Millions of patients to be treated by GPs instead of hospitals under radical reforms to cut NHS waiting list
Patients will be treated by GPs rather than getting specialist care in hospitals under radical reforms as Keir Starmer battles to tackle the NHS crisis.
Routine appointments will be dealt with in community services close to patients' homes in a move they believe could 'fix the waiting list'.
The health service will also ramp-up technology meaning patients will have less in-person appointments - instead using like the NHS app and wearable devices to monitor patients remotely.
NHS bosses claim half of the 135 million hospital outpatient appointments every year are 'pointless' and follow-ups and consultations could instead be done in high-street surgeries.
It comes as the government is set to launch a ten-year plan to create a 'neighbourhood health service', The Times reports.
'As we deliver the transformational shifts in our 10 Year Plan, from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention, it will have radical implications for services,' Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester.
'Much of what's done in a hospital today, will be done on the high street, over the phone, or through the app in a decade's time.'
The plans are set to link family doctors, nurses, social care services and volunteers with money being paid to NHS regions based on how effective their care is rather than how busy the hospitals are.
Streeting added: 'We will use financial incentives to invest more in public health outcomes, not just in more activity that reacts to sickness.'
Earlier this week, figures revealed that the number of patients waiting has fallen to its lowest point in two years - but the number of patients waiting for more than a year for hospital treatment has increased.
The news comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the NHS a cash injection worth an extra £29 billion per year.
Speaking to the Commons, the Chancellor said she is making a 'record cash investment' in the NHS, worth an extra 3 per cent a year in real terms.
The Chancellor insisted this would lead to 'more appointments, more doctors and more scanners' as Labour seeks to deliver on its manifesto promise to get the NHS 'back on its feet'.
But the settlement received a lukewarm response from NHS bosses, who said they would need even more money if the Government is to achieve its aim of treating 92 per cent of patients within 18 weeks of a GP referral by the end of this Parliament.
Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, which represents health organisations, said: 'Difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29billion won't be enough to cover increasing costs of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it.
'On its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.'
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, told the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester that the health service has done 'really well relative to other parts of the public service'.
But he added: 'We all know it's never enough because of the scale of advancement, all the ambition, the day-to-day cost pressures... but I think everyone's starting to accept and understand we've got what the country can afford to give us.
'We really need to get better value for that money – it is broadly the equivalent of the GDP of Portugal, so it's a huge amount.'
Government documents accompanying the Spending Review show that, on average, from 2023/24 to 2028/29, the NHS in England will receive 3 per cent real-terms growth in day-to-day spending, equivalent to a £29billion increase in annual budgets
The Government said it will also invest up to £10 billion in NHS technology and digital transformation by 2028/29, plus £6 billion to speed up tests and treatments.
Scanners, ambulances and urgent treatment centres are among things the additional cash – part of the overall £29 billion – will pay for, with the aim of providing up to 4 million more tests and procedures in the next five years.
NHS England figures show 7.42 million treatments were waiting to be done at the end of March, relating to 6.25 million patients – up from 7.4 million and 6.24 million respectively at the end of February.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Spike in potentially fatal condition linked to ‘fake botox' sparks urgent probe
Regulators are urgently investigating the suspected illegal sale of fake botox after dozens of botulism cases were reported in North East England. Botulism is a potentially fatal condition caused by a bacteria-produced toxin, which attacks the body's nerves and can cause paralysis of the muscles and respiratory system. It is extremely rare, with just six cases recorded across England in 2023-24. But – in the space of just a few weeks – 28 cases of botulism have now been reported in North East England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – which warned that more cases may yet come to light. The cases, most of which are in the Durham and Darlington areas, have all been reported by people who had recently undergone cosmetic procedures. Reactions have included severe drooping of the upper eye lids, double vision, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy, according to the UKHSA. On one night in June, five of the people affected all ended up in the same A&E department in Durham, according to the BBC, which cited internal hospital communications in showing that the local stock of anti-toxin was nearly exhausted, forcing medics to request more from London as they 'braced' for more patients. One of the five patients, Nicola Fairley – a mother of four from Bishop Auckland, in County Durham – told the broadcaster that she had received anti-wrinkle injections in the past, paying £100 for three areas. But she then won a round of treatment from the same provider in a competition, using what she was told was a stronger type of botox and again had three areas injected, without realising the treatment was illegal. While genuine injections should take several days to start working, the 37-year-old said her forehead became 'frozen' within two hours. The business owner who gave Ms Fairley the injections has since apologised, she said, adding: 'I know she hasn't done this on purpose. I just don't know where people get it from – it's scary. 'There needs to be more rules and stricter guidelines on who can do it – not just anybody who can go and do a course and just do it. There's that many people who do it – it's part of your beauty regime like getting your nails done or your hair.' The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is now understood to be investigating the spate of cases. Dr Alison Cave, the agency's chief safety officer, said: 'Public safety is a top priority for the MHRA. Our Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to identify those involved in the illegal trade in medicines and takes robust enforcement action where necessary. This can include criminal prosecution. 'Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a prescription-only medicine and should only be available in the UK under the supervision of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional 'Buying Botox and other medicines from illegal suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use in the UK.' Dr Simon Howard of the UKHSA said that agency was still investigating the cause of the cases, and said the practitioners associated with most of the cases were no longer carrying out the procedures. 'However, that does not mean that we may not see more cases as symptoms can take up to four weeks to develop although we are now seeing the number of cases coming forward decreasing which is encouraging news,' said Dr Howard. 'We will continue to work with our partners to reduce the public health risk and would advise people to make sure they take precautions when seeking aesthetic procedures. 'Anyone who has recently undertaken an aesthetic procedure, and is experiencing any of the symptoms listed, should contact NHS 111.' The Department for Health and Social Care said the government was looking into new regulations, with people's lives currently being put at risk by 'inadequately trained operators in the cosmetic sector'. 'We urge anyone considering cosmetic procedures to consider the possible health impacts and find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner,' a spokesperson told the BBC.
BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Why your hayfever may be bad at the moment
Sneezing, itchy and running eyes, or a scratchy throat. All can take the pleasure out of a sunny summers day, and all could be due to pollen levels in your the next few days very high grass pollen levels are predicted across the respite should come for some from Sunday onwards as we move to slightly breezier, more changeable you're not on your own as pollen-induced hayfever affects approximately 13 million people in the UK and around 95% of those cases can be attributed to grass. We are currently just past the peak of the grass pollen season, which generally runs from late May to early we can expect regional variations in the length and potency of that across the northern Scotland it tends to be shorter, but in areas such as south-east England grass pollen can continue to affect some people all the way through until early not just grass pollen that could be the cause of those sneezes at the moment pollen and fungal spores are also on the rise as they head towards their summer peak. Whilst dry and warm weather are often responsible too, some types of fungal spores, such as Leptosphaeria can increase temporarily during you're very badly affected at the moment you might be pleased to know that this year grass pollen levels aren't expected to be above average over all. Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said this is due to the UK weather in late spring where the combination of warm weather increased grass growth, but the dry conditions conversely reduced that growing potential."While short dry spells and high temperatures mid-season can increase pollen levels, over a prolonged period this could lead to depletion of the available pollen on the plants," he added. When are pollen levels at their highest? Pollen levels can vary from day to day, even hour to hour depending on weather are at their highest during dry and in warm weather, but can decline if the dry spell is a prolonged onset of rainfall helps to dampen down pollen, but the return of a dry and sunny spell can see a sudden rise in levels of day can be crucial too. Hayfever can be at it's worst early morning and from late afternoon onwards. On sunny days, these are the times when winds tend to be at their lightest and the pollen is concentrated in the lower atmosphere, close to nose and eyes. Is there anything I can do to avoid pollen? It's not an easy thing to avoid here in the UK.A first step could be to check the forecast where you are. Up to date forecasts are available on the BBC Weather website and app from late spring to early search for your location and you will find the latest data alongside the UV forecast. If you are particularly susceptible to hayfever try to avoid being outdoors early and in late in the day when pollen levels can be at their and changing your clothes once you've returned home can help to reduce the be mindful when hanging washing out on high pollen days. Pollen landing on clothes and sheets can then be easily brought don't forget our beloved pets. Limit contact or wash hands after handling them if they have also been you want to escape high pollen days sometimes a trip to the coast may help. However, you will need a location where there is a steady wind coming in off the sea and not the land. Is climate change affecting the pollen season? Like much of the natural world, our changing climate is likely to impact pollen levels in the UK in the years to a Government report on the health affects of climate change in the UK, external there are three ways a warming world could impact pollen patternsChanges in temperature and rainfall patterns could lengthen the pollen season and increase pollen is possible that pollen particles could become more potent, with greater amounts of the allergy causing agent on them.A changing distribution of allergenic plants across the UK, including invasive species, could see potential pollen levels increase in some areas.
The Guardian
16 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Moment historic vote on legalising assisted dying in England and Wales passes
Assisted dying is set to become law after a historic vote in parliament, as MPs passed Kim Leadbeater's bill by 314 to 291 votes, a majority of 23, to legalise the procedure for terminally ill people. Keir Starmer backed the bill which will now head to the House of Lords, though peers are not expected to block its progress. It will give those with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to an assisted death, after approval from two doctors and a panel including a psychiatrist, social worker and senior lawyer
