Friday 25 November 2022

NHS staffing shortages: why do politicians struggle to give the NHS the staff it needs?

NHS staffing shortages: why do politicians struggle to give the NHS the staff it needs? The workforce crisis has been a prominent issue for years, but there has been little concerted action from governments to tackle the challenge.

For almost two decades now there has been no clear plan to address the crisis and the staffing gaps have continued to worsen, because, for whatever reason, the UK political system seems unable to respond properly to this very real public concern. Given this long-running gap in solutions from national politicians, The King’s Fund and Engage Britain commissioned Bill Morgan, a former Conservative special adviser, to explore what can get in the way of ministers taking meaningful, long-term action to address NHS workforce shortages.

The resulting report, NHS staffing shortages; why can’t politicians give the NHS the staff it needs?, focuses on the role of politicians in workforce planning and delivery. The King's Fund

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The evolving role of county authorities in integrated care systems

The evolving role of county authorities in integrated care systems This report analyses the new systems which replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups this year from the perspective of councils. The study, commissioned by the County Councils Network, is based on a survey and interviews with local authorities in county areas and senior health officials. The report finds that local government is spending more time with NHS colleagues, with 80 per cent of council respondents saying they have increased their time working with health partners since the inception of ICSs. Local authorities also report being cautious about pooling further resources with the NHS at a time when finances are stretched. It recommends that the government and health service review the level of centrally imposed targets on ICSs, particularly in shared policy areas with local government, which could help move towards a culture shift that gives greater prominence to prevention. County Councils Network
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    National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

    National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Swab positivity for flu* has increased slightly and is now at 8.2%; it is highest in 5 to 14-year-olds at 18%, followed by 15 to 44-year-olds at 15.8%.

    Hospital admission rates and intensive care admission rates have increased notably in the last week, to medium activity levels for intensive care and just below the medium activity threshold for admissions. UK Health Security Agency

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    Record numbers of NHS doctors and nurses

    Record numbers of NHS doctors and nurses A record number of doctors and nurses are working in the NHS in England, delivering extra appointments, speeding up diagnoses and helping to tackle the COVID backlog.

    There are almost 1.24 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England –  over 34,000 more people compared to a year ago, up by nearly 3%. Department of Health and Social Care
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    NHS launches NHS 111 online campaign ahead of winter

    NHS launches NHS 111 online campaign ahead of winter The NHS is launching its annual NHS 111 Online campaign today, encouraging people to get the help they need from the convenience of their own homes ahead of winter.

    From Thursday 24 November, a new national campaign will remind the public they can use the NHS 111 online service for urgent help on a wide range of health problems. NHS England
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    Nurses to strike for two days before Christmas

    Nurses to strike for two days before Christmas Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are to strike for two days next month in what is set to be their biggest walkout in the NHS's history.

    The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced strikes on 15 and 20 December in its pay dispute with the government.

    Nurses will still provide emergency care, but routine services will be hit. BBC News

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    Ashford bacteria outbreak: Primary school pupil dies with infection

    Ashford bacteria outbreak: Primary school pupil dies with infection A child has died and another has been taken to hospital after a bacteria outbreak at a primary school in Surrey.

    The pupils at the Ashford Church of England Primary School are believed to be in the same year group.

    The UK Health Security Agency said the children caught the invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS). Pupils and staff at the school are being prescribed antibiotics. BBC News

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    Universal flu vaccine could counter future pandemic

    Universal flu vaccine could counter future pandemic Scientists say they have made a breakthrough designing a vaccine against all 20 known types of flu.

    It uses the same messenger-ribonucleic-acid (mRNA) technology as successful Covid vaccines.

    Flu mutates and the current annual jab is updated to ensure the best match for the sort circulating but would probably not protect against new pandemic types.

    The new vaccine triggered high levels of antibodies, in tests on ferrets and mice, that could fight a broad range. BBC News

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    NHS searching for 5000 new O negative blood donors in mass testing campaign - Evening Standard

    NHS searching for 5000 new O negative blood donors in mass testing campaign At least 30,000 people will receive home blood type testing kits as the NHS tries to identify 5,000 individuals with critical O negative blood.

    The first 6,000 kits will be posted by NHS Blood and Transplant this week to people who recently registered to be a blood donor but have not yet made their first appointment.

    Those found to have O negative blood will be offered priority appointments to help ensure they become long-term donors. Evening Standard
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    ‘An explosion’: what is behind the rise in girls questioning their gender identity?

    ‘An explosion’: what is behind the rise in girls questioning their gender identity? As the NHS reviews gender referrals, parents, clinicians and young people reveal the social, medical and emotional challenges they face

    Earlier this year, a team of NHS researchers was asked to investigate why there has been such a huge rise in the number of adolescent biological girls seeking referrals to gender clinics.

    The figures alone do seem remarkable. The Guardian
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    Record 225,000 written grievances made about ailing NHS

    Record 225,000 written grievances made about ailing NHS Patients are complaining about the NHS more than ever, official figures revealed today.

    More than 225,000 written grievances were penned about England's ailing health service in 2021/22.

    This is up from nearly 210,000 in the year before Covid struck and little more than 160,000 in 2011/12, when records began. The Daily Mail
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    GPs vote to CLOSE their doors at 5pm: Family doctors will demand NHS allows them a 9-5 working day

    GPs vote to CLOSE their doors at 5pm: Family doctors will demand NHS allows them a 9-5 working day GPs voted last night to reduce their working hours to 9am to 5pm, claiming that longer days discriminate against those with families. 

    Family doctors, who earn £111,900 a year on average, will now lobby the NHS to change core opening hours in general practice from the current 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The Daily Mail

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