Tag: NHS England

Three in four cancer patients to survive long term under new plan

Patients will receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and the support to live well with cancer under the UK government’s landmark new National Cancer Plan

NEW NATIONAL CANCER PLAN FOR ENGLAND

  • 75% of patients diagnosed from 2035 will be cancer-free or living well after five years, following record investment in the NHS    
  • NHS to meet all cancer waiting time standards by 2029, with hundreds of thousands more patients treated within 62 days   
  • Major expansion of robot-assisted surgery and faster diagnostics to slash delays     Patients will receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment, and the support to live well with cancer under the government’s landmark National Cancer Plan, unveiled today.   

For the first time, the NHS will commit to ensuring three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards are cancer-free or living well after five years.  

This represents the fastest rate of improvement in cancer outcomes this century and will translate to 320,000 more lives saved over the lifetime of the plan.  

The NHS has not met its central cancer performance target - that 85% of patients start treatment within 62 days of referral - since 2014.  Survival rates are below Romania and Poland for some cancer types.  

Under this plan, that will change – by March 2029, the NHS will meet all three cancer waiting time standards, meaning hundreds of thousands more patients will receive timely treatment. This demonstrates the real change being delivered by the government’s record investment as we rebuild the NHS. 

60% of patients currently survive for 5 years or more and around 2.4m people are currently living after a cancer diagnosis.  

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Cancer survial shouldn’t come down to who won the lottery of life. But cancer is more likely to be a death sentence in Britain than other countries around the world. 

“As a cancer survivor who owes my life to the NHS, I owe it to future patients to make sure they receive the same outstanding care I did. 

“Thanks to the revolution in medical science and technology, we have the opportunity to transform the life chances of cancer patients. Our cancer plan will invest in and modernise the NHS, so that opportunity can be seized and our ambitions realised. 

“This plan will slash waits, invest in cutting-edge technology, and give every patient the best possible chance of beating cancer.”

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “Almost everyone will know someone who has been affected by cancer – a friend, a partner, a parent or a child – and for many people it will be part of their own story too. 

“This plan sets a clear roadmap for the NHS to diagnose more cancers earlier, ensure more patients are treated on time and improve survival, so that hundreds of thousands more people live longer, healthier lives with or after cancer over the next decade. 

“This is alongside delivering the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment and care to every corner of the country, improving access to pioneering trials and ensuring there is wraparound support for people closer to home. 

“The National Cancer Plan will see the NHS deliver world-class cancer care, offering renewed hope for millions and ensuring the health service is there for patients whenever they need it.”

Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It’s encouraging to see such bold survival ambitions in the National Cancer Plan for England. This comes at a time when people living with cancer tell us all too often that their care hasn’t been good enough, from long waits for tests and treatment to being left without the support they need once treatment ends. 

“This Plan has the potential to transform care for people living with cancer, ensuring people not only live longer but live better with their diagnosis. We look forward to working with the government to make this vision a reality: adding life to years, as well as years to life.”

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “The publication of the National Cancer Plan for England represents a significant commitment by the UK government to treat cancer with the seriousness it deserves.  

“Across England, too many cancer patients are waiting too long to start treatment, so it’s important that the UK government has committed to meeting cancer waiting time targets by 2029. A wide range of measures will be needed for these to be met. 

“In addition to this, it’s promising to see the government’s ambitious commitment to saving more lives from cancer. England lags behind comparable countries on cancer survival and it’s vital that this changes, so more people affected by cancer can live longer, better lives.”

Chris Walden, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer52, said: “For the first time, an England cancer plan includes a specific focus on rare and less common cancers. This is a step change; the needs of our community have been heard.

“We welcome the government’s response to our calls to switch gear on improving diagnosis, increasing research and introducing leadership so that rare and less common cancers have parity.  

“Now the changes outlined in the Plan, and the Rare Cancers Bill, have to be implemented in full. They have the potential to make a real difference to the lives of people living with a rare and less common cancer now and in the future.”

Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s, said: “If we are to usher in a new era of world-leading cancer care that is truly catered to the needs of people with cancer, it is vital that the right practical and emotional support is provided to help people manage and live with cancer.  

“That’s why we are really pleased to see the government recognise the need to improve support for people at every stage of cancer and acknowledge that the challenges of cancer don’t end when treatment ends.  

“We warmly welcome the introduction of the new target and look forward to working with the government and the NHS to ensure people can live well with cancer.  

“At Maggie’s, we believe that with the right support, people can live full, productive lives with and beyond cancer. While the number of people diagnosed cancer is only going to rise, more people are surviving than ever before or living for many years as medical advancements effectively keeping cancer at bay.”

The plan sets out sweeping reforms to how cancer is diagnosed and treated:   

  • Faster diagnostics: A £2.3 billion investment will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 -investing in more scanners, digital technology and automated testing. Where possible, Community Diagnostic Centres will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week, bringing testing closer to where people live.   
  • Robot-assisted surgery: From hip replacements to heart surgery and cancer operations, the number of robot-assisted procedures will increase from 70,000 to half a million by 2035, reducing complications and freeing up hospital beds.  
  • Treatment at specialist centres: More patients with rarer cancers will have their care reviewed and treated at specialist cancer centres, where they can benefit from the expertise of the best cancer doctors. These centres bring together surgeons, oncologists, specialist nurses and radiologists to agree the best treatment plan for each case.   
  • Genomic testing: Every patient who could benefit will be offered a test that analyses the DNA of their cancer. This helps doctors understand exactly the type of cancer someone has and choose treatments most likely to work for them.  
  • Waiting lists: New technology is being developed to give patients better access to tests for cancer by offering them the earliest available appointment from a range of NHS organisations in their local area. 

The UK government has also announced a new AI pilot to help detect hard-to-reach lung cancers sooner with fewer invasive tests as well as a new employer partnership to support England’s 830,000 working-age cancer patients to remain in employment during and after treatment.   

While more people survive cancer than ever before, progress has slowed over the last decade, and England remains behind other comparable countries including Australia and Denmark.  For some cancers, such as brain cancer, survival rates in England trail behind countries like Croatia and Romania. 

The cancer plan comes as the government continues to make strides on cancer waiting lists, diagnosing or ruling out cancer on time for 213,000 extra cases since July last year.   

One hundred and seventy community diagnostic centres are now open – with over 100 of them available at evenings and weekends – bringing checks, scans and tests closer to where people live and at times that work around them. 

The government is also taking tough action on the causes on cancer: introducing a generational ban on smoking and a ban on junk food ads before 9pm.

