some areas.

More than 60,000 people in England had a first assessment for post-Covid syndrome in an NHS specialist service between July 2021 and August 2022. The Guardian

See also:

• Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 6 October 2022 Office for National Statistics
• New bivalent Covid vaccines DON'T give people better immunity, studies show The Daily Mail
• Nine Covid symptoms affecting the fully vaccinated — and signs you may have it The Independent
• New inhalable COVID vaccine, that is sucked in through the mouth, trialled in China Sky News
• COVID-19: New report predicts how many daily cases there will be by February Sky News

The revolving door of Health Secretaries must end unions say

The revolving door of Health Secretaries must end unions say The 'merry-go-round' of Health Secretaries must stop if the Government has any chance of fixing the ailing, medical unions demanded today.

Record waiting lists, a broken emergency service system, strikes and the prospect of the worst winter in living memory are just a selection of NHS issues No10 must get a grip on.

Newly anointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last night appointed Steve Barclay as his Health Secretary, with the expectation of fixing NHS spending. The Daily Mail

Private health firms offer 'misleading' blood tests that can give patients 'abnormal results'

Private health firms offer 'misleading' blood tests that can give patients 'abnormal results' Dozens of UK companies are offering 'misleading' private blood tests for a range of conditions and deficiencies, an investigation has found.

Many of the tests are not backed by evidence and are leaving an already overworked NHS to follow up 'abnormal results', according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Patients are promised such tests will help them take control of their health and spot problems early. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The rise of direct-to-consumer testing: is the NHS paying the price? The BMJ
• Why blood testing companies need effective regulation The BMJ

Health experts plea to get a jab as flu comes early with hospital cases rising in Northamptonshire

Health experts plea to get a jab as flu comes early with hospital cases rising in Northamptonshire Health experts in Northamptonshire are ramping up pleas for people to get flu jabs ahead of a predicted winter ‘twindemic’.

Vaccines are free to those at most risk of suffering severe symptoms.

Government data shows flu cases climbing quickly in the past week at the same time as hospitals are admitting more people with Covid-19, leading to increased pressure on emergency departments. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Myth #2: “The NHS is a ‘sacred cow’ that evades reform, and its exceptionalism is its weakness”

Myth #2: “The NHS is a ‘sacred cow’ that evades reform, and its exceptionalism is its weakness” The NHS is the closest thing we have to a national religion – or so it's often said. But many critics have claimed that the high value we place on our health system leads to widespread resistance to its reform. In the second of a series of mythbusting commentaries, Nigel Edwards shows this isn't the case – in fact the NHS has perhaps had much too much reform, of the badly planned kind. Nuffield Trust

Supporting doctors through the menopause

Supporting doctors through the menopause Female doctors must be well supported through the menopause to reduce the risk of a potential exodus of passionate and skilled clinicians from the workforce, according to Medical Protection.

In its paper Supporting doctors through the menopause, Medical Protection said around one in five female doctors in the UK are aged between 45-54, when menopause is likely to occur. Many could be impacted by symptoms such as anxiety, depression, poor concentration, brain fog, dizziness and insomnia while doing their best to care for patients in challenging and complex environments.

It fears many of these doctors may leave medicine early without better mental wellbeing support, greater awareness from leaders and workplace adjustments.

NHS hits 10 million booster milestone

NHS hits 10 million booster milestone More than 10 million people in England have now had their autumn Covid-19 booster, new NHS figures show today.

The NHS has provided additional protection against Covid-19 to a total of 10,667,110 people with the new bivalent vaccine ahead of winter.

Bookings opened to everyone aged 50 and over to get their Covid-19 booster and flu vaccines just over a week ago. NHS England

Coffey removed and Barclay reappointed as Health Secretary

Coffey removed and Barclay reappointed as Health Secretary The PM has reappointed Steve Barclay as Health Secretary.

Thérèse Coffey has been removed, and Steve Barclay has been reappointed as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Nursing Notes

See also:

• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP Gov.UK
• BMA responds to appointment of returning Health Secretary, Steve Barclay MP BMA
• NHS Confederation responds to the appointment of Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care NHS Confederation
• NHS Confederation responds to the appointment of Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP as Prime Minister NHS Confederation
• Letter to new Prime Minister : Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to appointment of Rishi Sunak as prime minister NHS Providers
• RCN responds to the announcement of Steve Barclay as the Secretary of State for Health and Care Royal College of Nursing
• RCN responds to the announcement of Rishi Sunak as the new prime minister Royal College of Nursing
• Public health cuts must be avoided, new PM told BBC News
• Steve Barclay restored to health and social care secretary post in Sunak reshuffle GPonline
• ‘No fat left to trim’: how spending cuts could affect UK government The Guardian
• NHS leaders warn Rishi Sunak not to ‘watch while health service crumbles’ The Independent

COP27: Climate change threatening global health - report

COP27: Climate change threatening global health - report Climate change is severely impacting people's health around the world, a report by a leading medical publication has found.

The Lancet Countdown report says the world's continued reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of food insecurity, infectious disease and heat-related illness.

UN Secretary General António Guterres responded that global leaders must match action to the size of the problem. BBC News

See also:

• The 2022 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown: on health and climate change: health at the mercy of fossil fuels Lancet Countdown
• Global health at mercy of fossil fuel addiction, warn scientists The Guardian
• Burning fossil fuels is causing a global health crisis The New Statesman

Aggressive breast cancer hits black women harder

Aggressive breast cancer hits black women harder Researchers in the US have found a genetic link between people with African ancestry and an aggressive type of breast cancer. They hope their findings will encourage more black people to get involved in clinical trials in a bid to improve survival rates for people with the disease. BBC News

See also:

• African Ancestry–Associated Gene Expression Profiles in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Underlie Altered Tumor Biology and Clinical Outcome in Women of African Descent (open access) Cancer Discovery
• Evaluation of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Treatment and Mortality Among Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (open access) JAMA Oncology

Harm to patients ‘normalised’ as ‘burned-out’ paramedics work without breaks, care watchdog warns

Harm to patients ‘normalised’ as ‘burned-out’ paramedics work without breaks, care watchdog warns Harm to patients has become “normalised” as burned-out paramedics are working without breaks, the national care watchdog has warned.

Concerns over the pressures on staff at South East Coast Ambulance Service have been raised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Senior staff told the CQC that patients were being adversely affected by ambulance delays but it was now being seen as “part of the culture”. The Independent

Potential cancer breakthrough: Scientists develop a drug that can block cancer-causing gene

Potential cancer breakthrough: Scientists develop a drug that can block cancer-causing gene An experimental drug has for the first time been shown to block a gene central to the growth of many cancers — in what could be a breakthrough. 

The treatment — known as OMO-103 — works by suppressing MYC, which orchestrates messages telling a cell to divide.

In a study of a dozen patients with various forms of hard to treat cancer, the drug was able to halt tumor growth in eight patients. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Omomyc as the first MYC-targeted therapy to successfully complete a phase I clinical trial Vall D'Hebron Institute of Oncology

70% of trusts MISS crucial 2-week cancer target

70% of trusts MISS crucial 2-week cancer target More than seven in 10 NHS trusts did not see patients who were urgently referred for suspected cancer within two weeks, new analysis shows.

The NHS's standard is that 93 per cent of people should see a consultant within 14 days from an urgent GP referral with suspected cancer.

The number not hitting the official target is the highest it's been for at least three years, according to analysis by PA. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Seven in 10 NHS trusts in England failing to hit cancer referrals target The Guardian
• NHS trusts routinely fail to hit urgent cancer target – data The Independent

How does residential mobility shape the health of local areas?

How does residential mobility shape the health of local areas? Residential mobility – people changing where they live, by moving from one area to another – plays an important role in shaping public health in local areas. But this has often been overlooked in research and policy discussions. The Health Foundation

Health and place: how levelling up health can keep older workers working

Health and place: how levelling up health can keep older workers working This report finds that a quarter of a million older people could have stayed in paid employment longer had the levelling up health targets been achieved a decade ago. International Longevity Centre UK

Job crafting and flexible working in general practice

Job crafting and flexible working in general practice This report explores how six GP practices across the UK have approached the challenges of designing and implementing flexible work designs and job crafting to meet the increase in patient demands and ensure that individual staff needs, and the wider practice can be balanced. Institute for Employment Studies

Infected blood £100,000 interim compensation payments to be made this month

Infected blood £100,000 interim compensation payments to be made this month Thousands of victims of the historic infected blood scandal, which occurred in the 70’s and 80’s, are being contacted this week to confirm that interim compensation payments will be made by the end of October.

