Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 10 April 2024.

The Department of Health and Social Care has today published the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry following the deaths of mental health inpatients in Essex.

The inquiry – which is chaired by Baroness Lampard CBE – was set up to understand the events that led to the tragic deaths of mental health inpatients under the care of NHS trusts in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

The terms of reference will enable the inquiry to continue the work of the former Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry and will play an important role in identifying learnings from those events for the future. The chair will be responsible for the progress of the inquiry and will set out a series of recommendations to improve the provision of mental health inpatient care.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said:

Patients should feel confident, safe and supported – especially when receiving help for their mental health, which can be an incredibly vulnerable experience.

This was not the case for mental health inpatients in Essex between 2000 and 2023, where so many patients ended up tragically and needlessly passing away – leaving their bereaved families with questions that need answering.

We take this need seriously and through the Lampard Inquiry, we will ensure lessons are learned and patient safety is improved. We have today published the terms of reference, to allow the inquiry to continue, and for families to get the answers they’re looking for.

The terms of reference are set by the Health and Social Care Secretary after consultation with the chair, who has engaged with the families and other stakeholders.

When investigating the inpatient deaths, the inquiry will cover:

• the serious failings related to the delivery of safe and therapeutic inpatient treatment and care
• the actions, practices and behaviours of staff providing mental health inpatient care
• the culture and governance of and at the trusts and how that affected care and treatment
• the quality of investigations and responses by and on behalf of the trusts
• the interaction between the trusts and other public bodies including commissioners, coroners, professional regulators and the Care Quality Commission

The government confirmed on 28 June 2023 that the inquiry would be placed on a statutory footing and it was formally converted to a statutory inquiry on 27 October 2023. This gives the inquiry legal powers to compel evidence from relevant individuals and organisations. The chair undertook a public consultation on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry in November 2023 and wrote to the Secretary of State with her recommendations in December 2023.

Baroness Lampard is a former barrister with experience in leading high-profile government reviews, including the NHS investigations into Jimmy Savile and investigations into the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System. She took over as chair of the inquiry from Dr Geraldine Strathdee, who stepped down in 2023 for personal reasons.

The chair will provide a final report as soon as practically possible.

For more detail, visit the Lampard Inquiry website.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 March 2024.

Patients benefit from tests and scans at 155 centres now open in England, with AI scanners on the way to further bolster diagnostic offer.

• Community diagnostic centre (CDC) programme is backed by part of the £2.3 billion capital investment in diagnostic transformation – the largest cash investment in MRI and CT scanning in the history of the NHS
• CDCs have now delivered more than 7 million tests, checks and scans across England
• Centres play a vital role in speeding up diagnosis and treatment, helping to further reduce pressure on hospitals
• Milestone comes after government delivers record diagnostic tests for each month in 2023 and announces investment in new AI technology
• There are now 155 open CDCs delivering tests, checks and scans, including ultrasound, X-ray and cancer checks

NHS patients have benefited from more than 7 million tests, checks and scans at CDCs across the country, helping speed up diagnoses and treatments.

CDCs, in settings like shopping centres and university campuses, play a vital role in helping to identify and treat illnesses in quicker time and closer to home, further helping reduce pressure on hospitals and allow for a speedier diagnosis so patients receive potentially life-saving care sooner.

The milestone comes as figures show diagnostic activity in every month in 2023 was the highest for that month on record, with the government pledging to deliver 17 million tests across CDCs and its other investments in diagnostic capacity by March 2025.

Last week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced further investment in the sector, promising 100 new AI-fitted MRI scanners that will help doctors deliver results more quickly and accurately to 130,000 patients every year. These will be funded through the landmark £4.2 billion Public Sector Productivity Plan, under which the NHS will be given £3.4 billion to double its investment in digital transformation, including IT upgrades and AI investment.

Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said:

Diagnostic centres are playing a vital role in helping to cut waiting lists by delivering checks and scans to people who need them, helping reduce pressures faced by hospitals across the country. This is a key part of our long term plan to make the NHS faster, simpler and fairer for patients.

Placing these centres in easy-to-reach locations, such as shopping centres and near football stadiums, means that people can get the support they need more quickly.

There are now 155 CDCs open across the country, which play a crucial role in faster diagnosis for illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.

The 7 million CDC tests, checks and scans have been delivered by the CDC programme since its inception in July 2021, which is backed by £2.3 billion, constituting the largest cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS. One hundred and fifty-five centres are currently open in England, with the government on track to meet its target to open 160 by March 2025.

