Weight loss drug semaglutide approved for NHS use

Weight loss drug semaglutide approved for NHS use A weight loss jab that has gained popularity in the US has been approved for use by the NHS in England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is safe, effective and affordable.

Delivered via an injection into the skin, the drug makes people feel fuller and more satisfied, so they eat less. BBC News

See also:

• NICE recommended weight-loss drug to be made available in specialist NHS services National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• Experts warn weight loss drug semaglutide isn't a miracle fix The Daily Mail
• 'Game-changing' weight loss jab 2.5x stronger than Ozempic will be rolled out on NHS in weeks The Daily Mail
• 'Game changer' weight loss jab to become available on NHS The Daily Mail
• NICE recommends semaglutide for use in obesity GPonline
• Yes, England’s new weight-loss drug kills your appetite – but as I know, it comes at a cost The Guardian
• What is Wegovy, the ‘game changer’ weight loss drug? The Independent

Childhood infection ‘linked to risk of respiratory disease death as an adult’

Childhood infection ‘linked to risk of respiratory disease death as an adult’ Contracting a respiratory infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia during childhood is associated with a higher risk of death from a respiratory illness as an adult, research suggests.

Children who had a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) by the age of two were almost twice as likely to die prematurely between the ages of 26 and 73 years from respiratory diseases, the study suggests. The Independent

See also:

• Early childhood lower respiratory tract infection and premature adult death from respiratory disease in Great Britain: a national birth cohort study (open access) The Lancet

Home Office unable to say when emergency services network will launch

Home Office unable to say when emergency services network will launch The Home Office is still unable to say when a planned communications system for Great Britain’s blue light services will be operational, despite spending almost £2bn on the project, the Whitehall spending watchdog has said.

The proposed emergency services network (ESN), first announced in 2015, was supposed to have replaced the ageing Airwave system for police, fire and ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales by 2020. The Guardian

Nurses and midwives should be able to approve abortions, UK study concludes

Nurses and midwives should be able to approve abortions, UK study concludes Nurses and midwives should be able to approve abortions, a study funded by the NHS has urged, in what would be one of the biggest shake-ups of regulations in more than 55 years.

If adopted, a rule that stipulates that abortions have to be authorised by two doctors would be scrapped. The Guardian

See also:

• Abortion law should change to reflect current practice, study suggests Shaping Abortion for Change
• NHS nurses and midwives should be able to approve abortions, report argues Evening Standard

War on cancer is FAILING: Ministers could push back crucial target once again

War on cancer is FAILING: Ministers could push back crucial target once again The NHS won't meet a key cancer target for another year, bosses expect.

Government plans set out that the number of cancer patients starting treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral should return to pre-Covid levels by March 2023.

Knock-on effects of Covid saw the backlog of patients waiting beyond 62 days spiral to a record high of 34,000 last summer — more than double levels seen before the pandemic struck. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Key cancer waiting time target set to be missed in England BBC News

NHS whistleblower sacrifices his career to secretly capture brutal reality of dire 999 service

NHS whistleblower sacrifices his career to secretly capture brutal reality of dire 999 service The brutal reality of working in Britain's ailing emergency service has been laid bare by an eye-opening new documentary which shows how deadly delays have become commonplace.

Raw footage — captured during the darkest days of the NHS's busiest ever winter — shows overflowing A&E wards, with corridors jampacked of patients who have spent 20-plus hours waiting to be seen. The Daily Mail

Supporting high-quality perinatal mental health care

Supporting high-quality perinatal mental health care This resource, drawn from an evidence review, provides a strengths-based action template to enable and inform high-quality care for families impacted by perinatal mental health (PMH) problems, enabling individuals to come together and plan “what good looks like” for them, as practitioners, services, professions, organisations, pathways, networks, and systems. The resource (produced with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance) highlights: why improving PMH care is crucial; what good care looks like to both practitioners and families with lived experience; and ten principles of best practice. Institute of Health Visiting

Protected learning time

Protected learning time This guidance sets out the RPS's recommendations for protected learning time (PLT). PLT is needed to give professionals time to develop clinical and non-clinical capabilities across the pharmacy workforce, particularly around education and research as well as leadership. A wider workforce plan for the pharmacy profession needs to be developed in each of the three nations and these need to contain several elements which will enable pharmacists, in all sectors, to develop professionally. Royal Pharmaceutical Society

NHS health teams to refer lonely and isolated patients for check in and chat service

NHS health teams to refer lonely and isolated patients for check in and chat service Over a thousand volunteers have signed up to provide friendly phone calls for patients in England who are vulnerable, isolated or lonely, as the NHS Volunteer Responders programme reintroduces its Check in and Chat service.

GPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers are being encouraged to request Check in and Chat support for patients who are socially isolated or would benefit from a phone call and a bit of encouragement – with an option to request just a one-off call or a series of calls. NHS England

NHS consultants ready to strike, warns British Medical Association

NHS consultants ready to strike, warns British Medical Association Consultants in England are ready to strike after a consultative ballot by the British Medical Association (BMA) showed support for industrial action.

The union says consultants have seen pay cuts of 35% since 2008 once inflation is taken into account.

The BMA is now warning it will proceed to a formal ballot unless the government acts before 3 April. BBC News

See also:

• Consultants in England ‘ready to strike’, as BMA consultative ballot shows overwhelming support for industrial action BMA
• Pay, pensions and DDRB reform for consultants in England BMA
• NHS Confederation responds to BMA's consultants indicative strike ballot NHS Confederation
• NHS Providers responds to threat of strikes by consultants NHS Providers
• NHS consultants to be balloted over potential strike action Evening Standard
• Consultants back industrial action in preliminary ballot and could be on strike by spring GPonline
• Senior doctors in England prepared to strike over pensions and pay The Guardian
• Hospital consultants to be balloted over possible strike action The Independent
• Senior hospital doctors ‘ready to strike’ in England Pulse

Vitiligo: Controversial skin cream may come to UK

Vitiligo: Controversial skin cream may come to UK A controversial new treatment for a condition called vitiligo that can restore pigment to the skin might soon be offered on the NHS, if UK experts approve it.

