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The NHS has launched its largest-ever regional deployment of ambient voice technology, covering 70,000 clinicians across 15 trusts and 1,239 GP practices. NHS England’s Midlands team ran a competitive procurement process, selecting Australian vendor Heidi Health as sole supplier for the framework, which spans emergency departments, outpatient services, and primary care. The framework emerged from pilots at the Dudley Group Foundation Trust, which, according to Heidi, reduced emergency care documentation time by 80 per cent and cut a six-month rheumatology letter backlog to 14 days. Neighbouring providers expressed interest in replicating the business case and rollout, prompting NHSE’s Midlands team to coordinate a single regional procurement route. Five trusts – Dudley Group, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust, the Royal Wolverhampton Trust, Walsall Healthcare Trust, and University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust – have begun deployment. Heidi declined to name the remaining 10 trusts expected to follow. The framework was opt-in, meaning it covers only those trusts that chose to participate and is closed to new joiners. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 15 July 2026

The NHS trust at the centre of a public mental health inquiry estimates it will need to spend £30m to cover the costs of the process. The Lampard Inquiry is looking into the deaths of more than 2,000 people under Essex NHS mental health services between 2000 and 2023. Paul Scott, the former chief executive officer of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust [EPUT], admitted the figure was "substantial" but said there was no set budget for the legal process. "Our position is we need to spend what we need to spend to serve the inquiry," he said. Scott was called back to give evidence to the inquiry, having appeared at a previous hearing. Chief counsel to the inquiry, Nicholas Griffin KC, said that EPUT had spent £13.5m up to the end of November 2025 on the Lampard Inquiry and its predecessor - the Essex Mental Health Independent Inquiry - but was forecasting a £30m spend overall. Scott left his role at the end of June to become CEO of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals. Bereaved families criticised the timing of his departure from EPUT when the Lampard Inquiry was still active. Scott apologised to families who had been upset by the move, but told the inquiry: "I'm here…to assure people that I'm not running from anything." He added he was "available to be accountable for my time in EPUT". Read full story Source: BBC News, 7 July 2026

NHS executives and other staff who refuse to engage with investigations into maternity care failures could be sent to prison for up to two years under new government proposals. The requirement to engage with maternity reviews will apply to existing and former NHS staff, and to the ongoing inquiries at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and University Hospitals Sussex Foundation Trust. The announcement by health secretary James Murray came as Donna Ockenden published her 400-page report into care failings at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. This makes 18 specific recommendations for national action and criticises the trust’s leadership for its arrogance and the service for not learning from past inquiries (see below). Health secretary James Murray said the government would compel staff to give evidence “to end a culture of secrecy and prevent further harm”. He added: “This action will help ensure the reviews in Leeds and Sussex are fair and comprehensive, so that uncovering the truth does not rely solely on those who choose to come forward voluntarily. Those who refuse to do so or deliberately withhold information about failures could face up to two years in prison.” Ms Ockenden’s report reveals that ”66 former and current” senior NUH staff were approached to contribute to the investigation. However, despite being ”contacted on multiple occasions”, only 37 came forward, 35 of which were interviewed. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 24 June 2026

A comprehensive programme of webinars has been unveiled for Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2026 (#CAAW26), including NHS England Chief Executive Sir James Mackey newly confirmed as a keynote speaker. Taking place from 22 to 26 June 2026, the annual campaign run by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) promotes the role of clinical audit and evidence-based improvement in improving patient care and outcomes. The centrepiece of the campaign is a series of free, online webinars spanning five themed days, each examining a different dimension of clinical audit and healthcare improvement. Opening on Monday 22 June, the first session will explore how clinical audit supports major NHS strategic priorities, including the three shifts outlined in the NHS 10‑Year Plan towards prevention, community‑based care and greater use of data and digital tools. Tuesday’s programme shifts the focus to patient and public involvement, with discussions on how engagement at local and national levels can address inequalities and improve outcomes, including a dedicated session on maternity care disparities. Midweek, the spotlight turns to innovation and transformation, highlighting how emerging tools and technologies are reshaping audit and improvement practices across healthcare systems. On Thursday, a webinar delivered in partnership with Patient Safety Learning will examine patient safety, demonstrating how robust audit data can identify risks, reduce harm and support safer care pathways. The week concludes on Friday with a focus on data‑informed improvement and impact, exploring how evidence from audits and registries can be translated into tangible, real‑world changes in care delivery. Across the week, sessions will also be complemented by daily announcements of the Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards, recognising achievements and best practice from across the sector. Winners will be presenting their projects to inspire others and share this excellent work. All webinars are free to attend, though advance registration is required. The programme is aimed at a wide audience, including clinicians, audit professionals, quality improvement specialists and healthcare leaders interested in leveraging data to improve care. By bringing together expertise from across the NHS and beyond, HQIP hopes the week will not only celebrate achievements but also build momentum for future improvement efforts. Discover the full programme, including the speakers and topics for each webinar: Clinical Audit Awareness Week, 22-26 June 2026