The new England Cancer Plan carries a bold and ambitious message for people affected by leukaemia and other blood cancers according to Colin Dyer, chief executive of blood cancer charity, Leukaemia Care.

Reacting to the launch of the Government’s England Cancer Plan earlier today, he said: “We are particularly encouraged to see a strong focus on earlier diagnosis, more personalised and joined-up care, and better practical support for children and young people with cancer.

These are three core elements we’ve been doing, and championing, for many years here at Leukaemia Care.

Leukaemia is still far too often diagnosed in an emergency setting, such as A&E. Around 37% of people are diagnosed this way, which can be more traumatic for patients and families and is linked to poorer outcomes.

Greater emphasis on improving diagnostic pathways, supporting GPs and frontline services to recognise cancer sooner, and reducing emergency presentations has real potential to save lives.

This reflects exactly what we have been calling for through our Spot Leukaemia campaign and our work to improve awareness of symptoms among both the public and healthcare professionals.

We are also pleased to see the plan highlight more personalised, joined-up care. A cancer diagnosis does not just involve treatment – people need emotional, practical and coordinated support throughout. Through our patient Navigator service, already embedded in more than 20 hospitals, we see every day how having a dedicated professional to help patients navigate appointments, information and support alongside NHS care can transform their experience.

We hope to see this kind of model recognised and expanded as the plan is delivered.

Finally, the commitment to cover hospital travel costs for families of children and young people with cancer is hugely significant. We know from running our own CAR-T travel fund for families needing this specialist treatment that travel costs can be a major additional burden at an already overwhelming time.

We are delighted to see this need recognised nationally, and that more families facing other cancers will benefit from similar support.

While an ambitious, and hugely welcome plan, the priority now must be turning these commitments into consistent improvements in care and outcomes for everyone affected by leukaemia. We will be watching closely and will continue to engage with NHS and government partners.

We believe it is essential the NHS works closely with the third sector, drawing on the expertise and proven models charities have developed over many years.

LYMPHOMA Action charity said: The publication of the NHS National Cancer Plan today marks a significant milestone for the cancer community and is a much-needed step forward for cancer care across the country.

At Lymphoma Action, we will be watching the rollout of the plan with interest on behalf of our community.

The plan shows real promise for the future of cancer treatment and care, and our focus is to make sure that lymphoma receives the same level of attention as other cancer types, and that the plan reflects the unique needs of people affected by the condition.

We are ready to offer our expertise and in-depth understanding of the patient experience of lymphoma to help the NHS make a success of the plan, and drive improvements in treatment and care for everyone affected by this type of blood cancer.

Lymphoma Action is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to supporting people affected by lymphoma, the most common blood cancer in the UK.

We offer expert information, dedicated support and a community that understands. For 40 years we have supported the lymphoma community, and we’re pushing harder than ever to make sure everyone with lymphoma gets the care they need. 

Further information can also be found on our website: www.lymphoma-action.org.uk

Crackdown on illegal underage sunbeds use to cut teen cancer risk

UK Government plans to crackdown on illegal underage sunbeds use to cut cancer risks to teenagers

  • Unsupervised sunbed use by young people to be banned as part of National Cancer Plan
  • Consultation to launch in Spring 2026, new rules could come into force as soon as 2027
  • Drive to tackle avoidable cancer and help make the NHS Fit for the Future

More young people will be better protected from skin cancer through a proposed crackdown on sunbed harms, clamping down on rogue businesses flouting the law and putting children’s health at risk by selling sessions to under-18s.

New proposals under the soon-to-be launched National Cancer Plan will strengthen requirements around commercial sunbed use, including banning unsupervised sessions and introducing mandatory ID checks to verify users are over 18.

Recent investigations have shown that teenagers as young as 14 are gaining access to tanning salons, routinely flouting the existing ban on under-18s using sunbeds.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classed sunbeds to be as dangerous as smoking. Using a sunbed before the age of 20 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 47% compared to those who have never used one, according to the WHO.

Reducing avoidable cancer risks is a central action in the upcoming National Cancer Plan and will help make England a world leader for cancer survival.

Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “Stronger protections on sunbeds are needed so people understand risks that could have deadly consequences.

“The evidence is clear: there is no safe level of sunbed use, yet too many young people are being exposed to a known carcinogen with little understanding of the risks.

“These proposals will crack down on rogue operators and ensure the law is properly enforced. Prevention saves lives, and we will do everything we can to protect people from avoidable cancers.”

There are inherent risks associated with exposure to UV radiation emitted from sunbeds. This is why the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 bans under 18s from using commercial sunbeds and requires businesses to prevent children from using them. Despite this, there is evidence that rogue operators are continuing to sell these services to teenagers.

Louise Dodds, who is living with melanoma, said: “My melanoma was found completely by chance during a private consultation for something unrelated, a mole that had become dark and itchy was removed quickly, and within a week I was told it was stage 1B melanoma.

“Hearing the word ‘cancer’ sent me into shock. I was rushed back into the NHS system for more surgery and lymph node tests, all within weeks. The procedures and the waits for results were brutal.

“Although some results were clear, others were inconclusive, leaving me living with constant uncertainty. If I’d known earlier how dangerous UV exposure and sunbeds were, I would never have taken the risk.”

Susanna Daniels, Chief Executive Officer of Melanoma Focus, said: “We are delighted that the Government is taking real steps to tackle the use of sunbeds by those under 18, as well as planning to consult on the use of sunbeds more broadly.

“The need for action is clear, with 34% of UK 16-17 year olds using sunbeds despite them being illegal for under 18s. Additionally, the rates of melanoma in the UK have risen considerably.   

“To protect your skin and reduce your chances of being diagnosed with melanoma or other skin cancers, we strongly advise against using sunbeds. Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. The time to act is now and we therefore support the action the Department of Health and Social Care is proposing.”

The crackdown forms part of the government’s wider focus on prevention in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will set out our ambition to reduce lives lost to cancer.

By tackling avoidable risk factors before they lead to serious illness, the government is taking a proactive approach to reducing pressure on the NHS and improving outcomes for patients. Prevention is not just good for public health—it is essential to building a sustainable health service for the future.

In 2023, there were almost a quarter of a million new skin cancer diagnoses in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £750 million annually.

Despite these risks, public awareness remains dangerously low. Polling from Melanoma Focus shows that only 62% of adults know that sunbed use increases cancer risk, and nearly a quarter of 18-25 year olds wrongly believe sunbeds actually reduce their risk of cancer.

