Health and care sector latest developments
NHS Confederation says capital funding boost for primary and community care is vital for government’s three shifts
The NHS Confederation is urging the government to use the upcoming Spending Review to continue to increase investment in capital funding for estates, equipment and technology across the NHS.
Ministers have committed to developing a neighbourhood healthcare service, with local neighbourhood hubs which bring primary, community and other services under one roof.
Underinvestment in capital has made it difficult for GPs and community providers to make their buildings suitable for modern healthcare – with a fifth of GP estates pre-dating the NHS and half more than 30 years old.
The capital has been made available has often been focused on acute hospitals and other parts of secondary care, which will not provide the transformational funding in primary and community care that is needed to shift more care out of hospitals.
NHS leaders welcomed the government’s £3.1 billion increase in capital funding announced in the Budget last October but warn that more will be needed in primary and community services to put the health service on a sustainable footing in the long term.
This intervention comes as the NHS Confederation convened local health leaders and decision makers at its Care Closer to Home conference in Birmingham today (30 April) to discuss the practical solutions to deliver the government’s ambitions in this space.
Commenting, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “There is a vision for primary and community care to be at the centre of the patient’s experience of the health service, providing treatment closer to where they live and reducing the need for expensive hospital treatment. But for this vision to become reality and successfully make the shift from hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital, more capital funding will be vital to ensure primary and community services have the right estate, equipment and technology to meet rising demand for care.”
Government to resist NHS pay rise demands despite strikes threat
It has been reported the government is set to accept the recommendation from the independent pay review body of a 3 per cent pay rise for NHS workers.
Unions are unhappy with the increase, however, and are pushing for a higher settlement, with the Royal College of Nursing already putting the government on notice of industrial action.
The government hopes that a combination of non-pay demands, such as changes to rotas, along with a willingness from staff to avoid industrial action, will help resolve disputes.
Government accused of misleading claim on health hubs
Most integrated care systems (ICSs) lack a women’s health hub offering full services – contrary to government claims, the HSJ has reported.
In spring last year, the government and NHS England said all systems were expected to have at least one operational women’s health hub in place by the end of December 2024. They were required to provide clinical support and consultations/triaging in eight ‘core’ services.
Research by the Menstrual Health Coalition – an alliance of patient and advocate groups – found only 14 integrated care boards (ICBs) had established hubs offering all eight core services, as required. The services are: menstrual problems assessment and treatment; menopause assessment and treatment; contraceptive counselling and provision of all methods; preconception care; breast pain assessment; pessary fitting and removal; cervical screening; and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
GMC approves 36 courses to teach more than 1,000 NHS physician associates
The General Medical Council (GMC) has given 36 courses formal approval to teach physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs), meaning that more than 1,000 PAs and 42 AAs could qualify each year.
The GMC said approving training courses would mean that “patients, employers and colleagues can be assured that PAs and AAs have the required knowledge and skills to practise safely once they qualify”.
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “The formal accreditation of the courses of study that PAs and AAs must complete is an essential component of regulation and public safety. We await the outcome of the Leng review but recognise that individual NHS organisations also have a responsibility to support PAs and AAs to both use their knowledge safely with patients, and to ensure appropriate professional development and supervision.”
New NHS 'super jab' can fight 15 different types of cancer
Thousands of NHS patients will be given fast-track access to a new cancer 'super jab' that can treat 15 types of the disease.
The injection means people can receive their fortnightly or monthly immunotherapy treatment in under five minutes — which experts believe will herald a new era in fighting cancer.
NHS cancer services will now be preparing to treat the first patients with the new treatment next month when supplies of the product are received in the UK, helping to free up valuable resources in nursing and pharmacy teams, as well as helping with capacity demands in cancer day units, where the drug is currently administered.
Currently the treatment, known medically as nivolumab, can take up to an hour via an IV drip.
NHS trust admits failures led to teenager's death
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has admitted its failure in the care of a 16-year-old inpatient led to her death.
Elise Sebastian was found unresponsive in her room at the St Aubyn Centre unit in Colchester in April 2021.
Staff at the unit had been tasked with providing one-to-one care.
The family attended the first day of an inquest into her death and they are participating in the ongoing Lampard inquiry, which will aim to understand what happened to more than 2,000 patients who died at children and adult inpatient units, under the care of the NHS in Essex, between the years 2000 and the end of 2023.
Suspects detained by police denied essential insulin, cancer and epilepsy drugs, according to report
Drugs for diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and mental illnesses are being denied to people held in police cells after they are arrested, according to a report by researchers from Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham universities.
The report also claims that suspects detained in custody suites are having emergency care withheld as a form of punishment.
It has sparked calls for healthcare for those in custody to be brought under the remit of the NHS, amid claims that basic standards are not being met by the private companies that currently provide it.
Ex-health minister to chair trust
Andrew Stephenson, a former health minister and the Conservative MP for Pendle from 2010 to 2024, has been appointed chair of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust and will take up the position from June.
He will take over from interim chair Tony Oakman. Mike Thomas stepped down in December, just two years into his post.
Mr Stephenson said: “It is truly an honour to be appointed as chair of UHMBT. I am committed to tackling the significant challenges of serving such a rural area, which includes multiple areas of deprivation and system-wide issues, such as discharge delays and tight finances. I believe my career to date has provided me with some solid foundations to take on the role of chair, providing new leadership to both the board of directors and council of governors.”
Positive steps in cross-government approach to mental health and wellbeing in Wales
The Welsh Government has released a new ten-year mental health and wellbeing strategy which it says is centred on early intervention, prevention, person-centred care and ensuring people are referred to the most appropriate form of support at the right time and without delay.
A key part of the transformation of mental healthcare will be open access services, with people receiving same-day support without the need for a referral.
Assistant director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Nesta Lloyd-Jones welcomed the strategy. She said: “The Welsh Government’s promise to prioritise action on mental health across all Welsh Government departments is a positive start on the journey to a cross-government approach to mental health, including the deployment of Health Impact Assessments.” She added: “Now this strategy has been published, the Welsh Government must ensure the resource and support is in place for sectors and organisations to deliver on the vision statements.”
