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  • PRESS RELEASE : We can and should go further to reduce air pollution says Chief Medical Officer [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : We can and should go further to reduce air pollution says Chief Medical Officer [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 8 December 2022.

    • Professor Chris Whitty recognises progress in reducing outdoor air pollution but stresses England needs to go further, and says tackling indoor air pollution should now also be a priority
    • The wide-ranging report on air pollution makes 15 recommendations across a range of sectors, including transport, urban planning, industry and agriculture

    We can and should go further to reduce air pollution – and it is technically possible to do so, says England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Chris Whitty, in his annual report published today (Thursday 8 December 2022).

    Outdoor air pollution in England has reduced significantly since the 1980s – but it still poses significant health threats including increasing heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer and asthma exacerbation. It also leads to increased mortality and is associated with impacts on lung development in children.

    The report – Professor Chris Whitty’s third as CMO – highlights the improvements made to outdoor air pollution and offers solutions to continue progress.

    It says that indoor air pollution is becoming an increasing proportion of the overall problem as outdoor air pollution improves.

    The CMO’s recommendations on outdoor air pollution include:

    • accelerating the electrification of light vehicles and public transport
    • innovation to reduce air pollution from non-exhaust sources such as tyres, and the need for a greater range of options for reducing air pollution from heavy and specialised vehicles
    • local urban planning should support reducing air pollution locally – such as reducing air pollution near schools and healthcare settings
    • in agriculture, ammonia air pollution emissions could be reduced through modified farming practices, such as applying slurry directly to soil
    • the NHS has committed to halving its contribution to poor air quality within a decade

    According to the report people spend around 80% of their time indoors, whether for work, study or leisure. Many indoor spaces are public, and people do not have a choice about spending time in them. Despite this, indoor air pollution has been studied less than outdoors.

    For indoor air pollution, the CMO’s recommendations include:

    • addressing a major engineering challenge – ensuring effective ventilation while minimising energy use and heat loss. This is a priority for reducing indoor air pollution while achieving net zero carbon
    • increased research into tackling indoor air pollution including finding ways to reduce sources of indoor air pollution

    Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, said:

    Everyone is affected by air pollution, and it is everyone’s problem.

    Air pollution has improved and will continue improving provided we are active in tackling it. We can and should go further – and it is technically possible to do so.

    The CMO’s report includes a chapter with case studies of 3 cities in England – Birmingham, Bradford and London.

    Each of these cities has had significant challenges around air pollution and has taken slightly different approaches to tackle it. These have included integrating actions including around transport, urban planning and design, reducing pollution around schools and monitoring at a city level.

    The CMO’s report last year was on health in coastal communities, while his 2020 report looked at health trends and variation in England.

    Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of Asthma + Lung UK said:

    This report by the CMO should act as a rallying call to tackle air pollution. From our very first breath, air pollution has a significant impact on our health. Toxic air not only puts people at risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and dangerous COPD flare-ups, it can also lead to the development of lung conditions including lung cancer.

    Chris Whitty is right to highlight the devastating impacts of air pollution and it is now vital that meaningful steps are taken to protect public health from this invisible threat. This includes schemes that work to get the most polluting vehicles off our roads.

    Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said:

    We’re pleased to see the CMO focusing on air pollution in his annual report this year. Research the British Heart Foundation has funded has helped to show just how damaging air pollution can be to our cardiovascular health.

    We have the tools and understanding to make better air quality a reality but we need to do more. Making sure this report’s recommendations are implemented will help to clean up the air in all our communities and deliver real improvements to the nation’s health.

    Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:

    We welcome the CMO putting air pollution in the spotlight with this report. Although smoking remains by far the biggest cause of cancer in the UK, air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer in both people with and without a history of smoking – causing almost 1 in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK. With more ambition and a willingness to tackle air pollution head on, we know that this can be different.

    Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to health in the UK, and although substantial progress has been made to reduce harmful levels of pollutants, more needs to be done. The adoption of national and local strategies will be vital in reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution across the country. But that has to start with the UK government making a bold long-term commitment to a reduction in air pollution.

    Dr Sarah Clarke, president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), said:

    Air pollution is a growing and significant public health challenge and we strongly welcome the Chief Medical Officer making this the focus of his annual report for 2022.

    The RCP has been highlighting the harmful impacts of air pollution on health since 2016, when we published our report Every Breath We Take with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. We estimated then that around 40,000 deaths were attributable to outdoor air pollution, and since then a coroner found it to be a cause of death for the first time, that of 9-year-old Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah.

    The CMO’s report is an important contribution that makes clear why we must be proactive and ambitious in our efforts to improve both outdoor and indoor air quality for everyone.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government turbocharges efforts to tackle Covid backlogs [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government turbocharges efforts to tackle Covid backlogs [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 December 2022.

    The government is setting up an Elective Recovery Taskforce to help the NHS deliver on waiting list targets, bringing together a range of healthcare experts.

