Latest news with #preventative


Medscape
04-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
NHS Reform Hinges on Funding and Staff, Say Leaders
Healthcare leaders have cautiously welcomed the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in England, praising its ambitions while warning that workforce shortages and funding gaps could derail its success. Launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, the policy paper outlined major structural reforms intended to 'fundamentally rewire' the NHS by shifting care closer to home and modernising services. The plan centres on three strategic shifts: From a sickness service to a preventative model From a hospital-based system to neighbourhood care From analogue to digital delivery Neighbourhood health centres will be established across England, offering diagnostics, nursing, post-operative care, and mental health services in community settings. These centres aim to reduce pressure on hospitals by extending hours and bringing services closer to patients. By 2035, most outpatient services — such as cardiology, respiratory medicine, eye care, and mental health — are expected to be delivered outside hospitals. England's Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the plan as 'one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history'. He said the NHS should function more like a 'supermarket' for healthcare, offering integrated services under one roof. Support from Healthcare Leaders Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said the plan 'promises a lot and, properly implemented, offers an opportunity to revolutionise healthcare'. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said the shift towards neighbourhood health services is a 'vital step' that recognises the 'complex and interconnected challenges many patients face'. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said the plan could be a 'game-changer,' and Daniel Elkeles of NHS Providers said it would simplify the system and speed up innovation. The Patients Association's CEO, Rachel Power, praised the plan's multidisciplinary approach, while the social innovation agency Nesta said it revived the NHS's original focus. 'Nye Bevan's original vision for the NHS placed prevention at its heart,' said Nesta's chief executive, Ravi Gurumurthy. Workforce Shortages Raise Concerns Despite strong support for the plan's aims, many leaders questioned how it will be delivered given current NHS staffing challenges. Dr Tom Dolphin, British Medical Association council chair, warned that without tackling workforce shortages, the plan risks 'rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship'. He warned that existing staff should not be 'moved around like pieces on a chess board or made to work even harder'. Professor Steve Turner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, echoed this, calling for 'sustained investment' in staff. Royal College of Nursing general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger said moving care out of hospitals was necessary but 'impossible' with the current state of the workforce. Janet Morrison, CEO of Community Pharmacy England, stressed that with many local pharmacies under financial pressure, sustainable funding is needed if pharmacists are to play a role. Funding and Implementation Uncertain Leaders also raised concerns over a lack of clarity on how the reforms will be paid for or delivered. Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said the proposals were 'essential' but warned the lack of detail made their success uncertain. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund, said patients would expect to see tangible improvements. 'When will it mean people can see a GP more easily, or get mental health support for their child, or not wait hours in A&E?' Stein also cautioned that 'care closer to home doesn't mean care on the cheap', pointing out that such models can be more expensive due to reduced economies of scale. Dr Steve Taylor from the Doctors' Association UK said neighbourhood health centres already existed in the form of the existing network of over 6000 GP practices. 'Investment in GPs and GP practices would be cheaper,' he said. Dr Jennifer Dixon, CEO of the Health Foundation, agreed the plan was 'the right direction', but warned that past plans with similar goals had failed without 'concrete policy changes and investment.' While the plan received praise for its ambition, health leaders agree that its success will depend on political commitment, long-term funding, and a robust workforce strategy. 'The hard work starts now,' said Elkeles.


Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The expert's guide to what microplastics do to your body - and 22 ways to minimise your risk
When Orlando Bloom, 48, was pictured having a £10,000, two-hour treatment to remove microplastics from his blood, it thrust the subject back into the spotlight. 'Microplastics are the tiny plastic particles that you often can't see, as they're less than five millimetres, but they're everywhere,' explains Dr Liza Osagie-Clouard, a former surgeon and now founder of Solice, a preventative healthcare clinic.


Auto Express
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
AI means your car can now detect a fault… before it happens
Yes you read that right. New tech has been developed using artificial intelligence (AI) meaning your car can detect a fault before it even occurs, giving the driver a nudge to take it to the garage in order to get it checked out before something serious develops. The latest Porsche Macan benefits from new software called 'AI Preventative Anomaly Detection' which essentially sends real-time car diagnostics data to the cloud. This is then analysed by artificial intelligence to pick out anomalies in the battery system, which could potentially lead to a problem developing down the line. Advertisement - Article continues below Irregularities can be pinpointed to individual cells of the battery, with shifts in capacity or a change in the balancing characteristics potentially pointing to a looming issue. Once the data has been scrutinised and if a potential problem is suspected, the owner will be notified on their 'My Porsche' app, and advised to take their car in to be inspected in their local Porsche centre. Speaking to Auto Express, Porsche's head of data-driven quality, Nora Lobenstein, explained how this type of technology could become revolutionary because 'up until now, [manufacturers] have been reactionary to problems. With this preventative concept, we can detect a problem, even if for the customer it's not possible.' 'It's really interesting what we learn from all of this,' Lobenstein continued, 'especially in how high-voltage cells and battery systems behave. It's not something that we could monitor before.' Of course, as is always the case when 'AI' and 'collecting data' are mentioned, questions arise surrounding information security. However, Porsche was keen to reassure us that only car-related information is collected – no personal, nor locatory data is sent out – and customers can opt out at any time. While this AI tech is only available in the Macan for now, it could eventually come to the Taycan – this already benefits from non-AI-assisted monitoring – as well as future electric Porsche models, including the forthcoming electric Porsche 718 sports car. Lobenstein also hinted it could come to ICE Porsche cars, such as the 911, but said 'for now, we are concentrating on high-voltage battery technology'. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals…