Health and care sector latest developments

NHS’s top doctor issues call for spring COVID-19 vaccinations 

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, has urged those eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccine – including people aged 75 and over and people who are immunosuppressed – to come forward for their free vaccination. 

Figures published today show that 38.8 per cent of eligible people have received their jabs and that NHS teams have now delivered over 3 million jabs since the rollout began on Tuesday 1 April. 

Professor Sir Powis described the vaccine as ‘a crucial weapon in the fight to protect those most vulnerable to serious illness’ and said ‘it is essential that everyone who is eligible for the spring jab gets it as soon as possible and tops up their protection.’ 

Veterans’ healthcare boost as government announces new programme on VE Day anniversary 

The government has announced a new training programme that it says will ensure NHS staff across the country are supported to meet the unique health needs of veterans, serving personnel and their families. 

The new programme. backed by £1.8 million, will see NHS staff across England receive dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. 

GPs, doctors and NHS nurses will work with regional trainers to make sure they embed this support into their services. 

The programme will also support NHS bodies to demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which ensures those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly and not disadvantaged because of their military service.  

NHS needs £21 billion to fund Labour’s digital plans – report 

Labour’s plan to digitise the NHS and social care is set to cost at least £21 billion, analysis by PA Consulting for the Health Foundation think tank has found. 

Researchers said that it was ‘highly likely’ the NHS would require extra funding to deliver on its plan for digital reform, with the report revealing that the NHS and social care needed to spend £8 billion on capital alone to improve its technology and infrastructure. This includes computers and hardware that hospitals use as well as software, electronic patient records and other digital equipment.

 Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, welcomed the research and spoke about the importance of the government using the upcoming Spending Review to continue to invest more capital in digital transformation. 

NHS maternal mental health services slash funding despite soaring demand 

Analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found 27 out of 42 integrated care board areas in England planned cuts to maternal mental health services totalling £3.2 million in the 2024/25 financial year. 

The research comes as NHS figures show a surge in demand for people seeking help, with 63,858 women accessing perinatal mental health services in the year to February 2025, compared to 43,053 women in the year to February 2022. 

NHS Confederation responds to Model ICB Blueprint 

Sarah Walter, director of the NHS Confederation’s Integrated Care Systems Network, has said that NHS England's Model Integrated Care Board (ICB) Blueprint ‘sets out a helpful overview of the future role of ICBs and provides leaders with much-needed clarity about the proposed future functions in the context of a changing health and care landscape.’ 

Sarah also welcomed the fact that ICB leaders have helped shape the blueprint and that there would be an opportunity for further discussion and refinement. She added: “As the NHS undergoes significant changes, we cannot forget the importance of collaborating with broader partners, including local government, VCSE organisations, and others. An integrated approach is needed to deliver a more proactive and preventative model of care, wrapped around patients, which is crucial for achieving the government's long-term ambitions.” 

NHS Employers responds to survey findings on the mental health of NHS staff 

A survey of more than 1,000 NHS employees, carried out by NHS Charities Together, has found that 47 per cent of NHS staff say their job is negatively affecting their mental health. 

Responding to the survey, Caroline Waterfield, director of development and employment at NHS Employers, said: “The findings of this survey reinforce the importance of providing the fundamentals to staff when it comes to their wellbeing. This includes providing them with an environment with access to the right resources to be able to do their job, time and space to take a break on shift, and when additional support is needed, timely access to the right level of expertise.” 

Caroline added: “Employers are acutely aware of the importance of supporting staff wellbeing and focusing on staff experience as this is central to the NHS being able to provide a good quality experience for patients both now and into the future.” 

NHS Confederation-commissioned report referenced in House of Lords 

A report, published yesterday by the NHS Confederation and Centre for Mental Health, was referenced in the House of Lords during an oral question on the results of a recent survey undertaken by the CQC which showed that people are waiting too long for mental health care. 

As set out in yesterday’s bulletin, the report outlines six priority areas, including maternal support, youth mental health hubs, and community services to ease A&E pressures.

Asking a question of Baroness Merron, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, Lord Davies of Brixton said the report set out urgent tasks that need to be undertaken and called on her to give the report’s recommendations consideration. 

Baroness Merron responded to say that she was aware of the report and would take into account the points it makes.

Acute and mental health trusts appoint first shared chair 

University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust (UHNM) and Midlands Partnership University Foundation Trust (MPT) will, for the first time, share a chair on an interim basis following the appointment of MPT’s existing chair Jackie Small to lead the UHNM board from June. 

Both trusts say the move will create more opportunities for joined-up care. 

UHNM is one of the biggest acute trusts in the country while MPT provides mental health, community and social care services across Staffordshire, and mental health services in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, along with some national services. The trusts have a combined turnover of around £2bn and employ more than 22,000 people. 

ICB appoints acting chair after predecessor’s sudden exit 

Humber and North Yorkshire ICB has appointed Jason Stamp as acting chair after previous incumbent Mark Chamberlain stepped down in March. 

Mr Stamp will take on the role for an initial six-month period amid uncertainty over the future shape of ICBs, which have been ordered to cut running costs by 50 per cent. There has been speculation that Humber and North Yorkshire ICB could merge or combine leadership roles with South Yorkshire ICB. 

Smallest ICB appoints chair despite consolidation talks

 Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB has appointed Ian Green, who has been chair of Salisbury Foundation Trust since February 2023, as its new chair. 

The appointment comes despite the expected consolidation of ICBs. 

Mr Green has held non-executive director posts within the NHS during the past 15 years, including as non-executive director of the South Central Ambulance Service Foundation Trust board since 2020. He is also chair of the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee and, until 2023, was chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity.