This is how we should rebuild the NHS

This is how we should rebuild the NHS The government loves a good driving analogy, doesn’t it? Roads and maps are particular favourites – the last two years have been full of them. We’ve had road maps for just about everything from recovering London’s economy to “coming out of” Covid; and the latest has been a “road to recovery” plan for the NHS as it moves forward and “out” of the pandemic. The Independent

See also:

• How can the NHS weather its summer storm? The Independent
• Children’s health waiting lists rising double the rate of adults, top doctor warns The Independent

London NHS trust cancels operations as IT system fails in heatwave

London NHS trust cancels operations as IT system fails in heatwave One of the NHS’s biggest hospital trusts is facing major problems after its IT system failed because of the extreme temperatures earlier this week.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ trust (GSTT) in London has had to cancel operations, postpone appointments and divert seriously ill patients to other hospitals in the capital as a result of its IT meltdown. The Guardian

Watchdog fines Pfizer and Flynn £70m for overcharging NHS for epilepsy drug

Watchdog fines Pfizer and Flynn £70m for overcharging NHS for epilepsy drug The drug makers Pfizer and Flynn Pharma have been fined a total of £70m for overcharging the NHS for a life-saving epilepsy drug.

The UK’s competition watchdog fined New York-based Pfizer £63m and imposed a £6.7m penalty on Flynn, a smaller UK pharmaceutical firm based in Stevenage. Both companies said they would appeal. The Guardian

‘A giant step’: charities welcome plan to widen access to IVF on NHS

‘A giant step’: charities welcome plan to widen access to IVF on NHS The government’s decision to remove additional barriers some LGBTQ couples face in accessing NHS-funded fertility treatments has been welcomed by charities and equalities organisations.

Under current rules, heterosexual couples can access NHS-funded fertility treatments once they demonstrate that they have been trying to conceive naturally for a period of time. The Guardian

Surgeons do multiple operations at same time under policy to combat record-length NHS waiting lists

Surgeons do multiple operations at same time under policy to combat record-length NHS waiting lists Surgeons are helping to perform multiple operations at the same time under a controversial policy aimed at combating record NHS waiting lists.

So-called ‘overlapping surgery’ sees a single senior surgeon split their time across two theatres, with juniors starting and completing the operation.

It allows them to focus on the critical parts of the procedure and reduces the time they waste waiting for anaesthetists and other staff to prepare and sedate patients. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The effect of overlapping surgical scheduling on operating theatre productivity: a narrative review (open access) Anaesthesia
• NHS staff find innovative way to tackle surgery waiting lists Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust

Ambulance trust asks staff to work for FREE: Anger erupts over volunteer scheme

Ambulance trust asks staff to work for FREE: Anger erupts over volunteer scheme Paramedics have been asked to treat patients for free in their spare time amid the NHS ambulance crisis. 

The controversial scheme, unveiled by the East of England Ambulance Service, is entirely voluntary.

It will see medics rush to the scene of the most seriously ill 999 calls in their local area. The Daily Mail 

KGH on black alert as pressure forces them to open more beds

KGH on black alert as pressure forces them to open more beds Kettering General Hospital was forced to find more beds yesterday after a significant rise in A&E patients left them on black alert.

The trust declared an internal incident and was at escalation level Opel 4 – the highest level of operational pressure – where the strain leaves organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Knife-crime campaigners gift more bleed cabinets to Northampton, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough

Knife-crime campaigners gift more bleed cabinets to Northampton, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough More bleed control cabinets containing lifesaving equipment are coming to Northampton, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough thanks to a group set up to tackle knife crime in Northamptonshire.

The 17 new cabinets contain medical items to stop catastrophic bleeding and keep someone alive until emergency services arrive. Northamptonshire Telegraph

NHS leaders facing real-terms cut in funding and ‘impossible choices’ over which areas of patient care to cut back

NHS leaders facing real-terms cut in funding and ‘impossible choices’ over which areas of patient care to cut back The health service is facing a real-terms cut in funding of between £4 billion and £9.4 billion this year, new NHS Confederation analysis has found.

NHS leaders face impossible choices over whether to cut patient care or reduce investment in much needed diagnostic capacity and new technology after a series of unexpected cost pressures, including a new pay award for staff, left the NHS facing its first real terms cut in funding.

See also:

• NHS services may have to be cut to fund pay award BBC News
• Average GP practice faces £40,000 loss after unfunded pay award GPonline
• NHSE: ICSs must cut agency spend by 10pc or more (log in required) Health Service Journal
• Bosses face 'impossible choices' over cost pressures, says NHS Confederation The Independent
• Cancer backlog ‘vulnerable’ to pay deal cuts at ‘worst possible time’ The Independent

Ill-equipped prisons and lack of health care access leave pregnant prisoners and their children at significant risk

Ill-equipped prisons and lack of health care access leave pregnant prisoners and their children at significant risk A lack of appropriate maternity facilities and staffing is putting women in prison at significant risk of pre-term labour, missed midwifery appointments, and without appropriate support for mothers and young children dealing with the severe impact of separation. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Inequality on the inside: Using hospital data to understand the key health care issues for women in prison Nuffield Trust

Coping with Covid in Prison: the impact of prisoner lockdown

Coping with Covid in Prison: the impact of prisoner lockdown 1 in 3 prisoners show symptoms of “severe anxiety disorder” indicating high levels of post-traumatic stress

‘Coping with Covid in Prisons’ research has found Covid-response measures led to periods of prolonged solitary confinement across the prison population, resulting in dramatically increased levels of anxiety and depression.

The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, was a partnership between the ex-offender led charity User Voice and social scientists at the Queen’s University Belfast. User Voice

See also:

• UK prisoners ‘traumatised’ by Covid solitary confinement, study says The Guardian

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UKHSA procures more than 100,000 additional vaccine doses and updates close contact guidance as monkeypox cases rise to 2,137

UKHSA has published the latest epidemiological overview for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

It shows that as of 18 July 2022, there were 2,137 confirmed cases in the UK. Of these, 2,050 are in England. UK Health Security Agency

See also: 

• Guidance: Monkeypox: people who are isolating at home UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Principles for monkeypox control in the UK: 4 nations consensus statement UK Health Security Agency

Better Care Fund policy framework: 2022 to 2023

Better Care Fund policy framework: 2022 to 2023 This document sets out the agreed way in which the Better Care Fund (BCF) will be implemented in the financial year 2022 to 2023. 

