Around 1 in 8 new students unprotected against meningitis The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and leading meningitis charities are urging students to make sure they have been vaccinated against meningitis and other diseases before the start of the academic year.
The NHS MenACWY immunisation programme for schools is offered to all pupils in year 9 and 10. UKHSA vaccine coverage data shows around 1 in 8 new students going to college and university this year remain unprotected against these 4 strains of meningococcal bacteria, each of which can cause long term disability, serious health complications and can be life threatening.
Thursday, 24 August 2023
NHS to be 'hit hard' as consultants in England walk out for 48 hours - with further strikes announced
NHS to be 'hit hard' as consultants in England walk out for 48 hours - with further strikes announced Routine hospital care is expected to come to a standstill as consultants in England strike for 48 hours in the bitter row over pay between medics and the government.
As the latest strike began today, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced plans for a three-day walkout later in the year.
Medics will strike on 2, 3 and 4 October and are also planning to walk out on 19 and 20 September. Sky News
See also:
- Consultants in England begin two days of strikes – and announce further dates in October BMA
- Consultant strikes set to cause major disruption to NHS routine care NHS England
- NHS set to hit grim milestone of 1million cancelled operations because of strikes - as £134,000-a-year consultants begin 48-hour walkout The Daily Mail
- Striking consultants are in top 2 per cent of earners, says Health Secretary The Daily Telegraph
- Warning over major disruption to NHS services as consultants to strike Evening Standard
- We're ready for war of attrition if PM wants it, says BMA as senior doctors walk out Evening Standard
- NHS consultants in England to strike for further three days in October The Guardian
- Consultants announce more strike action as second walkout begins The Independent
- Further strike action announced by consultants as second walkout begins ITV News
Brain advance gives voice hope to paralysed
Brain advance gives voice hope to paralysed Scientists have developed a device that can translate paralysed people's brain signals into words at faster speeds than before, it has been reported in two papers in the journal Nature.
Pat Bennett, 68, who has motor-neurone disease (MND), tested the technology and said it could help her stay connected to the world.
Implants in her brain decode the words she wants to say.
The US researchers now want to improve their technology further. BBC News
See also:
DIY bowel cancer checks could spare 100,000 Brits from colonoscopies every year, health watchdog says
DIY bowel cancer checks could spare 100,000 Brits from colonoscopies every year, health watchdog says DIY test kits could spare 100,000 people undergoing colonoscopies for suspected bowel cancer each year after changes to guidelines.
New draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence say patients should first be offered faecal immunochemical tests (FIT).
It is hoped the move could help diagnose bowel cancer faster – particularly among younger sufferers - and cut NHS waiting times by reducing referrals. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Quantitative faecal immunochemical testing to guide colorectal cancer pathway referral in primary care National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Nice calls for routine use of at-home faeces tests for bowel cancer screening The Guardian
UK Covid cases nearly DOUBLE in a month amid rise of two mutant variants, official figures suggest as BA.2.86 continues to sweep the globe
UK Covid cases nearly DOUBLE in a month amid rise of two mutant variants, official figures suggest as BA.2.86 continues to sweep the globe Covid cases in England have almost doubled in a month, MailOnline can reveal, amid fears a new heavily-mutated Covid variant dubbed the 'real deal' is rapidly spreading worldwide undetected.
Some 875 cases were logged in the country on August 11, according to the most recent Government statistics available, up from just 449 one month earlier.
Hospital admissions are also rising sharply — up by a fifth in a week — sparking concerns that the UK is on the brink of another wave just as the country heads into the autumn when the NHS gets busier. The Daily Mail
See also:
E-mail shows NHSE backtracking on dedicated digital workforce plan
E-mail shows NHSE backtracking on dedicated digital workforce plan NHS England executives removed a series of commitments to future plans and policies from its long-term workforce plan, including a previous promise to draw up a dedicated digital workforce plan, HSJ has reported, citing leaked internal emails.
An internal email thread of discussion among NHSE and Health Education England directors, seen by HSJ, referred a decision “taken by a senior panel as part of a move to strip out commitments to future plans, policies” from the document. Digital Health
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Nurses dubbed ‘healthcare heroes’ scoop top awards
Nurses dubbed ‘healthcare heroes’ scoop top awards Two Nurses have been presented with top nursing awards for their commitment to patients and colleagues at St Andrew’s Healthcare.
Daryl Birch and Jodie Johnson who both manage wards within the mental health charity have been presented with a prestigious Cavell Star each. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Exploring and understanding the VCSE sector in provider collaboratives
Exploring and understanding the VCSE sector in provider collaboratives The NHS Confederation wanted to better understand the way voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are working with provider collaboratives. The aim of the project, commissioned by NHS England, was to gather insight, elicit learning and share examples of collaboration in action. This was explored at an online learning event hosted by Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, in partnership with NHS England and independent consultant Jessie Cunnett, and forms the basis of this report.
Call for participants to new asymptomatic mpox transmission study
Call for participants to new asymptomatic mpox transmission study The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today launched a new study to determine whether mpox (monkeypox) can be transmitted asymptomatically, by people without any obvious symptoms.
The £1 million PResymptomatIc MonkEypox (PRIME) study, funded by the Medical Research Council, is asking anyone in England aged 18 years or over who knows they have been in close sexual contact with an mpox case to come forward to participate.
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 DHSC proposes to amend the statutory scheme controlling the cost of branded health service medicines. 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 (the ‘lifecycle adjustment’). This consultation document seeks views on the proposals, particularly from the pharmaceutical industry and NHS patients. The consultation closes at 11am on 10 October 2023. Department of Health and Social Care
Woman 'joyous' after sister donates womb in UK first
Woman 'joyous' after sister donates womb in UK first Surgeons in Oxford have carried out the first womb transplant in the UK.
The recipient was a 34-year-old woman, and the donor her 40-year-old sister, both of whom wish to remain anonymous.
Doctors say both recovered well from surgery and the younger sister plans to have IVF this autumn using embryos that she and her husband have in storage.
