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Hundreds with rare conditions to benefit from new blood matching test

A new personalised “blood matching” test has been launched for people with rare conditions who require regular blood transfusions.

The move will allow donor blood to be matched to these patients more closely, to reduce the risk of severe reactions.

It is the first time it has been used for patients with rare inherited anaemias – with around 300 people eligible for testing, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

The new test uses genetics to generate detailed blood group information.

The programme has been backed by the family of toddler Woody Mayers, aged 22 months, who has a rare inherited anaemia called congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) type 1.

The condition causes the bone marrow to struggle to produce healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.

It is estimated to affect between one to five out of every million babies.

Woody Mayers, aged 22 months, who has a rare inherited anaemia called congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) type 1 (NHSBT)

Patients have low haemoglobin levels, meaning Woody relies on blood transfusions every four weeks to stay alive.

However, the donor blood must be carefully matched to reduce the risk of patient’s developing antibodies against certain blood types, which can cause severe reactions and make transfusions more difficult in the future.

The new genotyping testing programme, a partnership between NHSBT and NHS England, uses genetics to identify more of the rarer blood groups.

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Source: The Independent, 21 August 2025

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Hundreds stuck in ‘inadequate’ hospital

The majority of patients in a hospital at the centre of a safety scandal are yet to be moved – despite orders nearly three weeks ago to transfer them, HSJ understands.

NHS England ordered the removal of nearly 300 patients from St Andrew’s Northampton, the mental health provider’s flagship hospital, on 9 March. The national organisation called on local commissioners to “act now” to transfer them.

This follows a string of serious concerns about care and conditions over the past year, which NHSE said was not improving as required. 

However, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation today told HSJ the majority of the 300 patients were yet to be moved. 

Several national mental health sector sources said they were concerned about the pace so far.

NHSE said the transfers would take place “in phases”, which it is understood to be based on the complexity of needs.

Local managers are likely to be grappling with shortages of alternative inpatient beds, as these are already often in high demand.

The hospital is also the subject of three police investigations, with 15 staff members arrested following abuse and neglect allegations.

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Source: HSJ, 26 March 2026

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Hundreds recalled over shoulder op concerns at Walsall hospital

Up to 600 patients are to be recalled by a hospital after concerns were raised about shoulder operations. Some patients have lost the use of their arm after surgery by Mian Munawar Shah at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Angela Glover had two operations by Mr Shah - the first, it later emerged after a review, was unnecessary and a screw had been placed inappropriately.

Her partner Simon Roberts said she was in "constant pain" and was unable to raise her arm or grip things in her right hand. It has affected her mental health to the point she had to be sectioned after a suicide attempt, Mr Roberts added.

Mr Martin Crowley had an operation in 2019 after dislocating his shoulder - Mr Shah then replaced the joint when the first operation was unsuccessful. Since then, he said he struggled with basic tasks such as buttoning up a shirt or holding a cup of tea.

"It's affecting me quite bad, there's a lot of stuff I want to do that I can't do," he said.

Between 2010 and 2018 there were 21 medical negligence claims relating to Mr Shah's surgery.

In 2020, Walsall Healthcare Trust contacted the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) which carried out a general review of surgery and then a further review into Mr Shah's individual work.

A recall of his patients was recommended by the RCS.

The surgeon has been given an interim order by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), stopping him from doing laterjet procedures or shoulder joint replacements without supervision.

Medical director at the Walsall trust Dr Manjeet Shehmar told the BBC there had been a failure to carry out multi-disciplinary team meetings and some of the procedures should have been performed in a specialist orthopaedic hospital rather than at Walsall Manor.

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Source: BBC News, 26 September 2022

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Hundreds recalled as consultant accused of ‘unnecessary’ surgery

A surgeon has been accused of carrying out “unnecessary” shoulder operations on several NHS patients at a private hospital linked to the Ian Paterson scandal, with 217 patients recalled.

HSJ has been told at least five patients, all commissioned by the NHS, have instructed solicitors to take legal action against Habib Rahman, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull.

Mr Rahman is accused of undertaking “unnecessary or inappropriate surgical procedures at Spire Healthcare hospitals” . Spire has confirmed it has recalled 217 patients over the concerns.

The allegations come weeks before the findings are due from an independent inquiry into disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson – who was found guilty of wounding with intent after giving hundreds of patients unnecessary breast surgeries in Spire hospitals across the Midlands.