BCF plans are jointly developed by health and social care partners in every area in England and support integrated, person-centred care in communities.

The policy framework is intended for use by those responsible for delivering the Better Care Fund at a local level (such as integrated care boards, local authorities, health and wellbeing boards) and NHS England. Department of Health and Social Care

Parents urged to help their kids get active over the summer holidays with the 10 Minute Shake Up

Parents urged to help their kids get active over the summer holidays with the 10 Minute Shake Up Parents of primary school children across England are being encouraged to get their kids active over the summer holidays, as the government relaunches its 10 Minute Shake Up campaign. Department of Health and Social Care

Transformational therapy cures haemophilia B

Transformational therapy cures haemophilia B A "transformational" therapy has effectively cured people with the bleeding disorder haemophilia B, say British doctors.

The treatment corrects a genetic defect that leaves people's blood struggling to clot and stop bleeding.

Elliott Mason, who was part of the trial which tested the therapy, says his life now feels "completely normal". BBC News

See also:

• Phase 1–2 Trial of AAVS3 Gene Therapy in Patients with Hemophilia B (abstract) The New England Journal of Medicine
• Haemophiliacs’ faulty gene could be cured with single injection The Daily Telegraph
• Gene therapy trial markedly cuts bleeding risk in haemophilia B patients The Guardian

UK government refuses public review before launch of NHS data platform

UK government refuses public review before launch of NHS data platform The UK government is refusing to run a public consultation on the expanded use of centralized data analytics on personal health information – under a £360 million ($432 million) contract that spy-tech business Palantir is tipped to win.

Minister of State for Care and Mental Health Gillian Keegan told Parliament that NHS England, a non-departmental body which runs the NHS, is not proposing to conduct an open debate on the nature or remit of the forthcoming Federated Data Platform. The Register

25% of BAME non-executive directors in NHS ‘have seen discrimination’ at work

25% of BAME non-executive directors in NHS ‘have seen discrimination’ at work A quarter of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) non-executive directors of NHS trusts have seen or experienced discrimination in the course of their work, a report reveals.

While almost four out of five (79%) of these BAME non-executives said they challenged such behaviour when they encountered it, only half (50%) said that led to a change of policy or behaviour. The Guardian

Yes, women’s healthcare is poor – but gender bias is not to blame for that

Yes, women’s healthcare is poor – but gender bias is not to blame for that | Zoe Williams Female GPs have outnumbered male ones for a decade – but after years of cuts, they are all under extreme pressure

The health secretary, Steve Barclay, this morning unveiled his plan to tackle gender health inequality. A “landmark moment”, he called it, “in improving the health and wellbeing of women across the country”.

The proposition was unarguable. That the healthcare system was historically designed for men, by men, is evidenced everywhere, from the comparatively lower life expectancy among women in poor areas to the fact that women, while they live longer, spend a quarter of their lives in poor health, compared with a fifth for men. The report was the result of a 100,000-strong consultation, in which 84% of respondents said they had felt “ignored or not listened to” when seeking help from the NHS. The Guardian

HRT will be sold over the counter so menopausal women can beat hot flushes without a prescription

HRT will be sold over the counter so menopausal women can beat hot flushes without a prescription Hormone replacement therapy will soon be available over the counter in the UK for the first time.

Today's move, which kicks in from September, only applies to one brand of vaginal tablets. 

Women needing other menopause-busting treatments, such as patches, gels and implants, still need a prescription. The Daily Mail

Top doctor 'really concerned' general practice will go the same way as dentistry

Top doctor 'really concerned' general practice will go the same way as dentistry General practice could go the same way as dentistry — with millions having to pay for appointments, the country's top doctor warned today.

Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, admitted he is 'really concerned' about the sector, which is plagued by a staffing crisis. The Daily Mail

Government’s nursing target could still leave NHS short of nearly 40,000 nurses by next election

Government’s nursing target could still leave NHS short of nearly 40,000 nurses by next election Analysis published today by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre shows that the NHS in England could face a shortfall of around 38,000 full time equivalent (FTE) registered nurses by 2023/24 relative to the numbers needed to deliver pre-pandemic levels of care. This is despite the expectation that the government could meet its own target of recruiting an additional 50,000 FTE registered NHS nurses by the end of the parliament.

See also:

• NHS workforce projections 2022 The Health Foundation
• Next Prime Minister must face up to chronic staff shortages compromising patient care NHS Confederation
• NHS urgently needs a fully costed and funded long term workforce plan NHS Providers
• NMC responds to NHS workforce projections report Nursing and  Midwifery Council
• NHS in England 'could face shortfall of almost 40000 nurses by 2024'  The Independent
• NHS in England could face 'apocalyptic shortage of 140,000 NHS nurses by 2030' ITV News

NHS staff to receive pay rise

NHS staff to receive pay rise The government has today accepted the recommendations from the independent NHS pay review bodies in full.

The pay review bodies considered a range of evidence from various organisations including government, the NHS and trade unions.

All NHS staff under the remit of this year’s pay review will receive a pay rise. Over one million staff under the Agenda for Change contract, including nurses, paramedics and midwives, will benefit from a pay rise of at least £1,400 this year backdated to April 2022. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Independent report: NHS Pay Review Body Thirty-Fifth Report: 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration 50th Report: 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Independent report: Senior Salaries Review Body Report: 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• ‘Brutal pay cut will come as a bitter blow to doctors’ BMA
• Unfunded NHS staff pay increase could leave big hole in severely stretched NHS budget The Health Foundation
• NHS Confederation responds to NHS staff pay award for 2022/23 NHS Confederation
• Funding failure for NHS pay award would hit services for patients NHS Providers
• Unfunded pay increases risks blowing NHS budget further Nuffield Trust
• Below inflation pay award ‘unacceptable’ Royal College of Midwives
• Royal College of Nursing responds to NHS pay award Royal College of Nursing
• NHS pay deal for England: RCN to ballot members on industrial action Royal College of Nursing
• Public sector pay: Police and most NHS staff get below-inflation rises BBC News
• Should public sector workers get bigger pay rises? BBC News
• NHS could face bill of more than £1bn to fund upcoming pay rise The Guardian
• NHS workers handed 71p pay rise despite cost of living crisis Nursing Notes
• NHS staff get 4.5% pay rise, teachers 5% and police £1,900 - but unions say it is 'kick in the teeth' Sky News

First Women's Health Strategy for England to tackle gender health gap

First Women's Health Strategy for England to tackle gender health gap Women and girls across England will benefit from improved healthcare following the publication of the first ever government-led Women’s Health Strategy for England today (Wednesday 20 July).

