Health and care sector latest developments
NHS England publishes guidance on model emergency departments
NHS England has published new guidance on a ‘model emergency department’.
HSJ reports that hospitals will open extended emergency medicine ambulatory care areas (EEMACs) for A&E patients whose care is not turned around within four hours.
If a patient is sent to an EEMAC within four hours, it will count as having met the headline waiting target.
However, if the wait reaches 12 hours, this would count as a breach of the 12-hour measure.
While Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Ian Higginson said the model would help "organisations adopt a more standardised approach", he emphasised that the "back door of our hospitals needs the same level of attention that the front door is currently receiving."
Local Authority Public Health Grant allocations announced
Public health minister Ashley Dalton announced the publication of new multi-year Public Health Grant allocations for councils in England, describing it as “a major step forward” after a decade of short-term settlements.
She said the three-year funding package, including a £224 million increase in 2025/26, will give local authorities “the certainty they need to plan ahead” and ensure public health funding is “higher in real terms every year of this parliament than in 2024/25”.
Dalton added that consolidating funding into a single, ring-fenced Public Health Grant from 2026 will “simplify the system, reduce bureaucracy and strengthen prevention services” such as smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment, and sexual health.
The minister of local government and homelessness also announced the plan to resolve SEND deficits. The government promises to resolve 90 per cent of local authorities’ Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs deficits accrued to the end of 2025/26, projected to be worth over £5 billion. All local authorities with a SEND deficit will be eligible to receive grant funding, subject to submitting and securing the Department for Education’s approval of a local SEND reform plan.
PAC Committee discuss supporting people with frailty
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session highlighted concerns about how effectively the health system is identifying and supporting people living with frailty outside hospitals.
Sir Jim Mackey and Professor Chris Whitty stressed that early identification and intervention are essential to preventing avoidable crises, but that too few people are being formally assessed or coded, with significant variation between GP practices and integrated care boards (ICBs).
Dr Amanda Doyle acknowledged weaknesses in incentives, accountability and data use, while stressing that ICBs are responsible for commissioning and ensuring delivery of frailty services despite capacity pressures.
Concerns were also raised about falling care planning in care homes and uncertainty over whether personalised care is being delivered or simply not recorded. The witnesses stressed that integrated neighbourhood teams and community-based care are central to improving outcomes for people with frailty and reducing reliance on hospital services.
Trusts pause shared chief executive plan
A recently formed hospital group has decided to retain separate chief executives for its two trusts.
Medway Foundation Trust (MFT) will recruit its own chief executive while Jonathan Wade – who stepped in as interim at MFT last year – will revert to running just Dartford and Gravesham Trust, the providers have decided.
They said a joint chief may be appointed at some point. They are also unlikely to move to a shared chair in the near future, HSJ understands.
Medway has substantial financial, operational and cultural challenges and has recently changed its year-end forecast to a £47.2 million deficit.
Dartford and Gravesham chair Jackie Craissati said: “We must balance the leadership capacity required to address immediate priorities – such as improving patient care and reducing costs – while also laying the foundations needed to realise the full benefits of the group.”
Medway chair John Goulston added: “This will ensure that both trusts have the dedicated leadership focus needed to address our immediate priorities – treating patients sooner, improving outcomes, transforming our culture, and strengthening our finances.”
