Displaying items by tag: NHS

A new at-home saliva test assessing genetic risk has shown greater accuracy than the current PSA blood test in detecting prostate cancer, according to a major UK study. The spit test, which evaluates 130 genetic variants to calculate a polygenic risk score (PRS), was found to be more effective at identifying aggressive prostate cancers than traditional PSA testing. Led by Prof Ros Eeles at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, the study demonstrated that 40% of high-risk men flagged by the test were diagnosed with cancer, compared to 25% diagnosed through PSA testing. Moreover, the saliva test detected a higher proportion of aggressive cancers. This non-invasive, inexpensive tool could improve early diagnosis and reduce unnecessary treatments linked to false positives from PSA tests. Researchers are also developing updated versions of the test tailored for men of Asian and African heritage. While further research is needed to confirm long-term outcomes, experts hope the PRS test could soon revolutionise screening for men most at risk, offering better protection and peace of mind.

Experts warn the UK is wasting billions annually by failing to diagnose and care for people with bipolar disorder. An estimated one million people live with the condition, yet many are misdiagnosed, undertreated, or entirely overlooked. Patients have undergone years of suffering, misdiagnosis, and crisis before they finally received proper care. New data put the cost of bipolar-related care and economic loss at £9.6 billion a year. Yet experts say that with early diagnosis, consistent medication, and specialist care programmes, hospital admissions could be dramatically reduced and lives transformed. One model in South London has seen readmission rates drop by 80%. Despite the evidence, care remains patchy and specialist services limited. Campaigners and clinicians are urging a national care pathway and greater access to psychiatrists to stop the cycle of crisis and neglect, calling the current situation both a human tragedy and a financial folly.

Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England, aiming to cut bureaucracy and redirect funds to frontline healthcare. Calling it an ‘arms-length body’, he argued that scrapping it would eliminate duplication, saving money for nurses and patient care. Health secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that up to 10,000 jobs could be cut, but said reform was necessary to reduce inefficiency. NHS England, established in 2013, oversees daily NHS operations with a £168 million budget. Last month, its chief executive Amanda Pritchard stepped down, reflecting mounting pressures. Starmer’s broader government efficiency plan includes AI-driven reforms to streamline state functions, aiming to save £45 billion, and to cut compliance costs for businesses by 25%. He criticised the state as overstretched and ineffective, promising to reduce regulatory burdens. Streeting called the move the ‘final nail in the coffin’ of the ‘disastrous’ 2012 NHS reorganisation, pledging to empower healthcare workers and shorten waiting times.

A growing number of qualified GPs in England are unable to find work, with some resorting to jobs such as Uber driving to pay their bills. This crisis has been blamed on chronic underfunding and the rising costs of running GP practices, which has left many surgeries without the resources to hire doctors. A new survey by the British Medical Association found that one in five GPs is considering leaving the profession, while nearly half of those surveyed are looking for work outside the NHS. Some are seeking GP roles abroad, while others are considering leaving healthcare altogether. The government has pledged £889 million to reduce administrative burdens and expand GP recruitment programs, but experts warn this is not a long-term solution. Many doctors remain concerned that rising employer national insurance costs will further squeeze GP practices, potentially leading to a mass exodus from the profession. With demand for GP appointments at an all-time high, medical professionals are warning that unless core funding is significantly increased, the NHS could face a two-tier system, similar to what has happened in dentistry, where more doctors turn to private healthcare instead of the NHS. See

Hundreds of thousands of women in the UK will be screened for breast cancer using AI technology in a groundbreaking trial designed to reduce waiting times and improve early detection. The £11 million trial will involve nearly 700,000 patients, replacing one of the two radiologists typically used to review mammograms with AI. Experts believe AI could increase accuracy and speed up diagnoses, allowing radiologists to focus on other areas of patient care. The trial will take place in thirty sites nationwide, with different AI technologies being tested to determine the most effective. Smaller studies have already suggested that AI may be better than human doctors at detecting breast cancer from mammograms. However, with a 40% shortfall in consultant radiologists expected by 2028, medical leaders emphasise the need for continued investment in screening services. Health secretary Wes Streeting, himself a cancer survivor, has pledged to prioritise early detection and patient care in the upcoming National Cancer Plan.

