Latest news with #KarinSmyth
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Taxpayers on the hook for ‘multi-million pound' bill after NHS pension delays
Taxpayers are on the hook for a multi-million pound bill after new delays to NHS pensions, an expert has warned. Pensioners have already waited months for vital paperwork to tell them how much they should be receiving, but many could now be due compensation for underpayments following a series of missed deadlines. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) was required to send 382,000 pension statements by March 31, but ministers had to announce a new timetable after just 21 were actually issued. Health minister, Karin Smyth, has now confirmed that another set of extensions is required after just 1,338 more statements were sent over the next three months. This has left more than 380,000 statements outstanding, despite the allocation of extra staff. She also confirmed that the Government would add 8pc interest to any underpayments, which Alec Collie of advisors Wesleyan, said 'could run into the millions'. Shadow health minister, Dr Luke Evans, warned the failure had 'real consequences', and said NHS patients had been left to pay for Labour's choices. The problems stem from the 2015 changes to public sector pensions, including the NHS scheme, amid fears they had become unaffordable. Workers were moved away from gold-plated final salary pensions and into schemes based on their average earnings. However, the implementation was ruled to be age discriminatory following legal action from members of the judges' and firefighters' schemes. As a result, retirees were offered a choice between both schemes for their service between 2015 and 2022 under the so-called 'McCloud Remedy', which was already expected to cost taxpayers £17bn. Those affected should receive a remediable service statement, which outlines the choice between both schemes, and gives them 12 months to decide. The original delivery date of March 31 was set out in legislation, but Ms Smyth has repeatedly appeared in the House of Commons to confirm that numerous deadlines had been missed. As a result, the retirees affected won't know the true amount of their pension until their statement arrives, and many could be receiving less than they're entitled to. Any funds owed will be back paid with an additional 8pc in interest – around double the current interest rate. Mr Collie said: 'These situations won't just need to be remedied by the Government – the 8pc interest will also need to be paid. 'We can't say for sure how much it's going to cost in total because the circumstances will be so unique to each person. But what's for sure is that the nature of the McCloud process means this is likely to roll on for many years to come – it's not going to be a 'one and done' settlement.' Ms Smyth said that she had met NHSBSA's chief executive, Michael Brodie, to express her disappointment, and ordered an independent review from Lisa Tennent, who serves as independent chair of the NHS Pension Board. The disarray comes amid repeated delays to remediable pension service statements, which outline how much staff may have actually paid into their pension once McCloud changes are taken into account. The statements help doctors, who often also work privately, to track their income and avoid a tax charge by exceeding the annual £60,000 limit on contributions. Just £1 of additional income can generate a £22,500 tax bill in some circumstances. The NHSBSA was supposed to send 137,000 statements to staff by October 6 last year, but at least 34,000 were still outstanding by June 2. It admitted that the true figure was not available because the data was still being collated. Experts have already warned that doctors are turning down work to avoid potential tax bills, with knock-on effects for frontline care. Dr Evans said the Government was continuing to miss legal and self-imposed deadlines, leaving patients to pay the price. He said: 'Labour admit that their plan is failing, but offer no serious way to resolve it. 'This failure has real consequences. Senior doctors are turning down extra work for fear of unexpected tax bills running into thousands. Vague promises and talk of 'conversations with the board' won't cut it. 'As a result of Labour's choices, patients will pay the price – especially if senior doctors won't step in during strikes. 'Labour must urgently set out a clear delivery plan to resolve both delays and hold the NHSBSA to account. With a summer of strikes looming, the complacency from Labour is both telling and dangerous.' An NHSBSA spokesman said: 'We appreciate that this news will be disappointing for NHS Pension Scheme members affected by the McCloud Remedy. 'We apologise for the delays and assure our members that we are working hard to deliver remediable saving statements as quickly as possible.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Inside UK's huge £25m EV boost for Brits who don't have a drive
The UK Government has announced a massive £63m investment package to help make owning an EV easier and more cost-effective, allowing Brits to save up to £1,500 a year Brit electric vehicle (EV) owners are set to benefit from a huge new round of government funding that will improve access to home chargers for everyone — regardless of whether they have a driveway or not. A new £63 million investment is set to accelerate Britain's EV revolution, taking a significant step in the switchover from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric. One of the central features of the initiative is a £25 million scheme for local authorities focused on improving access to at-home charging for households without off-street parking. Through cross-pavement charging technology, cables will be routed safely beneath pavements to connect parked EVs to home electricity supplies. This tech enables families to tap into cheaper domestic electricity rates at around