Stagnating life expectancy of Britain and the US laid bare

Stagnating life expectancy of Britain and the US laid bare British life expectancy has dropped in the world rankings with only the US faring worst among advanced economies, according to new analysis.

Some 70 years ago people in the UK had one of the longest life expectancies ratings in the world, ranking tenth globally behind countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

But despite the average person now living more than 12 years longer than in 1950, progress has stalled compared to other developed nations, with the UK falling to 36 on the global standings. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Falling down the global ranks: life expectancy in the UK, 1952–2021 Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
• UK life expectancy growing at slower rate than rest of G7, research shows The Guardian
• UK falls down global ranks for life expectancy – analysis The Independent
• UK falling behind other countries on life expectancy measure Sky News

Pharmacy access to NHS medical records would 'enormously improve outcomes for patients'

Pharmacy access to NHS medical records would 'enormously improve outcomes for patients' Pharmacies should have access to customers' NHS medical records so they can deliver more care and ease pressure on GPs, the boss of Boots says.

Seb James, managing director of the High Street chain, said giving his staff permission to read and write notes would 'enormously improve outcomes for patients'.

He acknowledged a 'lot of people' struggle to access a family doctor and wants ministers to give pharmacists the power to take on some of the work. The Daily Mail 

Woman has breakthrough transfusion of lab-grown red blood cells

Woman has breakthrough transfusion of lab-grown red blood cells Scientists running the trial believe that lab-grown blood cells will survive for longer after a transfusion because they are 'younger' than those taken from a donor, which are of different ages. Sky News

Unprofessional behaviours: actions need consequences

Unprofessional behaviours: actions need consequences If you had a magic wand and could change just one thing about diversity, equity and inclusion at work what would you change and why? The King's Fund

Spring Budget 2023: five priorities for government investment

Spring Budget 2023: five priorities for government investment Urgent action is needed in five priority areas to limit the already high demand on services and avoid storing up more problems for the future.

The upcoming Spring Budget, much like the last Autumn Statement, meets difficult circumstances. The cost of living remains high, with inflation topping 10 per cent. This is to the detriment of the public purse and the impacts have caused their own public health emergency. NHS Confederation

Fit for the future: GP pressures 2023

Fit for the future: GP pressures 2023 This report, based on a survey of general practice staff, highlights the current workload and workforce pressures facing GPs and their teams, and the impact these are having on patients. GPs and their staff carried out 4.6 million (9 per cent) more appointments in December 2022 and January 2023 than in December 2019 and January 2020; however, the number of fully qualified full-time-equivalent GPs has dropped by 843 in the same period. The report sets out the RCGP's recommendations for the government to tackle the workforce and workload crisis in general practice, and support GPs and their teams to meet the health care challenges of the 21st century. Royal College of General Practitioners

Scheme putting police in mental health teams must end, says NHS England

Scheme putting police in mental health teams must end, says NHS England A controversial mental health monitoring system, which embedded police officers in clinical teams, must no longer be used in mental health services, NHS England has said. 

In a letter seen by the Guardian, NHS England’s national clinical director for mental health, Prof Tim Kendall, gave the instruction about the serenity integrated mentoring (SIM) scheme and similar models.

‘Harrowing’ work pressure giving NHS junior doctors panic attacks, study finds

‘Harrowing’ work pressure giving NHS junior doctors panic attacks, study finds NHS junior doctors suffer panic attacks and feelings of desperation because they get so stressed from the pressure they are under at work, research has found.

Some also experience intrusive thoughts, migraines and hair loss as a direct result of trying to give patients high-quality treatment in hospitals struggling with serious staff shortages. The Guardian

See also: 

• Two months in the life of a junior doctor Leeds University Business School

Junior doctor strike: NHS chief says hospitals under major pressure

Junior doctor strike: NHS chief says hospitals under major pressure Hospital emergency departments are under severe pressure with some experiencing their "busiest Monday of the year so far", says NHS England's medical director.

With a junior doctor strike happening at the same time, Prof Sir Stephen Powis is asking the public to use services appropriately.

NHS 111 is for non-urgent needs.