The parliamentary group on eating disorders has declared an emergency, citing 'woefully inadequate care' for those affected. Conditions like anorexia and bulimia have surged in recent years, with 12% of 17- to 19-year-olds and nearly 21% of young women now affected, according to a 2023 survey. The report highlights widespread barriers to treatment, underfunded services, and misconceptions about eating disorders, which affect people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. It calls for a national strategy to support patients and families, mandatory training for frontline workers, and significant investment in care. Testimonies from sufferers reveal how delays in diagnosis and treatment caused prolonged suffering. Campaigners warn some patients are discharged too early, while families feel abandoned by the system. The NHS has pledged funding and expanded services, yet MPs like Richard Quigley argue that the system is 'beyond broken’. Immediate reforms, including earlier interventions and increased resources, are critical to saving lives and easing pressure on families.

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report has revealed shocking conditions in NHS hospitals. Based on testimony from over 5,000 nursing staff, the 460-page document highlights widespread 'corridor care' which is now normal in England's hospitals. The report includes alarming accounts: patients soiling themselves due to lack of proper facilities, cardiac arrests in corridors without essential equipment, and elderly patients enduring inhumane conditions. Some patients have died unnoticed in corridors or faced fatal consequences from equipment shortages. Nurses describe the system as 'soul-destroying' and worse than the Covid crisis. The RCN chief executive called the findings 'harrowing,' emphasising the dangerous normalisation of inadequate care. While the chief nursing officer acknowledged the pressures, he stated the NHS remains committed to improving urgent and emergency care to prevent such tragedies. This report underscores the urgent need for systemic reform in healthcare services. See

Several NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents amid a significant rise in flu cases. Hospitals are facing 'exceptionally high' demand, particularly in emergency departments, driven by a surge in respiratory illnesses. NHS data shows that the number of patients hospitalised with flu in England has quadrupled over the past month, exacerbated by cold weather. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, the largest in Merseyside and Cheshire, stated that while it has a comprehensive plan to address the challenges, some patients will experience delays as priority is given to the most critical cases. It is working with partner organisations to discharge medically fit patients promptly to free up space. Non-emergency patients are being urged to use alternative services like GPs, pharmacies, walk-in centres, or the NHS 111 helpline.

Scotland’s NHS faces a critical future: the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned it may not survive another year without urgent reforms. It has stressed the need for transformative changes to maintain the NHS’s founding principle of free care at the point of need. BMA chairman Dr Iain Kennedy described the system as 'in constant crisis’, with understaffed facilities leaving doctors physically and mentally exhausted. A recent survey revealed 99% of doctors are deeply concerned about increasing pressures, with many reporting dangerously overcrowded emergency departments and unsustainable workloads. Dr Kennedy called for a comprehensive workforce plan, long-term funding strategies, and integrated approaches to primary, secondary, and social care. Without reform, more people may be forced into private healthcare or left without access to necessary treatment. The Scottish government acknowledged the concerns, proposing record investments in health and social care. See also

The NHS is grappling with a 'tidal wave' of flu cases, with hospital admissions rising by 70% in a week, contributing to severe pressure on emergency services. In one week, hospitals in England averaged 1,861 flu patients daily, including 66 in critical care - up from 1,099 and 39 in the previous week. Combined with increasing cases of Covid, RSV, and norovirus, this 'quad-demic' is straining A&E departments and ambulance services. Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, urged eligible individuals to get vaccinated to prevent severe illness and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. Of the 30 million eligible for NHS flu jabs, so far only half have come forward. With 95% of hospital beds occupied and lengthy waits for emergency care, NHS leaders are prioritising treating the sickest patients over meeting waiting time targets. This winter is expected to be one of the most challenging yet for the NHS, despite efforts to manage rising demand. See