Health and care sector latest developments

Health Bill back in the Commons

The Health Bill is back in the House of Commons this week for its remaining stages.

Day one took place yesterday, with a number of government new clauses added to the bill, including ones to restore local authority representation on integrated care boards and one to strengthen visiting and accompaniment rights.

Two opposition proposals were defeated. Shadow health minister Dr Caroline Johnson’s new clause 145, requiring the government to respond to the Hughes report within 30 days of the bill becoming law, was rejected by 316 votes to 170, while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Helen Morgan’s new clause 6, aimed at improving maternity services, was rejected by 317 votes to 77.

Among the points raised by MPs in the debate included rising costs associated with the abolition of NHS England, data privacy issues surrounding the single patient record (SPR), access to NHS dentistry, secretary of state powers and health inequalities and the need to tackle the wider determinants of health.

Day two of remaining stages is due to take place today. Once the bill has cleared the Commons, it will enter the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

Public doesn’t support disability benefit cuts

Research by the British social attitudes survey has found that just 7 per cent of respondents were in favour of reducing benefits for disabled people who cannot work.

Almost half of those who took part, 49 per cent, said they supported more being spent on disability benefits, even if it led to higher taxes.

There has been widespread political concern about the rising cost of disability benefits, with Labour, the Conservative party and Reform UK having all said there is a need to reduce the amount of money being spent on them. The Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP, on the other hand, have been opposed to reductions.

Hundreds of staff sacked for snooping on patient records

It has been revealed that more than 200 NHS staff have been sacked and around 2,000 others sanctioned for inappropriately viewing patient records over the past five years.

A joint investigation by the Health Service Journal and Sky News comprises data from 140 trusts and gives the first national picture of NHS staff record snooping.

The audit revealed how a staff member in one trust accessed their spouse’s records in a ‘potential domestic violence situation’, while one employee was dismissed after they viewed up to 179 patient records without legitimate reason. Staff were also found to have shared patient information on WhatsApp group chats.

The investigation also found that at least 25 per cent of trusts had no recent or proactive audits to check for such breaches, so it is thought that the number of cases may be considerably higher.

UK’s largest private hospital group sold

Spire Healthcare Group, one of the NHS’s largest private providers which runs 38 hospitals and more than 55 clinics across England, Wales and Scotland, has agreed to a £1 billion takeover by Tulip UK Bidco, a group of investment firms which comprises funds managed or advised by Toscafund Asset Management, THCP advisory and Ares Management.

Spire generated nearly £500 million from its NHS work last year, and this deal valued the company at 250p per share.

Spire also announced that Sir David Sloman, a former chief operating officer for NHS England, will stand in as interim chief executive following Justin Ash’s retirement. Sir David has been Spire’s vice chair since last May.

Major hospital trust freed from NHS England enforcement action

King’s College Hospital (KCH) Foundation Trust has been freed from NHS England enforcement action after almost a decade.

KCH, which is one of England’s largest hospital trusts, was first found to be in breach of its licence due to several failures, including a lack of financial control, concerns about governance, and leadership capacity and capability.

It had been subject to enforcement action since 2017, including being required to work under an appointed financial improvement director and deliver agreed recovery trajectories for its finances and waiting times, among other things.

Assisted dying bill returns to Commons amid turnout fears

The assisted dying debate will return to the House of Commons on Friday, with supporters hoping to send the bill back to the House of Lords after it failed to progress there last time.

Labour MP, Lauren Edwards, who is bringing the bill back, has argued that peers should not block legislation already backed by elected MPs. She has said that ‘MPs have already made their decision’ and should not be prevented from carrying out ‘the will of the elected chamber’.

However, supporters fear low turnout could make Friday’s vote much closer, with an MP saying that ‘no one has changed sides, but the numbers are going to be tighter because people are absent’.