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Following the UK government's new pay offer to NHS consultants, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) wrote to the Health Secretary Victoria Atkins calling for fresh negotiations about nursing pay in England last week. However, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has rejected their demand, stating that there is no basis to reopen talks as the pay deal was accepted by the NHS Staff Council. In the previous pay deal, nurses were given a one-off payment between £1,655 and £3,789 for 2022/23, and a 5 per cent consolidated pay increase for the 2023/24 financial year. Nursingnotes quoted a DHSC spokesperson as saying: "We hugely value the hard work of NHS nurses and that is why we provided a 5 per cent pay rise. "We also provided two significant non-consolidated awards, which for nurses at the top of Band 5 was over £2,000, equivalent to an extra 6.1 per cent of their basic pay.

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has raised concerned about rising cases of scabies in the UK, and suggested that the current shortage of medicines is contributing to the outbreak. Usually, this skin condition is treated using topical creams or oral medication in more severe cases, but shortage of scabies drugs has been reported since May 2023. Both permethrin 5% cream and malathion liquid, which are two main topical treatments for scabies, are in limited supply in the U.K. Paula Geanau, a spokesperson for BAD, told Fox News Digital on Friday (19 January) that the rate of scabies is double the seasonal average, with three cases per 100,000 of the population recorded at the end of November by the Royal College of GPs.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory (MHRA) and Genomics England to launch a brand-new genetic research resource, known as a 'biobank' on Thursday (June 01) to tackle the issue of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs). Biobank will help to better understand how a patient's genetic makeup can impact the safety of their medicines. "The Yellow Card biobank, which will contain genetic data and patient samples, will operate alongside the MHRA's Yellow Card reporting site for suspected side effects and adverse incidents involving medicines and medical devices," said MHRA. The biobank pilot will officially begin on 1 June 2023 with participant recruitment commencing later this year, on 1 September. The sequencing of participants' genetic material will begin in Spring 2024, with initial research findings from the pilot due to be published in 2025. Genomics England will be supporting the MHRA with sequencing and storage of genetic material through use of their well-established and secure infrastructure.

The drop in vaccination rates is believed to be driving a surge in measles cases in England, mainly in the West Midlands. As of 18 January, 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases have been reported in the region since 1 October 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed. The majority of cases (around 80 per cent) were from Birmingham, with children aged under 10 years being infected the most. UKHSA Chief Executive, Professor Dame Jenny Harries has warned that the outbreak could spread further to other towns and cities if urgent action is not taken to increase Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in areas at greatest risk.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned the public to avoid buying pre-filled weight loss pens without a prescription. The warning came after 369 fake Ozempic injections have been seized since January 2023. However, Saxenda pens were obtained by members of the public in the UK through "non-legitimate routes". The health regulator has urged the public to buy the pens after consulting a healthcare professional and with a prescription. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer shared her opinion on the matter, she said: "Buying products such as Ozempic or Saxenda without a prescription, from illegally trading suppliers, significantly increases the risk of receiving something which is either fake or not licensed for use in the UK.

Bestway Healthcare has appointed Jeremy Meader as its new chief wholesale officer, following the retirement of Anup Sodha. Meader would join the company in mid-November but is expected to officially assume his responsibilities from January 2, 2024. He will lead Lexon, Bestway Medhub, Wardle's, Knights Fragrances, PI & Specials manufacturing and the wholesale supply chain. Sodha, who co-founded the business 25 years ago, will continue to lead the company's wholesale business unit until 31 December 2023. Commenting on his retirement, Sodhi said: "I am proud of what we achieved at Lexon, it has been a team effort and I am grateful to everyone who has helped as we built a strong wholesale business.

The result from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)'s survey showed that pharmacists witnessed 'the cost of living is having an impact on whether people can afford prescription medicines in England'. RPS has long campaigned to remove prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England because they create a financial barrier to patients receiving the medicines needed to keep them well. The charge currently stands at £9.35 per item prescrib9ed and an annual rise usually occurs in April. Prescriptions are free for people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. One in two pharmacists who responded to the survey said they've seen an increase in the last six months in patients asking them which medicines on their prescription they can 'do without' due to affordability issues. One in two pharmacists had seen a rise in people not collecting their prescription, whilst two out of three pharmacists reported an increase in being asked if there was a cheaper, over-the-counter substitute for the medicine they had been prescribed.

