NHS has spent £4million paying property taxes for EMPTY buildings in last three years

NHS has spent £4million paying property taxes for EMPTY buildings in last three years The NHS has spent almost £4million paying property taxes on empty buildings in just three years, official figures reveal.

Dozens of hospitals, more than 15 GP surgeries and nursing homes and 22 office blocks are lying vacant, according to statistics from NHS Property Services.

The figure, uncovered by a Freedom of Information request from the TaxPayers' Alliance, could pay for around 120 junior doctors or 140 newly-qualified nurses. The Daily Mail

Fears over safety of YOUR sensitive data as shock probe reveals bungling NHS staff have wrongly handed over confidential data hundreds of times in last two years

Fears over safety of YOUR sensitive data as shock probe reveals bungling NHS staff have wrongly handed over confidential data hundreds of times in last two years Bungling NHS staff have wrongly disclosed confidential data hundreds of times in the last two years.

Never-before-seen data, obtained by MailOnline, reveals 1,600 data breaches have been logged in the health service across the UK since 2021. 

Breaches include staff faxing or emailing sensitive details to the wrong person and leaving documents lying around. The Daily Mail

NHS performance tracker

NHS performance tracker The waiting list to start elective (planned) care has risen further, now exceeding 7.57 million. 

Despite the target to have no more people waiting over 65 weeks to start elective treatment by March 2024, the number of people waiting this long is over 97,000.

In June, 41% of patients who had their first treatment for cancer following an urgent GP referral waited longer than two months, with a long-term trajectory of worsening performance.

Trolley waits (the time between a decision to admit a patient and them being admitted) of over 4 hours decreased from 114,000 in June 2023 to 110,000 in July 2023 – the best performance since September 2021. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the latest NHS performance statistics The King's Fund
• NHS Confederation responds to the latest performance statistics for the NHS in England NHS Confederation
• NHS on track for busiest summer on record NHS England
• Pledge to bring down NHS waits looks even more out of reach Nuffield Trust
• Hospital waiting list tops 7.5 million in England BBC News
• Busiest summer EVER for crippled NHS as strike carnage sends waiting list to all-time high of 7.6 MILLION The Daily Mail
• More funding for cancer needed to overcome ‘deadly delays’ Evening Standard
• Record 7.6 million people in England waiting for NHS treatment The Guardian
• What the latest NHS performance figures show The Independent
• NHS waiting lists hit new record high despite Rishi Sunak pledge The Independent
• NHS data: Number of people waiting to start routine hospital treatment in England at record high Sky News

Growing numbers of delayed discharges from community hospitals

Growing numbers of delayed discharges from community hospitals Community hospitals play a very important role in supporting patients but, unlike with larger hospitals, little has been known until now about how they struggle with delayed discharges. Following a freedom of information request, this chart of the week from Emma Dodsworth reveals the number of patients experiencing delays leaving community hospitals, and highlights the capacity challenges such hospitals face. Nuffield Trust

The future of community pharmacy: four key ingredients for success

The future of community pharmacy: four key ingredients for success At a recent roundtable event, supported by Novartis, we discussed the future of community pharmacy with pharmacy, policy, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and primary care leaders.

As the new arrangements for commissioning community pharmacy services become established, we explored how integrated care boards (ICBs) might develop their planning and commissioning, and transform care pathways to deliver improved community pharmacy services. As we talked four key themes developed. The King's Fund

National Audit of Dementia care in general hospitals 2022-2023 : round 5 audit report

National Audit of Dementia care in general hospitals 2022-2023 : round 5 audit report This report presents the results of the fifth round of audit data. For the first time, the audit has been undertaken prospectively (which will enable hospitals to take earlier action to improve patient care and experience), however, this has demonstrated that many hospitals still have no ready mechanism to identify people with dementia once admitted. One notable improvement found is delirium screening (dementia is the biggest risk factor for developing delirium). However, the report also shines a light on a need for more training. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership

Diagnostic imaging reporting turnaround times

Diagnostic imaging reporting turnaround times Turnaround time (TAT) in imaging is the interval between an imaging examination and a verified report being made available to the referring clinician. Keeping TATs as short as possible is essential for the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients. Developed in consultation with and supported by the Royal College of Radiologists and The Society of Radiographers, this document sets out national turnaround time (TAT) guidance in England for imaging reporting TATs across clinical pathways, including the maximum timeframe within which all imaging must be reported. NHS England

We can't take any more, says NHS as doctors strike

We can't take any more, says NHS as doctors strike Junior doctors have started a four-day walkout, with health bosses warning the NHS cannot take any more disruption.