    • 19 new Community Diagnostic Centres to deliver more life saving checks, tests and scans and speed up diagnoses for local patients
    • New Elective Recovery Taskforce to help unlock spare capacity in the independent sector to bust the Covid backlogs and reduce waiting times
    • First meeting of Elective Recovery Taskforce to be held at No10 Downing Street today

    Patients will benefit from quicker access to treatment and lifesaving diagnostic tests close to home following the launch of a new Elective Recovery Taskforce and approval of 19 new one stop shops for tests, checks and scans, the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay announced today.

    The NHS has made progress in tackling the Covid backlogs, virtually eliminating waits of over two years for treatment – the first target in the Elective Recovery Plan – and reducing the number of people waiting 18 months for treatment by almost 60% in one year.

    The taskforce will help deliver on the remaining targets, including eliminating 18-month waits by April 2023 and waits of longer than a year by March 2025.

    The launch comes as the Health and Social Care Secretary announced the locations of 19 new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across the country which will help more people to easily access life-saving checks, tests and scans – and follows record investment into health and social care with the Autumn Statement committing up to an additional £8 billion for health and social care in 2024/25.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    The NHS is facing an unprecedented challenge to tackle covid backlogs.

    Hardworking staff have made strong progress but I want to turbocharge our current plans to bust the backlog and help patients get the treatment they need.

    The taskforce will look at sensible steps to utilise all existing capacity to slash waiting lists while ensuring the NHS always remains free at the point of use.

    The taskforce, which will meet for the first time at Downing Street today, will be chaired by Health Minister Will Quince and made up of academics and experts from the NHS and independent sector to advise the government on ways to turbocharge NHS recovery from the pandemic, reduce waiting times for patients and eliminate waits for routine care of over a year by 2025.

    Experts will focus on how the NHS can utilise existing capacity in independent sector to cut the backlog. The independent sector has been used to bolster NHS capacity and ease pressure at critical times for nearly two decades, delivering over 450,000 appointments in October alone, approximately 6% of NHS care. Commissioning of independent sector services by the NHS uses existing budgets and comes at no extra cost to the NHS, delivering value for taxpayer money.

    The taskforce will bring together a group of experts to work on a series of recommendations which will be put to the government early next year on how the NHS can better commission the independent sector, supporting the NHS as it pulls out all the stops to tackle the Covid backlogs.

    Specialties including ophthalmology and knee and hip replacements have led the way with successful collaboration with the independent sector meaning patients can return to their normal lives faster.

    The taskforce will look to improve communication and collaboration between the NHS and independent sector, clearly setting out what theatres, beds and other settings (such as outpatients) are available in the independent sector. Maximising use of all additional capacity will support patients and ensure the NHS always remains free at the point of use.

    Minister for Health Will Quince said:

    We are relentlessly focussed on tackling waiting lists and busting the Covid backlogs and this new taskforce will bring together experts from across the healthcare system.

    Doing so will ensure we’re using all the capacity available to us to improve care across the NHS and independent sector, and give patients more autonomy over when and where they are treated.

    NHS England National Director of Elective Recovery Sir James Mackey said:

    NHS staff are working incredibly hard to tackle the Covid backlog at a time of immense pressure on the health service with significant progress already made – virtually eliminating two year waits for care – and it’s vital that we continue to support staff to deliver for patients.

    By maximising opportunities to deliver even more life-saving checks and tests, building on the successes of increasing use of the independent sector since the pandemic, we can speed up diagnoses and continue to bring down waiting lists for routine care.

    Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, David Hare said:

    We strongly welcome the establishment of a new taskforce to look at how the NHS can turbo-charge its use of the independent sector to tackle the elective care backlog.

    For decades independent sector capacity has been used by the NHS to improve patients’ access to care free at the point of use, and giving patients’ a legal right to choose an independent sector provider for their treatment was a big factor in getting NHS waiting times down in the 2000’s.

    The taskforce is a great opportunity to learn lessons from that period and in particular to make good on patients’ legal right to choose the best provider for them, whether public or independent sector, and to ensure that the capacity and capability which is available in the independent sector is being fully utilised for the benefit of NHS patients.

    The new diagnostic centres will be located in the heart of communities across the country including football stadiums and shopping centres offering a range of services including MRI, CT and x-rays, making tests more accessible for patients. They will take the total of approved CDCs to 127, over 80% of the government’s intention to open up to 160 CDCs to perform up to nine million additional tests a year by 2025.

    91 are already up and running across the country and new data shows the one-stop shops, backed by £2.3 billion in government funding, have delivered over 2.4 million tests, checks and scans since July 2021. These are speeding up access to services for patients and reducing waiting times. In September CDCs delivered 11% of all diagnostic activity, a significant step in achieving our ambition for 40% of diagnoses to take place in CDCs by 2025.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Patients to carry out health checks in comfort of own home to ease pressure on frontline services [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Patients to carry out health checks in comfort of own home to ease pressure on frontline services [December 2022]

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

    Cornwall first area in England to trial NHS Digital Health Check as part of government plans to digitise existing face-to-face health check.