Unlike during previous NHS strikes, there has been no let-up in the demand for care, say hospital representatives. BBC News

See also: 

• BMA membership levels surge to record high as it calls on the Health Secretary to drop the pre-conditions preventing pay talks BMA
• Some hospitals see busiest Monday of the year so far for A&E attendance NHS England
• No let-up in pressure on services amid junior doctors' strike NHS Providers
• Junior doctor strikes: facts and figures on UK doctors in training Nuffield Trust
• Patients face SIX-MONTH waits for rescheduled appointments due to three-day junior doctors' strike that's crippling NHS hospitals The Daily Mail
• NHS ‘can’t go on like this’ with strikes, health chief warns Evening Standard
• Junior doctors’ strike: Hospitals will take weeks to recover from 72-hour walkout, NHS leaders warn iNews
• Junior doctors' strike enters second day amid warnings of 'high pressure' on NHS ITV News
• Junior doctor strike: Medic joins picket lines after 12-hour shift in Newcastle ITV News

Cough medicines containing pholcodine withdrawn over safety fears

Cough medicines containing pholcodine withdrawn over safety fears Certain cough medicines sold behind the counter at pharmacies are being withdrawn over safety concerns.

Health experts say there is a very rare chance that some people could experience an allergic reaction linked to an ingredient called pholcodine.

People should check the packaging of any cough tablets or syrups they have at home to see if pholcodine is listed among the ingredients.

If it is, talk to your pharmacist about taking a different medicine. BBC News

See also:

• Class 2 Medicines Recall: Various Marketing Authorisation Holders, pholcodine-containing products, EL (23)A/09 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
• EMA recommends withdrawal of pholcodine medicines from EU market European Medicines Agency
• Everything you need to know about cold and flu drug recall: When were risks first spotted? The Daily Mail
• Is YOUR favourite cold and flu remedy now banned in Britain? Full list of 20 products hit by recall The Daily Mail
• 'Let us make our own decisions': Brits are furious about ban on cold and flu remedies The Daily Mail
• Pholcodine cough medicines withdrawn in UK over allergy fears The Guardian

Hospitals urged to offer patients more gown sizes

Hospitals urged to offer patients more gown sizes Hospitals are being asked to offer a wider range of gown sizes to better protect patients' dignity.

It follows the experience of a patient from Wiltshire who said she was offered a gown that was "far too small" during a hospital stay in Bristol.

Barbara Gale said it gaped at the back and made her feel "embarrassed".

An NHS Supply Chain spokeswoman said it offers a range of "reusable patient gowns" with multiple sizing, which NHS trusts can use. BBC News

Scandal-hit children’s hospital sanctioned by watchdog after ‘systemic abuse’ revealed

Scandal-hit children’s hospital sanctioned by watchdog after ‘systemic abuse’ revealed A scandal-hit hospital group has been sanctioned by inspectors after The Independent revealed “systemic abuse” at a string of children’s mental health units.

England’s safety watchdog issued an official warning to Ivetsey Bank Hospital in Staffordshire, run by The Huntercombe Group, after an extensive investigation by this newspaper found the private hospital had put the safety of young mental health patients at risk.

Drinking coffee could help keep you slim and ward off type 2 diabetes, study suggests

Drinking coffee could help keep you slim and ward off type 2 diabetes, study suggests Drinking coffee regularly may reduce body fat and lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes, a study suggests.

Researchers used genes which determine how fast people process caffeine to estimate the likely caffeine levels of almost 800,000 people over a lifetime, then looked at their weight.

People with the highest estimated caffeine level had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI). The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Appraisal of the causal effect of plasma caffeine on adiposity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease: two sample mendelian randomisation study (open access) BMJ Medicine
• Higher blood caffeine levels ‘may help people stay slim’ The Independent

Part of Northampton General Hospital evacuated after fire

Part of Northampton General Hospital evacuated after fire Part of a hospital was evacuated after a fire broke out on the ground floor of a building.

Six crews were sent to Northampton General Hospital's Cliftonville site just before 14:00 GMT and the public was asked to avoid the area.

The hospital said the blaze was not in a clinical area but some patients were moved "as a precaution". BBC Northampton

See also:

• Firefighters attend blaze at Northampton General Hospital as part of building evacuated Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Northampton General Hospital fire sees patients and staff evacuated - as it happened Northants Live

The decline of publicly funded social care for older adults

The decline of publicly funded social care for older adults How are services being provided and has access changed? The latest annual statement from QualityWatch presents a range of key statistics to show how the ability of the state to provide quality social care that older people can access is changing for the worse. Nuffield Trust

Racism is the root cause of ethnic inequalities in health

Racism is the root cause of ethnic inequalities in health According to this briefing, racism is the cause of health inequity, from birth through to adulthood and into later life. It finds that racism is a key driver of ethnic inequalities in health, both directly and indirectly. It has an impact in childhood – with children from ethnic backgrounds being born at a lower birthweight and not hitting developmental milestones, to life-limiting long term illness, and mental illness in adulthood. It also finds that racism leads directly to poorer health through stress or worsening mental health; and indirectly, by exposure to targeted marketing of harmful substances, and toxins in the environment. Race Equality Foundation

