Category Archives: NHS

Labour Announces Crackdown On Tax Dodgers To Plug £2bn Spending Hole

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Labour has revealed it will plug the £2bn hole in its spending commitments by cracking down on tax dodgers.

Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have promised a Labour. government will fund NHS improvements and free breakfast clubs in schools.

They had planned to pay for it by raising money through axing the non-dom tax status.

But chancellor Jeremy Hunt used his Budget to scrap the tax loophole himself and use the money to fund tax cuts.

The move meant Labour had to either ditch its commitments, oppose the tax cuts or find the £2bn elsewhere.

In the aftermath of the Budget, Labour said it was still working out where to find the money.

Speaking on Tuesday, Reeves will pledge to “take on the tax dodgers” and raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament.

Reeves will point to comments by Gareth Davies, the chief executive of the National Audit Office, who said in January that £6bn could be raised by cracking down on tax evasion and avoidance.

She will confirm £2bn of the funding raised each year from these plans will go towards the spending commitments.

“I have been clear that everything in our manifesto will be fully costed and fully funded. There will be no exceptions,” Reeves will say.

“That is why last month I promised to go through all the government documents in an orderly way to identify the funding streams to honour our commitments to the NHS and schools.

“That process is now complete and the funding a future Labour government will raise from taking on the tax dodgers will fund more appointments in NHS hospitals, new scanners, extra dentist appointments and free breakfast clubs for all primary school pupils.”

“Our schools and our hospitals are the British people’s priorities – and they are Labour’s priorities too.”

Labour will outline a plan to give HMRC up to an extra £555 million each year to allow it to help it collect more tax.

Under the proposal, the number of HRMC staff by up to 5,000 to ensure tax owed is collected.

There will be investment in the digitisation of the tax office and a greater use of AI.

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People Think Nigel Farage Gorging On An Easter Egg To Own ‘NHS Luvvies’ Is Tiresome Stuff

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Nigel Farage is threatening to eat a whole Easter egg on Sunday to stick it to “NHS luvvies” in the latest piece of performative outrage about “wokery”.

It follows Dr Andrew Kelso, the medical director of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, advising people to “resist the urge” and not “overdo it” by eating an Easter egg in one sitting, due to the high calorie count of the chocolate.

“Many people don’t realise that an average Easter egg contains around three quarters of an adult’s recommended daily calorie intake,” Kelso wrote.

“At a time like this, when we are seeing significant increases in cases of obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as tooth decay, I urge people to enjoy their Easter eggs in moderation and resist the urge to eat a whole one in one go.”

Predictably, the former UKIP leader defied the advice on his GB News show – eating a chocolate egg has he raged against the suggestion.

He said: “I am sick to death of being told we can’t do this, we can’t do that, it’s Easter for goodness sake.

“I’m sorry, Dr Kelso, but you really bore the pants off me, it’s Easter, I don’t eat chocolate everyday, but I’m going to scoff all of this (egg).”

He followed this up with a furious screed in the Telegraph under the headline: “I’m stuffing my face with chocolate this Easter – to annoy the NHS luvvies”.

The reaction on social media suggested most people thought it was yet more tiresome “culture war” schtick.

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NHS England’s Pause On Hormone Blockers ‘Will Deeply Affect’ Trans Youth, Charity Claims

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NHS England’s decision to stop offering transgender youth puberty blockers has been described as “a blow” to the community by a charity.

Mermaids has criticised the decision, saying trans youth are “no exception” when it comes to universal access to healthcare.

What are puberty blockers?

Puberty blockers stop hormones which trigger irreversible physical changes (such as testosterone and oestrogen), that’s why they have been seen as a lifeline to some trans youth.

According to NHS England’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), puberty blockers are a “physically reversible treatment if stopped”.

However, the website claims it is “not known what the psychological effects may be”.

At the moment, fewer than 100 young people in England are prescribed puberty blockers on the NHS.

What is the new ruling around puberty blockers?

NHS England held a public consultation on their usage last year – 10% of the 4,000 respondents were trans adults, 22% were patients, and 21% were parents.

As of Tuesday this week, puberty blockers will only be available through a mandatory research trial rather than available “routinely”.

But, those currently on puberty blockers will be able to continue their treatment.

Health minister Maria Caulfield praised the announcement, saying “children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount”, describing the move was a “landmark decision” and “in the best interests of the child”.

The ruling also comes weeks before the publication of an independent review into gender identity services in England.

An interim report, published 2022, suggested that there were “gaps in evidence” around the impact of the drugs.

