Tag: 2022

The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 5 December 2022.

Plans set out to amend NHS pension rules to retain more experienced NHS clinicians and remove barriers to staff returning from retirement.

• Proposals will enable staff to work more flexibly up to and beyond retirement age and protect from excessively high tax charges
• Reforms will help open up extra appointments so patients can see their GP and hospital consultants more quickly

All NHS staff, including senior doctors, will benefit from proposed plans to fix pension rules, supporting them to remain in work for longer and boosting the workforce as the NHS continues to take action to tackle the Covid backlogs.

Building on actions set out in Our Plan for Patients in September, the government has today launched a consultation on changes to the NHS Pension Scheme, to retain experienced NHS clinicians and remove the barriers to staff returning from retirement, such as the 20,000 former NHS staff who returned to support the NHS at the height of the pandemic.

The proposals include introducing flexibilities to allow retired and partially retired staff to return to work or increase their working hours without having payments to  their pension reduced or suspended. This will allow staff to claim a portion or all of their pension benefits but continue working and contributing to their pension.

The proposals also fix the unintended impacts of inflation, so senior clinicians aren’t taxed more than is necessary. These measures will enable skilled and experienced staff to continue to contribute to the NHS up to and beyond retirement age.

This means more clinicians to provide appointments, ease winter pressures and deliver care to patients, as well the retention of crucial knowledge and experience to ensure patients are receiving first class care.

Health and Social Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

The generous NHS Pension Scheme is one of the best in the country, but it’s not working as it should for everyone.

We need a system where our most experienced clinicians don’t feel they have to reduce their workload or take early retirement because of financial worries. I also want to make it easier for staff that want to return to work to support the NHS to be able to do so without penalties.

These proposed changes will help open up extra appointments so patients can see their GP and consultants more quickly. With record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS alongside record funding, I’m focused on giving people the security of knowing the NHS will be there for them when they need it.

The consultation will be open for 8 weeks and reforms are expected to be implemented in late spring 2023.  Major reforms being proposed include:

• A new partial retirement option to support older staff who want to work more flexibly and enable them to access part of their pension whilst continuing to contribute to their pension pot. This would allow NHS staff to partially retire, or for those that have retired to return to the workforce, to either claim all or a portion of their pension but continue working and building more pension benefits. Staff will be able to work more flexibly up to and beyond retirement age
• Removing limits on hours recently retired staff can work giving them control over the hours they work in the first calendar month after returning. This is a barrier for retired staff considering returning to the NHS which will be removed, helping increase capacity.
• Allowing retired staff to re-join the pension scheme making returning to work in the NHS more attractive by ensuring senior clinicians and NHS staff can continue to contribute to their pensions from their NHS work
• Fixing the interaction between the pension tax system and inflation to ensure senior clinicians have more headroom against the £40,000 pension tax annual allowance. This means senior doctors are either less likely to receive a tax charge, or will receive a smaller tax charge, reducing the likelihood of early retirement
• Allowing staff working in Primary Care Networks (PCNs), such as GPs and general practice staff, to access the NHS Pension Scheme. Previously they have had to apply for time-limited access on an ad-hoc basis. These proposals will mean they can potentially benefit.

Minister of Health, Will Quince, said:

The changes we are proposing to the NHS Pension Scheme will offer senior clinicians more flexibility and control over how and when they work, putting the decision about their career directly in their hands.

As a result, experienced, senior staff will no longer feel forced to retire early, ultimately benefiting patients by ensuring their expertise remains in the NHS for longer so we can continue to deliver world-class healthcare.”

The plans form part of the government’s commitment to build a stronger health service for the long term and follows the Autumn Statement announcement of up to £8 billion for health and social care in 2024/25. This is on top of previous record funding, and plans to publish a comprehensive workforce plan – due next year – alongside delivering 50,000 more nurses by 2024.

There are over 34,170 more doctors and over 44,820 more nurses working in the NHS since 2010 – a record number of staff. This is as well as 4,000 new trainee doctors accepting GP training placements – hitting the government’s target for GP specialty trainee recruitment for the fifth year running.

With more than 21,000 more primary care staff supporting patients – including nurses and pharmacists – since September 2019 the government is on track to meet its target of 26,000 additional staff by March 2024.

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 21 November 2022.

Innovative Scottish projects may be threatened in the future if the UK Government fails to continue funding European research collaborations, Employment Minister Richard Lochhead has warned.

