Health and care sector latest developments
NHS England launches ‘sprint’ in bid to hit waiting list target
NHS England has told trusts to begin a ‘sprint’ exercise in a bid to hit its politically critical waiting list target by March.
Tens of millions of pounds are likely to be made available to trusts to fund extra elective work, according to the Health Service Journal, with money due to be released from contingency funds within NHS England’s existing budget.
It is understood that some trust leaders were given assurances about indicative allocations last week and told to use it as soon as possible.
Progress on increasing the proportion of patients waiting under 18 weeks from referral to first treatment has stalled recently. It remained at 61.8 per cent in November – the same level as in October and September.
National leaders are said to be cautiously optimistic that extra funding could see them hit the 65 per cent referral-to-treatment target for March.
Age UK publishes data of impact of corridor care
New analysis by Age UK has revealed that more than 100,000 elderly individuals endured waits of up to three days in A&E corridors and waiting rooms last year before finally being moved to a hospital ward.
The research found that over half of these patients were aged 80 or over, with some reportedly forced to lie on the floor and wash in toilet sinks during their prolonged waits.
Age UK expressed doubts that the government ‘appreciates the seriousness of this situation and has the grip to turn it around’.
Acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, Rory Deighton said that the analysis “paints a deeply shocking picture of people’s experiences waiting for care in busy A&E departments” and warned that “until the challenges in social care are tackled it is likely that the practice will unfortunately continue”.
‘Online hospital’ trust seeks first chair
The new NHS Online is to be formally established as an NHS trust in June.
NHS England has begun the recruitment process for a chair and six non-executive directors to support the establishment of the trust from June onwards.
It is expected that a chief executive and full executive board will be in place by the end of December 2026.
Two trusts scrap faxes following pressure from health secretary
Except one, all trusts in England will stop using fax machines this month, the Health Service Journal has reported.
University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust has said its final fax machine was disconnected last week, while Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust said its machines would be decommissioned by the end of January.
The final trust to be using a fax machine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, has confirmed it will phase out the use of the machines over the next year.
This follows pressure from health secretary Wes Streeting who has previously said about fax machines that “one is too many”.
Committee to be set up to consider childhood vaccination rates
A select committee to consider childhood vaccination rates is being set up.
According to the House of Lords Order Paper, a motion to set up the Committee will be moved on Tuesday 27 January, and the following Peers are set to sit on it:
- Baroness Andrews
- Baroness Browning
- Baroness Cass
- Lord Dholakia
- Baroness Freeman of Steventon
- Baroness Hodgson of Abinger
- Baroness Neuberger
- Baroness Nye
- Lord Randall of Uxbridge.
- Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
- Baroness Walmsley (chair)
- Baroness Wyld
The committee will report by 30 November 2026.
Research highlights expected increase in glaucoma cases
New research into glaucoma has suggested that 1.6 million British people will be living with the condition, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, by 2060.
The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, explains that this will be driven by an ageing population and a proportional growth of ethnically diverse groups who are at a higher risk.
The study’s lead author, Professor Paul Foster, a University College London institute of ophthalmology researcher and consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields, emphasised that there is “a growing need to expand eye health services”, which includes “specialist care and diagnostic capacity”.
Select committee hears evidence from GMC
The Health and Social Care Select Committee has this afternoon heard evidence on the work of the General Medical Council (GMC).
Answering the committee’s questions were Charlie Massey and Anthony Omo, the GMC’s chief executive and registrar and general counsel, and director of fitness to practise respectively.
Topics covered included the regulation of physician associates and anaesthesia associates, fitness to practice and the medical workforce prioritisation bill.
Welsh NHS Confederation responds to Welsh Government’s Final Budget for 2026/27
Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, Darren Hughes, has said that NHS leaders in Wales broadly welcome the Welsh Government’s Final Budget for 2026/27.
He said: “Many local government services, including social care, education, social housing and planning and development are wider determinants of health, so the uplift for local government will also be welcome in going some way to address rising cost and demand.”
However, he said that, given the closeness in proximity to the Senedd election, “we have not seen the significant shifts we’ve been calling for”. He added that “unless we think long term and target areas such as social care, prevention and capital investment, we can’t expect demand to come down on its own and see tangible improvement for the people of Wales”.
