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

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

Tackling poverty and the cost of food

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

No more sticking plasters: repairing and transforming the NHS estate

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

Matt Hancock: Leaked messages reveal battle over Covid and schools

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

Age discrimination leading to avoidable eating disorder deaths, government warned

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

See also:

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Healthcare Technologies Capability framework

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

England Rare Diseases Action Plan to tackle health inequalities

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

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

Hancock disputes claim he ignored care home Covid advice

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

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

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

See also:

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

Medical body NICE backs online mental health treatments

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

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

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

See also:

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

Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Progression of parents in NHS medical and nursing careers

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

20-hour cap removed - NHS Employers

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

Campaign to help parents with introducing babies to solid food

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

Northampton: Maternity unit needs 37 more midwives

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

Interim report explores impact of staff wellbeing on patient safety

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

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

See also:

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

Urgent action needed to prevent eating disorder deaths

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

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

See also:

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

NHS pilots artificial intelligence software to cut missed hospital appointments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaigners demand inquiry into treatment of ethnic minority NHS staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depth of NHS crisis is revealed by coroners’ courts reports

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

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

NHS needs are long-term, complicated and challenging

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

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

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

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

Northampton: Maternity unit's staffing levels concerns regulator

Northampton: Maternity unit's staffing levels concerns regulator A maternity unit did not always have enough qualified and experienced staff to keep women safe from avoidable harm, inspectors have said.

The care regulator found the Northampton General Hospital (NGH) unit "did not always control infection risk well".

It rated the service as requiring improvement but said staff managed safety incidents well.

The hospital said it had undertaken "a lot of work" in the past 18 months. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust maternity services remain rated requires improvement by CQC Care Quality Commission
• Northampton General Hospital's maternity services told to improve after inspection Northants Live
• Northampton General Hospital’s maternity services rated ‘requires improvement’ for second time in four years Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Dying well at home: commissioning quality end-of-life care

Dying well at home: commissioning quality end-of-life care Increasingly people are dying at home rather than in hospital and this trend is set to continue. This report from The King's Fund, and accompanying policy brief, offer recommendations for commissioners, integrated care boards and national bodies who want to improve care for those dying at home.

MHRA safety review of medicines containing pseudoephedrine

MHRA safety review of medicines containing pseudoephedrine Pseudoephedrine is used for the symptomatic relief of coughs, colds and allergies. Pseudoephedrine has been used in the UK for decades in millions and millions of people.

We are reviewing the available evidence relating to the very rare risk of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) associated with pseudoephedrine-containing medicines. PRES and RCVS are rare, reversible conditions, and most patients fully recover with appropriate treatment. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

See also:

• PRAC starts safety review of pseudoephedrine-containing medicines European Medicines Agency
• Nasal decongestant safety review due to rare brain risk BBC News
• The deadly conditions behind Sudafed safety review which may see flu remedies pulled from shelves The Daily Mail
• Are THESE what spooked health chiefs into a safety review of Sudafed? The Daily Mail
• Regulator reviewing cold and flu decongestants containing pseudoephedrine over rare brain risk ITV News
• MHRA to review evidence of harm linked to pseudoephedrine-containing medicines The Pharmaceutical Journal

UKHSA update on avian influenza

UKHSA update on avian influenza The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest technical briefing on avian influenza. UKHSA continues to work with partners including the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to assess the risk to human health from avian influenza and improve our understanding of the virus. While the very high levels of transmission in wild birds present a constant risk, there is no evidence so far that the virus is getting better at infecting humans or other mammals.

See also:

• H5N1: Cambodian girl dies in rare bird flu case BBC News
• H5N1: Governments should invest in vaccines for all flu strains, says incoming WHO chief scientist The BMJ
• Health chiefs are modelling worst-case bird flu scenarios in case killer virus jumps to humans The Daily Mail
• Bird flu ‘cluster’ in Cambodia sparks global alarm The Daily Telegraph
• UK health chiefs modelling scenarios for bird flu pandemic Evening Standard
• Bird flu: 11-year-old girl in Cambodia dies after being infected The Guardian
• Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda Reuters

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports published Coronavirus (COVID-19) activity increased in most indicators in week 7.

The COVID-19 hospital admission rate for week 7 was 9.38 per 100,000 population, an increase from 7.92 per 100,000 in the previous week.

Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 are highest in the South East, with a rate of 12.47 per 100,000 population. UK Health Security Agency

NHS cuts elective backlog with longest waiters down a quarter in one month

NHS cuts elective backlog with longest waiters down a quarter in one month NHS staff across England have reduced the number of patients waiting more than a year and a half by over a quarter in just one month, despite the busiest winter ever.

The total number waiting more than 18 months has fallen by 27% from 54,382 on 15 January to 39,903 as of 12 February.

Over 70 NHS trusts in England now have fewer than 100 patients waiting more than a year and a half, ahead of the ambition to virtually eliminate these waits by April. NHS England

Speak Up Review of ambulance trusts in England

Speak Up Review of ambulance trusts in England The National Guardian’s Office has published Listening to Workers – the report following its Speak Up review of NHS ambulance trusts in England. The review found the culture in ambulance trusts did not support workers to speak up and that this was having an impact on worker wellbeing and ultimately patient safety.

The National Guardian’s Office undertook this Speak Up review as the speaking up culture in NHS Ambulance Trusts appeared be more challenged compared to other trust types.

See also:

• Ambulance staff afraid to speak out amid a culture of sexism, racism and bullying, report warns The Independent

Record levels of NHS staff seek mental health help in crisis deemed ‘worse than pandemic’

Record levels of NHS staff seek mental health help in crisis deemed ‘worse than pandemic’ Record levels of NHS staff are seeking mental health help as clinicians warn the “crisis” facing workers is “worse than the pandemic”.

Hundreds of staff are being referred to the specialist mental health service, NHS Practitioner Health, with 842 workers referred in October 2022 – up from 534 in the same month the year before and 371 in 2020.

Around 40 per cent of the staff seeking the service are GPs and 50 per cent are hospital doctors. The Independent

See also:

• Doctors like me are leaving the medical profession – this is why The Independent

Fact Check: why are junior doctors striking, could industrial action make NHS backlogs worse, and nurse pay talks – explained

Fact Check: why are junior doctors striking, could industrial action make NHS backlogs worse, and nurse pay talks – explained Junior doctors in England are set to take part in a 72-hour walkout after voting in favour of striking over pay.

This comes as nursing strikes have been paused while talks over pay take place between the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and ministers.

But why are junior doctors striking, could industrial action make current NHS backlogs worse, and could nurses still walkout?

Here’s what we know so far. Channel 4 News

See also:

• Rebellious nurses warn they may strike AGAIN next winter if union accepts below-inflation pay offer The Daily Mail
• Strikes to protect patients as NHS ‘at breaking point’, says junior doctor Evening Standard

Draft of NHS workforce plan calls for doubling of medical school places

Draft of NHS workforce plan calls for doubling of medical school places Britain could double the number of doctors and nurses it trains under NHS plans to tackle a deepening staffing crisis, according to reports.

The proposal to increase the number of places in UK medical schools from 7,500 to 15,000 is contained in a draft of NHS England’s long-awaited workforce plan, which is expected to be published next month. The Guardian

See also:

• Medical school places could double under drastic plans to solve dire NHS workforce crisis The Daily Mail

'We've cut out the middleman': How NHS virtual wards mean acute patients are now being treated at home

'We've cut out the middleman': How NHS virtual wards mean acute patients are now being treated at home Elizabeth Simpson, 80, was anxious when she found out she might need to go to hospital because she didn't want to be separated from her family. However, a virtual ward has allowed her to be treated at home - with benefits for both her and the health service. Sky News

Government urged to introduce prostate cancer screening

Government urged to introduce prostate cancer screening Prostate cancer screening could soon be offered to all middle-aged men after trials showed new techniques slashed the chances of overdiagnosis.

Experts have long argued that only a national screening programme will significantly reduce deaths from the leading cancer in men.

Until now, tests have been too unreliable to pass the threshold, with the potential for unnecessary harms deemed to outweigh the benefits. The Daily Mail

World-first vaccine could be rolled out in MONTHS for baby killer winter bug RSV

World-first vaccine could be rolled out in MONTHS for baby killer winter bug RSV A vaccine to prevent severe cases of the highly contagious respiratory syncytial virus in babies could be coming as soon as August.

Pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer has developed an RSV vaccine that is administered to expectant mothers to confer antibody protection from severe disease to their unborn babies through six months of age. The Daily Mail

See also:

• U.S. FDA Accepts Biologics License Application for Pfizer’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus Maternal Vaccine Candidate for Priority Review Pfizer
• Pfizer RSVpreF RSV Vaccine Precision Vaccinations

Fewer cancelled operations at Northampton General Hospital than last year, figures reveal

Fewer cancelled operations at Northampton General Hospital than last year, figures reveal Northampton General Hospital cancelled fewer elective operations at the last minute in the three months to December 2022 than across the same time period the year before, new NHS figures show. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Public perceptions of the NHS: a winter of discontent

Public perceptions of the NHS: a winter of discontent The NHS is under extreme strain and debate about the future of the health system is growing louder. As political parties look ahead to the next general election, understanding what the public thinks should help inform thinking on NHS funding and reform.

This long read examines public perceptions and expectations of the NHS. We present findings from the third wave of our programme of polling research with Ipsos that tracks the public’s views on health and social care in the UK every 6 months. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Public support for government’s handling of the NHS reaches new low, polling finds The Health Foundation
• Public support for Government’s handling of the NHS in England falls to new low Evening Standard
• Just 10% of Britons think ministers have right policies on NHS, study shows The Guardian

New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been

New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been The NHS workforce is more diverse than at any other point in its history, according to an annual report into race equality across the health service.

Published today, the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard shows Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff make up almost a quarter of the workforce overall (24.2% or 383,706 staff) – an increase of 27,500 people since 2021 (22.4% of staff).

The analysis shows more than two fifths (42%) of doctors, dentists, and consultants, and almost a third (29.2%) of our nurses, midwives, and health visitors are from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. NHS England

See also:

• NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) 2022 data analysis report for NHS trusts NHS England
• NHS Confederation responds to WRES 2022 report NHS Confederation
• On the day briefing: Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) NHS Providers
• Record NHS diversity levels, new report finds National Health Executive
• WRES report warns of ‘disadvantage’ facing Black nurses Nursing Times

Ethnic minority Covid death gap closes – ONS

Ethnic minority Covid death gap closes – ONS People from ethnic minority backgrounds are no longer significantly more likely to die of Covid-19, new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows.

Analysts looked at mortality rates for different ethnic communities between January and November 2022, when Omicron was the dominant Covid variant.

Early in the pandemic, deaths involving coronavirus were higher among black and Asian people than white people. BBC News

See also:

• Updating ethnic and religious contrasts in deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), England: 24 January 2020 to 23 November 2022 Office for National Statistics
• The King's Fund responds to the updated ONS data on changes in Covid-19 mortality The King's Fund

Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas users risk spine damage, say doctors

Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas users risk spine damage, say doctors Doctors at an east London hospital say they are seeing so many risky cases of laughing gas misuse that they have drawn up treatment guidelines for colleagues in the UK.

Nitrous oxide, sold in metal canisters, is one of the most commonly used drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds.

Heavy use can lead to a vitamin deficiency that damages nerves in the spinal cord.

The Royal London Hospital team say medics need to be on alert. BBC News

See also:

• Nitrous oxide-induced subacute combined degeneration of the cord: diagnosis and treatment (open access) Practical Neurology

Derby maternity deaths may have been prevented - report

Derby maternity deaths may have been prevented - report Three women who died under the care of a hospital's maternity unit may have survived if earlier recommendations had been implemented, a report has said.

The cases occurred at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust over 16 months.

A review by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) also found a culture of intimidation and bullying and made safety recommendations. BBC News

Hospital patients with learning disabilities developed diabetes after being fed treats and lack of exercise

Hospital patients with learning disabilities developed diabetes after being fed treats and lack of exercise Vulnerable patients who have been detained in hospitals for years developed diabetes due to a lack of exercise and an over-reliance on treats, a national NHS review has warned.

NHS England looked into the care of almost 2,000 patients with learning disabilities and autism and found that the physical health of many had significantly declined during their stays because of poor care. The Independent

Up to 32,000 Unison NHS staff in England to strike on 8 March

Up to 32,000 Unison NHS staff in England to strike on 8 March The health union Unison has announced new strike action and warned there could be no “pick and mix solution” to the NHS dispute, after it was excluded from talks between the health secretary, Steve Barclay, and the Royal College of Nursing.