Maximising the benefits of research: guidance for integrated care systems

Maximising the benefits of research: guidance for integrated care systems This guidance sets out what good research practice looks like. It supports integrated care systems (ICSs) to maximise the value of their duties around research for the benefit of their population’s health and care and, through co-ordination across ICSs, for national and international impact. It supports integrated care boards, integrated care partnerships and their partners to develop a research strategy that aligns to or can be incorporated into their integrated care strategy, and helps them and their workforce to build on existing research initiatives and activities across health and social care to improve sector-wide performance and best practice. NHS England

Supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people to live happier, healthier, longer lives: bitesize guide for local systems

Supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people to live happier, healthier, longer lives: bitesize guide for local systems This guide draws together a number of resources and provides a one stop shop for professionals who put in place services and approaches to support children, young people and adults who have a learning disability or who are autistic to lead healthier, happier, longer lives. NHS England

Patient safety concerns over Birmingham hospital probe

Patient safety concerns over Birmingham hospital probe An NHS England investigation into claims of a toxic culture at a hospital trust has been described as lacking transparency and undermining trust.

The Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman also said there were "very serious" patient safety issues at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).

Criticism is contained in letters seen by the BBC between the ombudsman, the trust and NHS England.

The trust said it had told the ombudsman it took concerns seriously. BBC News

See also:

• University Hospitals Birmingham bullying allegations inquiry findings held up, triggering 'veto' fears Birmingham Live
• Scandal-hit hospital condemned for blocking watchdog from inquiry into patient deaths The Independent

Junior doctors blame health secretary for triggering strikes across England

Junior doctors blame health secretary for triggering strikes across England Junior doctors’ leaders have blamed Steve Barclay for triggering their three-day strike this week by ignoring their concerns and being “dismissive” of their demands for improved pay.

Hospitals in England functioned effectively on Monday, the first day of the stoppage, with consultants – senior doctors – covering work usually done by junior colleagues. Many thousands of trainee medics refused to work, forcing hospitals to cancel outpatient appointments and operations. The Guardian

See also:

• Out in force: junior doctors strike BMA
• NHS Confederation responds to the first day of the junior doctors strike NHS Confederation
• A&E seeing impact of junior doctors' strike - NHS chief BBC News
• 'We're at breaking point' say striking junior doctors BBC News
• I've never seen the NHS this bad - junior doctor BBC News
• Junior doctor strike day two: Tens of thousands of appointments and operations are expected to be cancelled as health leaders warn NHS is facing 'high pressure' due to action The Daily Mail
• Junior doctors are the workhorses – the backbone – of hospitals The Guardian
• NHS leaders warn life-saving surgeries and urgent cancer care will be hit during doctors’ strike The Independent
• Junior doctors launch three-day strike kicking off a week of walkouts by several unions ITV News
• The junior doctors’ strike is about more than just pay The Spectator

NHS leaders are concerned over lack of new funds in the Budget

NHS leaders are concerned over lack of new funds in the Budget When Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, delivers the Budget on Wednesday (15 March), he is expected to announce policies to limit energy bills, bolster childcare support and give businesses tax breaks. Hunt is not, however, expected to announce additional funding for the NHS – despite the health service facing the biggest crisis in its history. The News Statesman

Scientific breakthrough could prevent breast cancer ‘time bomb’

Scientific breakthrough could prevent breast cancer ‘time bomb’ Scientists have come up with a strategy that could prevent breast cancer from returning in another part of a patient’s body years or decades later.

In what experts have described as a “time bomb”, patients with the most common type of breast cancer – oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) – have a continued risk of their cancer recurring and forming incurable tumours, as secondary or metastatic breast cancer. The Independent

See also:

• Age-associated microenvironmental changes highlight the role of PDGF-C in ER+ breast cancer metastatic relapse (open access) Nature Cancer
• UK scientists discover a new way to help prevent breast cancer ‘time bomb’ Breast Cancer Now

Mediterranean diet rich in seafood and vegetables may slash dementia chances by nearly a quarter

Mediterranean diet rich in seafood and vegetables may slash dementia chances by nearly a quarter A diet rich in seafood, whole grains, nuts and vegetables could slash the chances of dementia by almost a quarter, a study suggests.

