Patients missing NHS appointments to be removed from lists
Jeremy Miles warned more than 700,000 appointments are missed each year, with 14 per cent of all outpatient appointments lost because people do not turn up or cannot attend.
"That's not right and it's not sustainable," said the Labour politician.
"And it doesn't help us to make sure the public gets faster access to the care they need.
"So, in future, we will provide patients with two offers of dates for an NHS appointment.
"If those appointments are not kept without a good reason, they will be removed from the list so that their place can be taken by somebody else.
"Every person's circumstance will be considered.
"Patients who are vulnerable and children will be protected but we want patients to keep their appointments or to cancel in good time so their place can be taken by someone else."
James Evans, the Conservatives' shadow health secretary, responded: "We need to make sure the public do actually take a bit more responsibility with their appointments within the NHS but I do urge a little bit of caution.
"And I just need to make sure… this policy is not going to unfairly penalise vulnerable people, those who struggle to get transport, especially in Powys, for example, where people have to rely on public transport to get to appointments.
"It's not always readily available."
Mr Miles added: "It is really important that that capacity is available for patients who are able to take up those appointments.
"We all want to see access to care becoming faster, and so that's an important part of the solution."
Mr Miles stressed that reducing long waits is his number one priority, adding that waits of over two years have fallen by two-thirds.
However, Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru's shadow health secretary, warned Welsh ministers have failed to hit their targets from 2022.
He called for a fair funding settlement for Wales, stating the current system fails to provide resources in proportion with the needs of Wales.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Hair stylist hits out at inability to bid for NHS wig contracts: ‘If I had a shot it would grow my business'
The Department of Health has confirmed to this newspaper that there is currently 'no regional tendering process' in place for hairdressers here. Individuals can access free wigs through Health and Social Care services but, since 2015, only two hairdressers in the entire region have been permitted to supply wigs for NHS patients, it has been revealed. Wigs are used by patients undergoing chemotherapy or with hair loss conditions but, due to red tape, there hasn't been a procurement exercise for three years. One Health and Social Care Trust said that the 'non-existence of a product specification' and the 'lack of national and international standards for wigs' is the reason for this. It comes after a Co Down hairdresser — who has been in the business for more than 30 years and does not wish to be named — said that it is 'not fair' that the process for the tender is essentially closed to newcomers. 'Some wigs can cost up to £2,000. And if I had a chance of securing this tender, some of my customers could have easier access to wigs they're entitled to under the NHS,' she told the Belfast Telegraph. 'This problem desperately needs solved but the Health Department and the Trusts aren't providing a clear pathway on how to solve this issue. 'If I had a shot at it, at least for one year, it would grow my business and allow me to hire more people. But this means no one else gets a chance. 'A lot of my customers find that the wigs help with their confidence after experiencing hair loss. It's hard for them to cope; losing your hair can be a loss of your femininity.' News Catch Up - Thursday 5 June A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that agreement on tenders is based on a 'locally agreed criteria' through individual health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. 'The Department of Health does not have a role in procurement of these services,' they said. 'Availability of such services is determined at Trust level and arrangements are in place to offer appliances in line with locally agreed criteria.' The South Eastern Trust, where the hairdresser has based their business, however, said that since 2022 a procurement exercise to determine who is awarded the tender was stood down. 'The non-existence of a product specification and lack of national/international standards for wigs currently means that a regional tendering process has not been possible,' a spokesperson said. 'A procurement exercise in 2022 was stood down mainly due to a lack of a suitable product specification and national standards for the supply of wigs. 'This resulted in the procurement panel not being able to evaluate bids from a value for money perspective.' The South Eastern Trust revealed: 'As a result, all five Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) in NI are exploring the opportunity to reform wig provision. 'Legal advice sought back in 2022 indicated that due to current NI legislation and subsequent policy position, all HSCTs were limited in any changes they could make to how wigs were to be procured. 'Trust representatives, together with the DoH, have been progressing work to establish a way forward for the future supply of wigs, which will include consideration of procurement options by Procurement and Logistics Service and any legislative or policy changes required. 'In the meantime, all HSCTs have been using the services of one of two providers that had successfully tendered for the 2015 Wigs and Associated Products contract. 'A regional commissioning position on the provision of wigs across NI, encompassing cancer services, dermatology and psychiatry, is required to support implementation of any proposed change to the current process.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