Some call ruxolitinib a miracle cream because it can return skin's natural colour and get rid of whitened patches.

But it carries some potentially serious side effects. BBC News

Mothers denied gas and air in labour say their births were traumatic

Mothers denied gas and air in labour say their births were traumatic When Leigh Milner gave birth to her baby boy last month she was expecting "all the pain relief" but ended up with just paracetamol and describes her labour as absolutely unbearable.

The BBC journalist delivered her son Theo at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, one of several that have recently suspended gas and air due to fears midwives and doctors have been exposed to unsafe levels. BBC News

See also:

• Maternity units must only remove gas and air as a ‘last resort’ The Independent
• Mum reveals agonising labour after hospital suspended gas and air pain relief Sky News

NHS England imposes GP contract with focus on access

NHS England imposes GP contract with focus on access NHS England has imposed a contract on GPs to start next month, which includes more stipulations around access, but no extra funding.

The contract letter, which was sent to GPs today, was not agreed with the BMA GP Committee, who have already said they will be exploring all options following an imposition, including potential industrial action.

Under the new contract, GP practices will have to offer patients an ‘assessment of need’ on first contact and will ‘no longer be able to request that patients contact the practice at a later time’. Pulse

See also:

• Changes to the GP Contract in 2023/24 NHS England
• GP Contract Hub NHS England
• Anger over imposed GP contract that does ‘nothing to support general practice’ BMA
• NHS Confederation responds to NHS England's change to the GP contract NHS Confederation
• Patients must now get a GP slot or be referred elsewhere on the FIRST time they call The Daily Mail
• Imposed GP contract for 2023/24 overhauls access, IIF and child vaccination payments GPonline
• New GP contract ‘will see more GPs quit and patients wait longer for care’ The Independent
  
  

What have we learned from Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages? – podcast

What have we learned from Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages? – podcast More than 100,000 of the former health secretary’s phone messages have been leaked. What do they tell us about the way the government handled the pandemic?

The revelations have come thick and fast. There was the joke implying the health secretary believed Rishi Sunak’s “eat out to help out” scheme may have driven up Covid cases. There was the most senior civil servant describing the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, as a “nationally distrusted figure”. There was the reference to teaching unions as “absolute arses”. The leaked phone messages from Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp account have certainly had their share of surprises. The Guardian

See also:

• Hancock backed pressuring MP into voting for lockdown, messages reveal BBC News
• Matt Hancock blocked chief medic Chris Whitty's calls to ease isolation rules The Daily Mail
• A (partial) defence of Matt Hancock: leaders must be free to discuss policy in private The Guardian
• Hancock discussed blocking disability hub if MP opposed lockdown, messages reveal The Independent
• Leaked WhatsApps reveal government struggle over Covid ‘sex ban’ advice The Independent
• Hancock ‘discussed withholding learning disability hub if MP opposed lockdown’ ITV News
• Sir Chris Whitty warned public wouldn't stick to lockdown 'sex ban', leaked messages reveal Sky News
• Hancock took mistress to private dinners with US health sec - then tried to remove suggestion he invited her, leaked messages show Sky News

Hundreds of community pharmacies 'could close due to rising costs'

Hundreds of community pharmacies 'could close due to rising costs' The most recent contract signed with NHS England and the government to fund community pharmacies is said to be no longer fit for purpose, given the rise in costs. Sky News

11MILLION Brits were unable to get an NHS dentist appointment last year

11MILLION Brits were unable to get an NHS dentist appointment last year Roughly 11million people in England failed to get an NHS dentist appointment last year, shock data suggests.

Industry leaders warned today the figures — amounting to around one in four adults — show the decaying dental industry 'is running out of road'. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• England: Half of dentists have cut NHS commitment with more to come British Dental Association
• Rotten, with no quick fixes: the state of our mouths reflects the plight of NHS dentistry The Guardian

What do experts on the Government's SAGE panel hink the next pandemic will be?

What do experts on the Government's SAGE panel hink the next pandemic will be? What will be the next pandemic, and what, if anything, can be done to stop it?

This is the question MailOnline put to experts who sat on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) panel during the Covid crisis.

Their answers come as concerns around the globe continue to grow on if bird flu could spill over to people and cause a new pandemic. The Daily Mail

Meet the NHS medics who've gone beyond the call of duty

Meet the NHS medics who've gone beyond the call of duty For these six healthcare professionals, it’s not enough to spend their working days trying to help others — they have gone one step further by donating one of their kidneys to a stranger. The Daily Mail

Why are delayed discharges from hospital increasing? Seeing the bigger picture

Why are delayed discharges from hospital increasing? Seeing the bigger picture In December 2022, more than 13,000 of a total of around 100,000 hospital beds in England were occupied by patients who were medically fit for discharge. This number has increased by 57% over the last 2 years, representing an additional 6,000 people waiting in hospital who do not need to be there. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Short-term social care funding for hospital discharge: learning from past mistakes The Health Foundation

Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned

Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned As part of the NHS response to the safeguarding adults review concerning the deaths of Joanna, Jon and Ben at Cawston Park, a national review has been undertaken to check the safety and wellbeing of all people with a learning disability and autistic people who are being cared for in a mental health inpatient setting. This document sets out the themes emerging from the review findings. NHS England

Tackling disadvantage in medical education: analysis of postgraduate outcomes by ethnicity and the interplay with other personal characteristics

Tackling disadvantage in medical education: analysis of postgraduate outcomes by ethnicity and the interplay with other personal characteristics This report explores the extent that inequalities persist in medical education, for example an 18 percentage point difference between the specialty exam pass rate of UK-trained black doctors and UK-trained white doctors. It also considers good practice, and highlights the importance of evaluating interventions to enable a better understanding of initiatives that successfully support trainees from different backgrounds. General Medical Council

NHS employee suicide: a postvention toolkit to help manage the impact and provide support

