Specialist guidance on the management (including infection control) of patients with viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF).  ( 5 min )

Register of nutrition and health claims that may be made in commercial communications in Great Britain.  ( 5 min )

Outlines the proposed legislative changes in the upcoming Health Bill to the way patient safety is being strengthened.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the role and functions of the restructured Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).  ( 3 min )

Outlines the proposed legislative changes in the upcoming Health Bill to the way patient and public voice is listened to and acted upon within the health and care system.  ( 3 min )

Outlines how the Department of Health and Social Care will set direction and maintain oversight of the health system, once NHS England has been abolished.  ( 3 min )

Explains how the Health Bill will enable the creation of a single patient record.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the proposed changes in the upcoming Health Bill related to providers, including NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts and independent providers.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the transfer of digital and data functions from NHS England to the Department of Health and Social Care proposed in the upcoming Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the context behind the upcoming Health Bill including a summary of the main objectives and specific measures.  ( 3 min )

Outlines how  integrated care boards (ICBs) will focus on their role as strategic commissioners of local health services.  ( 3 min )

Michelle Welsh MP appointed as the government's first Maternity Advisor  ( 7 min )

A panel of speakers will discuss how the NHS is building a trusted and professionally accredited digital profession at Summer Schools 2026.  ( 15 min )

Today's briefing features a blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and an AI-imaging software platform to treat lung disease.  ( 22 min )

NHS Shared Business Services has launched a £900m framework agreement to support the procurement of AI across the NHS.  ( 22 min )

Government action is needed to protect GPs and practice staff from patients who persistently harass them through email complaints and GMC referrals, LMCs have warned.  ( 2 min )

The Seventy-ninth session of the World Health Assembly (WHA79) opened in Geneva, Switzerland today, with the election of Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic as the President of the Health Assembly.    The elected Vice-Presidents are Dr Mohamed Ali Al-Ghouj of Libya, Dr Assa Badiallo Touré of Mali, Mrs Katarzyna Drążek -Laskowska of Poland, Mrs Neesha Mehta of Nepal, and Mr Elias Kapavore of Papua New Guinea. Dr Timur Sultangaziyev of Kazakhstan and Dr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh of Ghana are the Chairs of the Committee A and Committee B, respectively.  During the high-level welcome, H.E. Elisabeth Baume‑Schneider, Federal Councillor of the Swiss Confederation, addressed the Health Assembly on behalf of the host country, followed by remarks from H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana and Special Guest of Honour.    Delegates also heard video messages from H.E. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary‑General, H.E. Ahmad Al Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, and H.E. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.  Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director‑General, addressed the Assembly and then presented the Awards for Global Health to Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan and Dr Heba El Sewedy, recognizing their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to improving the health and well-being of communities worldwide.  Special Guest, H.E. Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, addressed the Assembly at the conclusion of the afternoon session in the Plenary.  ( 6 min )

At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has presented four distinguished leaders with the Award for Global Health, recognizing their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to improving the health and well-being of communities worldwide. This year’s laureates are Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan and Dr Heba El Sewedy. They were celebrated during the High-Level Welcome of the World Health Assembly (WHA), held this year under the theme “Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility.” Established in 2019, the Director-General’s Awards for Global Health recognize individuals whose leadership and commitment have delivered tangible improvements in health outcomes around the world. “I am honoured t…  ( 9 min )

Information for higher education institutions and students on Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant arrangements for the academic year 2026 to 2027.  ( 4 min )

Official statistics on the number of people receiving adult social care services, and information on adult social care settings.  ( 2 min )

Official statistics on the number of people receiving adult social care services, and information on adult social care settings.  ( 2 min )

Hundreds of England's most underdoctored GP practices could miss out on a reimbursement scheme intended to boost capacity in general practice.  ( 2 min )

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £5.4m to nine digital social care research projects.  ( 22 min )

The chairs of the Digital Health advisory panels have reacted to the NHS Modernisation Bill, including plans for a single patient record.  ( 25 min )

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) has gone live with phase one of its Alcidion electronic patient record (EPR).  ( 15 min )

Epidemic of Ebola Disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda determined a public health emergency of international concern  ( 19 min )

The record of processing activity lists the personal data being held and processed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the UK.  ( 4 min )

Lord Darzi's report on the state of the National Health Service in England.  ( 4 min )

Safer and faster care for patients as NHS set to introduce Single Patient Record and cut bureaucracy  ( 11 min )

We are seeking practical examples and implementation evidence to inform a mental health strategy for England.  ( 3 min )

New Mental Health strategy will transform care in England and drive shift from crisis intervention to preventative care.  ( 11 min )

Swedish renal care provider Diaverum has launched an AI health assistant designed to make kidney health education more accessible.  ( 21 min )

Our latest roundup of contracts and go lives features electronic patient record (EPR) contract awards for The Access Group and Epic.  ( 22 min )

James Murray has been appointed health secretary, replacing Wes Streeting, who announced his resignation yesterday.  ( 22 min )

Severity: Medium Successful exploitation of CVE‑2026‑42897 could lead to arbitrary JavaScript execution in the browser context for users of on‑premises Microsoft Exchange Server deployments Successful exploitation of CVE‑2026‑42897 could lead to arbitrary JavaScript execution in the browser context for users of on‑premises Microsoft Exchange Server deployments Updated: 15 May 2026

Severity: High CVE-2026-20182 could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication and gain administrative privileges CVE-2026-20182 could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass authentication and gain administrative privileges Updated: 15 May 2026

James Murray has been appointed health and social care secretary following the resignation of Wes Streeting.  ( 2 min )

The GPonline team discusses some of the key news stories affecting general practice.  ( 2 min )

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about the rapid growth and aggressive marketing of nicotine pouches, especially targeting youth, amid limited regulation worldwide. Nicotine pouches pose significant health risks and governments are urged to implement strong regulatory measures to prevent addiction and protect young people.  ( 10 min )

A message from the Director-General of the World Health Organization expressing gratitude to the people of Tenerife for their solidarity and successful cooperation during the operation to safely disembark and care for over 120 passengers from 23 countries amid an outbreak of hantavirus.  ( 11 min )

Tunisia has been officially validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant achievement after decades of sustained effort.  ( 10 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing the objectives, rationale, costs and benefits of the proposed changes to integrated care boards and foundation trusts as part of the Health Bill.  ( 4 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing the objectives, rationale, costs and benefits of the proposal to abolish NHS England as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing the objectives, rationale, costs and benefits of the proposals on the single patient record and information sharing as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of empowering integrated care boards (ICBs) as strategic commissioners as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of the proposal to abolish NHS England as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of transferring the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of the single patient record as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of reforming the foundation trust model as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of abolishing Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch as part of the Health Bill.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing the objectives, rationale, costs and benefits of the proposed changes to patient safety measures as part of the Health Bill.  ( 4 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing the objectives, rationale, costs and benefits of the Health Bill, and summarises how the proposals in the bill will affect integrated care boards and foundation trusts.  ( 3 min )

Outlines the approach to assessing equality impacts of the Health Bill and provides an overview of identified impacts across all policies included in the bill.  ( 3 min )

Severity: Medium NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability that could force a restart or allow code execution if exploited NGINX Plus and NGINX Open Source have a vulnerability that could force a restart or allow code execution if exploited Updated: 14 May 2026

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary, saying he has ‘lost confidence’ in prime minister Keir Starmer’s leadership. GPonline editor Emma Bower assesses his time in the post.  ( 2 min )

UK GP leaders have voted in favour of moving towards hybrid NHS/private general practice, including balloting the profession in each country on introducing a means-tested, subscription-based service similar to NHS dentists.  ( 3 min )

Any patients with suspected hantavirus presenting in general practice should be isolated, and a virtual assessment should take place, new guidance from NHS England advises.  ( 5 min )

The ‘Amazon-style’ approach to GP access is not fit for purpose, is driving unsustainable demand and prioritises the 'worried well' over the most clinically vulnerable, UK LMCs have warned.  ( 2 min )

Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary, admitting that he has “lost confidence” in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.  ( 22 min )

Today's briefing features a spike in the number of asthmatic people using combination inhalers and wearable technology for caregivers.  ( 22 min )

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals has embedded national guidance into its EPR to optimise the Acute Abdomen Pathway.  ( 15 min )

The NHS has hit its target for the number of patients waiting 18-weeks thanks to the biggest improvement in waiting times since the launch of the iPad. In March, 65.3% of patients were waiting 18-weeks, as the waiting list fell by over 312,000 last year, the largest year-on-year reduction in 16 years. The improvement in […]  ( 4 min )

Hundreds more children with muscle-wasting condition spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are to be offered potentially “life-changing” therapy on the NHS which could help them live years longer and attend primary school. From today, 2 innovative treatments for SMA – nusinersen and risdiplam – will be made routinely available on the NHS in England following an access scheme to collect more evidence, giving hundreds of families long term-certainty. NHS […]  ( 7 min )

Sussex families to get answers as maternity review scope confirmed.  ( 11 min )

The public health grant allocations and monetary conditions for local authorities to improve health in local populations.  ( 4 min )

Liz and Rachel set out the NHS App’s journey from digital front door to lifelong companion – meeting people where they are, at home and on demand.   Based on their joint presentation at Digital Health Rewired in spring 2026.

