A project that places research minded GPs in rural practices has proved successful enough in Wales that it is to be extended, it was announced today. The news was welcomed by practice managers, who say it is helping tackle doctor shortages. Wales launched the academic fellows project four years ago and it has now led…

Health and care services in England risk developing “chasms” of unequal care in spite of the “extraordinary” response of the NHS, including practices, to the pandemic crisis, according to a major review of services. In primary care, the situation has been “volatile” even though 94% of practices were found to be good or outstanding, according…

An official investigation has been launched into allegations that large numbers of patients in care homes were placed on do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation orders without their full consent. The investigation is to be conducted by the Care Quality Commission at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care in England. The CQC…

Practice staff in the UK’s worst affected pandemic areas are likely to get regular COVID-19 testing, it was announced yesterday. The move came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new three tier system – with Merseyside placed in the highest risk category and its pubs and restaurants closed. Large areas of the north and…

Practices will be able to get additional stocks of flu vaccine for November, the government has announced. They have been given access to a stock of eight million extra vaccines. The government has set a target of vaccinating 30 million people but this has run into trouble because of vaccine shortages – leading to practices…

Patients are facing delays for non-urgent blood tests because of a shortage of reagents caused by problems in a new warehouse. The problems stem from NHS reliance on pharmaceutical company Roche, which has had problems operating a new automated warehouse in Sussex. According to reports last night, the problems could take several weeks to solve.…

The NHS lost nearly 100 practices last year as experienced GPs continued to quit the profession, it has been revealed. The reduction in numbers was similar to previous years, bringing an end to increasing rates of closures, according to an investigation by Pulse magazine. The numbers reflect the retirement of senior GPs and difficulties in…