The payments deliver the government’s commitment to meet, in full, the recommendations set out by infected blood inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff in his interim report. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS launches recruitment drive for tens of thousands of nurses, amid record staff vacancies

NHS launches recruitment drive for tens of thousands of nurses, amid record staff vacancies The NHS is launching its annual nationwide drive to recruit more nurses, with tens of thousands of vacancies across England.

England’s Chief Nurse called on anyone looking for a lifechanging career to consider becoming a nurse, as new figures show that more than six in ten people are considering a career change over the next year. NHS England

Health: 'My illness is so rare it doesn't have a name'

Health: 'My illness is so rare it doesn't have a name' As a teenager, Debbie Schwartz felt humiliated as doctors said her illnesses were all in her head.

"It was soul destroying," said the 47-year-old former teacher. "I felt hopeless, isolated and humiliated."

Debbie has an illness so rare, experts have not been able to identify it - and she is among thousands of people looking for answers.

Now, she is among the first at the UK's first specialist clinic of its type for patients with syndromes without a name. BBC News

Cost of living crisis forcing nurses to quit their NHS pensions

Cost of living crisis forcing nurses to quit their NHS pensions The cost of living crisis is forcing nurses to quit their pensions, according to new figures.

The number of staff leaving the NHS pension scheme has doubled from 30,270 to 66,167 in just one year, according to an analysis by The Royal College of Nursing. The Independent

See also:

• Hospital food banks open for NHS staff in Leicester BBC News
• Staff food banks opened in Leicester hospitals as health workers struggle to battle cost of living Leicester Mercury
• Families across the country are feeling the squeeze New Economics Foundation

More than 137000 NHS blood donation appointments cancelled in the last year due to NHS staff shortages

More than 137000 NHS blood donation appointments cancelled in the last year due to NHS staff shortages More than 130,000 blood donation appointments have been cancelled in the past 12 months due to NHS staff shortages, new figures reveal, prompting claims by Labour that government “incompetence” has left patients “paying the price”.

The disclosure comes just two weeks after the health service issued its first-ever amber alert as blood stocks ran dangerously low, with just two days’ worth of supply left for some blood types. The Independent

NHS hospital trusts paying hundreds of millions in interest to private firms

NHS hospital trusts paying hundreds of millions in interest to private firms NHS trusts spent close to a half a billion pounds on interest charges from private companies for private finance initiative (PFI) contracts last year – equivalent to the salaries of 15,000 newly qualified nurses.

Hospital groups spent £2.3bn on legacy PFI projects in 2020-21, of which just under £1bn went on costs for essential services such as cleaning and maintenance. A third of the remaining PFI spend – £457m – went purely on paying off interest charges. The Guardian

Young people to be prescribed surfing and dancing by NHS to help anxiety

Young people to be prescribed surfing and dancing by NHS to help anxiety Young people will take part in surfing, roller-skating and gardening to see whether sport, the arts and outdoor activities can make them less anxious and depressed.

NHS mental health trusts will use the activities to help 600 young people on their waiting lists for care as part of a study into whether “social prescribing” helps improve mental wellbeing. The Guardian

Brutal type of Covid 'does not exist anymore', claims ex-Government adviser

Brutal type of Covid 'does not exist anymore', claims ex-Government adviser The Covid which forced Britain into an endless cycle of lockdowns 'does not exist anymore', an ex-Government adviser claims.

Oxford University's Sir John Bell, who served as No10's coronavirus testing tsar and was an early member of the vaccine taskforce, said the virus has radically changed since 2020. The Daily Mail

See also:

• CDC is now 'monitoring' XBB Covid variant deemed 'most vaccine resistant strain ever' The Daily Mail
• Over 2,000 Guardian readers told us about their long Covid fight. Here are their stories The Guardian
• COVID research is free to access — but for how long? Nature
• COVID-19: Inquiry focusing solely on safety of vaccines will not be opened, govt says Sky News

Children who play video games are MORE intelligent than their peers, study suggests

Children who play video games are MORE intelligent than their peers, study suggests Parents often think of them as a waste of time, but playing video games may actually boost children's intelligence.