NHS employee suicide: a postvention toolkit to help manage the impact and provide support This toolkit was developed to help NHS organisations develop and implement a process to manage the impact of an employee suicide on colleagues. Postvention refers to the actions taken to provide support after someone dies by suicide. This can ensure that timely and appropriate care and support is provided which can help individuals with their grief, manage the impact on the organisation and reduce the risk of further deaths by suicide. NHS Confederation

The evolution of provider collaboration

The evolution of provider collaboration This report, written with NHS Providers, aims to provide an in-depth look at the formation and development of provider collaboratives. It also highlights their challenges and successes, and where more support might be needed to fully realise their potential. NHS Confederation

See also:

• How have provider collaboratives been set up? NHS Confederation

Research: Hepatitis C in England and the UK

Research: Hepatitis C in England and the UK Latest UKHSA hepatitis C virus (HCV) reports and supporting documents, for England and the UK. UK Health Security Agency

Thousands of patients to benefit from quicker diagnosis and more accurate tests from ground-breaking AI research

Thousands of patients to benefit from quicker diagnosis and more accurate tests from ground-breaking AI research Tens of thousands of patients across the country could benefit from quicker, earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments for a range of conditions - as the government invests nearly £16 million into pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) research. Department of Health and Social Care

Ambulance strikes: Unite union suspends action in England

Ambulance strikes: Unite union suspends action in England Ambulance strikes due to take place in England on Monday and Wednesday have been called off.

The Unite union suspended the industrial action to enter pay talks with the government, it said.

It followed the Unison and GMB unions earlier suspending walkouts after what they called a "huge shift" in the government's position.

Unite is the smallest of the three ambulance unions, representing about 3,000 workers. BBC News

See also:

• Two unions suspend ambulance strikes in England as talks reopen BBC News
• Consultants want up to £262 an hour to cover strike days for junior doctors BBC News
• NHS ambulance strikes are OFF The Daily Mail
• NHS worried about ‘impact of doctor strikes on emergency care’ Evening Standard
• Medical students urged to fill gaps when junior doctors strike in England The Guardian
• Three UK health unions call off strikes and agree to pay talks The Guardian
• Ambulance worker strikes in England called off as union to enter pay talks The Independent
• NHS strikes could be suspended as health secretary willing to discuss one-off payment Sky News

Half of world on track to be overweight by 2035

Half of world on track to be overweight by 2035 More than half the world's population will be classed as obese or overweight by 2035 if action is not taken, the World Obesity Federation warns.

More than four billion people will be affected, with rates rising fastest among children, its report says.

Low or middle-income countries in Africa and Asia are expected to see the greatest rises.

The report predicts the cost of obesity will amount to more than $4tn (£3.3tn) annually by 2035. BBC News

See also:

• Economic impact of overweight and obesity to surpass $4 trillion by 2035 World Obesity Forum
• More than HALF of world's 8billion people will be fat by 2035, stark report warns The Daily Mail

Scotland first to ban environmentally harmful anaesthetic

Scotland first to ban environmentally harmful anaesthetic Scotland has become the first country in the world to stop its hospitals using the anaesthetic desflurane because of the threat it poses to the environment.

NHS data suggests the gas, used to keep people unconscious during surgery, has a global warming potential 2,500 times greater than carbon dioxide.

Banning it in Scotland - from its peak use in 2017 - would cut emissions equal to powering 1,700 homes a year.

UK hospitals have already cut down. BBC News

Hancock said removing NHS England chief executive would be ‘massive improvement’

Hancock said removing NHS England chief executive would be  ‘massive improvement’ Matt Hancock was irked by the chief executive of NHS England during the pandemic and even said that ousting him would be a “massive improvement”, according to the latest set of leaked WhatsApp messages. Evening Standard

See also:

• Matt Hancock texts reveal concern at plans to relax Covid isolation BBC News
• Matt Hancock: Leaked messages suggest plan to frighten public BBC News
• Matt Hancock rejected advice to cut Covid isolation as it would ‘imply we’ve been wrong’ The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock plotted to oust NHS England chief, WhatsApp leak shows The Guardian
• Matt Hancock leaks lead to cover-up fears over ‘eat out to help out’ scheme The Guardian
• Top civil servant warned Boris Johnson was ‘nationally distrusted’, WhatsApp leak reveals The Independent
• What have we learned from Matt Hancock's leaked WhatsApp messages? ITV News
• How have Matt Hancock's WhatsApp messages been leaked – and what is a non-disclosure agreement? Sky News

More than half of ambulance workers have seen patient die because of delay

More than half of ambulance workers have seen patient die because of delay More than half of ambulance workers have seen a patient die because of a delay in reaching them after a 999 call or overcrowding in A&E, a new survey has found.

The findings, from a survey of frontline paramedics and other ambulance staff, are another stark illustration of the patient safety risks created by the crisis in NHS urgent and emergency care. The Guardian

Multiple sclerosis patients denied vital drug due to shortage of brain specialists, NHS data shows

Multiple sclerosis patients denied vital drug due to shortage of brain specialists, NHS data shows Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are missing out on vital drugs that can put the disease on pause, because there is a nationwide shortage of specialists able to prescribe them.

Nine in ten of those with the incurable neurological disease can't access a drug that can halt progression by up to four years, according to NHS data seen by the MS Society. The Daily Mail

Lack of staff forced four in ten NHS maternity units to turn away expectant mothers last year

Lack of staff forced four in ten NHS maternity units to turn away expectant mothers last year Pregnant women were forced to travel to alternative maternity units when four in ten temporarily closed due to staff shortages last year.

Some hospitals turned expectant mothers away for weeks at a time or on dozens of occasions, an alarming investigation reveals.

It means expectant mothers were unable to give birth or have check-ups at the maternity unit or birth centre closest to their home or with the midwives they wanted. The Daily Mail

Delighted dad and daughter who work for Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust win national NHS award

Delighted dad and daughter who work for Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust win national NHS award A father-daughter duo, who have been named team winners at a national awards celebrating the unsung heroes of the NHS, say they are ‘proud’ to be honoured.

