Health and care sector latest developments

Hospital chiefs don’t need to read policy documents, says DHSC boss

The Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) top civil servant has claimed she “didn’t read policy documents” in her former roles as a hospital chief executive.

Permanent secretary Samantha Jones said for local leaders, relying on national documents, such as the much-delayed neighbourhood health guidance, was “the wrong thing to be doing”.

Ms Jones, who trained as a nurse, was chief executive of West Hertfordshire and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trusts more than a decade ago, before taking on roles in NHS England, private healthcare, and national government. 

She told the NHS Confederation’s Care Closer to Home conference yesterday: “When I was a hospital chief executive, I didn’t read policy documents. I was actually working out how to lead the team, how to do things on a daily basis.

“So we [at the centre] would all be very comfortable for you to say: ‘We haven’t read the 10 Year Health Plan, but this is what it means to us on a daily basis.”

NHS England declares ‘rescue plan’ to limit delayed ops

NHS England has set out a ‘rescue package’ that it claims will help limit the number of delays to joint operations, following a major production failure at the provider which supplies more than 80 per cent of the service’s medical cement.

The scramble for new suppliers follows the warning last week that the shortage of the product, made by Heraeus, could last at least two months. The shortage was expected to affect around 1,000 procedures a week.

But NHS leaders said they have secured additional supplies of bone cement from Zimmer Biomet. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson, which already provides some product to the NHS, has agreed to increase production, with more supply into the UK expected next month.

“This shortage has been extremely concerning for patients and surgeons and we are delighted the NHS has now been able to secure this ‘rescue package’ of alternative bone cement to ensure trauma and elective care can continue across the country,” Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England’s national director for clinical improvement and elective recovery, said in a statement.

Funding boost to support patients to stay in and return to work

Patients will receive better support to help them stay in and get back to work, due to a £25 million funding boost for a pilot scheme in areas of high economic inactivity.

Health and Growth Accelerators bring together work and health support for people with health conditions – aiming to stop health problems becoming work problems. The pilots in the north of England target the most common conditions that are experienced by people who are economically inactive because of poor health, such as musculoskeletal conditions, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hypertension, and mental illness.

 Interim chief executive of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, Matthew Taylor responded stating:

“It’s fantastic that there’s been a funding boost of £25 million for Health and Growth Accelerators. These three ICBs are taking bold, innovative action to improve health and employment outcomes in areas with some of the highest levels of economic inactivity – places where too many people are being locked out of living healthy, fulfilling lives.

“To mark this news, we are bringing together local and national leaders today in Leeds at our Creating Healthier Working Lives event. The joint event with the government will share, spread and scale the excellent work from across the country on reducing and preventing economic inactivity.”

Public avoids GPs as issues with access persist 

New polling has shown that close to half the public avoided contacting their GP with a health concern over the past year.

This was mainly due to perceived issues with access that patients associate with primary care.

The poll, published by the Health Foundation, also found that improving access to general practice remains top of the public's priorities for the NHS, alongside improved A&E access.

Negative attitudes about the NHS persist, with 42 per cent of people thinking the service has worsened over the past 12 months, and 47 per cent expecting things to get worse over the next year.

Director of primary care at the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, Ruth Rankine responded stating:

“… With a £485 million investment in boosting GP capacity, as well as the requirement for 90 per cent of patients with urgent care needs to be seen on a same-day basis by a GP, we hope that this will go some way to addressing the concerns highlighted in the Health Foundation’s report. 

“Patients should also be aware that they are able to use number of other tools available to them should they need to access the care they want and need, including the ability to book GP appointments online, and to visit community pharmacies for support for minor illnesses and aches and pains, lifestyle advice and vaccinations.”

These figures come as the government yesterday published the updated GP contract for 2026/27.

NHS cyber security boss stepping down

NHS England’s head of cyber security is leaving after a challenging period for the sector.

Mike Fell is stepping down to take a job with the Department of Work and Pensions after four years with the NHS, a period which saw multiple cyber attacks, at least one of which was deadly.

Mr Fell said in a statement the period had been ‘intense’ and ‘challenging’.

The former HMRC deputy cyber security boss will leave in May and NHS England said ‘leadership transition arrangements would be shared in due course’.

Health and Social Care Committee examine food and weight management

The Health and Social Care Committee heard from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners that weight management should follow a tiered model, with structured support for most patients and more intensive options, such as surgery, for severe cases. 

Witnesses raised serious concerns about the rapid growth in private prescriptions of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, warning of patient safety risks, weak regulation and rising NHS workload, while stressing that medication must be paired with long-term, community-based support rather than seen as a 'silver bullet'.

The Committee also heard that obesity care is complex and resource-heavy, placing growing strain on primary care without extra funding. 

Both witnesses called for a clearer workforce plan, better specialist recognition, improved data sharing and stronger training, potentially mandatory to tackle stigma and reflect the genetic and environmental drivers of obesity. 

They urged the government to focus more on prevention and the wider food environment, rather than relying solely on medical treatment.

NHS App reform raises concerns

NHS England plans to absorb core appointment features into the NHS App and phase out external portal suppliers to simplify services and save £11 million, after patients reported a confusing experience.

HSJ reports that hospitals would connect their electronic record systems directly to the app, with full rollout expected by 2030.

However, suppliers have warned that the move is technically challenging and could cost more than it saves, arguing it risks disrupting patient access, reducing local flexibility and damaging the UK digital health market.

Pharmacy funding gap widens despite uplift

The Company Chemists’ Association has highlighted government figures which shows that community pharmacies in England receive around £800 million less in real terms than a decade ago.

CCA have stressed that the sector has lost nearly 1,500 pharmacies since 2016, and although funding was increased by 19 per cent last year, analysis indicates a remaining shortfall of around £2 billion.

The CCA warned that without further investment, more closures are likely, limiting patient access to medicines and reducing pharmacies’ ability to ease pressure on GPs and hospitals.