Following a call for evidence which generated almost 100,000 responses from individuals across England, and building on Our Vision for Women’s Health, the strategy sets bold ambitions to tackle deep-rooted, systemic issues within the health and care system to improve the health and wellbeing of women and reset how the health and care system listens to women. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Funding and staffing must underpin Government’s women’s health strategy Royal College of Midwives
• Women's health: Mandatory training for all new doctors BBC News
• What are the key areas of England’s women’s health strategy? The Guardian
• New women’s health strategy for England aims to end decades of inequality The Guardian
• Are there enough concrete commitments in the women’s health strategy to truly ‘reset the dial’? The Guardian

Better access to NHS dental services under new reforms

Better access to NHS dental services under new reforms Patients across the country will benefit from improved access to dental care under changes announced by NHS England.

New reforms to the dental contract – the first in 16 years – mean NHS dentists will be paid more for treating more complex cases, such as people who need three fillings or more.

Dental therapists will also be able to accept patients for NHS treatments, providing fillings, sealants, preventative care for adults and children, which will free up dentists’ time for urgent and complex cases.

Providers in place-based partnerships: case studies of local collaboration

Providers in place-based partnerships: case studies of local collaboration Initiatives to help improve people’s health and wellbeing will need a wide range of partners to work together within integrated care systems (ICSs) and place-based partnerships. This briefing aims to support the development of successful place-based partnerships by articulating the essential contributions of trusts – as one of several key partners – and exploring how trusts’ role at place might evolve over time. It sets out how trusts are involved in strategic place-based planning in partnership with others and in delivering joined up care. NHS Providers

Snakebites becoming more common in the UK

Snakebites becoming more common in the UK A rise in exotic pet ownership means snakebite injuries are becoming more common in the UK, doctors are warning.

In the last 11 years medics have seen and treated 300 victims.

Some 72 of the patients were teenagers or children - 13 were under the age of five. BBC News

See also:

• Bites by exotic snakes reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service 2009–2020 (open access) Clinical Toxicology

Heatwave pressures on 'broken' NHS to continue after temperature drops, top doctors warn

Heatwave pressures on 'broken' NHS to continue after temperature drops, top doctors warn Heatwave driven pressures on the NHS will grow in the coming days even after the temperature drops, doctors have warned.

Doctors speaking with The Independent have described pressures on A&E as the “worst they’ve ever seen it” warning services are “broken, not breaking, not under strain, broken”

See also:

• British summer risks becoming even more difficult for the NHS to navigate than winter NHS Confederation
• How has the NHS has coped with the heatwave? Channel 4 News

No link between depression and serotonin, finds major analysis

No link between depression and serotonin, finds major analysis A review of 17 previous studies finds no evidence for a link between depression and low serotonin levels, which SSRI antidepressants focus on – though not everyone is convinced by the findings. New Scientist

See also:

• The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence (open access) Molecular Psychiatry
• No ‘clear evidence’ depression is caused by low serotonin levels The Independent

NHS figures reveal ever-growing obesity trend reversed last year

NHS figures reveal ever-growing obesity trend reversed last year Childhood obesity levels have dropped back in line with pre-Covid trends, official data suggested.

Over one in five youngsters (22.9 per cent) who started school in September 2021 were overweight or obese in England.

This was down from nearly three in 10 (27.7 per cent) the year before, which was an 'unprecedented' rise and blamed on the knock-on effects of closing schools. The Daily Mail

Government's flu jab 'flip-flopping' for over-50s may lead to a SHORTAGE for millions

Government's flu jab 'flip-flopping' for over-50s may lead to a SHORTAGE for millions Britain may run out of flu jabs this winter because of Government 'flip-flopping' over who will be eligible, it was claimed today.

Officials originally planned to scale back the annual roll-out to only over-65s, despite warnings the 'reckless' move would leave millions vulnerable this winter.

But last week the Department of Health U-turned on its stance, paving the way for all over-50s to once again be offered free influenza vaccines. The Daily Mail

Giving HRT to breast cancer survivors does NOT raise risk of reoccurence, myth-busting study claims

Giving HRT to breast cancer survivors does NOT raise risk of reoccurence, myth-busting study claims Giving breast cancer survivors hormone replacement therapy is safe, according to myth-debunking research.

Doctors have for decades avoided recommending HRT to women who have beaten the disease over fears it would trigger a recurrence.

Danish scientists have now dismissed the concerns, sparked by just two studies in the 1990s. They found there was no increased risk of recurrence for women on HRT. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Systemic or Vaginal Hormone Therapy After Early Breast Cancer: A Danish Observational Cohort Study (open access) Journal of the National Cancer Institute
• Hormone replacement therapy may be safe after breast cancer treatment New Scientist

Batten disease 'one of the worst in the world'

Batten disease 'one of the worst in the world' In many ways, Isaac Tilley is like lots of boys his age. The six-year-old loves playing outside, football and rollercoasters. But in other ways he is very different.

Last summer, after testing following two years of mystifying seizures, his parents were told he had Batten disease - one of the symptoms of which is childhood dementia.

Mrs Tilley, 35, says the family, who live in Kettering in Northamptonshire, are doing everything they can to make sure his life is as rich as possible. BBC Northampton

Is an already tough year for the NHS about to get a lot tougher?