The consultation will also seek views from businesses, including the many small and medium-sized enterprises that operate in the tanning industry.

The government recognises the need to balance public health protections with the impact on businesses and will use the consultation to gather evidence on costs and practicalities. This will ensure that any new requirements are proportionate, enforceable, and deliver meaningful improvements to public safety.

Additionally, a call for evidence will also be launched to understand whether further action to reduce cases of melanoma is justified.

Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director at NHS England, said: “A sunbed tan might only last a few weeks, but the damage can last a lifetime. 

“Sunbeds blast your skin with high levels of UV radiation raising the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly for young people.

“These proposals, as part of the National Cancer Plan, will help close dangerous loopholes, crack down on illegal sunbed use and keep people safe.”

Wes Streeting hails use of private sector in England’s NHS

STREETING: “WEALTH SHOUDN’T DETERMINE HEALTH”

FASTER CARE FOR THOUSANDS THROUGH NHS USE OF INDEPENDENT SECTOR

  • A total of 6.15 million appointments, tests and operations were delivered by independent providers for NHS patients this year.
  • The almost 500,000 increase on last year is helping to cut waiting times, free up NHS capacity and deliver national renewal through the government’s Plan for Change
  • Patients able to cut waiting times by up to five months by switching to nearby hospital with shorter queues.

Hundreds of thousands of people are receiving faster care thanks to the Labour government’s partnership with the private sector, which is helping provide the treatment they need to get back on their feet – free at the point of use.

More than 6 million tests and operations for NHS patients were delivered by independent healthcare providers over the past year – almost 500,000 more than last year.

Independent healthcare providers delivered an average of 19,000 surgical procedures and 100,000 outpatient appointments every week this financial year – helping to treat more than 1.1 million people

This is all part of the drive to use every resource available to stop patients suffering on the unacceptably long waiting lists this government inherited – which have now fallen by 206,000 over the past year.

Using spare capacity in the private sector is central to the government’s goal that 92% of patients in England should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment – which is fundamental to delivering the renewal this country needs.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “I’ll do everything I can to get NHS patients treated faster, free at the point of use.

“This is a principled, progressive position, not just a pragmatic one. We’re not prepared to continue two-tier healthcare, when those who can afford it get treated on time, and those who can’t are left behind. Wealth shouldn’t determine health.

“This is just one reform which has helped deliver 5 million more appointments, grown NHS productivity, and cut waiting lists by 200,000.

“We are also investing in growing the NHS capacity, opening up CDCs and operating theatres at evenings and weekends, and bringing in modern technology like robotic surgery. Through investment and relentless reform, we will make sure every patient is treated on time, not just those who can afford to pay.”

The partnership with the private sector comes alongside the other UK government measures to cut waiting times and expand NHS capacity in England, including:

  • Opening more Community Diagnostic Centres seven days a week, 12 hours a day. They have delivered over 8.7 million diagnostic tests since July 2024, closer to where people live, freeing up hospitals.
  • Opening new 22 new surgical hubs and expanding a further 12.
  • Introducing a national programme of weekend High-Intensity Theatre (HIT) lists once a month in 50 hospitals to get through a week’s worth of planned operations in a day
  • Setting up NHS Online, which will deliver up to 8.5 million appointments in its first three years and allow patients to digitally connect to expert clinicians anywhere in England.

The partnership with the independent sector strengthens the commitment set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to boost patients right to choose where they are treated, with new research showing patients are cutting their wait for an NHS operation by up to five months by switching to a nearby hospital with shorter queues.

Sir Jim Mackey, NHS Chief Executive, said: “The independent sector is playing a vital role in supporting our efforts to bring down waiting lists and ensure patients can get the NHS care they need faster.

“Thanks to the ambition and hard work of NHS teams, we are seeing early signs of progress with waiting lists falling for the first time in years – but we are determined to go further and faster to improve patients’ experiences and this data shows clearly that maximising use of this capacity is an approach that is working for patients.”

Research from the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), alongside the Patients Association and Arthritis UK, found patients need to travel on average just under 13 miles – typically under 30 minutes by car – to cut over two and a half months off their waiting time for treatment.

For particular treatments, patients can cut their wait even further. For example, in the South East, patients requiring general surgery such as a hernia operation could cut their wait from an average of 27 weeks to just 6 weeks – a reduction of almost five months – by travelling from the areas with the longest waiting times to shortest.

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said: “These latest figures demonstrate just how important the independent sector is in providing much-needed NHS treatment – delivering around 10% of all NHS elective activity, and a record amount of appointments, tests and scans – all free at the point of use to patients.  

“In committing to better commissioning, patient choice and clear incentives, the recent NHS & Independent Sector Partnership is having real benefits to patients and by sticking to these principles, the Government and the independent sector can continue to drive down NHS waiting lists long into the future.”

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK said: “Thousands of people with arthritis in need of life changing hip and knee replacements are waiting in unnecessary pain.

“We know that the longer people wait, the more impact this has on their lives and causes a further deterioration in their joints which results in more complicated and expensive surgery and too often worse health outcomes.

“Promoting patient choice, including being able to be treated by independent providers, is therefore an important tool which may ensure that people can get faster access to the treatment they so desperately need.”

Sarah Tilsed, Head of Partnerships and Involvement, The Patients Association: “It’s encouraging to see more patients receiving the care they need sooner, with over six million NHS appointments, tests, and operations delivered through the independent sector in the past year.

£Every patient who has their treatment brought forward no longer has their life on pause and is able to take the next step in their care journey.

“As the NHS continues working to reduce the backlog, it’s vital that patients are supported with clear information and real choice about their options. Using all available capacity to deliver care sooner is essential, as long as patients are well informed of their right to choose and feel in control of their care journey.”

  • All figures above relate to the period September 2024 to August 2025
  • Independent healthcare providers deliver NHS care free at the point of use under contract to the NHS
  • 7.6 MILLION people were on NHS England waiting lists last month

Government to tackle antisemitism and other racism in England’s NHS

UK government takes urgent action to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS

  • Steps taken to end scourge of antisemitism in the health service
  • Lord John Mann to lead rapid review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism and racism
  • Mandatory antiracism training to be rolled out to all NHS staff

The Prime Minister has ordered an urgent review of antisemitism and all forms of racism in the NHS, as part of wider efforts to tackle discrimination in the health service.

Following recent incidents of antisemitism from doctors which drew stark attention to problems of culture and the regulation in the health system, Lord John Mann will lead the review, looking at how to protect patients and staff from racism and hold perpetrators to account. 