Liz and Rachel set out the NHS App’s journey from digital front door to lifelong companion – meeting people where they are, at home and on demand.   Based on their joint presentation at Digital Health Rewired in spring 2026.

The world is falling short on health targets, with progress uneven, slowing, and in some areas reversing, according to the World Health Statistics 2026 report, published today by the World Health Organization (WHO).  ( 11 min )

Severity: Medium Scheduled updates for Microsoft products address 137 vulnerabilities Scheduled updates for Microsoft products address 137 vulnerabilities Updated: 13 May 2026

LMCs have called for clear limits on workload in general practice - warning that current pressure on practices is unsafe for patients and GPs.  ( 2 min )

The new NHS Modernisation Bill will set out legislation required to create a single patient record, abolish NHS England, and transfer responsibility for commissioning primary care to ICBs.  ( 2 min )

GPs have the power to derail the government's neighbourhood health agenda by limiting data sharing from patient records, the BMA England GP committee chair has warned - in a call for unity over collective action.  ( 3 min )

Neighbourhood health plans could fail in rural parts of England because small practices in those areas are struggling to survive, GPs and policy experts have warned.  ( 2 min )

Hospitals outsourcing triage of GP referrals or advice and guidance risk delays and duplication of work, GPs have warned.  ( 2 min )

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) has gone live with the second phase of its acute electronic patient record (EPR) system.  ( 22 min )

Dr Zubir Ahmed has resigned as health innovation and safety minister in protest over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership.  ( 22 min )

NHS trusts in England could spend more than £13.5m in 2026 on correcting data problems that emerge EPR go-lives, MBI Health analysis suggests.  ( 22 min )

Severity: Medium A supply chain attack, dubbed as "Mini Shai-Hulud", is affecting well-known projects including TanStack, Mistral AI, UiPath, and OpenSearch A supply chain attack, dubbed as "Mini Shai-Hulud", is affecting well-known projects including TanStack, Mistral AI, UiPath, and OpenSearch Updated: 12 May 2026

Contact details of the people in child death overview panels (CDOPs) who are responsible for receiving child death notifications.  ( 9 min )

Chronic fatigue syndrome patients, also known as ME, to benefit from world-first genomics study.  ( 11 min )

Salma Yasmeen, chief executive at Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, has been confirmed for Summer Schools 2026.  ( 22 min )

Pitchfest 2026 winner Valentina Milanova on why the UK is falling behind in women’s health and how at-home HPV testing can help.  ( 17 min )

Today's briefing features a men’s health event at Ipswich Town Football Club and a merger to create a unified care management platform.  ( 22 min )

NHS hospitals and GP practices will be required to share patient data under new government legislation to create a single patient record.  ( 16 min )

Patients have praised a GP practice in Cumbria for its swift response in re-directing services after a car crashed into its premises, injuring two people and forcing it to close temporarily.  ( 2 min )

Shoppers are being urged to look out for lumps, swelling, skin changes and unexplained bruising as Morrisons teams up with the NHS to put cancer advice on its own-brand bath and shower products. The range of nine new shower and bath products will carry messages including “Be body aware” and “Know the signs of cancer”, […]  ( 6 min )

A 'new generation' IT system currently used in just 10 GP practices in England could accelerate its rollout after a £100m acquisition by a French company.  ( 2 min )

Many LMCs seem to be backing collective action plans, but some GPs have questioned whether the BMA has gone far enough to rattle the government and bring it back to the negotiating table.  ( 2 min )

BMA GP leaders have set out advice for practices on implementing collective action and plans to 'up the ante' from next month, framing the measures as a direct challenge to government proposals expected in this week's King's Speech.  ( 3 min )

PCNs should refuse to take part in any local variations to the network contract DES unless any additional work they are asked to undertake is properly resourced, the BMA has said.  ( 3 min )

The NHS is granting staff from companies including Palantir ‘unlimited access’ to identifiable patient data while working on its FDP.  ( 22 min )

Optum UK, the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary that owns EMIS, has been acquired by US private equity firm TPG.  ( 15 min )

AI software that helps cardiologists make quicker and more accurate decisions has been rolled out at King’s College Hospital.  ( 21 min )

Report bringing together data on the delivery of globally competitive clinical research through the UK Clinical Research Delivery programme.  ( 2 min )

Report bringing together data on the delivery of globally competitive clinical research through the UK Clinical Research Delivery programme.  ( 2 min )

To the people of Tenerife, My name is Tedros, and I serve as the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for global public health. It is not common for me to write directly to the people of a single community, but today I feel it is not only appropriate, it is necessary. I want to speak to you directly, not through press releases or technical briefings, but as one human being to another, because you deserve that. I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word “outbreak” and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest. The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment. But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another COVID. The current public health …  ( 9 min )

Severity: Medium Two high‑severity vulnerabilities in Ivanti EPMM could enable authenticated attackers to gain administrative access and execute arbitrary code Two high‑severity vulnerabilities in Ivanti EPMM could enable authenticated attackers to gain administrative access and execute arbitrary code Updated: 08 May 2026

Severity: Medium CVE‑2026‑43284 and CVE‑2026‑43500 (dubbed as "Dirty Frag"), when chained together, could allow an unprivileged attacker to achieve root privileges on Linux distributions CVE‑2026‑43284 and CVE‑2026‑43500 (dubbed as "Dirty Frag"), when chained together, could allow an unprivileged attacker to achieve root privileges on Linux distributions Updated: 08 May 2026

Most locum GPs are not confident turning down low-paid shifts and have faced pressure to work beyond terms they have agreed, a sessional GP organisation has warned.  ( 2 min )

GP practices and PCNs need longer-term contracts, with guaranteed annual uplifts to cover rising costs, if they are to deliver more hospital services in the community, a GP who has pioneered the 'left shift' of services has warned.  ( 2 min )

Guidance for individuals giving consent for information on their care and treatment to be shared with a third party.  ( 3 min )

A form to be completed by a responsible professional who is obtaining consent for sharing information, with guidance on how to complete it.  ( 4 min )

An Essex support service, which includes an app, has helped more than 260 bystanders who saw over 200 out of hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA).  ( 22 min )

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) has begun using capsule endoscopy technology to examine the small bowel.  ( 22 min )

Our latest Movers and Shakers roundup features a new chief executive for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.  ( 22 min )

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, briefed media today on a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship, the MV Hondius. Eight cases have been reported so far, including three deaths. Five of the 8 cases have been confirmed as hantavirus. The hantavirus involved is the Andes virus, the only species known to be capable of limited transmission between humans, linked to close and prolonged contact. Describing the situation, Dr Tedros said, “While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.” He noted that given the incubation period, “it’s possible that more cases may be reported.” WHO is coordinating closely with multiple countries under the International Health Regulations or IHR, rules that define the rights and obligations of countries and WHO in responding to public health events. This event demonstrates why the IHR exist, demonstrating the importance of global cooperation and solidarity in responding to health threats that know no borders. “Our priorities are to ensure the affected patients receive care, that the remaining passengers on the ship are kept safe and treated with dignity, and to prevent any further spread of the virus,” Dr Tedros said. WHO has taken a number of actions since it was notified of the situation on Saturday, 2 May 2026. The latest of these include deploying an expert on board the ship, to support a comprehensive medical assessment of all passengers and crew, while gathering critical information to evaluate their risk of infection. WHO has arranged for the shipment of 2500 diagnostic kits from Argentina to laboratories in five countries to strengthen testing capacity. The Organization is also developing step-by-step operational guidance for the safe and respectful disembarkation and onward travel of passengers and crew when they arrive. Watch the full press conference  ( 7 min )

In our latest in-depth report on the future of the NHS, the MIMS Healthcare Network examines the government's new guidance on the development of neighbourhood health centres and how they will change primary care.  ( 3 min )

General practice needs 'more GPs, not targets', the RCGP has warned - amid reports that the government has set an ambitious new goal on access.  ( 2 min )

Severity: Medium CVE‑2026‑23918 could allow remote unauthenticated attackers to achieve remote code execution or denial‑of‑service on Apache HTTP Server CVE‑2026‑23918 could allow remote unauthenticated attackers to achieve remote code execution or denial‑of‑service on Apache HTTP Server Updated: 07 May 2026

Research suggests older people are being excluded from GP services due to the shift towards digital-first booking systems.  ( 22 min )

This week's briefing features Holland & Barrett's partnership with Phlo and an awards nod for a wound assessment app.  ( 15 min )

French HealthTech firm Doctolib has acquired Medicus, aiming to bring improved technology, AI and services to GP practices across the UK.  ( 22 min )

Some ICBs could deliver neighbourhood plans entirely through local variation to the network contract DES and other existing NHS arrangements - meaning contracts for multi- and single-neighbourhood providers (MNPs and SNPs) may be redundant in parts of England before they are even published.  ( 3 min )