Is an already tough year for the NHS about to get a lot tougher? With talk of tax cuts proving popular in the race to become the next Conservative party leader, and pay rise expectations significantly higher than budgets allow, the NHS could be caught in the crossfire of conflicting demands. Sally Gainsbury describes how the health service is already having to deal with Covid, alongside rising levels of demand for care, with substantially less money than before. Nuffield Trust

Occupational mental health: addressing patients’ occupational, educational and psychosocial needs as an essential aspect of mental health care

Occupational mental health: addressing patients’ occupational, educational and psychosocial needs as an essential aspect of mental health care Being in a productive and supportive work environment is linked to better mental health. However, those experiencing mental health problems are often either excluded from the workplace or not supported appropriately when in work. This occupational health guidance sets out recommendations for the government, NHS, psychiatrists, and employers to provide better support so that work can consistently make a positive contribution to a person’s overall wellbeing. Royal College Psychiatrists

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis: England national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2021/2022

National Clinical Audit of Psychosis: England national report for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Audit 2021/2022 Based on data from 10,557 case-notes submitted by 54 trusts in England, this audit report presents national and organisation-level findings on services provided to people with first-episode psychosis (FEP). The report commends teams for maintaining early intervention in psychosis (EIP) service delivery at a high level in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It found that 66 per cent of teams had an increase in staff in the past year. The report also looked at the disparities in EIP care between different groups of people with FEP to highlight inequalities. Royal College of Psychiatrists

Government seeks views to improve lives of people with Down's syndrome

Government seeks views to improve lives of people with Down's syndrome People with Down’s syndrome, their families, professionals and charities are being invited to answer the government’s call for evidence to shape new guidance for authorities to follow.

The guidance will help to ensure those with Down’s syndrome receive the care and support they need to live longer, happier and healthier lives. Department of Health and Social Care

New taskforce to level-up maternity care and tackle disparities

New taskforce to level-up maternity care and tackle disparities The taskforce will explore inequalities in maternity care and identify how the government can improve outcomes for women from ethnic minority communities. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Policy paper: Maternity Disparities Taskforce: terms of reference Department of Health and Social Care

Worrying number of slim children dieting

Worrying number of slim children dieting More than one in every four children in England are dieting, including some who are a healthy weight and as young as eight, research suggests.

Dieting can be risky and harmful.

But a survey of more than 34,000 children and teenagers, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, shows the proportion trying to slim rose from 21% in 1997 to nearly 27% in 2016. BBC News

See also:

• Trends in weight loss attempts among children in England (open access) Archives of Disease in Childhood
• Number of healthy children trying to lose weight has TRIPLED in past 20 years, study finds The Daily Mail

‘I thought being black meant I couldn’t get skin cancer’

‘I thought being black meant I couldn’t get skin cancer’ When Isser Nener was in her late 20s, she was diagnosed with skin cancer.

"I found a little mole on the back of my leg. I was on holiday with a friend and they were like: 'You have to have that mole checked'," she says.

"So I went to the doctor's and they removed it straight away. And a week later they said it was skin cancer. Obviously I was quite shocked and upset."

She was surprised because she had believed a long-perpetuated myth that high levels of melanin in black skin meant it could not be damaged by the sun. BBC News

GMC warns of high risk of doctor burnout

GMC warns of high risk of doctor burnout The NHS backlog of care cannot be properly addressed with an “exhausted and depleted supply of clinicians”, the General Medical Council (GMC) has warned.

The UK doctors’ regulator said that the “risk of burnout is now the highest it has ever been” since it started tracking burnout risks in 2018. The Independent

See also:

• NHS backlogs threaten doctors as well as patients General Medical Council
• Burnout risk for GP trainees and trainers spiked in 2022, GMC survey reveals GPonline

STEVE BARCLAY: Covid has not gone away

STEVE BARCLAY: Covid has not gone away A year ago today, this country made a massive step forward in our path out of the pandemic, when we took Step 4 in our Covid roadmap. The Daily Mail

See also:

• The NHS is not living with covid, it's dying from it The BMJ
• A seven point plan to suppress covid infections and reduce disruptions The BMJ
• Bring Covid curbs back AGAIN, say top medical journals: Editorial calls for new clampdown on Britons The Daily Mail
• White House Covid chief warns that the virus is still a threat The Daily Mail
• How ‘living with Covid’ is helping keep England’s infections stubbornly high The Guardian
• New Covid variant is a 'significant new threat', says Australia's chief medical officer – video The Guardian
• How the UK’s rising Covid cases compare to other countries The Independent
• Covid vaccine protection ‘short lived,’ booster doses essential, study confirms The Independent
• Scars of COVID persist for sickest survivors, families The Independent

NHS 'gender health gap' that leaves women struggling to get good healthcare branded medical misogyny

NHS 'gender health gap' that leaves women struggling to get good healthcare branded medical misogyny Women face a greater struggle to get quality healthcare on the NHS because of a culture of ‘medical misogyny’, a charity claimed yesterday.

Doctors fail to treat men and women equally and are too often dismissive of the latter’s health problems, Engage Britain says. The Daily Mail 

Patients queue outside Northampton General Hospital A&E as demand hits unprecedented levels

Patients queue outside Northampton General Hospital A&E as demand hits unprecedented levels Northampton General Hospital staff are having to build shelter and give out water as patients queue in rising temperatures OUTSIDE Accident & Emergency.

Photos on social media showed dozens lined up alongside ambulances and standing on a service road waiting to be seen on Thursday. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates

Monkeypox cases confirmed in England – latest updates UKHSA has published the latest epidemiological overview for the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

It shows that as of 14 July 2022, there were 1,856 confirmed cases in the UK. Of these, 1,778 are in England.

It also includes a breakdown of cases in England by region, which demonstrates that a significant majority of cases are in London. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Guidance: Principles for monkeypox control in the UK: 4 nations consensus statement UK Health Security Agency
• Guidance: Monkeypox: infected people who are isolating at home UK Health Security Agency
• Vaccines and immunization for monkeypox: Interim guidance World Health Organization
• “We always think it‘s not going to happen to us” – a sexual health worker’s first-hand experience of monkeypox World Health Organization
• Monkeypox could infect children by the end of the year due to the slow rollout of jabs to Britons most at risk The Daily Mail
• WHO may declare monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency after asking experts to meet again as cases continue to soar The Daily Mail
• Efforts to curb UK monkeypox outbreak inadequate, warn experts The Guardian
• Monkeypox: 'Deep concern' as London reports 71% of cases ITV News
• Monkeypox: Is the response enough? Sky News

Health and Social Care Secretary accepts JCVI advice on autumn booster programme

Health and Social Care Secretary accepts JCVI advice on autumn booster programme All people aged 50 and over will be eligible for autumn Covid booster and flu vaccine. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Independent report: JCVI updated statement on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for autumn 2022 Department of Health and Social Care
• Over 50s to be offered COVID-19 booster and flu jab this autumn UK Health Security Agency

NHS braced for surge in patients as 'danger to life' heatwave warning comes into force

NHS braced for surge in patients as 'danger to life' heatwave warning comes into force The NHS is bracing itself for a surge in the numbers of people admitted to hospital as the heatwave which is forecast to bring record temperature to the UK grips the country.