A team of around 20 carried out the procedures, lasting around 17 hours, in adjoining operating theatres at the Churchill hospital in February. BBC News
See also:
- First womb transplant performed in the UK Oxford University Hospitals
- Step-by-step, how pioneering medics performed Britain's first ever womb transplant in painstaking SEVENTEEN-hour op involving two sisters The Daily Mail
- How are womb transplants carried out? Is the pioneering op available on the NHS? And how many women may benefit? Everything you need to know after landmark UK-first surgery The Daily Mail
- First womb transplant takes place in UK after sister donates uterus The Independent
- UK’s first womb transplant paves way for dozens more The Independent
- UK's first womb transplant recipient 'looking forward' to having a baby ITV News
- UK's first-ever womb transplant hailed by doctors as 'dawn of new era' in fertility treatment Sky News
Ipswich Hospital: 'Our daughter's childbirth death was preventable'
Ipswich Hospital: 'Our daughter's childbirth death was preventable' The parents of a woman who died after giving birth say they believe she would still be alive if it were not for errors made by a hospital.
Jessica Mai Walden, 28, from Bramford, Suffolk, died on 9 May 2021 after her second daughter was born at Ipswich Hospital.
A report commissioned by her parents found there were a series of human and system failings that led to her death.
The hospital trust apologised and said lessons had been learned. BBC News
Autistic man should not be forced to have dialysis, judge rules
Autistic man should not be forced to have dialysis, judge rules An autistic man with "chronic" kidney disease should not be forced to undergo dialysis, despite the "potentially fatal consequence of not having it", a judge has ruled.
The 26-year-old man, who is being treated in Nottingham, did not "accept" he had the disease, nor see the need for dialysis, the judge said.
Mr Justice Hayden was asked to decide what moves were in his best interests.
But he said: "All I could do was tell him that the decision was his." BBC News
Osteoarthritis may affect nearly one billion people by 2050, study projects
Osteoarthritis may affect nearly one billion people by 2050, study projects The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects 15% of the global population over the age of 30 – and it is estimated that by 2050 nearly one billion people will have the condition, researchers say.
Obesity is a major contributor to osteoarthritis, and in 2020 was responsible for approximately 20% of the disability of osteoarthritis – which causes joints to become painful and stiff, the study suggests. The Independent
See also:
Home Office considered using overseas workers in case of disease on Bibby Stockholm
Home Office considered using overseas workers in case of disease on Bibby Stockholm The Home Office considered drafting in foreign workers using a visa waiver scheme in the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease on the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate asylum seekers, according to documents seen by the Guardian.
The barge is moored in Portland, Dorset. It was opened to asylum seekers on 7 August as a key part of the government’s “small boats week” to signal that it was implementing its undertakings to move asylum seekers out of hotels. However, in a blow to this policy the barge was evacuated just four days later after legionella bacteria was found in the barge’s water pipes. The Guardian
The barge is moored in Portland, Dorset. It was opened to asylum seekers on 7 August as a key part of the government’s “small boats week” to signal that it was implementing its undertakings to move asylum seekers out of hotels. However, in a blow to this policy the barge was evacuated just four days later after legionella bacteria was found in the barge’s water pipes. The Guardian
ChatGPT performs as well as a resident doctor at diagnosing patients and prescribing the right medication in primary care and emergency departments, study finds
ChatGPT performs as well as a resident doctor at diagnosing patients and prescribing the right medication in primary care and emergency departments, study finds ChatGPT is as good as resident doctors at correctly diagnosing patients and making clinical decisions, a study suggests.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham in Boston, Massachusetts, studied the AI chatbot's ability to correctly diagnose patients and manage care in primary care and emergency settings.
ChatGPT made the correct decisions regarding diagnosis, what medications to prescribe, and other treatments 72 percent of the time. Meanwhile, experts estimate doctors are about 95 percent accurate. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Assessing the Utility of ChatGPT Throughout the Entire Clinical Workflow: Development and Usability Study (open access) Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Q&A: ChatGPT shows potential to support clinical decision-making Healio
Care home nurse who claimed Covid pandemic was a hoax while protesting against lockdowns in her uniform gets struck off
Care home nurse who claimed Covid pandemic was a hoax while protesting against lockdowns in her uniform gets struck off A care home nurse who attended a Covid-conspiracy rally in London in her nursing uniform and claimed the virus was a hoax has been struck off.
Carley Louise Stewart, of Preston, attended the mass protest in August 2020 holding a placard which read 'Nurse on call. Where's the pandemic?'.
The mother-of-two, who was fired from her care home job after the incident, was ruled unfit to remain a nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for both her protest attendance and multiple comments sowing distrust in official guidance. The Daily Mail
See also:
Tuesday, 22 August 2023
Northampton General Hospital gets a national award for the way it supports the armed forces’ community
Northampton General Hospital gets a national award for the way it supports the armed forces’ community Northampton General Hospital has achieved a national recognition award for the way it supports service and ex-service personnel.
It has achieved the Silver Award from the Government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme – for the way it supports the armed forces community. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Sexual harassment in healthcare must stop – new GMC standards for doctors make clear
Sexual harassment in healthcare must stop – new GMC standards for doctors make clear Zero tolerance of sexual harassment, including clear definitions of what constitutes it and an expectation that doctors who see such behaviour will act, will be included for the first time in new professional standards issued by the General Medical Council.
The regulator has today published an update of Good medical practice, which details the principles, values and standards expected of doctors working in the UK. It is the first major update to the guidance in ten years.
See also:
- Good medical practice 2024 General Medical Council
- Workplace sexual-harassment clampdown for doctors BBC News
- Doctors face ban for sexual remarks to colleagues under GMC's new conduct code The Daily Telegraph
- New guidance for NHS staff to tackle toxic workplace cultures Evening Standard
- Doctors must show zero tolerance of sexual harassment, says UK medical council The Guardian
- New NHS guidelines include sexual harassment and whistleblowing standards The Independent
- GMC to require ‘kindness’ as part of significant guidance update Pulse
- Doctors will be 'supported to speak out' under new medical guidelines Sky News
REACH-OUT: Caring for the healthcare workforce post Covid-19: a longitudinal mixed-methods study of post-Covid-19 outcomes in healthcare workers from diverse ethnicities: 2nd report August 2023
REACH-OUT: Caring for the healthcare workforce post Covid-19: a longitudinal mixed-methods study of post-Covid-19 outcomes in healthcare workers from diverse ethnicities: 2nd report August 2023 REACH-OUT is a long-term study that examines the lasting impacts of Covid-19 on healthcare workers (HCWS) from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the UK. By interviewing the same cohort of people over several years, the study aims to estimate the prevalence of long COVID on healthcare workers, and understand its impact on their health, their work, and their life more generally. Every six months, an update report will be released to highlight progress and identify any emerging learning for the healthcare system. This latest report – the 2nd update – includes an exploration of global research about long COVID and outlines some implications for health and care policy. NHS Race & Health Observatory
Ambulance services and integrated care systems: lessons for effective collaboration
Ambulance services and integrated care systems: lessons for effective collaboration This report aims to examine the key themes and principles that should underpin effective and practical collaboration between ambulance services and integrated care boards. It sets out the findings of research involving a range of NHS leaders from both integrated care boards (ICBs) and ambulance services, and makes recommendations to the array of partners, national and local, that can affect change. NHS Confederation
All GP surgeries in England to have digital phone lines by March 2024
All GP surgeries in England to have digital phone lines by March 2024 Patients at all general practices across England will soon benefit from new digital phone lines designed to make booking GP appointments easier.
