Beth Gault

5 days ago | healthcareleadernews.com | Beth Gault

The ban on single-use vapes has come into effect as of yesterday (1 June), meaning it is now illegal to sell or supply single-use vapes in the UK. The ban applies to all businesses and organisations that sell or supply disposable vapes, including healthcare settings and stop smoking services. Organisations have been told to arrange for any leftover stock of these vapes to be recycled. The ban is intended to limit children’s access to cheap vapes, as well as reduce their environmental impact.

5 days ago | healthcareleadernews.com | Beth Gault

A blood test that can detect lung cancer is being rolled out across the NHS to speed up access to treatment, NHS England has said. The ‘liquid biopsy’ test, which can detect tiny fragments of tumour DNA in the blood, will be available for up to 15,000 patients per year, following a pilot of the test. NHS England said it would help to fast-track lung cancer patients to receive targeted therapy up to two weeks earlier, helping some avoid further tests and treatment including chemotherapy.

2 weeks ago | healthcareleadernews.com | Beth Gault

A gonorrhoea vaccination programme is to be rolled out to eligible patients across sexual health services in the UK from early August. NHS England announced that the existing vaccine for meningococcal B disease, 4CMenB, will be offered to gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or a STI. Regional commissioners have been told to start working with ICBs and local authorities on commissioning sexual health service providers to deliver the vaccinations.

2 weeks ago | healthcareleadernews.com | Beth Gault

The East of England region is planning to go from six ICBs to just three, the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB board has said. In board meeting papers, it was revealed that the ICBs are considering three different models of configuration (see box), with changes to the ICB footprints. However, the board said these were ‘conceptual models’ that have needed further development and that ‘no decisions on preferred models have yet been made’.

2 weeks ago | healthcareleadernews.com | Beth Gault

ICBs in the South West are ‘exploring clustering’ as part of efforts to reduce their running costs. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB and Devon ICB are considering merging, while Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, Somerset ICB and Dorset ICB are also considering the move. This would make three ‘clusters’ in the South West of England. Last week, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire ICBs also announced they were considering the move.