What does Mermaids say?

Trans youth charity, Mermaids, told HuffPost UK: “This announcement is deeply disappointing, and a further restriction of support offered to trans children and young people through the NHS, which is failing trans youth.

“There were virtually no first appointments offered in 2023, with ever-growing waiting lists of over five years.

“Those currently prescribed puberty blockers won’t see any changes to their treatment, and this is a pause on prescribing – not a ban.

“It’s also important to note that puberty blockers can be just one possible part of a young person’s gender journey.

“However, this news still comes as a blow and will deeply affect our communities.”

Mermaids added: “Everyone deserves access to healthcare, and to live happy and healthy lives. Trans youth are no exception.”

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Tory Ministers Left Red Faced After New ‘Dental Recovery Plan’ Accidentally Sent To Every MP

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Government officials accidentally sent top secret plans to boost NHS dental care to every MP in the Commons.

The ‘Dental Recovery Plan’, which will see dentists offered a £20,000 “bonus” to encourage them to take on more NHS patients, was not supposed to be unveiled until tomorrow.

But the blueprint, seen by HuffPost UK, landed in MPs’ email inboxes at lunchtime today.

Under the plans, ministers will spend an extra £200 million “to ensure everyone has fast and fair access to a dentist when they need one”.

Up to 240 dentists will receive the £20,000 payment to treat NHS payments for at least three years in so-called “dental deserts” areas where recruitment and retention is difficult.

A new “smile for life” scheme will see children in the first year of primary school will be given lessons on oral hygiene.

The move echoes a Labour plan for supervised toothbrushing for all 3 to 5 year-olds – which has been criticised by some Tory MPs.

Mobile dental teams will also be sent into schools in areas with fewer dentists to provide advice and fluoride treatment to 165,000 children.

The scale of the dental crisis in England has been highlighted this week by images of huge queues of people trying to sign up for an NHS dentist in Bristol.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “After 14 years of Conservative neglect, patients are desperately queuing around the block to see a dentist, literally pulling their own teeth out, and tooth decay is the number one reason for 6–10 year-olds being admitted to hospital.

“The Conservatives are only promising to do something about it now there’s an election coming. By adopting Labour’s proposals for recruitment and supervised toothbrushing, they are finally admitting that they are out of ideas of their own.

“It will be left to the next Labour government to rescue NHS dentistry and get patients seen on time once again.”

Dentists have also condemned the government plan.

Shawn Charlwood, chair of the British Dental Association’s general dental practice committee, said: “This ‘Recovery Plan’ is not worthy of the title.

“It won’t halt the exodus from the workforce or offer hope to millions struggling to access care. Nothing here meets government’s stated ambitions, or makes this service fit for the future.

“Ministers wanted to stop dentistry becoming an election issue. By rearranging the deckchairs they’ve achieved the exact opposite.”

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‘Down The Drain’: £9.9 Billion Spent On Covid PPE Written Off By Government

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Nearly £10 billion-worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) bought by the NHS during the pandemic has been written off by the government.

The staggering sum was revealed in the Department of Health and Social Care’s annual report.

Labour has accused Rishi Sunak, who was chancellor at the time, of “throwing away taxpayers’ money as if it were confetti”

According to the annual report, the government spent £13.6bn on PPE.

Since then “the department has written down the value of its PPE inventory by £9.9 billion because it was unusable or its market price had fallen since it was purchased during the pandemic.”

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “As chancellor, Rishi Sunak threw away taxpayers’ money as if it were confetti and has failed to get our money back. Sunak’s carelessness has cost our country dear.

“Never again can the Conservatives claim to be the careful stewards of the public finances.”

He said Labour would appoint a “Covid corruption commissioner” if it wins the election “to chase down those who ripped off the British taxpayer”.

Lib Dem health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: “This is a sickening level of waste. Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been poured down the drain because of this Conservative government’s incompetence.

“To rub salt in the wound, some of this money was wasted on dodgy contracts with Conservative cronies, the vast majority of which has still not been recovered.

“The health secretary should come to parliament and explain how so much taxpayers’ money was frittered away and what is being done to get it back.”

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People With Suspected ADHD Are Facing A Crisis In The UK

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While the UK ADHD population is still grappling with ongoing medication shortages, new research from Mamedica has found that not only are the 2.6 million people diagnosed being left behind but a further 4.5 million Brits believe that they have undiagnosed ADHD.

Undiagnosed ADHD can come with a myriad of complications which leads to a reduction in quality of life for neurodivergent people. According to ADDitude Magazine, undiagnosed ADHD can lead to impulsivity, emotional instability ,and feelings of anger and worthlessness.

