Latest news with #JimMackey
Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Times
A robot surgeon? I'll put my money on that
T hank you for waiting, the robot will see you now. Nine in ten keyhole operations won't need a human surgeon in the room within the next decade, according to the NHS. One in five operations are already carried out by robots, guided remotely, to improve outcomes while cutting costs. Science fiction is becoming surgical fact because robotic-assisted surgery can mean smaller incisions, reduced scarring and quicker recovery. There's no need to take my word for it: Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of the NHS, said: 'We are using every tool to ensure patients get the best possible treatment. Expanding the use of new tech, such as robotic surgery, will play a huge part.' Wes Streeting, the health and social care secretary, added: 'I know how important this is. The NHS saved my life from kidney cancer with an operation led by a world-class surgeon being helped by a robot.'
Western Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Medical staff who responded to Southport knife attacks honoured by King
Paul Smith, a senior paramedic team leader, treated victims at the scene where Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were murdered and 10 others injured at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July. Mr Smith, who works for the North West Ambulance Service, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the community in Merseyside after 'he put the needs of the injured before his own safety', the NHS said. I'd like to recognise those staff who were involved in the response to the knife attack in Southport last summer. These awards rightly honour their incredible dedication and commitment in an awful situation Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive Dr George Bramham, who was also a first responder, received the same honour. Martin Johnson and Elizabeth Parsons, who were part of the surgical team in theatre who treated people sent to Southport Hospital after the stabbings, have been given the same medals. Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, praised the staff for their 'incredible dedication and commitment in an awful situation'. Meanwhile, Reverend Martin Abrams, a spiritual care and chaplaincy manager, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the community in Merseyside and west Lancashire. This stands as a legacy of the work to address health inequalities by driving forward a powerful vision of exceptional quality healthcare for all, ensuring equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England He played a key role in the community after the horrors of the attacks, the health service said. Other NHS staff receiving honours include Professor Bola Owolabi, a GP and director of inequalities at NHS England, who was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to reducing health inequalities. Professor Owolabi said: 'This stands as a legacy of the work to address health inequalities by driving forward a powerful vision of exceptional quality healthcare for all, ensuring equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes.' Sir Jim added: 'I want to give my heartfelt congratulations to all the people working in the NHS that have received honours, who work tirelessly everyday to care for their patients. 'I'd also like to recognise those staff who were involved in the response to the knife attack in Southport last summer. These awards rightly honour their incredible dedication and commitment in an awful situation. 'The NHS is made up of highly committed and dedicated people that work hard to give the best possible care to patients, and these honours recognise their skill, compassion and bravery.'
Spectator
13-06-2025
- Health
- Spectator
How exactly will Reeves's funding boost fix the NHS?
The NHS was a big winner at the Spending Review, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a 'record cash injection'. Two hundred miles from the Commons in Manchester, NHS England Chief Executive Sir Jim Mackey, told healthcare leaders gathered at the NHS confederation's annual 'expo' that the government had 'done us a good turn'. There will be a £29 billion real-terms increase in day-to-day spending for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with its annual budget reaching £232 billion by 2028-29. The budget for the NHS in England alone will rise to £226 billion. Government spending on health and care will have doubled in a decade. The DHSC budget will eclipse the national income of Portugal and more than 40p in every government pound will be spent on the NHS. There was a strong sense of déjà vu listening to the Chancellor, as she reflected a growing fiscal orthodoxy.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
NHS gets an extra £29billion a year but waiting list targets may STILL be missed, health chiefs say
The NHS is unlikely to hit waiting time targets despite getting an extra £29billion a year in the Spending Review, health chiefs said last night. Economists described the real-terms rise as 'substantial', with the health service budget now equal to the entire annual income of Portugal. But patients were yesterday told to brace for cuts to services, with much of the extra cash set to be swallowed up by inflation-busting pay rises and higher drugs costs. Rachel Reeves told the Commons 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 figures suggest Department of Health and Social Care spending will rise 2.8 per cent – less than the average 3.6 per cent seen in recent years. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the NHS was the 'biggest winner' in the Spending Review and described the Department of Health as a 'behemoth'. But he added: 'Even here, one has to wonder whether this will be enough. Aiming to get back to meeting the NHS 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament is enormously ambitious – an NHS funding settlement below the long-run average might not measure up.' Sarah Woolnough, of health think-tank the King's Fund, said: 'It is hard to see how all the things she [Ms Reeves] mentions – faster ambulance times, more GP appointments and adequate mental health services and more – can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines... and staff pay deals.' However, she said the upcoming ten-year plan could lead to better, more efficient NHS services. According to spending review documents, the Government expects the NHS to deliver 2 per cent productivity growth each year, 'unlocking £17 billion savings over three years' to reinvest and improve patient care. Sally Gainsbury, at the Nuffield Trust health think-tank, said: 'Compared to settlements for other departments... the NHS deal looks generous. 'But seen in the context of all the promises made by the Government – to drive down waiting lists, shift care closer to home, rapidly improve tech – and the commitments to meet staff pay demands and rising costs of drugs, today's settlement soon melts away. 'With capital funding staying flat in real terms for the rest of the spending review period, it will be difficult for the NHS to invest in the technology and facility upgrades it needs to meet the Government's ambitious productivity targets.' 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.
Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS chiefs claim record cash injection might not be enough
Health chiefs have claimed that a record £29 billion cash injection might not be enough to save the NHS. Rachel Reeves announced the bumper increase for 'our most treasured public service' in her spending review, saying it would 'put the NHS firmly back on the path to renewal'. But there were immediate warnings that the money might not secure the reform the NHS needs. Ministers have yet to publish a 10-year health plan setting out their intentions, which was due in May. Sir Jim Mackey, the NHS chief executive, said the sums being ploughed into the health service were 'huge', telling senior managers at the NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester that the NHS budget would now match the GDP of Portugal, which tops £220 billion. The head of the health service said the NHS had done 'really well' from the spending review. It was now the job of the service to ensure it provides 'better value', he said. However, the funding increase, which amounts to a 3 per cent annual increase for the NHS, immediately prompted other health leaders to raise fears that it would not result in reform. Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, suggested the Government was 'resorting to magical thinking'. He said: 'The next four years will be the most important years in the history of the NHS. If we get it wrong, they could be among the last years.' While welcoming the extra money, Mr Taylor suggested it was not enough to support major reform. He said: 'We will do what we can with the revenue that we've got. It's going to be really tough.' Money will be absorbed by staff pay Mr Taylor, a former aide to Tony Blair, said: 'I remember the last time we tried reform, the government – I – supported 6 per cent a year. That's not the world right now.' He said the NHS would now face difficult decisions because the extra £29 billion would not be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with much of it likely to be absorbed by staff pay. After record pay increases last year, junior doctors – since rebranded as resident doctors – are threatening to strike again, despite being offered the biggest pay award in the public sector. The chief executive suggested that the funding boost could not guarantee even that waiting time targets would be met. Sally Gainsbury, a senior policy analyst from think tank Nuffield Trust, said: 'Compared to the settlements for other departments – from policing to education – the NHS deal looks generous. 'But seen in the context of all the promises made by the Government to the British people – to drive down waiting lists, shift care closer to home, rapidly improve tech – and the commitments to meet staff pay demands and rising costs of new drugs, today's settlement soon melts away.' Sarah Woolnough, the chief executive of The King's Fund, said: 'Despite the tough economic climate, the government has prioritised health services by continuing to increase spending on the NHS for the rest of this parliament. 'A 2.8 per cent average increase in total health department spending – 3 per cent for day-to-day NHS spending – will have been hard-fought for in the spending round negotiations, despite still being lower than the historical average the NHS has received over recent years. 'A key challenge now will be for the NHS to decide how it can deliver most value from the money that has been allocated. 'We know there are already trade-offs happening in the NHS due to tight finances. The Chancellor said she wants the public to have 'an NHS there when they need it'. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions – faster ambulance times, more GP appointments and adequate mental health services and more - can be met on this settlement alone.' The service was urged to ensure that it spends the money wisely. Jennifer Dixon, the chief executive of charity the Health Foundation, said: 'Given the economic and financial challenges facing the government, a real terms funding increase of 3 per cent a year is a good settlement for the NHS. 'But how far the money stretches and how much it benefits patients – will depend on how much is needed to fund pay settlements for NHS staff and how well the money is spent.'