Backed by a £240 million investment, more than 1,000 practices have signed up to make the switch from analogue systems - which can leave patients on hold and struggling to book an appointment - to modern, easy-to-use digital telephones designed to make sure people can receive the care they need when they need it. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- Digital phonelines are a positive step but we’re in dire need of more GPs, says College Chair Royal College of General Practitioners
Lucy Letby: NHS managers must be held to account, whistleblower doctor says
Lucy Letby: NHS managers must be held to account, whistleblower doctor says Hospital managers should be regulated in a similar way to doctors and nurses, the senior doctor who first raised concerns about Lucy Letby has said.
Dr Stephen Brearey was the lead consultant on the neonatal unit where serial killer Letby worked and raised the alarm in October 2015.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "no apparent accountability" for what NHS managers do in trusts.
Letby was handed a whole life sentence on Monday at Manchester Crown Court. BBC News
Dr Stephen Brearey was the lead consultant on the neonatal unit where serial killer Letby worked and raised the alarm in October 2015.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "no apparent accountability" for what NHS managers do in trusts.
Letby was handed a whole life sentence on Monday at Manchester Crown Court. BBC News
See also:
- Alison Kelly: Former nursing manager at Letby hospital suspended BBC News
- What the babies' parents told Lucy Letby as she was sentenced BBC News
- Lucy Letby: How could the NHS stop a future killer within? BBC News
- Questions about NHS role in Letby murders not answered, says solicitor representing victim families Channel 4 News
- Lucy Letby: NHS Trust management in charge should face criminal charges, says former MP Channel 4 News
- Full judicial inquiry into horror Lucy Letby killings moves step closer Evening Standard
- Lucy Letby inquiry could be upgraded to compel witnesses, No 10 indicates The Guardian
- Statutory inquiry into Lucy Letby ‘on the table’, government minister admits The Independent
MRI scan could screen men for prostate cancer
MRI scan could screen men for prostate cancer A 10-minute MRI scan could be used to screen men for prostate cancer, according to a new study.
The scans proved far more accurate at diagnosing cancer than blood tests, which look for high levels of a protein called PSA.
MRI picked up some serious cancers that would have been missed by PSA alone.
At present there is no national screening programme because PSA is considered too unreliable, although men over 50 can request a PSA test. BBC News
See also:
- Prevalence of MRI lesions in men responding to a GP-led invitation for a prostate health check: a prospective cohort study (open access) BMJ Oncology
- Quick MRI scans could pick up twice as many serious prostate cancer cases as existing tests, research finds The Daily Mail
- Prostate cancer: Deaths could be 'significantly reduced' by using MRI scans instead of PSA tests, study suggests Sky News
Breakthrough test could predict deadly diseases in people with diabetes
Breakthrough test could predict deadly diseases in people with diabetes A blood test may be able to predict diabetic people's risk of heart and kidney disease, according to a new study.
Researchers have found high levels of four biomarkers, which are biological signposts, are strongly predictive for the development of heart and kidney issues for people with type 2 diabetes.
A study has found that people who took a drug called canagliflozin had lower levels of the four biomarkers compared to those who took a placebo. The Independent
See also:
Private firm linked to No 10 adviser handed NHS waiting lists contract
Private firm linked to No 10 adviser handed NHS waiting lists contract Rishi Sunak is facing questions over a possible conflict of interest after it emerged that a private healthcare firm handed a government contract to reduce regional NHS waiting lists is linked to a No 10 policy adviser.
Bill Morgan, a founding partner of the PR and lobbying firm Evoke Incisive Health (EIH), joined Downing Street as a health policy adviser last November to help drive through NHS efficiencies. The Guardian
Ambulance services face staffing emergency as the number of workers quitting their job rises by more than half in recent years
Ambulance services face staffing emergency as the number of workers quitting their job rises by more than half in recent years Ambulance services face a staffing emergency with the number quitting their job rising by over half in recent years, figures show.
Some 6,968 ambulance workers in England and Wales left their role in 2022/23, which is up 51.2 per cent from 4,609 in 2019/20.
The findings, from freedom of information requests by the Liberal Democrats, also reveal these services currently have at least 2,954 vacancies. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Lib Dems demand ambulance staff boost before winter pressures The Independent
How a trip to the optician could detect signs of Parkinson's up to SEVEN years earlier
How a trip to the optician could detect signs of Parkinson's up to SEVEN years earlier A high street eye scan could detect signs of Parkinson's up to seven years before a diagnosis, research suggests.
High-resolution images of the retina are now a routine part of eye care — in particular, a type of 3D scan known as 'optical coherence tomography' (OCT) which is widely used in high-street opticians.
Now, experts believe this scan could detect 'markers' that indicate Parkinson's years before symptoms occur. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Features Associated With Incident and Prevalent Parkinson Disease (open access) Neurology
- Parkinson's disease could be detected early with AI scans, scientists say BBC News
- 3D eye scans at opticians could identify those at risk of Parkinson’s, study finds The Guardian
- AI-powered eye scan could help detect Parkinson's disease – study The Independent
Monday, 21 August 2023
Robot community day at Northampton General Hospital raises awareness of life-saving new surgical technology
Robot community day at Northampton General Hospital raises awareness of life-saving new surgical technology A life-saving state-of-the-art surgical robot was showcased at an awareness day at Northampton General Hospital (NGH) this week.
