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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
NHS trusts budget nearly £2million for 'woke' staff events including 'International Pronouns Day' and talks on 'embracing your Afro hair' and 'breaking the rainbow ceiling'
The NHS has allowed trusts to spend almost £2million on 'staff networks' which have hosted a series of ' woke ' events over the past two years, the Mail can reveal. New figures show the health service budgeted more than £1.8million for the internal staff groupings, which are usually linked to race, sexuality, gender, disability or religion. More than 154 NHS Trusts responded to Freedom of Information requests from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) revealing how the networks have hosted hundreds of events between 2022 and 2024. They included a Eurovision Viewing Party at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and an event on 'Embracing Asexuality' at the The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Essex. NHS staff also attended a talk on 'Embracing your Afro/Curly hair' at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and another on 'International Pronouns Day' at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. A talk on 'Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling' was held at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, while King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust hosted an event on 'pride crafting'. The NHS said many of the events are run at 'no or very low cost', but the TPA said it was 'astonishing' to see staff spending their time at such events instead of focusing on frontline care. It comes after thousands of junior doctors carried out a five-day walkout, after talks between the Government and British Medical Association (BMA) soured over a dispute about pay. The BMA is demanding a 29.2per cent pay rise. More than 1,000 events were held by staff networks between 2022 and 2024, the FOI revealed, at 80 trusts. In total, £1,834,005.6 was provided to the networks in funding, but it is not clear how much was actually spent over the period. Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager of the TPA, said: 'Taxpayers will be dismayed to see NHS trusts pouring more money into staff networks year after year, while waiting lists spiral and junior doctors strike over pay. 'With patients on waiting lists, it's astonishing to see staff spending their working hours at Eurovision parties, open mic nights and summer picnics. 'There is a time and a place for staff engagement and with resident doctors walking out and the NHS haemorrhaging money, now isn't the time. Ministers must get a grip and put patients before perks.' Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told the Mail: 'Herein lies the problem with our NHS: wasteful spending on pointless woke activities and a bloated middle management, meanwhile frontline services are left underfunded and struggling. 'Reform UK would cut waste and unnecessary management, as well as purposeless DEI initiatives, and pump every penny straight into frontline care where it belongs.' Tory shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said the figures were 'alarming', adding: 'The first priority of the NHS should be to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients, and taxpayer's cash should be spent on improving that - not splashing hundreds of thousands of pounds on sideshows and distractions. 'The Conservatives - under Kemi Badenoch's leadership - are the only party that are serious about delivering the reform the NHS needs, from our common sense proposals to ban doctors from striking, to pushing for improvements in productivity and innovation.' [must keep] An NHS spokesman said: 'Staff networks can play an important role in retaining staff and reducing absenteeism, improving care and savings costs. 'Many staff events – including ones highlighted here – are run at no or very low cost, but where employers do invest in staff it is important that care is taken to ensure it represents good value for taxpayers' money.' NHS England describes staff networks as 'an important mechanism' to 'help us to shape our organisational culture to create a fairer and inclusive work environments for all'. Many NHS trusts have staff networks representing those who are BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic), LGBT+, women, or who have a particular religion or belief.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Sigachi pegs revenue loss after fire at Hyderabad unit to be ₹60 crore, posts net loss of ₹101 crore in Q1
Sigachi Industries said the June 30th fire at its manufacturing unit in Pashamylaram, Hyderabad that left 46 people dead and 25 injured was caused by dust explosion in the spray drying machine and estimated to result in a revenue loss of ₹60 crore. Eight people remain missing after the incident. The report of an expert committee constituted by the government to investigate the incident is awaited. Sources say the committee has submitted the report. The company said operations at the 6,400 TPA facility were temporarily halted, impacting short-term production volumes. Preliminary estimates indicate a revenue impact of ₹60 crore over the affected period. 'Loss of profit during the closure period will be covered by business interruption policy. Sigachi is adequately insured for loss of profits. Insurance claims have been filed,' it said on Friday after the Board meeting on the June quarter financial performance. The company, which operates in the pharmaceutical sector, reported a consolidated loss of almost ₹101 crore for the first quarter as against a consolidated profit of nearly ₹13 crore in the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Total income increased to ₹132.18 crore (₹97.38 crore). Sigachi said a full safety audit has been launched across all its manufacturing sites. Damage assessment and phased restoration are underway at the Hyderabad unit. Production has been reallocated to other units, with operations at Dahej and Jhagadia continuing without disruption. The company has commenced making payments towards financial compensation and medical assistance for those affected by the incident, it said. MD and CEO Amit Raj Sinha said: 'Q1 FY26 has been an emotionally and operationally challenging quarter for us. The tragic incident led to the loss of lives and injuries among our workforce. Our immediate focus was on supporting families... The incident disrupted manufacturing operations, damaged plant infrastructure and inventory, and delayed shipments, impacting revenue and margins. We activated emergency protocols, launched a detailed safety audit, and have initiated phased restoration.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AdvanceCare Slashes Claims Processing Times to 60 Seconds Using Sprout.ai's AI Technology
LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvanceCare has cut health insurance claims processing time to just 60 seconds for some claims settlement cases, thanks to a strategic rollout of artificial intelligence technology. As health insurance claims management continues to grow in complexity, AdvanceCare is using AI to streamline and automate its processes and free up team resources to focus on the most complex cases. The milestone comes after the health insurer TPA (Third-Party Administrator) processed over a million claims in the past year using patented AI platform. AdvanceCare was already operating its claims process with automation, but the integration of technology has strengthened its capabilities further, contributing to over a 10% increase in automation levels. These advancements span AdvanceCare's different types of claims including hospital, dental, and pharmacy. With 1.7 million members in Portugal the improvements are already delivering faster, more accurate claim outcomes for a significant portion of the population. This also comes at a time when healthcare leaders are reporting that the time it takes for claims reimbursement is increasing, with 62% recognising this as a growing challenge, up from 51% in 2022. platform allows insurers to make faster, more accurate claims decisions by reducing manual data entry and ensuring claims handlers have all the relevant insights at their fingertips. AdvanceCare benefits from utilising platform, which combines advanced artificial intelligence with patented optical character recognition (OCR) technology to instantly extract, structure, and analyse information from claims invoices. Roi Amir, CEO of said: "When it comes to health insurance, speed and accuracy are paramount. This collaboration proves that AI doesn't just improve efficiency — it enhances the customer experience at scale. AdvanceCare has shown what's possible when innovation is embraced across an entire claims ecosystem." The increased accuracy has led to cost and productivity gains, supporting AdvanceCare's mission to strengthen healthcare inclusion and digital transformation in the insurance sector. Liliana Silva, Operations Director at AdvanceCare, added: "Our customers highly value the digital reimbursement solution that we provide through our app and web portal. Focusing on efficiency also means focusing on time resolution and the quality of service we provide to our customers. This is why we see AI as a useful tool and look for solutions that contribute to this, such as Since partnering in 2022, growing footprint within AdvanceCare highlights the accelerating demand in the European insurtech market for solutions that combine intelligent automation with enhanced service quality — empowering experienced claims handlers to dedicate more time to complex cases and those requiring a human touch. Logo: Notes to editors For more information on or to request interview time with CEO, Roi Amir, please contact sproutai@ View original content to download multimedia:
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
HMRC slaps huge £1,600 fines on 600,000 struggling families who don't even owe tax
We've explained how to avoid it in the first place TAXING TIMES HMRC slaps huge £1,600 fines on 600,000 struggling families who don't even owe tax Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HUNDREDS of thousands of low earners have been slapped with hefty HMRC fines, even though they don't owe any tax. Currently, individuals earning less than £12,570 a year do not pay income tax. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Those who are self-employed must complete a self-assessment tax return each year Credit: Getty Similarly, you are not liable to pay National Insurance contributions if your income or profits (for the self-employed) are below this threshold. However, those who are self-employed must complete a self-assessment tax return each year, even if they don't reach these earning thresholds. Failure to file this before the paper deadline on October 31 or the online deadline on January 31 results in an automatic fine. New data from a Freedom of Information request by think tank Tax Policy Associates (TPA) shows that over 600,000 people earning below the tax threshold were fined £100 by HMRC between 2018 and 2023. These fines start at £100 but can quickly spiral into thousands. If the fine isn't paid, penalties keep increasing, reaching over £1,600 within months. For those who miss deadlines year after year, the fines pile up, along with interest. One taxpayer, interviewed by TPA, was hit with over £10,000 in penalties, despite not owing a single penny in tax. The rules were changed in 2011, so penalties now stick even if no tax is due. At the time, campaigners warned this would create hardship for vulnerable people, but their concerns were ignored. Easy Income Boosters Money Making Tips You Need to Know Dan Neidle, from the TPA, said he had heard from "hundreds" of people affected, many struggling with serious physical and mental health issues. He said: "The Government should act, and stop the most vulnerable in society having their lives made harder by HMRC." The Government has promised to reform the system, capping penalties at £200 and removing the automatic £100 fine. However, these changes will only apply to high earners under the Making Tax Digital scheme, starting in 2026 for those earning over £50,000. There is still no timeline for low-income earners, leaving them stuck with harsher penalties under the current rules. The Low Income Tax Reform Group (LITRG) said this will create a "two-tier" system. Antonia Stokes, of the group, said: "LITRG would like to see HMRC speed up its roll-out, so that all taxpayers can benefit from the new penalty regime." Do I need to file a tax return? Self assessment is the system HMRC uses to collect income tax for some workers. For most employees, tax is automatically taken out of their wages, pensions, or savings through PAYE. But if you've got other types of income or are self-employed, you'll need to report it by filing a tax return. You'll need to send in a self assessment tax return if any of the following apply: You made over £1,000 from self-employment. You earned more than £2,500 from renting out property. You or your partner got High Income Child Benefit, and one of you had an annual income of over £50,000. You received more than £2,500 in untaxed income, like tips or commission. You're a director of a limited company. You're a shareholder. You're an employee claiming expenses over £2,500. You have an annual income of more than £100,000. How do I submit a tax return? Before you can complete and submit your tax return, you must have a so-called unique taxpayer reference (UTR) and activation code from HMRC. This can take a while to receive, so if it's the first time you're completing a self-assessment, register online immediately and ask HMRC for advice. To sign in or register, visit If you've already signed up for self-assessment, you can find your UTR in relevant letters and emails from HMRC. HMRC accepts your payment on the date you make it, not when it reaches its account - including on weekends. The deadline for filing your self-assessment tax return by post is October 31. If you miss the deadline by up to three months, you will be charged a £100 penalty. If you miss the deadline by over three months, you will be charged more. But don't worry. You can complete your tax return online if you don't send your paper form on time. The deadline for this was January 31, 2024. If you need to change your tax return after filing it, you can do so within 12 months of the original deadline. Filling in your tax return can seem daunting, but with our step-by-step guide, you'll have it sorted quickly.