    • New digital check means people will do convenient and easy tests at home – making patients’ lives easier while reducing pressure on GP surgeries
    • Those invited urged to take part in the trial which will inform the design and development of the digital check

    A landmark trial aiming to make it easier and more convenient for patients to carry out important health checks and reduce pressure on GPs has been launched in Cornwall.

    The trial – which is the first of its kind in England and part of the government’s plans to digitalise the existing NHS Health Check – will see patients complete an online questionnaire, use a kit to take a blood sample at home, and complete a blood pressure check at their local pharmacy or in their GP’s waiting room.

    It will apply some of the lessons learned during Covid when people got used to doing tests at home and getting their results online.

    The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It’s designed to prevent stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of dementia. A total of 15 million people are eligible for free NHS Health Checks in England.

    They are currently delivered through face-to-face appointments with GPs, but many parts of the check can be done without a GP, which means freeing up more time for clinicians. Patients also have to take time out of their day to go to the appointment, often at an inconvenience to them, with the new trial aiming to free up time for more urgent GP appointments.

    More than 2,000 people from three GP surgeries across Cornwall are being invited to take part in the trial – only those whose results indicate an underlying health condition will be followed-up by their GP.

    The results of the trial will help inform the design and development of the new national NHS Digital Health Check.

    Minister for Public Health Neil O’Brien said:

    Innovation is key to a modern, forward looking National Health Service, and this trial will help us understand what a new digital NHS Health Check could look like in the years to come.

    The health check is crucial in preventing and identifying potentially life-threatening conditions, and this digital version will do just that while making patients’ lives easier and reducing pressure on frontline services.

    During the pandemic people got used to doing tests at home and getting their results online, so this trial is an opportunity for us to apply some of the lessons we learnt during Covid and improve the way we deliver healthcare.

    I urge everyone invited to take part in the trial so we can get the best possible data as we look to roll out a national digital check.

    The checks have the potential to:

    • prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes
    • prevent 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes
    • detect 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease each year
    • avoid at least 650 premature deaths a year

    Dr Andy Sant, managing director of NHS Cornwall’s North and East Integrated Care Area said:

    Much has been achieved in our county around digital inclusion, and the preventative value of health checks is already proven. So we are delighted that patients in Cornwall are being given the first opportunity to access a digital version through this innovative trial. Amid such sustained pressure upon general practice, this is a welcome and logical progression.

    The associated benefits are wide-reaching, from the convenience and savings for patients, to the positive impact on GP appointments. I hope that everyone who is invited will take up this offer. As well as the personal benefits, they will be helping to inform future advances at national scale.

    The offer of NHS Health Checks has been historically lower in Cornwall than most local authorities in England. During 2019-20 over 13,400 checks were offered and over 6,900 were completed, but in 2021-22 approximately 4,300 were offered and just over 1,900 were completed.

    Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said:

    It is great news that this important trial involving innovative use of technology is being carried out in Cornwall and I would encourage all those invited to take part to do so.

    We know there are avoidable differences in people’s health across our communities and cardiovascular disease still has a big impact on people in Cornwall.

    So by making health checks like this easier to access and more convenient we can hopefully prevent more serious illnesses and identify people who may be at risk of stroke or heart attack earlier.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New measures to improve access to dental care [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : New measures to improve access to dental care [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 November 2022.

    A new package of measures to improve patient access to dental care has been introduced by the government.

    • All NHS dentists to receive fairer payments for providing more complex dental care to those who need it most
    • Dentists will be required to update NHS website regularly to make it clear which practices are taking on new patients and the services available, improving access
    • This will ensure the system better supports all dentists and their teams while also providing better value for money dental care for patients.

    A new package of measures to improve patient access to dental care has been introduced by the government.

    From today, NHS dentists will receive fairer payments for delivering complex dental care to incentivise practices to take on high needs patients who require treatment the most.

    Previously dentists would receive the same payments for all treatments delivered within band two, which includes fillings and tooth extractions, regardless of the amount of time taken to deliver the work. For example, they would receive the same payment for one filling as three fillings.

    This meant dentists may not have been able to afford to take on patients who had not seen a dentist for an extended period who require more extensive treatment as a result.

    The contract changes, which come into force today, will provide fairer payments to dentists by taking into account the time taken to do the work, incentivising practices to provide the care needed for patients with complex and high needs.

    Health Minster Neil O’Brien said:

    I am determined to make sure everybody seeking NHS dental care can receive it when they need it.

    Our new contract rewards dentists more fairly for taking on high needs patients and delivering treatments to those who need it most.

    It will not solve all the problems overnight, but it will help improve access and ensure the system supports dentists and their teams.

    The new contract will also require dental practices to regularly update information on the ‘Find a Dentist’ tool on the NHS website, ensuring it accurately reflects available services. This will help patients to locate practices taking on new patients and access the treatments they need quickly.

    This government is also introducing legislation which will provide the General Dental Council (GDC) with greater flexibility to amend its international registration processes for overseas qualified dentists. This will pave the way for additional exams places and enable the GDC to recognise and accept more qualifications for dentists and dental care professionals who want to work in the UK and support a reduction in unnecessary delays.

