New role will see Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People providing support to families across Northamptonshire

New role will see Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People providing support to families across Northamptonshire Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People has a new role which will benefit people in Northamptonshire.

Karen Parsons is a clinical nurse specialist in paediatric palliative care who is employed by Rainbows but works for the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS group and Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Public open to virtual care, but lack of understanding a barrier to progress, new research warns

Public open to virtual care, but lack of understanding a barrier to progress, new research warns ‘Virtual wards’ – which allow patients to get hospital-level care at home, while still being in regular contact with health professionals – are a key element of NHS England’s plan for tackling the backlog of care. They can be used instead of admitting people to hospital or to enable patients to be discharged sooner, and in some cases are supported by technologies that help people monitor their health at home.

But new analysis suggests that while the UK public is on balance supportive of virtual wards, a lack of understanding of the term may be holding back public support for them. The Health Foundation

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan explained

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan explained On 30 June 2023, the NHS long term workforce plan (Long Term Workforce Plan) was published, setting out the long-term strategic direction for the NHS workforce in England.

In this explainer, we set out the main commitments in the plan and provide our view of what they might mean, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for the health care system as the plan is put into practice. The King's Fund

Rapid Literature Review: Improvement cultures in health and adult social care settings

Rapid Literature Review: Improvement cultures in health and adult social care settings This report presents findings from a rapid evidence review into improvement cultures in health and adult social care settings. The review aims to inform CQC’s approach to assessing and encouraging improvement, improvement cultures and improvement capabilities of services, while maintaining and strengthening CQC’s regulatory role. It also identifies gaps in the current evidence base (i.e. the body of literature focused on improvement cultures). Care Quality Commission

The hidden wait for cancer care

The hidden wait for cancer care Our research on GP referrals highlighted the frustration patients experience due to long waits and a lack of support. This latest analysis looks at people’s experience of getting a cancer referral. Healthwatch England

See also:

• Revealed: how hidden delays blight cancer care in England and Wales The Guardian

Hepatitis C prevalence falls by 45% in England

Hepatitis C prevalence falls by 45% in England The latest data published by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that there were an estimated 70,649 people living in England with hepatitis C in 2022. This is 45% lower than the number of people in 2015, thanks to improved access to antivirals that cure the infection.

NHS England has treated more than 80,000 people since 2015 as part of its national elimination programme, meaning more people have now been treated and cured of the virus than are left to treat. Of those treated, more than 80% are from the most deprived areas in England, highlighting the role of eliminating hepatitis C as a key driver of reducing health inequalities.

See also:

• Research: Hepatitis C in England and the UK UK Health Security Agency
• Research: Hepatitis D in England and the UK UK Health Security Agency

£600 million social care winter workforce and capacity boost

£600 million social care winter workforce and capacity boost The government has unveiled a £600 million package to help with recruitment and retention in social care. The fund will support the social care workforce and boost capacity in social care, in turn supporting the NHS ahead of winter and through into next year. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to DHSC social care boost The King's Fund
• ‘Crucial to delivering care’: LGA responds to £600m social care workforce funding Local Government Association
• Confirmed funding for social care workforce will offer some much-needed stability Nuffield Trust
• Correspondence: Adult social care winter letter 2023 to 2024 Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund - Workforce Fund Department of Health and Social Care
• Research: Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund 2023 to 2024: care provider fees Department of Health and Social Care
• Social care funding 'will relieve hard-pressed councils and struggling staff' The Independent

New NHS campaign to help spot early signs of life-threatening constipation in people with a learning disability

New NHS campaign to help spot early signs of life-threatening constipation in people with a learning disability The NHS has launched a major new national campaign to support people with a learning disability, healthcare professionals and carers to spot the early signs of potentially life-threatening constipation.

The campaign, which has been co-created with people with lived experience, launches with a new animation and posters for use in different care settings to support conversations about constipation and ensure people with a learning disability can receive treatment at the earliest opportunity. NHS England

A chilling warning from Britain’s most senior A&E doctor: Tory winter plan could kill thousands

A chilling warning from Britain’s most senior A&E doctor: Tory winter plan could kill thousands Government plans to prepare the NHS for winter have been criticised by the UK’s most senior A&E doctor, who warned that inadequate provision could see thousands of people die needlessly this year.

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), warned that plans drawn up this week are wholly insufficient, allowing for less than half of the beds needed to cope with the crisis. The Independent

See also:

• NHS in acute condition: the crisis facing the UK’s hospitals The Guardian

Hunt says bill for infected blood compensation may be very large

Hunt says bill for infected blood compensation may be very large Final compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal could end up costing "very, very large sums of money," the chancellor has said.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt was giving evidence to the public inquiry into what has been labelled the worst treatment disaster in NHS history.

He said the government had accepted the moral case for compensation.

But he said no final decisions could be made before the inquiry publishes its findings later this year. BBC News

Exploitation of care workers in England is ‘appalling’, says government adviser

Exploitation of care workers in England is ‘appalling’, says government adviser Ministers have allowed England’s creaking social care system to become too heavily reliant on low-paid foreign workers who are vulnerable to exploitation, the government’s migration adviser has warned.

In a strongly worded intervention, Prof Brian Bell, who has just been reappointed by the home secretary, Suella Braverman, as chair of the migration advisory committee (MAC), called the government’s tacit acceptance of exploitation in the sector “appalling”. The Guardian

‘Serious failings’ contributed to baby’s death in 12-hour lone prison birth

‘Serious failings’ contributed to baby’s death in 12-hour lone prison birth Serious systemic failings contributed to the death of a newborn baby in a cell at Europe’s largest women’s prison, a coroner has concluded.

Rianna Cleary, who was 18 at the time, gave birth to her daughter Aisha alone in her prison cell at HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, on the night of 26 September 2019. The care-leaver was on remand awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to a robbery charge. The Guardian

Spiralling sick leave is blamed on mental illness and long Covid as 36% of working-age people have a long-term health condition

Spiralling sick leave is blamed on mental illness and long Covid as 36% of working-age people have a long-term health condition Surging rates of depression and anxiety – along with the rise of long Covid – are driving up the number of Britons on long-term sick leave.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed there were more than 2.5 million people not working due to ill health in the first three months of 2023 – a rise of 400,000 since the start of the pandemic.