Trust chairs and chief executives must take mandatory antisemitism and anti-racism training within six months, as part of efforts to tackle “routine ostracism” of Jewish people in the NHS. A government-commissioned report on antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS and health regulation, published today, said training must take place for “approximately 400 chairs and chief executives of NHS provider trusts on antisemitism, anti-racism and building on the Macpherson principles, within the next six months”. The Macpherson principles were established by the 1999 Macpherson report, originating from the public inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. The report, by Labour peer and campaigner Lord Mann, said: “This training should support leaders to understand how they can take evidence-based actions to address discrimination and effect change in their organisations. Consideration should also be given to how this might be extended to integrated care boards and primary care networks’ leadership.” Leaders of health and care systems and professional regulators should also take the training, Lord Mann’s report said. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 4 June 2026

The family of a girl left brain-damaged at birth have agreed to accept £28m in damages after the NHS trust involved admitted that its mistakes led to the tragedy. Barking, Havering and Redbridge university hospitals NHS trust failed to monitor the baby’s heart rate while her mother was in labour or ask an obstetrician to review the case, either of which might have led to the girl being born in a healthy condition. The girl, who is six, suffered severe hypoxia-ischaemia – loss of oxygen to her brain – while she was being born at Queen’s hospital in Romford, east London, in July 2019. That left her badly disabled. She has epilepsy, experiences unpredictable seizures and is expected to lose mobility throughout her life. She will need lifelong care to help with her cognitive and language impairments. She will also need constant supervision because she has no awareness of danger and is overly friendly with strangers. The girl’s mother demanded urgent action by ministers and NHS bosses to overhaul maternity care, which is in the spotlight after a series of scandals at trusts across England. “My daughter is thriving and doing well. But it’s impossible for me to forget that I was robbed of the precious experience of most mothers giving birth by the horror of what happened to us,” said the mother. Neither she nor her daughter can be identified for legal reasons. “Seven years on, I’m still deeply affected by seeing the hospital’s name crop up in the press regarding tragedies for other families and their babies. This is despite the repeated promises of the government and endless reviews into maternity safety. Surely someone must take the bull by the horns and take action to change things.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 4 June 2026

A quarter of all babies in England are now delivered by emergency caesarean operations, BBC analysis shows - marking a significant rise over the last five years. The unplanned surgeries have increased by eight percentage points, while the rate of elective caesareans has also increased. At the same time, the rate of vaginal births without instruments has fallen - from more than half of all deliveries to 43%. Prof Marian Knight, director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, which researches the care of women and babies in pregnancy and birth, says the rise represents a "total change in how women give birth" in England, and that it has not been replicated in other European countries. The NHS does not publish data on why an emergency C-section is performed, and experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase. However, some have told the BBC they are concerned a culture of fear in maternity units and among pregnant women is driving up the number of procedures. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which represents maternity doctors, says pressure on staff and operating theatres means the system is "really struggling" to meet the increased demand. NHS England says "decisions are made by considering individual circumstances and clinical advice to ensure the safest and most appropriate approach for each birth". Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 June 2026

Updated safety advice has been issued to strengthen warnings about potential psychiatric and sexual dysfunction linked to finasteride and to provide precautionary advice on dutasteride. Following an additional detailed review of the evidence, including the outcome of a European regulatory review, the MHRA has published a new Drug Safety Update and is updating product information for medicines containing finasteride and dutasteride to provide clearer guidance for healthcare professionals and patients. Finasteride is used to treat male pattern hair loss at a dose of 1mg, and benign prostatic hyperplasia at a dose of 5mg. Dutasteride (0.5mg) is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. The updates include: strengthened warnings in the product information for finasteride 1mg for androgenetic alopecia to clarify that sexual dysfunction may contribute to mood disorders, and that sexual dysfunction has also been reported with and without mood alterations. a precautionary warning added to the product information for dutasteride to note that mood alterations have been reported with a medicine in the same class, finasteride. Existing UK patient alert cards for finasteride, introduced in 2024, remain in place. These cards highlight the risks of sexual dysfunction, depression and suicidal thoughts and advise patients on what action to take if side effects occur. Read full story Source: MHRA, 11 May 2026