    Louise Ansari, national director of Healthwatch England said:

    Thousands of people have spoken up about their struggles accessing an NHS dentist over the last few years, telling us about dental practices in many regions either closing down or not accepting new NHS patients. This announcement shows the power of their voices, with government listening and taking action.

    The changes should help people find clear and up to date information on dentists taking on new NHS patients. While people with more complex dental problems will find it easier to access care because of the shift in how the NHS pays dentists. Ultimately, we hope these combined measures will help to reduce long waiting times, the extended periods of pain many people suffer and prevent the extreme cases of DIY dentistry we have seen.

    These changes are a good start and when put into practice can help ensure dental care that is accessible and affordable to everyone who needs it.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Co-chair appointed to BSL Board advising Government on key issues for Deaf people [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Co-chair appointed to BSL Board advising Government on key issues for Deaf people [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 28 November 2022.

    The Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, has today appointed Craig Crowley MBE FRSA as co-chair of the new British Sign Language (BSL) Advisory Board, which will advise the government on key issues impacting the Deaf community.

    • Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, announces the appointment of Craig Crowley MBE FRSA as co-chair of the BSL Advisory Board
    • Mr Crowley is the CEO of Action Deafness, a Deaf-led charity providing BSL interpreting and community support
    • Board’s launch follows BSL Act recognising BSL as a language in England, Scotland and Wales, which approximately 151,000 people in the UK use

    Mr Crowley is the CEO of Action Deafness, a Deaf-led charity providing BSL interpreting and community support. He has worked tirelessly in several key roles to support Deaf people. As a past Chair of the UK Council on Deafness, Crowley has also been a key figure in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness, advocating for improved access to BSL in public services.

    Recognising BSL as a language in England, Scotland and Wales for the first time, the BSL Act 2022 will make a considerable difference to Deaf BSL signers across the country. The new Board will provide personal and expert advice to the government on the implementation of the Act.

    Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

    “The British Sign Language Act is a key step to removing some of the barriers experienced by Deaf people in everyday life.

    “The BSL Board will ensure we are guided and advised by those who know best how to make these important changes. I am delighted to announce Craig’s appointment and look forward to working with him to create a more inclusive, accessible, and fair society for everyone.”

    The Board’s remit will be:

    • advising on the use of BSL in public communications and policy delivery
    • advising on how to tackle key issues facing Deaf people, such as how to increase the numbers of BSL interpreters

    A senior civil servant will serve as the other co-chair. The Board membership will comprise of at least 16 members plus the co-chairs, with a majority of Deaf BSL signers. Membership will also include Deafblind people and/or those who use tactile sign.

    The main criteria for appointment for all independent members will include a lived experience of BSL, alongside a willingness to work collaboratively in assisting the government to be more accessible.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to use Vaccine Taskforce model to tackle health challenges [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 28 November 2022.

    Patients will benefit from cutting-edge new treatments as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling health challenges.

    • Funding for innovative research into improved treatments, including cancer immune therapies or vaccines and game-changing weight loss medication and technologies, to accelerate their development and rollout
    • Prime Minister, Health and Social Care Secretary and Business Secretary will meet with key industry experts, global CEOs and NHS leaders to leverage further investment and ensure NHS patients benefit from cutting-edge new treatments
    • Builds on £1 billion investment since publication of Life Sciences Vision and delivers on commitments to cement the UK as a life sciences superpower

    NHS patients are set to benefit from cutting-edge new treatments and technologies as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling some of the biggest public health challenges facing the UK.

    The government has today announced over £113 million to fund research into four healthcare missions – cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction – to unlock the next generation of medicines and diagnostics to save lives, transform patient care and ensure UK patients are the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs.

    Building on the Vaccine Taskforce model which led to one of the most successful vaccine roll outs in the world and ensured millions got a Covid jab, the government will continue to harness world-leading research expertise, remove unnecessary bureaucracy, strengthen partnerships and support the new healthcare challenges.

    Since the Life Sciences Vision was first launched it attracted £1 billion investment to the UK and this further research funding is expected to gain investment from leading global companies.

    In addition, tackling these healthcare challenges could save the NHS and the economy billions of pounds – it is estimated obesity costs the NHS £6.1 billion a year and poor mental health costs the economy £118 billion a year.

    The Prime Minister, Health and Social Care Secretary and Business Secretary will today meet with key industry figures, including global CEOs, NHS leaders and industry experts at the Life Sciences Council to discuss how their support will deliver life-changing innovations to patients, boost NHS efficiency and ensure the UK remains a global life sciences superpower.

    The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

    The NHS faces real pressures, which is why we are investing over £100 million in the technologies and medicines of the future to address some of the biggest public health challenges facing our country.

    This funding will improve outcomes for patients, ease existing pressures on the system and ensure that we are amongst the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs. Importantly it will also help save the NHS millions of pounds that could otherwise be spent on patient care – for example by tackling obesity which costs the health service over £6 billion annually.