It comes against a background of increasing chronic illness, with 36 per cent of all working-age people reporting to be living with at least one long-term health condition – up from 31 per cent in the first quarter of 2019. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Rising ill-health and economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, UK: 2019 to 2023 Office for National Statistics

Ex-head of Government's vaccine taskforce Kate Bingham warns UK is unprepared for Covid 2.0

Ex-head of Government's vaccine taskforce Kate Bingham warns UK is unprepared for Covid 2.0 The former head of the government's vaccine taskforce has accused ministers of making 'dumbarse' decisions after the pandemic which could hit the country's ability to deal with a future virus outbreak.

Dame Kate Bingham said huge efforts were made to build manufacturing capability for vaccines, while a pioneering database was created of people willing to undergo clinical trials. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Scientists discover the 'most mutated Covid variant ever' lurking in a patient in Indonesia The Daily Mail

Who is supporting locally employed, specialty and specialist doctors? The NHS cannot afford to lose them

Who is supporting locally employed, specialty and specialist doctors? The NHS cannot afford to lose them SAS and LE doctors make up at least 25 per cent of General Medical Council (GMC)-registered doctors in the NHS.  SAS doctors are experienced specialised doctors working in the NHS under a nationally agreed contract. LE doctors have a variety of experiences. For example, they may be UK-trained doctors who have finished the first two years of foundation training or recently recruited international medical graduates, among many other options. LE doctors are employed by individual trusts with locally agreed contract terms and conditions. The King's Fund

Maternal mental health: a briefing for integrated care systems

Maternal mental health: a briefing for integrated care systems This briefing aims to help integrated care systems (ICSs) understand the role they have in ensuring every new and expectant mother receives the right mental health support at the right time, close to home. It finds that, if untreated, maternal mental health problems can cost an average-sized ICS the equivalent of £190 million per year. The briefing outlines why maternal mental health is important and explains the steps ICSs can take to provide the right support. It also suggests ten key areas in need of immediate action: universal services; NHS talking therapies; specialist perinatal mental health services; inpatient services; maternal mental health services; voluntary and community sector support; family hubs; baby loss support; tackling stigma; and reducing loneliness and isolation. Maternal Mental Health Alliance

Made in communities: the national evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund

Made in communities: the national evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund The Better Mental Health Fund was set up by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in 2021 to address mental health challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for public mental health was given to local authorities in 40 of the most disadvantaged areas of England, which experience higher rates of mental ill health, and used to run 314 projects. This evaluation report finds that the Fund enabled local councils to support a wide range of activities to promote mental health, covering a spectrum of preventative and support-based interventions and projects for the general population. Centre for Mental Health

NHS at 75: The huge promise of technology

NHS at 75: The huge promise of technology In our series of podcasts marking the NHS’s 75th birthday, we’ve been setting out the big challenges and opportunities ahead for the health service.

In this third and final installment, we ask how the potential of technology might be unlocked to benefit patients, the public, staff and the taxpayer. We also share initial reflections on the recently published NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. Podcast from The Health Foundation

New report on 10 promising AI interventions for healthcare

New report on 10 promising AI interventions for healthcare A new NIHR Evidence Collection has identified 10 promising AI interventions addressing five key healthcare challenges.

The Collection demonstrates the potential of AI in addressing these challenges, and highlights how AI can support the NHS and transform healthcare in future. The innovations could one day benefit the NHS and patients by saving time, money, resources. They could improve care and save lives. National Institute for Health Research

See also:

• Health experts call on public to 'trust' artificial intelligence Evening Standard

GP Patient Survey 2023 Results

GP Patient Survey 2023 Results The survey assesses patients’ experiences of healthcare services provided by GP practices, including experience of access to GP practices, making appointments, the quality of care received from healthcare professionals, experience of services when their GP practice is closed and patients’ experiences of NHS dental services. The survey also captures information about patient health, including patients with long term conditions, disabilities, or illnesses, and the support they receive to manage these. NHS England

See also:

• General Practice Workforce NHS Digital
• NHS Confederation responds to the latest GP appointments and GP workforce statistics NHS Confederation
• The trends we’ve seen over the past year can’t be allowed to continue, says College Chair Royal College of General Practitioners

Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England

Allergy emergencies double in recent years in England Dangerous allergic reactions are rising in England and now cause some 25,000 NHS hospital stays a year, data shows.

Health officials say the rate has more than doubled over 20 years, prompting them to issue advice reminding people how to recognise allergies and respond.

For severe food-related allergic reactions, the rise in admissions is even greater. BBC News

Private companies take over Newcastle sexual health service

Private companies take over Newcastle sexual health service An NHS-run sexual health service in Newcastle is set to be taken over by two private companies.

New operators will take on the city's service, based out of New Croft House clinic, from October.

A new contract was put out to tender after Newcastle Hospitals Trust did not make an offer to continue its contract for Newcastle City Council.

Hospital chiefs said they were "disappointed" but had been "unable to submit a sustainable bid". BBC News

Serving-size labelling leaves many confused- Which? survey

Serving-size labelling leaves many confused- Which? survey People struggle to estimate portion sizes for food such as chocolate, crisps and cheese, a survey of 1,265 Which? subscribers suggests.

They may need more help to assess how healthy products are, the consumer group says.

Unrealistic recommended serving sizes can mislead people into thinking they are consuming fewer calories, and less fat, sugar or salt, than they actually are, Which? says. BBC News

See also:

• The problem with portion sizes Which?

Obese people on weight-loss jabs ‘should be prepared to stay on them for life

Obese people on weight-loss jabs ‘should be prepared to stay on them for life Obese people taking weight-loss jabs should be prepared to stay on them for life, experts have warned.

Studies show that people who stop injections of drugs like semaglutide – sold as Wegovy and Ozempic – can regain much of the weight they have lost. The Independent

Can the NHS recover from record waitlists and ongoing strikes before winter?

Can the NHS recover from record waitlists and ongoing strikes  before winter? There are nearly seven and a half million people waiting for hospital treatment in England – and no sign of negotiations to avert more strikes.

So even though it’s only July, health leaders are warning it will be an extremely challenging winter.

NHS England announced plans to boost capacity and get patients back home sooner. They include extra beds and more use of virtual wards. But can it afford them? Channel 4 News

Daily chores which make you huff and puff for just four MINUTES might slash your risk of cancer

Daily chores which make you huff and puff for just four MINUTES might slash your risk of cancer Short bursts of daily activity that make you huff and puff — such as playing high-energy games with children — could reduce the risk of cancer, research suggests.