Mr Lochhead’s concerns are for the future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) grants which have been worth more than £72.5 million to Scottish projects since 2014.

Projects previously supported by the grants include a joint scheme between the University of Stirling, NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles to use video technology to help dementia patients stay at home rather than go into residential care and a project developing tools powered by zero emissions hydrogen.

Mr Lochhead has written to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove calling for UK investment in ETC programmes, which are due to end in 2023, to continue for a further four years.

Read Mr Lochhead’s letter in full here.

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 20 November 2022.

Commenting on the conclusion of COP27 in Egypt, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“COP27 has finally seen an acknowledgement by developed countries that the people least responsible for global warming are the ones suffering its worst consequences and that we have an obligation to support those experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis in the here and now.

“The agreement to establish a fund for loss and damage is truly groundbreaking and is a testament to 30 years of hard campaigning by the global south and civil society.  I am pleased that Scotland, in being the first developed country ever to make a financial contribution, has been able to play a small part in that journey working with others over the last twelve months to build the momentum that has led to today’s decision.

“There remains a lot of detail to be worked out over the next year ahead of COP28, but from the inclusion of loss and damage on the agenda, to the agreement to establish a fund, this COP has delivered a real breakthrough for vulnerable and developing countries.

“It is deeply disappointing that the recognition of loss and damage has not been matched by greater action to prevent a worsening of the climate crisis.  Keeping 1.5 alive and delivering the fastest possible transition away from fossil fuels is key to preventing greater loss and damage in the future.  Alongside loss and damage we needed to see progress on adaptation and mitigation, on the submission of new national contributions, a pathway to 2030 and a strengthening of the language of the Glasgow Pact.

“It is simply not good enough that countries failed to make progress on that agenda, and that there has been such a strong push back on action we all know is needed if 1.5 is to remain truly within reach. It is vitally important that countries recommit themselves to doing everything they can to ensure we keep 1.5 alive and to building a coalition ahead of COP28 that protects and drives progress against any further push back.

“Despite that disappointment, and the challenges faced by civil society in having their voice heard in Egypt, the breakthrough on loss and damage is what I hope COP27 will be remembered for, and that is a vital step forward for the developing world.”

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 15 November 2022.

Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson has once again urged the UK Government to withdraw the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill in its entirety.

Mr Robertson said that should the UK Government press ahead with the Bill, the legislation should be amended to mitigate the most severe impacts of the Bill and to prevent divergence from the high standards and protections previously provided by EU law.

The Scottish Government has today published a list of amendments which include removing the proposed ‘sunsetting’ of over 2,400 pieces of law and taking away the proposed power of UK Ministers to act in areas of devolved policy without the consent of Scottish Ministers.

Details of the proposed amendments have been outlined in a letter from Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson to Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Grant Shapps. This follows the lodging of a Legislative Consent Memorandum recommending the Scottish Parliament withholds consent for the Bill.

Background 

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill seeks to revoke over 2,400 pieces of EU legislation that were included in the UK statute book at the end of the Brexit transition period. Scottish Ministers have repeatedly highlighted their concerns that the Bill puts standards at risk, including regulations protecting rights for pregnant women at work, environmental standards and requirements to label food for allergens.

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 15 November 2022.

An innovative new procedure which speeds up cancer diagnosis has now benefitted more than 5,000 patients.

The cytosponge diagnostic service, introduced during the pandemic, means patients can access cancer checks closer to home, helping to reduce the strain on health services.

Using cytosponge means that patients can get scope results by simply swallowing a small pill with a thread attached rather than using traditional scope methods and sedation. After swallowing the pill, it expands into a tiny sponge which is pulled back up the oesophagus, collecting cells on the way which are then examined for abnormalities. Cytosponge helps to identify important conditions such as Barrett’s oesophagus which is a known risk factor for oesophageal cancer.

The procedure, which is supported by NHS Golden Jubilee’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), has now been used 5,036 times (to 3 November 2022) across Scotland.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“The cytosponge is an excellent example of an innovative technology that allows people to access services quicker, and closer to home. It is helping to deliver better outcomes for patients, while also easing pressures at our hospitals. That’s why I am pleased to see it being used so widely.