The UK government will lay legislation today (13 December 2023) to allow the General Medical Council (GMC) to begin the process of regulating medical associates to expand their roles in the NHS. This will support plans to reduce pressure on doctors and GPs and improve access for patients, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. Physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) will have the same levels of regulatory oversight and accountability as doctors and other regulated healthcare professionals once the regulations come into force, which is expected at the end of 2024. The GMC will design and deliver detailed regulatory processes for registration, education, standards and fitness to practise for both professions.

Online vape store GoSmokeFree analysed data from NHS Stop Smoking Service in England from April to September 2023 to determine the number of individuals in each of the nine UK regions who reported successfully quitting smoking after setting a quit date. The findings showed that the South East has the highest number of successful quitters, with 1,226 smokers per 100,000 reporting to have given it up. The Isle of Wight is the most successful area to quit smoking in the South East with 3,124 people quitting per 100,000 smokers. Of the 4,294 individuals who set a quit date in this region, 803 admitted to not being able to achieve their target. A spokesperson from the online retailer noted that overcoming nicotine withdrawals and mental challenges can be exceptionally difficult when attempting to quit smoking.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has welcomed the new research guidance published by NHS England for the integrated care systems. The guidance is said to reflect the benefits of delivering research, for patients, staff and healthcare system performance, including the economic benefits for the NHS. Jennifer Harris, ABPI's Director of Research Policy, said: "This guidance is clear on what good research practice looks like and it's great to see it out and available for the NHS to use. "A research-active NHS delivers huge value to patients, staff and the system itself. We hope that putting this guidance into action will help Integrated Care Systems realise the huge benefits that research can offer, and help make the UK once again a destination of choice for developing the medical breakthroughs people need."

With 118 new cases confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the total number of measles cases reported in England since 1 October 2023 has gone up to 465. According to the latest data published by the agency, West Midlands continues to see a disproportionately high rate of infections, with a sharp rise in case numbers over the last six weeks, mainly driven by cases in Birmingham. In England, there were 17 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in October, 42 in November, 161 in December, 240 in January 2024. Five more cases were confirmed last week, according to the measles statistics updated by UKHSA on 8 February. More than 70 per cent (329 of 465) of total confirmed cases were reported from the West Midlands, 13 per cent (62 of 465) from London, seven per cent (32 of 465) in Yorkshire and The Humber, and the remaining cases from other regions of England.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has expressed "extreme disappointment" that the UK government offered new pay to NHS consultants, while nursing pay deal remain disputed. RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen has written to new Health Secretary Victoria Atkins demanding fresh negotiations regarding this year's pay deal, and requested an urgent meeting to discuss their dispute. Pat warned that more than 100,000 RCN members in England voted for continued strike action in June, as they feel undervalued. "The government has now shown it has the political will to negotiate on pay reform for some of the highest earners in the NHS in contrast to our members who received the lowest pay rise in the public sector," she wrote in the letter. NHS nursing staff in England was awarded a five per cent pay rise 2023/24, but the union argued that it is not enough to keep up with inflation.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that there has been a continued increase in cases of whooping cough (pertussis) across England since the start of this year. According to new data published by the agency on Thursday (7 March), 553 new cases of whooping cough were confirmed in January alone, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023). The country is witnessing a surge in whooping cough cases after a prolonged period of low case numbers, attributed to restrictions and reduced social interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. England recorded the highest number of whooping cough cases in 2016, recording 5,949 cases. As the ongoing rise coincides with a steady decline in the vaccination rates among pregnant women and children, UKHSA has strongly encouraged mums-to-be to get the maternal pertussis vaccine so that their young baby is protected against this serious disease.

The British Generic Manufacturers Association has backed the UK government's proposed changes to the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines, which includes a 'Life Cycle Adjustment' (LCA) mechanism to permit a lower rebate rate for medicines sold in competitive markets. The association underscored the necessity for crucial amendments to forestall unintended consequences and ensure a practical alignment with market operations. A precisely tailored approach is crucial in ensuring sustainability and growth in this sector, the BGMA said in a statement on Oct. 11. The Department of Health and Social Care is currently working on the successor to the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines and pricing access (VPAS) agreement, slated to end in 2023. Negotiations for this successor, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2024, are already underway. "We are pleased that the Statutory Scheme consultation recognises that branded generic and biosimilar medicines are subject to different market dynamics and competitive pressures," said Mark Samuels, Chief Executive of BGMA. "As such, a one-size-fits-all approach across all branded products is not suitable for the next five years. It is crucial to adopt a precisely tailored approach to this sector, ensuring both sustainability and growth."