Extra measures are being enforced for ambulance services after the Met Office issued amber and red alerts. The Independent

See also:

• Guidance: Heatwave Plan for England Department of Health and Social Care
• The first Red Extreme heat warning issued Met Office
• Heat-health advice issued for all regions of England UK Health Security Agency
• UK heatwave: Country may have hottest day on record with 41C forecast BBC News
• Heatwave: National emergency declared after UK's first red extreme heat warning BBC News
• Heatwaves: What do they do to the body and who is at risk? BBC News
• Why do NHS hospitals struggle to handle heatwaves? The BMJ
• What are the signs of heat stroke - and how do you best avoid it? The Daily Mail
• UK heatwave: how to keep cool and stay safe in 40C The Guardian
• Johnson skips emergency Cobra meeting as experts warn thousands may die in UK heatwave The Guardian
• Northamptonshire’s hottest day for 111 years on the cards as forecasters predict 41°C in parts of the county Northamptonshire Telegraph

Millions of British public sector workers to be offered 5% pay rise

Millions of British public sector workers to be offered 5% pay rise Boris Johnson will next week offer pay rises averaging about 5 per cent to millions of public sector workers, but ministers fear that below-inflation deals across the economy could trigger months of strikes. Financial Times

See also:

• NHS leaders respond to reports on pay award for NHS staff and how it will be funded NHS Confederation
• RCN responds to FT reports on public sector pay awards next week Royal College of Nursing
• Voters back a proper NHS pay rise as announcement for 1.3 million due in days The Daily Mirror
• Nurses say reported 5% pay rise ‘not remotely acceptable’ The Independent
• NHS will be told to help fund 5% pay rise for workers Nursing Notes

‘The way it’s playing out is unexpected’: UK faces up to changing waves of Covid

‘The way it’s playing out is unexpected’: UK faces up to changing waves of Covid Paddling pools are out, beer gardens are brimming. But a startling proportion of the UK population will be cooped up in their bedrooms having the strange experience of nursing a fever and sore throat in July as Covid infections continue to soar in the third major wave this year.

For most this will be an unpleasant inconvenience rather than a tragedy. But with a fourth wave expected in the autumn, a fifth potentially kicking off by Christmas and experts saying that Covid may never settle into a seasonal cycle, some are questioning whether this steady grind of illness is sustainable. The Guardian

See also:

• One in 18 has Covid in the UK BBC News
• Covid booster: Will be offered to all over 50s this autumn BBC News
• Covid continues to disrupt: what is the plan to deal with it? The BMJ
• ALL over-50s to get Covid booster and flu jabs this autumn as health chiefs U-turn The Daily Mail
• Covid boosters: who could be eligible for autumn jabs in UK? The Guardian
• UK has missed chances to prepare for future pandemics, says ex-vaccines tsar The Guardian
• Covid killed so many of us – now the government fears our tears and rage | Michael Rosen The Guardian
• As Covid deaths in the UK pass the grim milestone of 200,000, what have we learned? The Guardian
• Covid vaccines: Government warned of ‘dangerous complacency’ as millions skip boosters The Independent
• New top Covid symptom in patients revealed by latest data as infections surge across UK The Independent
• ‘Stealthy’ new Covid variant can reinfect you every month The Independent
• Doctor warns COVID becoming 'too clever' and 'breaking past immune defences' Sky News

How a teenager in crisis made me question my job in Britain’s broken health system

How a teenager in crisis made me question my job in Britain’s broken health system | Anonymous A harrowing weekend for the patient and nurses involved could have been avoided had a specialist inpatient bed been free.

The writer is a paediatric nurse at a hospital in south-east England. The Guardian

Andy Burnham: UK blood scandal may amount to corporate manslaughter

Andy Burnham: UK blood scandal may amount to corporate manslaughter Andy Burnham has suggested there may be a case for charges of corporate manslaughter in relation to the contaminated blood scandal, as he challenged the Conservative leadership candidates to commit to making interim compensation payments to infected survivors.

The former health secretary, now mayor of Greater Manchester, wrote to each of the five remaining candidates on Friday to coincide with his evidence to the infected blood inquiry. The Guardian

Landmark study warns under 40s should avoid ALL alcohol for the sake of their health

Landmark study warns under 40s should avoid ALL alcohol for the sake of their health Put the keg away. People under 40 years old should never consume alcohol as it provides them no health benefits while increasing their risk of injury and death, a new study finds.

Researchers at the University of Washington, in Seattle, found that people under 40 who drink are more likely to be injured in a car accident, suicide or murder than their peers that avoid alcohol. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020 (open access) The Lancet

Sir Patrick Vallance warns MPs that we will be plunged into crisis due to impacts of climate change

Sir Patrick Vallance warns MPs that we will be plunged into crisis due to impacts of climate change Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that the world is about to face '50 years of really big problems relating to climate' in a briefing to MPs.

The chief scientific adviser suggested that the turmoil will be worse than what was faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which lasted two-and-a-half years.

Monday's briefing was intended to inform 70 MPs about the current state of the climate to aid policy making. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Sir Patrick Vallance gives emergency climate briefing to UK MPs The Guardian

East Midlands Ambulance wait times are rising and bosses warn things could get even worse during this weekend's heatwave

East Midlands Ambulance wait times are rising and bosses warn things could get even worse during this weekend's heatwave NHS chiefs are warning people may have to wait longer for ambulances in Northamptonshire or even be told to make their own way to hospital this weekend.

East Midlands Ambulance Service says the public needs to “take responsibility for keeping themselves well during the hot weather” to keep crews free to attend the most seriously ill. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Fronting up to the problems: what can be done to improve the wellbeing of NHS staff?