Jemma and Danny Roscoe, from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), were named winners of the ‘Portering Team of The Year Award’. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Not unthinkable: the solutions to health and care problems are there but need time and money

Not unthinkable: the solutions to health and care problems are there but need time and money Ahead of the Nuffield Trust Summit, we spoke to Nigel Edwards about the main problems facing the NHS and social care, and his hopes on whether they can be fixed or not.

Social care 360

Social care 360 The King's Fund's latest 360 review outlines and analyses 12 key trends in adult social care in England over recent years. Using a variety of publicly available data, it provides a uniquely rounded - '360 degree' - view of the sector.

Making health for all policies: harnessing the co-benefits of health

Making health for all policies: harnessing the co-benefits of health The Health in All Policies (HIAP) movement has sought to achieve health goals through intersectoral action. This policy briefing explores solutions that have resulted in co-benefits and win-win solutions for all sectors when working on HIAP principles in order to support better health for all. World Health Organization

Norovirus cases increase significantly in England

Norovirus cases increase significantly in England Latest national UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance data shows that laboratory reports of norovirus are more than double the 5-season average prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Reporting has increased across all age groups, most notably in those aged 65 years and over.

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Weekly national influenza and coronavirus (COVID-19) report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses. UK Health Security Agency

Meeting to avert junior doctors' strike in England fails

Meeting to avert junior doctors' strike in England fails Junior doctors say their 72-hour strike in England is set to go ahead after a "disappointing" meeting with the government on Thursday.

Talks with Health Secretary Steve Barclay were "a facade", said British Medical Association (BMA) reps, who accused him of stalling tactics.

It comes as other health unions have been invited for formal pay talks and nurses have begun theirs.

The government says any NHS pay offers must be affordable for taxpayers. BBC News

See also:

• Health Secretary admits he has no mandate from the Prime Minister to negotiate a pay deal with junior doctors just days before strike BMA
• NHS Employers responds to the government offering talks with other trade unions NHS Employers
• Health unions to consider invite from government to enter formal pay talks through NHS staff council UNISON
• Unite response to government offer of NHS pay talks Unite
• Huge breakthrough could see NHS strikes called off The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors strike to go ahead after talks with Government fail Evening Standard
• Health unions could call off strikes as Steve Barclay opens door to pay talks The Guardian

Matt Hancock: Eight government WhatsApp Covid messages revealed

Matt Hancock: Eight government WhatsApp Covid messages revealed WhatsApp messages sent by Matt Hancock when he was health secretary during the pandemic have been revealed.

The messages, including conversations with ministers and officials, provide an insight into the inner workings of government at the height of the pandemic. BBC News

See also:

• Matt Hancock: More leaked texts put spotlight on police and quarantine BBC News
• Isabel Oakeshott reveals why she leaked Matt Hancock's WhatsApp messages BBC News
• Covid care home testing - more complex than it seems BBC News
• Matt Hancock, care home testing and those leaked WhatsApp texts explained The Daily Mail
• The Lockdown Files The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages: what he said v Covid context The Guardian
• What have we learned from Matt Hancock's leaked WhatsApp messages? ITV News
• Who is Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist who broke an NDA to leak Matt Hancock's WhatsApps? Sky News

Toxic debate over lab leak theory hampers search for Covid origins

Toxic debate over lab leak theory hampers search for Covid origins There have long been two competing theories for how the pandemic started. Now, with the FBI adding its voice, the politics and division behind the hunt for the truth are being laid bare.

There are few scientific debates as divisive and toxic as the question of Covid's origin. BBC News

See also:

• Covid origin: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory is so disputed BBC News
• ‘It’s just gotten crazy’: how the origins of Covid became a toxic US political debate The Guardian

Bowel cancer breakthrough as scientists find chemotherapy response could be predicted by existing NHS test

Bowel cancer breakthrough as scientists find chemotherapy response could be predicted by existing NHS test Scientists have found an existing gene test frequently used on the NHS can also shed light on whether a bowel cancer patient will respond positively or negatively to chemotherapy.

Researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research, Imperial College London and the Netherlands Cancer Institute have found the KRAS test can have use beyond its current function of predicting how patients will react to cancer drug cetuximab. The Independent

Jeremy Hunt told more NHS cash will end UK productivity crisis

Jeremy Hunt told more NHS cash will end UK productivity crisis Jeremy Hunt has been told to pump more money into the NHS to solve the UK's dire productivity crisis when he produces his Budget next month.

Labour made the call after official statistics showed the ability to work of 1.5million people was being affected by health service waiting times.

The Chancellor is expected to use his fiscal showpiece next month to unveil measures designed to get more than half a million 'economically inactive' people to return to the workplace. The Daily Mail

Every extra 500 steps each a day slashes risk of heart attack 14%

Every extra 500 steps each a day slashes risk of heart attack 14% Walking an extra 500 steps a day in your 70s could significantly cut the risk of a heart attack and stroke, research has found.

Scientists found that those who walked the extra quarter of a mile each day lowered their chances of cardiovascular problems by 14 percent.

Experts say the findings suggest setting ‘attainable goals’ on fitness trackers could help to maintain good health in old age. The Daily Mail

See also:

• For older adults, every 500 additional steps taken daily associated with lower heart risk American Heart Association

Brain Tumours: Pathway to a Cure – Breaking Down the Barriers

Brain Tumours: Pathway to a Cure – Breaking Down the Barriers The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT) has published its landmark Inquiry Report demanding urgent action to help those affected by brain tumours.

The report calls for wide-ranging changes to be made in how research into the disease is funded. 

See also:

• Northamptonshire brain tumour widow welcomes report demanding action Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Future proof: the impact of parental and caring responsibilities on surgical careers

Future proof: the impact of parental and caring responsibilities on surgical careers Support for working parents is vital for ensuring staff currently employed by the NHS achieve work–life balance, particularly amidst a workforce crisis driven by poor retention as well as recruitment. The Royal College of Surgeons of England commissioned the Nuffield Trust to explore the impact of parental and caring responsibilities on surgical careers in order to understand the issues within that profession. Our research shows a worrying gap between policy and reality.