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Source: HSJ, 24 January 2020

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Hundreds of women left ‘distressed’ by hysteroscopies

Hundreds of women have said they’ve undergone “distressing” diagnostic tests at NHS hospitals which were not carried out in line with recommended practice.

Around 520 women who attended NHS hospitals in England to undergo hysteroscopies — a procedure which uses narrow telescopes to examine the womb to diagnose the cause of heavy or abnormal bleeding — have told a survey their doctors carried on with their procedures even when they were in severe pain.

This is despite the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advising clinicians should offer to reschedule with the use of general anaesthetic, epidural or sedation if the pain becomes unbearable. 

The Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy patient group has surveyed 860 women who had had the procedure at an English NHS hospital, and shared the results with HSJ. Of them, 750 said they were left distressed, tearful or shaken by the procedure, with around 466 of them saying that feeling remained for longer than a day.

Many of the women said their painful hysteroscopies damaged their trust in healthcare professionals, had made cervical smears more painful and had a negative impact on sexual relationships.

Patient Safety Learning have connected with the campaigning group 'Hysteroscopy Action' on this issue. We have seen stories and comments posted on the hub from patients who have suffered similar distressing experiences. We are using this feedback and evidence to help campaign for safer, harm-free care. We welcome others to join in the conversation.

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Source: HSJ, 2 March 2020

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Hundreds of Victoria hotel quarantine guests must be screened for HIV over blood testing contamination fears

More than 200 people who went through hotel quarantine in Victoria, Australia, must be screened for HIV amid fears of cross-contamination from incorrect usage of blood glucose test devices.

Several such devices were used on multiple people in quarantine between 29 March and 20 August, necessitating screenings for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and C and HIV.

These monitors, which take a small sample of blood from a fingertip, are intended for repeated use by only one person. While the needle is changed between usages, microscopic traces of blood can remain within the body of the machine, creating a low clinical risk of cross-contamination and infection.

Safer Care Victoria, the state’s healthcare quality and safety agency, has assured the public there is no risk of COVID-19 spread as the disease is not transmitted by blood.

These devices have since been taken out of circulation.

In a statement, a spokesman for the agency said they have identified 243 people who had been tested by one of the shared machines during the timeframe in question, and will be contacted for screening. Everyone “who had conditions or episodes that may have required the test will also be contacted as a precaution”.

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, labelled the incident a “clinical error that was made some time ago”.

“Safer Care Victoria have made some announcements in relation to a clinical error that was made some time ago, very low risk, but you can’t take any risks with these things. You have to follow them up properly and that’s exactly what has happened,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

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Source: The Guardian, 20 October 2020

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Hundreds of ventilators UK bought from China 'are wrong type and could kill patients if used'

Hundreds of ventilators the UK government bought from China to relieve a major shortage are the wrong type and could kill patients, senior doctors have warned in a newly uncovered letter.

The medical staff behind the letter say the devices were designed for use in ambulances rather than hospitals, had an "unreliable" oxygen supply and were of "basic" quality.

Seen by Sky News' partner organisation NBC, the document also claims the ventilators cannot be cleaned properly, are an unfamiliar design and come with a confusing instruction manual.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove triumphantly announced the arrival of "300 ventilators from China" to help treat COVID-19 patients on 4 April. But the letter of warning from doctors was issued just nine days later.

"We believe that if used, significant patient harm, including death, is likely," it says.

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Source: Sky News, 30 April 2020

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Hundreds of unused vaccines

Surplus COVID-19 vaccines have been given to healthy young people in parts of England and some GPs have “run out” of eligible patients to vaccinate in the scramble to inoculate the country.

While supplies have been cut in some areas, one GP in the Midlands told the Guardian he had “hundreds of unused vaccines” which he is not allowed to use, having already inoculated all priority patients.

Other vaccination centres have taken a more liberal approach, inviting younger patients for jabs at the end of the day if they find themselves with surplus doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which has a shelf life of three days.

Currently, only four groups are eligible for vaccines in England: the over-70s, the clinically extremely vulnerable, care home residents and frontline health and social care workers.

But one 38-year-old in Sheffield in none of those groups said she was offered the jab on “the iciest day of the year” if she could get to the clinic within half an hour because of weather-related cancellations. A 24-year-old in Manchester said she’d had a spare after volunteering at a vaccination centre.