Fronting up to the problems: what can be done to improve the wellbeing of NHS staff? The NHS is not in a place where it can lose staff, but many workers in the health service have faced almost unimaginable difficulties during the pandemic. How worried should we be about NHS staff health and wellbeing? Nuffield Trust

NHS Oversight Framework 2022/23: what you need to know

NHS Oversight Framework 2022/23: what you need to know The NHS Oversight Framework describes NHS England’s approach to oversight of integrated care boards and trusts for 2022/23. It builds on the approach outlined in the NHS System Oversight Framework 2021/22. This briefing contains an overview and analysis of the framework and highlights the main changes for 2022/23. NHS Confederation

Better care for people with a learning disability and people with autism

Better care for people with a learning disability and people with autism People with a learning disability and autistic people will receive better and more focused community care as part of plans to reduce the number in specialist inpatient care.

The Building the Right Support Action Plan, published 14 July 2022, brings together in one place commitments from across government and public services to ensure there is suitable community support available for people with a learning disability and autistic people. This supports government plans to reduce reliance on mental health inpatient care. Department of Health and Social Care

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Surveillance indicators suggest that, at a national level, COVID-19 activity has increased in several indicators in week 27 of 2022.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) increased in England to 537 in week 27, compared to 504 in the previous week. UK Health Security Agency

One in 20 has Covid in the UK

One in 20 has Covid in the UK Covid infections have continued to climb across the UK, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

Nearly 3.5 million people, or one in 20, has the virus - that's up from 2.7m, or one in 25, the week before.

The rise is being driven by fast-spreading sub-variants of Omicron, called BA.4 and BA.5. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Sore throat now top symptom that could be the virus BBC News
• 3.5MILLION Britons had Covid last week as cases rose by another THIRD The Daily Mail
• Coronophobic Britain locks ITSELF down: Three in 10 Brits are staying at home to avoid virus The Daily Mail
• Covid omicron variant is 'troubling' because 'people aren’t responding to vaccines', warns expert The Daily Telegraph
• How the UK’s rising Covid cases compare to other countries The Independent
• Summer COVID spike is less severe - but relentless pressure on emergency departments is taking its toll Sky News

Heatwave: Met Office issues highest extreme heat warning

Heatwave: Met Office issues highest extreme heat warning A red extreme heat warning has been issued for the first time by the Met Office for parts of England next week, meaning a risk to life is likely as temperatures could hit 40C (104F). BBC News

See also:

• Extreme weather warning extended to Tuesday BBC News
• UK heatwave: NHS braced as minister says temperatures could hit 40C The Guardian
• Heatwave rail disruption warning as ministers say NHS is braced for 'surge' The Independent

UK skin cancer deaths higher in men than women

UK skin cancer deaths higher in men than women More men are dying from melanoma skin cancer than women in the UK, Cancer Research UK is warning as the country's heatwave continues.

Rates of the cancer, which can develop in sun-damaged skin, have been rising in both men and women in recent years.

Late diagnosis may be part of the reason why men are faring worse. BBC News

See also:

• Skin cancer death rates in men risen dramatically in the last 50 years Cancer Research UK
• Skin cancer death rates have TRIPLED in men since 1970s The Daily Mail

Ambulance services branded on brink of collapse

Ambulance services branded on brink of collapse Ambulance services are under intense pressure, with record numbers of callouts and the most urgent, category-one, calls last month.

BBC Two's Newsnight programme spent from 08:00 to 20:00 on Monday at six hospitals with the longest delays handing patients over from paramedics to accident and emergency staff. BBC News

See also:

• 34,000 patients harmed over ambulance delays in June The Independent
• ‘Chronic crisis situation’ as ambulance delays worsen amid record demand The Independent

NHS doctors’ strike is ‘inevitable,’ says new BMA chair

NHS doctors’ strike is ‘inevitable,’ says new BMA chair A doctor’s strike is “inevitable” and will expose how dangerously threadbare the Conservatives have left the health service, the profession’s new leader has said.

In his first interview since taking over as the British Medical Association’s chair of council, Prof Philip Banfield warned ministers that doctors will take the fight to them by using a pay dispute to tell the public patients are dying as a direct result of government neglect of the NHS. The Guardian

Patients less satisfied with GPs as NHS waiting lists hit new high in England

Patients less satisfied with GPs as NHS waiting lists hit new high in England The number of people waiting for NHS treatment in England has increased every month for the past two years, reaching another record high of 6.6 million patients in May.

It comes as the latest GP patient experience survey, also published on Thursday, shows patients putting off booking appointments because they find it too difficult and a declining satisfaction with family doctors. The Guardian

See also:

• GP patient survey reflects ‘overstretched’ service working under intense and unsustainable pressure Royal College of General Practitioners
• England's GP crisis laid bare: A QUARTER of sick Britons have not seen a doctor in a year The Daily Mail

KGH invests £1.2 million in new x-ray equipment

KGH invests £1.2 million in new x-ray equipment Kettering General Hospital has invested £1.2 million in state-of-the-art x-ray technology to improve patient care.

The trust has upgraded two of its seven x-ray rooms - one in main x-ray, and one in A&E - to incorporate two £150,000 (each) state-of-the-art machines which will help patients to be seen more quickly and result in higher quality diagnostic images. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Patients facing increasingly long and agonising waits for ambulances

Patients facing increasingly long and agonising waits for ambulances The latest figures indicate just how severely emergency care within the NHS is struggling and how that is putting patients with urgent and life-threatening care needs at risk. No matter the reason for calling an ambulance, patients face increasingly long and agonising waits for it to arrive. People suffering from heart attacks or strokes are on waiting on average nearly three times longer (52 minutes) than they should be (18 minutes). For other urgent calls, waiting times for one in 10 people have reached over seven hours, forcing many to make their own way to accident or emergency departments. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Provisional Monthly Hospital Episode Statistics for Admitted Patient Care, Outpatient and Accident and Emergency data NHS Digital
• The King's Fund responds to the latest monthly NHS hospital performance data The King's Fund
• Against incredible strain, NHS makes serious inroads into treatment backlogs NHS Confederation
• NHS Activity Tracker July 2022 NHS Providers
• Pressure on NHS emergency services getting worse in England BBC News
• Southampton General Hospital says 12-hour waits for emergency patients BBC News
• NHS' worst summer ever laid bare: Heart attack patients now wait 52 MINUTES for an ambulance The Daily Mail
• NHS backlog hits 6.6m and ambulance delays worsen amid warning of ‘chronic crisis situation’ The Independent
• NHS crisis: ‘24 hours in A&E is no longer a documentary it is a way of life’ The Independent
• 12 hour trolley-waits rocket as NHS data for June worse than any 'winter crisis' on record Sky News