GP partner and former NHS England national clinical director for older people and personalised care Dr Adrian Hayter has been appointed as NICE's new chief medical officer.  ( 2 min )

PCNs face tough choices over additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) staff in 2026/27 because a £55m funding uplift does not cover rising costs in full or deliver extra funding to hire experienced GPs.  ( 3 min )

Digital tech should be used to support whole-system patient flow rather than simply improving bed management, Public Policy Projects states.  ( 22 min )

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has begun using AI with the aim of detecting skin cancer earlier.  ( 15 min )

Severity: High CVE‑2026‑0300 enables unauthenticated remote code execution with root privileges on exposed Palo Alto PAN‑OS firewalls CVE‑2026‑0300 enables unauthenticated remote code execution with root privileges on exposed Palo Alto PAN‑OS firewalls Updated: 06 May 2026

Data on the funds collected by the Compensation Recovery Unit and funds paid to the NHS.  ( 3 min )

Proportion of payments made within 5 and 30 working days.  ( 6 min )

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has selected the Portasana Patient Engagement Platform (PEP) to improve digital access.  ( 14 min )

Today's briefing features a project to bring telehealth to an island with no GP and software for AI-assisted colonoscopies.  ( 15 min )

NHS England is temporarily restricting access to its open source code to strengthen security amid concerns about the impact of AI models.  ( 15 min )

GP contract changes unveiled at the start of May will create 'headaches' for practices without improving access for patients, a leading accountant has warned.  ( 2 min )

Ten years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286 on health care in armed conflicts. The situation is even worse compared to 10 years ago. Today, we mark not an achievement – we mark a failure. As violence affecting medical facilities, transport and personnel continues unabated, the harm this resolution sought to prevent has not diminished. It has continued and, in many contexts, intensified. As the heads of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we join others in the international community in issuing an urgent call for action.  ( 10 min )

Tens of thousands of patients could benefit from a ‘rapid’ new immunotherapy jab on the NHS for over a dozen different cancers, which can be given in just 60 seconds. The NHS is rolling out a new injectable form of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) which can slash the time the treatment takes by up to 90%, to […]  ( 6 min )

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have progressed work on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, a key part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and today agreed additional time was needed to finalize the framework for ensuring a better, more equitable, response to future pandemics. Countries today ended the resumed session of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement in Geneva, focused on the PABS system. The outcome of this work will be presented to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. Given the need for further negotiations, the Assembly will be asked to consider continuing IGWG’s work as mandated in Resolution WHA78.1 and submit the outcome to the next Assembly in May 2027, or ear…  ( 8 min )

GP leaders in England have voted to return to collective action with immediate effect after talks with the government failed to resolve concerns over the imposed 2026/27 contract.  ( 3 min )

ICBs will be able to request local variation to the network contract DES - which governs practices' participation in PCNs - under a contract change that could have major implications for the future of practice funding, GP networks and the neighbourhoods.  ( 3 min )

The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice.  ( 3 min )

Forecasts of potential commercial activity over the next 48 months for the Department of Health and Social Care.  ( 4 min )

We are seeking views on the potential use of DEXA scans outside of a healthcare pathway.  ( 4 min )

Outdated and poorly connected IT systems are increasing GP workload pressures, a Royal College of General Practitioners report has found.  ( 15 min )

System C has announced that its AI-powered FormFlow Assistant has been deployed across 15 local authorities.  ( 14 min )

More than 1,000 NHS staff across England have used Martha’s Rule helplines to help identify rapid deterioration of a patient’s condition in the first 18 months of the scheme, new figures show. Latest NHS England data shows that between September 2024 and February 2026, 1,781 calls were made by hospital staff to Martha’s Rule helplines […]  ( 8 min )

Severity: Medium CVE-2026-31431 (dubbed "Copy Fail") affects all Linux kernel builds since 2017, and could allow a local, unprivileged attacker to escalate privileges to root. CVE-2026-31431 (dubbed "Copy Fail") affects all Linux kernel builds since 2017, and could allow a local, unprivileged attacker to escalate privileges to root. Updated: 30 Apr 2026

Severity: Medium CVE-2026-0204 could allow an unauthenticated attacker to access certain management interface functions CVE-2026-0204 could allow an unauthenticated attacker to access certain management interface functions Updated: 30 Apr 2026

Severity: High CVE-2026-41940 could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorised access to the affected cPanel management console CVE-2026-41940 could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorised access on the affected cPanel management console Updated: 30 Apr 2026

The Government has confirmed it will provide a grant for new electric ambulances to replace those destroyed in arson attack.  ( 7 min )

Directions for the NHS from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to payments for primary medical services contractors.  ( 4 min )

Secretary of State delivers a speech on NHS urgent and emergency care at Royal College of Emergency Medicine's (RCEM) Annual Conference in Birmingham  ( 21 min )

A list of the main analytical models used by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its arm's length bodies and executive agencies.  ( 4 min )

Directions for the NHS from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care governing the provision of Directed Enhanced Services (DESs) in general practice.  ( 4 min )

Thousands more therapists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses are working in health service.  ( 6 min )

A practice-level reimbursement scheme introduced as part of the imposed 2026/27 GP contract will only allow practices to claim funding for salaried GP roles - and will exclude practices that are not members of PCNs.  ( 2 min )

GP leaders are voting on demand management principles put forward by NHS England in a bid to stave off a return to collective action.  ( 2 min )

Unnecessary tasks dumped on GPs cost the average practice more than £500,000 a year, an RCGP report suggests.  ( 2 min )

Digital Health has published a ‘first look’ at this year’s Summer Schools programme, which takes place on 16-17 July in Nottingham.  ( 15 min )

Today's briefing includes cyberattacks on Ukraine's hospitals and tech that stops organs getting damaged in transit.  ( 15 min )

Patient call wait times at University Hospitals Sussex have been cut by up to 90% since the implementation of AI technology from Netcall.  ( 15 min )

Heavy workload and underfunding have forced GP practices to breach their contracts by switching off online consultation forms within core hours, an LMC has warned.  ( 2 min )

Neighbouring GP practices have rallied round to prevent a small rural village from losing its GP services altogether.  ( 2 min )

General practice in England could return to collective action from this week, as a BMA deadline for the government to agree steps to limit unsafe workload approaches with no deal in sight.  ( 2 min )

The next generation will be smoke-free as Tobacco and Vapes Bill is granted Royal Assent.  ( 21 min )

The NHS is planning to ramp up the use of AI tools through the FDP, including products to support theatre scheduling, triage and discharge.  ( 15 min )

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.  ( 11 min )

Hospital patients at every NHS trust across England can now check their referrals and appointments through the NHS App, making it easier for millions of people to manage their care in one place. Around two-thirds (64%) of all hospital appointments are currently visible through the app, with many patients also able to reschedule or cancel appointments – helping to cut the number of missed […]  ( 5 min )

Official statistics in development estimating the size and composition of the life sciences sector in the UK.  ( 2 min )

Hundreds of GP practices could face days of extra work after IT problems across south-east England forced them to switch off online consultation systems and pause appointment booking.  ( 3 min )

Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit. Viral hepatitis B and C – the two infections responsible for 95% of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide – claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024, the latest data show. At the same time, transmission continues, with more than 4900 new infections every day, or 1.8 million each year. The 2026 Global hepatitis report documents significant gains made since 2015. The annual number of new hepatitis B infections has dropped by 32% and hepatitis C-related deaths have fallen by 12% globally. Hepatitis B prevalence among children under fi…  ( 10 min )

Plans to overhaul advice and guidance and move to a 'single point of access' for GP referrals have sparked major concern in general practice, but could an NHS England charm offensive bring the profession round?  ( 3 min )

GP funding will increase by £601m in 2026/27 - nearly 25% more than the total announced at the end of February, the government has confirmed.  ( 2 min )

A rural GP practice that was set to close at the end of May could now stay open after a former prime minister stepped in.  ( 3 min )

The World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise, which took place on 22 and 23 April, allowed countries to test their preparedness for pandemics and other major health emergencies, including activating their emergency workforce structures, information flow and coordination with each other, partners and WHO. Building on the success of Polaris I held in April 2025, which centered on a fictional virus, each participating country activated its emergency coordination structure and worked under real-life conditions to share information, align pol…  ( 10 min )

Interim update to the guidance on the most effective methods of prevention and control of Clostridioides difficile infection. This guidance is currently under review.  ( 5 min )

Ahead of World Malaria Day on 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant step forward in the fight against malaria with the prequalification of the first treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms. The prequalification designation indicates that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and will help to expand access to quality-assured treatment for one of the most underserved patient groups. The newly prequalified treatment, artemether-lumefantrine, is the first antimalarial formulation designed specifically for the youngest malaria patients. Until now, infants with malaria have been treated with formulations intended for older children, which increase the risk of …  ( 9 min )

