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Keeping you up-to-date with the news and views that matter, this daily news digest is collated by Salix & Co, specialists in communications for the health, education and social sectors.
From the Bureau Editor
Wednesday 21 October
Good morning
Some big news stories this morning: The Government plans for 2.4% NHS pay rise as unions warn of further real-terms cuts, the Covid Inquiry condemns government's failure to protect care home residents during pandemic, and new research from the Nuffield Trust suggests falling migration ‘costs the NHS £100m a year’ and risks destabilising already precarious NHS finances.
Bureau Editor
the briefing
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Covid Inquiry
Covid Inquiry condemns government's failure to protect care home residents during pandemic - failures left adult social care dangerously exposed during the pandemic, with inadequate planning, shortages of protective equipment and hospital patients discharged into care homes without sufficient testing or isolation.
IT/Tech
NHS needs faster, more robust evaluation of artificial intelligence, says Health Foundation: it proposes NHS test-bed sites capable of assessing selected tools within three months, supported by common evaluation standards and shared learning.
NHS App referral notifications exceed 2.5 million as single-point-of-access functionality introduced DHSC
Social care
See Covid Inquiry
Workforce
Government plans for 2.4% NHS pay rise as unions warn of further real-terms cuts - Unite has condemned the proposal, arguing that it would represent a further real-terms reduction in pay and exacerbate recruitment and retention problems: NHS Employers' evidence to the pay review bodies 2027/28
Falling migration ‘costs the NHS £100m a year’: Many migrants pay 60% more to the NHS than costs of the health care they use: Nuffield Trust survey suggests migrants who pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – a fee paid by most visa holders for their use of the NHS – are likely to use significantly less NHS care than they effectively pay for. The analysis also warns that declining immigration threatens to further destabilise already precarious NHS finances.
NHS Alliance calls for stronger workplace health support to tackle economic inactivity and staff sickness
Mental health
Children's mental health waiting times threatened by withdrawal of funding protection, warns King's Fund: the government's decision to remove additional funding protection for children's mental health services
Bereaved families demand national ban on camera-monitoring technology in mental health wardses risks undermining its commitment to reducing waiting times.Guardian
what the bloggers are blogging
NEW! Policy Exchange’s new report, Engineered for Success: Lessons from the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering calls for a new wave of technical universities to tackle the NEET crisis and provide the skills that Britain needs. The report examines NMITE, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, in rural Herefordshire, as a model for a new wave of employer-focused, teaching-only technical institutions.
NEW! What does the health and care system look like for children in England? King’s Fund
NEW! What Scotland and Greater Manchester are learning about prevention King’s Fund
NEW! Louise Casey examining difficult choices over who pays for social care Guardian
Dementia is where cancer was 50 years ago: how we can use cancer as a blueprint for improving dementia care King’s Fund
Up to eight-fold differences in the numbers of patients on GPs’ lists in areas of England, new analysis reveals.
The single patient record explained: what could it mean for patients and the health and care system King’s Fund
Beyond ‘how can I help?’: the Ockenden and Amos maternity reviews and compassionate leadership King’s Fund
One year on, is the NHS 10 Year Health Plan being delivered? King’s Fund
what's on when
IHSCM Winter Conference Save The Date 12th November 2026
IHSCM Round up of news, commentary and upcoming events
What’s on in 2026 - lots of new courses for the IHSCM - details here
For more information about regional hubs and IHSCM membership, please look here
For a full list of IHSCM's upcoming events, look here
If you missed any, they are all are available to watch again here
For all upcoming events Life Sciences Academy
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