At the same time, the government announced the immediate rollout of strengthened mandatory antisemitism and anti-racism training across the health service, and NHSE will review its uniform guidance so patients and staff always feel respected in NHS settings. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The discrimination staff and patients have faced because of their race or religion goes against everything our country stands for.

“The NHS was built on the principle that everyone should be treated equally and with respect, and I am determined to restore this to the heart of the health service.

“That’s why I have asked Lord Mann to root out this problem and ensure perpetrators are always held to account.”

Today’s announcement builds on wider efforts across government to stamp out behaviour that seeks to divide and spread hate across the whole of society, following the horrific terrorist attack on Heaton Park Synagogue earlier this month.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: ”The NHS should be there for all of us when we need it – regardless of income, race, or religion. Discrimination undermines everything our health service stands for, and undermines its ability to provide quality care.

“I have been appalled by recent incidents of antisemitism by NHS doctors, and I will not tolerate it. There can be no place in our NHS for doctors or staff continuing to practise after even persistently using antisemitic or hateful language.

“Patients put their lives in the hands of healthcare professionals. They treat us at our most vulnerable. They therefore have a special responsibility to provide total comfort and confidence.

“I am grateful to Lord Mann for taking on this work. I expect his recommendations, and the action we are taking today, to help us enforce a zero tolerance policy to racism in healthcare.”

Lord John Mann said:  “The NHS and the health sector pride themselves on being welcoming, inclusive and professional in dealings with every one of us, as we are all patients at different times and in different ways throughout our entire life.

“Everyone in the country should be confident in these underlying principles at all times.

“This review will look at the issues that can undermine the confidence of individuals when seeking or receiving healthcare.  

“Ensuring that the systems and culture of regulation across the health service match, at all times,  the universal principles and ethics that underpin our NHS will be the sole focus of this work.”

Recently, shocking examples have raised concerns about the operation and efficiency of independent healthcare professional regulators, some of which have been slow to crack down and investigate incidents of hate.   

Lord Mann’s review will examine how the regulatory system for healthcare professionals tackles antisemitism and other forms of racism at every stage, from employment through to professional oversight. 

It will also look at regulatory processes, transparency in investigations, reporting mechanisms, and how zero-tolerance policies can be more effectively implemented across the health service.  

At the same time, all 1.5 million NHS staff will be required to complete updated mandatory antisemitism and anti-racism training, with existing equality, diversity and human rights programmes being expanded to include: 

  • Enhanced content on discrimination and antisemitism
  • New assessment questions to test understanding
  • Training developed with equality and antisemitism subject matter experts
  • Content aligned to core skills training framework

Staff will be asked to refresh their training immediately when the updated content becomes available shortly, rather than waiting for the standard three-year cycle. 

The government is also asking NHS England will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and set clear expectations that every Trust, Integrated Care Board, and arms-length body does the same. The government is also reviewing the recommendations of the independent working group on Islamophobia.

NHS England is reviewing the uniform and workwear guidance last updated in 2020, in light of recent successful approaches rolled out at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. 

NHS England will engage stakeholders on its proposals and issue new guidance shortly. The guidance will protect freedom of religious expression while ensuring patients feel respected at all times. The guidance will not impact staff’s freedom to protest and speak out on political issues, but it will ensure that the political views of staff do not impact on patient care. 

Andrew Gilbert, Vice President for Security, Resilience and Cohesion, Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “We welcome the new measures announced today to tackle antisemitism within the NHS, particularly the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a much needed review on regulators led by Lord Mann and an expansion of effective antisemitism training.

“For much of the last two years, Jewish staff and patients have felt let down by the NHS while antisemitism has been allowed to flourish and thrive with hospitals, medical schools and other health spaces becoming unwelcoming for Jews.

“The government’s plans are a step towards addressing these urgent issues that will make the NHS a safer place for Jews to work and receive care, however, these changes should be seen as a spring board for further changes and not a ‘fix-all’ with issues remaining on the classification of Jews as an ethnicity, the lack of repercussions of medical staff accused of antisemitism and health inequalities in the Jewish community.”

Claudia Mendoza, CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), said: “Antisemitism in the NHS has been out of control. We have seen doctors describe hospitals as cesspits of “Jewish supremacy” and praise Hamas as “legends”, with the regulators and tribunals not taking substantive action.

“It is vital that Jewish patients are able to trust that their healthcare providers will treat them without prejudice. This continued lack of action has severely undermined trust.

“The government’s announcements today including the introduction of mandatory antisemitism training and the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism encouraged across the health service, are a welcome first step but must be the first of many.

“Most importantly, we must see swift action as a result of Lord Mann’s urgent review into how healthcare regulators tackle antisemitism.”

Lord Mann will report to the Health Secretary, with practical recommendations to strengthen protections against antisemitism and other forms of racism in healthcare. 

Patient safety is a priority for this government and the bedrock of an NHS that is fit for the future – that includes ensuring that the NHS is completely free from racism.   

The Jewish Medical Association (JMA) said: “For the past two years the Jewish Medical Association has become increasingly concerned about blatant expressions of antisemitism – simply anti-Jewish racism – that have become widely tolerated across healthcare. British Jewish healthcare students, professionals and patients find this profoundly distressing and intimidating.

“The JMA welcomes Lord Mann’s review of the role of regulators in eliminating this toxic culture for Jews.

“We have long called for IHRA definition adoption, for effective mandatory training for staff in the NHS, regulators and other key players to combat antisemitism, and for implementation of uniform policy, all to help make healthcare a prejudice-free, politics-free environment.”

Daniel Carmel-Brown, CEO of Jewish Care, said: “Jewish Care welcomes the government’s commitment to tackling antisemitism and racism across the NHS and wider society. These measures send a powerful message that hatred and discrimination have no place in healthcare or anywhere else.

“Adopting the IHRA definition, enhancing training, and strengthening oversight are important steps towards ensuring that Jewish patients, staff, and communities feel safe, respected, and valued.

“We look forward to working with government and partners to help build a health service and a society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “Tackling antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism involves clear communication of a zero-tolerance stance, implementing systemic changes, and creating a supportive environment for all employees.

“That’s why we fully support roll out of the comprehensive measures announced today by the government. Our diverse workforce is the backbone of the NHS. It must be cared for, celebrated and respected for the outstanding care that it provides.

“At the same time, our patients, colleagues and communities need to be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. No one should be subjected to discrimination or abuse of any kind, within or outside of the workplace.”

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said: “Being anti-racist is not about making grand statements, it is about taking consistent action to end discrimination and inequity.

