Sofia Lind
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Editor at pulsetoday.co.uk @pulsetoday covering all things general practice
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Articles by Sofia Lind
Semaglutide recommended by NICE to prevent myocardial infarction and stroke
More than a million patients who have had a myocardial infarction or stroke and are overweight will now be eligible for weight loss jabs on the NHS after a new NICE technology appraisal recommended their use. A weekly injection of the weight loss drug semaglutide (brand name Wegovy) can be offered to individuals who have had a myocardial infarction, a stroke or have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease if they also have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 kg/m².
14-åringene grillet Jens: – Beste på lenge!
14-åringene grillet Jens: – Beste på lenge! STORTINGET (Nettavisen): – Dette var det beste intervjuet jeg har hatt med Nettavisen på lenge! Jens Stoltenberg (Ap) smiler lurt til Sofia (14) og Pernille (14). De to ungdomsskoleelevene har nettopp intervjuet landets finansminister i Vandrehallen i Stortinget. Snakk om en gullkantet arbeidsuke! Mens landets politiske journalister har stått i mølje og stilt Stoltenberg de samme spørsmålene igjen og igjen, har Sofia og Pernille en annen plan.
14-åringene grillet Jens: - Beste på lenge!
STORTINGET (Nettavisen): – Dette var det beste intervjuet jeg har hatt med Nettavisen på lenge! Jens Stoltenberg (Ap) smiler lurt til Sofia (14) og Pernille (14). De to ungdomsskoleelevene har nettopp intervjuet landets finansminister i Vandrehallen i Stortinget. Snakk om en gullkantet arbeidsuke! Mens landets politiske journalister har stått i mølje og stilt Stoltenberg de samme spørsmålene igjen og igjen, har Sofia og Pernille en annen plan.
Cases of chikungunya almost triple in England among people travelling overseas
Public health officials are warning of an increase in cases of chikungunya in England after travellers caught the infection abroad. There have been 73 cases in the first six months of the year, the UK Health Security Agency said compared with 27 cases in the same period in 2024. It is the highest number of chikungunya cases ever seen in England and reflects ongoing outbreaks overseas.
Streeting’s letter is welcome - but not reason to stand down
Editor Sofia Lind on why GPC England should not abandon potential plans for new collective action just yet Earlier this week, health secretary Wes Streeting wrote to every GP in England to say the Government remains committed to the partnership model and to negotiating a new GP contract within this Parliament. It’s the first time he has said this directly since the 10-year Health Plan was published in July. That plan made no reference to a new GMS contract.
NHS talking therapies may be less effective in 16-24-year-olds
Talking therapies offered on the NHS for depression and anxiety appear to be less effective for teenagers and young adults, a study has found. Analysis of data from almost 310,000 patients aged 16-24 years who had an episode of treatment by the NHS Talking Therapies service found they were less likely to have improved or recovered compared with those aged 25 to 65.
Contact GP quickly with Lyme disease symptoms, public told
Public health officials are warning people to be mindful of tick bites this summer. UK Health Security Agency officials advised the public to be alert to the signs of Lyme disease – including the telltale bullseye rash – and to seek quick to seek help from the GP if needed. It comes as the latest annual data shows 1,581 laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2024.
Government to limit high-risk cosmetic procedures to be carried out by doctors only
The Government has said it will be cracking down on ‘cowboy’ cosmetic procedures with new rules over who will be able to carry them out. Only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest-risk procedures – such as non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts – and they must be working in providers that are registered with the Care Quality Commission.
Air pollution is ‘public health crisis’, doctors warn
The threat to health caused by air pollution is far greater than previously understood and requires urgent and ambitious action, the Royal College of Physicians has warned. Affecting almost every organ in the body, air pollution is a serious and avoidable health risk that could contribute to 30,000 deaths in 2025 alone, . It also costs the UK more than £27bn a year in terms of healthcare, productivity losses and reduced quality of life.
RSV vaccination should extend to over-80s, JCVI advises
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme in older adults should be expanded to include those over the age of 80 years, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended. It follows analysis that the introduction of RSV vaccination in 75-to-79-year-olds last September led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions among that age group.
NHS figures show further drop in spending on dependency-forming medicines
NHS data has shown a further fall in prescribing costs for dependency-forming medicines. A quarterly update from the NHS Business Services Authority showed that while there had been little change in the numbers of items prescribed, costs of the drugs, which include opioid pain medicine, benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids, fell by £2m in October to December 2024. The cost of dependency-forming medicines prescribed was £91.1m – a 2.6% decrease from the £93.5m reported for July to September 2024.