A study found those who game for three or more hours a day on average performed better in cognitive and memory tests than their peers.

Gaming has long been associated with violence, antisocial behaviors and health problems in young people. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Association of Video Gaming With Cognitive Performance Among Children (open access) JAMA Network Open

Myth #1: “We already spend too much on health – and despite this our outcomes are poor”

Myth #1: “We already spend too much on health – and despite this our outcomes are poor” It has become commonplace to argue that the NHS is a ‘bottomless pit’ consuming greater amounts from the public purse than other countries. In the first in a new commentary series, Nigel Edwards untangles this and other similar claims to show that they're not quite borne out by the evidence. Nuffield Trust

What to do about dying?

What to do about dying? We don’t like to think about death. To many, death and dying have no value and are relegated to the margins of our lives.

But about half a million of us in Britain die each year, mostly in our 80s, with half of us dying in our usual place of residence – in our own bed.

With palliative care stretched and family and friends often left unsupported, what could be an enriching and meaningful phase of life can become over-medicalised, transactional and feared. Podcast from The Health Foundation

New vaccine marketing campaign urges millions to boost their immunity this winter

New vaccine marketing campaign urges millions to boost their immunity this winter A new country-wide marketing campaign urging millions of eligible people to get their flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines to top up their immunity will launch on Monday (24 October), as almost 10 million people in England have already received their boosters. UK Health Security Agency

Major reforms to NHS tech agenda accelerated

Major reforms to NHS tech agenda accelerated Patients will benefit from more streamlined care and be able to make more informed choices about how and where they access treatment after plans to transform NHS data sharing were brought forward. Department of Health and Social Care

NHS launches laser beam brain surgery to treat epilepsy

NHS launches laser beam brain surgery to treat epilepsy A world-leading, fibre optic laser therapy for people suffering with epilepsy who have not responded well to other forms of treatment will be rolled out on the NHS.

Offering hope to thousands of current and future NHS patients, the cutting-edge laser treatment, targets the part of the brain that is causing the seizures without the need for invasive surgery.

A nationwide first, the treatment will benefit up to 150 NHS patients every year with the first surgeries set to take place in early 2023. NHS England

NHS launches new online site finder for Monkeypox vaccines

NHS launches new online site finder for Monkeypox vaccines The NHS has launched a new online vaccine site finder to make it as easy as possible for eligible people to get their monkeypox jab.

Almost 50,000 people have so far been vaccinated for monkeypox since the NHS rolled out the programme at speed once the first cases were identified.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the UK Consensus Group estimate around 95,000 people in England are eligible but only half of these are in contact with sexual health services. NHS England

More than 15,000 ambulance workers to vote on 'biggest strike in 30 years'

More than 15,000 ambulance workers to vote on 'biggest strike in 30 years' More than 15,000 ambulance workers will vote today on whether to strike over pay.

Members of the GMB union from 11 trusts in England and Wales are being balloted in the coming weeks.

NHS workers in other unions, including nurses, are also being asked if they want to strike over pay. Sky News

See also:

• NHS ambulance workers begin to vote on strike in pay dispute BBC News
• Nurse strike threat continues after improved pay offer BBC News
• Winter of discontent looms: 15,000 ambulance staff begin vote on strike action TODAY The Daily Mail
• Threat of NHS consultants strike looms as emergency call handlers walk out The Daily Telegraph
• Nurse recruitment drive launched by NHS England amid acute shortages The Guardian
• When nursing staff head for the door, senior doctors are right behind  The Guardian
• Nurses still split on if to vote for strike action Nursing Notes

Health of nation study calls on millions to sign up

Health of nation study calls on millions to sign up Researchers are calling on five million UK adults to join what they hope will be one of the biggest studies in the world, to create the most detailed picture ever of the nation's health.

The aim is it to find better ways to prevent, spot and treat illnesses like cancer and dementia early on.

It will involve collecting health and genetic data and creating a long-term repository of health information. BBC News

See also:

• Let’s prevent disease together Our Future Health

Milton Keynes University Hospital tests drones for medical supplies transport

Milton Keynes University Hospital tests drones for medical supplies transport Trials have taken place of the use of drones to transport medical supplies across a hospital site.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Trust said the project saw test blood samples transferred autonomously from dedicated drone stations. BBC News

Will there be a Covid winter wave in the UK? Here’s what the scientists think

Will there be a Covid winter wave in the UK? Here’s what the scientists think Unlike previous waves fuelled by variants such as Alpha and Delta, the picture now is more complex.