Tackling poverty and the cost of food

Tackling poverty and the cost of food Greater food insecurity could affect people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, and create unmanageable pressure on already stretched NHS services. It is estimated that malnutrition costs the NHS £19.6 billion a year. The briefing calls on government to make a number of policy changes to help reduce the health impacts of the rising cost of food, particularly on those for whom rising prices have the biggest impact. NHS Confederation

No more sticking plasters: repairing and transforming the NHS estate

No more sticking plasters: repairing and transforming the NHS estate This report finds that the NHS' efforts to deliver national priorities including elective recovery and improvements in productivity are being put at risk because of a damaging lack of investment in buildings and facilities. It argues that major capital investment is crucial to enabling trusts to improve productivity, operational performance, and patient care across all sectors. NHS Providers

See also:

• NHS Net Zero Building Standard NHS England
• Carbon reduction plan requirements for the procurement of NHS goods, services and works NHS England

NHS scheme reduces chances of Type 2 diabetes for at risk adults

NHS scheme reduces chances of Type 2 diabetes for at risk adults The NHS has stopped thousands of people from getting type 2 diabetes, thanks to the world leading NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, new research shows today.

Analysis by University of Manchester researchers shows the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was one fifth lower in people with raised blood sugars referred to the programme, compared to people not receiving NHS support.

The programme has been offered to adults in England who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as part of radical action by to tackle rising obesity rates and to prevent people from developing the condition. NHS England

Matt Hancock: Leaked messages reveal battle over Covid and schools

Matt Hancock: Leaked messages reveal battle over Covid and schools Former health secretary Matt Hancock tried to bypass the education secretary to have schools closed in December 2020, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

In leaked WhatsApp messages, Mr Hancock said Sir Gavin Williamson was battling "tooth and nail" to keep schools in England open, a move he disagreed with.

Other messages show disparaging remarks about teachers' unions and belittling comments towards Sir Gavin.

It is the latest revelation to come from the leaked text messages. BBC News

See also:

• Covid messages leak a massive betrayal, says Matt Hancock BBC News
• Jacob Rees-Mogg admits Covid test was couriered to his home during shortage BBC News
• Was there REALLY not enough tests when Matt Hancock ignored advice on care home swabs?
• Covid gurus Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance both criticised shielding in 2020 The Daily Mail
• The Lockdown Files The Daily Telegraph
• Covid inquiry chair rejects journalist’s fear of ‘colossal whitewash’ The Guardian
• Matt Hancock: what do the leaked WhatsApp messages reveal? The Guardian
• What do Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp messages show? Not what the Telegraph wants us to see | Devi Sridhar The Guardian
• Minister rejects claim Matt Hancock ignored advice on Covid testing The Guardian
• Whatever the merits of the Hancock leaks, this much is clear: Britain needs to speed up its Covid inquiry The Guardian
• War of words erupts over Covid Whatsapp messages The Independent
• Matt Hancock in clash over schools opening during Covid, according to leak ITV News
• Five things we’ve learned on day two of Hancock’s lockdown files The Spectator

Age discrimination leading to avoidable eating disorder deaths, government warned

Age discrimination leading to avoidable eating disorder deaths, government warned The government must end “age discrimination” against eating disorder patients that is causing avoidable deaths, experts have warned.

A cross-party parliamentary group and the Royal College of Psychiatrists are calling for access targets to make sure adults with eating disorders get treated within a set time. The demands come after the healthcare watchdog said patients were dying while waiting to be seen. The Independent

See also:

• Children and young people with eating disorders face treatment postcode lottery Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Prescriptions for opioids 'fall by almost half-a-million over last four years’

Prescriptions for opioids 'fall by almost half-a-million over last four years’ Ps and pharmacists have helped slash prescriptions for potentially addictive opioid drugs by 450,000 in under four years, latest data suggests.

New figures published by NHS England show prescriptions for opioids fell from 5.68 million to 5.23 million between 2019/20 and the year ending November 2022. Evening Standard

See also:

• Opioid prescriptions cut by almost half a million in four years as NHS continues crackdown NHS England

AI could help NHS surgeons perform 300 more transplants every year, say UK surgeons

AI could help NHS surgeons perform 300 more transplants every year, say UK surgeons Artificial intelligence could help NHS surgeons perform 300 more transplant operations every year, according to British researchers who have designed a new tool to boost the quality of donor organs.

Currently, medical staff must rely on their own assessments of whether an organ may be suitable for transplanting into a patient. It means some organs are picked that ultimately do not prove successful, while others that might be useful can be disregarded. The Guardian

See also:

• AI picks out transplant organs ‘with much greater accuracy than humans’ The Independent

H5N1 bird flu HAS mutated to infect people, scientists on ground zero in Cambodia say

H5N1 bird flu HAS mutated to infect people, scientists on ground zero in Cambodia say A bird flu strain that claimed the life of a schoolgirl in Cambodia has evolved to better infect human cells, in a worrying sign.

Scientists on the ground who made the discovery said the finding 'needs to be treated with the utmost concern'.

They added that there were 'some indications' the virus had already 'gone through' a human and picked up the new mutations before infecting the girl. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Bird flu spillover 'concerning', doctor warns - as virus in girl who died had mutations making it better adapted to humans Sky News

Watchdog inspects men’s service at St Andrew’s after concerns raised about staffing levels and more

Watchdog inspects men’s service at St Andrew’s after concerns raised about staffing levels and more A service at Northampton’s St Andrew’s Hospital was inspected by the care watchdog after it received numerous concerns.

The mental health hospital in Billing Road was subject to an unannounced inspection of the men’s service on October 18, 2022 following concerns about staffing levels, how incidents were managed, the care of a deteriorating patient and the use of restrictive practices. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Realising the potential of community-based multidisciplinary teams: Insights from evidence

Realising the potential of community-based multidisciplinary teams: Insights from evidence Better integration between health and social care services is a longstanding policy objective in England and other countries. A common approach is the development of community-based multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), in which a mix of health and care professionals come together to plan and coordinate people’s care. 

