Health and care sector latest developments
New review of physician and anaesthesia associates launched
An independent review of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) has been launched by health and social care secretary Wes Streeting to consider how these roles are deployed across the health system, in order to ensure that patients get the highest standards of care.
The review, which is to be led by Professor Gillian Leng CBE, will look into the safety of these roles, how they support wider health teams, and their place in providing patients with good quality and efficient care. It will also look at how effectively these roles are deployed in the NHS, while offering recommendations on how new roles should work in the future.
Evidence from a range of voices – including patients, employers within the NHS, professional bodies and academics – will be sought.
NHSE accused by union of cutting action to protect staff from violence
Unison has accused NHS England (NHSE) of trying to save money at the expense of reducing violence against healthcare staff, as several national initiatives face the axe.
The HSJ has said it understands that an NHSE-funded pilot scheme to reduce violence against ambulance staff – who are at much higher risk of violence than others – is coming to an end, with no sign of ongoing help; six other NHSE-funded violence reduction pilot schemes have come to an end or are ending, with the responsibility passing to ICBs and providers, and no confirmed future funding; and the NHSE team responsible for violence prevention and reduction has been reduced to just two people.
Unison’s deputy head of health Alan Lofthouse said: “Cost-saving measures at NHSE have put more responsibility for violence prevention and reduction on providers and ICBs. But Unison is concerned that resources are just as tight at local and regional levels, and national leadership is really needed.”
Emergency prescribing and ‘shared care’ withdrawn by GPs
The HSJ has reported that emergency prescribing and monitoring of patients with severe mental health conditions are among services being cancelled by GP practices as part of ‘collective action’.
Although the action, primarily over funding, began in the summer, growing numbers of practices are now cancelling local enhanced services.
Practices are often refusing shared care arrangements with secondary care, where patients with long-term conditions, including mental health illness, are meant to be monitored and supported by GPs, but also overseen by specialists.
New chair of medicine and healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) appointed
Anthony Harnden, a professor of primary care at the University of Oxford, has been appointed as the new chair of the MHRA, succeeding Stephen Lightfoot, who stepped down in 2023.
Until the end of December 2024, Anthony is also a registrant council member of the General Medical Council and chair of the Remuneration Committee.
He worked for the NHS for 40 years and was also previously deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
In his new role, Anthony will play a key role in driving forward the strategic direction of MHRA to maintain the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences, in the best interests of patients and the public.
GP warns tax hike could push surgeries ‘over the edge’
Dr Andrew Purbrick, who represents 300 GP practices across the south of England, has warned that many would be forced to cut back on staffing or close as a result of the planned rise in the National Insurance (NI) rate for employers.
The government has said the NHS and the rest of the public sector would be shielded from the rise but that does not cover GP practices, many of which are run as small businesses.
Dr Purbick said: “We would describe general practice as being on the precipice and, for a significant number of practices, this could push them over the edge.”
UK’s longest-serving MPs issue joint plea for Commons to reject assisted dying bill
Labour’s Diane Abbott and the Conservative’s Sir Edward Leigh have issued a joint call urging MPs to reject the assisted dying bill, arguing it is being rushed through and puts vulnerable people at risk.
The duo said there had been insufficient scrutiny of the law and urged parliament to instead focus on better health and care services.
A landmark vote on legalising assisted dying is due to be held on Friday 29 November.
About 100 Labour MPs are still said to be undecided on how they will vote. However, the bill’s backers remain confident they can be won over once they consider all the evidence.
In parliament today
This morning, Lord Darzi gave evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee on his independent review into NHS performance in England. He was joined by fellow witness Tom Kibasi, who is the chair of NHS Community and Mental Health Providers, North West London, and who also worked with Lord Darzi to support the review. Questions from committee members covered mechanisms for moving more care closer to home, children’s health and prevention.
A summary will be circulated by the EA team once the transcript is published.
At PMQs, the impact of Employers National Insurance Contributions rises on services delivering NHS contracts and social care were raised again, by both Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper MP and Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd. The government remain unmoved on their decision not to apply the same rebate approach they are taking to NHS services.