Those who ate a Mediterranean diet were significantly less likely to develop the brain disease, research involving more than 60,000 Britons concluded. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic predisposition: findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study (open access) BMC Medicine
• Mediterranean diet can lower dementia risk by quarter, study finds The Independent

Most men with prostate cancer DON'T need harsh treatments, major study

Most men with prostate cancer DON'T need harsh treatments, major study More men with prostate cancer can afford to delay harsh treatments without risking their health, a study suggests.

The decades-long research indicated that active monitoring by healthcare professionals is an equally valid option for men who do not have late-stage cancer.

The study found men who were monitored after being diagnosed were just as likely to survive for at least 15 years as people who underwent more severe radiation or surgical treatments. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Fifteen-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer (abstract) New England Journal of Medicine

'The NHS is still here but please don't call 999 or attend Accident and Emergency unless you have an emergency'

The NHS is still here but please don't call 999 or attend Accident and Emergency unless you have an emergency' With upcoming industrial action next week, which will seriously impact on our hospitals, the local NHS is appealing to local people to play their part and only access 999 and emergency services if they have a serious illness or injury. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Minister backs threatened Corby children's centre

Minister backs threatened Corby children's centre A Conservative MP and minister has given his backing to a children and families centre hit by cuts, in a special BBC debate in Corby.

The Pen Green Centre in the Northamptonshire town is to have its budget cut in half, in a move campaigners have called "catastrophic".

Corby MP Tom Pursglove said: "It makes no sense to lose the centre." BBC Northampton

Going swimmingly or treading water: is the elective recovery plan bringing down NHS waiting lists?

Going swimmingly or treading water: is the elective recovery plan bringing down NHS waiting lists? The NHS Elective recovery plan (ERP), launched in February 2022, is intended to make a major contribution to reducing waiting lists. This paper sets out: how the national waiting list has changed over the year and the impact of the ERP; inequalities in the waiting list by speciality and geography and how the ERP has so far impacted regions differently; and LCP’s projections past and future – how their previous projections compare to 2022’s waiting list and what their projections are to 2027 in light of over a years’ worth of new data being available. Lane Clark & Peacock LLP

Pandemic preparedness for the real world: why we must invest in equitable, ethical and effective approaches to help prepare for the next pandemic

Pandemic preparedness for the real world: why we must invest in equitable, ethical and effective approaches to help prepare for the next pandemic This report warns the global health community to think beyond vaccines and lockdowns, proposing investment in a five point action framework for pandemic preparedness which responds to people’s experiences, knowledge and needs. The proposed five areas for investment are: health professionals; diverse knowledge, expertise and perspectives; reform of health, social and other systems and structures to support resilience to disease crises; people’s trust in politics; and ethics and social justice. Institute of Development Studies

World-Leading NHS Virtual Wards Treat 100,000 Patients In A Year

World-Leading NHS Virtual Wards Treat 100,000 Patients In A Year More than 100,000 patients have been treated in NHS virtual wards in the last year, with 16,000 patients treated in January alone.

Virtual wards allow patients to get hospital-level care at home safely and in familiar surroundings, helping speed up their recovery while freeing up hospital beds for patients that need them most.

There are now more than 340 virtual ward programmes across England – 58 opened in January – including a total of 7,653 virtual beds. NHS England

NHS on-the-spot liver scans find one in 10 people have liver damage that could lead to deadly cancer

NHS on-the-spot liver scans find one in 10 people have liver damage that could lead to deadly cancer A new initiative to check for liver cancer in high-risk communities has been rolled out as part of a major NHS drive to catch more cancers earlier and save lives.

The roaming trucks performed more than 7,000 fibroscans and identified over 830 people with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis, a leading cause of liver cancer, in eight months (June 2022 to January 2023) – with the majority of those identified referred on to further care. NHS England

Junior doctors’ strike prompts tens of thousands of hospital cancellations

Junior doctors’ strike prompts tens of thousands of hospital cancellations Hospitals have cancelled tens of thousands of outpatient appointments and operations this week as they prepare for a junior doctors’ strike that will severely disrupt NHS care.