As the UK rides a new wave of Covid, we take a look at the variants causing infections, and what the future may hold. The Guardian

See also:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 21 October 2022 Office for National Statistics
• Calls grow for health chiefs to give anti-Covid drug Evusheld green light and protect vulnerable The Daily Mail
• Worst of Covid IS over - but one in 30 people still have it, major surveillance report reveals The Daily Mail
• Britain might approve Covid vaccines for BABIES before Christmas The Daily Mail
• Autumn Covid numbers peak at lower levels – but flu cases are on the up The Guardian

‘No new HIV cases by 2030’: England hopes to become first country in the world to defeat virus

‘No new HIV cases by 2030’: England hopes to become first country in the world to defeat virus The NHS believes it will prevent all new cases of HIV by 2030 after signing a series of deals to ensure new medicines are available across England to end regional disparities.

People with HIV have access to injectable forms of cabotegravir and rilpivirine, and those with drug-resistant infections will be able to receive fostemsavir after it was approved last week. The Guardian

NHS blood supplies bounce back

NHS blood supplies bounce back NHS blood supplies are already bouncing back just days after officials began postponing ops to come with shortage.

Health chiefs last week issued their first ever 'amber alert', with just two days' of supply of O negative blood — the universal type which hospitals are reliant on in emergencies.

Levels have since doubled, however. There is now four days' worth of supplies, according to the NHS Blood and Transplant service. The Daily Mail

Gridlocked health and care system leading to deterioration in people’s access to and experience of care

Gridlocked health and care system leading to deterioration in people’s access to and experience of care The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England looks at the quality of care over the past year.

This year – based on CQC’s inspection activity, information received from the public and those who deliver care alongside other evidence – the assessment is that the health and care system is gridlocked and unable to operate effectively.

Most people are still receiving good care when they can access it – too often, however, people are not able to access the care they need. Capacity in adult social care has reduced and unmet need has increased. Only 2 in 5 people are able to leave hospital when they are ready to do so, contributing to record-breaking waits in emergency departments following a decision to admit, and dangerous ambulance handover delays.

See also:

• CQC State of Care report highlights immediate need to get a grip on staff retention BMA
• Chronic staffing gaps putting unbearable strain on health and care services The Health Foundation
• NHS Confederation responds to CQC State of Care report NHS Confederation
• Fix serious workforce shortages to ease NHS and social care overload NHS Providers
• RCN responds to the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report Royal College of Nursing
• RCP responds to Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report Royal College of Physicians
• Patients at risk as NHS and care 'gridlocked' BBC News
• 'Gridlocked' health and social care system is putting patients at risk of harm, regulator warns The Daily Mail
• More than HALF of NHS maternity units fail to meet safety standards The Daily Mail
• Gridlocked NHS putting patients at risk and driving up GP workload, warns CQC GPonline
• Care substandard at 39% of maternity units in England, NHS watchdog finds The Guardian
• Maternity services standards at record low level as care watchdog warns of ‘systemic’ NHS failings The Independent
• Workforce the size of Newcastle needed to ease 'gridlocked' health and care system Sky News

Integrated workforce thinking across systems: practical solutions to support integrated care systems (ICSs)

Integrated workforce thinking across systems: practical solutions to support integrated care systems (ICSs) Improved outcomes in population health and healthcare is one of the fundamental purposes of integrated care systems (ICSs). To achieve this, partners from across both health and social care must come together to plan and develop a workforce that integrates and connects across all parts of the system to deliver personal, person-centred care to their local populations now and in the future. This is a new way of working for some in health and social care, so this guide builds on emerging lessons to support people to do this successfully across sectors and within multi-agency services. NHS Employers

Child obesity levels likely to be higher in areas with more poverty and lower breastfeeding rates