This briefing summarises evidence from IAU evaluations of three MDTs and wider evidence to inform current efforts to develop integrated care in England. It reflects on what this evidence means for local leaders looking to implement MDTs, as well as for national leaders seeking to support these models of integrated care. The Health Foundation

First year of NHS England’s three-year recovery programme already falling short

First year of NHS England’s three-year recovery programme already falling short In a report today the Public Accounts Committee says cancer waiting times are at their worst recorded level and NHS England will not meet its first cancer recovery target. Though the first target for elective care was to eliminate two-year waits by July 2022, in August 2022 there were 2,600 patients who had been waiting more than two years, and a record 7 million people on waiting lists in total.

NHS England made unrealistic assumptions about the first year of recovery, including that there would be low levels of COVID-19 and minimal adverse effects from winter pressures. The Committee expresses serious doubts that the wider NHS recovery plan will be achieved to time.

See also:

• £14bn plan to reduce NHS cancer backlogs in England is failing, MPs say The Guardian
• NHS in ‘full blown crisis’ and will miss targets to cut cancer waiting lists, MPs warn The Independent
• NHS in England is set to miss key targets on urgent care, report reveals ITV News
• NHS England set to miss two key targets of COVID recovery plan, new report warns, as MP says health service is in 'full-blow crisis'  Sky News

Data show 1.65 million patients in England faced 12-hour waits from time of arrival in A&Es in 2022

Data show 1.65 million patients in England faced 12-hour waits from time of arrival in A&Es in 2022 A new briefing by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, RCEM Explains: Long waits and excess deaths, reveals that in 2022 1,656,206 patients waited 12-hours or more from their time of arrival in an Emergency Department. This is equal to over 4,500 12-hour time of arrival waits per day in 2022 and equal to 10.2% of all Type 1 attendances.

See also:

• One patient dies every 23 minutes in England after long delay in A&E The Guardian
• Long A&E waits associated with 23,000 excess deaths, royal college estimates National Health Executive
• NHS: Around 23,000 excess deaths in 2022 were 'linked to A&E waits', college claims Sky News

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Healthcare Technologies Capability framework

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Healthcare Technologies Capability framework HEE commissioned the University of Manchester to perform a learning needs analysis and develop a framework outlining the skills and capabilities to ensure health and care professionals can work in a digitally enhanced environment. Health Education England

England Rare Diseases Action Plan to tackle health inequalities

England Rare Diseases Action Plan to tackle health inequalities A new Rare Diseases Action Plan for England has been published today that will ensure those living with these conditions receive better care and treatment, fairer access to testing and have continued support.

This builds on the first ever Rare Diseases Action Plan for England published in 2022, which has developed digital tools to put information on rare diseases at the fingertips of healthcare staff. It has also helped 1,000 new complex diagnoses for people with rare diseases to be made thanks to advances in genomic research, helping to inform appropriate clinical care for patients. Department of Health and Social Care

Hancock disputes claim he ignored care home Covid advice

Hancock disputes claim he ignored care home Covid advice Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has disputed claims he rejected expert advice on Covid tests for people going into care homes at the start of the pandemic.

WhatsApp messages leaked to the Daily Telegraph newspaper suggest Mr Hancock was told in April 2020 there should be "testing of all going into care homes".

Government guidance later mandated tests only for those leaving hospital. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: FBI chief Christopher Wray says China lab leak 'most likely' BBC News
• Former commander of Britain's chemical and biological regiment demands action over Covid lab leak The Daily Mail
• The Lockdown Files: Matt Hancock rejected expert advice on care home testing, WhatsApp messages reveal The Daily Telegraph
• The Lockdown Files The Daily Telegraph
• I had to release Matt Hancock’s Covid WhatsApp messages to avoid a whitewash The Daily Telegraph
• Matt Hancock denies claims he rejected Covid care home testing advice The Guardian
• UK Covid inquiry urged to consider structural racism in every part of investigation The Guardian
• My father’s death from Covid wasn’t ‘terrible luck’. We were failed by a racist system in the UK | Safiah Ngah The Guardian
• Matt Hancock disputes claim he rejected Covid care home testing advice The Independent
• COVID-19: China lab leak 'most likely' caused outbreak, FBI director says Sky News
• Matt Hancock faces claims he rejected COVID testing advice for care homes Sky News
• The horrifying cost of Hancock’s Covid testing revealed The Spectator

Medical body NICE backs online mental health treatments

Medical body NICE backs online mental health treatments The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended eight online therapies for anxiety and depression.

NICE says the therapies have the potential to help more than 40,000 people in the UK.

Each therapy must come with a formal assessment from an NHS therapist in order for it to be recommended. BBC News

See also:

• Eight digitally enabled therapies to treat depression and anxiety in adults conditionally recommended by NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study

Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study You don't have to be a runner or play sport to feel the benefits of exercise - fitting a brisk walk into your day is good enough, UK analysis suggests.

It found if everyone did as little as 11 minutes of daily activity, one in 10 premature deaths could be prevented.

Most people don't manage to do the minimum recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week, however.

But doing some exercise is better than doing nothing, the researchers from the University of Cambridge say. BBC News

See also:

• Non-occupational physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality outcomes: a dose–response meta-analysis of large prospective studies (open access) British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Daily 11 minute brisk walk enough to reduce risk of early death University of Cambridge

Judge jails fake NHS psychiatrist and criticises ‘abject failure of scrutiny’

Judge jails fake NHS psychiatrist and criticises ‘abject failure of scrutiny’ A bogus psychiatrist who practised in the NHS for 22 years with a fake degree has been jailed, as a judge criticised medical authorities for an “abject failure of scrutiny”.

