Don’t look away: ITV’s Breathtaking exposes the real Covid scandal
Politicians don’t like to talk about the pandemic much these days. This wasn’t always the case and, up until quite recently, the UK’s response was regularly celebrated as a kind of national triumph, a timely reminder of the indomitable spirit, ingenuity and fortitude of the nation. For instance, speaking in the immediate aftermath of the […]
The Green Party: ‘A pain-free life should not be reserved for the wealthy’
Good health and wellbeing, for ourselves and our loved ones, is a foundation which we all need to thrive in life. Work, school, caring responsibilities and just day-to-day life can be difficult enough without the added complication of physical pain or a health concern. A pain-free life should not be reserved for those who have […]
Pay rises alone won’t fix our NHS — but as a doctor I know what will
I was working a long shift which required me to be on the ward by 8am. After doing the ward round with the consultant, listening to the needs of patients and families, the noises of random alarms, the bleep I am carrying and people retching, it reaches 1 pm by the time I have to […]
Steve Brine: ‘How harnessing patient power can help transform the NHS’
As chair of the House of Commons health and social care select committee, one of the privileges I have is to encounter stories from across the NHS of people working hard to improve our health system. Be it the doctors and nurses developing innovative ways of working through our Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, or those trying […]
The NHS needs to get its house in order before handing over our health records
A doctor’s consulting room is a special place, a space where we can share our most private thoughts and concerns. When we go to a hospital, we reveal ourselves so that we can get help. We trust our doctors. And doctors take a solemn pledge to uphold that trust. It’s a principle as old as […]
‘Highly unlikely’ Boris Johnson’s 40 new hospitals pledge will be met, MPs warn
It is “highly unlikely” that the government will deliver on its pledge to build 40 new hospitals, a cross-party group of MPs has warned. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it has “extreme concerns” about the “lack of progress” the government’s New Hospitals Programme (NHP) has made. Even though the target number of new hospitals […]
Peter Gibson: ‘A national eyecare strategy could see England evade a tidal wave of avoidable blindness’
In England, we face a tidal wave of avoidable blindness. That might sound drastic, but according to the RNIB an estimated 250 people a day are beginning to lose their sight. As our population ages it’s expected that one in five of us will live with sight loss during our lifetime. Our eyesight is something […]
Barclay accuses health unions of ‘increasing militancy’ as ministers consider extending strike law
The health secretary Steve Barclay has this morning accused health unions of “increasing militancy” as he justifies new plans to extend minimum service levels legislation to the NHS. Barclay’s comments come as senior doctors walk out on strike today as part of a long running dispute over pay and conditions. Consultants and junior doctors will […]
Dr Ian Walker: ‘UK healthcare is at a tipping point – it needs system-wide transformation’
Imagine a scenario where you receive a text from your health provider to say you need to come to the surgery today, because you’re going to have a heart attack tomorrow. Or a reminder to get a test because you have an early cancer symptom. This might sound futuristic, but innovations like these are already […]
Bibby Stockholm should still be used to house asylum seekers, says Barclay – as it happened
The health secretary has said that asylum seekers should still be moved back onto the Bibby Stockholm barge in spite of the row caused by the discovery of Legionella. So far none of the asylum seekers on the barge have shown any symptoms of the disease, according to the Home Office. But Legionella bacteria can cause […]
