Health and care sector latest developments
Sexism and sexual violence towards medical students
Hundreds of medical students report being victims of sexual misconduct and institutional neglect in a UK-wide survey exposing widespread sexism and sexual violence while studying medicine.
Sexism and sexual violence are widespread in UK medical schools and clinical placements, where students report experiencing sexual harassment, sexual assault and institutional neglect.
These are the disturbing findings of a major new survey of almost 1,000 medical students, published today by the BMA in collaboration with Surviving in Scrubs.
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:
“This report paints a bleak and worrying picture of the scale of sexual violence and sexism towards medical students. No one should have to face any of this in an academic and workplace environment. It is unacceptable that three quarters of medical students who reported sexual harassment or sexual assault were left unsatisfied with the outcome.”
Full comment is here: NHS Employers responds to BMA report on sexism and sexual violence towards UK medical students | NHS Employers
Children ‘second-rate citizens’ in NHS, says top paediatrician
Children are “second-rate citizens” in the NHS, the nation’s top paediatrician has said, adding that the health service is “missing opportunities” to treat them in Britain.
Professor Steve Turner, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said outcomes for children were worse “across the board” compared with when he started in the field.
The number of children waiting more than 52 weeks for elective care has increased by 60 per cent in two years, and paediatricians are struggling to care for children with more complex health conditions, the college has said in a report seen by The Times.
The college is calling for the government’s 10 Year Health plan to address the training, recruitment and retention of paediatricians, improve care within the community and allow more paediatricians to work part-time, so more of them can continue to work as they get older.
Patients to benefit from cutting-edge NHS care from their homes
Dozens of new pilot schemes across England will use remote monitoring and self-reporting tools through the NHS App to help patients share updates on their health directly with specialists.
The government’s push to bring in more remote monitoring will allow patients to share key health information - such as blood pressure, oxygen levels or other symptoms - without needing to travel for an appointment. This makes care more convenient, helps clinicians detect changes early, reduces pressure on hospitals and frees up time for staff to see patients who need face-to-face care most.
The NHS is also launching a world-first clinical trial to support people living with MND using remote monitoring tech, helping them to access breathing support from home. Patients with MND can suffer with symptoms such as difficulty with movement, speaking, swallowing and breathing, with the trial seeking to improve quality of life.
Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said:
“Healthcare leaders will welcome this announcement which shows ambition to modernise care delivery through the use of digital tools.”
Full comment is here: NHS Confederation welcomes government announcement that patients are set to benefit from cutting-edge NHS care from their own homes | NHS Confederation
‘Absolutely terrifying’ funding changes on their way, says Mackey
The scale and speed of changes to financial rules being implemented by the centre of the NHS are “absolutely terrifying”, NHS England’s chief executive has said.
Sir Jim Mackey said details of funding rule changes planned for the next three years were due to be published next week, following last month’s medium-term planning framework.
They are expected to include changes to integrated care board allocations, phasing out “deficit support”, moving away from “block contracts” for non-elective care, and scrapping system control totals.
Local leaders were told last month that some significant anticipated changes would be introduced gradually to avoid ”destabilisation”.
New Hospital Programme ‘close’ to deal on private finance
The New Hospital Programme is 'quite close' to agreeing a plan with the Treasury to use private finance for smaller schemes such as car parks and energy centres, according to the project’s outgoing boss.
Morag Stuart, NHS England’s most senior NHP official, was speaking to HSJ after announcing last month she will leave the programme to join HS2.
Ms Stuart said privately funding the smaller schemes within the programme could free up more money for rebuilds, and this could be given the green light due to revenue created through them.
Asked how near approval this was, she said: “I think we are quite close on that one. I think on an individual basis people are doing it. It is just because we’re doing it at such a scale… we have written a paper and I think that is in with Treasury.”
