Co-Chair of Curia‘s NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission, Lord James O’Shaughnessy has published his review of the UK commercial clinical trial landscape.

The anticipated review was commissioned by the Government to find recommendations on how to resolve key challenges in conducting commercial clinical trials in the UK and transform the life sciences environment encourage and attract clinical research.

Following the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)’s report on dramatically falling trials and clinical research, the review is greatly welcomed by many across the health and life science sectors.

The review sets out 27 recommendations, including both priority actions to progress in 2023 and longer-term ambitions for UK commercial clinical trials.

Recommendations welcomed by the Government

The Government have responded to the review, welcoming all recommendations and has already issued plans into action.

In a bid to invigorate the economy and foster the development of cutting-edge treatments, the UK government has unveiled plans to provide better access to the National Health Service (NHS) for pharmaceutical giants.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has pledged a significant £650 million package to boost the life sciences sector and attract drug companies to Britain. The government aims to reverse the decline in clinical testing and research caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, offering financial incentives to General Practitioners (GPs) and setting research targets for hospitals.

Health Secretary, Steve Barclay has pledged to accept recommendations that will ultimately benefit patients, ensuring their well-being remains a priority.

Reviving clinical trials

Recognising the significance of the £94 billion life sciences industry as a driver of economic growth, the government seems to have acknowledged the challenges posed by bureaucracy, inertia, and cultural resistance in an overstretched NHS.

The number of patients enrolled in industry trials plummeted from 50,000 in 2018 to 28,000 in 2022.

One of the key recommendations put forth by Lord O’Shaughnessy is the quadrupling of patients in trials by 2027. Chancellor Hunt expressed his full support for this ambitious goal, emphasising the importance of allowing life science companies to trial their drugs on human subjects as part of their research and development process.

Streamlining processes

To expedite regulatory approval for trials and eliminate backlogs at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government has pledged £121 million.

Hunt has also promised pharmaceutical companies a simplified process, stating that the NHS will adopt a “one-contract-fits-all” approach, allowing companies to sign a contract with one hospital and have it apply across all hospitals in the NHS.

The aim is to replicate the successful clinical trials conducted during the pandemic, which led to the development of vaccines and treatments like dexamethasone, contributing significantly to saving lives.

Collaboration with industry leaders

Chancellor Hunt met with prominent pharmaceutical company leaders, including Dame Emma Walmsley, the CEO of GSK, the UK’s largest drug maker. Walmsley emphasised the urgent need for greater access to NHS data and warned that the life sciences industry is at a “tipping point.” The government’s response to these concerns will be crucial in ensuring the sector’s growth and success.

Financial incentives and targets

Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review highlights the substantial revenue losses of around £500 million incurred by the NHS due to the decline in medical research. The review recommends the implementation of annual targets at all levels, offering financial incentives to GPs to participate in commercial trials. Additionally, hospitals participating in trials would retain a larger portion of the funds received from pharmaceutical companies, while patients would find it easier to share their medical records for research purposes.

Unlocking potential and future plans

The government plans to address research needs by consulting on changes to planning policy, urging local councils to prioritise these requirements. The Chancellor intends to “unlock the possibility” of constructing hundreds of thousands of new homes and science parks between Oxford and Cambridge by approving a rail link, thereby revitalising the renowned “Oxford-Cambridge arc” of high-tech development.

Experts’ opinions and promises

The recommendations of the review have been commented on and accepted by many across the health and life science sector.

Dame Kate Bingham, former head of the coronavirus vaccine taskforce, advocates for offering every patient diagnosed with a disease lacking effective treatment the opportunity to participate in trials. Dr. Ian Walker of Cancer Research UK acknowledges the strain on cancer services, with staff struggling to allocate sufficient time to deliver promising clinical trials. Both have supported the needed boost to clinical trials and the research infrastructure.

Colleague and Co-Chair of the NHS Innovation & Life Sciences Commission, Professor Mike Bewick commented: “It is encouraging to see the positive outcomes of Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review of clinical trials in the UK.