What Pharmacies Offer
Here's what you can get help with:1. Minor IllnessesYou can walk into most pharmacies and get advice and treatment — often without needing to see a GP — for: Sore throats, earache for children, sinus infections, Impetigo, infected insect bites, UTIs in can offer treatments and even prescribe antibiotics where needed. Only a Pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics and not assistants so you will need to ask to see a Pharmacist if this is what you need. They have private consultation rooms in which you can be seen and assessed properly.2. VaccinationsYou can get a variety of jabs from Pharmacies including: Flu jabs, COVID boosters, Travel vaccines, Pneumonia and shingles vaccines (for eligible groups).There is an online Vaccination National Booking Service through the NHS. The link is on our website.3. Health Checks & ScreeningsMany offer:Blood pressure checks (free for over 40s), Cholesterol tests, Diabetes risk assessments, Weight management are especially helpful for catching early warning signs.4. Support for Long-Term ConditionsPharmacists help patients manage: Asthma (inhaler technique checks), high blood pressure, Diabetes medication, side effects or drug interactions5. Contraception & Emergency MedicineMany pharmacies also offer: The morning after pill, ongoing contraception advice, period delay medication and STI testing kits (in some areas)6. Help with MedicinesPharmacists can: Review your repeat prescriptions, help you use devices like inhalers or injectors properly, discuss side effects or alternative options and help with quitting smoking or cutting down alcohol7. Referrals & EscalationIf they spot anything serious, pharmacists can refer you to a GP or urgent care — they're trained to recognise red flags.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
The quick ‘cup of tea' test that could identify if a loved one has early signs of dementia
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S well known that forgetfulness and confusion are some of the early warning signs and symptoms of dementia. But there are smaller, quieter clues that occur in our day-to-day lives making them fairly easy to identify – if you know what to look out for. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 How someone makes a cup of tea can be an indicator of brain health Credit: Getty In the UK a study published in The Lancet earlier this year found that on current trends up to 1.7 million people could be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040. This is over 40 per cent more than previously forecast, so catching the disease early more important than ever. If you are worried about a family member, dementia specialist, Dr Jane Pritchard, Admiral Nurse for The Good Care Group, has recommended trying a quick "cup of tea" test. While not foolproof, it's a useful indicator of how well someone's mind is working - and whether their brain may be starting to decline. "If you're concerned and perhaps seeing some of these actions in the home environment, consider asking for a cup of tea," the nurse told Surrey Live. She added: "Asking someone to make you a cup of tea will allow you to observe the many steps it takes to make the perfect brew." "Have they boiled the kettle? In what order are they following the necessary steps? Have they remembered where the spoon drawer is? Is the tea bag still in there? "Missed or misplaced steps could mean that an assessment might be helpful." If they really struggle, it might suggest something's not quite right with memory or thinking skills. It's not a diagnosis, but it could be an early red flag. Wife of man with early-onset dementia has to 'hide knives' Another popular test is the clock-drawing test, which the NHS has used for decades. You ask someone to draw a clock face on a blank bit of paper. They add the numbers one to 12, then draw the hands to show a time - like ten past eleven. Sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of brain power. You need memory, planning skills and visual awareness - things that often fade when dementia sets in. If the clock looks wonky or the numbers are in the wrong place, it could mean something's wrong. Get it right, though, and it almost rules dementia out, according to NHS guidance. If someone finds it tricky, a chat with their GP is the next step. Is it ageing or dementia? Dementia - the most common form of which is Alzheimer's - comes on slowly over time. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe. But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing. The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease. You can refer to these above. For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia. Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team, previously told The Sun: 'We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them. 'As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door. 'That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age. 'In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house. 'What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn't belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.'