Child obesity levels likely to be higher in areas with more poverty and lower breastfeeding rates Children are more likely to be obese or overweight in areas of England where there is more childhood poverty, lower breastfeeding rates and where fewer adults undertake physical exercise. According to a new report looking at Reception and Year 6 children, poorer access to places for children to engage in physical activities is also associated with more children being overweight and obese. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Childhood obesity: is where you live important? Nuffield Trust

Poverty and the health and care system: the role of data and partnership in bringing change

Poverty and the health and care system: the role of data and partnership in bringing change Health and care systems can mitigate, reduce and prevent poverty’s effects on health, but to do this they need to be much better at sharing and acting on data. This long read with the Centre for Progressive Policy sets out the data available, explores existing good practice, and what needs to happen next. The King's Fund

Homeless and Inclusion health nursing: case studies

Homeless and Inclusion health nursing: case studies This collection of case studies demonstrates the role that specialist homeless and inclusion health nurses play in protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of the most disadvantaged members of society. Queen’s Nursing Institute

Pathfinder 2022: faster, further and fairer

Pathfinder 2022: faster, further and fairer This report shows that although there have been significant improvements over the years for women with ovarian cancer, not enough progress has been made in diagnosis, awareness, treatment and support. It reveals that if diagnosis was faster, further support was available and access to treatment was fairer, there could be potential for more women to survive, live well with ovarian cancer and be supported from diagnosis and throughout treatment. Target Ovarian Cancer

Flu comes early in England, with hospital cases rising

Flu comes early in England, with hospital cases rising Cases of flu have climbed quickly in the past week in England, suggesting the season has begun earlier than normal, say officials.

People may have little immunity to flu after a break from the disease during Covid pandemic restrictions.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says hospital and ICU admissions for the respiratory disease are rising the fastest in children under five.

Hospital rates are going up among the elderly too. BBC News

See also:

• Flu starts to bite... but Covid's easing! The Daily Mail
• Warning for parents after rise in hospitalisations for flu in children under 5 The Independent
• COVID rates start to fall but cases of serious flu rising fast in young children Sky News
• How many people die from the flu? Our World in Data

Families accept damages over Nottingham NHS endoscopy deaths

Families accept damages over Nottingham NHS endoscopy deaths The families of three patients who all died after undergoing the same specialised endoscopy procedure have accepted damages from an NHS trust.

The patients all died after a procedure called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Following their deaths, a coroner issued a report calling for changes. BBC News

Gene research finds DNA variants linked to dyslexia in first study of its kind

Gene research finds DNA variants linked to dyslexia in first study of its kind Scientists have for the first time pinpointed a large number of genes that are reliably associated with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is known to run in families – partly because of genetic factors – but until now, little was known about the specific genes that relate to the risk of it developing.

The team behind this latest research claim it is the largest genetic study of dyslexia to date. The Independent

See also:

• Discovery of 42 genome-wide significant loci associated with dyslexia (open access) Nature Genetics
• GWAS of Dyslexia: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS GenLang Consortium
• Gene study identifies DNA variants linked to dyslexia University of Edinburgh

Further cuts will kill off NHS dental services, chancellor told

Further cuts will kill off NHS dental services, chancellor told Jeremy Hunt has been told that any cuts to the health budget will in effect “kill” dental services across the UK and deny millions of patients access to a dentist on the NHS.

The chancellor has told members of the cabinet that “everything is on the table” as he seeks to find tens of billions of pounds in savings after ditching the economic plan of Liz Truss, who said on Thursday she was standing down as prime minister. Health is one key area expected to be hit. The Guardian

See also:

• What will public spending cuts mean for the NHS and social care? The BMJ

Lockdown's collateral cancer burden: 40 THOUSAND tumours were 'missed' in first year of pandemic

Lockdown's collateral cancer burden: 40 THOUSAND tumours were 'missed' in first year of pandemic Almost 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of Covid, according to official statistics which lay bare the 'true and catastrophic impact' of the pandemic.

Just 290,000 people in England were told they had cancer in 2020, down by roughly a tenth on one year earlier — the biggest drop logged since records began half a century ago. It was also the fewest annual diagnoses in a decade. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Statistics show an average of 789 new malignant cancers diagnosed a day in 2020 NHS Digital
• Cancer Registration Statistics, England 2020 NHS Digital

A THIRD of doctors and quarter of nurses are now foreign nationals

A THIRD of doctors and quarter of nurses are now foreign nationals A third of doctors and a quarter of nurses are now foreign nationals, new analysis revealed today.

