News about the NHS

Josh Halliday North of England editor · Oct 3, 2024

Lucy Letby: hospital chiefs ‘refused to call police amid concern of media spotlight’ Inquiry hears doctor asked bosses to contact police a week before Letby murdered final babies – but was told a review would be held instead Hospital executives refused to call the police about Lucy Letby because of a “concern that we will be in the media spotlight”, an inquiry has been told. Murthy Saladi, a consultant paediatrician, urged hospital bosses in an email on 29 June 2016 to contact Cheshire constabulary about a series of “unexpected and unexplained” deaths. Continue reading... By Josh Halliday North of England editor Lucy Letby: hospital chiefs ‘refused to call police amid concern of media spotlight’ to Continue reading... NHS...

Jem Bartholomew · Oct 3, 2024

Job advisers may be posted in NHS hospitals to get long-term sick back to work Disability charity says Labour plan must not become punitive or exacerbate ‘culture of mistrust and fear’ UK politics live – latest updates Employment advisers are to be stationed in NHS hospitals under Labour plans to push people on long-term sickness leave back into work, as one disability charity said the proposal must not become a “punitive” measure. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, and Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, are understood to want to expand a model used at the Maudsley psychiatric hospital, in south London, which deploys employment support, such as job seeking, CV writing and interview training. Continue reading... By...

Andrew Gregory Health editor · Oct 3, 2024

NHS England to screen 100,000 babies for more than 200 genetic conditions Experts say sequencing whole genome of newborns will be ‘transformational’ in earlier diagnosis and treatment The NHS in England is to screen 100,000 newborn babies for more than 200 genetic conditions in a world-first scheme aimed at bolstering early diagnosis and treatment. All new parents are currently offered a blood spot test for their babies, normally when the child is five days old, to check whether they have any of nine rare but serious conditions. The newborn’s heel is pricked to collect a few drops of blood on a card that is sent away to be tested. Continue reading... By Andrew Gregory Health editor NHS England to screen 100,000 babies for more...

Guardian Staff · Oct 2, 2024

We need a no-gifts policy for all public servants | Letters Jane Carmichael and Fiona Harcombe on their experience as public sector employees and avoiding conflicts of interest Between 2005 and 2018, I worked as a low-to-mid-ranking lawyer in two central government departments and then for an independent regulator. In all three cases, the conflict of interest policy required not only the declaration of all gifts and hospitality but also the refusal of any worth more than £30. In all cases, the policy stated that it was important to avoid not just actual impropriety but also the appearance of a potential for impropriety. Why should such policies apply to officials whose role is to advise decision-makers but not to those with the power...

Linda Geddes Science correspondent · Oct 2, 2024

Targeted support could reduce infant mortality gap across England, study finds Researchers say interventions could address key factors, such as smoking, but ‘structural changes’ also needed Four key factors have been identified that together account for more than one-third of the inequalities in infant deaths between the most and least deprived areas of England. Researchers say targeted interventions to address these factors – teenage pregnancy, maternal depression, preterm birth and smoking during pregnancy – could go a significant way to reduce inequalities, although higher-level structural changes to address socioeconomic inequality will also be necessary. Continue reading... By Linda Geddes Science correspondent Targeted...

Anna Bawden Health and social affairs · Oct 1, 2024

Covid inquiry told how putting on PPE delayed treatment of dying patients Ambulance technician says policy of only donning protective equipment at scene cost vital minutes Dying patients experienced vital delays in being treated by paramedics because of the time it took ambulance crews to put on protective personal equipment, the Covid inquiry has been told. An ambulance technician, Mark Tilley, came close to tears on Tuesday as he described how the experience still “played on his mind”. Continue reading... By Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent Covid inquiry told how putting on PPE delayed treatment of dying patients to Continue reading... NHS Forums - For NHS Staff and Patients Alike

Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent · Oct 1, 2024

Structural racism leading to stark health inequalities in London, report shows Exclusive: Review finds poverty and daily racism result in poor mental and physical health for some ethnic groups Structural racism is leading to stark health inequalities among people from some ethnic backgrounds in London, according to a review by one of the UK’s top public health experts. More than half (52%) of black children and almost three-quarters (70%) of Bangladeshi and Pakistani children are growing up in relative poverty after housing costs in London, compared with a quarter (26%) of white children. Continue reading... By Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent Structural racism leading to stark health inequalities in London...