Patients can be referred to CDCs via their GP, or acute consultant, and healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing death and illness.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 13 March 2024.

Smokers in England are being urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day to improve their health and wealth.

• 5.3 million smokers in England urged to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, as one of the best things they can do for their health and their wealth
• With up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers dying from smoking and causing 64,000 deaths in England each year, No Smoking Day remains important 40 years on from its launch
• “It’s never too late to quit”: presenter Coleen Nolan tells us why she is stopping smoking following a recent health scare and reassures others on taking first steps to a smokefree life
• It comes as the Prime Minister’s landmark legislation to create a smokefree generation is due to be introduced

Leading charities, including Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Cancer Research UK and Asthma + Lung UK, are joining forces with the government to encourage the nation’s 5.3 million smokers to make a quit attempt this No Smoking Day, 13 March 2024.

The campaign comes as part of the government’s bold plans to bring about the first smokefree generation and introduce legislation so children turning 15 this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco.  Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital in England with a smoking-related disease and in 2022 to 2023 there were over 400,000 hospital admissions in England due to smoking.

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, at any age, and the benefits begin immediately. After 8 hours your oxygen levels recover and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours all carbon monoxide will have been flushed out, your lungs will clear out mucus and your sense of taste and smell improve.

Stopping smoking is also one of the best things people can do to save money to spend on other things. The average smoker spends around £47 a week on tobacco, which is around £2,450 a year. More broadly, it costs society over £17 billion per year, which includes a £14 billion cost to productivity and a £3 billion cost to the NHS and social care.

Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said:

Smoking is the biggest preventable killer in the UK and places a huge burden on our NHS. Cigarettes are responsible for 64,000 deaths a year in England – no other consumer product kills up to two-thirds of its users.

That’s why No Smoking Day is still so important 40 years on from its launch.  We are taking action to prevent our children from ever lighting a cigarette, and our proposed historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill will safeguard the next generation from the harms of smoking and risk of addiction.

Up to 2 in 3 long-term smokers will die from their smoking. Despite the harms associated with smoking, it’s estimated that nearly 50 million cigarettes are smoked every day in England, with every single one negatively impacting the smoker’s health.

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor ​​Chris Whitty, said:

Cigarettes kill. They cause at least 15 different types of cancers and increase your risk of developing more than 50 serious health conditions.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – no matter your age or how long you have smoked.

Today, presenter, singer and TV personality Coleen Nolan – who smoked for over 40 years and is currently on her quitting journey following a health scare – shares her story to encourage others to join her.

Singer and presenter Coleen Nolan said:

I smoked for about 40 years and was heavily influenced by my friends and family around me. At such a young age I wasn’t aware of the health risks of smoking and soon found myself becoming addicted.

Following a recent health scare, I realised how precious life is and became determined to quit, not just for my own health, but so I can be there fully for my children and grandchildren. To anyone out there thinking of giving up smoking, my advice is do it!

She is joined by ex-smoker and cancer survivor Sue Mountain, who shares her story in a bid to urge smokers to quit smoking before it’s too late. Sue features in a powerful TV advert released by the department as part of a new smokefree campaign, encouraging people to quit smoking.

Sue Mountain said:

I never once thought I’d get cancer. Not once. To tell your family you’ve got cancer through smoking is really hard. My kids thought they were going to lose their mam.

Smoking rates have reduced by two-thirds since the first year of No Smoking Day 40 years ago, but smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England – estimated to account for 64,000 deaths annually.

Stopping smoking is the best thing people can do for their health, and it can significantly reduce the risk of younger people taking up smoking and becoming addicted. Currently, 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and smoking from a younger age is linked to being more likely to smoke in later years.

Better Health offers a range of free quitting support, including a ​​local stop smoking services look-up tool and advice on stop smoking aids, including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.

As part of the government’s Swap to Stop scheme, almost 1 in 5 of all adult smokers in England will have access to a vape kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit and improve health outcomes.

Plans to introduce the most significant public health intervention in a generation and phase out smoking are progressing at pace, with the UK now in the lead to be the first country in the world to create a smokefree generation. The government is proposing the phasing out of the sale of tobacco so that any child born on or after 1 January 2009 can never legally be sold cigarettes.

Be part of the change and help build a smokefree generation. For free support to quit this No Smoking Day, search ‘smokefree’.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 March 2024.

Millions at risk from ‘silent killer’ as NHS campaign warns there are often ‘no clues’ when it comes to high blood pressure.