In Reading, one clinic is calling local police stations and offering surplus jabs to officers at the end of the day. Others are offering spares to frontline charity workers.

One medic in Greater Manchester told the Guardian they managed to receive their second dose of the vaccine by repeatedly turning up at their local vaccine site at the end of each day, receiving it on day three.

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Source: The Guardian, 29 January 2021

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Hundreds of UK women can now take legal action over Essure device

Two hundred women in the UK who claim they were left in pain after having a permanent contraception device fitted, can now take group legal action through the courts, against its manufacturer.

The Essure coil "has caused irreparable damage physically and mentally", the women's lawyers say.

German maker Bayer says it will defend itself vigorously against the claims.

When Essure was withdrawn from sale, in 2017, the UK medicines regulator said there was no risk to safety.

Lawyers in England began legal action in 2020 and now have permission to bring a group claim on behalf of 200 women.

Other women wishing to join the group action have until 2024 to do so.

The Essure device is a small metal coil inserted into a woman's fallopian tubes. Scar tissue forms around the coil, creating a barrier that keeps sperm from reaching the eggs.

Launched in 2002, the device was marketed as a simpler alternative to sterilisation by surgery.

But some women say they suffered constant pain and complications, including heavy bleeding, with some ending up having hysterectomies or the device removed altogether.

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Source: BBC News, 5 September 2023

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Hundreds of UK care home deaths not added to official coronavirus toll

Hundreds of people are dying in care homes from confirmed or suspected coronavirus without yet being officially counted, the Guardian has learned.

More than 120 residents of the UK’s largest charitable provider of care homes are thought to have died from the virus in the last three weeks, while another network of care homes is reported to have recorded 88 deaths.

Care England, the industry body, estimated that the death toll is likely to be close to 1,000, despite the only available official figure for care home fatalities being dramatically lower.

The gulf in the figures has prompted warnings that ministers are underestimating the impact of Covid-19 on society’s most frail, and are failing to sufficiently help besieged care homes and workers.

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Source: The Guardian, 7 April 2020

 

 

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Hundreds of thousands of people in England are getting hooked on prescription drugs

Hundreds of thousands of people in England are getting hooked on prescription drugs, health chiefs fear. 

A Public Health England (PHE) review looked at the use of strong painkillers, antidepressants and sleeping tablets - used by a quarter of adults every year. It found that at the end of March 2018, half of people using these drugs had been on them for at least 12 months. Officials said long-term use on such a scale could not be justified and was a sign of patients becoming dependent.

PHE medical director Prof Paul Cosford said he was worried. "These medicines have many vital clinical uses and can make a big difference to people's quality of life." But he added there were too many cases where patients were using them for longer than "clinically" appropriate - where the drugs would have simply stopped working effectively or where the risks could outweigh the benefits.

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Source: BBC News, 10 September 2019

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Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff in England attacked and harassed, survey shows

Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff have been attacked, harassed, bullied, or subject to racism, latest NHS figures show.

The health service’s 2025 staff survey found that one in seven had experienced violence from patients or the public, while more than a quarter reported harassment, bullying and abuse, the highest levels in three years.

Given that the NHS in England employs 1.5 million people, this would equate to about 217,000 experiencing violence and more than 380,000 reporting harassment and bullying in 2025 alone.

Sexual harassment has also reached record levels, the figures show. Nearly 1 in 10 NHS workers, a third of ambulance staff and more than one in 10 nurses and midwives said they had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in the past year.

But underreporting is still a problem, the survey found. While three-quarters said they would report violent incidents, barely half said they would report harassment or abuse.

The staff survey also unveils the extent of racism and discrimination. One in five Black and minority ethnic staff reported abuse, bullying or harassment from patients or the public, compared with just 1 in 20 white staff.

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Source: The Guardian, 13 March 2026

Further reading on the hub:

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Hundreds of thousands more women than men prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs ‘harder to come off than heroin’

Hundreds of thousands more women than men have been prescribed powerful anti-anxiety drugs which experts warn are harder to come off than heroin, The Independent can reveal.

New information obtained under freedom of information (FOI) laws shows women in England were 59% more likely to be prescribed benzodiazepines – better known by the brand names of Valium, Xanax and Temazapam – than men between January 2017 and December 2021.

