Latest news with #DHSC
Medscape
3 days ago
- Business
- Medscape
NHS Gets £750m Boost to Fix Crumbling Buildings
The government has allocated £750 million to the NHS in England for tackling long-term maintenance problems. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the money could be used by hospitals, mental health units, and ambulance services to mend leaky pipes, improve ventilation, and solve electrical issues. The investment aims to prevent operations and appointments being cancelled because of crumbling infrastructure. However, healthcare leaders said the cash injection is a 'drop in the ocean' and just a fraction of the estimated £14 billion maintenance backlog across the health service estate. More than £100 million will be put aside for maternity units to replace outdated ventilation systems in neonatal intensive care units and create better environmental conditions for vulnerable babies and their families. Scale of NHS Disrepair Hospital services were disrupted more than 4000 times in 2023-2024 due to poor quality buildings, according to England's Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Streeting highlighted the severity of the problem, noting that burst pipes had flooded emergency departments, faulty electrical systems had shut down operating theatres, and mothers had been forced to give birth in substandard facilities. A recent UNISON survey revealed NHS hospitals were plagued by rats, cockroaches, and sewage leaks. The survey also flagged problems with leaky roofs and out-of-order toilets. Simon Corben, director for NHS estates and facilities at NHS England, said repairs were overdue. 'Fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations,' he stated. Earlier this month, the DHSC pledged £102 million this financial year for GP surgeries to upgrade outdated premises. It followed an independent report by Lord Ara Darzi last year which concluded that outdated, inefficient buildings were unfit for purpose, created barriers to delivering high-quality patient care, and reduced productivity. 'Small Downpayment' Welcomed Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, welcomed the latest announcement, particularly noting support for the 'often overlooked' mental health and ambulance sectors. However, he pointed out that 'an eye-watering near £14 billion is needed just to patch up buildings and equipment,' with mental health services alone facing a maintenance backlog exceeding £1 billion. Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said NHS facilities had fallen into a 'dire state of disrepair' that was hampering efforts to reduce waiting lists. "With the NHS maintenance backlog currently standing at £13.8 billion, this really is just a drop in the ocean," he said. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, described the spending boost as a 'small down payment' on the maintenance backlog. 'At £750 million a year, it would take almost 20 years to clear the backlog, assuming it does not continue to grow,' he warned. Healthcare leaders called for new investment models, including private sector involvement, to address the funding shortfall more rapidly. Projects are due to be delivered during the 2025-2026 financial year, with the first upgrades expected to begin this summer, the DHSC said.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
More appointments for Somerset patients amid £1m boost
A total of 16 GPs will receive the equivalent of £62,500 each to expand their surgeries and provide more Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced on 6 May more than £102m will be shared by about 1,000 practices across the has now been confirmed that 16 surgeries in Somerset will share a pot of about £1m - with 15 already developing expansion plans.A spokesman for the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it will hold the money before reimbursing GP practices. The funding from central government has been agreed to deliver an extra 8.3 million appointments each year in Labour's 10-year plan for the does not cover the day-to-day running costs associated with running a surgery, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The 16 GP practices which will receive the funding are:Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice, Houlgate Way, AxbridgeBeckington Family Practice, St. Luke's Road, BeckingtonChurch Street Surgery, Church Street, MartockChurch View Medical Centre, Broadway Road, BroadwayCrewkerne Health Centre, Middle Path, CrewkerneEast Quay Medical Centre, East Quay, BridgwaterEdington Surgery, Broadway, EdingtonFrench Weir Health Centre, French Weir Avenue, TauntonGlastonbury Surgery, Feversham Lane, GlastonburyHighbridge Medical Centre, Alfred Court, HighbridgeLangport Surgery, A378 North Street, LangportLister House Surgery, B3227 Croft Way, WiveliscombeQuantock Vale Surgery, Mount Street, Bishop's LydeardVine Surgery, Hindhayes Lane, StreetWarwick House Surgery, Upper Holway Road, TauntonWincanton Health Centre, Dyke's Way, WincantonLangport Surgery (also known as the North Street Surgery) secured planning permission from Somerset Council for its expansion in August 2024, with the ICB confirming in January 2025 that its final business case for the project was almost on 6 May , Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP said: "These are simple fixes for our GP surgeries but for too long they were left to ruin, allowing waiting lists to build and stopping doctors treating more patients."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospice charity to shed jobs due to 'rising costs'
A hospice charity in Lincolnshire says it needs to shed jobs and cut costs to avoid going into deficit. St Barnabas Hospice is asking staff to consider "voluntary resignation" to address "growing financial pressures". Becky Franks, director of patient care, said the charity was "taking action now" to ensure "we're still here in 40 years". The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had "recently announced the largest investment in hospices in a generation". The charity provides services including palliative and end-of-life care and has two in-patient units, one in Lincoln and another in Grantham. It said 44% of funding came from the government and the rest through fundraising. But it warned that running costs had hit £40,000 a day, partly because of rises in energy costs, the Living Wage and National Insurance employer contributions. It said expenses were now outstripping income, though Ms Franks said she could not give exact figures. However, she said the rise in the Living Wage would cost the charity up to £350,000 more per year. "Times are tough, but we are still open for business and caring for patients and we want to continue doing that," she said. "Hospices provide outstanding care and if they're not funded properly they will be reducing their services." Ms Franks declined to comment on how many of the 300 staff could leave, but said each resignation offer would be "assessed on a case-by-case basis". In February, the charity was given a government grant of £236,000 to be spent on building upgrades and refurbishments as part of nationwide investment. The charity said that money could not be spent on staff or services directly. In a statement, DHSC said it had given hospices a £100m funding boost, of which £25m had "already gone to hospices" to improve facilities. "We are working to make sure the palliative and end-of-life care sector is sustainable in the long term, and this government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community through our plan for change," the statement added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Budget tax rise a 'hammer blow' - hospice boss Hospices in England to receive £100m funding boost Memorial parade lights up city's streets St Barnabas Hospice, Lincolnshire Department of Health and Social Care