• Up to 4.2 million people in England could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, according to NHS
• The ‘silent killer’ often has no symptoms but if left untreated, can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia
• New survey data shows that despite the majority of high blood pressure cases being asymptomatic, only one in 14 respondents (7%) thought the condition has no symptoms
• The Get Your Blood Pressure Checked campaign has been launched to highlight that there are often ‘no clues’ as to who has high blood pressure – backed by Gloria Hunniford and Graeme Souness
• With the NHS expanding blood pressure checks in community pharmacies – including capacity for an additional 2.5 million tests – the national campaign is urging those aged 40 years and over to get a free blood pressure test at a participating pharmacy
• Campaign backed by British Heart Foundation, Stroke Association, Heart Research UK, Blood Pressure UK, May Measurement Month, British Society for Heart Failure, and more

Today, the NHS is launching a new national campaign to find the ‘missing millions’ who have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, often described as a ‘silent killer’, affects an estimated 32% of adults. As the condition rarely has any symptoms, approximately 3 in 10 of these remain undiagnosed, equating to 4.2 million people in England.

The public are today being warned that there are often ‘no clues’ about who might have high blood pressure – the only way to know is to have a simple test.

With the NHS announcing an additional 2.5 million blood pressure checks in community pharmacies over this year and next, those aged 40 years and over are now being urged to get a free blood pressure test at a participating pharmacy. The procedure is quick, non-invasive and you do not need to book in advance.

This comes as new survey data reveals widespread misconceptions about the condition among those at risk.

Despite the majority of high blood pressure cases being asymptomatic, only one in 14 respondents (7%) thought the condition has no symptoms. The survey also revealed one in 6 (17%) of those surveyed have been put off having a blood pressure check because they do not feel unhealthy or stressed.

Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said:

Millions of adults in England unknowingly have high blood pressure, without experiencing any symptoms. As part of our Pharmacy First programme, the NHS has expanded its pharmacy offering to include 2.5 million more blood pressure checks within local pharmacies.

Knowing if you have a healthy blood pressure is so important and this new drive will help to prevent the potentially fatal consequences of untreated high blood pressure.

I urge people to go to their local pharmacy today to get their blood pressure checked. It could be a life-saving trip.

Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

However, the survey of over 2,000 adults aged 40 and over revealed worrying numbers who do not know the potentially fatal effects of high blood pressure – with 4 in 10 (41%) unaware that, if left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, and over a fifth (22%) being unaware that it can cause strokes and heart attacks.

To encourage more over 40s to come forward for potentially life-saving blood pressure checks, new advertising features a fictional detective struggling to solve the mystery of high blood pressure, due to a lack of ‘clues’ and ‘insufficient evidence’.

The campaign is being backed by Graeme Souness, TV pundit and former footballer, who is affected by high blood pressure and had a heart attack, and Gloria Hunniford, TV presenter and broadcaster, whose dad and husband have suffered strokes.

The pair appear alongside other patients affected by the condition, and pharmacist Deepak Bilakhia, in a mock police line-up to demonstrate how any of us could be unknowingly walking around with the condition.

Gloria Hunniford said:

This campaign is very close to my heart – both my husband and my father sadly suffered from a number of strokes due to high blood pressure, so I know from personal experience just how important it is to get your blood pressure checked, even if you feel healthy.

That’s why I’m so pleased to hear that pharmacies offer free, quick blood pressure checks for people aged 40 and over – thankfully, this really will save lives.

Graeme Souness said:

It’s so important to get your blood pressure checked – in my experience, high blood pressure doesn’t only affect the ‘usual suspects’, it can and does affect anyone so you could be at risk without knowing it.

I’ve had high blood pressure for years but have been able to manage it with a routine of healthy eating, regular fitness and regular blood pressure checks.

It is hoped that the campaign will urge those at risk to prioritise getting their blood pressure checked, even if they have no symptoms – after the survey revealed that blood pressure checks are low on the list of people’s annual priorities.

The majority of those at risk currently prioritise annual tasks such as getting their car MOTd (56%), getting their boiler serviced (55%) or renewing insurances (60%), above checking their blood pressure (43%) – despite its life-saving potential.

Meanwhile 2 in 5 (44%) were not aware they could get a free blood pressure check at a pharmacy, with even more being unaware that they do not need an appointment (59%).

Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Professor Chris Whitty said:

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms but can lead to serious health consequences such as a fatal heart attack, a stroke, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a simple, non-invasive blood pressure test. Even if you are diagnosed, the good news is that it’s usually easily treatable.

