Care Radio

BREAKING NEWS

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  Warning on Single Patient Record plan

  There's news of a warning to the government that it needs to maintain focus when implementing the new “Single Patient Record” programme. It comes from the Chief Executive of the NHS Alliance, and stresses that the government needs to “keep its eyes on the prize” when designing the system. Sir Keiran Devane says it must learn from previous national data sharing programmes which, despite being costly, often failed to deliver on expectations. The scheme is part of the new Health Bill going through Parliament, and aims to summarise patient information, test results and letters in one single location.

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  Financial support for carers in Lanarkshire

  As part of Carers week this week, carers in Lanarkshire are being urged to find out more about the financial support available. The annual campaign highlights the challenges that unpaid carers can face, and encourages people who don’t see themselves as carers to access emotional, social or financial support. More than 11 thousand carers in North Lanarkshire alone, are receiving carer support payment, but more could be entitled to help. In neighbouring South Lanarkshire, Hamilton Town House is being lit in blue, and the Carers Week flag is flying at the council headquarters to raise awareness.

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  Delays at England A&Es could cause 13 hundred deaths a month

  Long delays at A and E departments could be responsible for the deaths of more than 13 hundred patients a month in England, according to new data. More than 300 deaths were linked to long waits every week in 2025, up from 30 a week a decade earlier, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Its president Dr Ian Higginson said it was heartbreaking not to be able to help patients arriving at A and E in their time of need because the department is full.

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  Calls for views on the rights of carers at work

  There are fresh calls for carers to give their views on a Government consultation on the rights of carers at work. Minster for Employment Rights, Kate Dearden, this week, urged anyone with a vested interest in the work/life balance of unpaid carers – to give their views… saying “you shouldn’t have to choose between your job and those you love”. The Government believes millions of people could re-enter the workforce if better protections for unpaid carers are implemented. It includes “Hugh’s Law”, which calls for better rights and financial support for parents of seriously ill children. The Minister made the comments at a Carers UK event.

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  NHS offering AI tools to staff

  The NHS is accelerating a plan to give more than half a million staff access to new AI tools. It hopes that using Microsoft Copilot will free up an average of 2 days a month from admin duties. 505-thousand clinicians and support staff are being provided with the tool, which helps to draft documents and analyse data more efficiently. The health service says it’ll allow them “to focus more time on patient care”. It follows a recent trial with 30-thousand staff – which suggests a full rollout could save millions of hours of staff time per month.

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  NHS accused of using supplier as "free overdraft"

  The NHS is being accused of using suppliers as a ‘free overdraft’. The comments come from the independent membership body representing the health and care system – the NHS alliance. It says recent research by the Health Service Journal, shows NHS England trusts owe around forty million pounds in late payments – and says it is “vital” that financial control is restored. Its deputy policy director David Williams says squeezing NHS finances has ‘real world consequences’ for NHS suppliers.