It is the first time both of these milestones have been reached.

Some 209 different nationalities are now represented in the NHS, with countries ranging from India and Pakistan — who together account for nearly one in nine doctors — to the likes of Andorra, Micronesia and Puerto Rico. The Daily Mail

Reading the signals: maternity and neonatal services in East Kent – the report of the independent investigation

Reading the signals: maternity and neonatal services in East Kent – the report of the independent investigation Following concerns raised about the quality and outcomes of maternity and neonatal care, an independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust was commissioned. The primary reason for this report is to set out the truth of what happened, so that maternity services in East Kent can begin to meet the standards expected nationally, for the sake of those to come. The report identifies four areas for action. The NHS could be much better at: identifying poorly performing units; giving care with compassion and kindness; teamworking with a common purpose; and responding to challenge with honesty. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• NMC statement in response to publication of the East Kent Maternity Review Nursing and Midwifery Council
• We must work together to fix maternity care Royal College of Midwives
• RCOG responds to the East Kent maternity investigation Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Everything you need to know about the East Kent maternity scandal The Daily Mail
• Timeline of East Kent maternity scandal The Daily Mail
• How East Kent shares chilling similarities with other inquiries into appalling maternity cases  The Daily Mail
• ‘This cannot go on’: NHS maternity care report’s author calls for fresh approach The Guardian
• East Kent NHS inquiry finds better care might have prevented 45 babies’ deaths The Guardian
• Maternity care is not on a journey of obvious improvement The Guardian
• ‘They lied to all of us’: Families who lost babies due to maternity failings call for criminal prosecution The Independent

Government must restore doctor-patient relationship to the heart of general practice, say MPs

Government must restore doctor-patient relationship to the heart of general practice, say MPs MPs accuse the government and NHS leaders of failing to heed the evidence on the importance of continuity of care, hastening the decline of a uniquely important relationship between a GP and their patients, in the midst of an acute and growing shortage of GPs.

The wide-ranging report on the future of general practice urges Ministers and NHS England to acknowledge a crisis in general practice and set out what steps they are taking to protect patient safety. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee

See also:

• General practice is like calling an Uber, MPs say BBC News
• Seeing your GP should not be like booking an Uber driver who will never see you again, MPs say The Daily Mail
• General practice is 'systemically toxic', MPs warn in devastating report on GP crisis GPonline
• Ministers accused of ignoring scale of problems facing GPs in England The Guardian

NHS England’s new operating framework: what you need to know

NHS England’s new operating framework: what you need to know The new NHS England operating framework outlines the ways of working that will be needed to remodel and improve care and put the health service on a more sustainable footing in line with the new Health and Care Act. It largely addresses five things: purpose, areas of value, leadership behaviours and accountabilities, and medium-term priorities and long-term aims. NHS Confederation

Making research everybody’s business

Making research everybody’s business The RCP, together with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have published a joint position statement setting out a series of recommendations for making research part of everyday practice for all clinicians. Clinical research is essential to improving outcomes for patients, and by improving the efficiency and efficacy of care it can be a vital tool in tackling waiting list backlogs and reducing the pressure on the NHS. Royal College of Physicians

Black Death 700 years ago affects your health now

Black Death 700 years ago affects your health now The devastation of the plague pandemic left such an incredible genetic mark on humanity that it's still affecting our health nearly 700 years later.

Up to half of people died when the Black Death swept through Europe in the mid-1300s.

A pioneering study analysing the DNA of centuries-old skeletons found mutations that helped people survive the plague.

But those same mutations are linked to auto-immune diseases afflicting people today. BBC News

See also:

• Evolution of immune genes is associated with the Black Death (open access) Nature

New UK research consortium given £2m to tackle monkeypox

New UK research consortium given £2m to tackle monkeypox Scientists have been given £2 million to help tackle the global monkeypox outbreak with the creation of a new consortium.

A team of 25 researchers from 12 institutions will study the virus, look into the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine – which is being used to protect against monkeypox, and develop tests to identify and manage the disease. The Independent

Breast cancer patients in England face delays to reconstruction surgery

Breast cancer patients in England face delays to reconstruction surgery Charity Breast Cancer Now warns of a ‘postcode lottery’ of NHS care for women after mastectomy

Women waiting for breast reconstruction surgery on the NHS in England face a “postcode lottery” of care, with some forced to wait more than three years, a damning report warns.