More than 2,200 GP practices affected by IT issue leading to missed cancer screenings
More than 2,200 GP practices had patients who had not been invited for screening due to an IT error related to incomplete registrations, a letter seen by Pulse has confirmed. A review by NHS England had found 5,261 people across the country had not been contacted to participate in one or more NHS screening programmes. The issue came to light after NHS England were contacted by a small number of people in the summer of 2024 due for screening who had not received an invite.
WHO issues warning as Europe sees 25-year spike in measles cases
Europe saw the highest number of measles cases in 25 years in 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. Across the region which includes 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, there were 127,350 cases of measles reported last year, double that seen in 2023. The rise is linked to a drop in immunisation coverage in many countries during Covid-19, which has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, officials said.
Primary care minister to address GPs at Pulse LIVE conference next week
Primary care minister Stephen Kinnock will address GPs at Pulse LIVE London next Wednesday (19 March). Mr Kinnock, who as the minister of state for care has general practice within his brief, will give a speech at the conference and also accept questions from the audience. The session will include questions on the impact of the new GP contract, which saw Mr Kinnock closely involved in negotiations with the BMA, and will be led by Pulse editor Sofia Lind.
Government urged to ‘resource and enable pharmacists’ as NHS England abolished
The Government has announced it will abolish NHS England in a bid to ‘strip out duplication’ with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The move is to set to reduce bureaucracy, make savings and empower NHS staff to deliver better care for patients, according to the DHSC.
Government promises frontline reinvestment as NHS England abolished
The Government has announced it will abolish NHS England in a bid to ‘strip out duplication’ with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The move is to set to reduce bureaucracy, make savings and empower NHS staff to deliver better care for patients, according to the DHSC.
ICBs asked to cut their workforce by 50%
ICBs have been asked to cut their workforce by 50%, which equates to around 12,500 staff across the health system. The news was revealed by chief financial officer at NHS England Julian Kelly at a hearing with the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this morning, and reflects targets for cuts to NHSE staff announced on Monday this week.
Some progress made on waiting lists and tests, NHS England announces
Figures out today show some progress has been made on NHS waiting times, most notably around patients referred for tests. In January patients waited an average of 17 days for tests and checks – 43 days less than at the height of the pandemic in May 2020, NHS England said, and the lowest level seen since then. Overall, 2.5 million checks were done in January, 5% higher than the same month last year, the data showed.
NICE approves daily pill for endometriosis where other treatments have failed
A daily pill has been approved by NICE for treating some women with endometriosis after initially being rejected. It is estimated around 1,000 patients a year will be able to access the treatment called relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone (also known as relugolix combination therapy or Ryeqo). The turnaround from NICE came after the company provided new evidence on the effectiveness and value for money of the treatment.
Government announces plan to abolish NHS England
The Government has announced it will abolish NHS England in a bid to ‘reduce duplication’ with the Department of Health. According to the announcement, NHS England ‘will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care’ to ‘put an end to the duplication resulting from two organisations doing the same job’. ‘By stripping back layers of red tape and bureaucracy, more resources will be put back into the front line rather than being spent on unnecessary admin,’ the Government said.
South and East Asian people living in the UK have different hypertension risk
UK research has uncovered clear differences in the development of hypertension between South Asian and East Asian adults. The findings from 3,400 adults enrolled in UK Biobank suggest South Asian and East Asian adults living in the country may have distinct trajectories to developing hypertension as well as outcomes.
Paramedics in GP surgeries may ease workload but not NHS costs, study finds
Paramedics working in primary care may help reduce GP workload but do not lead to cost savings for the NHS, a study has concluded. A two-year evaluation of 34 GP practices across England found that although paramedics could reduce GP workload, any savings to the NHS were offset by patients’ higher use of other healthcare professionals in the 30 days after the initial consultation.
Investigation into death related to epilepsy drugs shortages
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has opened an investigation into concerns raised around the death of a man who was unable to obtain his epilepsy medication from a pharmacy. It was ruled earlier this year that David Crompton died aged 44 following a fall in December 2024 that was made more likely by the absence of his epilepsy medication Tegretol (carbamazepine). He had instead been given an ‘IOU’ by the pharmacy for the missing medication.
GPs free to prescribe semaglutide as national supply issues resolve
GPs are free to prescribe semaglutide to all eligible patients in line with NICE guidelines after long-term shortages have been resolved. An updated medicines supply notice published this month said the supply of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) had now ‘largely improved’. It continued that all strengths and presentations of semaglutide and dulaglutide are now available.
