Read Jack Serle's latest HSJi Review, which discusses how trusts across England are grappling with severe emergency care pressures, with performance against national targets falling short and patients experiencing dangerous waits. Read the full article here.

Latest Investigations

Improving the NHS’s speed of adoption of innovative medicines and medtech

The government aims to drive economic growth through the life sciences sector, a goal that will rely on the MHRA and NICE balancing stringent regulation with faster market access for innovative technologies. The two bodies are aligning their practices to speed adoption, while work continues to prepare for the impact of AI and genomic medicine. Medtech will gain some of the market access advantages already available to pharma, the Single National Formulary is set to begin operating in 2028, and clinical trial approvals will be accelerated and made more flexible, particularly to support trials focused on rare diseases.

West Yorkshire ICS

Significant restructuring is underway, though no merger with other ICBs is planned. Place-based commissioning is expected to bear the brunt of cost reductions, and neighbourhood health teams will be built around primary care networks. Early priorities include end-of-life care and frailty services, supported by a cost improvement programme focused on commissioning and service redesign. Faster internet is being rolled out to GP practices, a trial of at-home kidney disease tests is planned, and an app to support carers is due to launch in autumn 2025.

Medway Foundation Trust

The Trust has set an unrealistic cost improvement plan and is proposing to cut 400 non-clinical posts amid increasing concern over cash flow. It is likely to form a group with a neighbouring provider, while Medway is also focusing on improving organisational culture. ENT services are under review following a care failure, and the Trust plans to triple its number of virtual wards, shifting the model toward admissions avoidance. As part of its efficiency efforts, inpatient beds will be closed, delivering major savings.

Data points

The following data points were updated this week:

• Name for Wales, Scotland in October.
• Leadership for ICS, Wales, Scotland in August.
• Elective activity Recovery and Bed occupancy for ICS in Q2 2025-26.
• ESTATES MAINTENANCE BACKLOG and ESTATES MAINTENANCE BACKLOG – HIGH RISK for Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb in 2024-25.
• EIP waiting time performance (Early intervention Waits) for MH in Q2 2025-26.
• Elective admissions for Acute, Sp in Q2 2025-26.
• Incidents Per Quarter, Percentage of patients taken to A&E, THE 18-MINUTE TARGET(MINS.SECS), THE APPROPRIATE CONVEYANCE TARGET(MINS.SECS), and THE SEVEN MINUTE TARGET(MINS.SECS) for Amb in Q3 2025-26.
• Beds Occupied and Number of Beds for Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb in Q2 2025-26 .