NHS trusts in England have postponed many more procedures than for any of the recent walkouts by nurses and ambulance staff. The Guardian 

See also:

• BMA responds to Health Secretary’s last-minute pay talks letter BMA
• Junior doctors can ‘make more serving coffee than saving patients’, BMA warns ahead of three-day strike BMA
• Clarification on misleading claims made in BBC article on junior doctors industrial action BMA
• Statement ahead of the junior doctors strikes NHS Confederation
• NHS’ top doctor warns emergency care will be prioritised during biggest strike disruption to date NHS England
• A very difficult day for the NHS NHS Providers
• Thousands of junior doctors begin three-day strike BBC News
• How Monday 13 March junior doctors' strike will affect you BBC News
• Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise? BBC News
• Junior doctors strike today: Picket lines appear outside hospitals as union says workers 'can make more serving coffee than saving patients' The Daily Mail
• NHS could be 'safer than normal' as consultants cover striking junior doctors The Daily Telegraph
• Hundreds of NHS workers descend on capital in support of health service strikes Evening Standard
• Junior doctors strike ‘will be most disruptive so far’, says NHS leader Evening Standard
• Junior doctors paid lower hourly rate than workers to get at Pret The Guardian
• Junior doctors’ strike threatens patient safety, say NHS hospital bosses The Guardian
• Junior doctors could earn more serving coffee at Pret, says union The Independent
• Striking junior doctors say Pret pays more hourly than 'saving patients' ITV News
• Junior doctors reject Steve Barclay’s plea to call off strike action Nursing Notes
• Junior doctors strike: Anger at 'national scandal' of unnecessary NHS deaths as thousands start three day walkout Sky News
• Junior doctors launch three-day strike Sky News
• How to stop the junior doctors’ strike The Spectator

Disability the 'stark' face of England and Wales suicide statistics

Disability the 'stark' face of England and Wales suicide statistics A leading disability rights charity has described new suicide statistics as the "tragic face of systemic inequality".

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggested disabled people had the highest rate of dying by suicide compared to other groups.

It found 48 disabled men per 100,000 people and 19 disabled women ended their lives, compared to 16 non-disabled men and five women.

Fazilet Hadi from Disability Rights UK (DRUK) described it as "stark". BBC News

MPs call for ban on electroconvulsive therapy for women in mental health care

MPs call for ban on electroconvulsive therapy for women in mental health care MPs from across the political spectrum have called for a ban on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for mental illness in England, and want the practice to be subject to an urgent inquiry.

MPs told The Independent they have serious concerns that women are disproportionally given electroconvulsive therapy, and argued that patients are not properly notified of the treatment’s potential side effects.

GPs plan to stop writing sick notes to free up time to see more patients

GPs plan to stop writing sick notes to free up time to see more patients GPs plan to stop signing sick notes, death certificates and disability forms in an effort to create more time to deal with their patients’ medical problems.

The British Medical Association (BMA) – the doctors’ union – wants GPs to ditch unpaid bureaucratic tasks that eat into time they could allocate to more appointments. Instead, it says much of the red tape should be done by nurses and even pharmacists. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Contract imposition forces GPs to consider all options in response The BMA

NHS surgeons use high-tech 3D printers to create replacement ribs for cancer patients

NHS surgeons use high-tech 3D printers to create replacement ribs for cancer patients Patients recovering from surgery to cut out chest and lung tumours can hope to breathe easier thanks to replacement ribs created by high-tech 3D printers.

The implants are given to people who have had part of their chest wall removed during treatment, and are created using scans of the ribcage that build up a mould in the printer, layer by layer, to perfectly match the bones that need to be replaced. The Daily Mail

Whistleblowers raise safeguarding concerns about brain injury ward at St Andrews Hospital in Northampton

Whistleblowers raise safeguarding concerns about brain injury ward at St Andrews Hospital in Northampton A recent inspection found that the services for people with acquired brain injuries at St Andrews Hospital in Northampton ‘requires improvement’ after a number of concerns were raised about patient care.

The hospital, in Billing Road, was visited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2022 and - in a report published this week - rated the safety and leadership of the services as ‘requires improvement.’  Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Children waiting two years for mental health support

Children waiting two years for mental health support Some children and teenagers have been waiting up to two years for mental health support, a council investigation has found.

A cross-party group of West Northamptonshire councillors found the system to help school pupils was "worse than expected".

The group made several recommendations including providing more money to support services. BBC Northampton

NHS Staff Survey 2022: key findings - NHS Employers

NHS Staff Survey 2022: key findings The NHS National Staff Survey 2022 results, published 9 March 2023, highlight the ongoing challenges within the NHS. 

The annual survey, carried out in autumn 2022, covers staff in all 215 NHS trusts in England, across all roles.  

This year’s results illustrate a decline in certain key markers of staff experience. While staff discontent on pay is reflected in a fall in staff feeling well rewarded.

