Health and care sector latest developments
Kinnock outlines community-focused NHS reforms
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock has set out the Neighbourhood Health Framework as a central part of plans to build ‘an NHS fit for the future’, shifting care from hospitals into communities, while prioritising prevention and digital innovation.
He argued that more joined-up, multi-disciplinary teams will make services ‘easier for people to access’ and help patients ‘stay well and live independently’, addressing the fragmentation in health and social care.
The framework establishes core actions for local systems over the next three years, alongside the development of neighbourhood health plans and expanded pooled funding.
A key element is the rollout of neighbourhood health centres in every community, backed by national investment and new commissioning models, with Kinnock describing the reforms as ‘the beginning of an exciting new chapter’ in creating more integrated, locally responsive care.
Respiratory patients to receive care closer to home
The government has announced a new partnership to provide care for asthma and COPD patients closer to home.
The Respiratory Transformation Partnership (RTP) will bring together NHS England, the OLS, health innovation networks and pharmaceutical companies.
Backed by £10 million of funding, teams will be supported to overhaul care on the ground, seeking to reduce hospital admissions.
Health Innovation and Safety Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said the government will ‘make sure patients get the treatment they need, closer to home, before their condition reaches crisis point.’
JCVI asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines, following Kent outbreak
The health secretary has asked the JCVI to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines, following an outbreak in Kent.
PA Media reports Wes Streeting's comments to the House of Commons, where he explained that he will make the request ‘without prejudicing their decision because we have to follow the clinical advice on this.’
Streeting also confirmed that a targeted vaccination programme will begin for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent.
Meanwhile, PA Media has also been told by Superdrug that there has been a surge in the number of people trying to privately pay for the meningitis B vaccine.
Science and Technology Committee discuss innovation in the NHS
The Science and Technology Committee met to examine the role of genomics and AI in NHS innovation, hearing that Genomics England is shifting from a time-limited project into a permanent delivery body.
The session exposed a gap between ambition and maturity, with genomics seen as transformative for prevention, early diagnosis and rare disease research, yet still at an early stage of real-world implementation, with challenges around access, public engagement and consistent NHS rollout.
Concerns were raised over commercialisation and governance, as Genomics England balances big tech partnerships with support for UK SMEs while maintaining public trust and data safeguards.
New Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce announced
The government is setting up a Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
The Taskforce, chaired by the health secretary, will act on the forthcoming recommendations of Baroness Amos's review into England's maternity and neonatal services.
The full membership of the taskforce has been announced, while the government has also announced £25 million for NHS trusts to tackle the leading causes of maternal death.
Wes Streeting said the taskforce will ‘drive improvement from the moment the investigation's recommendations are published.’
Today's announcement comes as a new report from the charity Birthrights, reported in The Guardian, found that women are feeling pressured into medical procedures while receiving maternity care.
London and acutes see big rise in absences
HSJ analysis of data published by NHS England found the overall staff absence rate was up from 4.2 per cent between April 2013 and February 2020 to 5.1 per cent since January 2023 (‘post-covid’).
There have been particularly big increases in London and in acute trusts, figures show.
There are also signs it is still growing – the national rate was 4.9 per cent in 2023 and 5.2 per cent last year.
National leaders told HSJ they were trying to address the problem, and it was ‘particularly concerning’ that there is an ‘increased rise in stress‑related absence and mental health’.
Finance director appointed interim CEO at leading ICB
Rob Webster has confirmed he will be leaving his role at West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board next month. Jonathan Webb will step up in an interim capacity.
It means the ICB, one of the largest in the country, will be without a substantive CEO when it starts transitioning to a new operating model.
However, the ICB stressed that its organisational change consultation will have concluded and new staff structures will have been published by the time Mr Webster leaves.
In a statement published on the ICB’s website, acting chair Nadira Mirza said: “Following Rob Webster’s news in January that he will be stepping down as chief executive, I am writing to confirm that it has been agreed that he will leave the organisation on 15 April 2026.”
Trust appoints new CEO
Mark Axcell, who was the chief executive of Black Country Integrated Care Board, will take over at Nottingham Healthcare Foundation Trust from June, after its current CEO, Ifti Majid, retires.
Trust chair Tom Cahill, who started in January after leaving NHS England’s national team, said the board wanted to appoint an ‘inspirational leader who would guide it through the next phase of our journey’.
