News
London’s NHS warns emergency care will be prioritised during biggest strike disruption to date
Emergency, urgent and critical care will be prioritised by the NHS this week as strike action by junior doctors across the capital risks major disruption of services, with thousands of patients facing postponements to routine care. Industrial action by junior doctors who are part of the BMA and the HCSA is set to begin on […]
NHS expands the Covid vaccination programme with targeted spring booster offer for London’s most vulnerable people
The largest vaccination programme in history is continuing to expand with the offer of a targeted spring booster for those at highest risk of Covid infection, including over 75s, those with a weakened immune system and older adult care home residents. Following latest guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an additional […]
Plan for your health this Easter bank holiday, urges NHS in London
Ahead of the Easter bank holiday, the capital’s NHS is encouraging Londoners to keep their health front of mind by ordering repeat prescriptions early and stocking up on any medication for any existing health conditions. Over the long weekend some GP surgeries and pharmacies may be closed, or working reduced hours, so it is […]
Thousands more operations and diagnostic tests set to benefit Londoners
The NHS plans to expand surgical capacity in the capital with the potential to conduct over 51,000 more operations and over 87,000 more diagnostic tests per year by 2025 to help reduce the Covid backlog, as a result of funding announced recently. The new Targeted Investment Funding (TIF) worth £207.3m will create additional surgical theatres, […]
Parents urged to ensure children are up to date with immunisations
Parents across London are being urged to ensure their children are up to date with their routine immunisations, particularly for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) and polio. Poliovirus has been detected in the sewage in parts of London, and while there have been no confirmed cases, those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated are […]
Ambulance response times improve in the capital despite ongoing winter pressures
Patients in London received faster ambulance response times last month compared to December 2022 despite ongoing winter pressures and industrial action continuing to impact the NHS. Ambulance response times in all four categories improved in January, with Category 2 responses nearly an hour faster than December with an average response time of 29 minutes 30 […]
Londoners encouraged to get Covid booster before the offer ends
The NHS in London is urging those who are eligible and yet to get a Covid booster to book an appointment this week, which will be the final week before the current booster offer ends for people including those who are over 50, immunosuppressed or pregnant. The NHS vaccination programme will have appointments available at […]
NHS London’s medical director urges eligible people to get their free flu jab as hospitalisations remain high
NHS leaders in London are encouraging those who are eligible to get their free NHS flu vaccine as there are hundreds of people in the capital still in hospital with flu, as levels of flu circulating remain high. With hospital admission rates for flu currently matching the highest rates in the years just before the […]
NHS in London continues to reduce waiting lists while under significant pressure in emergency care
The capital’s NHS has now virtually eliminated two-year waits for patients, as staff continue to contend with high demand for emergency care. Teams working in A&E treated 416,190 people in December 2022, up almost 18% since the same time last year (352,167). 999 call centres also saw increased pressure with 13,750 more calls answered in […]
The NHS in London treats more people for cancer than pre-pandemic
Thousands more people started vital treatment for cancer in the capital over the last year compared to before the pandemic, according to latest figures. Over 39,000 people in London received treatment for cancer over the last year (Nov 2021 – Oct 2022) – up by more than 2,700 on the same period pre-pandemic. More people […]