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lincolnshire's St Barnabas Hospice to shed jobs amid rising costs
A hospice charity in Lincolnshire says it needs to shed jobs and cut costs to avoid going into Barnabas Hospice is asking staff to consider "voluntary resignation" to address "growing financial pressures".Becky Franks, director of patient care, said the charity was "taking action now" to ensure "we're still here in 40 years".The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had "recently announced the largest investment in hospices in a generation". The charity provides services including palliative and end-of-life care and has two in-patient units, one in Lincoln and another in said 44% of funding came from the government and the rest through it warned that running costs had hit £40,000 a day, partly because of rises in energy costs, the Living Wage and National Insurance employer said expenses were now outstripping income, though Ms Franks said she could not give exact she said the rise in the Living Wage would cost the charity up to £350,000 more per year."Times are tough, but we are still open for business and caring for patients and we want to continue doing that," she said."Hospices provide outstanding care and if they're not funded properly they will be reducing their services."Ms Franks declined to comment on how many of the 300 staff could leave, but said each resignation offer would be "assessed on a case-by-case basis". In February, the charity was given a government grant of £236,000 to be spent on building upgrades and refurbishments as part of nationwide investment. The charity said that money could not be spent on staff or services a statement, DHSC said it had given hospices a £100m funding boost, of which £25m had "already gone to hospices" to improve facilities."We are working to make sure the palliative and end-of-life care sector is sustainable in the long term, and this government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community through our plan for change," the statement added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Medscape
15-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
MPs Slam NHS Reforms and Soaring Negligence Payouts
Plans to abolish NHS England (NHSE) and merge its functions with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have created 'great uncertainty for all involved,' a parliamentary report has warned. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised concerns in its inquiry into the DHSC's 2023-2024 accounts. The report questioned the impact of the proposed changes, particularly the significant staff cuts involved and the effect on patient care. Streeting: Reform Will Cut Waste and Costs Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the plans when he gave evidence to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee in April. He said having 'two head offices' led to 'duplication, waste, inefficiency, contradiction, and the system being pulled in different directions'. Streeting said the combined size of NHSE and the DHSC would shrink by around 50%. Integrated care boards (ICBs) would be expected to cut running costs by half, with savings diverted to patient care. Committee: No Clear Plan The PAC said the government had failed to explain how 'this major structural and operational change' would affect key services and targets. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP said in a press release that after 2 months, the government had yet to articulate 'a clear plan for what comes next'. The future for patients and staff 'remains hazy', he said. Key areas where the Government lacked clarity, according to the committee, included: How staff reductions would be achieved and costed. Where reductions would be made geographically. The scale of cuts to DHSC staff. How the plans align with the NHS's 10-year strategy. How savings would support frontline care. How institutional knowledge at NHSE would be retained. The report also criticised the DHSC for a lack of narrative in its accounts on social care, productivity, prevention, digital innovation, and end-of-life services. DHSC Accepts 'Serious Reform Needed' Asked to comment by Medscape News UK , a DHSC spokesperson said: 'Serious reform is needed to tackle the challenges facing the NHS.' Merging NHSE back into the department would eliminate wasteful duplication, free up money for frontline services, and 'keep patients safe by overhauling the overly complex bureaucracy of healthcare regulation and oversight'. Since the decision to abolish NHSE was taken, a joint board has been established, resources assessed, responsibilities mapped across affected organisations, and legislative planning begun. The spokesperson insisted that the current two-centre system 'frustrates staff' with 'too many checkers and not enough doers'. Health Security Programme Years Behind Schedule The PAC also flagged failings at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Its planned new high-containment labs had been 'poorly overseen', with the project at least 15 years behind schedule and costs ballooning from £530 million to an 'eye-watering' projected figure of £3.2 billion. So far, £400 million has been spent 'with little to show for it.' No final decision has been made about the site. The committee urged the UKHSA to set out how it will maintain lab capacity as current facilities reach the end of their lifespan. Clinical Negligence Payouts Reach £58 Billion The PAC also highlighted 'jaw-dropping' amounts being paid out on clinical negligence claims, with an 'astounding' £58.2 billion set aside for potential future claims. This is the second largest government liability after nuclear decommissioning, the report noted. Clifton-Brown said the figures 'should give our entire society pause'. He urged the government to prioritise reducing avoidable patient harm. Legal costs remain high, with £536 million – 19% of the £2.8 billion awarded to claimants in 2023-2024 – going to lawyers, on top of the fees charged by the government's legal team. The PAC called for a plan with 'clear actions to improve patient safety across the NHS, and in particular in maternity services'. Call for Bold Reform Dr Rob Hendry, chief member officer at the Medical Protection Society, said spiralling negligence costs divert vital resources from care and service improvements. 'The Public Accounts Committee is right to question whether such costs are sustainable for the NHS and whether such significant amounts of money should be spent on legal fees,' he told Medscape News UK . He noted that in lower value claims it was not unusual to see lawyers' costs exceed the compensation awarded to claimants. 'This is not right.' Hendry added that high costs also affect healthcare professionals not covered by a state-backed indemnity scheme – such as dentists and private practitioners – who bear the cost of protecting themselves against claims. He called for a balance between fair compensation and financial sustainability, urging the government to pursue bold reforms without delay.