As the countdown to the next UK election begins, the King's Fund has identified three priorities to improve public health. The national action would be taken by the future government to fix the "NHS and social care" in the country. The health policy think tank said it would prioritise "improving access to out-of-hospital care", making "careers in health and social care" more attractive and tackling the biggest risk factors affecting people's health. It highlighted that workforce crisis is one of the biggest challenges faced by the National Health Service (NHS) and social care services in England while citing "years of poor planning and fragmented responsibilities" as the reason for widespread staff shortages. As per the King's Fund's data, there were more than 125,000 vacancies across the NHS workforce in England in October 2023, not including primary care vacancies such as GPs, and 152,000 vacant posts in the adult social care workforce.

The UK government's community diagnostic centre programme, which was first launch in July 2021, is helping cut waiting lists, and speed up diagnoses and treatments for NHS patients. As of November 2023, a total of 6.1 million vital checks have been carried out at community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across England, according to a joint statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. Under the £2.3 billion programme, 141 CDCs have been opened across the country in a variety of settings including shopping centres, university campuses and football stadiums, offering patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home. The government has set a target to open 160 CDCs by March 2025, with many expected to open ahead of schedule.

The severity of the ADHD medication shortage in the UK has been exposed as former Hollywood extra Lee Cato revealed that he was forced to quit his job but hasn't been able to access his medicine. A resident of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, Lee had worked as a film extra in big movies like 'Thor' and 'Edge of Tomorrow'. The 48-year-old told Mirror that he has been taking Concerta for years to manage ADHD symptoms, but he hasn't been able to get the drug or any alternatives for over a month. He said that he first experienced shortages of the medicine in December 2023 but was initially able to take Delmosart, which he took to maintain focus despite experiencing its side effects such as headaches, nausea, tooth erosion, and a dry mouth. But now, he can't get access to any of these ADHD drugs as "they're completely out-of-stock and it's been over a month now." His chemist also tried to get hold of his medication but failed.

ITV on Tuesday (Aug 15) said it had agreed to invest in pain relief brand Flarin Holdings Ltd, making it the British broadcaster's first consumer healthcare investment. The company has agreed to subscribe for £2 million worth of shares in Flarin, with an option to subscribe for two more tranches of 1.5 million pounds each. In return, Flarin would get advertising space across ITV's channels and ITVX. ITV said its investment will "help Flarin build mass market brand awareness by bringing the brand to millions of consumers via ITV platforms. This will be a step change in the size of the campaign and the approach to scaling the Flarin brand to date." Director of ITV AdVentures, Sheena Amin, said: "It's fantastic to be announcing our latest Media for Equity investment into Flarin. With its innovative and patented lipid technology, Flarin offers many unique benefits to those suffering from joint and muscular pain compared to any other product on the market. Flarin is already one of the fastest growing analgesics in the market and I am confident that we will see the company grow to new heights following a brand building campaign across ITV."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised alarm over rising cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant Shigella infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have physical relationship with men (GBMSM). There has been a 53 per cent increase in cases since the beginning of 2023, mostly driven by a cluster of antibiotic resistant strain called Shigella sonnei, with 97 cases reported this year until November, compared to just four cases last year. According to UKHSA, Shigella sonnei infections are difficult to treat as the strain does not respond to the antibiotics typically used to treat the bacteria. While it has been found across England, cases are concentrated in London (45), the North West (21) and South East (12). Shigella is an infectious gut infection that can cause symptoms like diarrhoea (sometimes mixed with blood), stomach cramps and fever, which are commonly mistaken for food poisoning.

In a remarkable turn of events, the NHS App has emerged as a financial saviour for the National Health Service, slashing costs by over £1 million in the last year alone. The revelation comes as a testament to the app's growing significance in streamlining patient communication and service delivery. Throughout the fiscal year 2023/24, a staggering 22.5 million messages traversed the NHS App, a feat previously reliant on traditional methods like text messages or letters. This monumental shift not only signifies a boon for efficiency but also heralds substantial savings, with each text message costing an average of 5p. Drastically reducing these expenses has amounted to a commendable £1.1 million in savings, marking a pivotal milestone in NHS expenditure management.