Consultants still make up a quarter of test and trace workforce as bosses admit jobs 'less attractive' to civil servants
19 Jan Medical

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
by Beckie Smith
Andy Cowper: The PM plays party games while the NHS strains under Covid pressures
19 Jan Medical
Andy Cowper: The PM plays party games while the NHS strains under Covid pressures
Jonathan Van-Tam to step down as deputy chief medical officer
13 Jan Medical
Jonathan Van-Tam to step down as deputy chief medical officer
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
12 Jan Medical
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
13 Jan Medical
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
Don’t ignore other areas of care when tackling Covid backlog, DHSC told
06 Jan Medical
Don’t ignore other areas of care when tackling Covid backlog, DHSC told
MPs also warn against a "targets culture" of focusing solely on reducing numbers
'An oracle would be handy': Chief medical officer Chris Whitty's New Year's wish
17 Dec 2021 Medical
'An oracle would be handy': Chief medical officer Chris Whitty's New Year's wish
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The government's top medic tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
16 Dec 2021 Medical
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
Chief medic also says "only people who have no understanding of health" believe Covid is being over-prioritised by medical professionals
Perm secs told to produce 'concrete plan' to free up civil servants to volunteer for booster rollout Exclusive
14 Dec 2021 Medical
Perm secs told to produce 'concrete plan' to free up civil servants to volunteer for booster rollout
Registered healthcare professionals across the civil service to get "unlimited" volunteering leave until the end of January
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
19 Nov 2021 Medical
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
Lessons from previous simulation exercises "not fully implemented", watchdog says
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
19 Nov 2021 Medical
With the healthcare system on its knees, 'The Saj' talks about making plans
Andy Cowper reviews the last month of health and social care news
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
03 Nov 2021 Medical
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
Wellcome Trust director says experts have provided 'vital advice' under 'huge pressure'
13% of civil servants absent because of Covid at crisis peak, stats show
22 Oct 2021 Medical
13% of civil servants absent because of Covid at crisis peak, stats show
57,230 officials were absent either directly or indirectly because of coronavirus in late March 2020
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
20 Oct 2021 Medical
SAGE meeting just once a month as Covid rates rise
Source cites "lessened demand for science advice" for reduction in meetings
MPs call on government to halt 'alarming' MHRA redundancies
28 Sep 2021 Medical
MPs call on government to halt 'alarming' MHRA redundancies
Cuts could force staff to "cover more ground with fewer resources"
Health security agency seeks commercial experts
27 Sep 2021 Medical
Health security agency seeks commercial experts
Three deputy director jobs intended to give UKHSA's “best-in-class commercial department"
'I always look calm. I don’t necessarily feel that way': Jenny Harries on Covid-19 and founding the UK Health Security Agency Exclusive
21 Sep 2021 Medical
'I always look calm. I don’t necessarily feel that way': Jenny Harries on Covid-19 and founding the UK Health Security Agency
Dr Jenny Harries became UKHSA's first chief executive, after being an integral part of the government’s response to Covid-19 as deputy chief medical officer. She shares the experience
Medicines regulator to cut hundreds of jobs
09 Sep 2021 Medical
Medicines regulator to cut hundreds of jobs
Proposed 20% headcount reduction follows post-Brexit loss of EU fees income
DHSC signs contract to buy 35 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine
24 Aug 2021 Medical
DHSC signs contract to buy 35 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine
Booster programme will help "future-proof the country from the threat of Covid-19"
£110,000 on offer to lead life sciences unit
02 Aug 2021 Medical
£110,000 on offer to lead life sciences unit
"Strategic thinker" sought to lead engagement with sector after Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit
MPs slam lack of planning and poor data in Covid shielding scheme
22 Apr 2021 Medical
MPs slam lack of planning and poor data in Covid shielding scheme
Some 800,000 people may have “slipped through the net and missed out on much-needed support”
Jenny Harries to replace Dido Harding as head of new public-health body
25 Mar 2021 Medical
Jenny Harries to replace Dido Harding as head of new public-health body
Deputy chief medical officer will lead the renamed UK Health Security Agency
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
25 Feb 2021 Medical
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
DHSC praises “crucial” role in rapid authorisation of Covid vaccines and formalises interim arrangements in place since 2019
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
23 Feb 2021 Medical
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
Health secretary brushes off questions on High Court transparency decision and says it would be “ridiculous” to stop work being won by acquaintances of ministers
‘Bad Science’ author Ben Goldacre to review research use of health data
11 Feb 2021 Medical
‘Bad Science’ author Ben Goldacre to review research use of health data
Head of Oxford University DataLab to report findings in April
'We have paid a heavy price in healthcare postponed': Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty on a year fighting Covid-19
15 Dec 2020 Medical
'We have paid a heavy price in healthcare postponed': Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty on a year fighting Covid-19
2020 was a year unlike any other, with the coronavirus pandemic upending the work of government and changing how we live our daily lives. Senior figures from across the civil service tell us how the unprecedented 12 months affected them, and look ahead to 2021
DHSC offers £160,000 for chief scientist to succeed Chris Whitty
11 Dec 2020 Medical
DHSC offers £160,000 for chief scientist to succeed Chris Whitty
Recruitment firm in line for £40,000 if its search is successful
UK was not as prepared for Covid as it could have been, ex-chief medic says
13 Nov 2020 Medical
UK was not as prepared for Covid as it could have been, ex-chief medic says
UK has been "found wanting", Dame Sally Davies says, with the government responding too slowly to the pandemic