The results demonstrate lower staff confidence in the quality of care they feel able to deliver, compared with last year. There has also been a decrease in staff morale. NHS Employers

See also:

• NHS staff burnout highlights desperate need for workforce plan to focus on retention and wellbeing The Health Foundation
• NHS Confederation responds to NHS Staff Survey NHS Confederation
• NHS Employers responds to NHS Staff Survey NHS Employers
• Response to latest NHS Staff Survey results NHS England
• Staff survey and performance figures “stark illustration” of backdrop to strikes Nuffield Trust
• NHS England survey ‘lays bare’ staff in crisis, says RCN, warning change cannot wait Royal College of Nursing
• Just 62% of NHS staff are happy with care patients get, damning annual workforce survey reveals The Daily Mail
• Three in 10 NHS staff in England often think of quitting, survey finds The Guardian
• NHS staff survey: One in three often consider leaving Personnel Today

NHS continues to make huge strides reducing waits for patients despite winter pressures

NHS continues to make huge strides reducing waits for patients despite winter pressures The number of people waiting longest for routine care has fallen, despite hospitals having to contend with high levels of winter viruses and strike action, new figures show today.

Thanks to the hard work of staff, the NHS is making significant progress against its elective recovery plan, with the number of people waiting over 18 months cut by over 9,000 in January compared to the previous month – and down almost two thirds on its peak in September 2021 (from 124,911 down to 45,631). NHS England

See also:

• NHS Combined Performance Summary February 2023 NHS England
• Latest NHS performance figures – our response Healthwatch
• The King's Fund responds to latest NHS performance statistics The King's Fund
• NHS Confederation responds to the latest performance statistics NHS Confederation
• NHS Winter Watch Week 14 NHS Providers
• RCN responds to latest NHS performance statistics

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2020/21 update

Productivity of the English National Health Service: 2020/21 update NHS productivity compares growth in health care outputs and inputs: the more outputs produced with a given amount of inputs, the higher the productivity growth. This assumes that more health care – such as operations in hospitals – generates more health for society. However this report finds that this assumption did not necessarily apply during the pandemic because hospitals were told to cancel as much non-emergency care as possible to free up acute beds and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection. It also describes how, at the same time, the overall cost of the health care inputs – such as staff, beds, and medicines – remained or even increased because the pandemic required the employment of extra staff where possible and also extra spending on new safety measures. Centre for Health Economics

Progress with delivering the Emergency Services Network

Progress with delivering the Emergency Services Network According to this report, plans for a new communication network for emergency services have fallen further behind schedule, with the Home Office spending almost £2 billion on it since the programme began in 2015. The new Emergency Services Network will enable every police, fire, and ambulance service across England, Scotland and Wales to continue to communicate by voice and data, between the field and control rooms. National Audit Office

NHS crisis causing continued higher-than-normal levels of death

NHS crisis causing continued higher-than-normal levels of death Deaths in England and Wales have remained above average post-Covid lockdowns, with NHS delays likely to ‘have had substantial impact’

The crisis in the NHS is leading to continued higher-than-usual death levels in England and Wales, experts have said.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that almost 170,000 more people than normal died in England and Wales between March 2020, when coronavirus was declared a pandemic, and the end of 2022 – 11% higher than the five-year average. The Guardian

More than 500 deaths in England last year after long ambulance wait

More than 500 deaths in England last year after long ambulance wait Exclusive: figure is more than double the comparable fatalities in 2021, in what a union calls a ‘hidden scandal’ of delays

More than 500 seriously ill patients died last year before they could get treatment in hospital after the ambulance they called for took up to 15 hours to reach them, an investigation by the Guardian reveals.

The fatalities included people who had had a stroke or heart attack or whose breathing had suddenly collapsed, or who had been involved in a road traffic collision. The Guardian

See also:

• Undercover Ambulance: NHS Chaos (documentary) Channel 4 Dispatches
• Britain's broken NHS, like you've never seen before The Daily Mail
• ‘What the hell is going on when you can’t get an ambulance?’ The Guardian

NHS prescriptions to rise 30p to £9.65 in April despite the 'tax on health' being frozen last year

NHS prescriptions to rise 30p to £9.65 in April despite the 'tax on health' being frozen last year The cost of an NHS prescription will rise to £9.65 this year, the Government announced today. 

Patients in England will, from April 1, be forced to pay an extra 30p to collect their medication from a pharmacy.

Campaigners have long called the fee patients must pay to secure certain drugs like warfarin or asthma inhalers an 'unfair tax on health'. The Daily Mail

See also:

• NHS prescription charges from 1 April 2023 Department of Health and Social Care

Kettering General Hospital: Dozens criticise care at children's ward

Kettering General Hospital: Dozens criticise care at children's ward Dozens of families have shared concerns about care on a children's ward fighting to stay open.

