Waiting lists for routine NHS treatment such as hip and knee surgery longest for a decade

Waiting lists for routine NHS treatment such as hip and knee surgery longest for a decade

Waiting lists for routine NHS treatment such as hip and knee surgery are at their highest for a decade, official figures have show An estimated four million people were waiting to be seen by a specialist at the end of June, the first time the figure has been exceeded since 2007. Experts said the milestone marked a…

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…

‘Surprise question’ sees thousands wrongly told they will die under faulty NHS system

‘Surprise question’ sees thousands wrongly told they will die under faulty NHS system

Tens of thousands of patients are being prematurely warned they could be about to die because of a defective diagnostic method used across the NHS. Experts have said families and loved ones are being needlessly worried after new research showed the tool over-predicted the chances of death more often than not. The so-called “surprise question”, encourages…

Nearly 40 per cent of GPs plan to leave the NHS within five years

Nearly 40 per cent of GPs plan to leave the NHS within five years

Government attempts to stop GPs quitting the profession are failing as four in 10 say they are planning to retire within five years, a new report has found. A review by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) raises concern that many doctors have yet to see changes promised by the Department of Health’s five year…