The NHS has appointed England’s first Chief Midwife to improve care for new and expectant mothers and their children and promote safer births as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, announced today that Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent will be the first to take on the new role, to […]

England’s top nurse today pledged to ensure the voices of nurses and midwives will be valued and heard across the NHS. During her maiden speech at the chief nursing officer (CNO) Summit in Birmingham, Ruth May said that the profession, while often considered by the public to be the most trusted, is too often undervalued […]

Female healthcare scientists are invited to apply for NHS England’s prestigious leadership development scheme, aimed at mid-career healthcare scientists to develop leaders and increase their impact within their Trusts and beyond. Led by NHS England’s Chief Scientific Officer, the CSOWISE Healthcare Science Leadership Development Programme for NHS England scheme provides support for 32 healthcare scientists over 12 […]

From this summer, all women and girls being cared for by the NHS will be given, on request, appropriate sanitary products free of charge. Many already provide them but this will be mandated in the new standard contract with hospitals for 2019-20. The announcement by NHS England and supported by the BMA, was welcomed by […]

Proposed clinical improvements aim to deliver rapid assessment and treatment for patients with the most serious conditions — and expand short waits for millions more NHS patients. NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis announced the proposals, which have been developed by some of the country’s leading clinicians, working with local health leaders and patient […]

People who arrive at A&E experiencing a mental health crisis will receive emergency care within one hour under NHS pilot schemes aimed at improving care and saving more lives. The new standard, a significant step towards parity of esteem for mental health, is among a raft of proposed clinical improvements that aim to deliver rapid […]

Hospital staff must alert senior doctors if patients with suspected sepsis do not respond to treatment within an hour, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to save thousands more lives. Every trust must take action to spot and treat the killer blood condition, which costs 37,000 lives a year, under guidance that is […]

More than 40 women across the NHS and wider have taken part in an inspirational video to mark International Women’s Day. Chair of NHS Improvement, Dido Harding, Chair of the Heath and Care Women’s Network, Samantha Allen and Professor Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer of NHS England, are among the women relaying this year’s message: […]

Every major hospital will provide urgent same day services to improve care for patients and cut unnecessary admissions by next winter, NHS National Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis said today. Many hospitals are already providing comprehensive care without admitting patients who come to A&E with conditions such as pneumonia or other breathing difficulties through same […]

Hard-working NHS staff treated more patients more quickly despite a surge in demand for Emergency Department (ED) services in the early winter period, putting the country’s health service in good stead as we embark on our ambitious Long Term Plan. The latest statistics on the performance of NHS trusts show 5.4 million patients were treated and discharged […]