two pence per mile, potentially saving up to £1,500 a year compared to running an ICE vehicle. The new initiative will build on the UK's ever-growing charging network, which has already reached 82,000 public charge points, with an additional 100,000 expected by 2030 through the government's Local EV Infrastructure Fund, as well as £6 billion of private investment. The NHS will also benefit from an £8 million fund aimed at upgrading over 200 medical sites to electric fleets. Health Minister Karin Smyth branded the move a 'win-win' that will result in 'cheaper travel for the NHS and cleaner air for our communities'. More than 1,200 charging sockets are being rolled out with the aim of reducing emissions and generating long-term savings for the health service, in turn allowing these funds to be reinvested in patient care. Hospitals are expected to save millions on fuel and maintenance costs. The government will also provide grants to help businesses nationwide install chargepoints at their depots. This move supports the transition of heavy goods vehicles, vans and coaches to zero-emission alternatives. Another £400 million, as announced in the spending review, will be used to boost EV charging along strategic road networks to ensure the infrastructure keeps pace with demand, particularly for longer journeys. To help drivers locate charging points more easily, signage will also be improved on major A-roads, directing motorists to nearby EV hubs — these hubs have more than doubled since 2023. Support from industry voices has been strong, with Edmund King of the AA saying: "There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight. Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition." This investment is part of the government's Plan for Change, designed to accelerate the move to net zero, back British manufacturing and create greener jobs across the UK, all the while lowering transport costs for families.
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Warning to young women after surge in egg donations to fertility clinics despite risk of severe side effects
WOMEN as young as 18 are risking their health by donating their eggs in return for cash, campaigners warn. Surrogacy Concern said the number of 18 to 25-year-olds signing up to donate to private fertility clinics shot up from 190 in 2012 to 509 in 2022. It is illegal in the UK to buy a woman's eggs but clinics can pay up to £985 for expenses. The campaign group said some openly advertise the sum to young women and pay the full amount without asking for receipts. It said donation is generally safe but can be uncomfortable, with possible severe side-effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bowel perforations, abscesses and even sepsis. Surrogacy Concern founder Helen Gibson said teenagers may also underestimate the effects on their mental health. She said: 'We're really worried that women are doing this for money and are not being fully informed of the risks to their health. 'This is a lot of money at any age but especially if you're working-class or a student. 'You could do it three times and make nearly £3,000, and you're allowed to do up to ten cycles. It's insanity. 'We want the minimum age for donation to rise to 25, all payments ended to remove the risk of financial motivation and adverts asking for young women to donate their eggs to be banned.' Donor eggs must be taken from women younger than 35 as that is when they are most fertile. They take hormone drugs to stimulate the ovaries before the eggs are removed with a needle. Health Minister Karin Smyth said the £985 compensation had risen from £750 due to inflation, and clinics' ads are under the jurisdiction of the Advertising Standards Agency. She said: 'We will monitor the issues raised. "Women's health, particularly inequalities, are absolutely central to this Government's priorities.' White couple sue IVF clinic after their baby was born with 'Asian features' that left husband fearing wife had cheated on him
South Wales Guardian
18-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
NHS launches new drive to find more people with deadly pancreatic cancer
Hundreds of GP practices in England are being given extra funding to comb patient records looking for people with the disease, which has the lowest survival rate of all cancers. GPs and their teams will look for people over 60 who may have signs of the cancer, such as a recent diagnosis of diabetes and sudden weight loss. Figure suggest that around half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes recently. Family doctors taking part in the NHS England pilot will then contact patients and send them for urgent blood tests and CT scans to rule cancer in or out. Pancreatic cancer can have vague symptoms and is often diagnosed in the late stages. According to researchers, newly-diagnosed diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes. Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and only around one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. More than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. For the new three-year pilot, more than 300 GP practices in England will be involved, with all practices up and running by the autumn. Almost £2 million in targeted funding has been invested to help practices find people most at risk and give patients the best chance of being diagnosed early. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Pancreatic cancer is responsible for so many deaths because patients don't usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is why we need to find new ways to pick it up. 'Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10-year health plan, the NHS is determined to go a step further – not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people out who might be unwell without any symptoms so we can provide people with the most effective treatment. 