The Big Catch-Up, launched during World Immunization Week 2023, has delivered over 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children across 36 countries Around 12.3 million were “zero-dose children” who had not previously received any vaccines and 15 million who had never received a measles vaccine.  The initiative concluded in March 2026 and is on track to meet its target of catching up 21 million children – but agencies warn that many infants still miss out on lifesaving vaccines through routine immunization every year. The Big Catch-Up (BCU), a historic multi-year, multi-country effort to address vaccination declines driven largely by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged 1 to 5 across 36 countries with more than 100 million doses of…  ( 16 min )

Reports on departmental spending over £25,000.  ( 3 min )

Reports on departmental spending over £25,000.  ( 3 min )

Reports on departmental spending over £25,000.  ( 3 min )

Terms of reference for Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion.  ( 3 min )

Summary of minutes of the meetings for the Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion.  ( 3 min )

Reports on departmental staff numbers and costs.  ( 3 min )

GPs have raised concerns over the impact of additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) roles on continuity of care after official data showed high turnover of doctors recruited through the scheme.  ( 3 min )

Professor Greg Irving, an academic GP and the national specialty lead for general practice at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), speaks to GPonline editor Emma Bower about the importance of primary care research.  ( 3 min )

The RCGP has launched a petition calling on the government to train, hire and retain more GPs to restore continuity of care.  ( 2 min )

NHS England has confirmed it will not impose a national target to cut GP referrals and insisted GPs' 'clinical decision to refer remains unchanged' following concerns over advice and guidance plans for the year ahead.  ( 3 min )

Recommendations and observations from the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration on doctors’ and dentists’ pay in the United Kingdom.  ( 4 min )

Every maternity service in England will need to meet new clinical standards, set out by the NHS, to significantly reduce the number of women who die each year during or after pregnancy.    All pregnant women will be offered an early risk assessment for venous thromboembolism – blood clots that form in deep veins and are […]  ( 5 min )

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Algeria as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 10th country in WHO’s African Region and the 29th country globally to achieve this significant milestone.  ( 10 min )

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its Results Report, highlighting measurable improvements in people’s health worldwide in 2025, despite funding cuts affecting both the organization and the broader global health sector. Published at a pivotal moment for global health, the Results Report demonstrates that WHO’s impact was strongest in areas where its technical leadership and comparative advantage were fully leveraged. The report finds significant progress across all three “Triple Billion” targets under WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW13) for 2019–2025. an estimated 567 million additional people were covered by essential health services without experiencing catastrophic health spending in 2025, compared with the baseline in 2018 – an increase of 136 million s…  ( 11 min )

GP practices in the South East of England are experiencing network outages, affecting internet connectivity and access to clinical systems.

In a landmark achievement for Caribbean public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates The Bahamas for becoming the latest Caribbean nation to be certified as having eliminated the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. “I congratulate The Bahamas on this outstanding achievement, which solidifies years of political commitment, and the dedication of health workers,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By ensuring that children are born free of HIV, we are securing a healthier, brighter future for the next generation.” “This achievement reflects sustained political commitment and strong national leadership, alongside the dedication and compassion of the health workforce,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) an…  ( 9 min )

BMA GP leaders have hailed 'significant' progress in talks with the government ahead of a 30 April deadline that could see a return to collective action in England.  ( 3 min )

GP leaders will vote on taking general practice 'outside the NHS' next month amid warnings that existing contracts are unworkable and that an 'Amazon-style' unlimited access model is driving unsustainable demand.  ( 3 min )

More than three in five GPs have considered relocating to work abroad because of pressure in general practice, polling by a leading medico-legal organisation reveals.  ( 2 min )

Guidance for GP practices, hospitals, hospices and medical examiner offices about when to order more MCCDs and what to do with completed MCCDs.  ( 7 min )

The impact assessment presents the impacts of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.  ( 4 min )

Department of Health and Social Care spending by electronic purchasing card solution (ePCS), over £500.  ( 3 min )

The government's response to the Health and Social Care Committee report on improving support for babies, children and their families in the first 1,000 days of life.  ( 4 min )

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has awarded a £52 million contract to Epic to supply a new electronic patient record (EPR) system.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has achieved HIMSS INFRAM stage six, one of only a few hospitals to have reached this level.

Carea has launched a digital support tool within its app to provide guidance and mental health support for women following pregnancy loss.

Severity: Medium Scheduled advisory includes 481 security updates across multiple Oracle product families Scheduled advisory includes 481 security updates across multiple Oracle product families Updated: 22 Apr 2026

NHS patients in England are facing a “postcode lottery” in access to robotic-assisted surgery, analysis by RCS England shows.

Today's briefing features news about guidelines for AI in social care and funding for a virtual AI biotech lab.

Concerns about safety, oversight and liability are shaping public attitudes to the regulation of AI in healthcare, according to the MHRA.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has signed a contract with System C to implement AI-scribing through its electronic patient record.

Government plans to introduce a ‘new Carr-Hill formula’ from April are highly ambitious and risk destabilising a large number of practices, a leading accountant has warned.  ( 3 min )

LMCs have accused NHS England of leaving GPs out of plans to develop neighbourhoods after it wrote to acute trusts and ICBs asking them to submit details of local plans by the middle of next month.  ( 3 min )

Details the government’s plan to transform cancer care and outcomes in England by 2035.  ( 4 min )

This is the government's plan to make cancer care better for people in England by 2035.  ( 3 min )

An AI triage tool has been integrated into the NHS App, allowing more than a million patients to book appointments directly with clinicians.

Exclusive GP practices could face total combined damages of £30m from discrimination claims initiated by a physician associates (PA) union, Pulse has learned. Earlier this year, United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) said it was preparing hundreds of individual employment claims against GP practices who were affected by the ‘discriminatory’ scope guidance from the BMA and The post PA union’s discrimination claims against GP practices could amount to £30m appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Public health officials have issued advice to parents after rising rates of E. coli infections impacting young children. Shiga Toxin producing E.coli (STEC) infections surged by 26% in England in 2024, UK Health Security Agency figures show. The increase was partly driven by an outbreak linked to contaminated salad leaves, which caused 196 cases in The post Health officials warn of rising E. coli cases in young children appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

A new NHS England FAQ document appeared to water down ‘immediate actions’ which were issued to GP practices immediately following the publication of the Leng review into physician associates (PAs). NHS England wrote to organisations last week (15 August) to address ‘short-term uncertainty for affected staff groups’ and ‘provide clarity for staff, patients, and employers’ The post NHSE FAQ waters down physician associate review actions for GP practices appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Pulse editor Sofia Lind warns against using artificial intelligence as a substitute for GPs Artificial intelligence has just outscored GPs in MRCGP-style exams. Four large language models answered 100 AKT-style questions with scores of 95% to 99%, compared with the average GP mark of 73%. It is a striking result, but one to be cautious The post NHS must resist the urge to replace GPs with AI appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have outscored GPs in clinical exams based on the MRCGP, which researchers argued strengthens the case for their role in supporting general practice. Researchers from University College London, King’s College London and Stanford University tested four large language models (LLMs) on 100 multiple-choice questions designed to mirror the Applied Knowledge Test The post AI models outperform GPs in MRCGP-style exams appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GPs could face a significant rise in prescribing and monitoring workload under draft NICE guidelines that recommend much earlier use of newer type 2 diabetes drugs. The draft guidance, published today, would see SGLT-2 inhibitors started first-line for most diabetics – not just those with heart failure, cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk as is The post Type 2 diabetes guideline shake-up to see first-line SGLT-2 prescribing appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

NHS England has today published the patient charter – which stipulates the right of patients including on access and registration – which GP practices must display from October. Titled ‘You and Your General Practice‘, the charter includes rules for GP practices and guidance for patients. The GP contract 2025/26 first mentioned the ‘patient charter’, which The post NHSE sets out finalised ‘patient charter’ rules that practices must abide by appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 12 min )

Dr Paul O’Reilly shares a day in his life working as a GP for the homeless population in central London My senior partner says that homeless general practice is the most fun you can have in medicine without coming to the attention of the GMC. By the bottom of this page I hope to persuade The post ‘Homeless general practice: the most fun you can have in medicine without GMC attention’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Almost 1,500 GPs signed a petition from UK primary care professionals calling for the RCGP to take ‘action on the Gaza child health crisis’.  The petition, hosted by the group Care in Conflict, called on the college to publicly support a ceasefire, condemn the use of healthcare obstruction, and ‘join or lead a coalition’ of The post Almost 1,500 GPs ask RCGP to take firmer stance on Gaza health crisis appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across England are now offering more evening and weekend appointments, the Government has announced. From this month, 100 centres are operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Ministers said this will make it easier for patients to attend scans and tests around work and family commitments, and claimed that The post Government announces expansion of out-of-hours scans and tests appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

GPs may see more of their patients recovering from heart disease offered digital rehabilitation at home, after NICE conditionally recommended six new technologies for NHS use. Draft guidance published today (19 August) recommends that the platforms – Activate Your Heart, D REACH-HF, Digital Heart Manual, Gro Health HeartBuddy, KiActiv and myHeart – can be used The post NICE draft guidance recommends digital cardiac rehabilitation appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Exclusive More than a fifth of PCNs have cut the number of physician associates they employ in the past year, a Pulse and Management in Practice survey has found. The survey polled GPs and practice managers, with 21% of respondents from 425 distinct PCNs reporting a reduction in PA numbers in the last 12 months. The post One in five PCNs reduced their use of physician associates in the past year appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 11 min )