According to the study, a total of just four-and-a-half minutes of vigorous activity — done in bursts of around one minute each - during daily tasks could reduce the overall risk of cancer by 18 per cent, and the risk of some cancers linked to physical activity by up to 32 per cent. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity and Cancer Incidence Among Nonexercising Adults: The UK Biobank Accelerometry Study (open access) JAMA Oncology

Pregnant women and millions of Brits with conditions like diabetes are told NOT to eat any smoked salmon over listeria fears

Pregnant women and millions of Brits with conditions like diabetes are told NOT to eat any smoked salmon over listeria fears Pregnant women were today reminded that they shouldn't eat ready-to-eat cold-smoked or cured salmon because of the listeria risk.

Food safety chiefs also issued the same warning to millions of Brits with diabetes, cancer and liver disease.

Smoked salmon and trout are more likely to harbour the bug, which can be life-threating to at-risk people, as the foods are not fully-cooked during production. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Updated advice to higher risk consumers on ready-to-eat cold-smoked and cured fish following publication of a risk assessment Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland

The 11 GP practices in Northamptonshire with the worst NHS patient ratings in 2023

The 11 GP practices in Northamptonshire with the worst NHS patient ratings in 2023 NHS patients in Northamptonshire have reported mixed satisfaction ratings for local doctor’s surgeries in the area, according to the latest GP Patient Survey.

Produced by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, the 2023 GP Patient Survey asked people across the country what they think about their local GP practice. It surveyed 2.7 million people between January and April 2023 and had a response rate of 29%. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Delays to NHS care: Understanding the impact

Delays to NHS care: Understanding the impact New research shows that people are currently facing multiple cancellations or postponements of care which are having a significant impact on their lives and symptoms, while further increasing health inequalities.  

We commissioned a survey of 1084 people who have seen their NHS care either cancelled or postponed this year to understand the extent of disruption to care amid rising waiting lists, workforce issues, and industrial action, and other pressures on the NHS. Healthwatch England

See also:

• NHS cancellations causing ‘catastrophic health impacts’, says watchdog The Guardian

National survey highlights decline in people’s experience of urgent and emergency care

National survey highlights decline in people’s experience of urgent and emergency care Findings from a survey of more than 36,000 people who used NHS urgent and emergency care services in September 2022 show that many people had a worse experience than in previous years – particularly those treated in an A&E type department.

Published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the survey reveals the responses from patients who attended either a major consultant-led A&E department (Type 1) or an urgent treatment centre or minor injury unit (Type 3) run directly by one of 122 acute hospital trusts in England during September 2022.

See also:

• A&E experience is now the worst on record as damning study reveals a third of NHS patients wait over an hour just to speak to a doctor or nurse while nearly a fifth wait more than FOUR hours to be examined The Daily Mail

We deserve better: ethnic minorities with a learning disability and access to healthcare

We deserve better: ethnic minorities with a learning disability and access to healthcare This five part review examines two decades of research looking into discriminatory barriers preventing equitable health care treatment. It finds that people with a learning disability from Black, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage) and minority ethnic backgrounds face shorter life expectancy triggered by poorer health care access, experience and outcomes. It also captures the lack of reasonable adjustments and failure to recognise individual needs. Other obstacles identified include language barriers, cultural and religious insensitivity, a lack of information in easy read format, and a lack of information during transitional care in hospital and home. NHS Race & Health Observatory

NHS platform a ‘major force for good’ after identifying millions of savings in its first year

NHS platform a ‘major force for good’ after identifying millions of savings in its first year A Crown Commercial Service-funded digital platform used by the NHS has identified millions of pounds of potential savings in its first year, the government has announced. Department of Health and Social Care

Agreement to support mental health care and free up police time

Agreement to support mental health care and free up police time Patients experiencing a mental health crisis will be treated by the most appropriate agency, helping free up police time and ensuring care is provided by someone with the most relevant skills and experience, as a new national agreement is signed between health and policing partners. Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office and NHS England

Junior doctors to strike for four days in August

Junior doctors to strike for four days in August Junior doctors in England are to stage a four-day strike in August - their fifth strike in this pay dispute.

The walkout will start at 07:00 BST on Friday 11 August and end on 07:00 on Tuesday 15 August.

The British Medical Association has asked for a 35% pay rise to restore pay to 2008 levels after a series of below-inflation pay rises. BBC News

See also:

• Junior doctors urge Government to come to the table as they announce fifth round of strikes BMA
• Strike action: Junior doctors in England announce fifth walkout in August The BMJ
• Junior doctors announce ANOTHER strike: Four-day August walk-out by the BMA will bring struggling NHS to standstill again The Daily Mail
• Welcome to the NHS, fancy striking? New crop of junior doctors are being urged to join August's four-day BMA walk-out (which kicks off just 9 DAYS after they join) The Daily Mail
• NHS under increasing pressure as junior doctors announce another strike The Daily Telegraph
• Junior doctors urged to strike nine days after starting work in the NHS Evening Standard
• Junior doctors in England to stage four-day strike in August The Guardian
• Junior doctors to stage fresh strike next month in bitter pay dispute The Independent
• Junior doctors to stage fresh four-day walkout despite Sunak saying negotiations over Sky News

Extra hospital beds made available for winter - NHS England

Extra hospital beds made available for winter - NHS England An extra 5,000 hospital beds will be available this winter to help the NHS in England to cope, health bosses say.

It will mean nearly 100,000 permanent beds accessible at the busiest time of the year - a 5% rise on current levels.

NHS England is also promising quicker discharge arrangements to get patients out of hospital when they are medically-fit to leave.

This will be achieved through the rollout of what have been dubbed "care traffic control centres". BBC News

Herpes deaths: Why did our daughters die after Caesareans?

