Half the British population has now had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine with daily vaccination rates reaching record levels, it has been announced. By last Friday 26.8 million people had been vaccinated – with another million receiving doses over the weekend. Health secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged that shortages would lead to a slowdown next…

Practices need to take steps to ensure people with special needs are not deterred from seeking help by phone triage, a health watchdog says today. Healthwatch England calls for a “national review” of GP access, warning of many people feeling “frustrated and confused” by changes to the way practices work. It says that some groups…

All NHS and primary care staff in Wales are to receive a bonus payment to recognise their “extraordinary” pandemic contribution, it has been announced. Staff will get an extra £735 in their pay packet – but most will take home £500 after tax and national insurance. The award, worth £326 million, is to go 2,345…

The scaremongering over the Oxford vaccine may start to have an impact on UK vaccination rates, some doctors have warned. GPs spoke of some patients being concerned about the suspension of the use of the vaccine in Europe. The European Medicines Agency is expected to release today the findings of its review of the vaccine.…

A significant minority of patients and staff have been unhappy with the rapid shift to technology-based consultations, according to a new study. A Health Foundation study found that 33% of staff feel that new ways of providing care have reduced quality. Amongst NHS users, 42% said quality of care had been worse and this increased…

Practices need more mental health specialists, both for patients and for staff, according to senior Scottish GPs. The proposal headlines manifesto launched by the Royal College of GPs for the elections to the Scottish parliament in May. The college reported big concerns among GPs about the increase in mental health problems since the beginning of…

Primary care staff from ethnic backgrounds feel less involved in decision-making and less respected than others, according to a ground-breaking survey of a city in Yorkshire. Many ethnic minority staff in Doncaster also report being victims of bullying or harassment or sometimes of physical violence, according to the survey, reported by the Health Service Journal.…