Health and care sector latest developments
Single vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, researchers say
A single nasal spray vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, as well as bacterial lung infections, and may even ease allergies, say US researchers.
The team at Stanford University have tested their ‘universal vaccine’ in animals and still need to do human clinical trials.
Their approach marks a "radical departure" from the way vaccines have been designed for more than 200 years, they say.
Experts in the field said the study was "really exciting" despite being at an early stage and could be a "major step forward".
A tampon could help improve early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
A specialist medical tampon could be used to help diagnose ovarian cancer earlier, researchers believe.
In the UK about 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. If the cancer is caught in the early stages a woman has a 95 per cent chance of surviving the disease.
But only around one third of women are diagnosed at the earliest stages with more than 50 per cent diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage when fewer treatment options are available, according to Ovarian Cancer Action.
Patients exposed to superbugs by NHS safety breaches
Thousands of NHS patients were exposed to superbugs by doctors using unsafe operating gowns.
The Telegraph reported that during procedures, doctors wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, scrubs, goggles and visors to protect patients from infections. These are tested by suppliers to meet stringent safety measures.
However, a mass recall of surgical gowns and drapes is under way after it was found they had failed to meet safety standards.
Some 150 NHS trusts have been affected by the recall. Experts said this would probably cause disruption to some operations while alternative supplies are sourced.
Earlier this week, The Telegraph revealed that a shortage of bone cement was likely to lead to delays among patients waiting for joint surgery.
Mind launches inquiry into AI and mental health after Guardian investigation
Mind is launching a significant inquiry into artificial intelligence and mental health after a Guardian investigation exposed how Google’s AI Overviews gave people 'very dangerous' medical advice.
In a year-long commission, the mental health charity, which operates in England and Wales, will examine the risks and safeguards required as AI increasingly influences the lives of millions of people affected by mental health issues worldwide.
The inquiry, the first of its kind globally, will bring together the world’s leading doctors and mental health professionals, as well as people with lived experience, health providers, policymakers and tech companies. Mind says it will aim to shape a safer digital mental health ecosystem, with strong regulation, standards and safeguards.
Chief executive vows trust will be ‘best in Western Europe’ despite CQC criticism
The interim chief executive of one of England’s largest mental health trusts is confident his organisation will return to being “the best in Western Europe”, despite the care regulator finding three of its main services “require improvement”.
In an interview with HSJ, recently appointed interim chief executive of South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust Ade Odunlade also said he was “disappointed but not deterred” by the Care Quality Commission’s assessment of its leadership, and added he would use the findings “as an impetus to do something and to make a change”.
The CQC inspected four of the trust’s main service areas in June last year: acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units; community health services for adults; crisis and health-based places of safety; and forensic mental health services. The last was rated good, but the other three all received “requires improvement” judgements.
Revealed: Seven systems now forecasting £400 million overspend
Seven integrated care systems are now forecasting a combined overspend of £400 million, according to an HSJ analysis of the latest official data.
The largest difference in the quarter three update published by NHS England was reported by Kent and Medway Integrated Care System, which downgraded its outturn by £141 million. This was followed by Humber and North Yorkshire ICS, with a £76 million reduction.
Together, the seven systems were forecasting a combined deficit of £917 million, exclusive of central financial support, at the end of December.
The remaining 35 integrated care boards are all still forecasting they will achieve their 2025/26 financial plans. A total of 24 are forecasting deficits exclusive of central support. The combined deficit of the 31 systems forecasting to end the year in the red is £2.6 billion. Of that, over a fifth is represented by the three systems in the north-west region.
Trust using security staff for ‘inappropriate’ patient supervision
Security staff are being used to provide ‘inappropriate’ patient supervision at a struggling acute trust, according to documents seen by HSJ.
Board papers for the Humber Health Partnership show that security staff are carrying out one-to-one supervision ‘due to reduced non-registered nurses in several of the clinical areas at the North Bank’.
The North Bank is the name given to two hospitals run by Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust. The trust formed the HHP with Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Foundation Trust in 2023. Major finance and governance problems mean the group is soon expected to enter NHS England’s new failure regime.
A safer staffing paper presented to the HHP board last week said: ‘Additional investment in non-registered nursing workforce will support the reduction of inappropriate use of this [security staff] workforce and enhance patient experience.’
