Health and care sector latest developments
GP leaders warn against primary care fragmentation in health reforms
GP leaders have opposed plans that could fragment primary care services through neighbourhood health teams.
As HSJ notes, the ten-year health plan will abandon the traditional 'one size fits all' primary care model in favour of targeted services based on patient groups, with different access methods and pathways for various demographics.
Royal College of General Practioners’ chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne warned that fragmenting primary care would be "alarming" and undermine general practice as the universal healthcare gateway, while officials acknowledge risks of missed diagnosis when patients access care through multiple disconnected sources without proper oversight mechanisms.
Joe Harrison CBE takes over NHS procurement leadership role
Joe Harrison CBE, chief executive of Milton Keynes University Hospital, has been appointed chair of the NHS Advisory Board for Procurement and Supply, replacing Sir James Mackey who moved to lead NHS England.
The NHS Advisory Board works with senior healthcare leaders across acute, mental health and community trusts to shape national procurement strategy and drive system-wide improvements.
Harrison brings over a decade of acute hospital leadership experience, alongside expertise in digital transformation and innovation.
Labour claims a 'massive increase' in NHS appointments - but the numbers tell a different story
Sky News reports that in February, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced they had achieved the feat early. He recently described the now 3.6 million additional appointments achieved in their first eight months as a "massive increase".
But new data, obtained by independent fact checking charity Full Fact and shared exclusively with Sky News, reveals this figure actually signalled a slowing down in new NHS activity.
There was an even larger rise of 4.2 million extra appointments over the same period the year before, under Rishi Sunak's government.
Two million extra appointments over the course of a year represents a rise of less than 3 per cent of the almost 70 million carried out in the year to June 2024.
In the last year under Mr Sunak, the rise was 10 per cent - and the year before that it was 8 per cent.
Patients able to track prescriptions 'Amazon-style'
NHS patients will now be able to track their prescriptions 'Amazon-style'.
The Independent reports that a new feature on the NHS app will show when a prescription has been shipped for delivery and when it is ready for collection.
This development seeks to reduce the administrative burden on pharmacies caused by unnecessary calls and visits.
Health secretary Wes Streeting explained that by using "the power and efficiency of modern tech, we're saving patients time, driving productivity and freeing up hardworking pharmacists".
Vape shops surge in most deprived areas, research finds
Vape shops have surged across England, rising by nearly 1,200 per cent in a decade, with almost all local authorities (97 per cent) now having at least one vape shop compared to just 34 per cent in 2014, and 28 per cent of areas now having ten or more shops.
As reported by The Guardian, research reveals stark regional and economic differences, with northern England having twice as many vape shops as the south, while deprived areas contain three times more vape shops.