Thirty-eight parents contacted the BBC about the treatment of their children at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) in Northamptonshire.

They said staff ignored symptoms of serious illnesses, sometimes with fatal consequences.

The hospital has apologised to families who felt let down. BBC Northampton

'Damning' report into children's mental health services in West Northamptonshire

'Damning' report into children's mental health services in West Northamptonshire Some children and teenagers are waiting up to two years for mental health support in a system that councillors found was “worse than expected” following an investigation. A cross-party group of West Northamptonshire councillors looked at the state of lower level mental health services over 2022 and provided a “damning” report to senior members. Northants Live

Moving from exclusion to inclusion in digital health and care

Moving from exclusion to inclusion in digital health and care Digital technologies can change how care is delivered, making health and care services more accessible, flexible, person centred, and a better experience for patients and staff while also improving efficiency. However, there is no guarantee of these positive effects until digitally enabled services are inclusive and meet the expectations of staff and the public. The King's Fund

NHS staff survey 2022

NHS staff survey 2022 The annual survey, carried out in autumn 2022, covers staff in all 215 NHS trusts in England, across all roles. This year’s results demonstrate staff discontent on pay which is reflected in a fall in staff feeling well rewarded. However, many top-level indicators have stabilised this year, staying broadly the same as in 2021. The results also find an improvement in staff perception of support for learning and development and an increase in feelings around positive teamworking and support from line managers. NHS Employers

NHS Pension Scheme: proposed amendments to scheme regulations - consultation response

NHS Pension Scheme: proposed amendments to scheme regulations - consultation response Starting in December 2022, the government consulted on proposals to amend NHS Pension Scheme regulations in line with the announcements made in Our plan for patients. Consultation respondents were broadly supportive of the measures proposed during the consultation process. This consultation response confirms that the government will proceed to implement the proposals. Department of Health and Social Care

£5 million Innovation Fund to reduce drug use

£5 million Innovation Fund to reduce drug use Five projects aimed at reducing drug use have been awarded £734,000 of the first allocation of a £5 million grant, with the remaining funding available across two further phases. Department of health and Social Care

NHS backlog progress at risk from junior doctors' strike in England

NHS backlog progress at risk from junior doctors' strike in England Progress being made on tackling the hospital waiting backlog will be put at risk by next week's junior doctors' strike, NHS bosses are warning.

NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said there had been huge achievements over the winter.

But he said it was inevitable the 72-hour walkout in England, which starts on Monday, would have an impact. BBC News

See also:

• So much for tackling the backlog! NHS waiting list shoots to ANOTHER record high of 7.21m The Daily Mail

Mental-health crisis from pandemic was minimal - study

Mental-health crisis from pandemic was minimal - study People's general mental health and anxiety symptoms hardly deteriorated at all during the pandemic, research suggests.

Most people are resilient and made the best of a difficult situation, it says.

The BMJ review analysed 137 studies, most from high-income European and Asian countries.

Depression became a little worse overall and among women, older people, university students and those belonging to sexual or gender minorities. BBC News

See also:

• Comparison of mental health symptoms before and during the covid-19 pandemic: evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of 134 cohorts (open access) The BMJ
• World’s most comprehensive study on COVID-19 mental health McGill University
• Increase in mental health callouts received by police over past five years BBC News
• Covid’s effect on mental health not as great as first thought, study suggests The Guardian
• The mental health toll of Covid is less than feared, major study finds Metro

Chinese firm got Covid contract despite trying to hack NHS data, minister says

Chinese firm got Covid contract despite trying to hack NHS data, minister says China’s leading genomics research company was given a Covid testing contract in the UK despite ministers knowing it had repeatedly sought to hack into the NHS’s genetic datacentre, a government minister has said.

The BGI Group was making multiple attempts every week to “hack” into Genomics England in 2014, George Freeman, a minister for science, innovation and technology, revealed to MPs, and is said to remain a “danger”. The Guardian

See also:

• Chinese firm won multi-million-pound Covid contract 'despite cyber attacks on NHS', minister claims The Daily Mail

NHS trust to test AI's ability to detect blood clots in patients

NHS trust to test AI's ability to detect blood clots in patients A UK NHS trust has told how it is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help its patients.

A trial will aim to discover whether AI is able to spot blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolic disease) of patients quicker and more accurately than doctors.

This in turn could save lives, those involved in the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath NHS Foundation Trust trial say. Evening Standard

Breakthrough for tens of thousands of Crohn's sufferers

Breakthrough for tens of thousands of Crohn's sufferers A medical breakthrough is bringing hope to tens of thousands of people living with Crohn's.

