Latest news with #PAnewsagency
The Independent
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Harry Maguire not with Man Utd squad flying to USA due to personal matter
Harry Maguire is not flying with Manchester United for their US pre-season tour due to a personal matter, the PA news agency understands. The 32-year-old defender was a half-time introduction in Saturday's 0-0 friendly draw with Leeds but was replaced in the 74th minute. Maguire was conspicuous by his absence from United's 32-man tour squad announced on Tuesday. PA understands it is due to a personal matter rather than injury, with the club hoping he will be able to join the group in due course.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Concerns major new NHS reforms to GP appointments will make no difference
Nearly half of the public believes the government's ambitious 10-year plan to overhaul the nation's health will either make no difference or exacerbate the difficulty of securing a GP appointment, a new survey has found. The Ipsos poll, conducted for the PA news agency, also revealed that more than four in 10 respondents anticipate no improvement in A&E waiting times. Despite this widespread scepticism, the blueprint has garnered significant support for several key proposals, including the establishment of neighbourhood health centres, the expansion of the NHS app, and increased mental health provision in educational settings. Unveiled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, the strategy aims to shift healthcare provision closer to people's homes, thereby reducing the current reliance on hospitals and emergency departments. Central to the reforms are plans for an enhanced NHS app, designed to give patients greater control over their care, alongside new neighbourhood health centres slated to operate six days a week for at least 12 hours daily. The plan also includes proposals for new legislation concerning food and alcohol, intended to proactively prevent ill health. The survey, which polled 1,023 adults across Britain, specifically questioned public perceptions on how the plan would affect access to GP services, A&E waiting times, and routine hospital treatment. Some 35 per cent said the plan will have no impact on getting a GP appointment, while 14 per cent believe it will make things harder. This compares with the 29 per cent of people who said they think it will make getting an appointment easier. More than a third (37 per cent) said it will make no difference to waiting times in emergency departments, while almost one in 10 (9 per cent), said they believe it could worsen waiting times, compared with 30 per cent who said it will improve them. Meanwhile, 31 per cent said the plan will have no impact on waiting times for hospital treatment, 11 per cent believe the plan will worsen waiting times and 34 per cent said they think the measures will help. However, a number of proposals outlined in the plan were strongly backed by the public. Some 84 per cent said they supported the creation of a single patient record, while 78 per cent backed the creation of neighbourhood health centres, 73 per cent support the expansion of the NHS app and 72 per cent are in favour of more mental health support in schools and colleges. However, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of people do not support making hospitals fully AI enabled, compared with 44 per cent who would back the move. Almost one in five (18 per cent) said they would not support so-called 'patient power payments', which would allow patients to hold back some of the payment for their care if they are not satisfied, while 42 per cent would support the measure. Some proposals aimed at helping people to lead healthier lives were also strongly supported. A ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks was backed by 78 per cent of people, while 69 per cent back plans to restrict junk food advertising. However, almost one in five (18 per cent) tended to disagree with measures that could see alcoholic drinks labelled with nutritional information, although 57 per cent backed the move. One in four people think the measures included in the plan will make no difference to patients, the poll found. Almost one in 10 (9 per cent) said they think the changes will make things worse, while 35 per cent believe it will improve the health service. A similar proportion, 23 per cent, said the 10-year health plan will make no difference to NHS staff, while 13 per cent said it could make things worse and 33 per cent believe it will have a positive effect. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We're getting on with the job of delivering for patients, with NHS waiting lists falling by 260,000 since July 2024, delivering more than 4.6 million additional appointments since the general election and recruiting over 1,900 extra GPs to fix the front door of the NHS. 'Backed by an additional £29 billion, our 10-year health plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines and innovation to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and better value for taxpayers. 'It is no surprise the plan is popular with patients, it was the result of the biggest conversation with staff, patients and the public since the formation of the NHS, with more than a quarter of a million contributions.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Almost half of people do not think 10-year plan will boost GP access
Almost half of people think that Government plans to improve the health of the nation will have no difference, or make it harder to get a GP appointment, according to a survey. More than four in 10 also believe the 10-year plan will make no difference or will not improve waiting times in A&E. However, there is huge support for some of the ideas included in the blueprint, with the overwhelming majority backing the creation of neighbourhood health centres, the expansion of the NHS app and more mental health support in schools and colleges. The 10-year health plan was unveiled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, and set out a series of shifts to bring care much closer to people's homes, reducing the reliance on hospitals and A&E. Key reforms include an enhanced NHS app, giving patients more control over their care, new neighbourhood health centres open six days a week and at least 12 hours a day, and new laws on food and alcohol to prevent ill health. A survey of 1,023 adults in Britain, conducted by Ipsos for the PA news agency, asked people how they think the plan will