Getting your blood pressure checked at a local pharmacy is free, quick and you don’t even need an appointment, so please go for a check today – it could save your life.

Helen Williams, Pharmacist and National Clinical Director for CVD Prevention, NHS England, said:

It can be easy to dismiss the risks of stroke and heart attack associated with high blood pressure, especially as it often has no signs or symptoms so I would encourage everyone over the age 40 to know their blood pressure numbers.

With thousands of pharmacies across the country now offering free blood pressure checks with healthy living advice, it’s a quick, easy and convenient way to keep on top of your cardiovascular health at a time and place that suits you.

Deepak Bilakhia, a Nottingham-based community pharmacist, said:

Campaigns like this are so important because high blood pressure can be a silent killer and really can affect anyone, including those with no symptoms at all.

Too many people are unaware that pharmacies offer this kind of service, without needing to book an appointment.

So, if you’re 40 and over and have not had a check in the last 6 months, don’t put it off any longer.

Checking your blood pressure at a local pharmacy is so simple to do but could save your life – and your pharmacist is here to help.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 March 2024.

Government outlines action to make UK a world leader in tackling ethnic and other biases in medical devices.

• Plan comes in response to independent report identifying the extent and impact of ethnic and other biases in the design and use of medical devices
• It is part of ongoing work to tackle disparities within the healthcare system, which includes addressing issues from the design stage and extra funding for applications for new devices that work without bias

The government has today announced action to tackle potential bias in the design and use of medical devices, as it accepts recommendations from a UK-first independent review into equity in medical devices.

The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned senior health experts to identify potential biases in these devices and recommend how to tackle them.

The government fully accepted the report’s conclusions and has made a series of commitments, including ensuring that pulse oximeter devices used in the NHS can be used safely across a range of skin tones, and removing racial bias from data sets used in clinical studies.

Minister of State, Andrew Stephenson, said:

I am hugely grateful to Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead for carrying out this important review.

Making sure the healthcare system works for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, is paramount to our values as a nation. It supports our wider work to create a fairer and simpler NHS.

Ministers agree that unless appropriate action is taken, ethnic and other unfair biases can occur throughout the medical device life cycle, from research, development and testing, to approval, deployment and post-market monitoring, as well as in the use of devices once deployed.

As a result, significant action is already being taken to overcome potential disparities in the performance of medical devices. This includes:

• the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) now requests that approval applications for new medical devices describe how they will address bias
• NHS guidance has been updated to highlight potential limitations of pulse oximeter devices on patients with darker skin tone
• the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is currently accepting funding applications for research into smarter oximeters

The government will also:

• work with MHRA to ensure regulations for medical devices are safe for patients, regardless of their background, while allowing more innovative products to be placed on the UK market. This includes a commitment to ensure pulse oximeters are safe and effective for all patients, with work underway to mitigate any inaccuracy in the devices
• drive forward work to remove racial bias in datasets, including ensuring diverse skin tones are included in data used by researchers for clinical studies
• support ongoing work with NHS England to upskill clinical professionals on issues including health equity
• work with partners to improve transparency of data used in the development of medical devices using artificial intelligence (AI), as well as AI products which influence clinical decisions

The government appointed Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, professor of public health at the University of Liverpool, to lead the review. Professor Whitehead has vast experience in tackling health inequalities, and for many years has led the work of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Policy Research on the Determinants of Health Equity.

The review followed concerns that pulse oximeters – widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor blood oxygen levels – were not as accurate for patients with darker skin tones, which could have led to delays in treatment if dangerously low oxygen levels in patients with darker skin tone were missed. However, the review found no evidence from studies in the NHS of this differential performance affecting care.

The medical devices review focused on 3 areas – optical devices such as pulse oximeters, AI-enabled devices and polygenic risk scores (PRS) in genomics.

Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, chair of the review, said:

The advance of AI in medical devices could bring great benefits, but it could also bring harm through inherent bias against certain groups in the population, notably women, people from ethnic minorities and disadvantaged socio-economic groups.

Our review reveals how existing biases and injustices in society can unwittingly be incorporated at every stage of the lifecycle of AI-enabled medical devices, and then magnified in algorithm development and machine learning.

Our recommendations therefore call for system-wide action, requiring full government support. The UK would take the lead internationally if it incorporated equity in AI-enabled medical devices into its global AI safety initiatives.

The review also recommended ways of developing bias-free medical devices in the future and to improve standards globally.

Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said:

MHRA acknowledges that inequities can exist within medical devices and we therefore welcome the publication of Dame Whitehead’s independent review.

We are highly committed to ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and high-quality medical devices for all individuals, and the recommendations set out in this report will support and strengthen the impact of our ongoing work in this area.

We are committed to working collaboratively with government, regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals and stakeholders to address these issues effectively.

Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities, said:

Ensuring all patients get equitable access to high-quality healthcare remains crucial to reducing health inequalities and a priority for the NHS.

I welcome the report’s findings and the NHS will work alongside government and MHRA to implement them and ensure NHS staff have the resources and training they need to tackle racial bias.

There is ongoing work to ensure healthcare is equitable. In recent years, the government has created schemes providing targeted support for the cost of living and the COVID-19 pandemic and established the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), a government unit dedicated to reducing negative health disparities across the country.

We have:

• commissioned work like Core20Plus5, a national NHS England approach to inform action to reduce healthcare inequalities
• established the Maternity Disparities Taskforce
• invested £50 million in health inequalities research for local authorities

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social on 10 March 2024.

The investment will be provided over the next 3 years to ensure maternity services listen to and act on women’s experiences.

• £35 million investment to fund specialist training for staff and additional midwives to improve maternity services
• £9 million dedicated to prevent avoidable brain injuries in childbirth
• women’s voices and experiences to be prioritised with funding allocated to improve care

Almost £35 million will be invested to improve maternity safety across England with the recruitment of additional midwives and the expansion of specialist training to thousands of extra healthcare workers.

The investment, which was announced as part of the Spring Budget 2024, will be provided over the next 3 years to ensure maternity services listen to and act on women’s experiences to improve care.

The funding includes:

• £9 million for the rollout of the reducing brain injury programme across maternity units in England, to provide healthcare workers with the tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth
• investment in training to ensure the NHS workforce has the skills needed to provide ever safer maternity care. An additional 6,000 clinical staff will be trained in neonatal resuscitation and we will almost double the number of clinical staff receiving specialist training in obstetric medicine in England
• increasing the number of midwives by funding 160 new posts over 3 years to support the growth of the maternity and neonatal workforce
• funding to support the rollout of maternity and neonatal voice partnerships to improve how women’s experiences and views are listened to and acted on to improve care

Ahead of Mother’s Day, the Health and Social Care Secretary visited Cambridge University Hospital. She spoke with health experts from the hospital and microbiology faculty about a range of women’s health issues, including maternity care and breast cancer.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

I want every mother to feel safe when giving birth to their baby.

Improving maternity care is a key cornerstone of our Women’s Health Strategy and with this investment we are delivering on that priority – more midwives, specialist training in obstetric medicine and pushing to improve how women are listened to in our healthcare system.

£35 million is going directly to improving the safety and care in our maternity wards and will move us closer to our goal of making healthcare faster, simpler and fairer for all.

This investment follows a recent announcement of a new set of Women’s Health Strategy priorities for 2024, which include:

• better care for menstrual and gynaecological conditions
• expanding women’s health hubs to improve women’s access to care
• tackling disparities and improving support for vulnerable women including victims of sexual abuse and violence
• bolstering maternity care before, during and after pregnancy by continuing to deliver on NHS England’s 3-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services and focusing on preconception and postnatal care for women, raising awareness of pregnancy sickness and actioning the recommendations set out in the Pregnancy Loss Review
• investment into more research in women’s health and improving how women are represented in medical research

Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield, said:

This extra funding will help clinicians deliver the best care for expecting mothers and improve maternity safety.

I especially welcome the expansion of posts for midwives, who play a crucial role in delivering babies safely and caring for expectant mother pre- and postnatally.

Crucially, as part of this investment, we’re also rolling out a training programme to prevent avoidable brain injuries in childbirth.

As part of the government’s  commitment to action the recommendation of the Pregnancy Loss Review, the baby loss certificate service launched last month to allow parents who experienced a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks to apply for a certificate to acknowledge their loss. Since the launch of the service, as of 4 March 2024, the total number of completed requests was 37,268.

Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Kate Brintworth, said:

We are focused on ensuring that women receive the safest high-quality care before, during and after their pregnancy.

The rollout of maternity and neonatal voice partnerships is an important step in improving care by listening to women’s views and experiences and acting upon them.

Our workforce must also have the right skills for improving maternity safety and this investment helps ensure all those working in maternity services in England have the tools and training to reduce avoidable brain injuries in childbirth.

