NHS England is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, responsible for providing medical services to the population of England. It is one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom and is the largest single-payer healthcare system in the world after the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde. The NHS was established in 1948 and has since become a cornerstone of British society, providing free healthcare to all citizens regardless of their ability to pay.
In recent years, NHS England has been in the news due to a number of issues. One of the most pressing concerns has been the increasing strain on the system caused by rising demand for healthcare services. This has led to longer waiting times for appointments and treatments, as well as a shortage of staff in some areas. In addition, there have been concerns about the quality of care provided by some NHS trusts, with reports of patients being mistreated or neglected.
Another issue that has brought NHS England into the spotlight is the ongoing debate over healthcare funding. The government has been accused of underfunding the NHS, leading to a lack of resources and staff. This has resulted in calls for increased funding to be provided to the NHS, with some arguing that a significant increase in funding is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.
Overall, NHS England remains a vital institution in the UK, providing essential healthcare services to millions of people. However, it faces significant challenges in the years ahead, including rising demand for services, staff shortages, and funding constraints.
New smartphone camera lens to help diagnose skin cancer faster
A new smartphone camera lens, which can take detailed images of moles or skin lesions, is set to be rolled out across all areas of England by July. The lens is the size of a 50 pence piece and can attach to a smartphone. The technology, dubbed "teledermatology" by NHS officials, is expected to help specialist skin doctors - dermatologists - double the number of patients they can assess in a day.
NHS faces strikes and staff shortages
NHS staff shortages and strikes are causing significant disruption to healthcare services in the UK.
Cancer patients face life-threatening delays due to NHS staff shortages
A poll of all 60 directors of the UK's cancer centres by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) found that staff shortages at 97% of the centres were leading to longer waiting times and delays in treatment. The RCR warned that staff shortages meant people were waiting longer than necessary to start chemotherapy or radiotherapy, while some doctors were having to make "difficult decisions" about who to prioritise and sending patients to other hospitals. Cancer patients face worsening NHS delays and the prospect of more gruelling treatment due to too few staff, radiology leaders have warned.
UK government launches pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs
The UK government has launched a £40m pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs and cut NHS waiting lists. The scheme will explore how approved drugs can be made available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services outside hospitals. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended weight loss drug Semaglutide (Wegovy) earlier this year but advised that it should only be available via specialist weight management services, which are largely hospital-based. The government aims to reduce growing obesity rates in the UK and tackle the £6.5bn cost to the NHS of obesity by making it easier to access weight-loss treatments through GPs.
Labour Party proposes 10-year plan for National Care Service
The Labour Party has commissioned a report from the Fabian Society think tank, which proposes a 10-year plan for a National Care Service (NCS) to address the inadequacies of the current social care system in England. The report suggests that a 10-year government spending commitment is required, with a promise to increase real-terms funding for adult social care by a significant percentage each year. The NCS would include higher wages for care workers, greater regulation of care home providers, and expanding the scope of free support. The report also suggests that all people should contribute £50 a week towards costs.
Rishi Sunak visits Washington DC to strengthen UK-US ties
Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has visited Washington DC for a two-day trip to strengthen UK-US ties.
Hospital consultants in England to strike over pay
Hospital consultants in England will strike for two days next month if they vote in favour of industrial action in a dispute over pay.
Poll shows majority of Brits believe Rishi Sunak is failing to deliver on his promises
A new poll by Ipsos UK found that more than 50% of people think the government is failing on almost all of Rishi Sunak's priorities, including halving inflation, growing the economy, cutting NHS waiting lists, reducing national debt and stopping small boat crossings.
Experts warn of a 'silver oncologic tsunami' as cancer cases in older adults rise
Leading doctors have warned that a 'silver oncologic tsunami' of millions of cancer cases in older adults is approaching, which could overwhelm unprepared health services unless action is taken to prepare for patients with more complex requirements.
NHS waiting list in England reaches record high of 7.4 million
The number of patients awaiting routine hospital treatment has grown by nearly a million in the past year and is now at its highest since records began in 2007.
NHS clinical trial detects two out of three cancers with a blood test
The NHS research uses a Galleri test which looks for the earliest signs of cancer
8-year-old migrant girl dies in US custody after being repeatedly denied medical care
An 8-year-old girl from Panama died in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody after being repeatedly denied medical care. The girl was seen by medical professionals 11 times before she was taken to a hospital. Her mother had requested an ambulance three or four times, which were denied. The family was being held for deportation, and had been held by CBP for nine days despite agency policy limiting custody to 72 hours. The CBP has acknowledged that the girl was seen at least three times by medical personnel the day she died, complaining of vomiting, a stomachache and suffering what appeared to be a seizure.
CBT could lower risk of cardiovascular disease
A study by UCL researchers has found that psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), could help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
The NHS is ‘failing women’, says women’s health ambassador
Professor Dame Lesley Regan said women ‘do not have a fair deal’.
Boris Johnson declared himself 'epileptically bored with COVID'
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is alleged to have grown to see the pandemic as an 'irrelevance' and declared himself 'epileptically bored with COVID' in 2022 as he mulled scrapping free tests for the virus, according to his former communications chief, Guto Harri.
New drug to prevent migraines approved for NHS use
Rimegepant, a new drug that prevents headaches from setting in, has been approved for NHS use. It is taken every other day as a wafer tablet which dissolves under the tongue, and is the first of a new class of preventative migraine medication to be approved for NHS use.
Insurance companies stop selling policies in California due to wildfire risk
Multiple insurance companies have stopped selling new policies in California due to the risk of wildfires and increasing construction costs.
NHS waiting lists grow as patients turn to private healthcare
Long waiting times and deteriorating services have led to a rise in private healthcare, leaving those who cannot afford it to exist on painkillers.
Firshill Rise: Failing NHS unit in Sheffield 'will not reopen'
Firshill Rise, a seven-bed unit in Sheffield, was closed in May 2021 following concern over the safety of patients.
NHS workforce plan delayed due to funding concerns
The UK government has delayed the publication of the long-awaited NHS workforce plan, which aims to increase the number of doctors and nurses, due to funding concerns.
UK Government's pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 delayed
The UK Government's pledge to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 has been delayed, with eight of the original sites delayed into the next decade. The government has replaced some of the original 40 with schemes to refurbish or replace hospitals built with a type of concrete that is well past its expected 30-year lifespan, with roofs and ceilings at risk of falling down. The change to the programme involved some of the 40 originally listed being replaced by schemes to refurbish or replace hospitals built with a type of concrete that is well past its expected 30-year lifespan, with roofs and ceilings at risk of falling down.
NHS staff working for social enterprises may miss out on pay rise
Thousands of staff contracted by the NHS could miss out on the recently negotiated pay rise that more than one million health workers will start to receive today - despite working under the same terms and conditions.
Junior doctors to strike for 72 hours in June over pay
Junior doctors in England will stage a 72-hour strike next month in their long-running dispute over pay.
Labour proposes time limits on hiring overseas workers in shortage occupations
Labour would impose time limits on the hiring of overseas workers in shortage occupations to restrict immigration, the shadow home secretary has said.
NHS data breach: trusts shared patient details with Facebook without consent
Observer investigation reveals Meta Pixel tool passed on private details of web browsing on medical sites