Seven days in medicine: 26 April to 2 May 2017
BMJ 2017; 357 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j2137 (Published 04 May 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;357:j2137General election
Labour pledges pay rise for NHS staff
The Labour Party pledged to give NHS staff a pay rise if it wins the UK general election on 8 June, as it seeks to put health at the forefront of its campaign. The party would also legislate for minimum staffing levels in NHS trusts to prevent finances taking precedence over patient safety and would reinstate student bursaries for nurses and midwives. Labour’s shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said that NHS staff had been “ignored, insulted, undervalued, overworked, and underpaid” by the Conservative government.
NHS must be an election priority, says BMA chair
The NHS needs the unrelenting focus of politicians and must not be sidelined by Brexit in the upcoming general election, said Mark Porter, the BMA’s chair of council. In its manifesto for the 8 June election the BMA also urged all political parties to commit to a long term funding solution for the NHS by increasing health spending from 9.8% to 10.4% of UK gross domestic product, bringing it into line with other leading EU economies.
Cancer
Cancer Drugs Fund does not “deliver value”
The Cancer Drugs Fund has not “delivered meaningful value” to patients with cancer and may have exposed them to “toxic side effects of drugs,” an analysis found. The fund was …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.