    It is hugely welcome too that the highly successful Vaccine Taskforce, which procured millions of life-saving vaccines in record time during the pandemic, will now become a blueprint for how we harness the best talent and expertise from around the world and drive investment in research and development.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Conditions such as cancer and obesity prevent people leading long, healthy lives and cost the NHS billions of pounds every year.

    We’re leading the way in cutting-edge research which can find new ways to speed up diagnosis, enhance treatments and ensure a better quality of life for patients – both now and in the future.

    By harnessing the same spirit of innovation that delivered the vaccine rollout and working hand in hand with the NHS, industry and healthcare experts.

    We’re building a stronger, healthier NHS with record numbers of staff and record funding, to give people the security of knowing it will be there for them when they need it.

    The research will focus on the top public health priorities, as identified by the NHS:

    • Cancer: £22.5 million will go into cancer research to develop new immune-based cancer therapies, including cancer vaccines, which are targeted to a patient’s specific cancer. Funding will also support the development of technologies that enable earlier, more effective cancer diagnosis. This will support progress towards the NHS Long Term Plan ambition to diagnose three-quarters of cancers at Stages 1 or 2 by 2028.
    • Mental health: £40.2 million for research into mental health to develop and introduce digital technologies to support patients. This could include technology allowing patients to monitor their mental health at home and instantly report to their doctor if in need of help. Funding will be spent in the Midlands and the North to bolster services and ensure people across the UK can access support, helping level up health across the country. With one in four adults experiencing mental illness, poor mental health costs the economy £118 billion a year.
    • Obesity: £20 million to trial how best to deliver new medicines and technologies for people living with obesity, particularly in deprived communities across the UK. This will help new medicines coming to market  – some of which have the potential to reduce a person’s weight by more than 20% – to better support people to achieve a healthy weight. The mission will explore how these medicines can be combined with cutting-edge technologies and digital tools to improve long-term health outcomes. Obesity costs the NHS £6.1 billion a year and helping people lose weight and lead healthier lifestyles could lead to significant savings.
    • Addiction: £30.5 million, including funds contributed through collaboration with Scottish Government, will be deployed to accelerate the development of new technologies to prevent deaths from overdoses across the UK. This could include wearable devices which can detect the onset of a drug overdose and signal to first responders to prevent deaths, and better support people with substance use disorders to manage and combat their addiction. Funding will also help grow research capacity and capability across the UK to better understand addiction and the most effective ways to treat it as a chronic healthcare condition.

    The new funding follows the launch of the dementia mission in August 2022 in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor – backed by £95 million – to develop innovative research tools and boost the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia and neurodegeneration. This contributes to the commitment to double funding for dementia research to £160 million a year by 2024/25.

    In line with the Vaccines Taskforce, the four healthcare missions will be led by an independent chair – an expert in that field – to accelerate the development and introduction of the latest treatments and technology into the NHS, as well as drive collaboration across partners. This will not only ensure better care for patients, but also improve the accuracy of diagnosis and free up clinician time, helping tackle the Covid backlog and ease pressure on health services.

    The chairs will be appointed by an expert panel dedicated to each mission – this includes Kate Bingham who headed up the Vaccine Taskforce. The process will be completed soon so the research projects can get underway as quickly as possible.

    The government is committed to ensuring patients benefit from the latest treatments and NHS England has also announced today that that around 9,000 men with one of the most advanced forms of prostate cancer will be eligible for a new life-extending treatment as the NHS becomes the first in Europe to roll out darolutamide to patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The deal was approved through Project Orbis, an international collaboration with top regulators around the world which enables quicker patient access to breakthrough cancer medicines.

    Today also sees Innovate UK launch a new £30 million fund to advance life-changing cancer therapeutics delivered through the Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) programme. This new programme directly supports the UK government’s cancer mission, combining expertise in immuno-oncology and the vaccine capabilities developed throughout the pandemic.

    Minister of State for Health Will Quince said:

    We have made immense strides in health research over the past year and it’s crucial we continue to harness this enthusiasm and innovation.

    These new healthcare missions commit to putting the lessons we’ve learnt into action to drive the UK forwards as a life sciences superpower.

    By bottling up this scientific brilliance our Life Sciences Vision puts this innovation at the heart of our health service, helping to solve major health challenges – such as cancer and obesity – and enabling the NHS to continue delivering world class care.

    Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The UK is a leading light in life sciences and more generally a science superpower. This funding builds on this reputation to create jobs and growth while serving as a catalyst for an avalanche of additional private investment.

    These healthcare missions will drive innovations with the potential to transform the landscape of healthcare and save millions of lives, by tackling some of greatest health issues facing Britain and indeed the world.

    NHS England Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard said:

    We have already seen the incredible ways that new technology and innovation can transform NHS care and the lives of patients across the country – from glucose monitors for people living with diabetes, laser therapy for those with epilepsy to genetic life-saving testing for severely ill children and babies.

