Sarah Lowden

Oxford, United Kingdom

News Editor at Doctors.net.uk

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‘No clear plan’ for what comes after NHS England abolition, warn MPs

3 weeks ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Getty/TkKurikawaBy Sarah LowdenThe government is abolishing NHS England “without articulating a clear plan for what comes next” leaving a “hazy” future for doctors and their patients, according to a cross-party group of MPs.The prime minister announced in March that the arms-length body overseeing the health service in England would be merged with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over the next 2 years. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Clinical jobs being cut to ‘balance the books’, health bosses say

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Getty/simonkrBy Sarah LowdenHealth services and clinical jobs in England are being “scaled back” to balance the books, according to trust leaders. According to a survey by NHS Providers, nearly half of trust leaders (47%) warned they are having to cut back services to deliver tough financial plans, with a further 43% considering this option. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
HPV vaccine uptake levels ‘remain concerning’

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Getty/anilakkusBy Sarah LowdenThe levels of take up of the human papillomavirus vaccine among young people “remain concerning, particularly in our most deprived communities”, according to a government committee. A significant proportion of children are not receiving a vaccine according to research by the Women and Equalities Committee. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Doctors in England to vote on strike action over pay

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Danny Lawson/PA WireBy Sarah LowdenResident doctors in England are to vote on whether to take strike action over pay, the British Medical Association has announced. The union has announced a ballot for renewed industrial action will open on 27 May and close on 7 July. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Patients in North-West ‘30% more likely to be hospitalised’ for infectious diseases

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Library image. Credit: Getty/sturtiBy Sarah LowdenThose living in the North-West are 30% more likely to be hospitalised for an infectious disease compared to the average person in England, a comprehensive review has revealed. This is just one of the findings from a large-scale analysis of data that has assessed the current state of health inequalities across the country. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Concerns raised over quality of teaching at some PA courses

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Library image (posed by models). Credit: Getty/SDI ProductionsBy Sarah LowdenConcerns have been raised by the General Medical Council over the quality of teaching provided by some physician associate courses in the UK. The medical regulator has given its formal approval to more than 30 PA and anaesthesia associate (AA) courses – but not all have been signed off. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Government expects NHS ‘to work quickly’ in implementing new gender policies

1 month ago | doctors.net.uk | Daniel Pye |Sarah Lowden

22 April 2025By Daniel Pye and Sarah LowdenThe Department of Health and Social Care has said that it expects the NHS to “work quickly” in implementing new gender policies following the Supreme Court interpretation of the Equality Act. The court ruled last Wednesday that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex” which means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if “proportionate”.
Shorter course of antibiotics for pneumonia in children ‘as effective’ as 5-day course

2 months ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

9 April 2025By Sarah LowdenBabies and children between 3 months and 11 years with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia should be prescribed a 3-day rather than 5-day course of antibiotics, according to new draft guidelines. The proposed updated clinical guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence applies to patients without complications or underlying disease who have pneumonia which is not assessed as severe and was contracted outside of a healthcare setting. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Prostate cancer screening programme 'must be evidence-based', says Streeting

2 months ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

iStock/utah778By Sarah LowdenThe health secretary has suggested he would support a national prostate cancer screening programme for men at higher risk of disease if it is backed by the evidence. The UK’s National Screening Committee is currently assessing whether or not a programme should be rolled out. ‌‌‌‌‌‌
Assisted dying bill's return to the Commons delayed until May

2 months ago | doctors.net.uk | Sarah Lowden

Getty/ShunreiBy Sarah Lowden The MP behind the private members' bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales has delayed its return to the House of Commons until next month. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will now return on 16 May rather than 25 April for its report stage, which is expected to see MPs vote on further amendments that were agreed at committee stage. ‌‌‌‌‌‌