“What the Prime Minister has set out today is an important commitment to action in the NHS, using the levers of training and regulation to build a health and care workforce that is committed to ending racism.

“This can help our sector not just challenge overt racist acts, like violence and intimidation, but also address the underlying systemic issues which means our Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities continue to experience some of the worst access, experiences and outcomes from healthcare.”

Jessica Brady’s legacy inspires new life-saving GP safety rule in England

Patients with a potentially deadly illness will be diagnosed sooner thanks to a new life saving patient safety initiative called Jess’s Rule

  • GPs across England to take “three strikes and rethink approach” after three appointments – as Jess’s Rule rolled out nationwide to prevent avoidable deaths
  • Move will save lives and help catch serious, deadly conditions earlier, particularly in young people
  • Named after Jessica Brady, who tragically died of cancer aged 27 after twenty appointments at her GP surgery failed to diagnose her condition

Patients with a potentially deadly illness will be diagnosed sooner through a new life-saving patient safety initiative called Jess’ Rule that is being rolled out across the NHS in England today [23 September 2025].

Jess’s Rule is named in memory of Jessica Brady, who died of cancer in December 2020 at the age of 27, and will help avoid tragic, preventable deaths as GPs are supported to catch potentially deadly illnesses sooner. 

In the five months leading up to her death, Jessica had more than twenty appointments with her GP practice but eventually had to seek private healthcare. She was later diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma. With such an advanced disease there was no available treatment. She was admitted into hospital where she died three weeks later.

The new initiative will ask GPs to think again if, after three appointments, they have been unable to offer a substantiated diagnosis, or the patient’s symptoms have escalated.

While many GP practices already use similar approaches in complex cases, Jess’s Rule will make this standard practice across the country, aiming to reduce health inequalities and ensuring everyone – no matter their age or background – receives the same high standard of care.

Designed in collaboration with the Chair of Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England, Jess’s Rule will help to catch serious conditions earlier and support GPs with guidelines that bolster their clinical judgment, while encouraging them to reflect, review and rethink if they are uncertain about a patients’ condition.

Jess’s mum Andrea Brady said: “Jess lived for just three short weeks following her terminal cancer diagnosis. Despite her shock and devastation, she showed unfailing courage, positivity, dignity, and love. Jess was determined that people should understand how desperately she had tried to advocate for herself and seek a resolution for her declining health.

“In the bleak weeks following the loss of Jess, I realised it was my duty to continue what she had started. It has taken nearly five years to bring about Jess’s Rule. I would like to dedicate this initiative to all the young people who have been diagnosed too late.

“It has only been made possible because of the people who have listened — politicians, medics, and the nearly half a million who supported the campaign.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Jessica Brady’s death was a preventable and unnecessary tragedy. I want to thank her courageous family, who have campaigned tirelessly through unimaginable grief to ensure Jessica’s legacy helps to save the lives of others.  

“Patient safety must be the bedrock of the NHS, and Jess’ Rule will make sure every patient receives the thorough, compassionate, and safe care that they deserve, while supporting our hard-working GPs to catch potentially deadly illnesses.

“I don’t want any family to endure the pain Jessica’s family have been through. This government will learn from such tragedies and is taking decisive action to improve patient safety.”

Jess’s Rule could support GPs to ensure continuity of care for patients with persistent health concerns. This could involve arranging face-to-face consultations if previous appointments were remote, conducting thorough physical examinations, or ordering additional diagnostic tests.

It also encourages GPs to review patient records comprehensively, seek second opinions from colleagues, and consider specialist referrals when appropriate.

Research shows that younger patients and those from ethnic minority backgrounds often face delays in diagnosis of serious conditions, as their symptoms may not match typical presentation patterns seen in older or white patients.

A report from the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation found that half of 16 to 24-year-olds required three or more interactions with a healthcare professional from a GP practice before being diagnosed with cancer, compared to one in five across the whole population. 

Jess’s Rule emphasises the need to remain alert to symptoms that might suggest serious conditions, regardless of a patient’s age or ethnicity, thereby reducing health inequalities.

Dr Claire Fuller, National Medical Director at NHS England says: “I am very humbled by the efforts of Andrea and Simon Brady, who have campaigned for this important initiative which will undoubtedly save lives by avoiding missed or delayed diagnoses and ensuring patients receive the right treatment at the right time.

“Many clinicians already apply a version of “three strikes and rethink” in their routine practice, but Jess’s Rule formalises this instinctive approach, providing a consistent structure to support reflection and timely action for patients.”

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “No GP will ever want to miss signs of serious illness, such as cancer. Ensuring a timely diagnosis often means better outcomes for patients – but many conditions, including many cancers, are challenging to identify in primary care because the symptoms are often similar to other, less serious and more common conditions.

“Alternative diagnoses are often more likely, particularly when considering risk factors such as age.

“If a patient repeatedly presents with the same or similar symptoms, but the treatment plan does not seem to be making them better – or their condition is deteriorating – it is best practice to review the diagnosis and consider alternative approaches.

“We hope that by formalising this with Jess’s Rule, it will remind GPs to keep this at the forefront of their minds. The College has also worked with Jess Brady’s family and the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust to develop an educational resource for GPs on the early diagnosis of cancer in young adults, based around the principles of Jess’s Rule.”

Jessica Brady’s legacy will ensure that patient voice is at the heart of healthcare – a key commitment in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.

This initiative, targeting primary care, builds on the recent rollout of Martha’s Rule to every acute hospital in England, which empowers patients, families, and carers to request urgent clinical reviews if they are concerned about deteriorating conditions not being adequately addressed.

Jess’s Rule is just one of the ways the government is supporting GPs to provide worldclass healthcare for patients as part of the Plan for Change.

This includes recruiting over 2,000 extra GPs in a year, providing vital cash for over 1,000 GP surgeries to create additional space to see more patients, and securing a record funding boost for practices – over £1 billion in 2025-26. Public satisfaction with GP services is finally on the rise, with 73.6% of patients describing their GP experience as “good” according to recent ONS statistics, up 6.2% since July 2024.

By catching illnesses at earlier stages, Jess’s Rule will help reduce hospital backlogs, improve outcomes for patients, and save lives.

Free chickenpox vaccination offered for first time to children

A free chickenpox vaccination will offered for first time to children across England on the NHS from January – Scotland expected to follow suit

  • Government to launch chickenpox vaccination programme in England from January 2026, which will protect around half a million children each year
  • Eligible children will receive the vaccine during routine GP appointments, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
  • The rollout will help raise the healthiest generation of children ever, while reducing sick days and time parents take off work

Thousands of children will be protected against chickenpox for the first time in England through a new vaccination programme that will keep kids in school and parents in work while also saving the NHS vital funds.