“As we reported in our own health commission published in 2022, it is imperative that UK research is actively promoted and supported, and access to clinical trials becomes widespread across the NHS.”

Final thought

The publication of Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review has sparked a positive response from the UK government, which has swiftly taken action to implement the important recommendations aimed at boosting clinical trials.

The implementation of Lord O’Shaughnessy’s recommendations signals a positive step toward revitalizing the UK’s clinical trials landscape. By providing a conducive environment for research and collaboration, the government aims to transform the life sciences sector, drive economic growth, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

NHS Innovation & Life Sciences Commission

Lord O’Shaughnessy and Professor Bewick led the NHS Innovation & Life Sciences Commission’s 2022 programme, including practical recommendations to boost UK clinical trials. This year, the Commission is holding a series of regional workshops to appraise those recommendations and develop new inquiries into key therapeutic areas.

For further information about the Commission, contact Senior Research and Policy Analyst: harry.blacklock@politicsuk.com

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform the NHS in England, with a focus on cutting heart disease, cancer, and suicide deaths. In a speech delivered at an ambulance station in Essex, Sir Keir emphasised that tackling these three major causes of mortality would be central to Labour’s mission for the NHS.

Sir Keir accused the government of bringing the NHS “to its knees” and expressed doubts about its ability to sustain the health service for another five years. Looking ahead to the upcoming general election, Labour’s leader stated that the future of the NHS was “on the line.”

As part of Labour’s vision to build an NHS fit for the future, the party has set ambitious targets to reduce deaths from cancer and suicide within five years, and to decrease heart disease fatalities by 25% over the next decade. To achieve these goals, Labour’s proposed reforms would focus on expanding community care, increasing the number of health workers through training programs, and enabling GP bookings through the NHS app.

Labour’s plan to reduce waiting times and implement their broader reforms hinges on two critical factors: staffing and funding. NHS Confederation has identified a funding gap of £6-7 billion for the health service in England in the next fiscal year. Sir Keir indicated that Labour would finance the recruitment of additional health workers by ending certain tax breaks, including the non-dom status. He stressed that while funding was important, change and reform were equally crucial.

Three key shifts for the NHS

In his speech, Sir Keir outlined three key shifts in approach for the NHS: promoting digital methods, emphasising community care, and prioritising preventive measures. He highlighted the underutilised potential of digital healthcare, citing the 33 million downloads of the NHS app during the Covid-19 pandemic. Labour plans to transform the app into a comprehensive platform for GP appointment bookings, prescription orders, age-related check-up alerts, and access to patient records.

To alleviate pressure on hospitals and enhance patient care, Labour intends to expand the NHS workforce. Their proposal includes training 700 additional nurses annually, recruiting 5,000 more health visitors, and increasing the number of mental health staff. Sir Keir’s speech echoed the party’s commitment to providing people with greater choice in selecting their hospital treatment.

Labour’s emphasis on suicide prevention comes in response to alarming statistics. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), over 5,500 deaths were registered as suicides in England and Wales in 2021, with a significant increase observed among women under the age of 24. Sir Keir acknowledged the haunting nature of these figures and pledged to make reducing suicide rates among young people a top priority.

In addition to targeting heart disease and cancer, Labour also aims to meet existing NHS targets, such as ensuring that 85% of cancer patients start treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral. This target has not been met since 2015. Sir Keir committed his party to achieving these goals within the first term of a Labour government.

The Government’s response

While proposals to address waiting times, enhance community care, and leverage technology have been raised by multiple parties over the past decade, Labour’s comprehensive plan sets it apart. The Conservative government’s Health Minister, Will Quince, criticised Labour’s proposals, citing the failure to meet similar targets in Wales, where Labour has governed for the past 25 years. However, Sir Keir dismissed such claims and reiterated his determination to deliver on Labour’s commitments.

Final thought

With the NHS facing significant challenges, Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of Labour’s reform plan signals the party’s ambition to prioritise healthcare and address the pressing issues of heart disease, cancer, and suicide. As the general election approaches, the future of the NHS hangs in the balance as both parties will look to make health and social care a priority in their campaigns.

