The challenges of the digital health shift; Poor maternity outcomes continue; Population health data revealed

Health plan's digital shift must start with people

In this article for Digital Health, Rachel Power, chief executive of The Patients Association, answers how we can ensure no one is left behind by the shift from analogue to digital in the 10-year health plan. Rachel says there needs to be respect for different needs and capabilities, adding: "We’ve got to understand the trust issues around using digital and we’ve also got to understand how to make it more accessible. People with disabilities, those with lower level of income, and people of minority ethnic groups have lower level of trust. You start with people. We should be saying, how is this going to work for you?" 

Rachel says non-digital options and face-to-face [care] should be maintained for people who cannot use or do not feel confident in digital services. She also speaks about the need for more patient engagement in NHS transformation and shares concerns about the single patient record and how AI is implemented. Rachel adds: "We’ve got to hold on to the human level of healthcare."

Read the full article on the Digital Health website here.

Maternity inequalities causing an "erosion of public trust"

A report from the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee has found that Black women in England continue to face disproportionately poor outcomes in maternity care. The Black Maternal Health report says the crisis in care for Black women is due to systemic failings in leadership, training, data collection, and accountability. It adds that the "failure to confront the deep-rooted inequities in maternity care is unjust and carries deep human and systemic costs, including increased financial strain on health services, diminished workforce resilience, and erosion of public trust – all of which compromise the system’s ability to deliver safe, effective and equitable care". 

The report identifies four key areas the Government must focus on: 

• Culture, leadership and racism: The need to tackle a culture where women, particularly Black women, are not listened to and their concerns are not taken seriously.
• Workforce: Midwives and obstetricians are "burnt out, unable to consistently deliver good quality, safe care, and many are considering leaving the profession".
• Data: The lack of robust, real-time data, particularly on maternal morbidity and patient ethnicity, means the system "remains blind to its failings".
• Funding: Government has cut the Maternity Service Development Fund from £95 million to £2 million, transferring the money to core Integrated Care Board (ICB) budgets.

Read the full report via the Patient Experience Library website here.

Reaction to poor population health data

In this blog for The King's Trust, senior fellow Veena Raleigh asks whether the UK is the "sick man of Europe" following the publication of new data. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shared its Health at a Glance indicators on population health and health system performance. The data shows the UK’s population health lags peers, with low life expectancy, high avoidable mortality and widening inequalities. 

The findings included: 

• In 2023, life expectancy in the UK (79 years in males and 82.9 years in females) was lower than in almost all comparable countries for males, and the lowest for females.
• The UK has the highest rate of avoidable mortality – both preventable and treatable avoidable deaths from disease and injury.
• Although cancer incidence is lower in the UK compared to many peers, cancer mortality is among the highest. Five-year survival rates for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers are also the lowest.

In the blog, Veena warns: "Turning the tide on the UK’s deteriorating population health is a herculean task, which the weak ambitions of the government’s 10-year health plan fall short of fixing."

Read the blog in full on The King's Fund website here.

New vision shaped by nurses, midwives and patients

A new five-year vision for nursing and midwifery care in Wales has been unveiled. The Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Sue Tranka, published the strategic vision and said patients across Wales will benefit from more compassionate, person-centred care delivered by an empowered nursing and midwifery workforce. The vision was developed through workshops, interviews and digital surveys involving thousands of frontline staff and service users. The vision centres on six interconnected themes, including creating a valued and empowered workforce; strengthening professional leadership at every level; and embedding research and evidence into daily practice. 

Launching the vision at the Chief Nursing Officer’s Conference in Cardiff, Sue said: "Shaped by the voices of nurses, midwives and patients, my vision sets out how the professions will lead, innovate and strive for excellence at every level of the health and care system. My aim is to unite the professions, inspire change, and build a future where care is exceptional, communities thrive, and both people and the planet flourish."

Read more about the vision on the Welsh Government website here.

The impact of restrictions in access to medicines

The latest phase of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)'s Value of Industry campaign has been launched, focusing on challenges around access to innovative medicines and the impact it has on patients with certain diseases. The ABPI says the way in which medicines are valued for NHS use is having a negative effect on UK patient access to medicines and health outcomes. The PIF member highlights how England has slipped from being the first for granting access to new medicines in Europe to sixth in less than 10 years (2018 vs 2024 data). 

The latest phase of the ABPI campaign includes videos and social media assets about four disease areas: breast cancer, blood cancer, Alzheimer’s, and rare disease. The ABPI worked with patient groups and the campaign includes details of new medicines not being approved for use in the UK. For example, new treatments which can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s were given UK licences in 2024 but have not been recommended for NHS use by NICE, a decision the ABPI says will affect 70,000 patients in England.

Find out more about the campaign on the ABPI website here.

People urged to share experiences of ME

Action for ME in Scotland is calling on people across the UK to share their experiences of living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The charity's 2025 Big Survey is open to anyone living with ME, whether or not they have a formal diagnosis, and to people with long Covid who experience ME symptoms. There are two versions of the survey: one for adults aged 18 and over, and another for people aged 17 and under. Run every five years, the Big Survey helps to build a comprehensive picture of life with ME across the UK. The last survey received more than 4,000 responses, providing valuable insight to support research and policy work. The survey is open until 27 January 2026. Action for ME is also exploring funding for a pilot project to identify communication tools and resources that can support people in Scotland exploring or receiving an ME diagnosis. The organisation is keen to hear from those with lived experience to ensure the work reflects the realities of living with ME.

Find out more about the survey and the pilot project on the ALLIANCE website here.

Webinar: Using AI scribe tools in secondary care

A free webinar will focus on the opportunities for Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) - using AI to convert spoken words into clinical notes - in secondary care. The second Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber event on Ambient Voice is being held on 27 November and will include: 

• An update from NHS England on national guidelines for AVT.
• Learnings from Great Ormond Street’s evaluation of AI tool Tortus.
• Case studies from trusts around the country.
• Demonstrations from suppliers.
• An update on regional support for AVT implementation.

Find out more and book a place on the webinar via the Eventbrite website here.