Anna Bawden and Denis Campbell · Sep 30, 2024

Streeting considers reviving dedicated cancer strategy after Tories axed it Health secretary is examining case for a comprehensive plan for England to tackle UK’s second-biggest killer Wes Streeting may revive the use of a dedicated cancer strategy to tackle the UK’s second biggest killer after experts warned the Conservatives’ scrapping of it was “a disaster” for patients. The health secretary is considering publishing a new comprehensive plan for England, amid record numbers of people being diagnosed with the disease and NHS cancer services struggling to meet demand. Continue reading... By Anna Bawden and Denis Campbell Streeting considers reviving dedicated cancer strategy after Tories axed it to Continue reading... NHS...

Guardian Staff · Sep 30, 2024

There’s no skin on our chips up north | Brief letters Skin in the chip game | Nannies and toffs | Scottish grandmothers | Hummus hint | Department for misunderstanding | Prostate cancer tests Michal B Paradowski (Letters, 27 September) refers to chips as “fluffy on the inside and proudly skin-on”. No chip shop in the north, where we know about these things, would ever serve chips with the skin on. Never heard of it, never experienced it. Maybe it’s different in Cambridge? Sue Leyland Hunmanby, North Yorkshire • Robert Gibbs (Letters, 26 September) says “Only toffs can afford nannies”. Far from it. Financially it was very difficult but, as a single mother, employing a nanny was the only way to provide for my child and work as a...

Nicola Davis Science correspondent · Sep 30, 2024

NHS warns of 18,000 flu deaths since 2022 as it urges vaccination uptake Health experts ask those eligible to ‘help reduce the burden on our hospitals’ over winter by booking in for free jabs At least 18,000 deaths in England were associated with flu over the past two winters, figures have revealed, as health experts urge those eligible to take up a free vaccination on the NHS. The figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cover the period from October to May in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Over the same timeframe UKHSA estimates a little more than 19,500 deaths were associated with Covid. Continue reading... By Nicola Davis Science correspondent NHS warns of 18,000 flu deaths since 2022 as it urges vaccination uptake to...

Guardian Staff · Sep 29, 2024

Culture of fear in the NHS needs to change | Letter A little time spent building happy, cohesive, empowered teams would transform the health service, says Dr Meher Pocha I completely agree with Dr Rachel Clarke’s article (As a doctor, I’m no apologist for Wes Streeting – but here’s where he’s right about the NHS, 25 September). I retired from the NHS earlier than I intended because of dealing with a ridiculous workload and feeling undervalued. I see increasing disaffection among senior doctors. One of the many factors contributing to the decline of the NHS, and one that does not require lots of money to fix, is the changing culture created by the insidious shift of major decision-making from senior clinicians to managers. This has...

Josh Halliday North of England editor · Sep 29, 2024

Man who killed himself in Blackpool hospital was badly failed, says mother Jamie Pearson, 27, had waited nearly 24 hours to see an NHS mental health worker after taking an overdose in August A 27-year-old man who killed himself in a hospital toilet after waiting nearly 24 hours to see a mental health professional was badly failed by the NHS, his mother has said. Jamie Pearson was admitted to Blackpool Victoria hospital’s A&E department after taking an overdose of high-strength painkillers on 17 August. Continue reading... By Josh Halliday North of England editor Man who killed himself in Blackpool hospital was badly failed, says mother to Continue reading... NHS Forums - For NHS Staff and Patients Alike

Andrew Sparrow · Sep 29, 2024

Jenrick, Cleverly and Tugendhat reject Badenoch’s stance on maternity pay – politics live Kemi Badenoch says she is not opposed to principle of maternity pay, as row over her ‘excessive’ claim escalates Q: Do you agree with Kemi Badenoch that some cultures are less valid than others? Jenrick says culture matters. But he says he disagres with Badenoch on immigration numbers. He says he thinks you have to have a cap on numbers. And he also says he believes the UK has to leave the European convention on human rights. He says Badenoch is just talking about developing a plan in a few years time, and that’s “a recipe for infighting and for losing the public’s trust”. Continue reading... By Andrew Sparrow Jenrick, Cleverly and...

