Latest news with #WesStreeting
DW
2 hours ago
- Health
- DW
UK Parliament backs assisted dying bill in historic vote – DW
Lawmakers in Britain have taken a historic step toward allowing assisted dying. The change would see England and Wales join other countries that allow terminally ill adults to choose to end their lives. Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have approved a bill allowing terminally ill adults in England and Wales to end their lives. The vote marks a major step toward legalizing assisted dying — one of the most significant social policy changes in decades and comparable to Britain's partial legalization of abortion in 1967. How did the vote go? Members of Parliament voted 314 to 291 in favor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill after an emotional debate. The 23-vote difference was slimmer than the 55-vote margin in a similar vote last November, after some lawmakers changed their stance. The legislation now moves to the House of Lords, which can delay or amend the bill but cannot entirely block it. The bill has sparked debate across party lines and among the public. Supporters argue that people facing terminal illness should have the right to end their suffering with dignity. They also highlight inequalities, pointing out that wealthier individuals can travel to Switzerland where assisted dying is permitted, while others cannot. Critics fear the law could pressure vulnerable individuals — particularly the elderly and disabled — into ending their lives due to societal or familial pressures. They warn of potential abuses and stress the need for robust safeguards. What makes assisted suicide so controversial? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The UK's center-left Labour government remains divided. Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported the bill, but Health Secretary Wes Streeting opposed it. Ministers said they would respect the vote's outcome. What does the legislation allow? The bill would permit terminally ill people aged 18 or older in England and Wales, with a prognosis of fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death. The legislation was changed from a previous version that required a judge's approval. Under the new plan, approval would come from two doctors and a review panel that includes a psychiatrist, a senior legal expert and a social worker. The bill does not apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Scotland is considering its own version of similar legislation. There is still uncertainty about the financial and logistical implications for the UK's National Health Service, hospice services, and the justice system. Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, and parts of the US. Rules on eligibility vary widely. It is distinct from euthanasia, which is legal in the Netherlands and Canada, where doctors can administer life-ending drugs at a patient's request under strict criteria. Edited by Sean Sinico
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Scottish Government backs review of sarcoma treatment after new report reveals stark inequalities in care
A major new study has revealed that hundreds of Scottish sarcoma patients are waiting six months or longer for diagnosis of the rare and often deadly disease due to 'systematic failings' in care. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Following the report's release last week by the bone and soft tissue cancer charity Sarcoma UK, the Scottish Government says it will review sarcoma treatment and care. The report was presented to Health Secretary Wes Streeting at a reception at the House of Commons on Wednesday hosted by Edinburgh South West MP Dr Scott Arthur, author of the Rare Cancer Bill. The report titled 'Unique Among Cancers' is the largest qualitative study of its kind ever undertaken in the UK. It heard from hundreds of patients and healthcare professionals across all four nations, uncovering systematic failings despite excellent specialist care once patients finally reach treatment centres. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, has now agreed to review the findings of the report and its 16 recommendations for how sarcoma treatment and care could be improved. Dr Scott Arthur MP, Richard Davidson, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK, Nicola Crowson, Patient Advocate, Wes Streeting, Health Secretary and Professor Anant Desai, Chair of the British Sarcoma Group What the Review Found - Excellent Care Undermined by Issues with Diagnosis While the vast majority of sarcoma patients speak positively about the treatment they receive once they reach a specialist centre, the state of the nation review of sarcoma care has also uncovered widespread, systemic failings and inequalities in their overall experience. Drawing on testimonies from patients, families, doctors and researchers, the review exposes how patients are often bounced between services, or dismissed entirely, until the disease is far advanced. Referral pathways are frequently poorly understood or misapplied, particularly for rarer subtypes that disproportionately affect women and young people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The investigation reveals that dangerous delays in diagnosis are common, often taking six months or longer, with many primary and secondary healthcare professionals lacking training and confidence in identifying this devastating disease. The report also found access to diagnostic imaging remains severely limited and uneven across the UK. Access and Equity Concerns With only five specialist sarcoma centres across Scotland, the review found that severe regional and economic inequalities exist in treatment and care. Rural communities, families with children, and people on lower incomes are disproportionately affected by travel demands. Meanwhile, the treatment landscape for sarcoma remains starkly limited. There is a near-total reliance on surgery, with few meaningful alternatives. It is apparent from our evidence that sarcoma research is grossly underfunded, with a clear market failure in the development of new drugs to treat the disease. Equally, many patients in Scotland are logistically or financially shut out of clinical trials, which are small in number and often concentrated in the south of England, resulting in an inequity of access to potentially lifesaving care. Mental Health and Support Gaps Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The review also highlighted inadequate mental health support, with few patients receiving timely or appropriate psychological help despite the enormous emotional strain of navigating a rare and unpredictable disease. Palliative and end-of-life care were also often found to be poorly resourced to meet sarcoma patients' specific needs. Call for Action In its report, Sarcoma UK has developed 16 clear, achievable and mostly cost-neutral recommendations in partnership with sarcoma healthcare experts and people affected by sarcoma, including: Expanded access to imaging and diagnostic tools in primary and secondary care Urgent investment in sarcoma-specific research and clinical trials Action to address the unique mental health challenges of sarcoma diagnosis and treatment New guidance to improve palliative and end-of-life support for sarcoma patients Richard Davidson, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK, said: "While we know healthcare professionals work tirelessly to provide excellent specialist care that patients consistently praise, our review exposes unacceptable delays and inequalities that are putting lives at risk before people even reach that care. 'These aren't minor administrative issues – they're systematic failings that mean some patients are dying unnecessarily because of where they live or how long they wait for diagnosis. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Governments have made strong commitments to improving cancer care, but these commitments must extend to everyone, including people with rarer cancers like sarcoma. That is why it is so welcome that the Scottish Government has agreed to review the findings of our report, as well as its recommendations for how sarcoma treatment and care can be improved." Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, said: 'I welcome the finding that specialist cancer care in Scotland is of a high standard, and I am committed to ensuring that everyone affected by cancer – including those with rarer forms like sarcoma – receives timely, equitable, and compassionate care. We will publish our refreshed Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, including for soft tissue sarcoma and bone cancer, later this month to ensure that patients are on the right pathways at the right time.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Fresh hospital strike threat in latest pay row