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, with the drug’s withdrawal symptoms including depression, acute anxiety, insomnia, vivid nightmares, headaches, vomiting, shakes, cramps and, in the worst cases, seizures which can cause death.

Many countries explicitly state benzodiazepines should not be taken for more than four weeks, while research has found benzodiazepines can cause memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

In September 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration announced its “black box warning” must be placed on all benzodiazepines to inform patients withdrawal from the drugs can be life-threatening.

Stephen Buckley, head of information at Mind, a leading UK mental health charity, told The Independent it was difficult to “know the exact reasons behind why women are more likely to be prescribed benzodiazepines than men” but said the FOI “findings support others which show gender discrepancies in prescribing have been occurring for a long time”.

“Previous research in some parts of the world has found that male prescribers were more likely to prescribe benzodiazepines to female patients than male patients. Research into the reasons behind gender differences in prescribing psychiatric medication is important.”

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Source: The Independent, 3 October 2022

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Hundreds of TB outbreak contacts yet to be screened

Hundreds of people identified as contacts following a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in a Carmarthenshire village are yet to attend a screening, health officials have said.

Public Health Wales (PHW) said 31 cases of active TB had been identified since the 2010 outbreak in Llwynhendy.

PHW urged the 485 people who have been identified as contacts, but not attended a screening, to act.

More than 2,600 people have attended screenings since June 2019.

TB is a bacterial infection, spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It is a serious condition, but can be cured with proper treatment.

PHW said since 2010, 303 people - or more than one in 10 of those who had been screened - had been diagnosed with latent TB, which is not infectious and does not affect a person's quality of life, but may develop into active TB at a later date.

Dr Brendan Mason, from Public Health Wales, said: "We understand that during the coronavirus pandemic people may have been reluctant to go to a hospital to have their screening done, but I can assure them that there are safety measures in place in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

"Now is the time to get tested.

"It is really important that we screen all the contacts identified and make sure that anyone diagnosed with latent or active TB gets the monitoring or treatment that they need to prevent any further spread."

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Source: 24 February 2022

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Hundreds of stillbirths wrongly certified as 'unexplained'

More than 80% of UK medical certificates recording stillbirths contain errors, research reveals.

More than half the inaccurate certificates contained a significant error that could cause medical staff to misinterpret what had happened.

The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, also shows that three out of four stillbirths certified as having an "unknown cause of death" could, in fact, be explained.

A team from the Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester examined more than 1,120 medical certificates of stillbirths, which were issued at 76 UK obstetric units in 2018. 

Of the 421 which were resolved, 195 were re-designated as foetal growth restriction (FGR), and 184 as placental insufficiency.

Dr Michael Rimmer, clinical research fellow at Edinburgh University’s MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, said: “This study shows some medical certificates of stillbirths contain significant errors.

"Reducing these errors and accurately recording contributing factors to a stillbirth is important in shaping research and health policies aimed at reducing the number of stillbirths.

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Source: The Herald, 21 June 2022

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Hundreds of social care residents allegedly sexually assaulted, watchdog reveals

Hundreds of elderly and vulnerable social care residents have allegedly been sexually assaulted in just three months, a shock new report from the care regulator has revealed.

According to the Care Quality Commission there were 899 sexual incidents reported by social care homes between March and May 2018. Almost half were categorised as sexual assault. In 16% of the cases members of staff or visiting workers were accused of carrying out the abuse.

The watchdog said it was notified of 47 cases of rape and told The Independent local authorities were informed and 37 cases were referred to police for investigation.

Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector of adult social care at the regulator, said: “Supporting people as individuals means considering all aspects of a person’s needs, including sexuality and relationships. However, our report also shows all too starkly the other side of this – the times when people are harmed in the very place they should be kept safe. This is utterly devastating, both for the people directly affected and their loved ones."

“It is not good enough to put this issue in a ‘too difficult to discuss’ box. It is particularly because these topics are sensitive and complex that they should not be ignored.”

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Source: The Independent, 27 February 2020

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Hundreds of sexual assaults each year on mixed-gender wards

Hundreds of sexual assaults are reported each year on mixed-sex mental health wards in England, HSJ can reveal, highlighting the urgent need for investment to improve facilities.