A prevention of future deaths report has highlighted confusion among health organisations over the sharing of patient data between GP practice IT systems. A patient’s relevant surgery history was not available to the GP out-of-hours (OOH) service which misdiagnosed him before his death, the GP provider confirmed to Pulse. John Charles Spencer died on 21 The post Coroner highlights systemic GP record sharing error after patient death appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GP and chief medical officer of the Department for Work and Pensions Dr Gail Allsopp on how primary care can support patients in getting back to work, and what Government initiatives are in place to help As GPs, we are passionate about reducing health inequalities. It is part of our role. To do this though, we The post ‘Getting patients back to work is not the responsibility of GPs alone’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

The physician associate (PA) union’s legal bid to stop NHS England from implementing Leng review recommendations was unsuccessful on Friday. United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) had requested an interim injunction to stop NHS England issuing instructions to organisations on implementing the PA review’s recommendations while a judicial review is ongoing. But at the hearing, heard The post PA union’s High Court bid to pause Leng review changes fails appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

An immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes has been approved for use in the UK, in a move which could mark a ‘turning point’ in treatment of the condition if eligible patients could be identified. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said teplizumab, also known as Tzield, is safe and effective at delaying the The post MHRA approves immunotherapy which delays development of type 1 diabetes appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The husband and a family friend of a GP who died last year in a paddleboarding accident will cycle the length of Britain to raise money in her memory.  Julia McLean – known professionally as Dr Julia Hamilton – died in May last year near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. The ‘well-loved’ GP had been a partner at the The post Husband of ‘well-loved’ GP to cycle length of Britain for charity in her memory  appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

Copperfield would be welling up at Wes Streeting’s letter to ‘tireless’ GPs if he hadn’t replaced the drinking water with vodka Are you hearing what I’m hearing? If I’m not very much mistaken, it sounds like a little clap, directed at us GPs. Because Wes Streeting has just written us a sweet letter, thanking us The post Streeting’s letter is one-hand clapping appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Exclusive The BMA has demanded urgent Government intervention over ‘unaffordable’ GP premises service charges, which have caused deep financial instability and forced some practices to hand back their contracts. The union’s GP committee pointed out ‘ongoing and unresolved issues’ faced by practices over service charges levied by NHS Property Services (NHSPS) and Community Health Partnerships The post BMA demands Government intervention over ‘unaffordable’ GP premises charges  appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Case of the month: In the next in our series, Dr Andy Eaton asks what else might be going on in this mid-40s male patient presenting with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea following a bout of ‘gastric flu’ in his household. Post your answers below! Details of the case have been changed to ensure patient anonymity The post What could be the cause of this patient’s apparent ‘gastric flu’ symptoms? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

A rapid evolving guideline has recommended two key drugs be prescribed in all patients with type 2 diabetes who are at higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications. Alongside those at most high risk, SGLT-2 inhibitor and GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs should also be prescribed to ‘most’ adults with type 2 diabetes who fall into The post ‘Living’ guideline advises GPs on use of GLP-1 and SGLT-2 drugs in type 2 diabetes appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Advice and guidance (A&G) requests have risen by 11% since the Government made a payment available for practices in April.  There were 296,624 ‘pre-referral specialist advice requests’ in June, or 11,763 per working day, according to new NHS England figures.  This represents an 11% increase in A&G requests since the payment was introduced and a The post Advice and guidance requests by GPs increase since payment introduced appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Medication for ADHD has broader benefits for patients than helping them manage symptoms associated with the condition, researchers have found. A study of almost 150,000 people children and adults with a new diagnosis of ADHD found drug treatment was associated with a lower risk of suicidal behaviour, substance abuse, transport accidents and criminality. Reporting their The post ADHD meds reduce risk of suicide, substance abuse and criminality, research shows appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Under the radar: Continuing our series exploring diagnoses that might be missed in primary care, Dr Sharon Viner describes a case of abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation in a young adult under 50 whose age could potentially have delayed investigation for upper gastrointestinal cancer Note details of the case have been changed to ensure anonymity The post Spotting gastric cancer – how age must not lead us astray appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

GPs have raised concerns after their ICB decided not to reprocure a local community gynaecology service, leaving patients ‘in limbo’ and increasing workload for practices. Provider Primary Integrated Community Services (PICS), owned and run by GP and practice partners in Nottinghamshire, stopped delivering its service at the beginning of this month, having served notice to the The post GP workload concern after ICB fails to reprocure community gynaecology service appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The Government has praised ‘hard-working’ GPs after new data showed more patients are describing their GP experience as ‘good’ compared to a year ago. It pointed to the latest Office for National Statistics figures on experiences of local GP services, published yesterday, which analyse data from the Health Insight Survey commissioned by NHS England. The The post ‘Considerable improvement’ in GP access and satisfaction over past year, data shows appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Public health officials are warning of an increase in cases of chikungunya in England after travellers caught the infection abroad. There have been 73 cases in the first six months of the year, the UK Health Security Agency said compared with 27 cases in the same period in 2024. It is the highest number of The post Cases of chikungunya almost triple in England among people travelling overseas appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

An extra 1.26 million appointments could be delivered every month if all newly trained GPs were employed, the BMA has said, as it encouraged GPs to contact their MP for support on GP unemployment.  A template letter produced by the BMA calls on MPs and health secretary Wes Streeting to take action ‘to retain and to The post BMA urges GPs to contact their MP over unemployment crisis appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Editor Sofia Lind on why GPC England should not abandon potential plans for new collective action just yet Earlier this week, health secretary Wes Streeting wrote to every GP in England to say the Government remains committed to the partnership model and to negotiating a new GP contract within this Parliament. It’s the first time The post Streeting’s letter is welcome – but not reason to stand down appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The trade union for physician associates is seeking to prevent NHS England from implementing the recommendations of the Government’s review into the role while it is in the middle of a judicial review into the changes. United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPs) said it is seeking an injunction against NHS England to stop it from ‘rapidly forcing through The post PA union seeks injunction against NHS England in bid to pause changes to the role  appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Two major GP premises owners in England will merge in a £1.8bn deal, the companies have confirmed. Primary Health Properties (PHP) – which owns 516 primary healthcare facilities valued at £2.8bn – and property investor and developer Assura, whose 603 buildings are worth £3.2bn with the majority being GP premises, are to merge after shareholders voted in The post GP premises owners to merge after shareholders accept £1.8bn offer appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

A source inside the coronial service responds to criticism of GPs using the medical examiner process, and argues that coroners must take more responsibility for safeguarding cause of death accuracy. Like many who read in Pulse about a coroner criticising two GPs for ‘not understanding’ the medical examiner process, I felt frustrated. I have a The post ‘GPs aren’t getting the medical examiner system wrong – coroners are’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

A GP practice has set up a ‘taxi service’ for patients to reach the surgery – but this may be cancelled after no one used it in its first month.   Hadleigh Health Centre took the step of funding the taxi service following the closure of one of its branches in the village of Boxford The post GP ‘taxi service’ could be cancelled because patients do not use it appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

The Government has announced a pilot to test new ways to support patients living with obesity, in a bid to ‘ease pressures’ on general practice. ICBs will be asked to submit bids to pilot ‘innovative models of care’ for people living with obesity, outside of existing specialist weight management services, including wraparound services, obesity treatments The post Government to pilot new obesity services to ‘ease pressure on GPs’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

NHS England has urged pregnant women to use a new service to self-refer directly to local maternity services, without seeing a GP first. By completing an online form on NHS.uk, families can now choose directly which NHS trust to refer themselves to. NHS England estimated that this service could lead to 180,000 fewer calls to The post Pregnant women asked to self-refer to maternity services without seeing GP first appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Dr Burnt Out reflects on decades of scepticism over fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, following the new NHS plan directing GPs to support delivery of care for these conditions For years and years, some doctors have made fun of and dismissed patients with chronic pain and fatigue conditions (which often co-exist) such as fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic The post GPs owe ME/CFS patients an apology appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

The health secretary has written to all GP practices in England thanking them for their ‘tireless efforts’ and reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the partnership model and a new GP contract. In a letter to practices, Wes Streeting said the Government ‘remains committed to the partnership model’ and that it will work with the BMA’s The post Streeting reconfirms commitment to new GP contract and partnership model appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

A retired GP was among at least 13 health workers arrested at protests against the proscription of the group Palestine Action on Saturday, according to a health worker protest group.  The group formed a ‘health block’ at the protest in Parliament Square to draw attention to attacks on health workers in Gaza.  It is estimated The post Retired GP among health workers arrested at Palestine Action protest  appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Talking therapies offered on the NHS for depression and anxiety appear to be less effective for teenagers and young adults, a study has found. Analysis of data from almost 310,000 patients aged 16-24 years who had an episode of treatment by the NHS Talking Therapies service found they were less likely to have improved or The post NHS talking therapies may be less effective in 16-24-year-olds appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

