Latest news with #NHS England
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospitals make record number of requests for doctors to work during strikes, claims union
Hospitals made a record number of requests for striking doctors to return to the wards this weekend as a five-day walkout prompted safety fears for patient safety, the British Medical Association has claimed. The BMA said hospitals had asked for more than 125 resident doctors to come off the picket lines during the walkout. The union has claimed some of those pleas were made inappropriately and had to be refused, while those that had been granted had to be revoked. It also said there had been incidents where patient safety was at risk due to trusts not having enough staff to cover emergency care. Resident doctors are taking part in a strike over pay, which began on Friday, 25 July and will end at 7am on Wednesday. The BMA's resident doctors committee has asked the government for a 29 per cent pay increase to address what it says has been a more than 20 per cent erosion of their pay since 2008. However, talks between doctors and health secretary Wes Streeting broke down last week and failed to avert strike action. Last week, NHS England chiefs told hospital leaders they must maintain elective care during the strikes, whereas during previous rounds, widespread cancellations took place. During strikes, employers can request 'derogations', in which a union can grant permission for a doctor or multiple doctors to come into work on strike days. NHS England's figures as of Monday show 58 requests for 'derogations' had been made, eight had been approved, 23 had been declined, 15 had been withdrawn, and some are still pending a decision. There has so far been a record number of approvals compared to previous strike rounds, according to NHS data. An NHS England spokesperson said: "The NHS is continuing to work hard to maintain more services than in previous rounds of industrial action, and early indications show the plan is working with the vast majority of planned care going ahead. 'Derogation requests for resident doctors to work in exceptional circumstances are being made by the most senior clinical teams on the ground, and delays or refusals by the British Medical Association questions their integrity and risks patient safety." Over the weekend, the BMA claimed one hospital, in Sheffield, had asked for resident doctors to come in as its consultants were not able to use the trust's new electronic records system. The union also posted on X, claiming it had agreed to let a doctor return to work within the obstetric department at Queens Medical Centre, run by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. Other trusts cited by the union include Lewisham and St George's Hospitals in London. In a message to resident doctors on Sunday, the BMA resident doctors' committee said: 'This dispute had exposed a small number of trusts where they have planned as if strikes were not even happening. We have received a record number of derogation requests this set of strikes. This is because NHS England has issued instructions to Trusts to try to keep elective activity open, despite our warnings of the risks to patient safety.' The message claimed the BMA has received 47 derogation requests from NHS England and that these contained requests for 125 resident doctors to return to work to cover gaps. Following requests, the BMA said it had granted 16 doctors permission to go back to work. It said the trusts where derogations were revoked were either 'misinformed about their staffing, or deliberately misled' the BMA. Other 'inappropriate' derogations the BMA said it had been asked for included where trusts planned for a full rota of resident doctors, and then were 'caught out when resident doctors went on strike'. Multiple trusts had 'prioritised elective activity over the safety of more urgent patients', the BMA claimed. It said due to 'poor timing of requests', there have been instances where patients' safety has been at risk, 'with not enough doctors to ensure emergency care,' which has led to 'last-minute' requests for doctors. Ahead of the strikes, the BMA was criticised for advising resident doctors against informing their employers of their plans to strike. In a rare intervention, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges published a statement to the BMA warning that this would risk patient safety.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospitals make record number of requests for doctors to work during strikes, claims union
Hospitals made a record number of requests for striking doctors to return to the wards this weekend as a five-day walkout prompted safety fears for patient safety, the British Medical Association has claimed. The BMA said hospitals had asked for more than 125 resident doctors to come off the picket lines during the walkout. The union has claimed some of those pleas were made inappropriately and had to be refused, while those that had been granted had to be revoked. It also said there had been incidents where patient safety was at risk due to trusts not having enough staff to cover emergency care. Resident doctors are taking part in a strike over pay, which began on Friday, 25 July and will end at 7am on Wednesday. The BMA's resident doctors committee has asked the government for a 29 per cent pay increase to address what it says has been a more than 20 per cent erosion of their pay since 2008. However, talks between doctors and health secretary Wes Streeting broke down last