An programme in Somerset has helped patients avoid 7,500 nights in hospital and freed up at least £2 million for other services. Somerset’s pioneering ‘Homefirst’ scheme offers patients who are healthy enough, and their families, tailored help to finish therapy at home, with personalised care reducing stays in hospital by up to ten days. Described […]

Implementation of the PrEP Impact trial has been a huge success with over 10,000 participants already enrolled in this important HIV prevention measure. But, the speed of recruitment and demand for PrEP has significantly exceeded initial expert predictions and the trial researchers now consider that more places should be made available. They argue that recruitment […]

Local health services today are being allocated £570 billion to fund NHS services and implement the new long term plan. Every area in England will receive a cash increase of at least 17% over the next five years, including a minimum rise of 4.4% next year. Some £1 billion a year will be distributed according […]

GP practices in Luton have worked together to provide more than 3,000 extra appointments a year including halving the number of appointments lost due to patient non-attendance. As well as freeing up appointments, the Primary Care Network (PCNs) model has led to friends and family satisfaction with services being positive nine times out of ten, […]

Hardworking NHS staff boosted productivity by 3% in a single year, dramatically outstripping productivity growth in the rest of the economy new figures have revealed today. Data released today by the Office for National Statistics shows that NHS productivity for the financial year ending 2017 grew by 3% in England, more than treble the 0.8% […]

Issued at 6.31am on Sunday 6 January 2019 Temperatures/weather conditions are not expected to exceed Cold Weather Alert threshold criteria in any region from 6 January 6.00am until further notice. More details about this weather alert are available on the Met Office website.

The NHS Long Term Plan, published today, will save almost half a million more lives with practical action on major killer conditions and investment in world class, cutting edge treatments including genomic tests for every child with cancer. The blueprint to make the NHS fit for the future will use the latest technology, such as […]

Problem drinkers and smokers who end up in hospital will be helped by dedicated new services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. As part of new NHS prevention measures, people who are alcohol dependent will be helped by new Alcohol Care Teams, while more than half a million patients who smoke, including pregnant […]

Issued at 8.55am on Friday 4 January 2019 There is a 60 per cent probability of severe cold weather between 3.00pm on Thursday 3 January and 00:00am on Sunday 06 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 […]

Valid until 5 January 2019 There is a 60 per cent probability of severe cold weather between 9.00am on Thursday 3 January and 00:00am on Saturday 05 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 well this winter. […]