    Just today, we fast tracked a new drug deal for men with prostate cancer that can boost their survival –  showing that the NHS is already at the forefront of delivering the latest treatments for patients.

    Working with partners, we want to build on this work even further so we can work to tackle the country’s biggest healthcare challenges.

    Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services Welsh Government said:

    Last year, the UK government set out a bold and ambitious vision for life sciences that promises to deliver better healthcare outcomes for all patients across the UK.  Wales has a proven track record in many of the key areas identified – dementia, mental health, genomics, cancer research and linked data – all of which play a very significant role in improving clinical outcomes and driving innovation both nationally and around the world. To maximise the potential of the Life Science agenda for the UK it is important that any investment is fully committed to delivering on ‘levelling up’ and it is incumbent upon all partners to work together so that our common objectives are realised across the four nations.

    Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist for Health in Scotland said:

    The missions launched today cover conditions that have a huge impact on people’s lives. Bringing together academia, industry and the NHS offers exciting possibilities for the development of new approaches to their prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

    Drugs Policy Scottish Minister Angela Constance said:

    In Scotland, we are experiencing an ongoing public health crisis of drug-related deaths, and finding solutions in innovation and new technology to inform future strategy is one way in which we can help prevent deaths and improve lives.

    I therefore welcome this collaboration between the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist’s Office and the UK Government Office for Life Sciences which focusses on rapid detection, response and intervention to potential overdoses. This ensures immediate action, helping people who use drugs and their support networks to work together to save lives.

    Background

    • As well as launching the Missions, the Health and Business Secretaries announced a suite of additional measures to further cement the UK’s global leadership in Life Sciences. This includes:
    • Ensuring NHS patients can access new medicines rapidly through Ministerial engagement with the pharmaceutical industry to ensure access safe, ground-breaking new medicines rapidly, whilst guaranteeing value for money for the NHS. This will build on flagship agreements which have already enabled NHS patients to access a new cancer drug before any other European country and enabled children in the UK to be amongst the first in the world to access a new medicine to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
    • Dedicated new Life Sciences Investment Envoy: with the Business Secretary appointing Dan Mahony, Chair of the BIA and Entrepeneur in Residence at Evotec, to the role last week. The new Envoy will champion access to finance for the UK Life Sciences sector by bridging the UK’s Financial and Life Science industries. Last week’s Investor Roadshow kicked this off, convening over 90 world-leading investors.
    • Through Project Orbis, the UK’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, has teamed up with regulators in the US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and Brazil to review and approve applications for promising cancer treatments quickly so patients can benefit earlier.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Eligible people urged to get vaccinated as flu season officially under way [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Eligible people urged to get vaccinated as flu season officially under way [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 November 2022.

    • All eligible people – including those in at-risk groups, pregnant women, and aged 50 or over – urged to get their free flu vaccine
    • Many schoolchildren and 2 and 3 year old preschoolers are eligible for nasal spray flu vaccines
    • UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicators have been met in England leading to the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer authorising antiviral medicines on prescription in primary care settings, in line with pre-pandemic seasons
    • Flu is now circulating at higher levels than recent seasons

    All those eligible for the flu vaccine have been urged to come forward as cases rise to levels not seen since before the pandemic.

    So far this year, flu vaccine uptake in eligible groups is similar to the last couple of years, although there is a particular need for pre-schoolers, pregnant women and those in the health and social care workforces to take up the offer.

    Latest UKHSA data shows there have been jumps in emergency department flu attendances and hospital admissions in the last week. The intensive care admission rate is now higher for flu than for COVID-19.

    In the week 14 to 20 November 2022:

    • the hospital admission rate for flu increased to 24 per million population, up from 15 per million the previous week. The highest rates were in the under 5s followed by the 75 years plus group. The COVID-19 rate was 44 per million population
    • the intensive care and high dependency care for influenza increased to 21 per 10 million population compared to 13 per 10 million population in the previous week. The highest rates were in the under 5s followed by the 65 years plus group. The COVID-19 rate was 17 per 10 million population

    Those aged 2 and 3 years old are eligible for nasal spray flu vaccines, with parents and guardians also urged to book appointments to ensure the younger age group is protected.

    With both flu and COVID-19 cases both circulating this winter, it is also vital all those eligible get both vaccines as soon as possible.

    Due to the increase in levels of flu circulating in the community, UKHSA has recommended that it is now appropriate for antiviral medicines to be prescribed in primary care settings.

    Those eligible for antivirals if they have flu include patients in clinical at-risk groups as well as any who are at risk of severe illness and complications from flu if not treated. This includes people in those groups who present with symptoms of flu and those who have been exposed to flu-like illnesses from someone they live with, including residents of care homes.

    As has happened in flu seasons before the pandemic, following an UKHSA recommendation, the Chief Medical Officer together with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer have issued an alert to the NHS notifying the healthcare system that antiviral medicines can now be prescribed and supplied for cases of community acquired influenza.

    Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said:

    Flu and COVID-19 are both circulating. We are currently seeing higher rates of flu at this time of year than usual.