Richard Partington · Sep 29, 2024

Labour’s economic success lies in reshaping the doom-laden Treasury mindset | Richard Partington Neither an Osborne-style handbrake or a Truss-style brick on the accelerator will do. Success depends on changing fiscal culture Winter fuel cut savings will be less than Reeves expected, analysis finds The Treasury was ready when Labour arrived in office. In the week after the election landslide, ministers and a cadre of advisers appointed to serve at 1 Horse Guards Road were gathered together by civil servants, and shown a 25-minute PowerPoint presentation laying bare the mess in the public finances. Those in attendance were left in no doubt: this was an exercise to scare the new recruits. A shock session to get Labour up to speed...

Guardian Staff · Sep 29, 2024

Assisted dying is much more than a party political issue | Letters If the prime minister has welcomed the debate in parliament, it is surely because he recognises changing public opinion Sonia Sodha suggests (“A rushed law is no way to make such a vital, painful decision as how to die”) that assisted dying is being directed by No 10 as a party political issue and has not been given sufficient parliamentary attention. In fact, as a Liberal Democrat committed to supporting assisted dying, I am free to vote however I want on the issue, with direction from neither my own party nor Labour. Working cross party for seven years, I have secured one debate in parliament, spoken in several others and taken part in fringe meetings at...

Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent · Sep 27, 2024

Majority of black people think racism played role in failure to test for prostate cancer Survey findings are despite black men being twice as likely to develop the disease than overall population Nearly two-thirds (62%) of black people in the UK believe racial discrimination has prevented them or a loved one from accessing a prostate cancer test, a survey has found, despite black men having twice the risk of developing the disease than the overall adult male population. A PSA test measures the level of the protein prostate-specific antigen in the blood, and may be able to detect prostate cancer in its early stages. Continue reading... By Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent Majority of black people think racism...

Jamie Grierson · Sep 27, 2024

Not a single bed set aside to treat ME in any UK hospital, says NHS director Father of Maeve Boothby O’Neill, who died in 2021, says it is ‘shameful’ that health system is unable to treat the disease A senior NHS professional has told a coroner that there is not a single bed anywhere in the country set aside specifically for the treatment of a patient with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Dr Anthony Hemsley was addressing a special hearing in Exeter after the inquest this summer into the death of Maeve Boothby O’Neill who died in October 2021 at her home in Exeter, at the age of 27, after living with the debilitating disease, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, for more than a decade. Continue reading... By Jamie...

Andrew Gregory Health editor · Sep 26, 2024

Future pandemic as big as Covid is inevitable, says Whitty England’s chief medical officer also tells inquiry that UK’s low level of intensive care provision is a political decision Another pandemic as big as the Covid crisis that killed 7 million people worldwide is “a certainty”, Prof Sir Chris Whitty has warned, as he said that the UK’s lack of intensive care capacity for the sickest patients was a “political choice”. The NHS faced an “absolutely catastrophic situation” when the virus first hit in 2020 but it could have been “substantially worse” if the UK had not gone into lockdown, England’s chief medical officer said. Continue reading... By Andrew Gregory Health editor Future pandemic as big as Covid is inevitable, says...

Andrew Gregory Health editor · Sep 26, 2024

Doctor in tears at Covid inquiry says what NHS staff saw was ‘indescribable’ Prof Kevin Fong, who was on shift during 7/7 bombings, says height of pandemic was like a ‘terrorist attack every day’ A senior doctor repeatedly broke down in tears as he described how the Covid crisis for NHS staff was like having to respond to a “terrorist attack every day”, with infected patients “raining from the sky”. Prof Kevin Fong, a former clinical adviser in emergency preparedness, resilience and response at NHS England who was on shift during the 7/7 London bombings, said the scale of death in hospitals at the height of the pandemic was “shocking” and “truly astounding”. Continue reading... By Andrew Gregory Health editor Doctor in tears at...

Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent · Sep 26, 2024

One in four Black men in the UK refused prostate cancer test by their GP, survey finds Findings are despite black men being twice as likely to develop the disease than the overall adult male population One in four black men in the UK have been refused a prostate cancer test by their GP despite having twice the risk of developing the disease than the overall adult male population, a report has found. A PSA test measures the level of the protein prostate-specific antigen in the blood, and may be able to detect prostate cancer in its early stages. Continue reading... By Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent One in four Black men in the UK refused prostate cancer test by their GP, survey finds to Continue reading...

bbc.com · Sep 13, 2024

Newspaper headlines: 'Biggest NHS reform ever' after 'damning' report Most of the newspapers focus on the major report into the state of the NHS being published on Thursday. Continue reading this article about Newspaper headlines: 'Biggest NHS reform ever' after 'damning' report by bbc.com NHS Forums - For daily discussion by NHS Staff.