The GP crisis we have long feared is arriving

The GP crisis we have long feared is arriving Today’s GP patient survey shows one of the most alarming collapses in NHS performance we have seen since the height of Covid-19, and suggests the crisis we have long feared is arriving. There has been a sharp downward trend in nearly every measure of how easy it is to get care [1]. 55% of people who say they needed an appointment also said they had avoided making one over the last year, up from 42% last year. Around half of people do not find it easy to get through on the phone, up from less than a third last year. The proportion of people with a poor experience of their practice overall has doubled in a single year, from 6.7% to 13.6%. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• The King's Fund responds to the 2022 GP Patient Survey results The King's Fund

RCN research shows huge numbers of patients being treated in corridors and on trollies

RCN research shows huge numbers of patients being treated in corridors and on trollies Investment in the nursing workforce is needed now, the RCN insists, as survey findings released today (14 July) show clinical care is taking place in settings such as hospital corridors and waiting rooms rather than on wards. 

Our poll of more than 20,000 nursing and midwifery staff found the situation is worst in emergency care settings where nearly two-thirds of respondents reported the problem. Royal College of Nursing

See also:

• Hospital patients being treated in corridors and waiting areas, says RCN The Guardian

A community-powered NHS: making prevention a reality

A community-powered NHS: making prevention a reality This report argues for a health care system that is focused as much on preventing illness as treating it. It discusses how working collaboratively with communities as equal partners in the design and delivery of health care could be a way of achieving this. New Local

Developing workforce skills for a strong economy

Developing workforce skills for a strong economy This report examines whether government has an effective approach to enhancing workforce skills. While much of the examination focused on the Department for Education’s activities given its responsibilities for leading government’s approach to skills, it does also look at other areas of the workforce including health and social care. It covers the workforce skills system; the scale of the skills challenge that government faces; government’s understanding of workforce skills needs; and how well government is supporting the development of workforce skills. National Audit Office

Turkey teeth: Are cut-price reality TV teeth worth it?

Turkey teeth: Are cut-price reality TV teeth worth it? Hundreds of British dentists have treated patients with serious complications after they travelled abroad to get cut-price crowns, a BBC documentary has learned. The latest cosmetic look, seen on ITV's Love Island and via the hashtag #Turkeyteeth, has given some people their dream smile but left others asking the NHS to pick up the pieces. BBC News

Hundreds of children in mental health crisis facing 'unacceptable' A&E waits every week

Hundreds of children in mental health crisis facing 'unacceptable' A&E waits every week Hundreds of children suffering from mental health issues are attending A&E each day, with some waiting up to five days in emergency departments,The Independent can reveal.

Internal NHS data leaked to The Independent, shows the number of young patients waiting more than 12 hours from arrival has also more than doubled in the last year. The Independent

‘There were moments I questioned my passion for the job’: the overseas nurses helping to keep the NHS running

‘There were moments I questioned my passion for the job’: the overseas nurses helping to keep the NHS running Almost half of new nurses are now trained abroad. What is life in the UK – and the NHS – like for them?

Even before the pandemic struck, there was a shortage of nurses in the UK. In January 2020, a survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found that almost three-quarters of nurses said the staffing level on their last shift was not sufficient to meet the needs of patients safely and effectively. Yet this month NHS England predicted that the government will not meet its manifesto pledge to boost the NHS’s nursing workforce by 50,000 by March 2024. The key reason? NHS workers are quitting in droves, citing burnout, fatigue and pay as factors. The Guardian

Breast cancer drug that doubles survival time is available on NHS after watchdog U-turns

Breast cancer drug that doubles survival time is available on NHS after watchdog U-turns A breast cancer drug that almost doubles a patient’s survival time will now be available on the NHS in England after a U-turn from the watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) rejected sacituzumab govitecan, also known as Trodelvy, for use in England in April after saying it was “too expensive” to be cost effective. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• NICE recommends Piqray and Trodelvy, maintaining 100% approvals of breast cancer drugs since 2018 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• Two breast cancer drugs available on NHS in England after U-turn The Guardian

Seeing the same GP could ease agony for dementia patients

Seeing the same GP could ease agony for dementia patients Seeing the same GP during treatment could prevent dementia patients needing a series of trips to hospital as they near the end of their lives, a study found.

Repeat hospital visits in the final months have previously been linked to poor end-of-life care, delirium and falls. They also cost the NHS vast sums.

Now researchers have found offering dementia patients continuity of care from the same GP may lower the risk.  The Daily Mail

See also:

• Primary care contacts, continuity, identification of palliative care needs, and hospital use: a population-based cohort study in people dying with dementia (open access) British Journal of General Practice

Northampton and Kettering hospitals bring back face masks rules to combat rise in Covid patients

Northampton and Kettering hospitals bring back face masks rules to combat rise in Covid patients Bosses at Northamptonshire’s two biggest NHS hospitals are telling staff, patients and visitors they need to wear masks again following a “significant increase in Covid-19 infections”. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Mask wearing reintroduced in our hospitals Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
• Updated mask wearing guidance for NHFT Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

New analysis reveals future NHS beds shortage

New analysis reveals future NHS beds shortage New research carried out by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre finds that the next decade will see increases in demand for services from rising levels of chronic disease and a rapidly ageing population – putting pressure on hospital services that are already stretched with bed occupancy rates of close to 90%.

The analysis finds that even if the NHS continues to reduce the length of time people stay in hospital, 23,000 to 39,000 extra beds could be needed in 2030/31 to maintain pre-pandemic standards of care – a 20–35% increase. The Health Foundation indicates that the build cost could be between £17bn and £29bn, but cautions that this depends on a range of factors, with recent rises in inflation significantly increasing construction costs.

Are ICSs getting off to the right start?

Are ICSs getting off to the right start? It’s official; integrated care systems (ICSs) have now taken up their place as statutory bodies.

Having worked closely with system leaders developing ICSs, we don’t doubt that the will and commitment exists to improve population health and reduce inequalities through cementing new ways of working based on partnership and collaboration. But we also don’t underestimate how challenging it will be to make a reality of those ambitions or the risks of them being derailed by wider system pressures and the gravitational pull towards entrenched ways of working.