One GP shares why they will be risking arrest at a protest against the Government’s proscription of Palestine Action, and explains why healthcare workers participating in activism is so important Tomorrow, London’s streets will be filled with people marching in support of Palestine and condemning Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. It is a sight The post ‘Why I’m risking arrest as a GP over Palestine Action’s ban’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

The BMA has written to the primary care minister asking to meet ‘at the earliest possible opportunity’ regarding the GP unemployment crisis.  Over 3,000 GPs will gain their Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) this week, but the BMA said the lack of substantive work available means ‘many face uncertainty’.  The union reiterated its demand The post BMA demands urgent meeting with primary care minister over GP unemployment appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Exclusive A GP practice could not locate the origin of a panic alarm due to an IT systems issue, in a critical incident highlighted by the LMC. YOR LMC medical secretary Dr Brian McGregor said he was told of a ‘critical incident’ at a practice in the Bradford District and Craven, West Yorkshire. He said The post GP practice could not locate panic alarm due to IT system failure appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Real-world analysis of the first season of vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has shown a dramatic impact on hospitalisation in both older people and newborns. An analysis done by the UK Health Security Agency found RSV vaccination was 82% effective against hospitalisation in older people this winter. It also showed it was ‘highly effective’ The post First season with RSV vaccination saw dramatic reduction in hospitalisations appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The Government is consulting on changes that would allow physiotherapists to prescribe pregabalin and gabapentin once more to take pressure off GPs. Under the proposals, physiotherapist independent prescribers would be able to also provide codeine and tramadol. Physiotherapists were previously able to prescribe tramadol, gabapentin and pregabalin prior to changes in their controlled drug scheduling, The post Physiotherapists could prescribe pregabalin again to take pressure off GPs appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

An exasperated Copperfield on the trials and tribulations that Mounjaro prescribing has wreaked on general practice Well, that’s one question answered: What happens to patients post-Mounjaro? Yes, they flab up again, but who will be responsible for stopping that happening? Ah, you’re ahead of me. We GPs will be expected to ‘monitor’ them for at The post Fat chance that Mounjaro will save the NHS appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

AI tool ChatGPT may be able to free up GP time during a patient consultation by providing a quick summary of recent medical notes, researchers have found. Testing the theory on simulated records, GP researchers found ChatGPT was able to do sum up the patient’s history more quickly and with similar accuracy to doctors. If The post ChatGPT could free up GP consultation time by summarising notes appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Once in a lifetime: Continuing our series on conditions that GPs may only encounter once in a career, gastroenterology resident doctors Dr Kevin Jacob, Dr Sana Mallick, Dr Belinda Eze and consultant gastroenterologist Dr Andrew Poullis provide an overview of the rare disorder known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?  Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) The post How to recognise Zollinger-Ellison syndrome appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

Once in a lifetime: Continuing our series on conditions that GPs may only encounter once in a career, gastroenterology resident doctors Dr Kevin Jacob, Dr Sana Mallick, Dr Belinda Eze and consultant gastroenterologist Dr Andrew Poullis provide an overview of the rare disorder known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) What is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?  Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) The post How to recognise Zollinger-Ellison syndrome appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

Public health officials are warning people to be mindful of tick bites this summer. UK Health Security Agency officials advised the public to be alert to the signs of Lyme disease – including the telltale bullseye rash – and to seek quick to seek help from the GP if needed. It comes as the latest The post Contact GP quickly with Lyme disease symptoms, public told appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The Government has said it will be cracking down on ‘cowboy’ cosmetic procedures with new rules over who will be able to carry them out. Only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest-risk procedures – such as non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts – and they must be working in providers that are registered The post Government to limit high-risk cosmetic procedures to be carried out by doctors only appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

GPs continue to struggle with their workload more than other doctor groups, according to new GMC data. The doctor regulator’s annual survey on the state of medical education and practice in the UK found 44% of GPs are struggling with workload, compared with just 29% of respondents overall. The figure for GPs was a slight The post GPs struggle with workload more than other doctors, finds GMC appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Pulse editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash ponders the silence surrounding the future of newly-qualified GPs amid the ongoing unemployment crisis Remember the GP unemployment crisis? It seems so long ago now – that crazy situation where GP practices were short of GPs, but there were huge numbers of GPs out of work. Then the Government announced the GP ARRS The post Why has it all gone quiet about the next cohort of qualified GPs? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The UK medicines regulator has urged GP practices to report all ‘adverse incidents’ and ‘inaccuracies’ with artificial intelligence (AI) tools used in clinical practice to its Yellow Card Scheme. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s Yellow Card scheme, established for patients to report adverse reactions to medicines, has a specific reporting service for The post MHRA asks GPs to report ‘all AI inaccuracies’ to Yellow Card scheme appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Pulse LIVE will return to Newcastle next month, with a keynote speech by the CQC’s primary care chief inspector, as well as expert-led presentations and networking. The event, worth 4.5 CPD hours, will take place on 17 September at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. Professor Bola Owolabi, CQC chief inspector of primary care, will deliver the The post CQC primary care chief inspector to address GPs at Pulse LIVE Newcastle appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Public health officials are urging parents to get their children’s vaccinations up to date over the summer holidays over fears measles cases will surge further when school starts again in September. The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show another 145 measles cases in the past four weeks, mainly in children under The post Parents urged to book vaccine appointments for children in summer holidays appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

We are at a time of GP unemployment, GP trainees unsure whether they can get a substantive role, and burnout continuing to be prevalent throughout the profession. One solution many GPs are finding to these problems is pursuing a portfolio career. The number of potential roles that GPs can take to supplement their routine work The post The GP portfolio career for you appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

GP teams in England delivered seven million more appointments in the past year amidst rising levels of patient satisfaction, NHS data has shown. ‘Hardworking’ GP practices carried out 383.3m appointments in the last 12 months, compared to 375.7m in the previous year, figures show. In June alone, GP teams delivered a record 31.4 million appointments The post GP appointment numbers and patient satisfaction rise year on year appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Dr David Turner argues for tougher vaccine policy following the death of a child with measles Children becoming seriously ill and dying from a preventable disease is something we usually associate with developing countries – not the UK. Yet recently measles claimed the life of a child in Liverpool, and has caused many others to The post ‘We should go hard-line on measles and mandate child vaccination’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

The threat to health caused by air pollution is far greater than previously understood and requires urgent and ambitious action, the Royal College of Physicians has warned. Affecting almost every organ in the body, air pollution is a serious and avoidable health risk that could contribute to 30,000 deaths in 2025 alone, a report from The post Air pollution is ‘public health crisis’, doctors warn appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Exclusive GPs across a large area in England are calling on the BMA to re-enter formal dispute with the Government over the 10-year plan, Pulse can reveal. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire (BBO) LMCs said that 87% of GPs in their area believe the union’s GP committee should ‘urgently return to formal dispute with the Government’ The post LMCs call for BMA to re-enter GP collective action over 10-year plan appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

NHS England has not changed physician associate (PA) role descriptions in line with Leng review recommendations in the PCN enhanced service specification. According to the PA trade union, this is due to the pending legal case it is bringing to challenge the recommendations, although NHS England did not confirm or deny this. The PCN DES The post NHS England fails to update physician associate job description amid legal case appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 11 min )

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme in older adults should be expanded to include those over the age of 80 years, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended. It follows analysis that the introduction of RSV vaccination in 75-to-79-year-olds last September led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions among that age The post RSV vaccination should extend to over-80s, JCVI advises appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

GPs should monitor patients who have taken weight-loss medication ‘for a minimum of one year’ after treatment is completed, according to a new NICE quality standard.  Published today, the updated standard asks healthcare professionals including GPs to offer advice, follow-up support and provide tailored action plans including regular check-ins.  The standard said they should ‘ensure The post GPs should support patients for one year after GLP-1 treatment, says NICE appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

The BMA has called for ‘clear financial arrangements’ to underpin the new neighbourhood care models proposed by the Government, following the 10-year plan’s lack of detail around funding. In new guidance to practices and GP federations, the union’s GP committee warned that without safeguards, the plan risks funding ‘flowing to higher tiers of the system’ The post GPC calls for ‘clear financial arrangements’ amid neighbourhood funding uncertainty appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Exclusive More than one-third of GPs are under greater pressure to complete a death certificate when they are unsure of a patient’s cause of death, a Pulse survey has found. Of 972 respondents, 37% said that pressure to fill out Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) despite not knowing why a patient died has The post Pressure on GPs to complete death certificate without knowing cause has increased appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GP practices are facing delays in receiving correct reimbursements for the cholesterol-lowering drug inclisiran, due to ‘incorrect calculations’. In a message to GPs, the BMA’s GP committee said it was ‘aware of an issue regarding reimbursement for inclisiran, whereby payments have been delayed’.  Practices buy inclisiran for £45 and claim a £60 reimbursement from the The post GP practices face delays in receiving correct inclisiran reimbursements appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Do you have a strong sense of public duty? Do you mind being disliked by your peers? Would you make a good contestant on The Apprentice? Do you genuinely enjoy spending time with patients? If you feel that you want to add another string to your career bow – or you just want to waste five minutes – The post What is the GP portfolio career for you? Take our quiz appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 6 min )

