The biggest vaccine campaign in NHS history kicked off this morning, as 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 jab following its clinical approval. At 6.31am early riser Margaret, known to friends and family as Maggie, was given the life-saving jab by nurse May Parsons at […]

NHS chief Sir Simon Stevens has today praised the efforts of hardworking staff for making the roll out of a COVID-19 vaccine possible, saying that the deployment marks a “decisive turning point” in the battle against the pandemic. The NHS in England will begin the biggest and most highly anticipated immunisation campaign in history at […]

Issued at 9.05am on Monday 7 December 2020 There is a 60% probability of severe cold weather between 9am on Friday 4 December and 9am on Thursday 10 December in parts of England.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying well this […]

The NHS will begin vaccinating patients against coronavirus at dozens of hospital hubs from this week at the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history. People aged 80 and over as well as care home workers will be first to receive the jab, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk. NHS staff […]

Issued at 8.49am on Friday 4 December 2020 There is now a 80% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 9.00am on Friday 4 December and 6.00pm on Tuesday 8 December in parts of England.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more […]

NHS organisations will need to intensify partnership working with local authorities and the voluntary sector to tackle health inequalities resulting from COVID-19, the head of the NHS has said. Sir Simon Stevens confirmed 11 more parts of the country will be formally designated “integrated care systems” (ICS) from December 2020 serving a combined population of […]

Issued at 9.28am on Wednesday 2 December 2020 There is a 60% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 6.00pm on Wednesday 2 December and midday on Monday 7 December in parts of England.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. Find out more about staying […]

A joint National Patient Safety Alert has been issued by the NHS England and NHS Improvement National Patient Safety Team, British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists (ARNS), on the risk of deterioration due to rapid offload of pleural effusion fluid from chest drains. National Patient Safety Alert – Deterioration due to […]

Issued at 09.31am on Sunday 29 November 2020 Temperatures/weather conditions are not expected to exceed Cold Weather Alert threshold criteria in any region from 29 November 2020 10.0oam until further notice. More details about this weather alert are available on the Met Office website.

An innovative blood test that may spot more than 50 types of cancer will be piloted by the NHS in a world-leading programme, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today. The Galleri blood test, developed by GRAIL, can detect early stage cancers through a simple blood test, and will be piloted with 165,000 patients in […]