How long are NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis?

Of course, throughout the UK, waiting list times differ but a report by ITV released in October found that in some areas of the UK, adults could be waiting up to 10 years for a diagnosis.

Speaking to ITV, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We know how vital it is to have timely diagnoses for ADHD, and we are committed to reducing diagnosis delays and improving access to support.”

Additionally, Sheffield magazine Now Then has reported that in the 12 months between June 2022 and June 2023, only 21 adults received an assessment from The Sheffield Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service (SAANS), which resulted in nine diagnoses.

Now Then stated that with 5,481 service users on the waiting list at the end of the same period, with current assessment rates, it would take 261 years to get through the current waiting list.

How this crisis is affecting women

According to the ADHD Foundation, 50-75% of the women in the UK with ADHD are undiagnosed, and as a result may be experiencing poor health and socio-economic outcomes.

While awareness of ADHD in women and girls has improved in recent years, ADDitude Magazine warns that there is still a lot of information gaps with professionals such as teachers and gynaecologists.

They said: “We now know that fluctuating female hormones worsen ADHD symptoms, yet this important issue is largely neglected. Gynaecologists are not educated about ADHD; psychiatrists don’t study the effects of female hormones on the condition; and many females feel minimised and mistreated.”

How is the ADHD diagnosis crisis being tackled?

The shortage in medication has led to doctors in England being told to not prescribe new patients with ADHD medication but this is expected to be resolved by December. From there, it is up to individual health boards to tackle backlogs.

However, back in May of this year, MPs on the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) called on the government to prioritise tackling NHS waiting lists to assess people who could have the disorder.

Tory MP James Sunderland, a vice chair on the APPG, said to PoliticsHome that he wants the government to “throw the kitchen sink” at tackling NHS backlogs relating to ADHD, particularly for school-aged children.

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Trans Women Will Be Banned From Female-Only Wards, Says Steve Barclay

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Health secretary Steve Barclay has said trans people will be banned from male-only and female-only hospital wards.

Speaking to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Tuesday, he said the NHS constitution will be amended following a consultation later this year to bring in the change.

Barclay said this would respect the “privacy, dignity and safety of all patients” and “recognise the importance of different biological needs and protect the rights of women”.

“I know as Conservatives, we know what a woman is and I know the vast majority of hardworking NHS staff and patients do too,” he told Tory members.

“To deliver the long-term change the NHS needs, we need a relentless focus on patient outcomes and that means prioritising frontline resources.

“It does not mean spending huge sums of taxpayer’s money on diversity consultants or hiring bloated internal diversity and inclusion teams.”

Barclay also said he had ordered a reversal of changes to the NHS website that removed references to women for conditions such as cervical cancer.

And he said the NHS had been told to stop telling staff to declare pronouns to each new patient.

The move is the latest in a long-line of Conservative policies aimed at what many in the party like to brand “woke” id.

It came after one backbench Tory MP warned his party to stop “fighting” the LGBT+ community and “demonising” trans people.

Elliot Colburn, the MP for Carshalton and Wallington, told a meeting on the fringes of the conference to “drop this hardcore rhetoric and we have to drop it now”.

“I want to make one thing perfectly clear to our Conservative colleagues. We will not win the next general election fighting with the LGBT+ community,” he said.

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Another Broken Sunak Pledge As NHS Waiting Lists Hit A New Record High

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Official figures revealed that 7.7 million people are now waiting for NHS treatment in England, up from 7.6 million a month ago.

Sunak is also struggling to keep his other promises to halve inflation, bring down the national debt and stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “For millions of patients across England, the NHS is no longer there for them when they need it.

“On the NHS, Rishi Sunak is Inaction Man, refusing to meet with doctors to end NHS strikes and adding to the Conservatives’ NHS backlog, leaving patients waiting for months on end in pain and agony.”

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NHS Strikes: Mishal Husain Roasts Steve Barclay By Noting Obvious Contradiction In Government’s Stance

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BBC Radio 4′s Mishal Husain suggested the government has no choice but to resolve NHS strikes in a tense interview with the health secretary this morning.

The Today programme host pointed out that – just as junior doctors and consultants are about to go on strike simultaneously – the impact on NHS patients is getting worse.

Husain said the latest figures show the waiting lists to be at record levels at 7.6 million people waiting to start routine treatment.

But, she noted that prime minister Rishi Sunak made it one of his five pledges to voters to bring the number down.

The presenter asked: “How can you do that without resolving doctors’ strikes?”