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned the government about the potential for multiple groups of doctors to strike together later this year. The BMA announced an indicative ballot for hospital consultants and specialist, associate specialist, and specialty (SAS) doctors in England over a 4 per cent pay uplift. Doctors view the 4 per cent pay rise as an insult, stating it does not address historical pay freezes and is below inflation. Junior doctors are already being balloted for strike action, and senior doctors may now join them on picket lines. The BMA has called for negotiations with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, but states it has not received a repl y, leading to the ballot.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Hospital consultants may strike with junior doctors in pay row escalation
Hospital consultants may now join junior doctors in taking strike action in an escalation of the row over pay with the government. The British Medical Association (BMA) warned the government it faces ' having several groups of doctors on picket lines together later this year'as the union announced an indicative ballot of senior doctors over their recent pay offer. Consultants and specialist, associate specialist, and specialty (SAS) doctors in England will be asked whether they are willing to take part in industrial action over the 4 per cent pay uplift many were given in May. The union said at the time that the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes, with the committees representing these doctors writing to health secretary Wes Streeting calling for him to meet for negotiations. However, the BMA said it has not received a reply. The union has consequently announced the indicative ballot, which will open on 21 July and close on 1 September. Resident doctors in England, formally known as junior doctors, are already being balloted over the prospect of strike action, with senior doctors now potentially set to join them on the picket lines. BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, said in a statement: 'Last month's offer was an insult to senior doctors and undoes so much of the progress made last year. The 4 per cent was below April's RPI inflation, let alone anywhere close to making a dent in the huge pay cuts consultants have experienced over the last 17 years. 'Without restoring consultants' value we will continue to drive our most experienced clinical leaders and academics away – in many cases to better pay and conditions overseas – when patients and the public need them most. 'We've been clear to the government that we're ready to get around the table and to secure a better outcome for doctors, patients and the public, but with no response, we have no choice but to prepare for the possibility of further action.' They added: 'Our resident colleagues have already launched their ballot, to which we offer them our fully fledged support. We ask the government whether it can really risk having several groups of doctors on picket lines together later this year.' BMA SAS committee chairwoman Dr Ujjwala Mohite added: 'SAS doctors are the backbone and unsung heroes of the NHS, yet this year's pay 'award' once again completely disregards the value we offer to patients and the health service. 'Even with the uplift, SAS pay will be down by almost a quarter in real terms compared to 2008. We are certainly not working a quarter less than we were 16 years ago.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors and consultants have received an above-inflation pay rise of 4 per cent, following last year's 6 per cent pay award, meaning the starting salary for a consultant is over £20,000 more than in 2023. 'Through the hard work of consultants, SAS doctors and all NHS staff, we have cut waiting lists to their lowest level in two years, down by almost a quarter of a million since we took office. 'Through our plan for change we want to continue working with doctors to rebuild our NHS for the benefit of both staff and patients.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Government urged to help save Hinckley hospital frontage
A council leader has written to the health secretary in a bid to preserve the historic frontage of a Hinckley NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board plans to demolish the Victorian frontage of Hinckley and District Hospital, in Mount Road, as part of its proposal to build a new £10.5m day case May, Stuart Bray, leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, expressed his "deep disappointment" but the board said it was unable to retain it due to clinical requirements of the Bray has asked Wes Streeting to extend the funding deadline to enable time to find a design solution with the board. The new medical facility is designed to deliver services including gynaecology, urology and plastic surgery and will be linked to the new community diagnostic centre at the site. In his letter to the health secretary, Bray said he "warmly" welcomed government investment for improved NHS facilities in the town following decades of campaigning, However he also highlighted that the hospital building's facade was part of the town's heritage and the demolition was causing concerns said he had met with the project team, who informed him any delay or changes to the proposed design would result in the funding being withdrawn."They tell me that your department has set a hard deadline of next spring for spending of the budget on this project," he said."I am therefore writing to ask you to consider asking your officials to work with myself, planning and conservation officers and the local community to look again at the design."At the very least I would ask for a commitment to ensure that the funding for the scheme is safeguarded to enable local discussions to proceed."Bray added he would be happy to discuss the matter with Streeting and invited him to visit Hinckley. 'Benefits outweigh loss' A planning application to demolish the entire hospital was submitted to the borough council in May.A spokesperson for the board said: "The option of retaining the Victorian frontage of the hospital unfortunately would have meant that the business care objectives and clinical requirements for the development of the new facilities would not be met. "The proposed materials do include reclaimed bricks from the current building and we consider that the heritage impact of the scheme will be outweighed by the benefits to the public."Hinckley and Bosworth MP Dr Luke Evans supported the plans, adding the current building was "no longer fit for purpose"."To ignore the realities facing us and request a delay at such a late stage in the process, after the NHS has put time and money into creating these plans, risks our community losing this funding and access to vital local healthcare services altogether," he response to Bray's letter, the Department of Health said: "We are pleased to be providing more than £7m for a day case unit in Hinckley which will greatly benefit patients and the community."The funding is due to be spent this financial year with delivery scheduled by February 2026."Any requests for further funding or to change or delay the scope of the project, would have to be made through the appropriate channels for consideration.A public consultation on the development ended on 13 June.