Herpes deaths: Why did our daughters die after Caesareans? In 2018, two new mothers died of herpes - a common, normally mild infection - just weeks apart, shortly after giving birth by Caesarean section at the same NHS Trust. Following an inquest into both deaths, their families say they will continue their fight to find out what happened. BBC News

NHS Ambulance trusts unable to access patient records following cyberattack

NHS Ambulance trusts unable to access patient records following cyberattack Attack on Ortivus's data centre last week has left two trusts in the south of England resorting to paper-based records

Two NHS ambulance services have been unable to access electronic patient records for over a week following a cyberattack on Swedish health tech company Ortivus. Computing

See also:

• Cyber attack hits two ambulance services in England BBC News
• Cyber attack hits two ambulance trusts leaving hospitals without access to electronic patient records The Daily Mail
• Cyber attack leaves NHS ambulance trusts unable to access patient records The Daily Telegraph

‘Awful lot of nothing’: families denounce Sunak’s response to blood scandal inquiry

‘Awful lot of nothing’: families denounce Sunak’s response to blood scandal inquiry Victims and family members have expressed frustration and dismay with Rishi Sunak for not committing to a compensation framework for those affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

Before the prime minister’s appearance on Wednesday at the public inquiry into the unparalleled treatment disaster, there were protests by campaigners carrying photos of bereaved loved ones and banners saying: “Dying for Justice.” The Guardian

See also:

• Blood-inquiry families heckle PM over compensation BBC News
• Prime Minister jeered while giving evidence during infected blood inquiry Channel 4 News
• Extraordinary moment Rishi Sunak gets heckled by outraged victims of infected blood scandal as PM dodges compensation questions at inquiry The Daily Mail
• Sunak heckled at infected blood inquiry for saying government working ‘at pace’ The Guardian
• 'Betrayal': Sunak attacked over performance at infected blood inquiry ITV News
• Infected Blood Inquiry: Shifty Sunak appears evasive... again Sky News

Government likely to lose millions in dispute over PPE contract awarded via ‘VIP lane’

Government likely to lose millions in dispute over PPE contract awarded via ‘VIP lane’ The UK government appears unlikely to recover any money from a healthcare recruitment agency that allegedly failed to deliver on a multimillion-pound PPE contract awarded during the Covid pandemic.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed it is in a dispute over the £20m-plus contract awarded to SG Recruitment UK Ltd. However, the agency’s parent company has gone into liquidation, raising questions about whether the government can recoup any funds. The Guardian

Got high blood pressure? Why doing the plank or 'wall-sits' might be better than going for a swim

Got high blood pressure? Why doing the plank or 'wall-sits' might be better than going for a swim A brisk walk, cycle or swim is often the doctors' orders when it comes to high blood pressure.

But now scientists suggest doing the 'plank' or 'wall-sits' are better exercises for helping to control hypertension.

A review of clinical data found that while 'cardio', or aerobic workouts were beneficial, static exercises designed to work the muscles had the most impact. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (free access) British Journal of Sports Medicine
•  Static isometric exercise, such as wall sits and planks, best for lowering blood pressure Canterbury Christ Church University

£1.7m surgical robot has performed 250 operations at Northampton General Hospital

£1.7m surgical robot has performed 250 operations at Northampton General Hospital A state-of-the-art Surgical Robot has now performed 250 operations at Northampton General Hospital to help improve care for patients.

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group – which runs Northampton and Kettering general hospitals – has invested in the £1.7m Surgical Robot as part of its clinical strategy. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

First guidance published to support NHS workers after a colleague suicide

First guidance published to support NHS workers after a colleague suicide Researchers from the universities of Surrey, Keele and Birmingham have today (Tuesday) published the first guidance to support NHS workers after a colleague dies by suicide.

The recommendations are based on a two-year study identifying the impact on NHS staff who have been in this distressing situation, and the support they may need.

The guidance has been developed specifically for the NHS and for health service staff who are affected by a colleague’s suicide, and for those who will be supporting them. UNISON

See also:

• Postvention guidance: Supporting NHS staff after the death by suicide of a colleague University of Surrey
• The Impact of Colleague Suicide and the Current State of Postvention Guidance for Affected Co-Workers: A Critical Integrative Review (open access) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Building equitable primary care: a toolkit for practitioners and decision makers

Building equitable primary care: a toolkit for practitioners and decision makers The findings of two academic projects – EQUALISE and FAIRSTEPS – have been brought together to produce a toolkit for addressing unequal access to primary care. It describes what equitable primary care looks like, and provides practical steps to help local decision makers address inequalities in health and healthcare. Queen Mary University of London

Government progress on pharmacy 'requires improvement', warns Expert Panel

Government progress on pharmacy 'requires improvement', warns Expert Panel The Health and Social Care Committee’s independent Expert Panel evaluating Government commitments on pharmacy has found that overall progress ‘requires improvement’ across a number of areas.

Evidence shows that demand for community pharmacy services has increased significantly with community pharmacies struggling to deliver services within the existing funding model, or even to remain open.

Millions of children get access to life-saving defibrillators

Millions of children get access to life-saving defibrillators The government has confirmed today (25 July 2023) that all state-funded schools in England now have a life-saving defibrillator, drastically increasing the chances of surviving cardiac arrest for all state school pupils in England.

Following the government’s £19 million rollout, over 20,000 defibrillators have successfully been delivered to almost 18,000 schools since January. Department of Health and Social Care

Acute inpatient mental health care for adults and older adults

Acute inpatient mental health care for adults and older adults Guidance to support the commissioning and delivery of timely access to high quality therapeutic inpatient care, close to home and in the least restrictive setting possible. NHS England

NHS England publishes data on first consultants strike in a decade

NHS England publishes data on first consultants strike in a decade Industrial action by consultants, over the recent 48 hours between 20 and 21 July, saw 65,557 rescheduled appointments and procedures.

The cumulative total of rescheduled appointments and procedures over eight months of industrial action across the NHS now stands at 765,000. NHS England

Police in England to attend fewer mental-health calls

Police in England to attend fewer mental-health calls Police officers in England will no longer respond to concerns about mental health if there is no risk to life or crime being committed, under new plans.

The government says the policy could save a million hours of police time every year.

Senior officers say forces have "lost their way" by dealing with less serious mental-health problems.

But mental-health charities say they are "deeply worried" at what could be a "dangerous" change. BBC News

See also:

• Right Care Right Person (RCRP) national guidance launched College of Policing
• Police to save 1M officer hours with new mental health approach National Police Chiefs' Council
• Forces adopt national scheme to reduce response to mental health incidents Police Professional
• Police will stop attending mental health calls to increase bobbies on beat The Daily Telegraph
• Ministers tell police to respond to fewer mental health-related 999 calls The Guardian
• Government backs reduction in police response to mental health incidents despite safety warnings The Independent
• Plans to cut back on police attending mental health callouts ITV News
• Police in England and Wales to drastically cut back on attending mental health callouts Sky News

Infected Blood Inquiry: Rishi Sunak to give evidence

Infected Blood Inquiry: Rishi Sunak to give evidence Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will appear in front of the Infected Blood Inquiry on Wednesday.

