Health and care sector latest developments

NHS introduces prescription collection alerts for smartwatches and mobiles

The NHS has introduced prescription collection alerts for smartphones and smartwatches, allowing patients across England to receive notifications when their medication is ready. 

Available at nearly 2,500 pharmacies, the service aims to reduce unnecessary visits and to make prescription management more convenient.

James Frith, the health innovation minister, said the new alerts show how digital technology can improve patients’ everyday healthcare experience and helps “free up valuable time for pharmacy staff to focus on supporting patients”.

Lib Dems demand urgent action over maternity safety concerns

A poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has found that 75 per cent of people are worried about NHS maternity care, rising to 79 per cent among women.

The party is calling for an emergency maternity care package, including dedicated one to one midwifery support, round the clock consultant availability, and repairs to facilities.

Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson Helen Morgan said the findings were a “national disgrace” and that “mothers and hard-working midwives and doctors have been utterly failed”.

Ms Morgan urged the Prime Minister to introduce stronger protections for mothers and babies, stressing that “we need urgent action so no family has to go through childbirth in fear”.

Patients struggle to navigate NHS, RCGP warns

A Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) survey has found that 86 per cent of patients have been unsure who to contact about NHS care, and 64 per cent approached their GP for help with delays, appointments or other services.

Unclear NHS processes left 47 per cent of affected patients feeling anxious and 34 per cent facing treatment delays.

The RCGP is urging the government to simplify NHS care pathways, improve referral tracking and invest in GP staffing.

RCGP president Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown warned that “patients should not be expected to navigate a complex NHS on their own”, and called for a “simpler, more joined-up NHS” to reduce unnecessary pressure on GP practices.

Study reveals postcode lottery in access to social care

England is facing a social care ‘postcode lottery’ with large variations in the number of people who access help depending on where they live, a new study by the King’s Fund has found. 

A difference of thousands has been found in the number of people who accessed publicly funded, long-term social care depending on the council that funds their care. 

In one example, the King’s Fund found that in Thurrock, 7,680 older people per 100,000 accessed long-term care in compared to just 4,810 in Medway. This means that in Thurrock there are 60 per cent more older people accessing care compared to Medway despite being demographically and economically similar. 

Medics accused of ‘misappropriating’ data to set up firm 

It has been alleged that a doctor misappropriated confidential documents from a major NHS diagnostics supplier and shared them with his associates to set up a rival private business.

InHealth has filed a claim against five radiologists, alleging they used confidential business information and copyright material without permission to launch a diagnostic centre in Milton Keynes, a 10-minute walk from InHealth’s NHS community diagnostic centre.

The claim says the information “was in effect a roadmap for the establishment and operation of a competing business and was deliberately taken and used for these purposes”.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic NHS people leaders recognised

The Health Service Journal has announced its 75 most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health, recognising leaders making an outstanding contribution across the sector.

Ben Morrin, chief executive of NHS Employers and a member of this year’s judging panel, welcomed the recognition of more chief people officers than ever before, including:

• Terry Roberts, Chief People Officer, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust
• Cheryl Samuels, Director of People and Culture, Evelina Hospital, London
• Meera Nair, Chief People Officer, Manchester University Foundation Trust

The HSJ list also showcases a number of rising stars, including Marcus Riddell, chief people officer at the Royal Papworth Hospital Foundation Trust, Helga Pile, head of health at Unison and co-chair of the NHS Alliance’s Social Partnership Forum has also been recognised, as has NHS Alliance chair Lord Victor Adebowale and Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, chief executive of 10,000 Interns Foundation, which has increased paid internships for talented black career starters.