Further 8% increase in ADHD prescribing in last quarter of 2024
Medicines for ADHD prescribed in general practice rose by 8% in the last quarter of 2024, the latest NHS figures show. Between October and December there were 870,000 prescription items for ADHD in England, showing a continuing upward trend. The number of identified patients prescribed the medicines also increased by 6.1% to 248,000 compared with the previous quarter, the figures from the NHS Business Services Authority show, with costs of the drugs increased by 7.9%.
Risk groups were less likely to have flu vaccination this year
Uptake of free flu vaccination fell this year for both older eligible people and younger high-risk groups, final reporting for the winter season shows. said 74.6% of those aged over 65 years had the vaccine by the end of January compared with 77.8% last year and 79.9% in 2022/23. For those under 65 years in a clinical risk group flu vaccine uptake was 39.7% down from 41.4% the previous year and 49.1% two years ago.
Treat male partners to tackle bacterial vaginosis in women, study suggests
Researchers have shown far better cure rates for bacterial vaginosis when the condition is treated as a sexually transmitted infection. A trial comparing antibiotic treatment for the condition for both sexual partners with the current standard care of treating the woman alone was stopped early after showing a stark difference in recurrence. In all, 164 women took part in the study all of whom were in a monogamous relationship with a male partner. In half of them both partners were treated.
NHSE assessing GP 'training gaps' on women's health
NHS England is actively assessing ‘workforce training gaps’ and ‘future clinical training needs’, the Government has said in response to calls for GPs to have more training in women’s reproductive health conditions. A report from the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) at the end of last year said too often women experienced ‘medical misogyny’ and not being listened to when presenting with symptoms.
NICE to reconsider Alzheimer’s drug rejection
NICE has launched a second consultation on its decision not to recommend new Alzheimer’s disease treatments on the NHS after considering additional evidence. Last year, NICE ruled that both lecanemab and donanemab should not be available on the NHS because they showed too little benefit to justify the significant additional cost to the NHS of providing and administering them.
Portfolio working can improve job satisfaction for GPs, study finds
Doctors who hold ‘portfolio careers’ said this leads to higher job satisfaction and improved mental heath, according to a study. The survey of 200 doctors, 84 of them GPs, found that more than half (52%) now have portfolio careers, meaning they hold hold one or more roles outside of a clinical medical contract, such as teaching, consultancy or research.
Wide variation in asymptomatic PSA testing between GP practices
Researchers have uncovered wide variation between GP practices in use of PSA testing in men who are asymptomatic for prostate cancer. A study designed to look at how many men without symptoms were diagnosed with prostate cancer after having a test found a 13-fold variation between practices in how frequently testing was done.
RSV vaccine sees drop in hospitalisation of older people
A new study has found a major drop in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related hospitalisations following vaccination among eligible age groups in Scotland. RSV vaccination for older people and pregnant women was brought in across all UK nations from September last year following a recommendation from public health regulators, with GPs tasked to target over-75s.
Fewer than one in five type 2 diabetes patients prescribed best treatment, finds new tool
A prediction tool to help guide GPs when choosing treatments for type 2 diabetes could improve blood glucose control and the need to switch drugs, researchers have found. UK researchers developed the model based on routinely collected clinical information to assess the best treatment option after metformin.
GP-based chickenpox vaccination programme could be launched next January
A chickenpox vaccination programme could be introduced next year as part of the new GP contract. NHS England said the ‘potential’ introduction of a varicella vaccine could be launched in January 2026, subject to ‘final ministerial agreement’. And it would be given as part of the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. The BMA announced it had agreed ‘in principle’ to a 2025/26 GP contract deal last week.
Primary care hubs proponent confirmed as NHS England chair
Health secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed the appointment of Dr Penny Dash as the new NHS England chair. She is currently chair of North West London ICB, which came under fire last year after Pulse revealed its plans to effectively mandate the use of same-day hubs by introducing them to the ‘single offer’ of enhanced services for GP practices. Her appointment had been subject to scrutiny by the Health and Social Care Committee, which took place last week.
Streeting passes first GP test but the next few months will be pivotal
Pulse editor Sofia Lind on why the new Labour Government’s successful first GP contract negotiation is merely a promising start Credit where credit is due. It has been four years since the BMA’s GP Committee last agreed to a proposed contract deal from the Government.
GPs agree new contract deal with £889m uplift
GPs in England have agreed new funding arrangements with the government for the next financial year that will see them receive a £889m uplift in core funding, as well as £80m in additional service fees for asking hospital teams for advice and guidance. The new contract will also see GPs and practice nurses included within the main Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), and the removal of the cap on the number of GPs that can be employed through ARRS.