Bereaved families want Mr Sunak to accept compensation recommendations made three months ago by the inquiry's chairman, Sir Brian Langstaff.

It is thought that 30,000 people in the UK were given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 80s.

Some victims have received financial support but not all have been fully compensated. BBC News

See also:

• Infected blood doctors accused of ‘cover-up’ amid compensation warnings The Daily Telegraph
• Infected Blood Inquiry: Minister challenged over slow compensation for victims The Independent
• Campaigners to call on PM to pay full compensation when he gives evidence at Infected Blood Inquiry ITV News

AI: Researchers train artificial intelligence to help detect breast cancer

AI: Researchers train artificial intelligence to help detect breast cancer Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that may help doctors detect cancer.

The researchers from Cardiff University say it could help improve the accuracy of medical diagnostics and could lead to earlier breast cancer detection.

The system is aimed at supporting radiologists' decision making, Hantao Liu from Cardiff University said.

Cancer charity Tenovus said AI's potential use in diagnosing cancers early was "phenomenal". BBC News

Clinics told to stop prescribing medicines as weight loss drug hits diabetes supply

Clinics told to stop prescribing medicines as weight loss drug hits diabetes supply A government alert has been sent to private weight-loss clinics instructing them to stop prescribing slimming injections as “very limited, intermittent supplies” are putting the lives of diabetes patients in danger.

The national patient safety alert was sent to both NHS and private healthcare providers by the Department of Health and Social Care, warning of shortages to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) - including semaglutide (Ozempic), dulaglutide, liraglutide and exenatide - which are used to treat diabetes. The Independent

Two-thirds of people administering cosmetic surgery injections are not qualified medical doctors, survey finds

Two-thirds of people administering cosmetic surgery injections are not qualified medical doctors, survey finds More than two-thirds of people who are administering cosmetic surgery injections such as Botox in the UK are not qualified medical doctors, a new study suggests.

The study is the first survey of who is providing cosmetic injectable services, including botulinum toxin (Botox) and dermal fillers, in the country. The Independent

See also: 

• Profiling UK injectable aesthetic practitioners: a national cohort analysis (open access) Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

Sciensus’s licence partly suspended after death of cancer patient

Sciensus’s licence partly suspended after death of cancer patient Britain’s health regulator has partly suspended the manufacturing licence of Sciensus, a private company paid millions by the NHS to provide vital medicines, after the death of a cancer patient who was given the wrong dose of chemotherapy.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it had taken “immediate” action under regulation 28 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 law “where it appears to the MHRA that in the interests of safety the licence should be suspended”. The Guardian

'Dishonest' bodybuilder who sued NHS after 'lying' faces £100K bill

'Dishonest' bodybuilder who sued NHS after 'lying' faces £100K bill A bodybuilder accused of lying that a botched NHS surgery left him disabled was caught out by a Facebook video showing him lifting heavy weights.

Sean Murphy, 38, sued Wye Valley NHS Trust for £580,000 in compensation after claiming that an operation on his bicep left him unable to work or dress himself.

His claims started to unravel after photos and videos on social media emerged of the bodybuilder playing rugby and lifting weights, with one video showing him grunting while shifting a three-stone kettle bell. The Daily Mail

2.5 million more people in England projected to be living with major illness by 2040

2.5 million more people in England projected to be living with major illness by 2040 9.1 million people will be living with major illness by 2040, 2.5 million more than in 2019, according to a new report published today by the Health Foundation.

The analysis finds that 19 of the 20 health conditions studied are projected to increase in prevalence, including a rise of more than 30% in the number of people living with conditions such as cancer, diabetes and kidney disease. Overall, the number of people living with major disease is set to increase from almost 1 in 6 of the adult population in 2019, to nearly 1 in 5 by 2040, with significant implications for the NHS, other public services and the public finances.

See also:

• NHS Confederation responds to Health Foundation report projecting 2.5m more people in England will be living with major illness by 2040 NHS Confederation
• Surge in ill health will have major impact on NHS BBC News
• An extra 2.5million Britons will have major illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and dementia by 2040 with soaring obesity counteracting gains made by fewer people smoking, report warns The Daily Mail
• Additional 2.5 million people will have major illnesses by 2040 Evening Standard
• ‘Catastrophic’ forecast shows 9m people in England with major illnesses by 2040 The Guardian
• Rates of major illness such as cancer and diabetes to soar by a third by 2040 The Independent
• NHS faces further pressure as report finds one in five will have major illness by 2040 ITV News
• One in five adults in England will be living with major diseases by 2040, say researchers Sky News

Getting the fundamentals right: how to better prepare for discharge pressures next winter

Getting the fundamentals right: how to better prepare for discharge pressures next winter Delayed discharges, where a patient is medically fit to leave hospital but is not discharged, were a particular problem in England last winter. In this long read, Camille Oung highlights some possible solutions to help better prepare health and care services for discharge pressures next winter. Nuffield Trust

Improving regulation for the future: regulation survey 2023

Improving regulation for the future: regulation survey 2023 This report explores NHS trust leaders' views of regulation over the past twelve months. Most trusts said that regulatory burden (52 per cent) and the number of 'ad hoc' requests (59 per cent) grew last year, at a time when services were more overstretched than many leaders can ever remember. NHS Providers

UKHSA launches new strategy to tackle national and global health hazards

UKHSA launches new strategy to tackle national and global health hazards The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today launched its 3-year strategy to combat both new and re-emerging threats and to protect health security.

The new strategy sets out UKHSA’s vision and goals for the next 3 years to prepare for and respond to health threats and build the capabilities and technologies to protect the country in the future.

Radiographers begin 48-hour strike in England

Radiographers begin 48-hour strike in England Radiographers, who perform vital scans on patients, begin a 48-hour strike at 08:00 on Tuesday in parts of England.

Staff at 37 NHS trusts are staging walkouts over pay.

The government says its offer of a 5% pay rise combined with one-off payments totalling at least £1,655 is "reasonable" and "final".

Patients can expect disruption to services - but staffing levels akin to those during bank holidays will provide "life and limb" emergency cover. BBC News

See also:

• Our members deserve better, our patients deserve better Society of Radiographers
• Radiographers' strike will hit patients hard NHS Providers
• Radiographers at 37 NHS trusts in England going on strike over pay Evening Standard
• Radiographers in England stage two-day strike over pay and staffing The Guardian
• NHS radiographers strike amid complaints of staff shortages and low pay ITV News

NHS trust to review all suicides since 2017

NHS trust to review all suicides since 2017 The deaths of dozens of people who took their own lives while patients of an NHS trust will be reviewed after concerns were raised.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) will review all 63 suicides since 2017.