Practice managers in England will not be included – for now – in new Government regulations covering NHS managers, though this may change due to an ‘appetite’ to expand the scope, according to the Department of Health and Social Care. The new regulatory framework, announced last week, introduces a statutory barring system preventing NHS leaders guilty The post Government will not regulate GP practice managers – for now appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GP leaders have warned that Government plans to introduce ‘year of care payments’ – which could see other NHS organisations take on budgets for general practice services – can ‘only mean the end for the GMS contract’. The NHS 10-year plan pledged to introduce ‘a capitated budget for a patient’s care over a year’, which The post Other NHS organisations take on GP budgets under ‘year of care’ plans appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Pulse takes on July’s talking points – how involved will trusts be in running neighbourhood services, and is collective action on the horizon again? Will trusts take on neighbourhood health services? The Government’s hefty 10-year health plan left many GPs scratching their heads earlier this month. Tagged as part of Labour’s ‘plan for change’, the The post Trust-run neighbourhood services and collective action: July’s big talking points appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Pulse is launching a new platform for GP trainees, newly-qualified GPs and those considering the next stages of their career. The platform will be launched on Monday 4 August, and will provide all the essential news around jobs and recruitment, as well as analysis and advice, columns from experts and those who have stories to The post Pulse to launch platform for GPs considering next career stage appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

GP practices in one part of England are facing an ongoing IT systems outage which has forced them to hand-write forms, and caused huge backlogs and ‘severe’ disruption to services over the past week.  The IT issues in West Yorkshire were caused by problems with data centres that support IT systems in primary care in The post GPs resort to pen and paper as six-day IT outage ‘severely’ disrupts services appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

In this case-based CPD module, consultant paediatric specialists in allergy Dr Thisanayagam Umasunthar and Dr Robert Boyle explain evidence-based approaches to food allergy in primary care, including accurate diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy, management of Pollen Food Syndrome, when testing is appropriate and identifying and managing anaphylaxis. Complete the full module on Pulse365 today. Note The post CPD: Casebook – food allergy and testing appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 12 min )

The global sum for GP practices in England has been increased from £121.79 to £123.34 per patient to implement the 4% staff pay rise recommended by the pay review body, NHS England has confirmed. For 2025/26 the Government committed to ‘uplifting the pay element of the GP contract’ by 4% following the Review Body on Doctors’ The post Global sum increased by £1.55 per patient to implement DDRB GP pay uplift   appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Clinical conundrum: In the next in our series, Dr Raj Thakkar considers how to manage a patient who presents with apparent tachycardia from a recording on her ‘Fitbit’ wearable device A 32-year-old woman’s ‘Fitbit’ wearable device shows that she has a resting tachycardia (of around 104bpm) and that her heart rate goes ‘too high’ during The post How should this patient’s ‘Fitbit’-recorded tachycardia be managed? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

The BMA has threatened the GMC with new legal action over the regulator’s use of the term ‘medical professionals’ to cover both physician assistants and doctors, following the Government-commissioned review into the role by Professor Gillian Leng.  In April, the High Court dismissed the BMA’s claims the GMC was ‘blurring the lines’ between PAs and The post BMA threatens GMC with new legal action for ‘blurring lines’ between PAs and doctors appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has set out plans to expand primary care teams across the country as GPs plough on with collective action. Funding has been secured to push ahead with growing the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) programme which will ‘open up a million more appointments by 2033’, health minister Mike Nesbitt said. The post NI Government sets out primary care expansion as GPs continue collective action appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

GPs in Suffolk were left to deal with thousands of duplicate pathology results following a ‘software failure’ at a hospital trust, which had ‘significant knock-on effects’ on practices. West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust confirmed to Pulse that 19 of the 24 GP practices in West Suffolk were affected by the incident, which was caused by The post GPs left to deal with thousands of duplicate test results following hospital IT failure appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Pulse editor-in-chief Jaimie Kaffash on how general practice should embrace the value and flexibility of the part-time GP I’ve got a little riddle for you. A father and son are involved in a car accident. The father dies immediately, and the son is rushed into A&E. The surgeon sees him and immediately says: ‘I can’t The post We should not be embarrassed by part-time GP work appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Guidance produced by one ICB to help GPs support bereaved parents after the death of a child should be taken on board by practices around the country, the RCGP has said. A framework produced by Cheshire and Merseyside ICB to help GPs supporting bereaved parents noted that 3,500 children die every year in England. Child The post GPs encouraged to take on ICB advice on supporting bereaved parents appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

The Government has instructed GP practices to make anonymous patient data available to a data sharing platform to further medical research.  A letter from NHS England to GPs said health secretary Wes Streeting has issued NHSE with ‘directions’ – a legal instrument – for practices to join the OpenSAFELY data analytics service by instructing their The post GPs instructed to make anonymised patient data available for research appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

The BMA has raised concerns around the ‘looming’ unemployment crisis as half of doctors finishing foundation training say they have no job secured for next month.  According to the results of a survey by the union, 52% of doctors said they have no ‘substantive employment or regular locum work’ secured for August, when they finish The post Half of doctors finishing foundation training will have no job next month, BMA warns appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The first 24/7 ‘neighbourhood mental health centre’ announced in the 10-year plan has now opened in London. Earlier this month, the Government pledged to ‘transform mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood care models’ as part of the NHS 10-year plan. Now NHS England has announced that the first of six neighbourhood mental health centres – which The post First 24/7 ‘neighbourhood mental health centre’ announced in 10-year plan now open appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Drawing on her own experiences and those of colleagues, Dr Louise Clarke highlights the ingrained sexism affecting GPs from training levels Last year Pulse brought long-overdue attention to the entrenched sexism in general practice with an investigation that involved surveying over 700 female and marginalised gender respondents. The findings were stark. Women were underrepresented in The post Sexism in general practice begins in training – it’s time we faced it appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Exclusive GP leaders in one area have advised practices to hold off from taking part in new ‘neighbourhood health programmes’, amid a lack of clarity and fears that these could jeopardise GMS contracts. Earlier this month, the Government announced the first phase of the rollout of neighbourhood health programmes following the 10-year plan, with 42 The post GPs advised not to take part in neighbourhood programmes yet amid ‘lack of clarity’ appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

A study of more than 800 patients has found that most penicillin allergy labels in GP records are ‘incorrect’, pointing to increased antibiotic use and worse health outcomes for patients as a result. The trial in 51 GP practices found that almost nine in ten patients with a penicillin allergy label on their GP record The post Most penicillin allergy labels in GP records ‘incorrect’, study finds appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The trade union for physician associates (PAs) has announced it is seeking a judicial review after the Government accepted recommendations made in the Leng review.  United Medical Associate Professionals (UMAPS) – which was officially recognised as a trade union by the Government – said it sent pre-action letters to health secretary Wes Streeting and NHS The post PA union seeks judicial review over Leng recommendations appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

With junior doctors striking again, Dr Katie Musgrave explores whether the real crisis lies not in pay negotiations, but in the very foundations of the NHS Everyone’s talking about the junior doctor strikes. Aren’t doctors already well paid? How can the health service afford to pay them more? Isn’t the NHS becoming a black hole The post Is pay really the issue for striking doctors? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GP registrars have been encouraged to take part in the resident doctors strikes organised by the BMA across England this week. The union published new guidance advising GP registrars that they should not see patients nor perform administrative work on strike days; it also encouraged them not to attend their practice on these days, as The post GP registrars encouraged to take part in BMA industrial action this week appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

GPs in Northern Ireland will begin collective action this week, implementing measures ‘designed to reduce the unfunded work they carry out’, the BMA has announced.   Some of the actions which practices will take as part of this include limiting patient consultations, serving notice on any voluntary work and insisting on referrals for specialist appointments The post Northern Ireland GPs to begin collective action this week appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

ARRS money should be moved into practice-level reimbursements to avoid GPs re-entering dispute with the Government over the 10-year plan, the BMA GP committee has demanded. In a letter to primary care minister Stephen Kinnock, GP Committee England chair Dr Katie Bramall also demanded the Government is ‘explicit’ in its preference for GPs to run The post BMA demands ARRS money be given to GP practices to avoid further dispute appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

Dr Sheila Paul is a portfolio GP who, among various other roles, has worked as a forensic physician for over 30 years. Here she shares what the job involves  How do I get into the role (including necessary qualifications)?  To go into clinical forensic medicine, you need to obtain the necessary qualifications from the Faculty The post Forensic Physician   appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

In the second part of our mini series considering how the 10-year plan will influence a new GMS contract for general practice, Anna Colivicchi looks at what it will mean for GP funding The Government has promised to shift resources from secondary care into the community, as part of its big ambitions set out in The post How will the NHS 10-year plan affect GP funding? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 15 min )

