This report is a flexible summary, with the aim of sharing and highlighting a wide range of data and policy information relating to London general practice published in a given week. Where we view information to be of significant interest it is reproduced directly below the links to make the key points quicker to digest.
Please feel free to share any useful stats/links you think we could include in future reports.
Official bodies
NHS Digital
- All recent data releases can be seen here.
- Guidance: NHS oversight framework segmentation [30/10].
- Guidance: COVID-19 vaccination site sign-up process – guidance for all suppliers [31/10].
- Guidance: GP registration transfer cards [1/11].
Department of Health and Social Care
- Press release: New funding to kickstart delivery of two million extra NHS appointments [28/10].
- Guidance: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad [30/10].
- Correspondence:Assisted dying bill debate: advice to nurses and midwives [1/11].
- The UK chief nursing officers have given advice to help nurses and midwives wanting to take part in the assisted dying debate.
UK Health Security Agency
- Guidance: Methane: health effects and incident management [28/10].
- Guidance: Mpox: contact tracing for cases of clade II mpox [31/10].
- News:Latest update on cases of Clade Ib mpox [30/10].
- News: Flu and COVID-19 surveillance report published [31/10].
BMA
- Press release: BMA says new funding is a ‘promising start’, but more needs to be done to cut waiting lists [29/10].
- Press release:BMA responds to the Autumn statement – ‘New funding for the NHS is welcome, but there’s scant regard for GPs and their patients, says BMA[30/10].
- Press release: We could see GP practices closing if they are made to pay higher NI contributions, BMA warns Government [1/11].
Policy, think tanks, charities and representative bodies
The Health Foundation
- A budget to stabilise but not yet transform the NHS [30/10].
- In response to the Autumn Budget 2024, Dame Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, said, …’The additional investment in the NHS announced will help to stabilise services. The 3.8% average annual increase is similar to the historic average and should enable the government to make some progress on its ambitions for the NHS, though this will be limited by the costs of meeting next year’s pay settlements and other cost pressures such as the increase in employers’ National Insurance. All eyes will now turn to next year’s Spending Review and the NHS 10-year plan to move beyond stabilising services by putting the investment, reform and, crucially, the technology in place to transform the NHS.’
Ipsos
- Ahead of the Budget, immigration, economy and the NHS remain Britons’ top concerns [29/10].
- Concerns about the State of the NHS Driving how Britons use the Healthcare System [29/10.
- An Ipsos poll, conducted between October 11-14, 2024, reveals that concerns about the state of the NHS are driving changes in healthcare-seeking behaviour.
- Responsible Use of Resources: A significant majority (69%) of Britons report using NHS resources responsibly, such as not missing GP appointments, due to concerns about the NHS. Looking ahead, this trend is expected to continue, with 79% saying they are likely to use resources responsibly in the future for the same reason.
- Self-Care and Preventative Measures: 67% of Britons have tried to care for themselves before seeking NHS help, and six in ten (60%) have tried to make healthier choices to reduce their future NHS needs. These proactive approaches are also expected to continue in the future, with 73% and 66% respectively indicating they are likely to continue these behaviours.
- Avoidance of Healthcare Services: A substantial proportion of Britons have avoided seeking certain types of NHS care due to concerns about the system.
- Consideration of Private Healthcare: 17% of the public have used private healthcare, likely reflecting a desire to bypass potential NHS delays or difficulties.
- Two in five Britons think nurses have the right to reject an offer of a 5.5% pay rise [28/10].
- An Ipsos survey has examined public attitudes towards nurses’ pay in Britain, support for potential industrial action, and perceptions about government performance on negotiating with trade unions.
- Care Workers and Nurses Perceived as Underpaid: A significant majority of Britons believe care workers (71%) and nurses (60%) are paid too little. This marks an 8 ppt increase in the perception of care workers being underpaid.
- Nurses’ Pay Rise Rejection: When asked about the government’s recent offer of a 5.5% pay rise for NHS nurses, two in five Britons (41%) think nurses made the right decision to reject this offer.
- Value for Money and Pay Rises: The public is fairly divided on whether the proposed pay increases for nurses (5.5% rise) and resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors, 8% rise) offer good value for money. 39% of Britons believe that they do, and 22% say that they don’t (27% neither).
- Support for Industrial Action: The public are split on whether they support or oppose nurses going on strike if the government does not offer them a higher pay rise in the future. 38% of respondents express support for industrial action should the government not improve the pay offer, while an equal percentage oppose it (20% neither).
Nuffield Trust
- How can an NHS plan really make a difference? [28/10].
- After a public consultation was launched on the health service’s new 10-year-plan, Mark Dayan looks at what we can learn from previous NHS plans – as well as from other countries – to help make the plan be more successful this time.
The King’s Fund
- What does the Autumn Budget 2024 mean for health and care? [31/10].
- The King’s Fund responds to the 2024 Autumn Budget [30/10].
- The King’s Fund responds to HMT announcement of new funding for two million extra NHS appointments [29/10].
- High hopes for NHS and life sciences industry partnerships, but what does it really take to make them a success? [28/10].
- Labour’s life sciences plan published earlier this year leave little doubt around the enthusiasm of the new government for the life sciences industry and the potential for it to collaborate more closely with the NHS.
Civil Service World
- Budget: Reeves faces backlash from health and care services over NI hikes [1/11].
- GPs and hospices say failure to include them in “public sector compensation” arrangements will have dire consequences.
London Trusts
Barts Health NHS Trust
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust