Shortage of doctors and midwives putting lives at risk – report

Shortage of doctors and midwives putting lives at risk – report

Lack of trained obstetricians is worrying, experts say, because of high risk of serious complications during and after birth Childbirth experts have warned that mothers’ and babies’ lives in Britain are being put at risk after an NHS inquiry into its maternity services uncovered serious shortages of doctors and midwives in maternity units. Almost nine out of…

Government announce ‘biggest ever’ expansion plans for the NHS

Government announce ‘biggest ever’ expansion plans for the NHS

Over a thousand extra doctors will be trained as part of the “biggest ever” expansion to the NHS’s medical workforce in England, health officials have said. An extra 1,500 doctors a year will be trained in the NHS by 2020 – boosting the current student doctor numbers of 6,000 by 25%, the Department of Health…

Nurses still waiting for millions of pounds owed in holiday pay

Nurses still waiting for millions of pounds owed in holiday pay

Nurses in the north and north-east could still be owed millions of pounds in backdated holiday pay, it has emerged. Health chiefs were under fire last night over “unacceptable” delays in handing over the payments to frontline staff. It follows a Press and Journal investigation which found that health boards in Highland, Grampian, Orkney and…

Mental health services are in crisis but we NHS bosses can change this

Mental health services are in crisis but we NHS bosses can change this

There has been a lot of talk about mental health and the need to combat stigma, but this has done little to improve the experience of people using services. That, at least, is the concern some have expressed. I want to offer another perspective. The need for bold, decisive action to improve the lot of…

NHS maternity wards in England forced to close 382 times last year

NHS maternity wards in England forced to close 382 times last year

Figures obtained by Labour reveal ‘appalling’ treatment of women, largely due to staff shortages and lack of beds and cots Maternity wards in England were forced to close their doors 382 times in 2016, according to new figures that have triggered claims of women being “pushed from pillar to post in the throes of labour”….