So, what early indicators might signal whether ICSs are getting off to the right start? The King's Fund

Addressing backlogs and managing waiting lists during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic

Addressing backlogs and managing waiting lists during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic Postponement of non-emergency procedures to keep capacity available for Covid-19 patients, and to avoid infections, has led to backlogs of care in virtually all countries. As each delay in diagnosis and treatment may worsen health prospects, health systems have sought to understand and address the extent of the backlogs and their drivers. This briefing sets out the drivers that can increase the backlog and those that can decrease the backlog. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

First ever Patient Safety Commissioner appointed

First ever Patient Safety Commissioner appointed The Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has today appointed Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE as the first ever Patient Safety Commissioner for England.

Adding to and enhancing existing work to improve the safety of medicines and medical devices, the appointment of a commissioner is in response to the recommendations from Baroness Cumberlege’s review into patient safety, published in 2020. Department of Health and Social Care

Covid: 3m adults still unvaccinated in England

Covid: 3m adults still unvaccinated in England Nearly three million adults in England have still not come forward for a Covid vaccine, data reveals.

Experts say the figure includes some people who could get extremely sick if they were to catch the virus.

Most elderly and vulnerable people have already had several protective shots. BBC News

See also:

• Redouble efforts on unvaccinated to reduce risks of Covid deaths, warn MPs Public Accounts Committee
• 3 MILLION Britons are still unvaccinated against Covid: Health chiefs must redouble their efforts to boost take-up ahead of winter, MPs say The Daily Mail
• Catching flu and Covid at the same time could reduce symptoms... but only if you catch flu first The Daily Mail
• Calls grow for No10 to bring back masks and £2bn-a-month free testing scheme The Daily Mail
• School absences hit six-month high in Covid ‘wake-up call’ The Guardian
• UK Covid infection levels reach new record high for pandemic, estimates show The Independent
• Covid cases could soar across Midlands due to highly 'infectious' new strain, warns health expert ITV News
• World Health Organization warns COVID-19 is 'running freely' and global deaths are unacceptably high Sky News

School mindfulness lessons don't work for teenagers

School mindfulness lessons don't work for teenagers Giving teenagers mindfulness lessons at school to boost wellbeing is largely a waste of time, a major UK study has found.

The technique, which encourages people to meditate and live in the moment, was no better than what schools were already doing for mental health.

Many pupils were not that interested in using the method, calling it "boring". BBC News

See also:

• School-based mindfulness training in early adolescence: what works, for whom and how in the MYRIAD trial? (open access) Evidence Based Mental Health

Protect children from illegal vapes, doctors say

Protect children from illegal vapes, doctors say Children are at risk from vaping, and more should be done to protect them from illegal and unregulated products containing high levels of nicotine, doctors are warning.

Trading standards in England and Wales say the market is being flooded by unsafe, disposable vapes aimed at children.

The colourful, sweet-flavoured devices are growing in popularity among teens. BBC News

See also:

• Girl, 11, is rushed to hospital after vaping as mother warns parents over them being sold to kids The Daily Mail

Heatwave pushes NHS to 'tipping point' as hospitals and ambulance services declare black alert

Heatwave pushes NHS to 'tipping point' as hospitals and ambulance services declare black alert A spike in Covid absences and the extended heatwave have left NHS hospitals and ambulance services struggling to cope.

The hot weather is also driving more patients to A&E departments, and callers are being urged not to use 999 except in serious emergencies.

All 10 ambulance trusts in England are on black alert, the highest level, while health leaders warn that “ill-equipped” hospital buildings are are struggling to store medicines correctly amid the abnormally high temperatures. The Independent

See also: 

• Highest alert level for ambulance services in England BBC News
• Cambridge hospital 'under pressure' as Covid absences double BBC News
• Nurse absence concerns amid latest spike in Covid-19 cases Nursing Times
• Record 6.5 million people waiting for routine NHS hospital treatment in England Sky News

Monkeypox could become 'endemic' if urgent action isn't taken, experts warn - Sky News

Monkeypox could become 'endemic' if urgent action isn't taken, experts warn The government's handling of monkeypox has been severely criticised by an alliance of the country's leading sexual health professionals, who warn the outbreak could last months and risk the virus becoming "endemic if urgent action is not taken". Sky News

NHS to miss out on recruiting thousands of nurses if BTecs are scrapped

NHS to miss out on recruiting thousands of nurses if BTecs are scrapped The NHS will miss out on recruiting thousands of nurses every year as a direct result of the government scrapping BTec courses in health and social care, hospital bosses have warned.

NHS Employers wrote in a letter to the education secretary, James Cleverly, that it had “serious concerns” about the plan, which it fears will exacerbate the health service’s acute staffing problems. The Guardian

Ghost patients: More than 5million people who do not exist are registered at GP surgeries

Ghost patients: More than 5million people who do not exist are registered at GP surgeries More than 5.2million patients who do not exist are registered at GP surgeries in England, MailOnline can reveal as campaigners demand action to stamp out the scourge of 'ghosts'.

Crucial NHS statistics — used to determine how much money surgeries should be allocated from Government — show there are 61.7million patients across the country. But results from the 2021 census, which were released last month, states the nation's population actually stands in the region of 56.5million. The Daily Mail 

Psychiatric podcast featuring Northampton mental health patients nominated for top nursing award

Psychiatric podcast featuring Northampton mental health patients nominated for top nursing award A podcast made in Northampton, which follows people with complex mental health issues such as psychosis and borderline personality disorder, has been nominated for a top nursing prize. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Working in partnership with people and communities: statutory guidance

Working in partnership with people and communities: statutory guidance This guidance is for integrated care boards, NHS trusts, foundation trusts and NHS England. It supports effectively partnership working with people and communities to improve services and meet the public involvement legal duties. NHS England

Evidence on costs associated with NHS-funded nursing care in 2021 to 2022

Evidence on costs associated with NHS-funded nursing care in 2021 to 2022 This report sets out evidence of the cost to care homes of providing NHS-funded nursing care. This evidence was used to inform the setting of the 2022 to 2023 NHS-funded nursing care rate and retrospective increase on the 2021 to 2022 rate. Department of Health and Social Care