The £1.7m robot has now been used to perform more than 280 potentially life-saving cancer operations and - by using tiny key-hole techniques - helped patients to rapidly get back to normal life. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Government orders independent inquiry following Lucy Letby verdict
Government orders independent inquiry following Lucy Letby verdict The government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind the horrific murders and attempted murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, following the guilty verdict in the trial of former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby.
Launched to ensure vital lessons are learned and to provide answers to the parents and families impacted, the inquiry will investigate the wider circumstances around what happened at the Countess of Chester Hospital, including the handling of concerns and governance. It will also look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- BMA responds to Lucy Letby trial verdict BMA
- Lucy Letby found guilty of baby murders Crown Prosecution Service
- NHS Confederation responds to the government's announcement of an independent inquiry following the Lucy Letby verdict NHS Confederation
- Commenting on the verdict in the Lucy Letby trial NHS England
- NMC responds to verdict in Lucy Letby trial Nursing and Midwifery Council
- RCPCH responds to verdict in Lucy Letby trial Royal College of Paediatrics and Health
- Nurse Lucy Letby guilty of murdering seven babies on neonatal unit BBC News
- Nurse Lucy Letby to be sentenced for murdering seven babies BBC News
- Lucy Letby: Government orders independent inquiry BBC News
- Victims' parents: 'Letby is a hateful human being who took everything from us' BBC News
- ‘We have to get better at spotting these events’, says NHS investigation Chair Channel 4 News
- Wider inquiry into ‘culture of cover up’ in NHS needed, says patient rights campaigner Channel 4 News
- Senior NHS manager who 'ignored warnings about Lucy Letby while she was director of nursing at baby killer's hospital' is suspended after allegations made during murder trial The Daily Mail
- Sir Robert Francis: ‘This is not just about Lucy Letby – the NHS system doesn’t value safety’ The Daily Telegraph
- Consultants told to apologise to Lucy Letby for raising concerns, court told Evening Standard
- Faced with evil like Lucy Letby’s, we yearn for a rational explanation. Sometimes there is none | Polly Toynbee The Guardian
- Lucy Letby whistleblower: ‘Babies would have survived if hospital had acted sooner’ The Guardian
- Could Lucy Letby have been stopped sooner? Look at the timeline – and NHS history The Guardian
- Doctors were forced to apologise for raising alarm over Lucy Letby and baby deaths The Guardian
- Lessons the NHS needs to learn after Lucy Letby case The Guardian
- I’m a midwife – what happened with Lucy Letby can never be allowed to happen again The Independent
- Who is Lucy Letby? The 'average' nurse who became Britain's most notorious child killer Sky News
COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates
COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published an initial risk assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86. This variant was detected in the UK on Friday 18 August, and has also been identified in Israel, Denmark and the US. It has been designated as V-23AUG-01 for the purpose of UKHSA monitoring.
The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants. There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation. UK Health Security Agency
The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants. There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation. UK Health Security Agency
See also:
- 'Real deal' Covid variant is now in Britain: Patient is hospitalised in London with heavily-mutated BA.X strain - and experts think they caught it IN the UK The Daily Mail
- How rife is Covid in YOUR area? Timelapse map shows how cases have DOUBLED in a fortnight as health chiefs confirm 'real deal' variant is now in UK - and may have been spreading silently for weeks The Daily Mail
- New Covid variant causing concern among scientists detected in London The Guardian
- Updated Covid vaccines are nearly ready as alarm grows over new variant’s rapid spread The Independent
- New Covid variant with 'high number of mutations' identified in UK ITV News
- Eris, BA.2.86: Do I need to worry about COVID again? Reuters
- New COVID variant with 'high number of mutations' detected in UK Sky News
New test could speed up child illness diagnosis
New test could speed up child illness diagnosis A new approach to diagnosing illnesses in children could help doctors choose the right treatment in double-quick time, say the researchers behind it.
Working out what is causing a fever - a virus, bacterial infection or something else - is often difficult and tests can take days or weeks to come back.
The Imperial College London team says looking at gene patterns in someone's blood could speed up diagnosis.
Development of the test is still at an early stage. BBC News
See also:
- Diagnosis of childhood febrile illness using a multi-class blood RNA molecular signature (open access) Cell Press Med
Morrisons' bras and pants carry NHS cancer check label
Morrisons' bras and pants carry NHS cancer check label The NHS has teamed up with Morrisons supermarket to put extra labels in underwear reminding people to see their GP if they spot potential symptoms of breast or testicular cancer.
People should look out for lumps and bumps or "anything unusual".
The Nutmeg-branded boxer shorts and crop-top bras will be in 240 stores in England in the coming months. BBC News
FGM is leading cause of death in some nations, study finds
FGM is leading cause of death in some nations, study finds Female Genital Mutilation is a leading cause of death in the nations where it is carried out, according to a damning new study.
Researchers found a 50 per cent surge in the number of girls undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) causes over an estimated 44,000 excess deaths of women and young girls each year in countries where the practice occurs. The Independent
See also:
- Estimating excess mortality due to female genital mutilation (open access) Nature Scientific Reports
- FGM identified as a leading cause of death in African countries University of Birmingham
‘Inhumane’ NHS fees left more than 900 migrants without treatment
‘Inhumane’ NHS fees left more than 900 migrants without treatment Hundreds of migrants have declined NHS treatment after being presented with upfront charges over the past two years, amid complaints the government’s “hostile environment” on immigration remains firmly in place.
Data compiled by the Observer under the Freedom of Information Act shows that, since January 2021, 3,545 patients across 68 hospital trusts in England have been told they must pay upfront charges totalling £7.1m. Of those, 905 patients across 58 trusts did not proceed with treatment.
Britain's first menopause education programme launched by experts in bid to help women understand the changes to their bodies as research suggests 90% were never taught about it at school
Britain's first menopause education programme launched by experts in bid to help women understand the changes to their bodies as research suggests 90% were never taught about it at school Experts are launching the UK's first menopause education programme to help women understand changes their bodies go through.
