Issued at 8.47am on Friday 17 January 2020 There is a 70% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 6.00pm on Sunday 19 January and 6.00pm on Tuesday 21 January 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 […]

In December 2019, we published five draft service specifications for engagement; these followed agreement with the British Medical Association General Practitioners Committee (BMA GPC) in January 2019 that the five specifications would form part of the Network DES for 2020/21. Huge thanks are due to the large numbers of GPs, local medical committees (LMCs) and […]

The head of mental health care in England has written to the heads of top gambling firms, demanding urgent action to tackle betting-related ill health. NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch has ramped up pressure on companies to take action, following reports that gambling giants continue to nudge losing punters into more betting. The NHS […]

NHS England and Age UK have joined forces in a campaign to encourage older people to access treatment for mental health conditions, as new analysis shows a majority of older people do not seek help. New data reveals that more than six in 10 people in the UK aged 65 or over have experienced depression […]

The NHS in England is providing a new form of DNA test capable of rapidly diagnosing rare diseases for critically ill babies and children, as part of its Long Term Plan to use world leading technologies to improve care for the sickest infants. 80 babies and children have received this new test, with almost half […]

People finishing the world leading NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme have lost the equivalent weight of 43 ambulances. Around four million people in the UK live with type two diabetes, with diabetes and its complications costing the NHS more than £10 billion to treat every year. 89,604 people have now finished the programme, losing a combined […]

Headache and migraine sufferers will benefit from better diagnosis and care as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve local health services, avoiding up to 16,500 emergency hospital admissions every year. Health chiefs and other experts believe that the greater use of ‘headache diaries’ and fast access to specialist advice for family doctors […]

So-called ‘party drips’ are ineffective and potentially harmful, said England’s top doctor today, as he criticised companies for peddling fake health remedies to the public. As the public gets ready for New Year’s Eve, the NHS’ medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, warns the public of the dangers of these drips, and called on companies and […]

As people start to think about making New Year’s resolutions, England’s most senior doctor has today warned against trying quick-fix diets and high street remedies that are “too good to be true”. After festive excesses, many people try to turn over a new leaf with pledges to lose weight, exercise more and drink less in […]

The NHS is facing a rising tide of gambling related ill health as more betting addicts than ever before are being taken to hospital. New data released today show a record number of admissions last year related to gambling addiction, including care for severe mental ill health conditions like psychosis. The number of gambling related […]