It’s expected that the vaccination programme will also be introduced in Scotland.

From January next year, GP practises will offer eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) – the clinical term for chickenpox – as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule.

It will mean kids miss fewer days in nursery and school while parents won’t need to take time off work to care for them. Research shows that chickenpox in childhood results in an estimated £24 million in lost income and productivity every year in the UK. The rollout will also save the NHS £15 million a year in costs for treating the common condition.

The chickenpox vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work.

“This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child has the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help do exactly that.”

The vaccination programme forms part of the UK government’s wider ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever as part of the Plan for Change — boosting the nation’s health and ensuring the future sustainability of the NHS as we shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention.

The vaccine will help reduce cases of chickenpox and protect children from serious complications that can cause hospitalisation, such as bacterial infections like strep A, brain and lung inflammation and stroke.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal.

“It is excellent news, that from next January, we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.

“We now have extensive experience from a number of countries showing that the vaccine has a good safety record and is highly effective. The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children and also lead to fewer missed nursery and school days.”

The government’s decision to roll out the MMRV vaccine in January is based on expert scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), following research showing the significant impact of severe cases of chickenpox on children’s health, hospital admissions and associated costs.

Private vaccinations for chickenpox at pharmacies and clinics currently cost around £150 for a full course of two doses. This rollout will mean the vaccination will be available free of charge on the NHS to eligible children.

Other countries where the MMRV vaccine is already offered — such as Germany, Canada, and the United States — have seen substantial decreases in chickenpox cases and related hospital admissions since introducing their vaccination programmes.

Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England said: This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.

“We will work with vaccination teams and GP surgeries across the country to rollout the combined MMRV vaccine in the new year, helping to keep children healthy and prevent sickness from these highly contagious viruses.

“The MMRV vaccine rollout forms part of the government’s overall aim to ensure young people thrive, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan. This includes expanding access to vaccines, as well as free school meals, mental health support and dental care.”

This is the first time protection against another disease has been added to the routine childhood vaccination programme since the MenB vaccine in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Department for Education has recently announced plans to roll out Best Start Family Hubs in every local area, relieving pressure on parents and giving half a million more children the very best start in life.

The eligibility criteria for children will be set out in clinical guidance covering which age groups will get the MMRV vaccine and when, to ensure the most effective protection for children.

As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted by their GP surgery to arrange an appointment if their child is eligible.

Healthy food ‘revolution’ to tackle obesity epidemic

New healthy food standard will see big businesses promoting healthier food and drink

  • Reducing daily intake by just 50 calories could lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity 
  • Reforms part of the shift from sickness to prevention in the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan 
  • A healthy nation means less strain on the NHS, helping drive down pressure on waiting lists as part of the Plan for Change.

Food retailers and manufacturers will “make the healthy choice the easy choice” in a world-first partnership between government and industry to tackle the obesity epidemic and ease pressure on the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. 

As part of the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan, large retailers including supermarkets will be set a new standard to make the average shopping basket of goods sold slightly healthier. 

Businesses will be given the freedom to meet the standard however works best for them, whether that’s reformulating products and tweaking recipes, changing shop layouts, offering discounts on healthy foods, or changing loyalty schemes to promote healthier options. 

Public health experts believe cutting the calorie count of a daily diet by just 50 calories would lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by just 216 calories a day, equivalent to a single bottle of fizzy drink, obesity would be halved. 

Obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. With the UK now having the third highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, it remains a critical public health challenge, costing the NHS £11.4 billion a year, three times the NHS budget for ambulance services. 

Obesity rates have doubled since the 1990s, including among children. A forthcoming report by the Chief Medical Officer will show that more than 1 in 5 children are living with obesity by the time they leave primary school, rising to almost 1 in 3 in areas with higher levels of poverty and deprivation. 

It follows the government setting out in recent days a number of measures to tackle rapidly growing health inequalities, including investing more in working class communities where health disparities are greatest, and rapid action on the maternal mortality gaps in Black, Asian and working class communities. 

Through our Plan for Change, the government is shifting the focus from treatment to prevention and creating a more active state – that works with partners to make the healthy choice the easy choice – and a transition of the NHS from a sickness service to a prevention service.   

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Obesity has doubled since the 1990s and costs our NHS £11 billion a year, triple the budget for ambulance services. Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable. 

“The good news is that it only takes a small change to make a big difference. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day – the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink – obesity would be halved.   

“This government’s ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. That is within our grasp. With the smart steps we’re taking today, we can give every child a healthy start to life.  

“Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores heathier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field. 

“Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure. 

“By shifting from sickness to prevention through our Plan for Change, we will make sure the NHS can be there for us when we need it.”

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Britain has some of the best farmers, growers, food manufacturers and retailers in the world, which means we have more choice than ever before on our shelves.  

“It is vital for the nation that the food industry delivers healthy food, that is available, affordable and appealing.   

“Our food strategy will bring together the health plan, food producers and retailers to make sure we can feed the nation more healthily while growing the economic success of our food sector.”

The policy will see all big food businesses report on healthy food sales. This will set full transparency and accountability around the food that businesses are selling and encourage healthier products. 

The government will then set targets to increase the healthiness of sales in communities across the UK and work with the Food Strategy Advisory Board on the sequencing of this policy.  

Sarah Price, NHS England Director for Public Health, said: “A healthy diet, which includes a variety of nutritious food can help people stay well and provide long-term health benefits, which is good for them and good for the NHS. 

“That is why this move to make it easier for people to shop for healthy and nutritious food options is so important – it will help people reduce the risk of developing a range of life-altering physical conditions, such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes – both of which are on the increase in England.”

Major investment firms have already signalled that they would be keen to invest more in healthier products, if they were given due prominence and promotion by food retailers. 

Many supermarkets want to do more to make the average shopping basket healthier, but they risk changes hitting their bottom lines if their competitors don’t act at the same time. The new standard will introduce a level playing field, so there isn’t a first mover disadvantage. 

The changes are part of the UK government’s 10 Year Health Plan, due to be published shortly. The plan will radically reform the health service and improve the health of the nation, to make the NHS sustainable and fit for the future. 

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “All food businesses have a critical part to play in providing good quality, affordable and healthy food. At Tesco, we have measured and published our own healthier food sales for a number of years now – we believe it is key to more evidence-led policy and better-targeted health interventions.