“Cytosponge offers a simpler alternative to endoscopy procedures and takes only around 15 minutes. It is a much simpler and more patient-friendly test than endoscopy that enables faster diagnosis of patients at risk of pre or early cancer, without the need for them to undergo a more invasive procedure.

“Using this new technology means we can help tackle the waiting lists for endoscopy procedures that have arisen during the pandemic.”

Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said:

“In these challenging times, it is vital that we improve patient experience with faster diagnostic imaging, facilitating targeted treatments and improving long term outcomes. This cutting-edge technology has helped NHS Scotland advance cancer diagnosis and provide direct benefit to over 5,000 patients.

“Cytosponge provides a better, more comfortable experience for patients, and we look forward to ensuring that even more people are treated this way as we continue to help meet the diagnostic demand resulting from the pandemic.”

Background

Unlike endoscopy procedures, where clinicians use a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at one end to inspect organs inside the body, cytosponge is a non-Aerosol Generating Procedure (AGP) and can be performed outside of traditional hospital environments, such as community health centres or general outpatient clinics.

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 15 November 2022.

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 14 November 2022.

The Scottish Child Payment has today been increased to £25 and been extended to include eligible children up to age 16.

First launched in February 2021 at £10 per week per child for children under the age of six, the Scottish Child Payment – unique to Scotland – provides direct financial support to eligible families and carers.

Around 104,000 children already getting the payment will automatically see the payment increase to £25 per week – which represents a 150% increase within eight months. This is also the rate for all those now eligible up to age 16.

Following today’s extension, it is forecast that a further 300,000 children across the country will be eligible.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today encouraged all eligible families to apply on a visit to Golfhill Primary and Whitehill Secondary schools at their shared campus in Dennistoun, Glasgow.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“This is an important day for many families across Scotland as we make significant extra financial support available to tackle child poverty. The Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and is the most ambitious child poverty reduction measure in the UK.

“At a time when the cost of living crisis is causing significant hardship for many families, this increased payment of £1300 per eligible child is even more vital, and the age extension means that it is now available to many more children.

“We want to make sure that everyone gets the help available to them. Parents or carers who are on universal credit or other benefits and who have children under 16 should check through Social Security Scotland if they are eligible.”

John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said:

“The roll-out of the Scottish Child Payment to over fives and the increase in its value to £25 a week marks a hugely welcome day for struggling families across Scotland and a real step on the road toward ending child poverty.

“This is a significant and uniquely Scottish boost to family incomes at a time when it is needed more than ever. It’s now vital that we all spread the word as widely as possible and ensure that all eligible families apply and every child that is entitled benefits.”

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 13 November 2022.

The UK Government has been urged to increase the amount of funding available for NHS pay.

Ahead of the Autumn statement, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan have written to UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay to ask for additional funding to help avert strike action this winter in the NHS.

The letter reads:

“We wanted to write to you in advance of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17^th November to once again make the case for additional funding for our hardworking NHS staff.

“In recent weeks the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and the Welsh Government Minister for Finance and Local Government have written to His Majesty’s Treasury to make clear the need for additional funding for public services.

“The Royal College of Nursing have announced a sweeping legal mandate for industrial action across the UK. In Scotland, they have joined several other unions representing NHS staff in gaining a legal mandate for industrial action with ballots expected to confirm a mandate in the rest of the UK.

“The risk to the NHS of industrial action this winter is profound, and we all need to do all we can to avert industrial action in any form. The NHS across the UK continues to feel the effects of the pandemic as it recovers and remobilises, and any action is likely to have catastrophic effects in all parts of the UK.

“We are experiencing a cost of living crisis and the anger of NHS staff is entirely understandable. Sky rocketing inflation combined with high interest rates, a direct result of the havoc caused by the UK Government’s mini-budget, means that we are simply unable to come close to matching the expectations of NHS staff across the country. While the support provided by the UK Government on areas such as support for energy bills is welcome, it has not gone nearly far enough.

“Media reports suggest that the Chancellor is considering reimposing austerity on the people of the UK again, for which there is no mandate, through extensive spending cuts. That would be a disaster for our public services, including the NHS, at a time when they need more investment, not less.

“We would therefore implore you to work with us to make the case to the Chancellor in advance of his Autumn Statement for increased funding for the NHS and the devolved governments as a whole, primarily to pay our hard working NHS staff a fair pay rise in the face of the cost of living crisis this winter, and avoid what could be catastrophic industrial action in the NHS.”