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A&E overused but GP access difficult – coincidence?
16/08/2019
The first ever large-scale research into attitudes towards emergency care from the most recent British Social Attitudes Survey shows that many people...
Digital diabetes prevention
13/08/2019
Online support for people at risk of type 2 diabetes can help stop people from going on to develop the condition. In pilot schemes, offering...
Barriers to accessing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on NHS prescription
12/08/2019
NHS England and NHS Improvement have published the findings and recommendations of a review of the barriers to prescribing of cannabis-based products...
Emergency readmissions are rising
25/03/2019
NHS Digital has published data for emergency readmissions for hospitals in England between 2013/14 and 2017/18. These figures show that emergency readmissions nationally have increased from 12.5% in 2013/14 to 13.8% in 2017/18. The data also shows that emergency readmissions range from 14.9% in the...
NHS England publishes response to consultation feedback on Integrated Care Provider (ICP) Contract
25/03/2019
NHS England has now published the response to the 12-week consultation, which ran from August to October 2018, on the proposed contracting arrangements for integrated care providers (ICPs). Nearly 3800 responses were received from stakeholders and members of the public. More.....
Review of the wider public health workforce
22/03/2019
Public Health England has published a review of what it calls the wider public health workforce – which includes sectors that influence but do not work directly in public health. These include social care, emergency services and housing departments. The review looks at how the workforce as a whole...
Radiologists warn of growing shortage in cancer workforce
22/03/2019
One in six UK cancer centres now operates with fewer clinical oncology consultants than five years ago, according to a report by the Royal College of Radiologists. Vacancies for clinical oncology posts are now double what they were in 2013 – with more than half of vacant posts empty for a year or...
Public asked for views on restricted food advertising
20/03/2019
The government is consulting on proposals to introduce a 9pm watershed on TV and online adverts for food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt. The restrictions would limit children’s exposure to advertising as part of efforts to tackle childhood obesity. More....
The state of ageing in 2019
20/03/2019
A report from an older people’s charity brings together public data about work and finances, housing, health and communities. It reveals big differences in how people experience ageing depending on factors such as where they live, how much money they have or their sex or ethnicity. Today’s least...
Jo Cox Foundation backs campaign to end loneliness
20/03/2019
The sister of MP Jo Cox is backing an anti-loneliness campaign to help 30,000 people avoid health and wellbeing problems that can come from feeling and living alone. The campaign is one of a range of schemes being introduced as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to support personalised care through the...
Government response breast screening review
20/03/2019
The independent breast screening review published in December 2018 followed the failure to invite thousands of women aged between 68 and 71 to their final breast screening. This document sets out the government’s response to each recommendation made in the report. The government has accepted all...
Government appoints first national adviser for LGBT health
20/03/2019
Minister for women and equalities Penny Mordaunt has appointed the first ever national adviser for LGBT health in the NHS supported by an advisory panel. More....
Autistic people asked for their views on improving services
18/03/2019
A new call for evidence is asking people for their views on what is working and where more needs to be done to transform care and support. Autistic people, their families and those caring for them are being asked for their views on how care and support in England can be improved. The call for...
First chief midwife appointed
18/03/2019
The NHS has appointed England’s first chief midwife to improve care for new and expectant mothers and their children and promote safer births. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent will be the first to take on the new role, to oversee delivery of a package of measures for increased safety and support...
Report slams ‘inadequate’ NHS capital spending
18/03/2019
The Health Foundation think tank says a short-termist approach has resulted in years of declining and inadequate capital spending for the NHS in England, which has put patient care and staff productivity at risk. Its briefing warns that an ageing infrastructure, together with a substantial and...
National No Smoking Day challenges the silent killer
11/03/2019
This Wednesday 13th March is National No Smoking Day, a country wide campaign to challenge the acceptance of smoking cigarettes and raising awareness about the serious harm that smoking does to health. North East Lincolnshire Council have a Wellbeing Service which supports people to stop smoking...
Public health is improving under local government, report says
11/03/2019
A report from the Local Government Association states that since taking over responsibility for public health in 2013, councils have maintained or improved 80% of public health outcomes in England. The report notes that progress has been against a background of deep cuts to council funding. It...
Guidance on flash glucose monitors for type 1 diabetes
11/03/2019
Tens of thousands of patients with type 1 diabetes will benefit from life changing glucose monitors on the NHS from next month. NHS England has published the clinical guidance for the monitors, outlining funding arrangements for local health groups and the criteria for who qualifies for the...
Still concerns about the safety of independent ambulance services
11/03/2019
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is calling on independent ambulance services, commissioners and the wider system to do more to make sure patients are safe, following concerns identified during its inspections. While the regulator has seen evidence of good practice and improvements made by some...
British public’s satisfaction with the NHS at lowest level in over a decade
11/03/2019
Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to its lowest level since 2007, according to analysis of the 2018 British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey published by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust. The survey , carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), is seen as a gold...
Hundreds more could be eligible for cochlear implants on the NHS
11/03/2019
Hundreds more people with severe to profound deafness will be eligible for cochlear implants each year, as a result of updated NICE guidance. The update comes after a review of the definition of severe to profound deafness which is used to identify if a cochlear implant might be appropriate.
Better safeguarding of children exposed to gang violence and criminal exploitation
11/03/2019
A report from the children’s commissioner estimates that there are 27,000 children in England who identify as a gang member, only a fraction of whom are known to children’s services. It recommends that the government needs to make child criminal exploitation a national priority, and lay out clear...
Decay accounts for nine in ten child tooth extractions in hospital
11/03/2019
Almost nine in ten hospital tooth extractions among children to age five are due to preventable tooth decay, according to data published by Public Health England (PHE). Although the oral health of children is improving, significant inequalities remain and tooth extraction is still the most common...
New leaders announced to help deliver the NHS Long Term Plan
04/03/2019
A leading GP and one of England’s foremost health experts have been chosen to co-chair a new forum which will help oversee the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan. Following a nationally-advertised recruitment process, Dr Clare Gerada has been appointed as clinical chair and Professor Sir Chris Ham...
NHS patients in England to be offered free tampons
04/03/2019
Women and girls in hospital who need sanitary protection will be offered free tampons and other products from this summer, NHS England has said. It follows a British Medical Association campaign pointing out many hospitals supply razors and shaving foam to men, but no sanitary products. NHS England...
Surge in male nurse applications
26/02/2019
A record breaking number of male school leavers have applied to be nurses following an NHS England recruitment campaign. The number of 18-year-old men applying to study nursing has increased by more than 50% in a decade, according to new figures from UCAS, the body that arranges university courses...
Children’s vaccine 87% effective against prevailing flu strain
26/02/2019
Public Health England (PHE) has published mid-season data on the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccines. The data suggests that the nasal spray flu vaccine is 87% effective in children aged 2 to 17 years against the main circulating strain, influenza A(H1N1)pmd09. The vaccine given to adults...
NHS prescription charges from April 2019
25/02/2019
The NHS prescription charge has increased by 20p, to £9.00 an item. This change will come into effect from 1 April 2019. More....
