NHS

It’s notorious as being one of the most difficult diseases to detect in its crucial early stages, and survival rates here are poorer than in the rest of Europe. Most types of ovarian cancer, once diagnosed, are treated with chemotherapy. But a new breakthrough drug, called niraparib, is being made available on the NHS. It…

On the back of the worst winter in a decade, NHS trusts in England have reported financial deficits twice as bad as anticipated.The number of GPs planning to leave the profession has risen to two in five. And senior doctors have today warned the government that the NHS needs an extra seven billion pounds a…

Too many patients end their days in hospital, when they would far rather be at home with loved ones. Now, for the first time, a secure on-line system links patients with GPs, hospitals and even paramedics, so that everyone can instantly see where patients want to go – and whether they want to be resuscitated. The…

Parents of children with a rare form of cancer were told their treatment could be stopped mid-course, because the highly expensive drug might no longer be available for free. Doctors feared that the company which provides the Neuroblastoma drug, and has already spent £6 million on, might have to start charging. They’ve now agreed to…

Today’s NHS England winter figures show the proportion of people waiting more than four hours in major accident and emergency units were the highest in the 70-year history of the health service. And that was just one set of figures out today that revealed the intensity of the pressure the NHS is under. There were…

Figures out today show a slight improvement in the number of patients diverted away from accident and emergency units and faster ambulance hand over times to hospitals. However, bed occupancy is still running at nearly 95 per cent – 10 per cent above the recommended safe level. And now Welsh A & E consultants have…

Hospitals across England are under such pressure they’ve been advised to put off all non-urgent operations until the middle of January. NHS England said they should free up beds for the most unwell patients ahead of an “expected surge” after the Christmas and New Year break.

Doctors leaders’ have warned the government that as winter approaches, the NHS is facing unprecedented pressures. The Royal College of GPs has written to the Chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of tomorrow’s budget, adding to the growing clamour within the NHS for a significant increase in funding.  Earlier this month, NHS England’s Chief Executive Simon Stevens…

The NHS is facing one of its worst winters for years with warnings that increased patient numbers, fewer beds, and less money will increase pressures on an already struggling system.

Fewer people want to go into medicine, or stay in the NHS, according to the British Medical Association. It’s looked at applications to medical school, and to specialties like psychiatry and sexual health, and says a crisis is looming in England.

The government suffered a defeat on NHS pay in the House of Commons this afternoon, a defeat that seems to have significantly changed Parliamentary convention. It came amid a row over claims that the Prime Minister made about police pay during Prime Minister’s Questions.

New figures show the number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks for surgery has risen by more than 400% since 2013. The Welsh Government said the majority of people were treated within target times – despite increased demand.