It comes after the trust was accused of adding to the records of Charles Ndhlovu, 33, the day after he took his own life to "correct their mistakes".

The trust's chief Anna Hills said it "will be an important piece of work". BBC News

Reports of modern slavery double in UK care sector

Reports of modern slavery double in UK care sector The number of modern slavery cases reported within the UK care industry has more than doubled in the past year.

There were 109 potential victims, exploited for personal or financial gain, between January and March - twice as many as the same period in 2022.

BBC File on 4 obtained the figures from the government-approved anti-slavery helpline, run by charity Unseen.

Investigators trying to protect workers from being exploited say the care industry is now a "top priority". BBC News

Most NHS staff say they don’t have enough time to spend with patients

Most NHS staff say they don’t have enough time to spend with patients Most NHS staff think they have too little time to help patients and the quality of care the service provides is falling, a survey reveals.

Medical and nursing groups said the “very worrying” findings showed that hard-pressed staff cannot give patients as much attention as they would like because they are so busy.

In polling YouGov carried out for the Guardian, 71% of NHS staff who have direct contact with patients said they did not have the amount of time they would like to have to help them.

38m patients in England wait beyond 14 days to see GP despite government pledge

38m patients in England wait beyond 14 days to see GP despite government pledge More than 38 million patients in England have waited longer than a fortnight for a GP appointment since the government promised everyone would be able to get one within 14 days.

In September last year, the government said patients would be able to see a family doctor within two weeks of booking a consultation. Thérèse Coffey, the then health secretary, promised to prioritise the issue with a “laser-like focus”. The Guardian

Bisexual people ‘experience worse health outcomes than other adults’

Bisexual people ‘experience worse health outcomes than other adults’ Bisexual people experience worse health outcomes than other adults in England, a study has found.

Data from lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) patients indicates these groups have poorer health outcomes compared to those who identify as heterosexual.

The new findings indicate that bisexual people face additional health disparities within an already marginalised community. The Independent

See also:

• Bisexual People Experience Worse Health Outcomes in England: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Primary Care (open access) The Journal of Sex Research

A single pill made using magic mushroom hallucinogen could help treat anorexia that affects 100,000 Britons, study suggests

A single pill made using magic mushroom hallucinogen could help treat anorexia that affects 100,000 Britons, study suggests Could a single tablet help improve the outcome for patients with anorexia? That is the tantalising prospect offered by a study published yesterday looking at the use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of magic mushrooms. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Psilocybin for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (abstract) Nature Medicine
• Psilocybin may be a potential treatment for anorexia, research suggests The Independent

New fathers can suffer from postnatal depression too, study suggests

New fathers can suffer from postnatal depression too, study suggests Having a baby could cause men with a history of depression to relapse, a new British study suggests. Researchers from University College London (UCL) analysed medical records of 90,000 men who had children in the previous year and compared them with those that hadn't become dads.

Men who had not taken antidepressants prior to having a child were no more likely than men without children to need the treatment. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Association of Recent Fatherhood With Antidepressant Treatment Initiation Among Men in the United Kingdom (open access) JAMA Network Open

Northampton centre to take patients to free up hospital beds

Northampton centre to take patients to free up hospital beds A rehabilitation centre designed to free up hospital beds which was set up as a pilot scheme is to remain throughout the year.

The 51-bed unit at Turn Furlong in Northampton provides short-term care for people who are not quite ready to return home after a hospital stay.

It is run jointly by the NHS and West Northamptonshire Council.

Patients are cared for by health and social care staff employed by both Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and the council. BBC Northampton

Boost for women and girls as Women’s Health Strategy turns one

Boost for women and girls as Women’s Health Strategy turns one A year on from its flagship Women’s Health Strategy, the government is today announcing a significant package of new measures to boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls. A raft of actions are also being taken to support women and their families through the unbearable and devastating impacts of pregnancy loss. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Guidance: Women’s health hubs £25 million transformation fund Department of Health and Social Care
• Guidance: Women's health hubs: information and guidance Department of Health and Social Care

Independent report: Pregnancy Loss Review

Independent report: Pregnancy Loss Review The review looks at options to improve NHS gynaecology and maternity care practice for parents who experience a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy or termination for medical reasons.

It makes 73 recommendations, which are intended to support the government and the NHS in creating a forward-looking approach to improve the safety and care experience for all those who have a pre-24-week baby loss. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Government response to the independent Pregnancy Loss Review Department of Health and Social Care
• Baby loss in pregnancy: Pledge to store remains in dignified way BBC News

Some people's brain function still affected by Long COVID years after infection

Some people's brain function still affected by Long COVID years after infection UK researchers have found that people with longer-term COVID-19 symptoms including 'brain fog' showed reduced performance in tasks testing different mental processes up to two years after infection with the virus. King's College London

See also:

• The effects of COVID-19 on cognitive performance in a community-based cohort: a COVID symptom study biobank prospective cohort study (open access) eClinicalMedicine
• ‘Brain fog’ of long Covid comparable to ageing 10 years, study finds The Guardian
•  Long Covid ‘brain fog’ can last for years, scientists find The Independent

NHS discharges: Reasons for hospital departure delays revealed

NHS discharges: Reasons for hospital departure delays revealed Hundreds of patients are taking up hospital beds across England every day despite being ready to leave, according to NHS data.

Figures show the biggest obstacle to speedy discharge is lack of beds in other settings, such as care homes.

Other reasons include hold-ups in sorting transport, medicines and paperwork.

The government said it wanted to "ensure patients leave hospital as soon as they are medically fit".

It is the first time data has been published which breaks down the reasons for discharge delays. BBC News

NHS negligence claims: £2.7bn cost prompts renewed calls for system reform

NHS negligence claims: £2.7bn cost prompts renewed calls for system reform Payments for clinical negligence in the NHS in England rose by 9.5% in 2022-23 to almost £2.7bn, according to the latest report from NHS Resolution, the body that handles claims.

The increase, driven by a rise in the number of high value claims, has prompted renewed calls for reform of clinical negligence litigation.

