England’s leading nurse has congratulated the thousands of students who have been accepted onto a nursing degree course today. While many A-level students are already on track to start nursing careers this September, NHS chiefs are encouraging anyone still considering their options to apply for a place through clearing. With plenty of spaces still available […]

Midwives and other NHS staff have helped almost 15,000 mums-to-be in England quit smoking over just three years, new analysis shows today. Latest figures show that the smoking rate for pregnant women at the time of birth fell to 9.1% in 2021-22, the lowest annual rate on record, and down from 10.6% prior to the […]

England’s top doctor and the Chief Nurse for England have been recognised alongside dozens of healthcare staff in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours List. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director since 2018 and a doctor for 37 years, has been knighted for his services to the NHS, particularly for his role leading the response […]

NHS England has confirmed that Donna Ockenden has been appointed as Chair of the new independent review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. In a letter to families affected today, NHS Chief Operating Officer Sir David Sloman confirmed that Donna Ockenden has accepted the role of chair of the rapid review. The […]

A life-saving test that allows doctors to spot a rare form of eye cancer in babies in the womb is being rolled out by the NHS in England this week. Now, thanks to a new NHS test developed at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, babies identified as being at risk of developing retinoblastoma […]

The most senior nurse in the NHS has called for the whole country to rally in a vaccines push before Christmas to get the country boosted against COVID. Last week saw the highest ever number of COVID-19 booster vaccines given in England as bookings opened to every eligible adult from Wednesday (15 December) – and […]

The country’s top nurse has praised the incredible efforts of health service staff, volunteers and NHS returners – and urged other former and future colleagues to join up too to help combat Omicron. Chief Nurse Ruth May called on student nurses, medical students and doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who have retired to enlist […]

The NHS is encouraging pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine as new data shows that nearly 20 per cent of the most critically ill COVID patients are pregnant women who have not been vaccinated. Since July, one in five COVID patients receiving treatment through a special lung-bypass machine were expectant mums who have not […]

A same-day life-saving test to rule out a potentially fatal disease in pregnant women is being rolled out across the NHS. Known as placental growth factor (PLGF) testing, the new blood test is the first of its kind in the world to rule out pre-eclampsia – a life-threatening condition for both pregnant women and their […]

England’s Chief Nurse has today called on young people to become NHS Cadets and gain valuable experience of volunteering in health and care. The programme, launched last year, helps teenagers to develop the skills needed for an NHS career by volunteering in vaccine centres, supporting elderly people in the community and undertaking first aid training. […]