Last month the independent Scottish Medicines Consortium assessed that Vertex’s ‘justification of the treatment’s [Orkambi and Symkevi] costs in relation to its health benefits was not sufficient’: meaning the company was charging an unreasonably high price for its product. Vertex has rejected the health service’s offer, which would give access to the treatment for people […]

Hundreds of survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) will be able to access expert care, support and treatment earlier thanks to a new network of NHS ‘one stop shop’ clinics being launched today. More than 1,300 women over 18 are expected to benefit from the highly specialised FGM support being rolled out to eight new […]

Children in England with a rare condition which leads to early death are set to receive treatment on the NHS, after the health service struck a deal with manufacturers. Young people with Batten Disease – an incurable illness which affects the nervous system, causing seizures, visual impairment, mobility loss and early death – will now […]

A leading trauma surgeon has led the call for more to be done to restrict the sale of harmful ‘zombie knives’ to help prevent violent crime. Zombie knives have cutting blades of up to 25 inches, a serrated edge and are brightly coloured, often decorated with images of violence. Speaking at a health conference in […]

The search is on for nurses and other health professionals across England to become the face of the NHS App on social media and in their communities, helping people to take back control of their own health. England’s Chief Nursing Officer, Ruth May, today launched the drive to find 10 passionate NHS ambassadors including nurses, […]

GP Dr Nikki Kanani is now the country’s top family doctor after being appointed Medical Director for Primary Care for the NHS in England. Dr Kanani said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England and NHS Improvement. This is one of the most central roles in […]

High dose statins could be made available directly from high street pharmacies as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to cut heart disease and stroke, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has announced. In a new review confirmed today, England’s top pharmacist Dr Keith Ridge and newly-appointed director of primary care, Dr. Nikki Kanani, will […]

Health service staff in England will be able to move seamlessly between sites in a bid to make it easier to take on new roles, plug gaps in staffing and improve patients’ care. Following successful pilot projects, all hospitals in England are being urged to sign-up to passporting agreements, which will cut the need for […]

A revolutionary new gene therapy which restores sight will be provided by the NHS, chief executive Simon Stevens has announced today. Babies born with inherited retinal dystrophies disorder have poor sight which swiftly deteriorates, with most losing their vision completely in childhood. Until now no treatment has been available. The life-changing treatment for children and […]

Joint statement from NHS England and Improvement, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and InHealth. The NHS is committed to detecting more cancers earlier to save more lives. That means a major increase in scanning and diagnostics, so patients can easily access services like PET-CT scanning. To that end, NHS England and Improvement, Oxford University […]