Promising increase in public involvement; Use of AI in women's health; Annual care report findings

Public involvement in health research is increasing 

New data from the NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) shows the number of health and social care studies involving patients and the public in research has continued to increase. The authority's annual analysis of public involvement in research found the overall number of applications made to Research Ethics Committees involving patients or members of the public rose from 7 in 10 in 2023 to 8 in 10 in 2024. The analysis looked at a sample of 400 studies, accounting for roughly 1 in 10 of the total number of studies. 

The improvements in uptake follow the introduction of the HSA's Participant Information Quality Standards in December 2023. These were created to show researchers the important ethical considerations for developing participant information. One of the steps outlined in the standards is to "involve public contributors in the design and review process to ensure that participant information is relevant and understandable for the intended audience". The HRA said the rise in numbers is a promising step in the right direction and highlighted its Shared Commitment to Public Involvement in health and social care campaign which now has more than 30 organisations signed up as partners.

Read the full data on the HRA website here.

Survey on the use of AI in women's health

Professionals working in or adjacent to women's health have been invited to take part in a survey exploring the awareness and use of AI tools. The University of Oxford is researching how AI tools are perceived and is seeking views on their benefits, risks and guidance needs as part of the AI-WISE study. The research is being led by Dr Gabriel Davis Jones, who is attached to the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford. They are particularly looking at large language models such as ChatGPT to inform safe, fair and effective guidance and practice. 

The survey is open to adults (18 years or over) who are working in or alongside women's health, for example clinicians, researchers, educators, digital health teams, industry professionals or policy organisations. Those who take part will be asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire about their professional background and their awareness, use and views of AI tools, with optional free-text comments. 

Find out how to take part on the AI-WISE website here.

Report finds "risk of erosion in care quality"

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its annual State of Care report and warns of a real risk of erosion in care quality. The CQC says while there is some encouraging evidence, community services need significant investment in both capacity and capability. Without more support to help community services deliver the vision of the government's 10 Year Plan, the CQC warns people will struggle to get the care they need. The most vulnerable groups are likely to be hit hardest through longer waits, reduced access and poorer outcomes. 

The report highlights longstanding inequalities with some groups of people and an unwarranted variation in people’s experience of services across the country. The CQC concludes: "In some places, there are promising signs... But our work also exposes issues about the readiness of the system for a shift to delivering neighbourhood care, as well as concerns for how some people experience care – such as for older people, people with dementia and people using maternity services."

Read the full report on the CQC website here.

Tips for being digitally inclusive

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) shared advice during Get Online Week as part of its work to improve digital inclusion. Delyth Williams, DHCW Digital Inclusion Officer, suggested five top tips to consider when making digital content to ensure that is digitally inclusive:

• Be clear – avoid complex language wherever possible and communicate in a way that makes sense to the users of the service, product or tool
• Be innovative and think sustainably – work with others to develop localised support solutions based on best practice and evidence-based learning.
• Engage with people – meet with end users to understand their needs, challenges and concerns whether that be staff, clinicians or patients.
• Keep it simple – identify and remove complex or unnecessary steps to make things easier for the end users. 
• Offer support – change can be hard, so support the end user by providing training and encouraging adaptability. 

Find more advice on the DHCW website here.

Highlighting the role of pharmacies

A campaign to raise awareness of the support community pharmacists can offer to patients in their neighbourhood has been launched. The Department of Health and Social Care has released new resources to promote the Think Pharmacy First campaign which runs from 20 October until 4 January 2026. The campaign will appear on adverts across TV on Demand services, on radio, in public spaces such as bus shelters as well as adverts on relevant websites, online videos and social media. The aim of the campaign is to highlight how pharmacists can provide some prescription medicines if needed, without seeing a GP. 

The campaign comes as NHS England announced the oral emergency contraception pill will be available for free to women from almost 10,000 pharmacies across the country without needing to see their GP or get an appointment at a sexual health clinic. People who have been newly prescribed antidepressants will also be able to seek additional advice and support about their medication and healthy lifestyle changes from their local pharmacist.

Find the Think Pharmacy First campaign resources on the DHSC website here.

Report calls for action over decline in district nurses

In a new report, the Nuffield Trust calls for urgent action to address the state of the district nursing profession. While the demand for district nursing is rising to meet the government's plans to shift more care to the community, the Nuffield Trust found an estimated 1 in 4 district nurses are leaving the profession and there has been a decline in overall numbers since 2009. Findings included: 

• Falling numbers – between 2009 and 2024, the number of staff recorded in district nurse roles in NHS hospital and community services fell from 7,643 to 4,322. Put another way, for every five district nurses in 2009, there are now just three.
• Postcode lottery – the relative number of staff recorded in district nurse roles is significantly higher in the North West but lower in the East of England, the South East and the South West.

The Nuffield Trust report concludes: "Certainly, with rising demand for services, the government needs to act urgently to put in place a funded, sustainable strategy to deliver universal, high-quality district nursing services." The trust has set out key recommendations, covering the supply of new district nurses, skill mix, participation and retention, demand and workload management and integration and co-ordination. 

Find the full report on the Nuffield Trust website here.

Young voices shaping hospital care

Barts Health NHS Trust is celebrating 10 years since the creation of a youth forum which has given young people a voice in shaping hospital care. The Youth Empowerment Squad (YES) has welcomed more than 100 members since it began and now brings together 24 current members who meet monthly to share their views and help improve care. Over the years, they have worked with dozens of departments to make the Trust's hospitals more inclusive, accessible and youth-friendly. Actions and achievements have included the development of The Bridge Board Game to help teenagers move confidently into adult care and the creation of a COVID-19 leaflet that cut through confusion. Barts Health said their work has inspired wider improvements across the Trust, making information clearer, services more inclusive, and young people’s experiences central to how we design care.

Find out more about YES on the Barts Health website here.

Challenging racism, stigma and exclusion

Focus groups co-created by racialised sex workers are being held to challenge racism and anti-sex work discrimination across UK sectors. Over the past two years National Ugly Mugs (NUM) has worked with racialised sex workers to identify their barriers to access and safety across five key sectors: healthcare, housing, higher education, policing, and support services. The charity has also worked with policymakers and practitioners on its Racial Justice Project and is now bringing its recommendations and findings to the institutions that shape public life. Five feedback sessions have been organised, with the aim to transform how public services engage with racialised sex workers, challenge harmful narratives, and redress the cross-sector harms facing socially excluded communities. The event series is peer-designed and led by racialised sex workers. The feedback sessions are open to public sector professionals to co-develop tangible actions against racism, stigma and exclusion.
Find out more and register via the Eventbrite website here.