Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
07 Mar 2022 Health & Social Care
Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
Petitions Committee says “continued lack of action” leaves new parents’ needs “unrecognised and unmet”
DWP accused of 'culture of secrecy' after blocking access to benefit sanctions data
03 Mar 2022 Health & Social Care
DWP accused of 'culture of secrecy' after blocking access to benefit sanctions data
Glasgow study into the link between sanctions and health issues halted after department refused to release data
NAO lauds vaccine rollout but flags staff-fatigue concerns
25 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
NAO lauds vaccine rollout but flags staff-fatigue concerns
Public-spending watchdog says £8.3bn programme has been good value for money – and has come in under budget so far
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
23 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
Criticism comes after a row between the Treasury and DHSC over ending Covid restrictions forced the PM to delay a meeting to sign off the plans
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
22 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
Legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test for Covid-19 to end on 24 February under "Living with Covid" plan
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market Exclusive
21 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market
Consultants brought in to assess paid-for LFT providers as Omicron and supply-chain delays led to shortage of free tests
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
17 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Cabinet Office to set up conversion-therapy support helpline
Contract notice seeks provider for phone and web service for victims ahead of legal ban
DHSC rejects plea to overhaul NHS workforce planning despite ‘crisis’ warning
16 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC rejects plea to overhaul NHS workforce planning despite ‘crisis’ warning
Health and Social Care Committee chair Jeremy Hunt says government has missed opportunity to tackle staff burnout crisis
High Court declares Dido Harding appointment unlawful
15 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
High Court declares Dido Harding appointment unlawful
Campaigners claim victory in “chumocracy” case over former NHS Test and Trace boss and director Mike Coupe
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
15 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Scotland's chief medical officer apologises for retweeting 'political messaging'
Gregor Smith was accused of breaking the civil service code
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
14 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
Removing tests could make it harder to take precautions and could disproportionately impact vulnerable people, experts say
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
14 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Gavin Williamson referred firm that won £1.7m PPE contract to VIP lane, DHSC admits
Department says it mistakenly left the company off a list of those referred to the high-priority lane in November
Former healthcare boss named interim No.10 perm sec
10 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
Former healthcare boss named interim No.10 perm sec
Samantha Jones led private healthcare provider before advising Boris Johnson on NHS reform
DHSC seeks deputy chief medic to replace Van-Tam
07 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC seeks deputy chief medic to replace Van-Tam
Department offers up to £149,000 a year for its next DCMO for health protection
DHSC branded ‘terribly naïve’ over Greensill dealings
04 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC branded ‘terribly naïve’ over Greensill dealings
MPs say department lacked curiosity about rationale for pharmacy-payment scheme and had no concerns about NHS salary-advance offer
DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
01 Feb 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC writes off £8.7bn of pandemic PPE
The losses included £2.5bn spent on PPE that was not suitable for the NHS or in care settings
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
28 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
MPs demand more transparency over £1bn private hospitals deal
NHS England chief rapped for failure to publish ministerial direction letter on time
‘Not all former ministers are clear on standards of behaviour and rules’: Pickles sour as Brine falls short
26 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
‘Not all former ministers are clear on standards of behaviour and rules’: Pickles sour as Brine falls short
Acoba chair writes to Cabinet Office after ex-minister Steve Brine fails to seek advice before advising a pharmaceutical company
DHSC refuses plea to tackle health and social staff pay disparity
19 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
DHSC refuses plea to tackle health and social staff pay disparity
Perm sec says the government cannot accurately compare jobs in the two sectors
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
19 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
Significant progress made on cutting consultant numbers, but short-term roles and secondments deter officials from applying
Jonathan Van-Tam to step down as deputy chief medical officer
13 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
Jonathan Van-Tam to step down as deputy chief medical officer
Job has been "most challenging of my professional career", JVT says
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
13 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
Health secretary signs off on £90m-a-month plans to put sector on standby to provide backup for NHS services
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
12 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
Some firms marked as high priority for contracts with "no objectively justifiable grounds for expediting the offer", court finds
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
07 Jan 2022 Health & Social Care
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
Companies in the fast-track lane were 14 times more likely to win contracts than other suppliers, according to the NAO