impact access to healthcare, such as getting a GP appointment, A&E waiting times and waiting times for routine hospital treatment. Some 35% said the plan will have no impact on getting a GP appointment, while 14% believe it will make things harder. This compares with the 29% of people who said they think it will make getting an appointment easier. More than a third (37%) said it will make no difference to waiting times in emergency departments, while almost one in 10 (9%), said they believe it could worsen waiting times, compared with 30% who said it will improve them. Meanwhile, 31% said the plan will have no impact on waiting times for hospital treatment, 11% believe the plan will worsen waiting times and 34% said they think the measures will help. However, a number of proposals outlined in the plan were strongly backed by the public. Some 84% said they supported the creation of a single patient record, while 78% backed the creation of neighbourhood health centres, 73% support the expansion of the NHS app and 72% are in favour of more mental health support in schools and colleges. However, more than a quarter (27%) of people do not support making hospitals fully AI enabled, compared with 44% who would back the move. Almost one in five (18%) said they would not support so-called 'patient power payments', which would allow patients to hold back some of the payment for their care if they are not satisfied, while 42% would support the measure. Some proposals aimed at helping people to lead healthier lives were also strongly supported. A ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks was backed by 78% of people, while 69% back plans to restrict junk food advertising. However, almost one in five (18%) tended to disagree with measures that could see alcoholic drinks labelled with nutritional information, although 57% backed the move. One in four people think the measures included in the plan will make no difference to patients, the poll found. Almost one in 10 (9%) said they think the changes will make things worse, while 35% believe it will improve the health service. A similar proportion, 23%, said the 10-year health plan will make no difference to NHS staff, while 13% said it could make things worse and 33% believe it will have a positive effect. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We're getting on with the job of delivering for patients, with NHS waiting lists falling by 260,000 since July 2024, delivering more than 4.6 million additional appointments since the general election and recruiting over 1,900 extra GPs to fix the front door of the NHS. 'Backed by an additional £29 billion, our 10-year health plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines and innovation to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and better value for taxpayers. 'It is no surprise the plan is popular with patients, it was the result of the biggest conversation with staff, patients and the public since the formation of the NHS, with more than a quarter of a million contributions.'
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Hosting Open a ‘tribute' to people of Northern Ireland, says George Mitchell
It was a 'special treat' to return to Northern Ireland for the Open at Royal Portrush, former US senator George Mitchell has said. Mr Mitchell, who chaired the 1998 Good Friday negotiations to their successful outcome, said hosting the Open was a 'tribute to the people of Northern Ireland'. Advertisement Speaking to the PA news agency at the tournament on Sunday, Mr Mitchell said: 'It is a great pleasure for me to return to Northern Ireland at any time. 'I spent six years here working towards peace and I've had the pleasure of coming back often since then. 'This is a special treat for me because my son Andrew, who was born during the time I worked in Northern Ireland, is a very good golfer and very much interested in golf. 'And so the chance to travel with him back to Northern Ireland and to be at the Open is really, for me, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.' Advertisement The 91-year-old said: 'We've had a great time, he walked the entire course yesterday. I couldn't do that, but I enjoyed watching the golfers.' Mr Mitchell said he was hoping for a 'great outcome' on the final day of the Open. He said: 'For me, although I'm an American and proud of it, always will be, a very large part of my heart and my emotions will always be in Northern Ireland with the great people here.' The 153rd Open Championship was being held at Royal Portrush in County Antrim (Mike Egerton/PA) Asked about the progress made in Northern Ireland since the peace process, which now saw the region hosting high-profile international sporting events, Mr Mitchell said: 'I think too many people – here and elsewhere – associate Northern Ireland with political violence and upheaval. Advertisement 'But in fact, as we've seen over the last quarter-century, the people of Northern Ireland are energetic, intelligent, active and I think it is a great place to live, work, visit – whether you're here to watch a golf tournament or do anything else. 'So I think it is, in a way, a tribute to the people of Northern Ireland that the Open is here again and hopefully will be back again often.' He said: 'It is pretty hard to top Portrush on a beautiful weekend as has been the case this weekend, and so I look forward to coming back again.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Migrants run across beach to board dinghy in the Channel
Migrants ran into the water to board a dinghy on the French coastline before setting off across the English Channel. Pictures and video captured by the PA news agency show dozens of people sprinting in shallow water before climbing onto a boat at Gravelines beach on Thursday morning. French authorities in an inflatable boat out at sea approached the overcrowded dinghy, passing those on board lifejackets. No police were seen on the beach when the groups of people came out of the sand dunes and attempted to board the black inflatable boat. PA first saw one boat drop off several men at around 5am, who went into the sand dunes, before a second boat came close to shore, circling until the migrants appeared on the beach. The people, including a family with two children, put themselves into groups before trying to climb onto the boat. Around 40 people, believed to be about half of the full group, left on the dinghy. More than 22,500 people have arrived in the UK after making the journey across the Channel so far this year.