'The NHS is seeing and treating more people with cancer than ever, and early diagnosis is key to ensure patients have the best chance of receiving effective treatment. 'If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.' Health minister Karin Smyth said: 'This targeted approach to identify people at risk of one of the most lethal cancers could give more people a fighting chance and spare the heartbreak of countless families.' We're delighted to see the Government commit to boosting clinical trials as part of their forthcoming 10 year plan. Clinical trials are a crucial treatment option for people with #PancreaticCancer & improving access to them could be key to driving up treatment & survival rates 🧪 — Pancreatic Cancer UK (@PancreaticCanUK) June 16, 2025 Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'Diagnosing more people with pancreatic cancer earlier, when the disease is most treatable, would make the single biggest difference to improving survival, so we are delighted to see significant further investment from NHS England towards that incredibly important goal. 'We're proud to have been involved in shaping this new case finding pilot, which will support GPs to proactively find people with pancreatic cancer among one of largest groups known to be at increased risk: those aged over 60, with new onset diabetes who have recently lost weight without trying to do so. 'Many of the people who are referred for a CT scan during the pilot will not have pancreatic cancer, but for those that do, the impact could be lifesaving. 'Subject to the pilot's success, we will be calling for this pilot to be expanded across the country to help give more people affected by the deadliest common cancer the very best chance of survival.' Previous research has shown that people over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years.
North Wales Chronicle
18-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
NHS launches new drive to find more people with deadly pancreatic cancer
Hundreds of GP practices in England are being given extra funding to comb patient records looking for people with the disease, which has the lowest survival rate of all cancers. GPs and their teams will look for people over 60 who may have signs of the cancer, such as a recent diagnosis of diabetes and sudden weight loss. Figure suggest that around half of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have been diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes recently. Family doctors taking part in the NHS England pilot will then contact patients and send them for urgent blood tests and CT scans to rule cancer in or out. Pancreatic cancer can have vague symptoms and is often diagnosed in the late stages. According to researchers, newly-diagnosed diabetes patients often have similar symptoms as a person with early-stage pancreatic cancer. This is because the cancer destroys the same insulin-producing cells that are also destroyed in diabetes. Around 10,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year and only around one in 20 survive the disease for 10 years or more. More than half of people die within three months of diagnosis. For the new three-year pilot, more than 300 GP practices in England will be involved, with all practices up and running by the autumn. Almost £2 million in targeted funding has been invested to help practices find people most at risk and give patients the best chance of being diagnosed early. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Pancreatic cancer is responsible for so many deaths because patients don't usually notice symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage, which is why we need to find new ways to pick it up. 'Through initiatives like this and the upcoming 10-year health plan, the NHS is determined to go a step further – not just treat people at an advanced stage but to go out into communities and seek people out who might be unwell without any symptoms so we can provide people with the most effective treatment. 'The NHS is seeing and treating more people with cancer than ever, and early diagnosis is key to ensure patients have the best chance of receiving effective treatment. 'If your GP practice identifies you as at risk of pancreatic cancer, I urge you to come forward for testing as soon as possible.' Health minister Karin Smyth said: 'This targeted approach to identify people at risk of one of the most lethal cancers could give more people a fighting chance and spare the heartbreak of countless families.' We're delighted to see the Government commit to boosting clinical trials as part of their forthcoming 10 year plan. Clinical trials are a crucial treatment option for people with #PancreaticCancer & improving access to them could be key to driving up treatment & survival rates 🧪 — Pancreatic Cancer UK (@PancreaticCanUK) June 16, 2025 Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: 'Diagnosing more people with pancreatic cancer earlier, when the disease is most treatable, would make the single biggest difference to improving survival, so we are delighted to see significant further investment from NHS England towards that incredibly important goal. 'We're proud to have been involved in shaping this new case finding pilot, which will support GPs to proactively find people with pancreatic cancer among one of largest groups known to be at increased risk: those aged over 60, with new onset diabetes who have recently lost weight without trying to do so. 'Many of the people who are referred for a CT scan during the pilot will not have pancreatic cancer, but for those that do, the impact could be lifesaving. 'Subject to the pilot's success, we will be calling for this pilot to be expanded across the country to help give more people affected by the deadliest common cancer the very best chance of survival.' Previous research has shown that people over 50 with a new case of type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer within three years.