week and failed to avert strike action. Last week, NHS England chiefs told hospital leaders they must maintain elective care during the strikes, whereas during previous rounds, widespread cancellations took place. During strikes, employers can request 'derogations', in which a union can grant permission for a doctor or multiple doctors to come into work on strike days. NHS England's figures as of Monday show 58 requests for 'derogations' had been made, eight had been approved, 23 had been declined, 15 had been withdrawn, and some are still pending a decision. There has so far been a record number of approvals compared to previous strike rounds, according to NHS data. Over the weekend, the BMA claimed one hospital, in Sheffield, had asked for resident doctors to come in as its consultants were not able to use the trust's new electronic records system. The union also posted on X, claiming it had agreed to let a doctor return to work within the obstetric department at Queens Medical Centre, run by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. Other trusts cited by the union include Lewisham and St George's Hospitals in London. In a message to resident doctors on Sunday, the BMA resident doctors' committee said: 'This dispute had exposed a small number of trusts where they have planned as if strikes were not even happening. We have received a record number of derogation requests this set of strikes. This is because NHS England has issued instructions to Trusts to try to keep elective activity open, despite our warnings of the risks to patient safety.' The message claimed the BMA has received 47 derogation requests from NHS England and that these contained requests for 125 resident doctors to return to work to cover gaps. Following requests, the BMA said it had granted 16 doctors permission to go back to work. It said the trusts where derogations were revoked were either 'misinformed about their staffing, or deliberately misled' the BMA. Other 'inappropriate' derogations the BMA said it had been asked for included where trusts planned for a full rota of resident doctors, and then were 'caught out when resident doctors went on strike'. Multiple trusts had 'prioritised elective activity over the safety of more urgent patients', the BMA claimed. It said due to 'poor timing of requests' there have been instances where patients' safety has been at risk, 'with not enough doctors to ensure emergency care,' which has led to 'last-minute' requests for doctors. Ahead of the strikes, the BMA was criticised for advising resident doctors against informing their employers of their plans to strike. In a rare intervention, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges published a statement to the BMA warning that this would risk patient safety. An NHS England spokesperson said: "The NHS is continuing to work hard to maintain more services than in previous rounds of industrial action, and early indications show the plan is working with the vast majority of planned care going ahead. 'Derogation requests for resident doctors to work in exceptional circumstances are being made by the most senior clinical teams on the ground, and delays or refusals by the British Medical Association questions their integrity and risks patient safety." Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Hospitals make record number of requests for doctors to work during strikes, claims union
Hospitals made a record number of requests for striking doctors to return to the wards this weekend as a five-day walkout prompted safety fears for patient safety, the British Medical Association has claimed. The BMA said hospitals had asked for more than 125 resident doctors to come off the picket lines during the walkout. The union has claimed some of those pleas were made inappropriately and had to be refused, while those that had been granted had to be revoked. It also said there had been incidents where patient safety was at risk due to trusts not having enough staff to cover emergency care. Resident doctors are taking part in a strike over pay, which began on Friday, 25 July and will end at 7am on Wednesday. The BMA's resident doctors committee has asked the government for a 29 per cent pay increase to address what it says has been a more than 20 per cent erosion of their pay since 2008. However, talks between doctors and health secretary Wes Streeting broke down last week and failed to avert strike action. Last week, NHS England chiefs told hospital leaders they must maintain elective care during the strikes, whereas during previous rounds, widespread cancellations took place. During strikes, employers can request 'derogations', in which a union can grant permission for a doctor or multiple doctors to come into work on strike days. NHS England's figures as of Monday show 58 requests for 'derogations' had been made, eight had been approved, 23 had been declined, 15 had been withdrawn, and some are still pending a decision. There has so far been a record number of approvals compared to previous strike rounds, according to NHS data. Over the weekend, the BMA claimed one hospital, in Sheffield, had asked for resident doctors to come in as its consultants were not able to use the trust's new electronic records system. The union also posted on X, claiming it had agreed to let a doctor return to work within the obstetric department at Queens Medical Centre, run by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. Other trusts cited by the union include Lewisham and St George's Hospitals in London. In a message