Health and care sector latest developments

Hospital patients have endured up to 41.8C during heatwaves

Hospital wards are enduring ‘unbelievably dangerous’ temperatures of up to 41.8C during heatwaves.

According to the Times, nearly half of NHS trusts have recorded temperatures above 33C on wards since June. Very few hospitals are equipped with air conditioning or adequate ventilation.

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Liberal Democrats, show the highest temperature was 41.8C, recorded in June at the Northern Care Alliance Trust in Manchester. Further NHS data published on Thursday shows July was the busiest month in history for A&E units.

FDP benefits were overestimated by £1.7 billion

The government is now estimating the long-term cost-benefit of the federated data platform (FDP) at £1.7 billion less than the figure given by NHS England a year ago.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority’s (NISTA) latest assessment of the benefit value of the FDP over its lifetime is £808 million.

NISTA, which is part of the Treasury, said the figure was based on estimates provided to it by the Department of Health and Social Care in March.

Top ICB confirms new chief executive

A leading integrated care board (ICB) has confirmed its finance director will take on the chief executive job.

Jonathan Webb has been appointed substantive chief executive at West Yorkshire ICB following a stint as interim after the retirement of Rob Webster earlier this year.

Mr Webb had previously been director of finance and deputy chief executive since the establishment of the ICB – regarded as a trailblazer for its work on place-level working – in 2022.

Before this, he worked at Wakefield clinical commissioning group and held senior finance roles at NHS England’s regional team.