AI system to analyse NHS databases and identify scandals June 30, 2025 The UK will be the first country in the world to use an AI system to analyse hospital databases and catch potential safety scandals early, the government has announced. The technology can identify patterns of abuse, serious injuries, deaths or other incidents that can slip through the net. When concerns are raised, the Care Quality [...]
Streeting’s junk food crackdown labelled ‘nanny state mission’ June 29, 2025 Retail bosses have hit out at a government plan to stop supermarkets from selling junk food in favour of fruit and vegetables as a “nanny state” policy that would add to red tape faced by high street shops. Under new plans to tackle the NHS’s £11.4bn obesity bill, the government will set supermarkets a “healthy [...]
NHS greenlights first major GP IT overhaul amid tech lag June 26, 2025 The NHS has approved its first new core IT system for general practice in a quarter of a century, in a move aimed at modernising primary care and reducing the administrative burden on staff. Practices across England will now be able to adopt a new cloud-based patient record system from Medicus Health, with more suppliers [...]
Mounjaro and Wegovy demand helps Chemist4U sales double June 23, 2025 Increasing demand for weight-loss jabs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy has helped sales at the firm behind online pharmacy Chemist4U almost double. The Skelmersdale-based business has reported a turnover of £59.5m for the year to 30 September, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The latest total comes after the firm behind Chemist4U [...]
One twist left in the PHP and KKR bidding war for Assura June 23, 2025 The Assura bidding war between KKR and PHP looked to be sealing its final chapter on Monday – but analysts warn there could be one more twist in the saga. Assura said on Monday it had recommended its board to accept a fresh cash offer from PHP, which valued the firm at £1.79bn. The deal [...]
Indian minister: Brits better off flying to India than relying on NHS June 20, 2025 India’s commerce minister has said that there are instances where Brits would be better off hopping on a flight to India than braving NHS treatment. In a discussion with Science Museum chief Sir Ian Blatchford at the India Global Forum (IGF) conference, Piyush Goyal said the UK should be more open to cooperation with India [...]
Lord Darzi: Tech and global collaboration could save the NHS’s ‘critical condition’ June 20, 2025 The NHS is in ‘critical condition’ and in urgent need of reform, but technology and international partnerships, particularly with India, could hold the key to its recovery, said Lord Ara Darzi. “We have a lot to learn from our colleagues in India”, Darzi announced on Thursday at the India Global Forum. “They’ve done some really [...]
KKR offer commended by Assura June 19, 2025 The heated battle for Assura’s takeover has finally reached a conclusion, with KKR’s bid to take over the healthcare property giant, securing EU approval for the bid if it goes ahead. Assura accepted private equity giant KKR’s £1.7bn bid, which was made via acquisition vehicle Sana Bidco, last week. The merger has now received clearance [...]
Bupa acquires first UK hospital since 2008 June 19, 2025 Private healthcare giant Bupa has agreed to acquire its first UK hospital since 2008 as it looks to expand its access to the London market. The independent private hospital is called New Victoria and located in Kingston-upon-Thames. General manager for Bupa Health Services, Sarah Melia, said: “[It] enables us to provide more Bupa services directly [...]
Spending Review: IFS chief suggests Treasury ‘making up numbers’ over DOGE-style Whitehall cuts June 12, 2025 The Ministry of Defence and Department for Health and Social Care are slated to see billions cut in Whitehall budgets in what a DOGE-style body within the Treasury described as “efficiency gains” – despite both departments set to see a real terms increase in spending between 2026 and 2029. A new government document has revealed [...]