“That’s why we have called for mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses and why we welcome the Government’s announcement on this.

“We look forward to working with them on the detail of the Healthy Food Standard and its implementation by all relevant food businesses.”

Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s commented: “We’re passionate about making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone and have been championing the need for mandatory health reporting, across the food industry for many years.

“Today’s announcement from Government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well. We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact.  

“We look forward to working across Government and our wider industry on the further development of these policies and in helping to drive improved health outcomes across our nation.”

Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO of Nesta, said: “Most of us want to lose weight and make healthier choices but the food that surrounds us makes that too hard. That’s why obesity has doubled since the 90s. 

“This new standard focuses on lots of small changes that make it easier to buy food that’s a little bit healthier. Nationally, it could send obesity rates down by a fifth – through business and government working together to improve our health.”

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy, said: “Which? research has shown that people want retailers to do more to support them in making healthier choices. Six in 10 (60%) consumers said they support the government introducing health targets for supermarkets.  

“Mandatory food targets will help to incentivise retailers to use the range of tactics available to them to make small but significant changes – making it easier for people to eat a balanced diet and lead healthier lives.”

John Maingay, Director of Policy at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said: “A new standard to make meals across the UK healthier is a huge step towards creating a food environment that supports better heart health. This move recognises the vital role that businesses can play in supporting everyone to have a healthier diet. 

“Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which remains one of the UK’s biggest killers. We hope to see real momentum behind this new standard to make the healthier choice the easiest choice once and for all.”

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Businesses can play a major role in supporting people to make healthy choices, and this important step could help to reduce rising obesity rates. 

“Being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK, and is linked with 13 different types of the disease.

“The UK government must introduce further bold preventative policies in both the upcoming 10-year health plan and National Cancer Plan, so that more lives can be saved from cancer.”

Katharine Jenner, Director, Obesity Health Alliance, said: “This is a fair and evidence-based prescription for better health; big businesses urgently need the government to level the playing field to help them focus on selling products that help people live well.  

“The government has rightly identified the root cause of obesity-related ill health: a food system that makes healthy eating difficult. Crucially, it puts the spotlight on the food industry and commits to holding it accountable for providing healthier options – rather than placing the burden on individuals who are already struggling to get by.”

Henry Dimbleby, Author of the National Food Strategy and Independent Review for Government said: “What gets measured gets done.

“Mandatory reporting is a crucial first step in improving the food environment – it creates a level playing field, rewards the businesses already acting, and gives us a clear picture of what’s really being sold.

“It’s fantastic to see food retailers themselves calling for this. With proper data, we can start to reshape the food system and make healthier choices easier for everyone”

VE Day boost for veterans’ healthcare

UK Government announces £1.8 million investment to transform NHS care for veterans, serving personnel and their families

  • New training for NHS workers to improve healthcare support for veterans.
  • Programme will improve access and outcomes for veterans, serving personnel and their families.
  • Regional trainers will work with GP practices and mental health services to embed expertise where it is needed most

Armed forces veterans and their families will benefit from improved and targeted healthcare, the government has announced as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

A new training programme will ensure NHS staff across the country are supported to meet the unique health needs of veterans, serving personnel and their families.

The new programme will see NHS staff across England receiving dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. GPs, doctors and NHS nurses will work with regional trainers to make sure they embed this support into their services.

Veterans can require specialised care for injuries sustained in combat, as well as mental health support for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Many also struggle to navigate civilian healthcare systems and may not self-identify as veterans to NHS staff, putting them at risk of missing out on the additional services and bespoke services that are already available.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we’re honouring our Armed Forces not just with words, but with action.  

“Too many veterans face a system that doesn’t fully understand their needs – that changes today.

“This new training programme will help NHS staff across England give our veterans the personalised care they deserve. Through our Plan for Change the NHS will deliver for those who have delivered for Britain.”

As of April 2025, every NHS Trust in the country became officially ‘Veteran Aware’, a status which means they have been recognised for demonstrating their understanding of military healthcare needs. The three-year training programme will build on this success and will be rolled out from October 2025 across England.

The programme, backed by £1.8 million, will support NHS bodies to demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which ensures those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly and not disadvantaged because of their military service. 

The training will support healthcare providers to improve identification of Armed Forces personnel, deliver more personalised care, and ultimately improve health outcomes for veterans and their families.

Kate Davies CBE, National Director for Armed Forces Health, NHS England said: “On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we honour the extraordinary legacy of our Armed Forces— and reaffirm the NHS’s commitment to those who’ve served.

“As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we’re launching our most comprehensive training programme yet to meet the unique healthcare needs of veterans. 

“Developed with frontline experts in veterans’ health and those with lived experience, this national initiative ensures those who’ve served receive the high-quality, specialised care they deserve.”

Carol Betteridge OBE, Deputy Services Director at Help for Heroes said: “We’re pleased to see this important step forward in supporting veterans’ healthcare.

“Help for Heroes has already been delivering similar training through our Veteran Champion programme in NHS settings, and we look forward to working with NHS England to share our experience and help improve care for veterans and their families.”

The announcement follows a £50 million boost in funding to ensure veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new UK-wide veteran support system, called VALOUR.

Through the Plan for Change, the government has delivered an extra 3 million appointments since July to cut waiting lists and provided the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889 million, and on Tuesday 6 May, the government announced a further major cash injection of over £102 million to upgrade and modernize GP practices.

The government is also bringing back the family doctor, recruiting an additional 1,500 GPs since October, and cutting red tape so GPs spend more time caring for patients.

NO RETHINK ON THE WINER FUEL PAYMENT THOUGH … Ed.

Over 1,500 extra GPs recruited ‘to fix front door of the NHS’

  • New figures show over 1,503 extra GPs have been hired through new scheme since 1 October
  • Major recruitment boost comes after government removed red tape which made it difficult for surgeries to hire doctors
  • Increased GP capacity will help fix the front door of the NHS and increase appointments to bring back the family doctor
  • Milestone builds on Plan for Change’s progress, which has delivered two million appointments seven months early, and cut waiting lists by 193,000

New figures show an extra 1,503 GPs have been recruited since 1 October – thanks to government action.

The recruitment boost, part of the government’s Plan for Change will help to end the scandal of patients struggling to see a doctor – easing pressure on GPs and cutting waiting lists. Alongside changes to the GP contract for 2025-26, these additional GPs will help end the 8am scramble for appointments which so many patients currently endure every day.