Zholia Alemi was ordered to serve seven years in prison after being found guilty of a “deliberate and wicked deception” that allowed her to treat hundreds of patients across Britain. The Guardian

See also:

• Fake psychiatrist Zholia Alemi who forged medical degree jailed BBC News
• Fake doctor who worked in NHS for two decades jailed for seven years ITV News
• Fake psychiatrist jailed after conning NHS out of £1,300,000 Metro
• Fake psychiatrist Zholia Alemi who worked illegally for over 20 years jailed for fraud Sky News

Shortfall of £2.3bn a year in England’s care homes ‘putting people at risk’

Shortfall of £2.3bn a year in England’s care homes ‘putting people at risk’ A £2.3bn-a-year hole has been exposed in England’s elderly care home system, leading to warnings that living standards for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people could be at risk.

A government exercise to define the true cost of care has uncovered a 20% shortfall in council funding needed to look after close to 200,000 people aged over 65 in care and nursing homes, the Guardian can reveal. A further annual hole of at least £650m has been found in funding for carers who look after people in their own homes, although that is likely to be a significant underestimate and could be over £1bn more, according to providers.

Bird flu: Ex-SAGE adviser calls on UK to start stockpiling antiviral drugs and PPE

Bird flu: Ex-SAGE adviser calls on UK to start stockpiling antiviral drugs and PPE Britain should be stockpiling more antivirals and PPE for bird flu, according to an expert who helped guide the Government through Covid.

Professor Peter Openshaw, who sat on two influential SAGE committees during the pandemic, said it was essential to start preparing for the worst-case scenario. 

His comments come as fears of an avian influenza crisis in humans have drastically escalated over the past fortnight. The Daily Mail

Northampton mental health service four times told to improve after staff caught asleep four times

Northampton mental health service four times told to improve after staff caught asleep four times A mental health hospital’s service where staff members fell asleep on four separate occasions has been told to improve by inspectors. The men's service at St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton was visited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2022. Northants Live

I just want to be me: trans and gender diverse communities’ access to and experiences of palliative & end of life care

I just want to be me: trans and gender diverse communities’ access to and experiences of palliative & end of life care This report, based on first-hand research with the trans and gender diverse community and those working in end of life care, explores the barriers faced by trans and gender diverse people when accessing end of life, hospice, and palliative care and sets out recommendations for how to tackle them. Hospice UK

Progression of parents in NHS medical and nursing careers

Progression of parents in NHS medical and nursing careers In this report, we examine how the length of parental leave and rates of progression after having children vary by specialty, gender and other staff characteristics among doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives in the English NHS. Career progression has a direct impact on pay and can affect other job characteristics, such as shift pattern and location stability. Institute for Fiscal Studies

20-hour cap removed - NHS Employers

20-hour cap removed The Home Office has announced that from today (Monday 27 February), Health and Care Visa holders will be able to work an uncapped amount of additional hours for a second employer. NHS Employers

Campaign to help parents with introducing babies to solid food

Campaign to help parents with introducing babies to solid food Parents are being supported to safely introduce their babies to solid food through a government campaign that promotes NHS advice on weaning.

Weaning is a key milestone within the first 1,001 critical days. It teaches babies to move food around their mouth, chew and swallow, and influences children’s eating habits and their health later in life.

The campaign highlights there are three clear signs that mean your baby is ready for solid food, such as if they can stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Parents to be offered weaning advice for babies in England BBC News

NHS launches ad campaign as just one in five would visit high-street pharmacy for minor illnesses

NHS launches ad campaign as just one in five would visit high-street pharmacy for minor illnesses Just one in five people aged 18-40 would visit their local pharmacy first for expert advice with a minor illness, new polling has found. The NHS has today launched a new campaign to highlight how high-street pharmacies can support patients with non-urgent health advice for minor conditions including coughs, aches and colds. NHS England

Covid inquiry: Race should be at its core, say campaigners

Covid inquiry: Race should be at its core, say campaigners Race should be made a central part of the UK's independent public inquiry into the pandemic, campaigners say.

A letter seen by BBC News, sent to the chairwoman of the Covid-19 inquiry, calls for it to look at "racism as a key issue" at every stage.

Ethnic minorities were significantly more likely to die with Covid-19, according to official figures.

An inquiry spokesperson said the unequal impacts of the pandemic would be at the forefront of its work. 

A&E delays linked to tens of thousands of patient deaths, top doctors claim

A&E delays linked to tens of thousands of patient deaths, top doctors claim A&E delays may have led to more than 20,000 patient deaths last year, top emergency doctors have claimed.

“Hidden data” analysed by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said 1.65 million people waited more than 12 hours for treatment after arriving in A&E departments in 2022 - with 23,003 of these later dying as a result.

The RCEM warned that long waiting times can have “catastrophic consequences for patient safety and mortality”. The Independent

See also:

• A&E delays killed 23,000 Brits last year as health experts warn 1.6MILLION Brits faced 12-hour waits The Daily Mail
• The NHS emergency care crisis: ‘Left for 16 hours in A&E suffering sickle cell pain’ The Independent

Patients losing out amid slump in NHS clinical trials, warn top clinicians

Patients losing out amid slump in NHS clinical trials, warn top clinicians UK falls from fourth to 10th place in phase III trials amid ‘ossified’ bureaucracy and stretched health service

The state of clinical trials in the NHS is “much worse than it has been in years” with patients losing access to cutting-edge cancer and dementia treatments, one of the UK’s most senior clinicians has warned.

Sir John Bell, the regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford and a government life sciences adviser, said the UK’s approach needed “a full overhaul, top to bottom” to prevent a collapse in the number of clinical trials being conducted in the NHS. The Guardian

Will DIY smear tests save lives? As research indicates 80 per cent more women will get screening

Will DIY smear tests save lives? As research indicates 80 per cent more women will get screening Using a 'DIY' test for cervical cancer could spare women embarrassment — and potentially save lives.

Rather than going to a clinic or their GP's surgery for a smear test, women would test themselves in the privacy of their own home.