The figure reflects the high cost of maternity claims, with lifelong support needed for babies with devastating birth injuries. Recent reports have highlighted avoidable deaths and injuries at several NHS trusts. The BMJ

See also:

• Annual report and account 2022-23 NHS Resolution 

Turnover in NHS cancer workforce highest for more than a decade

Turnover in NHS cancer workforce highest for more than a decade Staff turnover in NHS cancer services has risen significantly, with more than 4,000 leaving the workforce last year, new figures show.

Data from NHS England shows the leaver rate for the cancer workforce in hospital and community health services hit 12.1% in the year to September 2022, as 4,378 staff left. Evening Standard

Revealed: drug firms funding UK patient groups that lobby for NHS approval of medicines

Revealed: drug firms funding UK patient groups that lobby for NHS approval of medicines Drug companies are systematically funding grassroots patient groups that lobby the NHS medicines watchdog to approve the rollout of their drugs, the Observer can reveal.

An investigation by the Observer has found that of 173 drug appraisals conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) since April 2021, 138 involved patient groups that had a financial link to the maker of the drug being assessed, or have since received funding.

NHS group changes same-sex fertility rules after couple’s campaign

NHS group changes same-sex fertility rules after couple’s campaign A married lesbian couple who launched a landmark legal test case against the NHS have claimed a “victory for equality” after their local health service group agreed to change its fertility treatment rules for same-sex couples.

Megan Bacon-Evans, 36, and Whitney Bacon-Evans, 35, have formally withdrawn their case at the high court after NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) volunteered to give same-sex female couples the same access to fertility treatment as heterosexual couples, following a two-year review. Their case sparked national debate and led to a significant policy U-turn by the government last year. The Guardian

See also:

• Lesbian couple drop NHS fertility treatment legal challenge BBC News

NHS faces exodus of doctors and surgeons to foreign healthcare systems

NHS faces exodus of doctors and surgeons to foreign healthcare systems The NHS is losing senior doctors to countries including Ireland, Australia and the United Arab Emirates because they can double their salary and enjoy better working conditions.

Medical leaders are concerned about a growing exodus of hugely experienced doctors and surgeons to foreign healthcare systems, the Guardian has been told. Rising numbers of middle-aged consultants are opting for a new life abroad, which is exacerbating the NHS workforce crisis.

Worst-rated GP practices in England, as ranked by YOU: Shock NHS analysis reveals just one in 10 patients are happy at some surgeries - so use our table to see how yours fares

Worst-rated GP practices in England, as ranked by YOU: Shock NHS analysis reveals just one in 10 patients are happy at some surgeries - so use our table to see how yours fares Just one in 10 patients registered to England's worst-rated GP practices are happy with their care, damning analysis reveals today.

MailOnline crunched the data from the 2023 edition of the NHS GP Patient Survey, which assessed the performance of the nation's 6,400-plus surgeries. Hundreds of thousands of patients were asked to rank how their practice fared.

Nationally, satisfaction plummeted to an all-time low, fuelled by the appointments crisis that frustrated Brits into giving up trying to see their doctor altogether. The Daily Mail

Alarm over postcode lottery of GP surgery lung tests due 'scandalous' shortage which leaves thousands undiagnosed, charity warns

Alarm over postcode lottery of GP surgery lung tests due 'scandalous' shortage which leaves thousands undiagnosed, charity warns A 'scandalous' shortage of tests for lung disease is leaving thousands undiagnosed and missing out on vital treatment, says a leading charity.

In a report to be published next month, Asthma + Lung UK will warn of a postcode lottery for accessing a test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a group of serious lung conditions that affect around 1.2 million people in Britain. The Daily Mail

NGH achieves international nursing quality award

NGH achieves international nursing quality award Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, visited Northampton General Hospital today to congratulate its nursing teams on achieving a fantastic international quality standard.

The hospital has achieved the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence reaccreditation after becoming the first hospital in England to achieve the standard in 2018. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Concerning pressures on NHS mental health staff causing vicious cycle of staff shortages

Concerning pressures on NHS mental health staff causing vicious cycle of staff shortages The Public Accounts Committee has heard concerning evidence of increasing pressures on NHS mental health staff at a time of spiking demand. In a report published today, it warns that increased workload is leading to burnout for remaining staff, which contributes to a higher rate of staff turnover and a resulting vicious cycle of more staff shortages.

17,000 staff (12%) left the NHS mental health workforce in 2021-22, up from pre-pandemic levels of around 14,000 a year. Those citing work-life balance reasons for leaving increased from 4% in 2012-13 to 14% in 2021-22, and the percentage of days lost from the workforce due to psychiatric reasons doubled in a decade. NHS England told the PAC that, in common with all NHS staff, mental health problems are one of the biggest drivers of sickness among staff.

New financial wellbeing guide calls for strategic employee support

New financial wellbeing guide calls for strategic employee support NHS Employers has worked with the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work to contribute to a new financial wellbeing guide aimed at boosting support for employees.

The guide redefines the challenge of supporting employee financial wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of the current cost of living crisis.

The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work is urging UK employers to take immediate action to tackle this increasingly important issue.

It recommends organisations take a strategic long-term approach to support the financial health of employees and stresses an urgent need for employers to break down social taboos around talking about money.

Government acts to boost the quality of care for mothers and babies

Government acts to boost the quality of care for mothers and babies Further action will be taken on a national level to improve safety for mothers and their babies within the NHS to ensure maternity and neonatal care everywhere is of the highest standard.

The government has published its full response to an independent review - led by former Regional Director of Public Health Dr Bill Kirkup CBE - into maternity failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. The review was launched because of concerns about the quality of care being provided by the trust. Department of Health and Social Care

Some NHS temporary staff miss out on full pay deal

Some NHS temporary staff miss out on full pay deal Some NHS staff in England say they are not receiving an extra one-off payment awarded by the government as part of the latest pay deal for nurses and other workers such as ambulance crews.

The issue is affecting some "bank" staff, who provide temporary cover for hospital trusts to fill rota gaps.

Some say they have not received the lump sum, of at least £1,655.

It was part of the new pay agreement for more than a million NHS workers, in addition to a 5% rise. BBC News

NHS 'could save £635m by prescribing time in nature'

NHS 'could save £635m by prescribing time in nature' The NHS could save more than £635m a year by signing some patients up to nature-based health and wellbeing programmes, a report by The Wildlife Trusts says.

The study, published under the title, A Natural Health Service: Improving Lives and Saving Money, found that the amount of money saved in healthcare costs would be greater than the money invested. The Independent

See also: 

• New report proves nature-based health projects save NHS time and money The Wildlife Trusts

Concern about NHS is rising, survey suggests

Concern about NHS is rising, survey suggests Concern about the NHS is rising among the British public, a new survey has found.