When the government came into office, unnecessary red tape was preventing practices from hiring newly qualified GPs, meaning more than 1,000 were due to graduate into unemployment. At the same time, there were also 1,399 fewer fully qualified GPs than a decade prior, showing how years of underfunding and neglect had eroded GP services.

The government cut the red tape and invested an extra £82 million to allow networks of practices to hire the GPs, with the funding continuing past this year thanks to the extra funding announced at the Budget.

People in communities across England will be more readily able to receive the timely care they deserve, helping to shift healthcare from hospitals to the community.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Rebuilding our broken NHS starts with fixing the front door. We inherited a ludicrous situation where patients couldn’t get a GP appointment, while GPs couldn’t get a job. By cutting red tape and investing more in our NHS, we have put an extra 1,503 GPs into general practice to deliver more appointments.

“The extra investment and reforms we have made will allow patients to book appointments more easily, to help bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble.

“It is only because of the necessary decisions we took to increase employer National Insurance that we are able to recruit more GPs and deliver better services for patients. The extra investment and reform this government is making, as part of its Plan for Change, will get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.”

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: “I would like to thank the general practice teams that have employed significantly more than the 1,000 extra GPs promised to provide care for patients.

“Improving access to general practice is an NHS priority and GP teams are delivering 29 million appointments every month – up a fifth since before the pandemic.  

“But we have more to do to make it easier for patients to see their local GP, so practice teams should continue to use this funding to best effect by recruiting more GPs, so more patients can be seen more quickly.”

The recruitment of an additional 1,503 GPs was made possible by the ‘tough but fair’ decisions the Chancellor took at the Budget to fix the foundations of the NHS, enabling the government to provide almost £26 billion to get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.

Thanks to these decisions, the government has already delivered over two million extra appointments since July, meeting its target seven months early, and brought the waiting list down by 193,000.

Last year, the department added GPs to the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) and provided extra funding, meaning that GPs could be recruited more quickly by primary care networks (PCNs).

The government has since provided the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889 million on top of the existing budget for general practice in 2025-26.

The investment comes alongside new reforms to modernise general practice. GP surgeries must now allow patients to request appointments online throughout working hours from October, freeing up the phones for those who want to book over the phone, and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on medical need. More patients will also be able to book appointments with their regular doctor if they choose to, to bring back the family doctor.

Cutting waiting times and improving access to health care for patients is one of the government’s top priorities in its Plan for Change which is driving forward reform of the health service to rebuild our NHS and improve living standards, which are growing at their fastest rate in two years.

Crack teams get patients off waiting lists at twice the speed

Sending top doctors into areas of highest economic inactivity in England is ‘busting through the backlog’

  • Targeted approach is cutting waiting lists twice as fast as rest of the country
  • Plans to roll scheme out further as government delivers on its Plan for Change

A new Labour government initiative to send top doctors to support hospital trusts in areas where more people are out of work and waiting for treatment is cutting waiting lists faster, new data shows.

In September, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting sent in crack teams spearheaded by top clinicians to NHS hospitals serving communities with high levels of economic inactivity. The teams support NHS trusts to go further and faster to improve care in these areas, where more people are neither employed nor actively seeking work, for reasons including ill health.

Latest data from October 2024 to January 2025 shows waiting lists in these areas have, on average, been reduced at more than double the rate of the rest of the country, falling 130% faster in areas where the government scheme is in action than the national average.  

A total of 37,000 cases have been removed from the waiting lists in those 20 areas, averaging almost 2,000 patients per local trust.

The teams of leading clinicians introducing more productive ways of working to deliver more procedures, including running operating theatres like Formula One pit stops to cut down on wasted time between operations.

The scheme has delivered huge improvements in areas of high economic inactivity. They include:

  • The Northern Care Alliance & Manchester Foundation Trust – where a series of ‘super clinics’ with up to 100 patients being seen a day in one-stop appointments where patients can be assessed, diagnosed and put on the treatment pathway in one appointment. These include Employment Advisors on site to support patients with any barriers to returning to work. Those that require surgery are then booked to ‘high flow theatre’ lists such as those at the Trafford Elective Surgery Hub.
  • Warrington & Halton – which has run Super Clinics for Gynaecology delivered at weekends, with one-stop models reducing the need for follow up appointments.
  • East Lancs Hospitals Trust – which has focused on streamlining diagnostic pathways and increasing capacity for Echocardiography, or heart scans, reducing the waiting list for these from around 2700 patients to around 700 – with all of patients having their scan within 6 weeks.

Data shows the number of people unable to work due to long term sickness is at its highest since the 1990s. The number of adults economically inactive due to ill-health rose from 2.1m in July 2019 to a peak of 2.9m in October 2023. The decision to send the crack teams to these 20 trusts first was based on the government’s aim to get people back to health and back to work, helping to cut the welfare bill.

Following the success of the programme, the government has confirmed similar crack teams will be rolled out to additional providers this year to boost NHS productivity and cut waiting times further. 

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The investment and reform this government has introduced has already cut NHS waiting lists by 193,000, but there is much more to do.

“By sending top doctors to provide targeted support to hospitals in the areas of highest economic inactivity, we are getting sick Brits back to health and back to work.

“I am determined to transform health and social care so it works better for patients – but also because I know that transformation can help drag our economy out of the sluggish productivity and poor growth of recent years.

“We have to get more out of the NHS for what we put in. By taking the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, reforming the way surgeries are running, we are cutting waiting lists twice as fast at no extra cost to the taxpayer.  

“As we boost NHS productivity and deliver fundamental reform through our Plan for Change, you will see improvements across the service in the coming weeks and months.”

The new data comes after the Westminster government confirmed the abolition of NHS England, centralising the way that health care is delivered, cutting bureaucracy and improving care outcomes for patients up and down the country.

The government inherited waiting lists of over 7.6 million last July, and rising numbers of patients waiting months and years to get the treatment they need to get back to their jobs.

Thanks to immediate action taken by the government- including ending the strikes and investing more in the NHS – overall waiting lists have fallen for the last five months in a row, dropping by 193,000.

The targeted teams are the latest success delivered by the government as it continues its fundamental reform of the NHS through the Plan for Change.

Soon after taking office, it confirmed an extra £1.8 billion to deliver extra elective activity across the country.

This helped create an extra 2 million elective care appointments between July and November last year – delivering on the government’s manifesto pledge seven months early.

Other plans to increase elective care productivity and cut waiting lists include opening community diagnostic centres 12 hours a day, seven days a week, revolutionising the NHS app so patients can receive test results and book appointments, and increasing use of the independent sector to improve patient choice.