The Lowdown
@thelowdownnhs.bsky.social
Independent healthcare and NHS news, analysis and comment appearing bi-weekly at https://lowdownnhs.info/
Backed by the NHS Support Federation, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning to protect our NHS https://nhscampaign.org/
Backed by the NHS Support Federation, a not-for-profit organisation campaigning to protect our NHS https://nhscampaign.org/
Pinned
The Lowdown
@thelowdownnhs.bsky.social
· Jan 23
Keep up to date with the latest healthcare and NHS news, analysis and comment by signing up to our free, bi-weekly digital newspaper: lowdownnhs.info/about
Reposted by The Lowdown
Really good article, primarily re medical recruitment and selection. Well worth a read.
NHS workforce plans in chaos amid vacancies and unemployed professionals - by John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
NHS workforce plans in chaos amid vacancies and unemployed professionals - The Lowdown
Resident doctors’ strikes are happening for reasons beyond pay. While Wes Streeting says there can be no better than a 2.5% pay rise in 2026—below inflation—this weakens the idea that ministers want t...
lowdownnhs.info
November 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Really good article, primarily re medical recruitment and selection. Well worth a read.
NHS still failing to prioritise most serious emergency patients - John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/emergency-ca...
lowdownnhs.info/emergency-ca...
NHS still failing to prioritise most serious emergency patients - The Lowdown
Last month a report from Age UK, ‘The Longest Wait,’ highlighted the extraordinary growth of delays in treatment for older patients requiring emergency admission to hospital. Its summary makes shockin...
lowdownnhs.info
November 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
NHS still failing to prioritise most serious emergency patients - John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/emergency-ca...
lowdownnhs.info/emergency-ca...
NHS workforce plans in chaos amid vacancies and unemployed professionals - by John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
NHS workforce plans in chaos amid vacancies and unemployed professionals - The Lowdown
Resident doctors’ strikes are happening for reasons beyond pay. While Wes Streeting says there can be no better than a 2.5% pay rise in 2026—below inflation—this weakens the idea that ministers want t...
lowdownnhs.info
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
NHS workforce plans in chaos amid vacancies and unemployed professionals - by John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
lowdownnhs.info/news/nhs-wor...
Reposted by The Lowdown
"It is a strong motivator for me to get people to show solidarity and empower them through that."
BMA council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social sat down with The Doctor Magazine for an interview about his aims in the role.
Read it here thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/lif...
BMA council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social sat down with The Doctor Magazine for an interview about his aims in the role.
Read it here thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/lif...
Giving a voice
Ever since he was at school, Tom Dolphin has believed in helping people stand up for themselves. Elected BMA council chair in the summer, he tells Peter Blackburn of his plans, including new powers at...
thedoctor.bma.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
"It is a strong motivator for me to get people to show solidarity and empower them through that."
BMA council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social sat down with The Doctor Magazine for an interview about his aims in the role.
Read it here thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/lif...
BMA council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social sat down with The Doctor Magazine for an interview about his aims in the role.
Read it here thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/lif...
Reposted by The Lowdown
Absolutely right.
And Starmer and Streeting are stepping up the privatisation of the NHS, which means boosting the stranglehold of private health companies, many of which are ultimately US-based.
Who gave Labour permission to do this?
Because it wasn’t voters.
And Starmer and Streeting are stepping up the privatisation of the NHS, which means boosting the stranglehold of private health companies, many of which are ultimately US-based.
Who gave Labour permission to do this?
Because it wasn’t voters.
Both are under attack by corporate America.
Not necessarily by Politicians per se but they’re the proxy soldiers for corporations
Not necessarily by Politicians per se but they’re the proxy soldiers for corporations
November 11, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Absolutely right.
And Starmer and Streeting are stepping up the privatisation of the NHS, which means boosting the stranglehold of private health companies, many of which are ultimately US-based.
Who gave Labour permission to do this?
Because it wasn’t voters.
And Starmer and Streeting are stepping up the privatisation of the NHS, which means boosting the stranglehold of private health companies, many of which are ultimately US-based.
Who gave Labour permission to do this?
Because it wasn’t voters.
Backlog maintenance bills are dragging down our NHS, new figures show - John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/comment/back...
lowdownnhs.info/comment/back...
Backlog maintenance bills are dragging down our NHS – new figures show - The Lowdown
The backlog maintenance bill for England’s NHS has soared yet again to a new high of almost £16 billion, a staggering increase of 166% from the £6 billion estimated figure when The Lowdown first start...
lowdownnhs.info
November 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Backlog maintenance bills are dragging down our NHS, new figures show - John Lister
lowdownnhs.info/comment/back...
lowdownnhs.info/comment/back...
Reposted by The Lowdown
Burning wood or coal may feel “natural,” but it causes slow, silent harm - fine particles that damage hearts and lungs, killing thousands yearly.
#AirPollution #Health #WoodBurning
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
#AirPollution #Health #WoodBurning
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Domestic wood burners kill thousands and cost NHS millions a year, report suggests
Burning of wood and coal in homes contributes to almost 2500 deaths a year, and stopping unnecessary burning would save the NHS millions of pounds, a report suggests.
An analysis by the charity Globa...
www.bmj.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Burning wood or coal may feel “natural,” but it causes slow, silent harm - fine particles that damage hearts and lungs, killing thousands yearly.
#AirPollution #Health #WoodBurning
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
#AirPollution #Health #WoodBurning
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Patients unable to leave hospital cost the NHS an estimated £2bn a year
lowdownnhs.info/hospitals/pa...
lowdownnhs.info/hospitals/pa...