Research suggests that more than 90 per cent of women were never taught about the menopause at school, while nearly two-thirds only started looking for information when they began to experience symptoms. The Daily Mail
Nearly four in ten GP surgeries set limits on the number of patients they will deal with each day, survey finds - as the BMA calls for doctors to only see 25 people a day and 'redirect' those who miss out to other services such as 111
Nearly four in ten GP surgeries set limits on the number of patients they will deal with each day, survey finds - as the BMA calls for doctors to only see 25 people a day and 'redirect' those who miss out to other services such as 111 Almost four in ten GP surgeries set a limit on the number of patients they will deal with each day.
The British Medical Association recommends GPs see up to 25 patients per day – a cap which was recently described as 'arbitrary' by NHS officials.
But a survey has found that 40 per cent of GP partners have a daily limit to the number of patients they will see – before redirecting them to other services. The Daily Mail
See also:
Meet the NHS doctor and social media sensation who is on a one-man mission to debunk rogue health myths peddled online (and you'll definitely enjoy one of his recommendations!)
Meet the NHS doctor and social media sensation who is on a one-man mission to debunk rogue health myths peddled online (and you'll definitely enjoy one of his recommendations!) You've probably seen his face, debunking quackery like taping your mouth shut will help you sleep.
But TikTok icon Dr Karan Raj, who has amassed millions of fans for his witty, punchy explainers, is one of the few reliable social media experts.
The Hampshire-based NHS surgeon, whose full name is Dr Karan Rangarajan, has shared thousands of videos online, tackling the endless stream of rogue health myths circulating on the web. The Daily Mail
Friday, 18 August 2023
Surgical robot used in 280 life-saving Northampton hospital operations
Surgical robot used in 280 life-saving Northampton hospital operations A "state-of-the-art" surgical robot has been used in more than 280 life-saving cancer operations, a hospital said.
Northampton General Hospital (NGH) invested £1.7m in the machine, which helps improve patient recovery times.
The robot operates in "hard-to-reach areas, with better outcomes for patients," NGH surgeon Mr Chandran Tanabalan said.
So far, it has been used in operations on prostate, uterine, rectal and bowel cancer and head and neck tumours. BBC Northampton
Can AI help put people firmly at the centre of their care?
Can AI help put people firmly at the centre of their care? The NHS.uk website averaged over 2,000 visitors per minute in 2022 and, while websites are hardly considered cutting edge, this technology is important to help make trusted and reliable health and care knowledge easily accessible to patients and the public. Web-based information, alongside access to medical records and personalised care initiatives, means people are potentially more informed to make decisions and be actively involved in their own care. The King's Fund
The state of integrated care systems 2022/23: riding the storm
The state of integrated care systems 2022/23: riding the storm This report aims to provide insights into the successes and challenges of integrated care systems (ICSs) one year after their formal establishment. Building on the Hewitt review and through engagement with NHS Confederation members, it identifies key recommendations that the NHS Confederation believes will give ICSs the conditions they need to deliver for the local population they serve. NHS Confederation
Overworked and undervalued: unmasking primary care physicians’ dissatisfaction in 10 high-income countries
Overworked and undervalued: unmasking primary care physicians’ dissatisfaction in 10 high-income countries This briefing explores primary care physician work satisfaction in the first year of the pandemic (2020 to 2021), drawing from the 2022 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians.
Across ten high-income countries, including the United Kingdom, it compares primary care physicians’ time spent with patients, number of patients seen, and job satisfaction. Commonwealth Fund
Extra £30m a year to boost research careers for healthcare professioanls
Extra £30m a year to boost research careers for healthcare professionals NIHR will spend an additional £30 million per year to increase research opportunities. It will include funding for a range of new and expanding programmes of activity. This will enable more healthcare professionals (HCPs) to include research in their careers. National Institute for Health Research
Cancer waiting times review – Models of care and measurement: consultation response
Cancer waiting times review – Models of care and measurement: consultation response This report sets out the wide-ranging support received through the national consultation on the proposed new standards for cancer care, and highlights some of the key considerations raised to support their successful implementation. It also sets out the final policy recommendations, and the next steps required by both the NHS and Government to implement them. NHS England
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Young people wait four times longer for liver transplants
Young people wait four times longer for liver transplants The system for allocating most liver transplants on the NHS is causing younger patients to wait longer for surgery, figures show.
There is a shortage of liver donors, so a computer algorithm decides who to prioritise on the waiting list.
Younger people are currently waiting 156 days longer on average for a transplant than patients over 60.
But NHS Blood and Transplant (NHS BT) says difficult decisions have to be made and the system is saving lives. BBC News
Mesh bowel patients call for publication of Bristol Spire Hospital report
Mesh bowel patients call for publication of Bristol Spire Hospital report Patients whose lives were damaged by surgery for bowel problems are calling for a long-awaited report to be published.
More than 200 patients underwent mesh bowel operations in Bristol that they might not have needed.
The surgery was carried out by Tony Dixon at Southmead Hospital and the private Spire Hospital, in Redland.
Mr Dixon has previously said that he is unable to comment while proceedings are ongoing. BBC News
WHO tracking new Covid variant BA. X amid fears it could lead to new explosion of cases
WHO tracking new Covid variant BA. X amid fears it could lead to new explosion of cases The World Health Organization (WHO) is monitoring a new coronavirus variant that could potentially lead to a rise in Covid-19 cases.
The BA.X strain which is also known as BA.2.86, was placed under the health body’s monitoring list on Thursday due to the “large number of mutations it carries”.
Only three cases of the new strain have been detected in Denmark and Israel and later another was found in the US. The Independent
See also:
- Flu and COVID-19 surveillance report published UK Health Security Agency
- Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 17 August 2023 World Health Organization
- Covid booster jabs to be approved for sale to UK public The Guardian
- New Covid wave has begun and masks should be worn again, scientists warn The Independent
- What is the 'Pi' COVID variant dubbed 'BA.6' – and should we be worried about it? Sky News
Medical neglect by London NHS trust contributed to suicide of girl, 12, rules coroner
Medical neglect by London NHS trust contributed to suicide of girl, 12, rules coroner Medical neglect and “gross failures” by a mental health trust contributed to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in a case that has highlighted national concerns about underfunding, a coroner has ruled.