The latest Ipsos Issues Index for July 2023 gathered the opinion of 1,008 adults across Britain.

Some 33% of people mentioned the health service as a concern, up six points from the previous snapshot in June. Evening Standard

Ministers urged to resolve NHS strikes that could cost ‘billions’

Ministers urged to resolve NHS strikes that could cost ‘billions’ The cost of the NHS strike action is “eye-watering” and could run into billions of pounds, a health boss has said as he urged ministers to resolve the row over pay.

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said some NHS trusts were losing £500,000 for every day of industrial action. The Guardian

See also:

• Continued industrial action leaves the NHS adrift NS Confederation
• NHS England publishes data on latest junior doctors strike NHS England
• 'Pay restraint is having an impact on how patients receive care' Channel 4 News
• ‘Not just about pay’: NHS doctors say they are striking for future of profession The Guardian
• NHS strikes: What is happening to consultants' pay? Sky News

More than 250,000 dementia patients in England could miss new treatments

More than 250,000 dementia patients in England could miss new treatments More than 250,000 dementia patients could miss out on new treatments for the disease because they do not have a formal diagnosis, according to government figures.

NHS data published for the first time shows the prevalence of different types of dementia with which people in England have been diagnosed. The Guardian

Had Covid but never felt sick? Scientists think they've finally cracked the secret of the 'super-dodgers'

Had Covid but never felt sick? Scientists think they've finally cracked the secret of the 'super-dodgers' Scientists think they have finally cracked the secret of why some people who got Covid never became ill. 

And the answer lies in their genes.

Researchers found 'super-dodgers' have mutations in their DNA which allow their immune system to recognise the virus as being like a cold. The Daily Mail

See also:

• A common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (open access) Nature
• Had COVID but no symptoms? You might have this genetic mutation Nature

Kettering General Hospital: Skylark ward shows improvement

Kettering General Hospital: Skylark ward shows improvement An inadequate ward accused of failing children has shown improvement, according to a care regulator's report.

Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire was warned over its children's and young people's services following an inspection in December.

A new Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in April, which did not re-rate the service, found the demands of that warning notice had been met.

The hospital trust's chief executive said she was "extremely proud". BBC Northampton

See also:

• 'Inadequate' KGH children's services have improved, say health inspectors Northamptonshire Telegraph

The caring penalty

The caring penalty This report outlines how unpaid carers provide a service to society, but argues that they shoulder a financial penalty in doing so. It uses data from Understanding Society and looks at the magnitude, causes, and distribution of the carer pay penalty and how policies can help mitigate it. Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Data partnerships bring benefit to patients and the NHS

Data partnerships bring benefit to patients and the NHS The NHS has a long history of data-driven research and innovation. During the pandemic, NHS data enabled us to carry out research at an unprecedented scale and find the world’s first effective treatment for Covid-19, dexamethasone, making it available across every hospital the same day it was approved. NHS data enabled us to not just deliver the first accredited Covid-19 vaccine in the world but to rollout the NHS Covid-19 vaccine programme with a combination of speed and precision unseen elsewhere. NHS England

Proposed review of the 2023 scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines

Proposed review of the 2023 scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines The government is proposing updates to the statutory scheme to make sure that the scheme can continue to meet its objectives from 2024 onwards, whether this is alongside a successor voluntary scheme or as a standalone scheme in the absence of this. The consultation sets out proposed amendments in three main areas: increasing the allowed growth rate which will have the effect of changing the payment percentages; revising which sales of branded medicines are exempt from scheme payments; and a new approach to control spending on older branded medicines. Department of Health and Social Care

Senior doctors to stage first strike in a decade

Senior doctors to stage first strike in a decade A 48-hour strike by senior hospital doctors in England has got under way, with NHS bosses warning of severe disruption.

Thousands of consultants walked out from 07:00 BST in their dispute over pay.

It is the first time the consultants have taken part in strike action since 2012.

Only emergency care and a small amount of routine work- so-called Christmas Day cover - will be provided.

It comes just two days after a five-day walkout by junior doctors came to an end, on Tuesday. BBC News

See also:

• Now NHS is left ‘adrift and rudderless’ as consultants go on strike for two days - leaving just a 'Christmas Day' level of service behind The Daily Mail
• Consultants strike to bring planned NHS care to 'virtual standstill' Evening Standard
• GPs face rising pressure as government rejects talks to end strikes GPonline
• ‘A heavy heart’: senior NHS doctors reflect on eve of two-day strike The Guardian
• NHS consultants’ strike in England may cancel surgery for tens of thousands The Guardian
• More than 100,000 appointments cancelled because of latest junior doctors strike The Independent
• Consultant strike will have 'biggest impact yet' on NHS The Independent
• Membership of BMA reaches record high amid pay dispute The Independent
• Doctors' strike: NHS consultants begin first major walkout in decades iNews
• Rishi Sunak blames striking NHS workers for rising waiting lists Sky News

Row over British Journal of Psychiatry abortion paper saw panel quit

Row over British Journal of Psychiatry abortion paper saw panel quit An independent panel resigned in a row over controversial research about the impact of abortion on the mental health of women, BBC News can reveal.

The research, which is still being used in US legal cases about limiting access to abortion, was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, in 2011.

Last year the panel, which was set up to investigate complaints about the paper, recommended it be withdrawn.

But journal-owner, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, overruled it. BBC News

A nation off-guard: what the UK Covid inquiry has revealed

A nation off-guard: what the UK Covid inquiry has revealed Some witnesses made tearful apologies; others defiantly denied fault. After six weeks of hearings at the UK Covid-19 public inquiry, the evidence about the UK’s preparedness for the Covid pandemic is in.

The nation was caught badly off guard. That much was probably obvious. By 1 March 2021 the UK had suffered more than 180 Covid deaths per 100,000 people; in South Korea, the number was just three. But after hearing the evidence, the bereaved families put it bluntly: we were “catastrophically unprepared”. The Guardian

See also:

• Covid Inquiry: What have we learnt so far? BBC News
• Covid Inquiry: Bodies were treated like toxic waste, says daughter BBC News
• UK Covid inquiry hears call for more cash for public health The Guardian
• Councils 'simply do not understand' evidence given by Matt Hancock, inquiry told The Independent
• Covid inquiry: LGA disputes Hancock's claim over preparedness Local Government Chronicle