Displaying items by tag: NHS

Keir Starmer has unveiled an ambitious ten-year plan to transform the NHS by shifting healthcare from hospitals to local communities. Central to the proposal are 200 new 'neighbourhood health centres', offering scans, outpatient services, mental health support, and more - all aimed at reducing hospital demand. Starmer declared the NHS must 'reform or die’, pledging accessible, community-based care under one roof. Health secretary Wes Streeting promised thousands more GPs, reversing current trends favouring hospital consultants, and aims to slash waiting lists while prioritising British doctors for NHS jobs. The plan also includes an enhanced NHS app, AI safety alerts, and a focus on helping patients return to work. However, experts express caution, noting that past governments have announced similar visions without delivering meaningful change. Questions remain over funding, but Starmer insists the plan will 'fundamentally rewire' healthcare and prioritise patient-centred care, especially in deprived areas.

Prosecutors are considering bringing further charges against Lucy Letby, the former neonatal nurse already serving fifteen whole-life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it has received a full file of evidence from Cheshire Police regarding additional deaths and non-fatal collapses of infants at both the hospitals where Letby had placements in 2012 and 2015. Meanwhile, three former senior managers at the Countess of Chester have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after a separate investigation into systemic failures at the hospital. A public inquiry into how Letby was able to commit her crimes continues, with its final report expected early next year. Her legal team maintains her innocence, citing international medical experts who attribute the babies’ deaths to poor medical care and natural causes. The Criminal Cases Review Commission is reviewing her convictions for potential miscarriage of justice.

The NHS is planning a major expansion of robotic-assisted surgery to improve treatment times and patient outcomes. Currently, one in five keyhole surgeries is robot-assisted, but NHS England projects this will rise to 90% by 2035, with procedures increasing from 70,000 annually to around 500,000 over the next decade. Health secretary Wes Streeting, himself a kidney cancer survivor who benefited from robotic surgery, highlighted the potential of such technologies to transform healthcare delivery. Robot-assisted surgery enables greater precision, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays. Surgeons operate using a console linked to robotic instruments and cameras, with some orthopaedic surgeries already partially automated. NHS leaders stress that embracing innovation, including robotics, AI, and data research, is essential to meet targets like reducing elective waiting times by 2029. John McGrath, chair of the NHSE robotic surgery committee, added that efficient use of robotic surgery could ease system-wide pressure. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to modernise the NHS and deliver faster, more effective care to patients across multiple medical fields.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a strong public warning about norovirus, urging anyone affected to remain at home for 48 hours after symptoms cease, as individuals can still be infectious. Known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, norovirus causes vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe discomfort. While typically seasonal, England has seen an alarming spike in cases, with 14,959 reported between 31 March and 27 April - more than double the five-year average. Hospital outbreaks are also up 43.3% above historical norms. Though recent weeks show a slight decline, infection levels remain significantly high. Norovirus spreads easily via contaminated food, surfaces, or close contact, and can be transmitted even before symptoms begin. The UKHSA stresses the importance of staying home, avoiding hospitals or GP visits while symptomatic, and refraining from cooking for others until 48 hours after recovery. Parents are advised not to send children to school during this period, and all should practice vigilant hygiene to prevent spread.

NHS England will become the first health system in the world to offer routine vaccination against gonorrhoea, as infections reach record highs. Targeting those most at risk, primarily gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple partners, the vaccine is expected to begin rollout through sexual health clinics in August. Adapted from the MenB meningitis vaccine, it is estimated to reduce gonorrhoea risk by 30–40%. Though not originally designed for STIs, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea is closely related to the meningitis B strain. England recorded over 85,000 cases in 2023—the highest since records began in 1918. The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains has heightened concerns, making prevention more vital than ever. If uptake is strong, the vaccine could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS £8 million over ten years. Public health leaders in Scotland and Northern Ireland are exploring similar programmes. Experts emphasise that while not a cure-all, the vaccine marks a significant step in reducing the spread of a challenging and increasingly drug-resistant infection.

A new NHS review has revealed that an estimated 404,000 people in England suffer from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a 62% increase from previous figures. The condition disproportionately affects middle-aged women, who are six times more likely to be diagnosed than men, and shows stark disparities across regions and ethnic groups. White individuals are nearly five times more likely to be diagnosed, and in many deprived areas, ME is underdiagnosed or entirely unrecorded. The condition, characterised by post-exertional malaise, brain fog, pain, and exhaustion, has long been misunderstood and underfunded. A national review was prompted by the 2021 death of 27-year-old Maeve Boothby O’Neill, who was left malnourished and unable to speak after years of medical neglect. Her case led to a coroner's unprecedented 'prevention of future deaths' report, demanding urgent reforms in ME care and research. Medical experts and charities are calling for improved training, diagnostic tools, and funding to address this silent health crisis. The NHS, NICE, and government-backed bodies are now reassessing care standards, research, and education for ME across the UK.

The Government is expanding its ‘Advice and Guidance’ scheme to help GPs provide quicker, community-based care and reduce hospital waiting lists. With £80 million in new funding, the goal is to assist two million patients, avoiding unnecessary referrals and offering more convenient treatment for conditions like menopause symptoms, ear infections, and irritable bowel syndrome. The scheme enables GPs to consult directly with hospital specialists before formally referring patients, allowing many to be treated locally. Health minister Karin Smyth says the initiative is part of 'rewiring the NHS’, reducing strain on hospital services while saving patients time. GP surgeries can also claim fees for each use of the system. While the scheme has been welcomed as a step in the right direction, health charities stress the importance of clear communication and patient choice. Medical groups say this must be paired with greater investment and long-term reform to truly safeguard the future of family doctor services.

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.