Allison Aules from Redbridge, in north-east London, died in July last year after her mood changed completely during the Covid lockdown, her family told the inquest at an east London coroner’s court. The Guardian
Allison Aules from Redbridge, in north-east London, died in July last year after her mood changed completely during the Covid lockdown, her family told the inquest at an east London coroner’s court. The Guardian
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Met wins battle with NHS over not attending mental health calls
Met wins battle with NHS over not attending mental health calls The Metropolitan police has won its battle to stop attending most of the mental health calls it receives after a tense behind-the-scenes row with the health service, the Guardian has learned.
From 31 October the Met will start implementing a scheme that aims to stop officers being diverted from crime fighting to do work health staff are better trained for.
All GP surgeries to be given upgraded digital phone systems as part of £240million scheme aimed at ending the 8am scramble for appointments
All GP surgeries to be given upgraded digital phone systems as part of £240million scheme aimed at ending the 8am scramble for appointments All GP surgeries will be upgraded to new digital phone systems in a bid to take the stress out of the 8am scramble for appointments.
Callers will no longer be met with frustrating engaged tones and be forced to repeatedly redial when trying to get through to the surgery.
Instead, they will be added to a queue that informs them how many people are waiting and when they can expect their call to be answered. The Daily Mail
Apple Watch and Fitbit wristbands are 'hotbeds' for harmful bacteria, study reveals
Apple Watch and Fitbit wristbands are 'hotbeds' for harmful bacteria, study reveals Your Apple Watch or Fitbit wristband is a hotspot for harmful bacteria linked to fever, diarrhea and a weakened immune system, according to a new study.
Researchers swabbed a range of wristbands, finding they are teeming with E. coli and Staphylococcus spp, which can lead to pneumonia.
The tainted bands were made from plastic, rubber, cloth, leather and metal.
Esiobu singled out active, gym-going healthcare workers as a group that might especially wish to take heed of the study's findings in an effort to avoid infecting at-risk patients. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Prevalence and Disinfection of Bacteria Associated with Various Types of Wristbands (open access) Advances in Infectious Disease
Britain's baby bust laid bare: Births plummet to 20-YEAR low in trend partly blamed on cost-of-living crisis
Britain's baby bust laid bare: Births plummet to 20-YEAR low in trend partly blamed on cost-of-living crisis Births in England and Wales fell to their lowest level in two decades in 2022, official figures show.
Around 600,000 live births were logged between the two nations last year — 3.1 per cent fewer than 2021.
The figure has been in freefall for a decade, apart from a blip during 2021 put down to a mini baby 'bounce' by couples who put their family plans on hold at the start of the Covid pandemic. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Births in England and Wales: 2022 Office for National Statistics
Thursday, 17 August 2023
Northamptonshire charity joins forces with national charity to provide greater support to families of disabled children
Northamptonshire charity joins forces with national charity to provide greater support to families of disabled children A Northamptonshire charity that provides emotional support to parents of severely ill or disabled children has partnered with Together for Short Lives, the country’s leading charity for children's palliative care, to offer more support to families. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
‘Health week’ can’t hide slow progress on Rishi Sunak’s NHS pledge
‘Health week’ can’t hide slow progress on Rishi Sunak’s NHS pledge The government’s ‘health week’ is the latest summer attempt by No10 to get on the front foot. Ministers are keen to talk up policy initiatives, but this is also an opportunity to evaluate the government’s progress against Rishi Sunak’s promise to “cut NHS waiting lists”. With a general election approaching, there has been little improvement in many of the major indicators across the service and the biggest drag on performance – ongoing industrial action – remains an unresolved problem. The Institute for Government
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Homeworking and agile/hybrid working in the NHS
Homeworking and agile/hybrid working in the NHS The NHS Staff Council, on behalf of NHS trade unions and employers, have agreed to incorporate a home and agile/hybrid working framework into the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (NHS TCS) Handbook (Section 35). NHS Employers
Policy paper: Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework
Policy paper: Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework Ahead of the government's forthcoming major conditions strategy, this report sets out our approach to tackling the groups of conditions that drive ill health in England. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- The major conditions strategy - just another NHS plan? NHS Confederation
- NHS Confederation responds to the major conditions strategy case for change and strategic framework NHS Confederation
- Response to the Major Conditions Strategy report Nuffield Trust
£210 million to tackle deadly antimicrobial resistance
£210 million to tackle deadly antimicrobial resistance State of the art laboratories, cutting-edge disease surveillance systems, and a bigger global workforce to tackle deadly antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be backed by up to £210 million of funding, the government has announced.
The funding - from the government’s UK aid budget - will support the Fleming Fund’s activities to tackle AMR in countries across Asia and Africa over the next 3 years, helping to reduce the threat it poses to the UK and globally. Department of Health and Social Care
The funding - from the government’s UK aid budget - will support the Fleming Fund’s activities to tackle AMR in countries across Asia and Africa over the next 3 years, helping to reduce the threat it poses to the UK and globally. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- Consultation outcome: Antimicrobial resistance national action plan - call for evidence Department of Health and Social Care
Junior doctors in Scotland accept new pay offer
Junior doctors in Scotland accept new pay offer Scotland's junior doctors have voted to accept a pay offer from the Scottish government.
The deal will include a 12.4% pay increase for 2023/24.
This is in addition to a wage rise of 4.5% for 2022/23 with ministers also promising talks on future pay increases.
Junior doctors had been planning to take strike action before the latest pay offer was made by Scottish ministers. BBC News
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Steve Barclay wrong to say NHS consultants get tax-free pensions, admits UK government
Steve Barclay wrong to say NHS consultants get tax-free pensions, admits UK government Steve Barclay, the health secretary, got it wrong when he claimed in an interview this week that NHS consultants received tax-free pensions, the Department of Health has admitted.
Barclay had come under fire after trying to defend the government’s stance on junior doctors’ pay demands in England by claiming that consultants retiring at 65 would get a tax-free pension of more than £73,000 a year. The Guardian
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How high are Covid rates in England and what are the vaccination plans?
How high are Covid rates in England and what are the vaccination plans? With Covid in the UK on the rise once more, we take a look at the current situation and what the plans are for vaccination.
While many of the community surveillance studies tracking Covid infection levels have been wound up, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to keep tabs on some metrics of Covid.