    It is important those eligible have their flu jab as soon as they can. Vaccines are the best defence against these viruses. The most effective approach is to get vaccinated before it is circulating at very high rates.

    As flu cases have risen and in order to protect the most vulnerable – in line with pre-COVID flu seasons antiviral medicines can now be prescribed in primary care settings such as GPs and pharmacies to those eligible who are most at risk to the complications of flu.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

    Flu is a serious virus and, while we haven’t seen the number of cases we’re used to over the last couple of years, it is starting to circulate at high levels this season.

    Thankfully we have the tools to protect those most at risk to flu. Thanks to our fantastic vaccination campaign, more than 17 million flu jabs have been given in England this season already.

    For all those eligible who have not yet come forward for their free winter vaccines for flu and COVID-19, please do not delay in coming forward for your jab. It could not be easier.

    In England, the first weekly winter update shows there were an average of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, more than 10 times the number seen at the beginning of December last year.

    In October, a new country-wide marketing campaign urging millions of eligible people to get their flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines to top up their immunity was launched.

    Building on the success of the 2021 to 2022 COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the campaign stressed that the protection provided by vaccines wanes over time, so everyone eligible should boost their immunity by getting both vaccines ahead of a difficult winter.

    Dr Mary Ramsay, Director for Immunisation and Programmes at UKHSA, said:

    Our surveillance shows recent increases in laboratory and clinical influenza indicators across England, particularly NHS emergency department attendances, hospitalisations and intensive care. Alongside older adults, flu rates are rapidly rising in younger children. Vaccination remains critical and I urge everyone eligible to take up the offer.

    Flu antivirals are effective in helping to keep people out of hospital and preventing the virus spreading to other more vulnerable household and family members. Now that we are seeing flu increasing it’s important that GPs consider the possibility of flu in respiratory patients and the use of antivirals in line with national guidance, particularly if they have ruled out COVID-19.

    Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said:

    The first weekly data this year shows that flu is already with us as we enter what could be the most challenging winter in NHS history, with hundreds of beds a day already occupied with patients with flu.

    Flu can be extremely serious for lots of people, so pharmacies and GPs will now be able to prescribe antivirals to those most at risk of its complications to help people avoid the need for hospital care.

    But the best way people who are eligible can protect themselves is by getting vaccinated without delay – there are thousands of sites across the country offering flu and COVID-19 jabs so please book in today if you haven’t already.

    The alert concerning flu antiviral medicine has been issued to primary care settings including GPs and community pharmacies in England.

    The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the manufacturers of antiviral medicines, used in the treatment of flu, to monitor stocks and ensure that there are adequate supplies of these medicines available to meet UK demand.

    The prescription and supply of antivirals in primary care settings is in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government Claims Record numbers of NHS doctors and nurses [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government Claims Record numbers of NHS doctors and nurses [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 November 2022.

    • Record numbers of doctors, nurses and staff are working in the NHS, latest data shows
    • On top of 4,000 new GP trainees and 21,000 more primary care staff
    • Government on track to deliver on commitment for 50,000 more nurses by 2024, with over 32,000 more nurses working in NHS hospitals and in general practice

    A record number of doctors and nurses are working in the NHS in England, delivering extra appointments, speeding up diagnoses and helping to tackle the Covid backlog.

    There are almost 1.24 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England –  over 34,000 more people compared to a year ago, up by nearly 3%.

    The latest data published by NHS Digital up to September shows there are almost 4,000 more doctors and over 9,300 more nurses working in the NHS compared to September 2021.

    Since 2010, there are now over 34,170 more doctors and over 44,820 more nurses working in the NHS.

    It follows news that 4,000 new trainee doctors have accepted GP training placements – hitting the government’s target for GP specialty trainee recruitment for the fifth year running – according to the latest figures from Health Education England.

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

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Supporting the workforce is one of my immediate priorities and we are making significant progress in training and recruiting a record number of nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. There are almost 4,000 more doctors and over 9,000 more nurses in the NHS than last year.

    I want to thank all our brilliant NHS staff who work tirelessly to look after us and our loved ones and continue to inspire future generations to join this rewarding career.

    We’re building a stronger, healthier NHS for the long-term to give people the security of knowing that it will be there for them when they need it.

    The government remains on track to deliver on its commitment to recruit 50,000 more nurses by 2024, Parliament, with over 32,000 more nurses in September 2022 compared with September 2019.

    In the Autumn Statement the government committed to publishing a comprehensive workforce strategy next year to recruit and retain more staff, with independently verified forecasts for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals that will be needed in 5, 10 and 15 years’ time.

    This will mean more patients will be able to access the services they need, when they need it.

  • PRESS RELEASE : GP practice data available for first time [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : GP practice data available for first time [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 November 2022.

    • New data published on GP appointments for the first time ever allows patients to make a more informed choice about the practice they choose to visit
    • This comes after over 4,000 GPs accepted on training placements, hitting the government target for the fifth year running
    • Autumn Statement reiterates government’s commitment to primary care and improving patient access to it

    Patients will be able to make more informed choices on the GP practice they choose to visit after data showing detailed appointment waiting times was published for the first time ever today (Thursday).