They would then post their samples back to the lab to be examined for signs of the virus that causes the cancer. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Self-Sampling for Human Papillomavirus Testing: Increased Cervical Cancer Screening Participation and Incorporation in International Screening Programs (open access) Frontiers in Public Health

Northampton: Maternity unit needs 37 more midwives

Northampton: Maternity unit needs 37 more midwives A criticised maternity service needs 37 more midwives, about a fifth of its total midwifery workforce.

The care regulator has said Northampton General Hospital did not always have enough qualified and experienced staff to keep women safe from avoidable harm.

Figures obtained by the BBC show that 49 serious incidents have occurred in its maternity services in four years.

The hospital said it had undertaken "a lot of work" in the past 18 months and a recruitment process was under way. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust maternity services remain rated requires improvement by CQC Care Quality Commission

What caused the UK’s elective care backlog, and how can we tackle it?

What caused the UK’s elective care backlog, and how can we tackle it? The latest statistics on elective (non-emergency) care in England are making headlines for all the wrong reasons – the waiting list is over seven million, and over 400,000 have waited more than a year. Why is this? And what can be done about it? The King's Fund

Interim report explores impact of staff wellbeing on patient safety

Interim report explores impact of staff wellbeing on patient safety HSIB have published a third interim report for this investigation which focuses on staff wellbeing across the urgent and emergency care systems and the impact that this has on patient safety.

The investigation team spoke to staff working across the urgent and emergency care system in the NHS including in emergency departments, NHS 111 call handling centres and ambulance services. As conversations progressed, we saw that there was ‘significant distress’ from staff as they expressed that not being able to help the sickest of people had an impact on their personal health and wellbeing. Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch

See also:

• NHS staff cried in safety interviews, says watchdog BBC News
• ‘How many people will we kill today?’: Shocking reality facing NHS ambulance workers The Indepedent

Urgent action needed to prevent eating disorder deaths

Urgent action needed to prevent eating disorder deaths The UK’s Health Ombudsman has warned that people with eating disorders are being repeatedly failed by the system and radical changes need to be made to prevent further tragedies.

Little progress has been made in the six years since the publication of a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) which highlighted serious failings in eating disorder services.

See also:

• Eating disorder patients ‘repeatedly failed’, says England watchdog The Guardian

NHS pilots artificial intelligence software to cut missed hospital appointments

NHS pilots artificial intelligence software to cut missed hospital appointments Artificial intelligence (AI) that predicts likely missed appointments and offers back-up bookings will be piloted by the NHS in a bid to maximise resources and potentially save billions.

Through algorithms and anonymised data, the technology breaks down the reasons why someone may not attend an appointment – using a range of external insights including the weather, traffic and jobs.

The appointments are then arranged for the most convenient time for patients – for example, it will give evening and weekend slots to those less able to take time off during the day. NHS England

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust prosecuted after three patients died

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust prosecuted after three patients died A mental health trust is to be prosecuted after three patients died in its care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is bringing charges against the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Trust.

It is thought they relate to the deaths of Christie Harnett, 17, Emily Moore, 18, and a third person.

The trust is said to have failed "to provide safe care and treatment" which exposed patients to "significant risk of avoidable harm". BBC News

Abortion UK: Women 'manipulated' in crisis pregnancy advice centres

Abortion UK: Women 'manipulated' in crisis pregnancy advice centres Women are being misled and manipulated about abortion by some crisis pregnancy advice centres in the UK, according to evidence from a Panorama investigation.

The centres operate outside the NHS and tend to be registered charities.

Most say they don't refer women for abortions, but offer support and counselling for unplanned pregnancies.

But the BBC's investigation reveals more than a third of these services give misleading medical information or unethical advice, and sometimes both. BBC News

Campaigners demand inquiry into treatment of ethnic minority NHS staff

Campaigners demand inquiry into treatment of ethnic minority NHS staff The partner of a nurse who set himself on fire outside Kensington Palace has staged a protest on the steps of Downing Street to demand an independent inquiry into the treatment of BAME staff within the NHS.

Amin Abdullah, 41, an award-winning NHS nurse, took his own life in 2016 after being dismissed from his job at Charing Cross Hospital and suffering a mental breakdown because of his treatment. Evening Standard

Regular cannabis consumption could give you a heart attack, new study reveals

Regular cannabis consumption could give you a heart attack, new study reveals Whether you smoke or eat cannabis, regular consumption could give you a heart attack, according to a new study.

People who smoke marijuana or eat weed-laced edibles daily are a third more likely to develop coronary artery disease (CAD.)

One of the largest studies of the long term toll of the drug on the heart revealed that the more you smoke the higher the risk. The Independent

UK spent only £15m on brain tumour research after promising £40m

UK spent only £15m on brain tumour research after promising £40m Ministers have spent only £15m in five years on research into tackling brain tumours, the biggest killer of adults and children under 40, while boasting about delivering £40m, MPs have found.

The revelation emerged in a damning report seen by the Guardian that is due to be published this week by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on brain tumours after a two-year inquiry.

Depth of NHS crisis is revealed by coroners’ courts reports

Depth of NHS crisis is revealed by coroners’ courts reports NHS waiting times, staff shortages and service backlogs have been flagged as concerns in relation to dozens of patient deaths across England and Wales since the start of last year, the Observer can reveal, with coroners facing a succession of inquests concerning ambulance delays.

Coroners issue prevention of future deaths reports (PFDs) when they believe preventive action should be taken, and send them to relevant individuals or organisations, which are expected to respond.

NHS needs are long-term, complicated and challenging

NHS needs are long-term, complicated and challenging Since the pandemic respiratory services have been flat out and there is no end in sight. More than seven million people are waiting for elective care in England. A list that was too long before the pandemic and has only become longer. Sky News

New AI blood test for bowel cancer could save lives by slashing huge backlog of cases

New AI blood test for bowel cancer could save lives by slashing huge backlog of cases Scientists are rolling out a new ‘artificial intelligence blood test’ for bowel cancer that they hope will save lives by prioritising those who need a check-up straight away.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a huge backlog of patients awaiting a colonoscopy – the ‘gold standard’ examination for bowel cancer in which a tiny camera is inserted into the body to look for tumours. The Daily Mail