Two in five women (40%) waiting for breast reconstruction during the pandemic after having their breasts removed due to cancer faced a delay of 24 months or longer, according to research involving 1,246 women who either underwent reconstruction surgery or were waiting for it. The Guardian

See also:

• Delivering real choice: the future of breast reconstruction in England (report) Breast Cancer Now
• Half of UK women say pandemic had ‘significant impact’ on their wait for and experience of breast reconstruction, as data reveals 34% decrease in breast reconstruction activity in England compared to pre-pandemic Breast Cancer Now

Don't panic about the 'most vaccine-resistant Covid strain ever'!

Don't panic about the 'most vaccine-resistant Covid strain ever'! Britons should 'not get too alarmed' that an Omicron sub-variant dubbed 'the most vaccine-resistant yet' has been spotted in the UK, experts insisted today.

The mutant strain — called XBB — has accumulated mutations which scientists fear make it harder for the body to spot.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• The NHS retirees who returned to vaccinate England BBC News
• Swarm of Covid sub-variants show ‘increased transmissibility and immune escape’ The Daily Telegraph
• Covid: Number of weekly deaths in England and Wales jumps by nearly 40% Evening Standard
• Updated Moderna Covid booster gives even better protection than earlier jab The Guardian
• New machine learning tool can help predict patients most at risk of COVID-19 Imperial College London

£400 bribes really DO help pregnant women stop smoking

£400 bribes really DO help pregnant women stop smoking Pregnant women given up to £400 in high street shopping vouchers were twice as likely to quit smoking, a landmark study has found.

Experts say the financial incentives were 'highly effective' in helping women stop smoking during pregnancy.

The UK-wide study, led by the University of Glasgow, included almost 1,000 women. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Effect of financial voucher incentives provided with UK stop smoking services on the cessation of smoking in pregnant women (CPIT III): pragmatic, multicentre, single blinded, phase 3, randomised controlled trial (open access) BMJ

Desborough mum given incurable ovarian cancer diagnosis visited her GP 11 times

Desborough mum given incurable ovarian cancer diagnosis visited her GP 11 times  Desborough woman told she has incurable ovarian cancer visited her GP 11 times to report her symptoms before finding out why she was suffering.

Mo Easton waited over a year for the right diagnosis and is now living with her fourth recurrence of the deadliest gynaecological cancer – ovarian cancer.

The 77-year-old is working with charity Target Ovarian Cancer to highlight its latest state-of-the-nation report highlighting lack of progress in combating the disease. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Young artists wow Northampton General Hospital staff by brightening up new Critical Care Unit

Young artists wow Northampton General Hospital staff by brightening up new Critical Care Unit Young artists wowed staff at Northampton General Hospital’s new Critical Care Unit by using their amazing work to splash some colour on its walls.

A staggering 144 pieces of artwork were submitted by pupils at Northampton School for Boys, Northampton School for Girls, Wootton Park School and Caroline Chisholm School as part of a competition supported by Northamptonshire Health Charity. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: the workforce report 2022

The state of medical education and practice in the UK: the workforce report 2022 This report finds that the number of doctors joining the workforce overall has grown by around 17 per cent over the last five years, but that growth is not consistent. It varies considerably between different groups of doctors, leaving a shortfall in primary care that puts at risk patients’ ability to access GP services. The number of specialty and associate specialty (SAS) and locally employed (LE) doctors on the GMC register has increased at six times the rate of GPs, largely driven by doctors coming from overseas. Current rules actively prevent these doctors from working in areas like primary care and the GMC is proposing the government change the Performers List criteria, to allow more doctors to work in general practice. General Medical Council

See also:

• Many unknowns in GMC’s primary care SAS proposal BMA
• HEE responds to the latest GMC Workforce report Health Education England
• The King’s Fund responds to the General Medical Council’s workforce report The King's Fund
• Increasing GP numbers must continue to be focus of addressing workforce crisis Royal College of General Practitioners
• RCPCH comments on the GMC’s State of medical education and practice Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• RCP responds to GMC workforce report Royal College of Physicians