NHS chief Simon Stevens has today announced that NHS England has struck a deal with MSD, endorsed by NICE, to make the lung cancer drug pembrolizumab available for routine use on the NHS. New trial results show pembrolizumab extends life for certain adults with lung cancer for more than a year. Pembrolizumab is the first […]
NHS chief Simon Stevens has today welcomed the High Court’s decisive rejection of a legal challenge by the British Homeopathic Association to overturn plans to no longer routinely fund homeopathy on the NHS. As part of action to clamp down on waste, over the last two years NHS England has taken action to curb prescriptions […]
New laws will allow hundreds of advanced paramedics to prescribe drugs, improving care for patients, speeding up access to treatment and preventing unnecessary visits to hospitals and GP practices. Patients already rely on paramedics to administer live-saving treatment when they become critically ill or are involved in a serious accident. The new laws, which come […]
NHS England has today published guidance to free up to almost £100 million for frontline care each year by curbing prescriptions for ‘over the counter’ medicines such as those for constipation and athletes foot. Curbing routine prescribing for minor, short-term conditions, many of which will cure themselves or cause no long term effect on health, […]
England could be the first country in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C, under ambitious plans announced by the NHS today. NHS leaders today called on the pharmaceutical industry to work with them to provide best value for money for treatments so that in its 70th year, the NHS can commit to eliminating Hepatitis C […]
NHS England has today launched a public consultation on proposals to rein in prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ products such as dandruff shampoo and drops for tired eyes, freeing-up up to £136 million to expand other treatments for major conditions such as cancer and mental health problems. Ending routine prescribing for minor, short-term conditions, […]
NHS England has today announced the results of the first of two prioritisation rounds to decide which new specialised commissioning treatments and services will be made available for patients for the 2018/19 financial year. An initial three new treatments and services were approved for funding including a treatment for HIV, a new specialised service for […]
NHS England has today agreed plans to save hundreds of millions of pounds each year by recommending low value treatments, including fish oil, herbal remedies and homeopathy no longer be provided on the NHS, and launching a consultation on curbs to prescriptions for some ‘over the counter’ products such as paracetamol. GPs issued 1.1 billion […]
With less than a month until Christmas, the NHS today appealed to parents to take up the free flu vaccination for children to curb infection over the holiday season when family get-togethers spread the infection, putting grandparents and other vulnerable relatives at risk. Health officials say that without the flu vaccination children are more likely […]
NHS chief Simon Stevens will today announce that NHS England has struck deals to make innovative treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and breast cancer routinely available on the NHS. From tomorrow (10 November) hundreds of patients with Multiple Sclerosis are set to benefit from a new treatment option, Mavenclad, following a deal with drug company Merck. […]