Barclay replied: “There’s no question that the strikes are having an impact in terms of harming patients.

“Now, we have been making progress through our recovery plan, backed with £8 billion of investment.”

He said they had eliminated the two-year wait for treatment, and “virtually” eliminated the 18-month wait.

Husain pointed out: “The overall figure is at a record number!”

Barclay replied: “No, no, I’m accepting that the overall number on the waiting lists has increased.”

He went on to say that the government has boosted the NHS’s capacity with community diagnostic centres.

But Husain just asked again: “What’s your plan to end the doctors’ strike?”

The health secretary insisted that the government has offered a “fair and final” resolution, accepted the pay review bodies’ suggestion for a pay increase and implemented the BMA union’s “number one ask” to change pension and taxation.

“But the strikes are going on,” Husain cut in. “I think most people would probably look at this and think that your plan is basically based around hoping that the doctors give up. There’s absolutely no sign of that.

“How can you possibly meet your waiting list pledge, the PM’s waiting list pledge, without resolving this strike?”

Barclay said the government had also promised to bring down inflation, and that was another pledge Sunak made in January.

He also claimed that the strikers’ pay rise request was too high, and he had stay fair to other public sector workers.

Husain then tried once more, pointing out: “You’ve got a specific pledge on waiting lists to bring them down – and they’re going up.”

But, the health secretary just suggested once again the pay rise request from junior doctors is not “fair” for others.

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NHS Launches ‘Virtual Wards’ To Help Kids Access Hospital Care At Home

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Tens of thousands of children are set to receive hospital-level care at home as part of an expansion of virtual wards on the NHS.

The announcement is set to come from NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard on the 75 anniversary of the health service.

The ‘hospital at home’ service will cover children in every region of England from this month, after successfully treating more than 6,400 children in a pilot scheme over the last year.

Pritchard said the NHS virtual wards programme has “provided peace of mind” to parents who have used them during trials, including in Blackpool, Dudley and Dorset.

What is a virtual ward and how does it work?

Virtual wards allow patients to get hospital-level care at home safely and in familiar surroundings, helping speed up their recovery while freeing up hospital beds.

Children on a virtual ward would be cared for by a multi-skilled team who can provide a range of tests and treatments, including blood tests, prescribing medication or administering fluids through an intravenous drip.

They would be reviewed daily by the clinical team and the ‘ward round’ may involve a home visit or take place through video calls.

Many virtual wards use technology like apps, wearables and other medical devices enabling clinical staff to easily check in and monitor patients’ recovery.

Children will be treated for a range of conditions like respiratory illness, such as asthma, and heart conditions, but from the comfort of their homes.

How is it helping children?

In Blackpool, almost 200 children have been treated on a paediatric virtual ward.

Hope Ezard, who is 21 months old, is one of them. She was born prematurely at just 29-weeks and has a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, GNB5, as well as chronic lung disease and feeding issues.

Hope has been in and out of hospital for most of her life to be treated for recurring respiratory infections, and to receive high-pressure oxygen and antibiotics.

The introduction of the virtual ward meant Hope could be moved home sooner.

Hope’s mum, Sarah, 39, said being able to receive care at home “is so beneficial to Hope, and our other children”.

“We know that in general, Hope doesn’t sleep very well when she’s in hospital and is more vulnerable to hospital infections, so there is peace of mind when she’s being cared for at home, on the virtual ward,” she said.

“She’s less likely to pick up anything that might make her more poorly, and she’s relaxed and comfortable in her own bed.

“And the fact that the brilliant community nurses are just a phone call away reduces any anxieties that we might have had.”

In Dudley, mum Anum Shazady praised the virtual ward for keeping her son out of hospital, with twice daily calls from NHS staff.

Anum said: “Now my son is on the virtual ward I can record his observations as many times as I want throughout the day, recording them onto the virtual ward pad and a member of staff calls me twice daily which reassures me that he is safe in our home environment.

“The new virtual ward is great for me and my family as it stops my son staying in hospital longer than he needs.”

Why are they expanding the scheme?

The ultimate aim is to free up hospital beds – especially ahead of winter.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Virtual wards are already providing excellent care to families when their children are sick, and this expansion will enable thousands more to receive high quality care from home.

“Being treated at home can have a hugely positive impact on patients – it means they receive hospital-level care, but it also means they are not separated from their families – providing peace of mind for loved ones.

“As we look to the next 75 years of the NHS, we will continue to embrace the latest technologies and innovations to meet the changing needs of patients while ensuring that care is as convenient as possible.”

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