We will continue our plans to grow the midwifery workforce and nearly double the number of staff who have received specialist training in obstetric medicine in England.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 March 2024.

NHS-funded nursing care rates provided to care homes for the nursing needs of their residents are rising in April.

• The rate paid to care homes for NHS-funded nursing care will increase by 7.4% for 2024 to 2025
• The standard weekly rate per person eligible for NHS-funded nursing care will increase from £219.71 to £235.88 from 1 April 2024

Increased funding for care homes providing nursing will support tens of thousands of care home residents with nursing needs, following confirmation that the government will increase the rate by 7.4% for 2024 to 2025.

The standard weekly rate per person provided for NHS-funded nursing care will increase by 7.4% from £219.71 to £235.88 from 1 April 2024, with funding paid by the NHS directly to care homes who provide nursing care. For the higher rate, it will increase from £302.25 to £324.50. This allows eligible care home residents with specific nursing needs to benefit from NHS-funded nursing care.

Registered nurses provide support to people eligible for NHS-funded nursing care with a variety of needs, including people with learning disabilities, those living with enduring physical or mental health needs and various conditions associated with old age. This type of nursing requires a range of skills and training, with the extra funding supporting this important role.

The NHS-funded nursing care rate helps cover the costs of nursing care, ensuring the vital provision can continue to support the needs of residents within nursing homes. The uplift for the 2024 to 2025 financial year is based on adult social care data which is quality assured and independently verified, and cost collection data submitted by adult social care providers which has been quality assured.

Providing this nursing care also helps reduce the pressure on hospitals, ensuring the government’s record funding can be used to help discharge medically fit patients into social care settings. This care eases pressure on the NHS and delivers on the government’s plan to cut waiting lists.

The government has a 10-year vision for adult social care. To support that vision, the government has made available up to £8.6 billion over this financial year and next for adult social care and discharge.

This funding will enable local authorities to buy more care packages, help people leave hospital in a timely way, improve workforce recruitment and retention, and reduce waiting times for care. Patients get the care they need more quickly.

The government is additionally investing up to £700 million to make major improvements to the adult social care system. These include:

• improving care workers’ skills and supporting career progression
• investing in technology
• innovation and digitisation and adapting people’s homes to allow them to live independently

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 5 March 2024.

The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will put the offer forward for a vote in the coming weeks.

• The BMA and HCSA will put the consultants offer forward for a vote in the coming weeks
• Offer invests in modernising the consultants’ pay structure – reducing the number of pay points and the time it takes to reach the top
• The offer will also deliver reform to reflect modern ways of working, such as enhanced shared parental leave

The government and unions representing consultant doctors in England have reached an agreement to put a revised offer to union members following constructive negotiations.

The BMA and HCSA will recommend the offer to their members and put it forward for a vote in the coming weeks.

Constructive talks between the government and the unions were reopened last month and all parties negotiated in good faith after the initial offer was narrowly rejected. This revised offer represents a good deal for doctors, a good deal for patients and a good deal for taxpayers – it will improve equalities by mitigating the gender pay gap and deliver much needed reform.

The government’s position remains that the headline pay uplift for 2023 to 2024 was settled through the pay review body process. This updated offer adds further clarity and specificity to the original one, as well as addressing some of the concerns that consultants have raised. For example, it continues to invest in modernising the consultants’ pay structure – reducing the number of pay points and the time it takes to reach the top.

It also provides greater clarity on the pay progression arrangements, more details on reform of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) to ensure unions have confidence in the process, and a consolidated uplift for those in years 4 to 7 of the contract.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Ending strike action in the NHS is vital if we want to cut waiting lists and make sure patients are getting the care they deserve.

This improved offer demonstrates that we are seeking a fair agreement that is good for consultants, good for patients and good for the taxpayer.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

I hugely value the work of NHS consultants and am glad that unions are recommending this revised offer to their members – they clearly recognise the various benefits it offers.

If accepted, it will modernise pay structures – directly addressing gender pay issues in the NHS – and enhance consultants’ parental leave options.

It paves the way to ending industrial action by consultants following many weeks of constructive dialogue and represents a good offer for consultants, patients and the taxpayer.

The core contract for consultants has not been updated for 20 years and this offer will deliver reform to reflect modern ways of working, such as enhanced shared parental leave, in line with other NHS staff.

The pay scale reforms will also help mitigate the gender pay gap by delivering a key recommendation made by Professor Dame Jane Dacre in her review on the gender pay gap in medicine.

