Global Scans · Horizon Scanning NHS · Weekly Summary

• [New] Audit Scotland's annual report on the NHS in Scotland includes a strong message that the Scottish Government needs to develop a national strategy for health and social care, recognising that without reform there are clear risks for long term financial sustainability. Fraser of Allander Institute
• [New] The NHS in England will receive a £2.5 billion day-to-day funding boost in 2024 and a further £3.4 billion investment in the latest technology from 2025, allowing doctors and nurses to focus on patients rather than admin, leading to £35 billion in savings. Kent Online
• [New] Space for new beds, Restore Records Management estimates the NHS could make space for at least 10,000 much-needed beds in the UK by moving more patient records offsite. htn
• Without change, there is a risk Scotland's NHS will take up an ever-growing chunk of the Scottish budget. Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council
• New rules released by NHS England this month mean puberty blockers will no longer be used in treatments for under-18s with gender dysphoria, except as part of a clinical trial. The Guardian
• More research is needed to further demonstrate the accuracy of the blood test, which is expected to form part of NHS trials starting this month looking to roll out blood tests for Alzheimer's within the next five years. iNews
• Other transfers for NHS England's 2024 to 2025 budget relate to GP indemnity, voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth, and transfers with public health bodies. GOV.UK
• By leveraging machine learning algorithms, the NHS can predict patient needs, identify high-risk individuals, and personalize treatment plans to deliver more effective and efficient healthcare services. Public Sector Network
• The higher-than-previously-assumed UK government funding the Scottish Government utilised in its second revised 2023-24 Budget probably reflects, at least in part, in-year top-ups to the English NHS budget since November, increasing the implied year-on-year cut in 2025. Institute for Fiscal Studies
• New voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth will boost nation's health, save NHS £14 billion and support research investment. GOV.UK
• The long-term workforce plan outlines how NHS England expects to recruit more than 300,000 extra nurses, doctors and other health workers over 15 years. The Guardian
• As the NHS owns of one of the most valuable healthcare datasets in the world, there may be significant opportunities for businesses to get better access to NHS data to develop and train the AI tools that politicians are hoping will deliver their promised efficiencies. Alpha Helix Corporate Finance
• The NHS is improving maternity and neonatal bereavement care across England, including by next month bereavement services will be available in almost every NHS Trust, seven days a week for women and families who sadly experience loss. Kent Online
• The recruitment crisis in the NHS and the care sector has had a particularly negative impact on disabled people and, as the Office for National Statistics explains, disabled people were at significantly greater risk of death from COVID-19. Byline Times
• The crisis in NHS dentistry could be repeated in GP surgeries across Scotland - with families facing a future without a doctor. Scotland Matters
• The UK's NHS is a prime target for threat actors, as are many hospital and medical organizations because of the high value of the personal data they hold. Infosecurity Magazine
• Cancer patients in England could be at risk because NHS staff are overstretched and exhausted. The Guardian
• Measures introduced at Spring Budget will protect levels of funding for the NHS in England in real terms in 2024-25 by providing an extra £2.5 billion for 2024-25 meaning a total budget of £164.9 billion. GOV.UK
• The NHS in the UK advises beef, lamb and pork are good sources of protein and can form part of a balanced diet, but eating more than 90 g daily can raise the risk of bowel cancer. The Irish Times
• Another project run by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust will introduce a new app that allows staff to take observations on tablets and smartphones by a patient's bedside, reducing the time spent typing up patient notes and providing more time to spend with patients. NHS Digital
• NHS England has announced a pledge to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. Leigh Day
• NHS doctors in Bolton are urging people to only attend in life or limb-threatening emergencies so that staff can prioritise care for patients with the highest clinical needs. Bolton NHS FT
• Switching to a vegan diet could save a staggering £6.7 billion per year for the NHS in England. Vegan Food & Living

Last updated: 17 April 2024