National Post
07-07-2025
- National Post
Ontario Police Leaders Launch Answer the Call Campaign to Recruit the Next Generation of Officers
Article content New provincewide effort aims to modernize recruitment and address urgent staffing shortages Article content TORONTO — Today, Ontario's police leadership has announced the launch of Answer the Call, a provincewide marketing campaign to recruit the next generation of police officers. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), Ontario Association of Police Service Boards (OAPSB), Police Association of Ontario (PAO), Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO), Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), and Toronto Police Association (TPA), have come together to build the future of policing in Ontario. The campaign is also supported and backed by the Government of Ontario. The campaign will support over 50 police services and the communities they serve. Article content 'This is a critical time for policing in Ontario. Communities are evolving, expectations are changing, and so are the demands placed on our police officers,' said Deputy Chief of Halton Regional Police Service, and Past President of the OACP, Roger Wilkie. 'We need to build police services that are trusted, effective, and reflective of the people they serve, and it starts with how we recruit. Answer the Call is about rethinking that process, not just to fill open positions but to shape the future of the profession.' Article content Police organizations across the province are facing staffing shortages, which are impacting public safety, response times, and officer well-being. While addressing these shortages is critical, this initiative is equally focused on modernizing recruitment and opening the door to a more diverse pool of candidates, offering: Article content Honest insights into the daily realities of a career in policing. Transparency about training, expectations and the application process. Tools to help candidates find their fit with the right police service. Article content Police services across Ontario are actively hiring. Learn more about a career in policing by visiting Article content Quick Facts Article content Answer the Call is a joint initiative led by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), Ontario Association of Police Service Boards (OAPSB), Police Association of Ontario (PAO), Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO), Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), and Toronto Police Association (TPA). The campaign addresses growing staffing shortages and aims to modernize how police services attract and engage new recruits. The campaign includes a new digital platform featuring resources and tools to help candidates explore a career in policing. Article content Quotes Article content 'Future-proofing our police services starts with recruiting the right people – individuals who are ready to meet the moment and protect Ontario with professionalism, courage and compassion. That's why our government is proud to provide funding for Answer the Call – a groundbreaking campaign that will inspire the next generation to step forward, serve with pride, and build a safer, stronger Ontario for all who call our province home.' — Hon. Michael S. Kerzner, Solicitor General, Government of Ontario Article content 'Police services across Ontario are under real pressure to fill critical roles, and boards see that strain every day. Answer the Call is a coordinated effort to reach the right candidates with clear, accessible information about what a policing career involves. It's a practical response to a growing challenge, and we're proud to support an initiative that puts people and public safety first.' — Lisa Darling, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Police Service Boards (OAPSB) Article content 'Our members are doing more with less, and it's taking a toll. We are looking for people who are ready to join the profession and committed to supporting their communities. Answer the Call gives individuals a glimpse into what policing actually entails and helps them understand the role they would play and the reward that comes with it.' — Mark Baxter, President, Police Association of Ontario (PAO) Article content 'First Nations police services are rooted in the Seven Grandfather teachings and Great Law of Peace. Recruiting the next generation means reaching people who understand our communities and are ready to serve with respect and accountability. This campaign gives us the opportunity to share our perspective and ensure First Nations voices are reflected in the future of policing in Ontario.' — Darren Montour, Six Nations Chief of Police and President of Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO) Article content 'This work takes more than training and uniforms. It requires resilience, sound judgement, and a strong sense of purpose. We're proud to support a campaign that gives potential recruits a realistic view of the role and connects them with the support they'll need to succeed.' — David Sabatini, VP, Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) Article content 'Our members are working under pressure every day. Finding the right people to join the profession is crucial to not only ease the strain on the frontline, but to ensure communities continue to receive the level of service they expect. This campaign helps us reach individuals who are ready for that responsibility.' — Clayton Campbell, President, Toronto Police Association (TPA) Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact Article content Article content Maxine Bullock Article content Article content Article content Article content
