Basis of negotiation: recommendations to improve the NHS pay review process

Basis of negotiation: recommendations to improve the NHS pay review process With the NHS pay review process recently coming in for criticism, Billy Palmer presents an 11-point plan to help make it more fit for purpose. He sets out practical recommendations – for the UK governments, pay review bodies and unions – that would improve the current arrangements. Nuffield Trust

Government Action on Major Conditions and Diseases

Government Action on Major Conditions and Diseases Tackling the major conditions that lead to people spending more years in ill health is a significant opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people. That is why today, I am announcing that, in consultation with NHS England and colleagues across government, my Department will develop and publish a Major Conditions Strategy.

The Strategy will set out a strong and coherent policy agenda that sets out a shift to integrated, whole-person care, building on measures that we have already taken forward through the NHS Long Term Plan. Interventions set out in the Strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity. UK Parliament

See also: 

• BPS responds to government plans for a Major Conditions Strategy British Psychological Society
• NHS leaders will welcome government’s recommitment to narrowing the gap in Healthy Life Expectancy by 2030 NHS Confederation
• UK government fall massively short on cross-Government plan promise Mind
• National Voices’ response to the announcement of a Major Conditions Strategy National Voices
• NHS in England will have one strategy for all major conditions, including cancer The BMJ
• Government sets out plans for 'major conditions' health strategy GPonline
• Major Conditions Strategy Announcement Divides Opinion Medscape
• Health secretary announces new Major Conditions Strategy National Health Executive

JCVI advises an autumn COVID-19 vaccine booster

JCVI advises an autumn COVID-19 vaccine booster In its interim advice to government on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme for 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that plans should be made for those at higher risk of severe COVID-19 to be offered a booster vaccination this autumn (2023).

The JCVI also advised that for a smaller group of people, such as those who are older and those who are immunosuppressed, an extra booster vaccine dose in the spring should also be planned for. Advice regarding the spring 2023 COVID-19 programme will be provided shortly. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Independent report: COVID-19 vaccination programme for 2023: JCVI interim advice, 8 November 2022 Department of health and Social Care
• NHS issues final call to come forward for COVID booster NHS England
• UK health chiefs crank up plans for spring AND autumn Covid vaccine roll-outs The Daily Mail
• JCVI recommends targeted COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2023 GPonline
• Warning of big change to Covid vaccines in UK The Independent

Mental health first aid law proposed in parliament

Mental health first aid law proposed in parliament A new law requiring businesses to offer mental health first aid training has been presented to parliament.

Tory MP Dean Russell told the Commons the move will lead to more people spotting the early signs of mental health issues in the workplace.

Many businesses already offer mental health training to first aiders, but it is not a legal requirement.

Mr Russell told MPs that requiring mental health first aid training in the workplace would save lives. BBC News

Physiotherapists, 'the quiet NHS miracle workers', walk out

Physiotherapists, 'the quiet NHS miracle workers', walk out Thousands of NHS physiotherapists in England have become the latest group to join the ongoing industrial action over pay in the health service.

Physios and their support staff at 30 NHS services - one in seven - are staging a 24-hour walkout on Thursday.

It is the first time members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) have gone on strike.

As with other striking health staff, physios will continue to provide care in the most urgent cases. BBC News

See also:

• First ever physiotherapy strike over pay takes place in England Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Advice for NHS patients affected by physiotherapy strikes Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Thousands of NHS physiotherapists go on strike time for first time Evening Standard
• Thousands of NHS physiotherapists to strike over pay The Independent

NHS chief executive says patients need to know hospitals 'are not safe places'

NHS chief executive says patients need to know hospitals 'are not safe places' Nick Hulme, who is in charge of two large NHS trusts, delivered a damning assessment of hospitals at a board meeting of health staff. ITV News

See also:

• In ambulances wait times in England caused record severe harm exposure The Guardian
• The A&E scandal in the NHS has the spotlight. The hidden disaster is the state of long-term care The Guardian
• How well do you understand what's going on in the NHS? Sky News
• NHS in crisis: A day in the life of a GP surgery Sky News

UK facing crisis point in abortion provision, experts say

UK facing crisis point in abortion provision, experts say The UK is facing a “crisis point” in abortion provision, experts say, with rising demand and restricted access to care in many areas putting unprecedented pressure on struggling NHS services.

Healthcare professionals described a “terrifying” state of affairs in which women are travelling hundreds of miles for appointments or waiting several weeks before they are seen. The Guardian

See also:

• Why are women in Britain having to travel hundreds of miles to get an abortion? podcast The Guardian

NHS trust failed in care of baby who died 23 minutes after birth

NHS trust failed in care of baby who died 23 minutes after birth The mother of a baby girl who died in hospital 23 minutes after being born has said she was “failed in the most cruel way” by an NHS Trust that has admitted failings in their care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) prosecuted the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust after it admitted that its maternity services had not provided safe care and treatment to mother, Sarah Andrews, and her baby, Wynter Andrews. The Guardian

See also:

• NHS Trust admits failings in care of mother and baby who died after 23 minutes ITV News

Hope for more than 150,000 migraine sufferers as NHS approves new wonder drug

Hope for more than 150,000 migraine sufferers as NHS approves new wonder drug A new drug is set to transform the lives of thousands of migraine sufferers after it was approved for use on the NHS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is recommending eptinezumab for around 164,000 adults where at least three previous preventive treatments have failed.

The drug, given as an intravenous infusion every 12 weeks in hospital, has been found to reduce both frequency and severity of migraine attacks. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Eptinezumab for preventing migraine (guideline in development) NICE
• Nice approves new migraine drug for NHS use in England and Wales The Guardian
• New NHS drug will help thousands with migraines The Independent

Women should get ANNUAL breast cancer scans, claims Government's women's health tsar

Women should get ANNUAL breast cancer scans, claims Government's women's health tsar Offering women annual breast cancer checks could save 1,000 lives a year, the women's health tsar has said.

Dame Lesley Regan said the current system of screening women aged 50 to 70 once every three years was 'not based on scientific evidence'.

The UK's breast screening programme has the longest gap between screens in the world.

In the US it is every one or two years and in Europe every two years. The Daily Mail