According to the most recent UKHSA report, from late July, Covid case rates and positivity rates picked up through hospital testing in England increased while hospitalisations also rose, with the latter up to 1.97 per 100,000 people compared with 1.47 the week before. The Guardian
See also:
- Research: SARS-CoV-2: genome sequence prevalence and growth rate UK Health Security Agency
- Should we be worried about Covid this winter? BBC News
- Covid-19: Infections climb globally as EG.5 variant gains ground The BMJ
- Here comes the 'real deal'! Scientists raise alarm over new Covid variant and call for return of face masks The Daily Mail
- Have YOU suffered from 'pre-Covid'? Phenomenon that sees symptoms appear week before positive test is on the rise again as variant Eris sweeps US The Daily Mail
- Covid vaccines should be available to buy privately in UK, scientists say The Guardian
- New Covid wave has begun and masks should be worn again, scientists warn The Independent
- Covid symptoms: 800,000 Brits reportedly infected with Eris Times Series
NHS insists controversial move to slash cancer targets down from 10 to THREE will see patients diagnosed and treated quicker despite huge backlash
NHS insists controversial move to slash cancer targets down from 10 to THREE will see patients diagnosed and treated quicker despite huge backlash The NHS has vowed to diagnose and treat cancer patients quicker after ministers accepted its request to streamline performance targets.
The controversial reforms will see the number of cancer waiting time indicators that hospitals are measured against slashed from ten to three.
Health chiefs argue the changes 'reflect what matters most to patients' and will improve care by reducing bureaucracy and 'aligning with modern clinical practice'. The Daily Mail
See also:
- Widespread clinical support for reforming NHS cancer standards to speed up diagnosis for patients NHS England
- Two-thirds of NHS cancer targets to be scrapped by autumn Evening Standard
- A million patients hit by delays to cancer care in last 10 months The Guardian
- Strikes will make new cancer targets more difficult to meet, top medic warns The Independent
- NHS England cancer targets to be cut by two-thirds from Autumn, government confirms ITV News
- Which cancer targets may be scrapped - and what would it mean for the NHS? Sky News
Taking morning after pill alongside a 30p tablet given to arthritis sufferers can make it work 50% BETTER, study finds
Taking morning after pill alongside a 30p tablet given to arthritis sufferers can make it work 50% BETTER, study finds The morning after pill works better when taken alongside a drug usually given to patients with arthritis, researchers have found.
Levonorgestrel, sold as Levonelle in Britain or Plan B in the US, was found to be 63 per cent effective on its own.
This jumped to 95 per cent when given with piroxicam, an anti-inflammatory drug that costs around 30p a tablet. The Daily Mail
See also:
Wednesday, 16 August 2023
50 people diagnosed with skin cancer as more than 600 attend surveillance event at Kettering General Hospital
50 people diagnosed with skin cancer as more than 600 attend surveillance event at Kettering General Hospital Skin specialists at KGH are asking local people to be aware of the cancer dangers of sun exposure this summer and to cover-up and be careful.
The advice follows a skin surveillance day held by the hospital from May 3 to 5 at Prospect House in Kettering, attended by 633 members of the public.
Of those some 50 were diagnosed with a skin cancer of some kind, including the most serious, and potentially life-threatening kind of cancer, malignant melanoma. Northamptonshire Telegraph
Social health insurance: be careful what you wish for
Social health insurance: be careful what you wish for The British public is unhappy with the state of NHS services but remains wedded to its funding model: tax funded and largely free at the point of use. That hasn’t stopped calls to reform the way the NHS is paid for and adopt a version of the social health insurance systems common elsewhere in Europe.
Social health insurance looks different in different nations, but there are common features. People pay contributions to non-governmental bodies, separate from the tax system, with a significant proportion of social health insurance revenue coming from employers and employees.
What would it mean if the NHS was switched to a social insurance system? This blog looks at some of the policy choices that might arise based on the evolution of three European health systems: Germany, France and the Netherlands. The Health Foundation
Strengthening perinatal mental health: A roadmap to the right support at the right time
Strengthening perinatal mental health: A roadmap to the right support at the right time The Royal College of Midwives is warning that vital perinatal mental health support is on the precipice, as it launches a new ‘roadmap’ to ensure women receive the support they need and to improve perinatal mental health care in the UK.
Released today, ‘Strengthening perinatal mental health’ makes for sobering reading. One in five women will experience mental health issues during pregnancy and up to a year after birth, ranging from anxiety and depression to more significant illness. Furthermore, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in new mothers up to the first year after giving birth. Despite this, it’s all too clear that mental health needs remain secondary to physical health needs of women during pregnancy in our NHS.
Wellbeing and inclusion: how ambulance trusts are seeking improvements for staff
Wellbeing and inclusion: how ambulance trusts are seeking improvements for staff This long-read explores how ambulance trusts are seeking to support and improve the wellbeing of their workforce. NHS Providers
NHS launches lifesaving campaign to help people spot a heart attack
NHS launches lifesaving campaign to help people spot a heart attack The NHS is launching a lifesaving campaign to encourage people to call 999 when they are having early signs of a heart attack, as admissions for heart attack return to pre-pandemic levels.
The campaign will teach people about the common signs of a heart attack that are often dismissed or ignored by people.
NHS figures show that there were more than 84,000 hospital heart attack admissions in England during 2021/22, up by more than 7,000 compared to the previous year when fewer people came forward for care during the pandemic. NHS England
NHS: Is Wales worse than England for waiting lists?
NHS: Is Wales worse than England for waiting lists? A row has broken out about hospital waiting lists in Wales and England.
The Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan accused her English counterpart Steve Barclay of a "naked political hit".
Mr Barclay said he was open to requests to help treat long-waiting Welsh patients over the border.
Ms Morgan said England had issues of its own, but admitted NHS Wales was "challenged in terms of waiting lists".
But what can we tell about the two? BBC News
The Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan accused her English counterpart Steve Barclay of a "naked political hit".
Mr Barclay said he was open to requests to help treat long-waiting Welsh patients over the border.
Ms Morgan said England had issues of its own, but admitted NHS Wales was "challenged in terms of waiting lists".
But what can we tell about the two? BBC News
Number of children in mental health crisis at record high in England
Number of children in mental health crisis at record high in England The number of children in mental health crisis has reached record levels in England, analysis of NHS data by the mental health charity YoungMinds shows.