With economic growth stagnating and inflation at record levels, the restrictions on funds and investment will be a key question poised to Sir Keir following the fallout of today’s annoucement.

NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission

Establishing integration within health and social care, improving economic output in life sciences and tackling health inequalities is the key mission of Curia‘s NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission.

For further information about the Commission’s work, including the exciting dementia programme, see here.

A leading charity has found that a third of Britons who have concerns about whether they, or a loved one, might have dementia wait over a month to discuss their worries with others, even though early diagnosis plays a crucial role in receiving treatment, support, and planning.

The World Health Organisation estimates that there are over 55 million individuals living with dementia worldwide, and it is believed that 60-70 percent of these cases can be attributed to Alzheimer’s disease.

33 % of respondents took more than a month to discuss symptoms

A nationally representative online survey conducted by the Alzheimer’s Society, involving 1,137 adults in Great Britain, revealed that 33 percent of respondents took more than a month to discuss either their own symptoms or those of a loved one with others, with 15 percent of participants mentioning these symptoms right away.

When asked if they were worried that they or their loved one might be spoken down to or treated like a child following a diagnosis, 44 percent of the respondents expressed concerns.

Among those who hesitated to discuss their symptoms with others, 64% said they thought their experiences were a result of natural ageing, while a third said they had postponed discussions to prevent worrying others and 16 percent said they were concerned about the potential impact on their relationships.

The survey, carried out from March 30 to April 4, was completed by individuals who either had suspected or diagnosed dementia themselves or had a loved one with the condition. Additionally, the survey revealed that almost a quarter of the respondents waited over six months before seeking advice from a medical professional.

Early diagnosis of dementia could play a significant role

“Our research shows that one in three are waiting over a month to raise symptoms of dementia issues because of fear and confusion,” said Paul Reynolds of the Alzheimer’s Society.

“One person develops dementia every three minutes [in the UK]. So that means by 2040, nearly 1.6 million people will be living with the condition,” Reynolds added. “And our health and social care system relies on an early and accurate diagnosis so we can at least treat and support people in the best way.”

Reynolds also suggested early diagnoses could play a significant role in uncovering the scale of dementia.

‘It’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill’

The charity’s campaign – ‘It’s not called getting old, it’s called getting ill’ – encourages people across the country to seek support in getting a diagnosis and raises awareness of dementia symptoms with its online ‘symptoms checklist’.

New drugs could slow cognitive decline among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease

These findings follow the recent discovery of two drugs, both antibody therapies, that have shown promise in slowing cognitive decline among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

While lecanemab was found to reduce cognitive decline by 27% over an 18-month period in those in the early stages of the disease, donanemab slowed down the progression of the condition by 36% over the same duration.

Experts warn it is not yet clear how big a difference the drugs will make to patients

Despite excitement over the drugs –  which are expected to herald a new era in the management of Alzheimer’s – experts have warned it is not yet clear how big a difference the drugs will make to patients. Furthermore, the cost and potential side effects of these drugs may also present obstacles to their use. 

Lecanemab and aducanumab have been approved in the US

Prof Tara Spires-Jones, deputy director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, group leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute and president of the British Neuroscience Association, said that while there are currently no cures for the diseases that cause dementia, both lecanemab and aducanumab have been approved in the US.

“These are not yet available in the UK but there are ongoing scientific studies here for better and safer treatments and ways to detect dementia in the early stages,” she said, adding individuals can help through initiatives such as Join Dementia Research.

Spires-Jones further commented that the results from the Alzheimer’s Society could suggest people still fear a stigma associated with dementia.

“But the science is clear – dementias are caused by diseases like Alzheimer’s and the earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances that emerging treatments will help,” she said.

Final thought

With over 55 million individuals living with dementia worldwide, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness and stop the stigma surrounding the disease. People need to feel comfortable to consult with a medical professional about their symptoms and concerns. This will not only put their mind at ease but impact the future development of social care. 

Lecanemab and donanemab are shown to work better in people who are diagnosed earlier. The US has already given the drugs the green light, and with more awareness and studies, we may be able to offer safe treatments.