To enable these reforms, unions have agreed to end Local Clinical Excellence Awards (LCEAs) going forward – an employer-level bonus scheme – which have been seen to contribute to pay inequalities.

No strike action for consultants will be called by the BMA consultant and HCSA executive committees while members are being consulted. The BMA has also agreed to end the use of its rate card – which advises doctors on how much to charge for non-contractual work, including cover during strikes.

Moving forward, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will support the NHS to address existing vacancies and meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population by training, recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years – backed by more than £2.4 billion in government investment.

The government has listened carefully to the concerns of consultants and their representatives – particularly around retention, motivation and morale. This offer has been carefully balanced to meet those concerns but also to ensure value for the taxpayer. If accepted, it will come into effect from 1 March 2024.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 March 2024.

Those struggling with their mental health will be better supported thanks to a £10 million funding boost for charities working to prevent suicides.

• £10 million for 79 charities across England to help prevent suicide
• New funding will benefit helpline services, support in schools and groups in area with highest rates of suicide
• Delivers on government’s suicide prevention strategy which sets out plans to prevent self-harm and suicide to save lives
• Organisations benefiting include helplines, groups providing therapy to men at risk of suicide and charities providing targeted support in high-risk areas

People struggling with their mental health will be better supported thanks to a £10 million funding boost for organisations working to prevent suicides.

A total of 79 organisations, including a suicide prevention helpline, will receive funding through the government’s Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund. This will expand access to support services covering every region in the country, including the areas with the highest rates of suicide.

Both national charities and small community-led charities, which provide tailored support for local areas, will receive new funding to support people with their mental health.

Many charities will deliver services through partnerships and alliances, to help ensure joined-up support for individuals seeking help.

This represents an important milestone in delivering the suicide prevention strategy, which sets out the government’s actions to prevent self-harm, suicide and save lives.

Minister for Mental Health Maria Caulfield said:

Every suicide is a tragedy which leaves a terrible mark on the families and communities affected.

Non-profit organisations play a hugely important role in supporting people with their mental health and preventing suicide in England.

This new funding will support people who need it the most and build on the brilliant work happening across the country on suicide prevention.

The fund was announced in the 2023 Autumn Statement to support charities in either meeting increased demand for suicide prevention services, or to support a range of diverse and innovative activity that can help to prevent suicides in England.

The organisations set to receive grants include James’ Place Charity and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide – both have been awarded £625,000.

James’ Place Charity will use the funding to prevent men dying by suicide in Liverpool, Newcastle and London, and will provide 2 full-time-equivalent therapists in each James’ Place centre, to help save the lives of men in active suicidal crisis.

PAPYRUS aims to establish 6 new community hubs, largely down the east coast of England, which will go towards engaging and training parents and caregivers, providing them with free resources and free training.

Professor Sir Louis Appleby, the national advisor to the suicide prevention strategy, said:

The new funding is in recognition of the role of voluntary organisations large and small in suicide prevention.

They offer support to people in crisis or on the margins of society because of poverty, disability or prejudice.

They often work alongside the NHS but in settings where many who need help feel more comfortable.

The new government strategy says that bringing down the suicide rate is a national priority, and the ability of the voluntary sector to reach people at risk is vital.

We Hear You CEO, Lucy Kitchener, said:

Along with every other charity we know, We Hear You is finding fundraising extremely challenging right now.

Hearing the news that we have been awarded suicide prevention funding is wonderful, therefore.

Better still, this grant will fund counselling sessions with the people who come to our service feeling the most distraught.

Public Health England figures show that 1 in 10 suicides are from people with a chronic health condition. We Hear You supports people who are affected by cancer and life-threatening conditions.

The Samaritans will receive a grant of £530,000, to support its 24/7 helpline services and wider innovative suicide prevention activities.

This will include:

• postvention, which is an intervention that takes place after a suicide by supporting the family and friends of the person who has died, in schools and colleges
• preventing suicides in high-risk locations
• research to increase understanding of the needs of callers and how to reach people who don’t use the service
• targeting groups including marginalised communities, such as ethnic minorities, LGBT, and people in the justice system

Julia Bentley, CEO of Samaritans, said:

This funding will help Samaritans continue our mission to save lives.

The voluntary sector plays a crucial part in suicide prevention and, in this challenging environment, financial support for charities has never been more important.

Today’s announcement is a welcome step towards the resourcing needed to deliver the national suicide prevention strategy.

The suicide prevention strategy commits to more than 130 measures, from prevention and earlier intervention, through to more targeted and proactive support for people in crisis.