An ICB has reversed its decision to transfer an APMS contract from a GP-led group to a private company.  NHS Sussex ICB announced its decision yesterday (24 July) following an independent review which found it had breached transparency rules during the contract bidding process.  The ICB had stated its intention to transfer the APMS contract for The post Panel sides with GPs over private company in APMS contract dispute appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

A large ICB has chosen a number of hospital trusts to oversee the new ‘neighbourhood health service’ across its footprint. South East London ICB said that, following the 10-year plan, it has approved partnerships between primary and secondary care, called ‘neighbourhood health service integrators’, in four of its six boroughs (see box). The ICB’s plan The post ICB appoints hospital trusts – not GPs – to lead neighbourhood teams appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Case of the month – answers: In the latest in our series, Dr Keith Hopcroft asked what was the underlying cause in this patient with hypothyroidism failing to respond to treatment. Did you get the diagnosis? Answer revealed below! You review a 55-year-old woman who presented a few weeks previously with tiredness. She is on The post What was the diagnosis in this case of treatment-resistant hypothyroidism? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

Community pharmacies will be able to offer flu vaccination for young children under a one-season trial this winter. Pharmacies that sign up to the advanced service will be able to offer flu vaccine to children aged 2-3 years from 1 October. The move is to try and boost uptake in this age group who would The post Pharmacy-based flu vaccine service for children to be trialled this winter appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

The Government has claimed that more than 2,000 extra GPs have been added to the workforce since last October, however this is only the headcount rather than full-time equivalent number. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) cited ‘Government action to slash red tape’ last year, referring to the extension of the additional roles The post Government claim of ‘2,000 extra GPs’ at odds with FTE data appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Speedy skins: The first in a new series of quick quizzes in dermatology asks – what is the likely diagnosis in this case of a woman with bilateral lower and upper limb rashes? AI was used to assist in development of this article, with thorough review by our medical advisors before publication The post What’s causing this woman’s chronic rash on her ankles, feet and wrists? appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

As part of a portfolio career spanning 20 years, Dr Ellen Welch worked part-time as an expedition doctor, accompanying travellers on adventure trips. She told us what the job involved   How do I get into the role (including necessary qualifications)?  You require broad experience and training, but being a competent expedition member already is key, The post Expedition doctor  appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

UK medicines regulators have approved an adrenaline nasal spray to treat anaphylaxis. The needle-free option can be used in adults and children weighing over 30kg, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said. Known as EURneffy, the epinephrine nasal spray delivers the full 2mg dose in one spray and can still be used if The post Nasal spray alternative to anaphylaxis auto-injector approved for use in UK appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 7 min )

GPs have been instructed to consider patients’ learning disabilities and neurodivergence before removing them from their patient list, following a change to NHS England guidance and a coroner’s prevention of future deaths report. The coroner’s report into death of a 33-year-old Devon man ‘in crisis’ identified his removal from his GP practice and subsequent placement The post GPs urged to take ‘additional considerations’ before placing patients on SAS scheme appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

A study of 30 self-test health kits available on the high street has raised concerns over regulation after many were found to be ‘unfit for purpose’. The analysis showed a range of issues with test kits bought from supermarkets or pharmacies including poor or no information on when and why to do the tests as The post Commercial self-test kits ‘unfit for purpose’ and increase GP workload, finds study appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

The RCGP has opposed Government plans for acute and community trusts to run general practice, it has told its members. In a summary of the Government’s 10-year plan, the college said that while collaboration between providers is ‘important’, the RCGP ‘does not support trusts running general practice’. It added that any new models of neighbourhood The post RCGP opposes Government plans for trusts to run general practice appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

Copperfield on why the biggest winners from ME/CFS clinics might be GPs, not patients Well, that’s interesting. Apparently, those new neighbourhood health services they have these days are going to support the delivery of ME/CFS care. So let’s think. That means an illness of unknown cause, with no diagnostic test, no specific pharmacotherapy and no The post Neighbourhood ME/CFS care should energise GPs appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 5 min )

Recognising the signs of sepsis continues to be an ‘urgent and persistent’ safety risk in the NHS, a series of reports have warned. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), an independent arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care, found ongoing challenges in early diagnosis of the life-threatening emergency. It highlighted The post Sepsis continues to be ‘urgent and persistent’ safety risk in the NHS, reports warn appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 8 min )

‘Stubborn barriers’ to accessing childhood vaccinations, including around booking a GP appointment, are contributing to the ‘worrying decline’ in uptake, paediatricians have claimed. A report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said some parents face significant barriers getting their child vaccinated which is contributing to growing inequalities in coverage. The current system The post Paediatricians blame GPs systems for poor uptake of childhood vaccinations appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 10 min )

There will be ‘no additional funding’ for pay increases for doctors in the next financial year, the health secretary has told the independent pay review body. Wes Streeting wrote to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) yesterday to formally commence the annual pay review. He asked the new chair of the DDRB The post ‘No additional funding’ for 2026/27 GP pay uplifts, Streeting tells DDRB appeared first on Pulse Today.  ( 9 min )

NHS Employers - This guidance has been written for local job evaluation leads and panellists to support their understanding and use of the updated profiles for nursing and midwifery. It provides an explanation of the updated format for profiles and provides further advice to ensure matching panels are able to use the profiles effectively and consistently. Guidance

NHS Employers - This guidance, produced by the NHS Staff Council, is for local partnerships to support the publication of updated profiles for nursing and midwifery and improvement of local job evaluation practices. Guidance

Local Government Association (LGA) - This short resource has been developed to support the occupational therapy workforce as part of council preparations for CQC assessment. It summarises the key principles of the Care Act 2014 and the universal and specific duties placed on councils as they relate to occupational therapy, with particular focus on prevention, wellbeing, and promoting independence. Where...

Local Government Association (LGA) - This resource was developed following consultation with principal occupational therapists (POTs) from the national and ADASS regional POT networks and incorporates learning and tips from POTs who have gone through Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment. Guidance

NHS England - This toolkit will help commissioners, service managers, health play practitioners and clinical leaders to design, plan and deliver high-quality health play services for babies, children and young people. The resources include guidelines, recommended standards and a quality checklist. Toolkit

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - This submission to the government's 2025 Spending Review argues that there is an opportunity to start addressing some of the challenges within the nursing workforce and wider health and care system. The RCN ask that the 10-Year Health Plan and the forthcoming Workforce Plan for England, and the Spending Review are aligned in terms...

Cancer Research UK - This report finds that over the last 50 years, the proportion of the UK population dying from cancer has fallen by more than a fifth. However it also finds while people are now less likely to die from cancer, more people are likely to get it. And due to the UK’s growing and ageing population, the...

Institute for Fiscal Studies - The Spending Review 2025 will set detailed departmental budgets for most of this parliament. This analysis examines the key choices facing the government on spending in the NHS, health and care, pay and the public sector. Report

The Health Foundation - This analysis sets out the Health Foundation’s priorities for health and care investment at the Spending Review and options for how they could be achieved. It draws on evidence submitted to the Treasury in February 2025. It covers the investment needed in public health, the NHS and adult social care services; additionally, it sets out policy...

NHS Employers - This case study outlines how Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust used an innovative flexible working model to combat escalating demand for imaging diagnostic services. Case study

NHS Confederation - Primary care provider collaboratives are fundamental to the successful delivery of a neighbourhood health service. Their role will be pivotal in shifting care from hospitals to community, reducing health inequalities and ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality care. In partnership with KPMG, the NHS Confederation's Primary Care Network has been exploring what is needed to unlock...

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned Ipsos UK, in partnership with the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University, to conduct an evaluation of the Better Care Fund (BCF) Support Programme. The evaluation explores local authorities' perceptions of the design and delivery of the BCF support programme; the enablers...

Joseph Rowntree Foundation - This briefing suggests that people are unaware of the challenges of the social care system and thus are likely not preparing for a future in which they may have to meet significant care costs or care themselves. It found that only 19% of the general public correctly guessed that the cost of professional home care services...

Re:State - This report outlines a model that fundamentally changes the configuration of the modern hospital. The paper proposes a model that combines a radical increase in virtual care with renewed approaches at system-wide integration. It argues that instead of inefficiently relocating hospital staff and infrastructure to communities, hospital-level care should be delivered as a service through entirely new care...

NHS Providers - This report features four case studies demonstrating how trusts are successfully improving services for children and young people across a variety of sectors: delivering mental health support to children and young people in the community; collaborating at neighbourhood level for the benefit of children and young people; improving access to care through digital interventions; and using co-production...

lnstitute for Fiscal Studies - This report finds that Sure Start – one of England’s biggest early years programmes – generated widespread and long-lasting benefits for children. It improved educational outcomes and health, and reduced school absences and less severe special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Report Press release

IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science - This report profiles the current state of research and development in oncology, including key mechanisms, targets, and cancer types being investigated as well as pointing to some novel areas which are only just emerging. It also looks at metrics of clinical development productivity. Report More detail

International Longevity Centre (ILC) - This report warns that health systems in high-income countries are dangerously underprepared for the growing number of people ageing with HIV. Thanks to advances in antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV are living longer than ever before, but social, economic and health systems have failed to keep up. Report Press release