A new daily tablet for the debilitating digestive system condition has gained its first global approval in the UK.

Upadactinib is now poised to become available on the NHS for the 200,000 people whose lives are blighted by its painful and embarrassing symptoms. The Daily Mail

Scientists create mice with TWO biological fathers

Scientists create mice with TWO biological fathers Science has moved one step closer to allowing two men to reproduce without the need of a surrogate.

Japanese researchers created seven mice with two male biological parents, using skin cells from a male mouse to form a viable egg and then fertilize it.

They hope this research pushes forward treatments for infertility. But, it also paves the way for men in same-sex relationships to have a child without needing a surrogate  - which has happened in increasing numbers recently. The Daily Mail

See also:

• Breakthrough as eggs made from male mice cells BBC News
• Mice born with two fathers after scientific breakthrough - and it could pave way for same in humans Sky News

'She is a safe place': 'Most caring' nurse retires from Northampton General Hospital after 49 years of service

'She is a safe place': 'Most caring' nurse retires from Northampton General Hospital after 49 years of service An orthopaedic nurse, who has been described as “the most caring”, has retired from Northampton General Hospital after 49 years of service. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Children’s mental health services 2021-2022

Children’s mental health services 2021-2022 This report looks to understand what is happening in children’s mental health provision. Using new figures sourced from NHS England and NHS Digital, it examines spending on children’s mental health, numbers of children referred to and accessing CYPMHS and waiting times between referral and treatment (having a second contact with CYPMHS)

This data is the first available since services were widely re-opened after the pandemic and shows a surging demand for help. 

The welcome progress that has been made in recent years on improving children’s access to the right support is struggling to keep up with this demand – with waiting times increasing in the first time in years. Children's Commissioner

See also:

• Three-quarters of children detained under mental health act are girls, new report warns The Independent

Joining the dots: a blueprint for preventing and managing frailty in older

Joining the dots: a blueprint for preventing and managing frailty in older This document sets out seven system touchpoints and outcomes that should be considered when planning and commissioning health and social care for older people, alongside twelve actions that systems should take to create the conditions for high-quality integrated care for older people. The blueprint is aimed primarily at system leaders and commissioners of health and social care services for older people. It is hoped that it will assist these senior decision-makers to understand and implement the core features of age-attuned integrated care for older people. British Geriatrics Society

Most vulnerable to be offered spring COVID-19 booster

Most vulnerable to be offered spring COVID-19 booster The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed its advice for a 2023 spring coronavirus (COVID-19) booster programme.

In January 2023, the committee advised preparations should begin for potential booster programmes in spring and autumn this year, with further details to be announced at a later date. UK Health Security Agency

See also:

• Independent report: Spring 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme: JCVI advice, 22 February 2023 Department of Health and Social Care
• Covid booster jab to be offered this spring BBC News
• Vulnerable people in UK to be offered spring Covid booster vaccine The Guardian
• Covid booster vaccine to be offered to elderly and vulnerable The Independent
• COVID booster vaccine to be offered to most vulnerable Sky News

Government to consider radical new approach to prevent life-threatening cardiovascular disease

Government to consider radical new approach to prevent life-threatening cardiovascular disease People across England stand to benefit from a project to identify radical new approaches to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reduce pressure on the NHS, following the appointment of Prof John Deanfield as Government Champion for Personalised Prevention Department of Health and Social Care

Optimising personalised care for adults prescribed medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: framework for action for integrated care boards (ICBs) and primary care

Optimising personalised care for adults prescribed medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: framework for action for integrated care boards (ICBs) and primary care NHS England working in partnership with integrated care system (ICS) leads and representatives, has devised a framework actions to help systems develop plans that can support people who are taking medicines associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms. 

The actions will support ICSs to deliver on their four key objectives of: improving outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackling health inequalities in outcomes, experience and access; enhancing productivity and value for money; and helping the NHS support broader social and economic development.

Weight loss drug semaglutide approved for NHS use

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

Home Office unable to say when emergency services network will launch

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

Supporting high-quality perinatal mental health care

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

Protected learning time

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

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

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

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

NHS consultants ready to strike, warns British Medical Association

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

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

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

See also:

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

Vitiligo: Controversial skin cream may come to UK

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

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

But it carries some potentially serious side effects. BBC News

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

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

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

See also:

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

NHS England imposes GP contract with focus on access

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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

See also: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See also:

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

Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned

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

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

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

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

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