Unison said up to 32,000 of its members across the NHS in England, including ambulance staff, paramedics and some nurses, would strike on 8 March, in what it called a “serious escalation” of the dispute. The Guardian

See also:

• Fresh strike by NHS workers across England next month Evening Standard
• Ministers could offer one-off payments as way to end public sector strikes The Guardian
• Fresh strike by NHS workers across England next month as pay dispute escalates ITV News
• Urgent NHS pay talks potentially limited to just nursing staff Nursing Notes

GPs are outnumbered by RECEPTIONISTS at practices

GPs are outnumbered by RECEPTIONISTS at practices Receptionists now outnumber GPs at practices in England, MailOnline can reveal today amid the never-ending appointment crisis. 

Only a quarter of all 143,000-plus staff working at surgeries across the nation are family doctors, according to our analysis. 

Nurses, healthcare assistants and admin staff, including receptionists, secretaries and call handlers, make up the rest of the workforce. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Stop using receptionists as 'untrained medical triage services', campaigners say The Daily Mail

Why it's NEVER too late to start exercising

Why it's NEVER too late to start exercising Exercising just once a month at any age can help stave off dementia in later life, a study found.

Keeping active throughout adulthood is the best bet for good brain health in retirement but even taking up exercise in your 60s is beneficial, research suggests.

In the first study to look specifically at age, exercise and brain health in retirement, researchers from University College London wanted to see whether timing of active lifestyles had an impact. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Timing of physical activity across adulthood on later-life cognition: 30 years follow-up in the 1946 British birth cohort (open access) Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
• Staying fit and active throughout life ‘best way to stave off dementia’ The Independent
• Could exercise be a potent weapon against neurodegenerative conditions? Medical News Today

Parents of 20-year-old criticise NHS over death

Parents of 20-year-old criticise NHS over death The parents of a 20-year-old amateur footballer have criticised the NHS over the sudden death of their son.

Luke Abrahams, from East Hunsbury, in Northampton, died on 23 January from a bacterial infection and a flesh-eating disease.

His parents Richard Abrahams and Julie Needham said his condition was initially wrongly diagnosed, which might have led to his death.

Integrated Care Northamptonshire said a review into the case was under way. BBC Northampton

See also:

• Footballer dies after flesh-eating virus mistaken for tonsillitis The Independent
• Amateur footballer died of flesh-eating virus that was mistakenly diagnosed as tonsillitis by NHS doctors Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Grieving parents of 20-year-old amateur Northampton footballer who died suddenly of 'infection' demand answers from NHS Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Norovirus cases increase significantly in England

Norovirus cases increase significantly in England National surveillance data shows laboratory reports of the virus are 66% higher than the average at this time of year. The biggest increase in laboratory confirmed norovirus has been seen in the group of those aged 65 years and over. While high numbers of cases in this age group is expected at this time of year, these levels haven’t been seen in over a decade. UK Health Security Agency

Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned

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

This document sets out the themes emerging from the review findings. NHS England

The NHS workforce in England

The NHS workforce in England This briefing covers the NHS workforce in England, including key targets, recruitment and retention issues, workforce planning and Government policy. House of Commons Library

Nurses to suspend 48-hour strike as talks with government start

Nurses to suspend 48-hour strike as talks with government start Intensive talks are due to start later between ministers and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) after the union halted next week's 48-hour strike in England.

Health Secretary Stephen Barclay will sit down with RCN leader Pat Cullen to discuss a compromise deal to end the stand-off over pay.

The talks are likely to focus on next year's pay rise, which is due in April.

One option is to backdate it by several months, effectively giving nurses an extra pay boost for part of this year. BBC News

See also:

• Joint Government and RCN statement Department of Health and Social Care and the Royal College of Nursing
• Matthew Taylor responds to government negotiations with the Royal College of Nursing NHS Confederation
• Danny Mortimer responds to government negotiations with the RCN NHS Employers
• NHS Providers responds to statement from the government and RCN on pay talks NHS Providers
• Pay proposal will worsen the NHS dispute UNISON
• Government recommends 3.5% pay rise for nurses and other workers BBC News
• Nurses in England to pause strike action ahead of ‘intensive’ government talks Channel 4 News
• What could the nurses’ breakthrough with the government mean for other striking unions? Channel 4 News
• Devastating NHS nursing strikes are PAUSED as ministers finally agree to 'intensive talks' over pay The Daily Mail
• Nurses in England pause strike action to enter ‘intensive’ pay talks The Guardian
• Nursing union pause strike to hold ‘intensive talks’ with government to over pay The Independent
• Tories hope U-turn on nurses’ pay will boost poll numbers The News Statesman
• In first breakthrough of long-running dispute, nurses to begin 'intensive talks' with govt today Sky News

Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts

Suicidal NHS staff lose mental health support in ‘irresponsible’ cuts Suicidal NHS staff will be left in “dangerous” situations without support when national funding for mental health hubs ends next month, health leaders have warned.

