Health and care sector latest developments
Nuffield Trust and NHS Employers argue for better planning and integration of new healthcare roles
The Nuffield Trust has published a report commissioned by NHS Employers, which highlights significant concerns surrounding the rapid expansion of new healthcare roles in the NHS, such as physician associates and nursing associates, without proper consideration of historical lessons about effective integration.
Its findings reveal a dramatic shift in NHS staffing ratios, particularly in general practice, where the ratio of other clinicians to permanent GPs has increased from 1:1 to 2.6:1 over the past decade.
It found that England's hospitals now have a significantly lower proportion of doctors and nurses compared to other OECD countries, with these roles making up just 39 per cent of hospital staff.
While the government's long-term workforce plan aims to significantly increase numbers in new roles, the report identifies several challenges, including insufficient educational capacity, regulatory issues, supervision constraints, and integration difficulties.
Nuffield Trust stresses that successful implementation requires careful planning, adequate supervision, clear role definitions, and better public understanding.
New report calls for multi-year funding for social care
The UK’s adult social care sector is nearing collapse, according to a Sector Pulse Check by Hft and Care England.
While the organisations have welcomed the new commission led by Baroness Casey, they have warned the sector cannot wait until 2028 for reform.
The organisations have two key policy asks for the government, firstly, to commit to a credible, multi-year funding settlement for adult social care in the 2025 Spending Review, and secondly, a fully funded plan to support the workforce and bring care workers’ pay and conditions in line with their NHS counterparts.
NHS vaccination record shows progress despite winter pressures
The NHS successfully delivered nearly 18 million flu vaccinations between September 2024 and January 2025, passing the previous winter by almost 240,000 doses, despite a later programme start. Hospitals faced significant challenges with over 5,400 daily flu patients in early January, alongside increased cases of COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus compared to the previous year.
The vaccination campaign saw a 27 per cent increase in recent weeks, with NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis praising NHS staff for “once again stepped up the vaccination programme this year, protecting almost 18 million people against flu this season".
Government explores private sector use of NHS data for AI transformation
According to The Guardian, government officials have indicated ministers are exploring the possibility of allowing private companies to profit from NHS data as part of efforts to transform the health service through artificial intelligence.
Unveiling the AI Opportunities Plan on Monday, Starmer highlighted AI's potential to boost the UK economy by increasing productivity and transforming industries.
A report by Matt Clifford proposed creating new datasets, including anonymised NHS records, for startups and researchers. Officials are finalising data-sharing plans, considering security and ethics. Under plans, while public sector control will be maintained, commercial use of the data may still be permitted.
NHS expands bowel cancer screening to over 50s
All adults over 50 in England will now receive bowel cancer screening kits by mail as part of an expanded NHS programme to combat the rising incidence of the disease in middle-aged adults.
The at-home faecal immunochemical test (FIT) can detect cancer with 90 per cent accuracy and costs just £4-£5.
However, recent NHS figures have shown that fewer than 60 per cent of 54 to 57-year-olds return their NHS bowel cancer screening tests, prompting health leaders to urge greater participation.
Fertility apps fuel rise in unplanned pregnancies, study warns
Women in England and Wales are increasingly abandoning the pill in favour of fertility-tracking apps raising the risk of unplanned pregnancies, a study has revealed. Over the past five years, clinics have reported a significant rise in abortions among women relying on less effective fertility awareness methods.
Despite being only 76 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy compared to the pill’s 99 per cent, these apps are gaining popularity, driven by social media promotion and barriers to accessing contraceptives.
Experts have warned of the consequences of misinformation influencing contraceptive choices and increasing unintended pregnancies.