The strike by members of the British Medical Association (BMA) began at 07:00 BST and lasts until Tuesday.

It is the junior doctors' fifth strike in the pay dispute in England.

NHS Providers said services were at tipping point because covering the junior doctor strikes had cost an estimated £1bn, as well leading to thousands of postponed treatments. BBC News

See also:

• New junior doctors implore the government to come to the table as fresh round of strikes begin in England BMA
• NHS leaders warn that recorded cancellations as a result of industrial action are ‘the tip of the iceberg’ NHS Confederation
• How much do junior doctors really get paid in England? BBC News
• EXCLUSIVE: Striking doctors are just 'harming' patients says Health Secretary Steve Barclay in his strongest rebuke yet as medics walk out AGAIN despite NHS waiting lists hitting record high The Daily Mail
• Fears NHS strikes causing double the number of reported cancellations Evening Standard
• Junior doctors in England launch fifth round of industrial action The Guardian
• ‘Daunted’: new junior doctors in England voice worries as strike begins The Guardian
• Junior doctors begin fifth walkout - some of those striking only started their jobs two weeks ago Sky News

What we know about the Covid variant EG.5 dubbed 'Eris'

What we know about the Covid variant EG.5 dubbed 'Eris' The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a new sub-variant of Covid called EG.5 - unofficially named "Eris" - a variant of interest and is asking countries to monitor it as cases grow globally.

But the organisation says it poses a low risk to public health, with no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other variants circulating at the moment. BBC News

Nice recommends use of AI in NHS radiotherapy treatment in England

Nice recommends use of AI in NHS radiotherapy treatment in England Patients in England having radiotherapy are likely to have part of their treatment performed with the aid of artificial intelligence after its use to help NHS clinicians was recommended for the first time.

Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has given approval to nine AI technologies for performing external beam radiotherapy in lung, prostate and colorectal cancers, in a move it believes could save radiographers hundreds of thousands of hours and help relieve the “severe pressure” on radiotherapy departments. The Guardian

See also:

• Artificial intelligence technologies to speed up contouring in radiotherapy treatment planning National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• AI is set to be used in NHS hospitals for the first time after health regulator gives the green light for its deployment in radiology departments The Daily Mail
• AI could be used to detect major complications of diabetes by scanning a patient's eyes The Daily Mail
• AI-powered eye test ‘could become screening tool for all diabetics’ Evening Standard
• AI platforms recommended for use to save doctors time The Independent

Record £1.5BILLION was spent on dishing out diabetes drugs last year amid ever-growing obesity crisis

Record £1.5BILLION was spent on dishing out diabetes drugs last year amid ever-growing obesity crisis A record £1.5billion was spent on diabetes drugs last year, shock figures revealed today.

Costs of prescribing medication like metformin and insulin have jumped by 50 per cent in the last five years. One in every seven pounds spent on prescriptions is now for diabetes. 

The spiraling fees to the NHS come as obesity rates have soared, with two-thirds of adults now considered fat. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Prescribing for Diabetes – England – 2015/16 to 2022/23 NHS Business Services Authority
• Pharmaceutical titan Novo Nordisk rakes in record £4.5BILLION due to success of its game-changing weight loss jabs Ozempic and Wegovy The Daily Mail 

Microplastics used in food packaging are discovered in human HEARTS for first time

Microplastics used in food packaging are discovered in human HEARTS for first time Microplastics used in food packaging and paint have been discovered in the human heart for the first time.

The particles, which are less than five millimeters long, are shed by single-use plastics such as bottles and food packaging, then released into the air, water and food around us. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Detection of Various Microplastics in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery (abstract) Environmental Science & Technology

Smear tests: 'Five minutes could save your life'

Smear tests: 'Five minutes could save your life' A woman diagnosed with cervical cancer after a smear test has urged everyone eligible to book regular screenings.

Invites are sent to women aged between 25 and 64, but NHS records showed 30% were not up-to-date with their tests.

Sophie Palmer, 35, from Northampton, was given the all-clear after a radical hysterectomy and was alarmed so many women were missing out on screening.

She said: "That's just crazy. It takes five minutes and it's five minutes that could save your life." BBC Northampton

System risk management: key considerations for evolving arrangements

System risk management: key considerations for evolving arrangements Integrated care systems (ICSs) are developing their approach to system risk management following the enactment of the Health and Care Act 2022. NHS organisations and their partners are working to understand system risks, accountability and the impact on partnership decision-making. The fundamentals of good risk management are the same for both organisations and systems. But system risk management is more complex in that it requires partners to align their strategic understanding, risk appetite and risk management processes. This joint briefing from the HFMA and the Good Governance Institute (GGI) aims to support systems as they work on system risk management. It includes two case studies and sets out the key challenges, opportunities and considerations involved in effective system risk management. Healthcare Financial Management Association

Best practice timed diagnostic cancer pathways: practical guidance for clinicians to maximise use of NHS Cancer pathways for the benefit of patients

Best practice timed diagnostic cancer pathways: practical guidance for clinicians to maximise use of NHS Cancer pathways for the benefit of patients GIRFT and the NHS England Cancer Programme have co-produced this guide, outlining how cancer alliances and constituent organisations can implement NHSE’s best practice timed pathways for cancer, with insights from the relevant GIRFT national clinical leads. The guide summarises the key guidance documents available to NHS colleagues, with links provided. Getting It Right First Time

Experts to lead AI Safety Summit preparations as new funding announced to modernise healthcare

Experts to lead AI Safety Summit preparations as new funding announced to modernise healthcare Two leading experts have been appointed to spearhead preparations for the UK to host the first major international summit of its kind on the safe use of artificial intelligence, as the Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan announces £13 million to transform healthcare research. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

See also:

• £13m allocated for research into use of artificial intelligence in healthcare Evening Standard
• UK allocates £13m to boost use of artificial intelligence in healthcare The Independent

NHS launches hospital matching platform to bring down longest waits

NHS launches hospital matching platform to bring down longest waits Thousands of patients who need NHS treatment could be quickly and easily allocated to hospitals that can take on their care thanks to a new online ‘matching’ platform.

As part of efforts to reduce the covid backlog, the easy-to-use tool allows NHS staff to view and add available surgery slots in hospitals across the country, including independent sector capacity.

Clinical teams can upload details of patients on their waiting list who are willing to travel, with other NHS and independent sector providers able to log on and ‘match’ people up to treatment. NHS England

See also: 

• Tinder for the NHS! Health chiefs will match patients with hospitals with shorter waits further from home in bid to clear record Covid backlogs The Daily Mail
• NHS patients will be able to travel to other hospitals to skip treatment queues The Daily Telegraph
• Patients who can travel given opportunity to skip NHS queues Evening Standard
• More patients to be able to skip NHS waiting lists - if they can travel for treatment Sky News

NHS braced for further disruption during latest junior doctor strike

NHS braced for further disruption during latest junior doctor strike The NHS is facing another period of significant disruption this week, with potentially thousands more appointments and procedures postponed due to the latest round of industrial action by junior doctors.

From 7am on Friday 11 August until 7am on Tuesday 15 August, junior doctors across England will be on strike, as the NHS enters the ninth month of industrial action across its services. NHS England

See also:

• NHS leaders warn that recorded cancellations as a result of industrial action are ‘the tip of the iceberg’ NHS Confederation
• End doctors' pay dispute, says Bristol's hospital boss BBC News
• Junior doctors strike August 2023: Why are they taking action? Evening Standard
• NHS leaders urge people to 'use services wisely' as junior doctors strike for 5th time iNews

NHS enforcement guidance

NHS enforcement guidance This guidance outlines how NHS England intends to exercise its enforcement powers for both integrated care boards (ICBs) and providers, by setting out how it would use these powers to direct an ICB and the licence enforcement mechanisms that apply to foundation trusts, NHS trusts, licensed independent providers of NHS services and licensed NHS controlled providers. It explains the regulatory and statutory processes in the event of enforcement action and the subsequent rights of appeal. NHS England

Weight-loss drug reduces stroke and heart risk

Weight-loss drug reduces stroke and heart risk A weight-loss drug has been proven to also reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack, according to a new trial.

The makers of Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, say its latest study shows it cuts risk of a cardiovascular event in overweight people with heart disease by a fifth.

The firm hailed it a "landmark trial", saying it would change the way obesity is regarded and treated.

While the findings still have to be fully reviewed, experts agreed the results were potentially significant. BBC News

See also:

• Semaglutide 2.4 mg reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity in the SELECT trial Novo Nordisk
• Wegovy: Weight loss injections can lower heart attack and stroke risk in obese people by a fifth, research suggests Sky News