Health and care sector latest developments
GPs offered £20 incentive to cut NHS hospital referrals
GPs in England will receive £20 each time they refer patients to community care instead of hospital, under a new government scheme aimed at reducing NHS waiting lists.
Backed by £80 million, the expanded ‘advice and guidance’ initiative encourages GPs to consult with hospital specialists before making referrals, offering patients care closer to home.
Conditions like menopause symptoms, IBS and ear infections could now be treated in local clinics - a move estimated to speed up access for around two million people annually.
Health minister Karin Smyth says the scheme is part of “rewiring the NHS” to improve efficiency and outcomes.
The British Medical Association welcomed the plan as a “small but important” step
ICBs told to get tighter grip on GP referrals
Integrated care boards (ICBs) have been told to strengthen the drive to the ‘advice and guidance’ approach which involves GPs discussing cases with consultants, which can lead patients to other services rather than being placed on a waiting list to see a consultant. Reducing referrals through A&G is a key plank of NHS England’s plan to tackle the elective care backlog.
NHS England has faced challenges in setting national expectations for A&G because of differing local models. New guidance says ICBs must establish a baseline, create a delivery plan, and work towards full implementation by spring 2026. They will assess progress quarterly across seven key areas including digital tools and workforce planning.
Hewitt urges NHS to promote ‘buffer weight’ for over 65s
Speaking to The Times, former health secretary Dame Patricia Hewitt called on the NHS to encourage slim older adults to maintain a ‘buffer weight’ to prevent illness and frailty.
After nearly dying from dehydration on holiday in Australia, she learned that underweight older people are at greater risk of poor outcomes.
Hewitt now champions the idea of ‘geriatric BMI’ and urges NICE to update obesity guidelines to reflect the different needs of those over 65.
Robotic surgery approved for NHS use
Eleven state-of-the-art robotic systems have been approved for NHS use in England, with potential to transform surgical care.
Approved by NICE under its early value assessment programme, the systems will be used in soft tissue and orthopaedic procedures, including tumour removal and joint replacements.
Expected benefits include faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications. NICE will assess the technology over three years to determine long-term value and clinical impact.
Trust orders review into breast cancer services
County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust has begun a full review of its breast cancer services after national audits and external reviews found unexplained variation in its surgical practices. The trust said this did not necessarily mean the surgeries were unsafe, but taking a closer look would ‘ensure we are delivering the highest quality care’.
The trust does not know how many patients would see their care covered by the review, nor the timeline. The review includes input from internal teams and external experts, including a review by the Royal College of Surgeons and an external review of governance.
BMA ‘disappointed’ with high court ruling on physician associates
The High Court dismissed the British Medical Association’s (BMA) legal challenge against the General Medical Council’s (GMC) use of the term ‘medical professionals’ to refer collectively to doctors, physician associates, and anaesthesia associates.
In their legal case, which began in February 2024, the BMA argued that the GMC’s use of ‘medical professionals’ for both doctors and associates is unlawful, blurs crucial distinctions, and undermines patient safety. They insisted that only qualified doctors should be called medical professionals, as public confusion threatens confidence in the
NHS.
However, the court found the GMC’s approach did not breach its statutory duties, ruling that the regulator has discretion in its terminology and that its guidance does not create a legal obligation to distinguish between doctors and associates.
The BMA responded to the ruling with disappointment, stating the decision fails to protect patient safety and public confidence. The association argued that conflating doctors and associates under the same label risks confusing patients and undermines trust in the NHS.
The BMA reiterated its position that only doctors should be called ‘medical professionals’ and pledged to continue advocating for a clear distinction to safeguard patient care.
Increasing prevalence of ‘microdosing’ weight-loss drugs
As The Independent reports, there is an increasing prevalence of people taking smaller than recommended doses of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, primarily due to high costs, limited availability, and to minimise side effects.
Dr Natasha Yates, GP, explained that although microdosing may reduce side effects, there is no research supporting its effectiveness for weight loss, and it introduces risks, including potential medication expiration issues and reduced therapeutic benefits.
Dr Yates argues that while microdosing might be appropriate in specific circumstances, patients should only attempt it under medical supervision, with a healthcare team that includes a GP to ensure safety and effectiveness.