NHS Innovation & Life Sciences Commission

Curia’s Dementia Commission is uniquely bringing national, regional and local leaders together to implement a plan to set out a plan to improve the life chances of all people living with dementia. Our commissioners will help the Curia research team produce solutions to improve implementation. Case studies on dementia and good examples of best practice will feature at a series of inquiry sessions and in the final report.

Three roundtable inquiries will create a vision for what the environment needs to look like to support people with neurodegenerative conditions, namely dementia and be ready for future treatment pathways. The roundtables will produce recommendations for how outcomes can be improved. Stakeholders will include clinical leads, commissioners and regulators including NICE, NHS England and patient organisations. Each roundtable will have a remit to look at how pre-existing policy can be implemented, identifying where gaps exist in the policy landscape and setting a series of recommendations to explore the improvement in the system for patients with a neurodegenerative condition.

Curia will publish the findings at a Parliamentary launch alongside the reports from roundtables to ensure maximum engagement.

To sign up to our first inquiry session on Monday 22nd May 13:00-15:00, see below:

Users of Worcester Community Trust’s community hubs are being asked for their views on plans to enhance and improve the sites.

Worcester Community Trust is a registered charity that runs six community hubs and architects have now been appointed to design several new skills and training spaces within some of those hubs with the aim of encouraging residents to access training opportunities within their local areas.

The project is being funded by Worcester City Council as part of its Towns Fund allocation. Worcester was awarded £19.6million from the Government’s Towns Fund which is helping to pay for several projects around the city that aim to deliver long-term economic and productivity growth, and support recovery from Covid.

Of that £19.6 million, £1.79million has been allotted towards improving Community Skills and Enterprise in the city, with £1.6million of that money being invested in Worcester Community Trust buildings.

This £1.6m funding will be used for the development of a new construction skills training centre, “Building Block II ” at The Green Hub in Dines Green as well as planned improvements at other hubs.

The charity’s aim is to provide training opportunities to residents within their local communities, focusing on areas where people may not have mainstream qualifications. Courses planned range from IT skills and customer services to training in construction skills including bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and green tech trades such as solar and heat pump installation engineers.

As part of the same project, a £150,000 grant has been awarded to St Peter’s Village Hall Association to support construction of a new village hall that will include space for training courses for the local community, and a £50,000 grant has been awarded to the Fairfield Centre in Warndon, which is expanding its capacity to deliver hair and beauty skills training.

Helen Davis, Director of Skills & Training at Worcester Community Trust said “It is fantastic to be entering into the design phase for this project as we start to get a real feel for the impact this is going to have within the local community.

“We will shortly be holding online and face-to-face consultations with members of the public and Worcester Community Trust clients, to get their feedback on what barriers they are currently experiencing when trying to access skills & training opportunities. This will all be fed back into the designs, to ensure that the new spaces really work for members of our local community and support them in gaining new skills that will have a positive impact on their lives and families.” 

Affordable homes for refugees Oxford City Council is set to deliver a £2.3m programme providing affordable homes as part of a government scheme supporting Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. Next week, cabinet is expected to pave the way for the purchase of six properties by agreeing to join the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), a move that will unlock up to £1,108,620 in grant funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Together with £1,221,700 in match funding from the housing revenue account (HRA), this will allow the council to buy five two-bed or three-bed homes for Ukrainian families and one home with four or more bedrooms for an Afghan family from a bridging hotel. All six will be council homes let at social rent.

The LAHF aims to support areas with housing pressures that have welcomed substantial numbers of refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. There are around 400 people living in Oxford as part of the Homes For Ukraine scheme alone and the council has also supported 47 families under national resettlement schemes, including Syria and Afghanistan. LAHF funding will help reduce pressure on a local housing market which is among the least affordable in the UK. It will also mitigate any impact on council services as existing sponsorship, family placement and bridging arrangements come to an end. As they will be council homes, purchase of the six properties will represent a long term investment for the council as well as helping it meet its goal of providing more affordable housing. The DLUHC has already agreed in principle to support purchase of the six homes. It will provide LAHF funding provided they have been bought or are sold subject to contract by November 2023.

