RECENT NEWS

The current system of elective care is struggling to inform patients of their rights to choose healthcare providers and procedures, and offering little information or support when decisions need to be made, according to a new report.

Millions more patients will receive appointment reminders, screening invitations and test results directly to their smartphones as the NHS turbocharges its digital revolution to make it easier for patients to access care.

The NHS waiting list has fallen to its lowest level in two years, the first April drop since 2008, as health chiefs hailed staff for continuing to tackle demand and drive progress for patients.

Millions of patients will benefit from cutting-edge NHS robotic surgery over the next decade as part of radical plans to cut waiting times. Half a million operations will be supported with this approach, every year by 2035, up from 70,000 in 2023/24, according to NHS projections.

A new digital hub in Leeds is being launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), marking a significant step in the agency’s long-term commitment to advancing innovation and strengthening its presence across the UK.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published the UK’s first official guidance to support the safe development and use of phage therapies – treatments that use viruses to target and destroy harmful bacteria.

Randox Laboratories has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the De Novo application for the company’s first Companion Diagnostic (CDx). This is a major achievement for Randox following over three years of innovative development and collaboration with Novo Nordisk. The Companion Diagnostic was developed as a new option for determining the amount of medication a patient with haemophilia has received.

In a keynote speech to the RCP’s annual conference, Medicine 2025, Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, described the leading role physicians can play in the secondary prevention of ill-health while Karin Smyth MP, minister of state for secondary care, thanked RCP fellows and members for ‘holding the NHS together’.

A tender revealing that NHS Scotland is actively seeking a cloud solution and systems implementer is ‘a much-needed step and hugely welcome news for innovators,’ says a health service partner.

New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that syphilis diagnoses in England continued to rise in 2024 compared to 2023.

The latest data from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that bloodstream infections caused by yeast rose by 4% in 2024, compared to 2023 (from 2,170 to 2,247 reports).

The Government has pledged that patients will receive better, faster and more appropriate emergency care with a new package of investment and reforms.

​Data shared by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) shows a record number of Brits are paying for common procedures – with cataract surgery topping the list.

Idox has announced that Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust (BCHC) has selected its iAssets solution to track over 200 BodyGuard T lockboxes, used in community care within the Birmingham Area. This collaboration aims to improve the management and reduce the re-procurement of syringe pumps across BCHC services.​

Knowlex, a leading organiser of CPD-accredited education conferences and webinars for the healthcare sector, is proud to announce the launch of a new technology-focused division. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to advance knowledge and best practice across healthcare.

As one of the largest NHS organisations in the country, Newcastle Hospitals holds huge amounts of data on care, treatment, outcomes and services. This information is currently stored in different locations and on a range of software systems, making it difficult to collate, organise and use in the best possible way. To allow better use of this valuable resource, Newcastle Hospitals has agreed two new partnerships, which will provide access to the specialist skills and secure technology needed to improve the quality of the data, making it easier to use for research and development.

Reducing the length of immunotherapy treatment for an advanced skin cancer did not significantly diminish disease control when compared to giving treatments over a longer period, according to breakthrough research led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds. This was the finding from the UK DANTE phase III trial, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

The prestigious national Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards 2025 will celebrate the achievements of some of the most innovative life sciences organisations in the UK, at the iconic London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) in London on Thursday 10th July, where eight companies will be presented with their awards by industry leaders.

Tens of thousands of patients with lung and breast cancer are to benefit from a “revolutionary” blood test on the NHS across England which can speed up access to targeted therapy.

A report from King’s College London sets out the stark reality people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face in securing diagnosis and accessing care.