    The statistics, which cover all GP practices across England, is being made available to inform patients how many appointments each practice is delivering and on the length of time taken from booking an appointment to the appointment itself.

    This will improve transparency about performance and give patients more information to help them make informed choices when choosing their practice.

    The statistics, NHS Digital’s website, will form part of the GP data published monthly which for the first time will include details at practice level. This was announced in Our Plan for Patients.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    We promised to prioritise patients and improve access and that is exactly what we have done – and this is just the start.

    I am determined to make it easier for people to get an appointment with their GP practice when they need one and this will allow patients to make a more informed choice about the care they receive.

    The Autumn Statement reaffirmed the government’s expectation that all those who need an appointment can get one within two weeks, with urgent appointments on the same day.

    This will include offering one million additional appointments and providing an additional 31,000 phone lines which will help people avoid the 8am rush for appointments with new digital tools to improve IT systems and ease administrative burdens.

    Minister of State for Health Neil O’Brien said:

    This is about making sure patients can make genuine choices about where to access their care.

    More than 90% of a patient’s direct experience of the NHS is through primary care and their GP practices so it is vital appointments are available when needed.

    This government reiterated its commitment to the NHS during the Autumn Statement and improving access to data is just the start.

    The government is also set to reach its target of 26,000 additional members of primary care staff and has hit its target for new GP trainees – more than 4,000 this year – for the fifth year in a row.

    This comes as we provide more support for the sector, with struggling GP practices receiving support with their most acute access challenges to improve performance – such as the delivery of a framework to support all practices to secure cloud-based telephony systems.

    Work also continues to incentivise the most experienced GPs to stay in practice by amending pension rules regarding inflation and implementing permanent retirement flexibilities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched to protect patients from silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched to protect patients from silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 23 November 2022.

    New consultation launched to inform next stage of tackling antimicrobial resistance building on 20-year vision.

    • Recent estimates suggest that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes 1.27 million deaths globally each year and 7,600 deaths in the UK each year
    • Views sought to inform next 5-year plan to tackle what has been described as the next potential global pandemic

    The increasing risk to patients of superbugs resistant to existing medicines will be the focus of a new consultation launched today (Wednesday 23 November 2022).

    The consultation will bring together the latest evidence and data from leading experts on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It will help inform a new 5-year national action plan to protect patients from deadly infections and will capture learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The consultation has been launched to coincide with World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022, with this year’s theme focused on ensuring that affected sectors – such as food, plants, environment and health – collaborate together to fight AMR.

    Resistance to antimicrobials is increasing, creating a new generation of ‘superbugs’ that cannot be treated with existing medicines. Without working antibiotics, routine surgery like caesarean sections or hip replacements will become too dangerous to perform, cancer chemotherapy will become too high risk and certain infections will require long and complex treatment or will no longer be treatable.

    Prof Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on AMR, said:

    Antimicrobial resistance may be the defining health challenge of this century.

    I am proud of the UK’s efforts on research and development, stewardship, surveillance and international engagement across all sectors.

    I hope that our next national action plan will show that we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and collaborate to step up our actions.

    A report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week showed there were more than 50,000 severe antibiotic-resistant infections in England last year including bloodstream infections, skin infections, surgical site infections and skin and soft tissue infections.

    The report also found the number of severe antibiotic resistant infections rose by 2.2.% in England compared to 2020, the equivalent of 148 infections per day. It warns that progress made on antibiotic use may not be sustained unless we continue to use antibiotics appropriately.

    Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director of Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections at UKHSA, said:

    Antimicrobial resistance is not a distant problem that we can ignore – infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are killing thousands of people every year in this country and globally, as well as having a huge economic impact.

    Our extensive data and surveillance programmes have identified the immense scale of the issue in this country. It has pinpointed areas for action, with targets to improve prescribing and limit antimicrobial-resistant and healthcare-associated infections over the last 5 years. We will continue to work with partners to respond to current threats and prepare for future challenges.

    It is vital the future national action plan targets include measures to limit resistance, incentivise best practice in prescribing, and facilitate novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

    The new 5 year national action plan will form the next stage of the government’s existing 20-year AMR strategy, published in 2019. It set out an initial 5-year plan which will run until 2024. This consultation will seek views to ensure that the next 5-year plan – continuing up until 2029 – is informed by the most up-to-date evidence.

    Since the publication of the 2019 strategy, government has made significant progress in tackling AMR, for example reducing the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, piloting novel and innovative ways of evaluating and paying for antibiotics on the NHS through a subscription model – a world first – and securing commitments to tackle AMR on several ministerial tracks during the UK’s G7 presidency.

    Input from technical experts (including on human health, animal and plant health, food and AMR in the environment) is encouraged as part of the consultation, to help shape the UK’s 2024 to 2029 national action plan.

    It is also aiming to attract context from how we helped to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, as the tools we use will be similar – such as with vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and public behaviours.