New figures obtained by HSJ show there have been at least 1,019 reports of sexual assaults between men and woman on mixed wards since April 2017 to October 2019. This compares to just 286 reports of incidents on single-sex mental health wards over the same period.

Of those reports made on mixed-sex wards, 491 were considered serious enough to refer to safeguarding, and 104 were reported to the police.

The level of incidents still being reported suggests patients are not being protected from sexual assault on mixed wards, despite the issue being highlighted by several national reports in recent years.

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Source: HSJ, 7 January 2020

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Hundreds of serious incidents recorded at struggling small trust

One of the country’s smallest trusts recorded 277 serious incidents over a two-year period, HSJ can reveal.

Delays in treatment, missed diagnoses, adverse media coverage and “suboptimal” care were among the hundreds of serious incidents reported at the struggling Isle of Wight Trust from the start of 2018 and up to November 2019.

There were also two never events in 2019 — a “wrong site” surgery and an incident in which a patient was mistakenly connected to an air flow meter, rather than an oxygen supply.

The trust said the level of incidents did not neccessarily reflect poor care, and did not mean patients had come to harm.

The trust was placed in special measures in April 2017 after it was rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission due to “significant” concerns over patient safety. It was upgraded to “requires improvement” in September 2019, but remains in special measures. 

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Source: HSJ, 22 January 2020

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Hundreds of rheumatology patients wrongly prescribed drugs or misdiagnosed

Hundreds of rheumatology patients have stopped receiving drugs they did not need or had their diagnosis changed after a damning review of the service found the standard of care was “well below” what would be considered acceptable.

Jersey’s Health and Community services department has said it will be contacting some of the affected patients “over the coming weeks” and would also be seeking legal advice on “an appropriate approach to compensation”.

The independent review by the Royal College of Physicians also noted there was “no evidence” of standard operating procedures for most aspects of routine rheumatological care and, in some cases, “no evidence of clinical examinations”.

It also found that there had been incorrect diagnosis and wrongly prescribed drugs, describing the standard of care as “well below what the review team would consider acceptable” for a contemporary rheumatological service.

The review was commissioned by HCS medical director Patrick Armstrong, following concerns raised by a junior doctor in January 2022.

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Source: Jersey Evening Post, 22 January 2024

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Hundreds of patients with chronic pain waiting a year for first NHS appointment

NHS clinics were still seeing just two-thirds of the number of chronic pain patients they normally would by the end of last year, with some patients having waited a year or more.

In Ayrshire and Arran, 94 of the 112 chronic pain patients seen between October and December – equivalent to nearly 84% – had been on the waiting list for their first appointment for 52 weeks or longer. Only nine were seen within the 18-week target.

This was by far the worst performance for any health board in Scotland.

Pain relief clinics across NHS Scotland were paused for four months at the beginning of the pandemic, leading to reports that some patients with problems such as nerve damage and arthritis were paying thousands of pounds to travel to private facilities in England for medical infusions or injections to ease their symptoms.

In a statement at the end of last year, Joanne Edwards, the director of acute service at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, apologised for the delays, saying the coronavirus pandemic "has had a significant impact on the capacity of the chronic pain service".

Ms Edwards said the health board was increasing the number of face to face and telephone clinics that the chronic pain team can undertake, adding that an "enhanced clinical review" of the waiting list was also being carried out to prioritise patients for appointment based on clinical need.

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Source: The Herald, 10 March 2021

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Hundreds of patients suffer due to NHS errors

Hundreds of patients have suffered due to NHS blunders so serious they should never happen, new data shows.

Some 621 'never events' occurred in NHS hospitals between April 2018 and July this year – the equivalent of nine patients every week, according to data obtained by PA news agency. The figures show doctors have operated on the wrong body parts and left surgical tools (including surgical gloves, chest drains and drill bits) inside patients many times over.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “Wrong site surgery incidents are preventable safety instances that can have devastating consequences for the patient and their family." “People who suffer harm because of mistakes can suffer serious physical and psychological effects for the rest of their lives, and that should never happen to anyone who seeks treatment from the NHS."

Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “While these cases are very rare, never should mean never."

“NHS staff are there to care for patients, so knowing you have caused harm is incredibly distressing. It is vital that all theatre staff use, and are involved in, the World Health Organisation pre- and post-operative checklist process, as these have been designed to help prevent serious incidents."