For the first time, urgent referrals of under-18s to mental health crisis teams reached more than 3,500 in May, three times higher than in May 2019. And in the year to March 2023 there were 21,555 urgent referrals to mental health crisis teams, up 46% on 2022, the charity found.
These are children with the most acute mental health symptoms, who might otherwise need to go to hospital for psychosis, severe self-harm or suicide attempts. The Guardian
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Patients could get cancer scans without GP referral, says Steve Barclay
Patients could get cancer scans without GP referral, says Steve Barclay Patients with cancer symptoms could bypass their GP in the future and go straight for a scan, the health secretary has suggested, in the latest “radical” attempt by the government to cut huge NHS waiting lists.
The suggestion, which comes as the government is expected to reduce the number of NHS cancer waiting time targets, could form part of proposals to “design out bottlenecks” in the NHS system, Steve Barclay said in an interview. The Guardian
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Health minister says Stonewall should not write gender policies for NHS bodies
Health minister says Stonewall should not write gender policies for NHS bodies Stonewall has defended its work with public bodies after a health minister said that the charity should not be allowed to write gender policies for NHS organisations.
The health minister Will Quince said on Tuesday that NHS trusts should develop their own policies “without the help of organisations like Stonewall”, claiming that there was a danger of “ideology” coming before the concerns of patients and staff. The Guardian
Men can cut the risk of nine cancers with certain exercises, study finds
Men can cut the risk of nine cancers with certain exercises, study finds Male joggers, swimmers and cyclists could be cutting their risk of nine cancers, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that men with good cardiorespiratory fitness are far less likely to go on to develop cancers of the head and neck, stomach, pancreas, liver, bowel, rectum, kidney, lung and oesophagus. The Independent
See also:
- Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness in youth and the incidence of site-specific cancer in men: a cohort study with register linkage (open access) British Journal of Sports Medicine
An insulin nose spray could help improve the memory of Alzheimer's sufferers
An insulin nose spray could help improve the memory of Alzheimer's sufferers Spraying the hormone insulin up the nose could help improve memory in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
A new study suggests patients using an insulin nasal spray were more likely to remember lists of words and the names of objects.
The theory is that once the hormone has been squirted into the nostrils, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream and is carried to the brain, where it clears the harmful deposits, called amyloid plaque, which are thought to be responsible for the incurable condition. The Daily Mail
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Chaos as £40million pilot scheme for Wegovy is delayed indefinitely due to unprecedented demand for 'game-changing' weight-loss jab
Chaos as £40million pilot scheme for Wegovy is delayed indefinitely due to unprecedented demand for 'game-changing' weight-loss jab A £40million pilot scheme at the heart of the Government's anti-obesity strategy has been delayed due to a major shortage of weight-loss jabs.
But soaring global demand for the drug — sold by Danish firm Novo Nordisk under the brand name Wegovy - has delayed both its launch on the NHS and the two-year programme indefinitely. The Daily Mail
Ministers announced in June that GPs would supply semaglutide to tens of thousands of patients in a bid to improve their health and cut hospital waiting lists.
Tuesday, 15 August 2023
Northampton nurse up for prestigious UK accolade for transforming awareness of PPE waste
Northampton nurse up for prestigious UK accolade for transforming awareness of PPE waste A nurse who slashed unnecessary PPE use by breaking pandemic working habits is up for a prestigious award.
Holly Slyne, Associate Director of Infection Prevention at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, has been selected from 920 entries as a finalist in the Greener Nursing Practice category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2023. Northampton Chronicle and Echo
The little girl who's been trapped in Kettering General Hospital for ten months because of a lack of social housing
The little girl who's been trapped in Kettering General Hospital for ten months because of a lack of social housing A young girl has been living at Kettering General Hospital for ten months because her own home is not fit for her to return to.
Kyra, who lives near Wellingborough, is trapped at the Rothwell Road site because there’s no suitable social housing in North Northamptonshire for her to go to. Northamptonshire Telegraph
How much public spending does each area receive? Local authority level estimates of health, police, school and local government spending
How much public spending does each area receive? Local authority level estimates of health, police, school and local government spending In 2022–23, more than £245 billion was spent on delivering five key public services across England: the NHS, schools, local government, the police and public health. This funding was used to deliver services to people in specific places. The scale of this spending and the important contribution these public services can make to individuals’ life chances make it vital that funding for public services is allocated in an effective and fair manner.
In this report, we estimate the total funding available for five services in each local authority area in England in 2022–23. Indeed, we find per capita funding does vary significantly between areas. Typically, areas that receive more per capita funding for one service also receive above-average funding for other services. More-deprived and more densely populated (typically more urban) places receive more funding per capita on average across all the services we examine. Institute for Fiscal Studies
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£250 million to boost NHS capacity with 900 new beds
£250 million to boost NHS capacity with 900 new beds Nine hundred new hospital beds will be delivered across the NHS as part of £250 million government funding to help treat patients more quickly this winter, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, has announced today.
The funding has been awarded to NHS trusts to relieve pressures and help cut waiting lists, one of the government’s top five priorities. Department of Health and Social Care
See also:
- Funding for additional beds welcome but questions remain regarding how they will be staffed NHS Confederation
- NHS Providers responds to £250m NHS capacity boost NHS Providers
- £250m funding for more hospital beds in England this winter BBC News
- The NHS is set to receive £250 million to open 900 new hospital beds in a drive to cut waiting times The Daily Mail
- Government hands NHS £250m in bid to tackle waiting times The Independent
- NHS handed £250m to tackle waiting times - but fresh funding labelled 'sticking plaster' after cuts Sky News
Policy paper: Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework
Policy paper: Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework Following the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s commitment to publish a major conditions strategy, this government report sets out the case for change and strategic framework for the final strategy.
The final strategy will aim to improve outcomes and better meet the needs of our ageing population living with an increasing number of conditions. Department of Health and Social Care
The final strategy will aim to improve outcomes and better meet the needs of our ageing population living with an increasing number of conditions. Department of Health and Social Care
NHS delivers another record year of lifesaving cancer checks for patients
NHS delivers another record year of lifesaving cancer checks for patients The number of people receiving lifesaving checks for cancer in the last year has hit nearly three million (2.92m) – more than any other year on record.
In June alone, over a quarter of a million people (261,000) were seen for urgent cancer checks by the NHS, which is well over double the number of people checked in the same month a decade ago (101,592). NHS England
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