20 h. ago Thousands of patients in England at risk as GP referrals vanish into NHS ‘black hole’

Exclusive: Healthwatch study discovered 14% of cases are not put on hospital waiting lists for treatment GPs requested for themOne in seven people in England who need hospital care are not receiving it because the referral by their GP gets lost, rejected or delayed, the NHS’s own patient watchdog has found.Three-quarters (75%) of these patients trapped in this “referrals black hole” suffer harm to their physical or mental health as a result of not being added to the waiting list for tests or treatment. Continue reading...

Events

69 h. ago Fewer than one in ten frontline NHS staff have had a flu jab at some trusts despite health bosses telling the public to protect themselves against 'biggest ever outbreak'

NHS England has urged the public to get a jab amid fears the NHS will struggle with the 'double-whammy' of flu and a resident doctors strike in the run-up to Christmas.

Science

3 d. ago Chris Whitty on the infections we should take ‘much more seriously’

England’s chief medical officer said older people are ‘under-served’ when it comes to care and research

Events

3 d. ago NHS tells England to 'brace for unprecedented flu wave' this winter in new update

Number of flu patients in hospital at record level for time of year

Sport

3 d. ago NHS boss reveals up to 8,000 people will be hospitalised with flu by next week

Sir Jim Mackey tells NHS England board meeting that flu patients will take up between 5,000 and 8,000 hospital beds every day amid worst flu season on record

Science

4 d. ago Number of flu patients in hospital at record level for time of year

This year’s flu season started earlier than usual and is yet to reach a peak.

Science

4 d. ago NHS England warns of sharp rise in flu patients as admissions more than double

The NHS said the report reflects its first weekly snapshot of pressures facing hospitals this winter, highlighting demand not only from respiratory illness but also gastrointestinal infections.

Events

4 d. ago NHS hospitals in chaos as flu patients in beds across England rises more than 50%

NHS hospital data has revealed that hospitals across England may be facing chaos over Christmas with the number of flu patients in hospital beds now 50% more than last year

Science

4 d. ago NHS patients blocking up A&E with hiccups, sore throats and ingrown toenails

NHS England said many minor ailments could be handled by GPs or pharmacists

Science

4 d. ago NHS flags 200,000 ‘unnecessary’ A&E trips for hiccups and toenails

NHS England said many minor ailments could be handled by GPs or pharmacists

Politics

6 d. ago Resident doctors accused of ‘cynical attempt to wreck Christmas’ with fresh strike

The British Medical Association said the action will take place from 17 to 22 December

Events

2 w. ago MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Puberty blocker trial turns children into crash

Labour's Health Secretary, Wes Streeting said a planned clinical trial by NHS England would go ahead. The ban would then be reviewed in 2027 in the light of any new evidence that emerged.

Events

2 w. ago NHS maintained 95% of planned care during resident doctor strike, data shows

The five-day action in England over pay took place between November 14 and 19.

Sport

2 w. ago NHS failing to cut waiting times as promised in recovery plan, report warns

Public accounts committee finds Labour’s progress ‘appears to have stalled’ despite billions of pounds in investmentThe NHS has failed to cut waiting times as promised in its recovery plan despite billions of pounds in investment, the public accounts committee (PAC) has warned.The influential parliamentary committee’s verdict raises serious doubts over whether Labour can fulfil its key pledge to voters to “fix the NHS” by ensuring that patients can once again get hospital care within 18 weeks by 2029.Key NHS targets to improve access to both planned care and diagnostic tests by last spring “were missed”.NHS England had spent £3.24bn setting up community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs but had not achieved the aim of reducing delays.In July, 192,000 people had been waiting at least a year for care, despite a pledge to eradicate that practice altogether by March 2025.22% of patients were having to wait more than six weeks for a diagnostic test, even though that was due to be cut ...

Events

2 w. ago NHS could reach ‘breaking point’ amid rise in emergency lung issues – charity

There were 1.1 million hospital admissions for people with a breathing emergency last winter.

Politics

2 w. ago Jobs Guru: ‘AI is taking over my industry – I’m terrified of being left jobless’

Reader Bob works in personal finance – just one of the sectors thought to be at risk from the rise of AI technology. Our Jobs Guru James Innes is here with some advice

Events

3 w. ago After I burned out, physics helped me understand what had happened to me – and to move on | Zahaan Bharmal

I thought hard work equalled success. I had to realise that’s not always how it works, in science or in lifeIf the words “force equals mass times acceleration” are mildly triggering, I apologise. Newton’s second law of motion will be familiar to anyone who’s ever studied physics. For some who struggled with that course, it may bring back painful memories. But for me, as an awkward teenager, it was oddly comforting – proof of an ordered, structured universe where cause always led to predictable effect. I carried that belief into university, where I studied physics, and even into my career. If I just worked hard enough, success would be mine.But nine months into my first job, I got made redundant. It turns out that life doesn’t always obey Newton’s laws.Zahaan Bharmal works for Google and is a recipient of Nasa’s Exceptional Public Achievement medal for YouTube Space Lab Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Martin Lewis says NHS 'didn't want' his blood due to health issue

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) handles blood donation services in England

Events

3 w. ago NHS doctors go on strike as leaders warn industrial action could mean staff cuts

Some 77,000 resident doctors work in hospitals and community services, with thousands of them expected to strike for five days from Friday.

Events

3 w. ago The areas with the LONGEST A&E waits revealed: More than 1,700 patients A DAY are forced to wait at least 12 hours in emergency departments but waiting list shrinks (for now, at least)

Some 54,000 people who attended England's emergency departments in October waited half a day before admitted, transferred or discharged, NHS figures show.

Science