The hubs, set up with £15 million of government funding for NHS workers following Covid, are being forced to close or reduce services as neither the department for health and social care nor the NHS has confirmed ongoing funding for 2023-24.

This will leave thousands of NHS staff, some of whom are described as “suicidal” in “complete limbo”, The Independent has been told.

Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair

Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair Patient safety put 'at risk' by crumbling NHS hospitals in need of repair.

An investigation by ITV News found raw sewage, collapsing floors and ageing walls among the structural problems facing staff at hospitals in England.

Police in England and Wales dealing with more mental health crises than ever

Police in England and Wales dealing with more mental health crises than ever The police are dealing with increasing demands to intervene with people suffering mental health crises, freedom of information requests have revealed.

Some forces across England and Wales have experienced a tripling in mental health requests between 2019 and 2021, data shows. Suffolk police have recorded an increase of 342%, Norfolk 260%, Northamptonshire 90%, and Leicestershire 54%. The Guardian

Death rates 'are NOT higher among Covid-vaccinated Brits'

Death rates 'are NOT higher among Covid-vaccinated Brits' Death rates are not higher among people vaccinated against Covid, according to official data.

Leading statisticians tasked with tracking deaths from all causes in England found rates are 'consistent' between the unjabbed and fully-jabbed.

Mortality levels were actually higher among the unvaccinated, the figures showed. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England: deaths occurring between 1 April 2021 and 31 December 2022 Office for National Statistics

Kettering Hospital ward accused of traumatising children may close

Kettering Hospital ward accused of traumatising children may close Children's services could be forced to close at a hospital that is accused of leaving young patients traumatised and sick through poor care.

The care regulator said it had taken action to "ensure people are safe" on Skylark ward at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire.

Thirteen parents with serious concerns after their children died or became seriously ill have spoken to the BBC.

The hospital said it was "very sorry" to families who felt let down. BBC Northampton

Kettering General Hospital's diagnostics test wait times among worst in the country

Kettering General Hospital's diagnostics test wait times among worst in the country KGH bosses say they’re working to clear a backlog after the trust’s diagnostics test wait times were revealed to be among the country’s worst.

NHS targets say 95 per cent of patients should have their tests – which include those such as MRI scans and non-obstetric ultrasounds – within six weeks.

But newly-published data from NHS England showed that the Rothwell Road hospital was nowhere near hitting that figure in December 2022. Northamptonshire Telegraph

Fixing the foundations: why it’s time to rethink how we support older people with health problems to stay well at home

Fixing the foundations: why it’s time to rethink how we support older people with health problems to stay well at home This report provides a first-hand account of older people’s difficulties in getting the good, joined up health and social care they need to manage at home, leaving them at risk of crisis which often results in being admitted to hospital. Yet the evidence is clear that with the right care at the right time many of these admissions could have been avoided. Age UK

Hundreds of thousands of women experiencing menopause symptoms to get cheaper Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hundreds of thousands of women experiencing menopause symptoms to get cheaper Hormone Replacement Therapy Around 400,000 women across England will get better access to menopause support – saving hundreds of pounds and making treatment more accessible. Department of Health and Social Care

Improved system of organ use to save lives

Improved system of organ use to save lives Patients waiting for organs will benefit from changes to organ transplant services designed to better match donated organs with recipients, increase the number of transplants and improve the patient experience.

The Organ Utilisation Group has produced the report ‘Honouring the gift of donation - utilising organs for transplant’ which includes a number of recommendations - accepted by the government - designed to make sure as many donated organs as possible are used to save the lives of patients on the waiting list. Department of Health and Social Care

Big rise in long-term sick hitting UK workforce

Big rise in long-term sick hitting UK workforce The UK risks a shrinking workforce caused by long-term sickness, a new report warns.

Pensions and health consultants Lane, Clark and Peacock (LCP) says there has been a sharp increase in "economic inactivity" - working-age adults who are not in work or looking for jobs.

The figure has risen by 516,000 since Covid hit, and early retirement does not appear to explain it.

