Millions of Brits turn to ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ for healthcare treatments October 9, 2025 Millions of Brits are turning to the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ for help to pay for private healthcare treatment, as NHS waiting lists continue to remain high. According to a new survey by Howden Life and Health, over the past five years, nearly one-third of UK adults, or approximately 14m people, have paid for [...]
Labour’s tobacco bill risks empowering black market, warns shadow minister October 7, 2025 The Labour government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill could hand a significant boost to criminal gangs and fuel the growing black market in illicit goods across the UK, the shadow policing minister has warned. Matt Vickers MP has told City AM that the legislation, aimed at curbing smoking and youth vaping, fails to address the [...]
UK launches national commission to fast-track AI in the NHS September 26, 2025 The UK government has established a national commission to accelerate the safe introduction of AI across the NHS. The panel, which brings together experts from big techs, researchers, and clinicians, will advise the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a new regulatory framework for AI in healthcare, set to be published next year. [...]
‘Some of the benefits are fairly boring, but they save lives’: AI chief on transforming the NHS September 26, 2025 AI in healthcare might spark visions of robotic doctors and futuristic diagnostics. But Robbie Jerrom, senior principal technologist for AI at Red Hat, insists the real gains lie in the mundane systems that make the NHS run more efficiently. “Prioritising summarising email requests or patient call logs… they’re not very exciting, but they consume a [...]
Spire Healthcare considering sale amid shareholder pressure September 19, 2025 Spire Healthcare has confirmed it is exploring “a range of potential options” for the business, including a possible sale, after mounting pressure from some of its largest shareholders. In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the private hospital group stressed that no decisions have been taken and that it is not in receipt of [...]
AI home care saves NHS and government over £1bn September 16, 2025 Cera, the UK’s largest HealthTech home care provider, has announced that its AI-backed social care model has saved the NHS and government over £1bn to date, according to a new analysis. The preventative care model leverages AI to reduce avoidable hospital admissions, cut emergency attendances and ambulance call-outs, and prevent costly referrals into residential care. [...]
£1bn AI home care savings spotlight urgent need for public sector tech reform September 16, 2025 The NHS and government have saved more than £1bn to date thanks to an AI-driven approach to home care. HealthTech innovator Cera, which employs 10,000 carers and nurses delivering 2.5 million home visits per month, has developed predictive AI tools aimed at reducing avoidable hospital admissions, A&E attendances, and costly residential care referrals. Dr Ben [...]
Private healthcare admissions surge as calls for VAT raid grow September 2, 2025 The number of hospital admissions using private healthcare in the first quarter of the year has bounced back to its pre-pandemic peak. The latest Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) data on private healthcare admissions published today revealed that the total number of admissions in the first quarter of 2025 was 241,000. Despite the figure being [...]
Ozempic sales surge as priced-out Mounjaro patients seek cheaper alternative August 18, 2025 Ozempic sales have risen five-fold after a 126 per cent rise in the price of the Mounjaro drug due to pressure from US President Donald Trump. Mounjaro, manufactured by U.S. pharma giant Eli Lilly, has been the UK’s most popular weight loss jab, prescribed to an estimated 90 per cent of the country’s patients. But around [...]
AI to help slash NHS hospital discharge delays, officials say August 16, 2025 Technology is being piloted to help free up NHS hospital beds which are occupied by people fit to be sent home, officials have announced. The platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help complete the documents needed to discharge patients, potentially saving hours of delays. The move will allow doctors to spend less time on paperwork [...]