Background information

See the full provisional shortlist for the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund 2023 to 2025.

All grants awarded are currently provisional and subject to finalisation of grant agreements. Funds will begin being distributed from April.

See our suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 March 2024.

New patient premium starts to offer dentists cash incentives to take on new NHS patients.

• From 1 March 2024, dentists to benefit from extra payments for seeing new NHS patients
• Participating NHS practices to benefit from payments of up to £50 per new patient treated
• Part of the government and NHS’s plan to deliver an additional 2.5 million dental appointments

Dental practices will benefit from extra cash for taking on new NHS patients from today (Friday 1 March 2024) in the latest milestone in the government and NHS’s plan to make millions more dental appointments available.

The new patient premium will mean that participating NHS practices can benefit from payments of either £50 or £15, depending on care, for each new patient treated. This will apply for any patient who has not seen an NHS dentist over the past 2 years. The level of the payment will depend on the complexity of the treatment required and is on top of existing funding the practice receives for treating patients.

Dentists delivering core NHS services, including examination, diagnosis and treatment, will be eligible for the new patient premium. The premium will be paid to dental practices automatically after treating a patient who has not been seen within the past 2 years.

Through the scheme and wider measures in the dental recovery plan – which is backed by £200 million – the government and NHS aim to deliver an extra 2.5 million appointments for patients over the next 12 months.

The plan builds on existing work to improve access to dentistry, with the government investing more than £3 billion each year to support the sector. Last year, 1.7 million more adults and around 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist compared to the previous year.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins said:

I want to make access to dentistry faster, simpler and fairer for patients – particularly those who have not been able to see a dentist in the past 2 years.

This scheme is good for patients and good for dentists. It will see millions more appointments made available for those who need them, while also rewarding those dentists who are taking on new NHS patients.

It’s all part of our plan to put NHS dentistry on a sustainable footing for the long term and ensure that good oral health is a reality for everyone.

Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom said:

Healthy gums and teeth are crucial for wider good health, and our dental recovery plan sets out how we are working to improve access and help the dental sector recover from the impact of the pandemic.

I want to thank the many hard-working dentists for all their efforts. This new patient premium will mean they are able to provide around 2.5 million more dental appointments – giving around a million extra patients the high-quality treatment and care they need.

The scheme is particularly designed to improve the oral health of those who do not have an existing relationship with a dental practice. The latest GP Patient Survey – based on January to March 2023 data – shows that patients who have no relationship with an NHS practice had a 33% success rate in accessing care, whereas patients already known to a dental practice had an 83% success rate.

The new patient premium will mean that around 1 million new patients – defined as patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in 2 years or more – will be able to access appointments.

Jason Wong MBE, Interim Chief Dental Officer for England, said:

Good oral health remains essential for good general health and now more patients will be able to access NHS dental services – thanks to the majority of dental practices across England being eligible to introduce new patient premiums.

This is just one part of our recently announced package of measures to improve access while also better supporting dental teams across the country to provide high-quality care.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said:

This is an important next step in recovering and reforming NHS dentistry, and giving dentists a new patient payment will help to treat around a million additional patients who have not seen an NHS dentist in over 2 years.

This forms part of a range of wider initiatives to improve access to local health services, including making it easier to get help from your GP practice and expanding the services community pharmacies offer.

The plan also includes measures to boost the dental workforce – including by implementing measures in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to increase training places for dental professionals by 40% by 2032.

The government has also recently launched a consultation on cutting red tape so that dentists who have been trained overseas are able to practise in the NHS more quickly. Around 30% of all dentists on the General Dental Council’s register qualified outside of the UK.

The plan also outlines how the government will reform the dental contract to make NHS work more attractive – building on reforms brought in in 2022 to incentivise practices to deliver more dental care, including by increasing the amount of money practices receive for high-need patients and allowing dentists to carry out more than their usual contracted NHS work.

Louise Ansari, CEO at Healthwatch England, said:

The patient premium, if taken up by dentists, has the potential to be a game-changer for people who’ve struggled to access appointments in the past 2 years.

It could mean that children get their first ever check-up, while adults get treatment for problems that have long caused them pain or prevented them from eating, working or socialising.

It’s now important that the NHS makes it easy for people to find out which dentists will be offering new appointments based on the 2-year criteria, so they only seek appointments from the relevant practices. NHS commissioners of dental services should also promote these new appointments to people who have struggled to access care in recent years, especially those on lower incomes, women and some ethnic minority patients.