“It is also important that the NHS continues to promote a culture of openness and transparency, both in terms of publishing surgeons’ outcomes and the number of ‘never events’ that, sadly, occur."

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Source: ITV News, 16 September 2019

 

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Hundreds of organisations breached patient data rules, reveals BMJ

Hundreds of organisations, including drug companies, private healthcare providers and universities, have breached patient data sharing agreements but not had their access to patient data withdrawn, a report reveals.

“High risk” breaches were revealed to have occurred at healthcare groups, pharmaceutical giants and educational institutions including Virgin Care, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Imperial College London, during audits by NHS Digital, according to an investigation by the BMJ.

This means these organisations were handling information outside the remit agreed in data contracts and may be failing to protect confidentiality, the journal said.

In one instance, local NHS commissioners allowed sensitive, identifiable patient data to be released to Virgin Care without permission from NHS Digital. When auditors tried to get access to Virgin Care to check their compliance, they were denied access for several weeks and the company refused to delete the patient data, the BMJ reported.

Records about mental health, including children and young people, those with learning disabilities, diagnostic imaging and other confidential patient data was being processed outside the scope of objectives agreed with NHS Digital, at an address that had not been agreed, and without a data sharing contract.

A spokesperson for Virgin Care said it had “robust data protection in place”.

“It is outrageous that private companies and university research teams are failing to comply,” said Kingsley Manning, the former chair of NHS Digital. “How is it that these organisations can be so lax with data?”

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Source: The Guardian, 11 May 2022

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Hundreds of nurses and other health workers disciplined over sex assaults or abuse

Hundreds of nurses, paramedics, health and care workers have been disciplined over allegations of sexual assault, including incidents involving child sexual abuse, The Independent can reveal.

It comes as the government begins a year-long inquiry into the sexual abuse of dead patients by “morgue monster” David Fuller.

Charities claim the true scale of the issue is likely to be hidden by “vast underreporting” while safeguarding experts say there is no “uniformity” in how NHS trusts handle such cases.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which regulates just under 300,000 workers including paramedics, occupational therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists, has taken action on 154 occasions following 293 investigations carried out into allegations of sexual assault or abuse since 2012, according to figures obtained by The Independent.

Fifty-three clinicians were struck off, 20 were cautioned and a further 29 were either suspended, had restrictions placed on their practice or agreed to be removed from registration. More than half of the actions followed allegations of sexual abuse of a child patient.

Separate data from Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which has more than 700,000 registered nurses and midwives. shows action was taken 113 times in the past four years against nurses and midwives who did not maintain professional boundaries; in more than 80 per cent of those cases, the clinician was struck off.

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Source: The Independent, 21 January 2022

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Hundreds of NHS agencies to be scrapped

Hundreds of bodies responsible for overseeing and running parts of the NHS in England will be scrapped, the government has said.

The organisations to be abolished include Healthwatch England, which advocates on behalf of patients, and the National Guardian's Office, which supports whistleblowers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the current system was too complex and the NHS needed "more doers and fewer checkers".

The changes are being made as part of Labour's 10-year health strategy set to be published next week.

In total 201 organisations will be scrapped, including bodies set up by the last Conservative government to develop health plans for their local areas.

The organisations to be abolished include:

  • Healthwatch England, set up in 2012 to speak out on behalf of NHS and social care patients, and to advise ministers when services were not up to scratch.
  • The National Guardian's Office, created in 2015 to encourage the NHS to support whistleblowers and train a network of 1,200 peer support 'guardians'.
  • The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), which has recently carried out investigations into a range of subjects including the design of portable oxygen systems and the impact of ambulance delays.

The decision comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in March that NHS England, the administrative body responsible for the day-to-day management of the health service, would be axed and the system brought under closer government control.

Under the new strategy, the NHS will also trial a scheme linking the money a hospital receives directly to the quality of care it provides.

Patients will be asked to review their treatment and, if a low rating is given, a proportion of that funding could be diverted to a regionally-held NHS improvement fund rather than paid to the hospital itself.

The government said the scheme would only be introduced where there had been a track record of very poor service and evidence that patients were not being listened to.

The NHS Confederation warned it would have to be carefully designed to stop hospitals being penalised for issues beyond their immediate control such as difficulties recruiting staff and the poor state of some hospital buildings.

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Source: BBC News, 28 June 2025

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