to resident doctors on Sunday, the BMA resident doctors' committee said: 'This dispute had exposed a small number of trusts where they have planned as if strikes were not even happening. We have received a record number of derogation requests this set of strikes. This is because NHS England has issued instructions to Trusts to try to keep elective activity open, despite our warnings of the risks to patient safety.' The message claimed the BMA has received 47 derogation requests from NHS England and that these contained requests for 125 resident doctors to return to work to cover gaps. Following requests, the BMA said it had granted 16 doctors permission to go back to work. It said the trusts where derogations were revoked were either 'misinformed about their staffing, or deliberately misled' the BMA. Other 'inappropriate' derogations the BMA said it had been asked for included where trusts planned for a full rota of resident doctors, and then were 'caught out when resident doctors went on strike'. Multiple trusts had 'prioritised elective activity over the safety of more urgent patients', the BMA claimed. It said due to 'poor timing of requests' there have been instances where patients' safety has been at risk, 'with not enough doctors to ensure emergency care,' which has led to 'last-minute' requests for doctors. Ahead of the strikes, the BMA was criticised for advising resident doctors against informing their employers of their plans to strike. In a rare intervention, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges published a statement to the BMA warning that this would risk patient safety. NHS England was approached for comment.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Medics issue patient safety warning over union's approach to strikes
Top medics have urged the British Medical Association (BMA) to suspend its guidance advising doctors not to disclose strike plans to employers. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said that withholding this information risks patient safety as it makes it extremely difficult for health service leaders to maintain adequate patient care. Resident doctors are set to begin a five-day strike on Friday after pay talks with the government broke down, with the BMA seeking a 29 per cent pay rise. Hospital leaders anticipate having to cancel some operations and appointments, despite NHS England 's mandate to continue routine care, with one A&E in Cheltenham considering reducing services. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, described the strike action as 'completely unjustified', while the BMA argues the government's pay offer is insufficient.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer treatment ‘revolution' on the horizon, says leading doctor
Cancer treatment is on the "cusp of a golden era", according to NHS England's outgoing national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis. He expects that the development of drugs harnessing the body's immune system to fight the disease will bring "great advances in cancer survival". In his final interview before retiring, Sir Stephen, 64, told The Times: 'We are at the cusp of a golden era in terms of the way we treat a range of cancers. 'For many cancers now, people should be confident that it's not a death sentence and that more treatments will become available.' He said the rise in people living longer and surviving cancers would continue, alongside cures for some forms of the disease. 'Our understanding of the genetics of cancer, of the way we can target cancers with particular drugs, and how we can use the body's own immune system to target cancers itself, is being revolutionised,' he said. He compared the progress made in treating cancer with the success in developing HIV/Aids treatments since he qualified as a doctor 40 years ago. He also said an increased focus on prevention will help eliminate certain types of cancer. 🧵Today is my last day working at NHS England. It has been an honour to serve as National Medical Director for the last seven and a half years. Thank you to everybody who has supported and encouraged me over the years. — Professor Stephen Powis (@NHSEnglandNMD) July 10, 2025 'We can't prevent all cancers, but there are cancers that we can certainly prevent,' he said, adding that he hopes lung cancers will become 'a lot rarer'. Cancer treatment, he said, would be 'driven by genetics' to become more individualised with the increased ability to pinpoint mutations in cells. His comments come as experts warned of a 'postcode lottery' in cancer services that focus on improving patients' quality of life and providing urgent care for people with the disease. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the UK Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (UKASCC) and the Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) have called for urgent investment in supportive and acute oncology. Sir Stephen warned the biggest challenge facing the NHS was the rise in elderly people and the economic pressure that is putting on the younger generation and the economy. Last week, Sir Stephen warned the British Medical Association (BMA) to 'think really hard' about whether industrial action by resident doctors – formerly junior doctors – planned for later this month is justified. He told The Times the walkout would cause 'tens of thousands of appointments and procedures' to be cancelled. The kidney specialist has served as national medical director since January 2018 and held the role throughout the Covid pandemic.