Patients unable to leave hospital cost the NHS £2bn a year - The Lowdown
For the first time, NHS England has put a price tag on the financial burden of delayed hospital discharges, revealing a staggering £220 million cost in September 2025. This figure comes as the health ...
lowdownnhs.info
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Patients unable to leave hospital cost the NHS an estimated £2bn a year
lowdownnhs.info/hospitals/pa...
lowdownnhs.info/hospitals/pa...
Reposted by The Lowdown
150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Nearly 150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year
Older people left in their own excrement and wet beds for hours and forced to watch others die, Age UK report finds
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Reposted by The Lowdown
Almost 100% of children in 73 neighbourhoods in England are living in income-deprived families.
Govts push real wage/benefit cuts, two-child benefit cap; oppose universal basic income; don't curb profiteering.
No govt targets to cut poverty.
1% has more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Govts push real wage/benefit cuts, two-child benefit cap; oppose universal basic income; don't curb profiteering.
No govt targets to cut poverty.
1% has more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Almost all children in 73 areas of England live in low-income households
New official measures show levelling up attempts have failed to shift high levels of deprivation
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Almost 100% of children in 73 neighbourhoods in England are living in income-deprived families.
Govts push real wage/benefit cuts, two-child benefit cap; oppose universal basic income; don't curb profiteering.
No govt targets to cut poverty.
1% has more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Govts push real wage/benefit cuts, two-child benefit cap; oppose universal basic income; don't curb profiteering.
No govt targets to cut poverty.
1% has more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Reposted by The Lowdown
Shocking news today from the RCN. Racism has no place in our society, or in our NHS.
We're holding an important event in London next month addressing this very issue.
Find out more & get tickets:
bit.ly/MigrantsNotT...
We're holding an important event in London next month addressing this very issue.
Find out more & get tickets:
bit.ly/MigrantsNotT...
October 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Shocking news today from the RCN. Racism has no place in our society, or in our NHS.
We're holding an important event in London next month addressing this very issue.
Find out more & get tickets:
bit.ly/MigrantsNotT...
We're holding an important event in London next month addressing this very issue.
Find out more & get tickets:
bit.ly/MigrantsNotT...
Reposted by The Lowdown
Programme to address the overuse of medications gets cut due to a lack of funding, just as NHS medicine costs appear set to rise sharply
buff.ly/Sp0Wodi
@helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social @ldhealthandcare.org @marisharay.bsky.social @nhsfed.bsky.social @libdemdaisy.bsky.social @nhsenglandceo.bsky.social
buff.ly/Sp0Wodi
@helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social @ldhealthandcare.org @marisharay.bsky.social @nhsfed.bsky.social @libdemdaisy.bsky.social @nhsenglandceo.bsky.social
Programme to address the overuse of medications gets cut - The Lowdown
A programme that successfully reduced NHS medicine costs and improved patient safety has been forced to close due to a lack of funding, just as NHS medicine costs appear set to rise sharply. The…
buff.ly
October 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Programme to address the overuse of medications gets cut due to a lack of funding, just as NHS medicine costs appear set to rise sharply
buff.ly/Sp0Wodi
@helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social @ldhealthandcare.org @marisharay.bsky.social @nhsfed.bsky.social @libdemdaisy.bsky.social @nhsenglandceo.bsky.social
buff.ly/Sp0Wodi
@helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social @ldhealthandcare.org @marisharay.bsky.social @nhsfed.bsky.social @libdemdaisy.bsky.social @nhsenglandceo.bsky.social
Reposted by The Lowdown
Quarter of practices face 'unsustainable' demand following online access change, LMC warns
Quarter of practices face 'unsustainable' demand following online access change, LMC warns
Almost a quarter of GP practices have warned they are facing unsustainable demand following changes to online access introduced this month, an LMC survey has revealed.
www.gponline.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Quarter of practices face 'unsustainable' demand following online access change, LMC warns
Reposted by The Lowdown
How private equity works and why we need to be concerned for the NHS - an explainer
www.nhsforsale.info/private-equi...
www.nhsforsale.info/private-equi...
Private equity and the NHS: how does it work, and what could be the impact? - NHS for Sale
Private equity is the very worst of capitalism. It has no long-term interest in companies, their employees, clients or the communities where they are based. Private equity operates only to ... <a titl...
www.nhsforsale.info
October 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
How private equity works and why we need to be concerned for the NHS - an explainer
www.nhsforsale.info/private-equi...
www.nhsforsale.info/private-equi...
Reposted by The Lowdown
Private equity takeover of US hospitals led to rise in patient deaths.
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Private equity takeover of hospitals led to rise in Medicare emergency patient deaths, says study
Study found seven more deaths per 10,000 patients in private equity hospitals’ versus non-private equity hospitals
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Private equity takeover of US hospitals led to rise in patient deaths.
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Cuts to staffing/investment; high debt, profiteering; worse patient outcomes.
More deaths in nursing homes, increased post-operative complications
Why is UK Govt handing the NHS to PE? Why no investigation of the impact of PE?
Private equity – “decimated” US hospitals according to report – now targeting the NHS
lowdownnhs.info/private-prov...
lowdownnhs.info/private-prov...
Private equity - "decimated" US hospitals according to report - now targeting the NHS - The Lowdown
In late August the release of a report by US senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn) on the destruction of hospitals in his home state of Connecticut, and across the US by private equity companies highlights on...
lowdownnhs.info
October 15, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Private equity – “decimated” US hospitals according to report – now targeting the NHS
lowdownnhs.info/private-prov...
lowdownnhs.info/private-prov...
Reposted by The Lowdown