Dr Amanda Doyle: 'Extensive talks were held to find a fair GP contract deal'
NHS England’s national director for primary care Dr Amanda Doyle hails the first negotiated – rather than imposed – GP contract deal in years. This is the first time in four years that the GP contract has been accepted as proposed and I hope it will be seen as positive for practices, primary care networks and patients when introduced in April.
GP contract deal to see almost £800m invested into global sum
The BMA has agreed a deal ‘in principle’ for the 2025/26 GP contract that will see almost £800m invested into the global sum.
Streeting heralds ‘new relationship’ between NHS England and DHSC
Health secretary Wes Streeting has said there must be a ‘new relationship’ between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, following the resignation of chief executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard.
Lords vote to exempt GP practices from National Insurance rise
The House of Lords has voted to exempt GP practices from having to pay increased National Insurance contributions (NICs) from April. The amendment to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill says that specified employers, including those contracted to provide NHS GP services, should only need to contribute 13.8%. This would freeze their contribution at the amount previously paid in employer NICs rather than the rise to 15% announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
GP practices face £70k bill to fund national minimum wage changes
GP practices will need to find an average of £70,000 each to cover the costs of upcoming changes to the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance, the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) has said. A UK-wide survey by the IGPM estimates the total financial impact on practices at £550m – a figure the organisation described as ‘significantly higher than previous estimates suggested’.
'Sustained effort' required to bring child vaccination rates to 95% target
Getting child vaccination rates up to the 95% target will require ‘sustained effort’, UK public health officials warned after annual figures showed decline across all measures. Vaccine coverage fell across all 14 uptake measures last year, a report on childhood immunisation for 2023/24 said. And no vaccine met the 95% target set by the World Health Organisation. The last vaccine to hit that measure was the 5-in-1 jab by the age of five in 2020/21, the NHS report noted.
Multiple Covid jabs may not be enough for immunocompromised, study finds
Covid vaccinations may not be enough to protect immunocompromised people from infection even when they have generated antibodies, researchers have found. It will mean regular boosters for the vulnerable groups to reduce the risk of severe infection, the team from Cambridge University concluded.
Adults with depression accrue long-term physical conditions at a faster rate
Adults with a history of depression accumulate long-term physical conditions at a faster rate than those without, Scottish researchers have found. An analysis of data from more than 170,000 UK adults aged 40 to 71 years showed that those with depression gained additional long-term illnesses around 30% faster.
HIV prevention programme extended to help end transmissions by 2030
The Government has announced it will spend extra £1.5m to help meet its target of ending HIV transmissions in England by 2030. The money will be spent on more than 20,000 self-testing and self-sampling kits, and on extending the national HIV prevention programme by a year. The goal will be to increase testing, reduce stigma, tackle health disparities and raise awareness, the Government said.
GP receptionists need more training and support to do clinical triage, finds study
GP receptionists require specialised training and support for carrying out the clinical tasks now expected of them if primary care is to stem the ‘unprecedented numbers leaving the role’, a study has said. Amid growing pressure on GP services, receptionists are increasingly targeted for abuse as they are required to take on clinical tasks, such as prioritising patients for appointments, without receiving proper support, the BGJP study published this week has said.
GPs need to be aware of LES risks, BMA warns after coroner ruling
Exclusive GP practices need to carefully consider the risks of taking on specialist locally enhanced services (LES), after a coroner warned a practice had not followed national guidance, the BMA has said. The union’s GP committee has advised GPs to reconsider providing compression bandaging through LES arrangements after a coroner singled out a practice for criticism, following the death of a 58-year-old woman from sepsis.
Patients put off seeking healthcare due to NHS admin ‘doom loop’
Patients are put off seeking healthcare due to ‘dysfunctional’ NHS admin that traps them in a ‘doom loop’ and puts safety at risk, patient groups and healthcare think tanks have warned. Research from the King’s Fund, National Voices and Healthwatch England shows that letters arriving after appointments, lack of update on waiting times and having to chase test results, are all commonplace problems that affect large numbers of patients.
Heart attack and stroke risk higher with certain hormonal contraceptives
Some hormonal contraceptives are associated with a small but significant increased risk of stroke and heart attack, according to a large and detailed study from Denmark. The analysis was based on national prescription records for more than two million Danish women between 1996 and 2021. It showed that ‘contemporary’ oestrogen-progestin and progestin-only contraceptives were associated with an increased risk of arterial thrombotic events.
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