Denis Campbell Health policy editor · Sep 26, 2024

Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care Closure of hundreds of outlets hitting rural areas, older people and deprived communities hardest, according to Healthwatch England High street pharmacies are closing at such an alarming rate that it threatens the drive to use them instead of GPs to care for millions of people, the NHS’s patient champion warns today. A total of 436 community pharmacies in England shut permanently last year and there were also 13,863 temporary closures, which stopped patients from obtaining health advice and medication. Cheshire and Merseyside ICB saw the most permanent closures last year – 51 The North East and North Cumbria ICB had the highest number of temporary...

Rachel Clarke · Sep 25, 2024

As a doctor, I’m no apologist for Wes Streeting – but here's where he's right about the NHS | Rachel Clarke NHS ‘senior sources’ blasted the health secretary for admitting the service is broken. I applaud him for telling the truth Good old anonymous senior sources in the NHS. You can always rely on them to tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, can’t you? In their latest act of radical candour on behalf of patients and frontline staff, these cloak-and-dagger freelancers briefed the BBC about their growing unease at Wes Streeting’s insistence that the NHS is broken. Speaking to the corporation ahead of the health secretary’s Labour party conference speech, the sources worried that Streeting’s unflinching...

Jamie Grierson · Sep 25, 2024

Father of babies killed by Lucy Letby tells inquiry of frantic scenes at hospital Father says staff at Countess of Chester hospital did not look as if they ‘really knew what they were doing’ The father of two triplet babies murdered by Lucy Letby has described frantic scenes as the children collapsed, with medical staff appearing to search online for tutorials to guide them through “everyday” medical procedures. Letby injected air into the bloodstream of Child O and also into his stomach through a nasogastric tube, as well as administering air into the stomach of his brother, Child P. Continue reading... By Jamie Grierson Father of babies killed by Lucy Letby tells inquiry of frantic scenes at hospital to Continue reading...

Andrew Sparrow · Sep 25, 2024

Labour delegates vote for motion saying winter fuel payments cut should be reversed – UK politics live Delegates at party conference back motion by Unite union calling for government to reverse introduction of means-testing allowance In an interview with Sky News, Wes Streeting said waiting lists would be “demonstrably lower” than they are now. He said: By the next general election, waiting lists will be demonstrably lower because I know that’s how I will be judged, how the prime minister will be judged, how the government will be judged - people will judge us by our actions, not just our words ultimately. Advances in genomics and data mean the healthcare of the future will be more predictive, more preventative and more...

News about the NHS

Show only:

Lucy Letby: hospital chiefs ‘refused to call police amid concern of media spotlight’

Job advisers may be posted in NHS hospitals to get long-term sick back to work

NHS England to screen 100,000 babies for more than 200 genetic conditions

We need a no-gifts policy for all public servants | Letters

Targeted support could reduce infant mortality gap across England, study finds

Covid inquiry told how putting on PPE delayed treatment of dying patients

Structural racism leading to stark health inequalities in London, report shows

Streeting considers reviving dedicated cancer strategy after Tories axed it

There’s no skin on our chips up north | Brief letters

NHS warns of 18,000 flu deaths since 2022 as it urges vaccination uptake

Culture of fear in the NHS needs to change | Letter

Man who killed himself in Blackpool hospital was badly failed, says mother

Jenrick, Cleverly and Tugendhat reject Badenoch’s stance on maternity pay – politics live

Labour’s economic success lies in reshaping the doom-laden Treasury mindset | Richard Partington

Assisted dying is much more than a party political issue | Letters

Majority of black people think racism played role in failure to test for prostate cancer

Not a single bed set aside to treat ME in any UK hospital, says NHS director

Future pandemic as big as Covid is inevitable, says Whitty

Doctor in tears at Covid inquiry says what NHS staff saw was ‘indescribable’

One in four Black men in the UK refused prostate cancer test by their GP, survey finds

Newspaper headlines: 'Biggest NHS reform ever' after 'damning' report

Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care

As a doctor, I’m no apologist for Wes Streeting – but here's where he's right about the NHS | Rachel Clarke

Father of babies killed by Lucy Letby tells inquiry of frantic scenes at hospital

Labour delegates vote for motion saying winter fuel payments cut should be reversed – UK politics live

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