The total of long-term sick, meanwhile, has gone up by 353,000, says LCP. BBC News

See also:

• "The Great Retirement or the Great Sickness?” – is the Government at risk of ‘barking up the wrong tree’ on the rise in economic inactivity Lane, Clark and Peacock

NHS crisis: Why are so many staff leaving the health service?

NHS crisis: Why are so many staff leaving the health service? Chronic staff shortages are raising the pressure on NHS staff, with long working hours and high anxiety driving more staff to quit. Sky News analysis shows that a surge in resignations due to work-life balance cost the NHS 10,000 staff last year. Sky News

See also:

• Health workers ‘shattered’, says Jeremy Farrar as more NHS strikes loom The Guardian
• Record numbers of NHS doctors are resigning. One senior consultant tells us why she had to leave Sky News

Junior doctors in England to strike for 72 hours in March

Junior doctors in England to strike for 72 hours in March Hundreds of thousands of operations and medical appointments will be cancelled in England next month and progress in tackling the huge care backlog will be derailed as the NHS prepares to face the most widespread industrial action in its history.

Junior doctors are poised to join nurses and ambulance workers in mass continuous walkouts in March after members of the British Medical Association (BMA) voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action. The Guardian

 

See also: 

• Junior doctors vote yes to industrial action BMA
• Industrial action NHS Employers
• Supplementary FAQs on support during strike action of junior doctors NHS Employers
• Juniors doctors vote for strikes in England BBC News
• Junior doctors set for three-day walkout as huge majority back strikes GPonline
• Junior doctors vote by 98% for unprecedented strike that will hit every hospital The Independent
• Junior doctors’ strike: Why are they taking action and what are their demands? The Independent
• NHS staff met with ‘wall of silence’ says union as pay dispute widens in England Nursing in Practice

Revealed: record number of households in UK depending on food banks

Revealed: record number of households in UK depending on food banks More people are depending on food banks than ever before in Britain, new figures show, as “ever-increasing” numbers of households – including pensioners, NHS staff and teachers – seek help amid the cost of living crisis.

New research by the Independent Food Aid Network (Ifan), shared with the Observer, found that almost 90% of food banks surveyed reported increased demand in December 2022 and January 2023 compared with a year earlier. Half of the 85 organisations running 154 food banks that responded said if demand rose further they would either have to cut support or turn people away.

New type of CPR ‘could save more patients in cardiac arrest’

New type of CPR ‘could save more patients in cardiac arrest’ More heart patients could be saved thanks to a new type of “advanced” CPR which involves hooking up patients to an artificial lung machine.

People who suffer cardiac arrest – when the heart stops pumping blood around the body – could be offered the advanced form of resuscitation if they do not respond to traditional CPR thanks to a new service in the Thames Valley region. The Independent

Children's surgery backlog grows as NHS prioritises adult waiting lists

Children's surgery backlog grows as NHS prioritises adult waiting lists Hundreds of thousands of children are waiting for surgery as new figures show the backlog has spiralled by almost 50 per cent in two years.

The latest NHS data for December lays bare the parlous state of paediatric medicine, with NHS leaders and doctors warning that adult care is being prioritised over children’s. The Independent

Number of mental health service users rose by 16% this year, data shows

Number of mental health service users rose by 16% this year, data shows The number of people accessing NHS mental health services in England has risen year on year, even as overall numbers of mental health nurses across hospital and community services has fallen, data has shown.

Data released by NHS Digital today reveals that 16% more people accessed NHS-funded secondary mental health, learning disabilities, and autism services in 2021-2022 compared with 2020-21. Nursing in Practice

Over 1,000 chemists and clinics have shut since 2015, study shows

Over 1,000 chemists and clinics have shut since 2015, study shows More than 1,000 GP practices and pharmacies have closed over the past seven years - forcing patients to travel further for care, a damning study reveals.

A major audit of official data on new openings and permanent closures from 2015 to 2022 today lays bare the tragic demise of primary care in England.

It found there has been a net loss of 670 pharmacies and 343 GP practices over this period, with the most deprived areas hit hardest. The Daily Mail

Pharmacists warn of further vital drug shortages

Pharmacists warn of further vital drug shortages Britain's medicines shortage crisis is deepening, with an unprecedented 70 commonly taken drugs now out of stock, according to the latest data.

Over the past 12 months, supply problems have hit crucial antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs, painkillers and over-the-counter cold and flu remedies – but now certain antidepressants, stop-smoking pills and a sleeping tablet taken by millions have been added to the list. The Daily Mail