Health and care sector latest developments

NHS England announces national roll out of AI tool

NHS England has announced a new AI tool is being rolled out across the NHS that can predict the risk of a patient falling with 97 per cent accuracy, preventing up to 2,000 falls and hospital admissions each day. The tool by Cera is being used in more than two million patient home care visits a month, monitoring vital health signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation welcomed the tool as “both preventing harm to patients and saving money”. He said investing in digital technologies such as AI is crucial to the government’s shift from analogue to digital, but it is important to “adhere to frameworks and guidance to ensure any use of technology is robustly evaluated for patient care”.

Capital funding vital to boosting NHS productivity

The Health Foundation’s recent analysis suggests lower productivity growth would add £13 billion to the cost of the NHS. The analysis is part of the Health Foundation’s response to the Treasury’s Spending Review and it estimates the funding requirements for the NHS through to 2028/29 to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population with increasing major illness.  

Despite a £22 billion boost in the autumn Budget, NHS output has not kept pace with increased spending and staffing since 2019. The think tank found that if productivity growth remains at 1 per cent rather than the government’s 2 per cent target, the budget must rise to £211 billion.

Health leaders say investment in infrastructure and technology is crucial to improving efficiency. Interim NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey faces mounting pressure to boost performance, with concerns that failing to meet targets could lead to rationed services.

The NHS says it is exceeding government targets, but experts warn that without sustained productivity gains, taxpayers will continue getting poorer value for money.

Chief executive of the NHS Confederation Matthew Taylor said the “new analysis is yet more evidence of how important it is for the NHS to increase productivity” and that “additional capital investment is crucial to improving performance and reducing long waiting lists”.

NHS faces pressure as Treasury plans welfare cuts

The Chancellor is drafting multi-billion-pound spending cuts, including welfare reductions, ahead of the spring Statement, with a focus on curbing rising health-related benefits.

The Treasury warns global economic shifts and inflation have wiped out its financial buffer, forcing difficult decisions. Insiders are expecting a push to boost NHS productivity alongside efficiency measures across Government, according to the BBC.

With borrowing rules tightening, Ministers argue reform is essential to secure economic stability while ensuring sustainable healthcare funding.

Social care delays take 6 per cent off A&E performance, NHS England estimates

Amanda Pritchard told MPs NHS England’s analysis suggested eliminating discharge delays for patients who receive adult social care (ASC) packages could improve the A&E four-hour target by 6 per cent points.

Access to social care is often blamed for discharge delays but officials have been wary of putting figures on the NHS cost or performance impact. However, the Commons Health and Social Care Committee is investigating ‘the cost of inaction’ on ASC and has asked NHS England for estimates of the impact.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government is providing an additional £3.7 billion for local authorities who provide social care and the Disabled Facilities grant will deliver an extra 7,800 home adaptations over the next two years.

Government boosts funding for care homes providing nursing 

The government has announced a boost in funding for care homes providing nursing.

The 7.7 per cent increase will impact 75,000 people who are supported in the community, hopefully reducing pressure on hospitals through both a reduction in admissions and quicker discharge into social care settings. 

NHS England appoints interim director of patient safety 

Professor Ramani Moonesinghe has been appointed as NHS England's interim director of patient safety, as reported by HSJ.

She will be covering Aidan Fowler, who has been seconded for six months to CQC where he will serve as the regulator's interim chief inspector of healthcare.

Children’s eating disorder services face cuts amid rising demand

Specialist eating disorder services for children in England are facing cuts, with 24 of 42 NHS care boards planning reduced spending in 2024/25 when adjusted for inflation, the BBC reports.

While overall budgets are increasing by 2.9 per cent, experts warn it’s insufficient to meet demand, as referrals rose 13 per cent last year.

This follows a warning from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders that "woefully inadequate care" is leading to lost lives and devastated families.

Prime Minister's Questions

In parliament today, the PM took MP’s questions on a range of issues, including health and social care.

MP Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and Isle of Axholme, Labour) asked the PM to reassure his residents who cannot use technology that they will still be able to book a GP appointment with the new GP contract. PM responded saying patients will be able to request appointments online from October, but this will free up the phones for those who need them the most and end the 8am scramble. 

MP Naushabah Khan (Gillingham and Rainham, Labour) asked the PM to outline what the government will do to tackle crisis in the NHS after 14 years of Tory mismanagement, following a concerning CQC report after an inspection of the Medway Maritime Hospital emergency department. PM responded saying they are investing £26 billion, the reform plan will cut the waiting list and 2 million extra appointments have already been delivered. 

 ICBs appoint joint finance chief in national first

Bill Shields will become chief finance officer at two integrated care boards (ICBs), Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Derby and Derbyshire. He is thought to be the first finance chief appointed to head up two systems. The neighbouring systems are collectively known as ‘D2N2’ and already share a chair, Kathy McLean.

There are no plans to merge the finance teams at each ICB but Mr Shields will lead on the development of a shared long-term strategy for financial sustainability. Between them, the two systems are forecasting delivery of a £150 million deficit in 2024/25.

Newcastle appoints interim chief executive after Mackey’s departure

Rob Harrison, deputy chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust, stepped up as interim chief executive after the announcement Sir Jim Mackey temporarily takes the role of NHS England chief executive. 

Mr Harrison was appointed to Newcastle’s senior team in February 2024, taking responsibility for running the trust’s hospitals and services on behalf of Sir Jim, who has been leading on elective recovery for NHS England. He was previously managing director at South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust.

Experts call for use of ‘polypill’ to reduce risk of heart attacks 

Experts have called for the NHS to offer a ‘polypill’ to replace the five-yearly health check for those over 50.

As reported by The Times, the pill combines a statin and three drugs which lower blood pressure, leading to a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Professor Aroon Hingorani, who co-authored a paper on the pill, explained that "a population-wide approach could prevent many more heart attacks and strokes than the current strategy of targeting a more limited group only".