Councillor Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing, said: “Oxford is a proud city of sanctuary and we’re committed to doing what we can to support refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. This scheme represents a good deal for the council, as government support plus our match funding will allow us to provide settled, affordable council homes for six families. The first tenancies will be awarded to refugee families. In the long term, once the initial tenancies end, the homes will become regular council homes available for us to let to people on our general needs housing register.”

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, is currently on a four-day trip to Ireland where he will spend time in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. After arriving in Belfast last night, Biden has been at Ulster University today to make a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The agreement was signed in 1998 after decades of conflict between the two halves of Ireland which resulted in over 3,500 deaths. The White House hailed the “tremendous progress” that has been made in the region over the past 25 years, however, Biden’s trip does coincide with a new political conflict that is brewing in Northern Ireland. The nation’s government collapsed last when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrew as part of its protest against post-Brexit trade rules. At Ulster University today, Biden met with Rishi Sunak before delivering a speech in front of all of the major political parties in Northern Ireland.

Times have changed

Biden started off his speech by thanking the leaders in Northern Ireland for the welcome he has received since being in the country. He went on to say how much the country has changed since his last visit in 1991.

Biden said that back then “you couldn’t have a glass building here” in reference to the modern Ulster University campus, due to the troubles in the region throughout the 1990s. However, he acknowledges that times have now changed and said that “dividends of peace are all around us.”

Hailing the Good Friday Agreement

Given the reason for his trip to Northern Ireland, it was expected that the Good Friday Agreement would get a mention in his speech. Speaking about the peace deal, Biden said that reaching an agreement at the time was “not inevitable” due to the destruction that preceded it. He said:

“Thousands of families had been affected by the Troubles – the losses are real and the pain was personal. Every person killed in the Troubles left an empty dining room table.”

Biden went on to pay tribute to the leaders of the time who never gave up in their pursuit of peace, saying that we should “never forget” their determination. He added that “there was no guarantee” that the deal would be a success but that the leaders of the time “kept going because they never stopped believing that success was inevitable.”

The importance of the agreement in the US

The President also touched on the fact that the Good Friday Agreement is important to Americans on both sides of the political spectrum. Speaking directly to the audience members in Ulster, Biden said:

“I want you to know that there is a large population that is invested in what happens here, that cares a great deal about what happens here. Protecting the peace and the Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans in the United States – and that is today.

This is something that brings Washington together – it brings America together. Your history is our history, but more importantly, your future is America’s future.”

A plea to the nation’s leaders

Biden also made a point of urging Northern Ireland’s biggest political parties to unite once again so they can return to power-sharing in Stormont. However, he did concede that it was ultimately a decision that the DUP would have to make themselves. The President added:

“As a friend, I hope it’s not too presumptuous for me to say that I believe democratic institutions established through the Good Friday Agreement remain critical to the future of Northern Ireland. I hope the Assembly the Executive will soon be restored.”

The biggest stumbling block for a return to power-sharing in Stormont is the post-Brexit trade deal in Northern Ireland. In a message of support to Rishi Sunak, Biden backed the Prime Minister’s proposed Windsor Framework, saying:

“I know the UK’s departure from the European Union created complex challenges here in Northern Ireland and I encourage the leaders of the UK and the EU to address the issues in a way that serves Northern Ireland’s best interests.

The Windsor Framework addresses the practical realities of Brexit and it’s an essential step to ensuring hard-earned peace and progress. I believe the stability and predictability offered by this framework encourages greater investment in Northern Ireland.”

Final thought

Although Biden’s trip to Northern Ireland was billed as a visit to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement, he decided to address the elephant in the room and urged the DUP to find an agreement with Sinn Fein.

Unfortunately, it seems that the US President’s words have fallen on deaf ears. After the speech concluded, the leader of the DUP Jeffrey Donaldson said that the speech by Biden had “not changed the political dynamic” in Northern Ireland.

Recently, Chamber hosted the first of its regional Integrating Healthcare Seminar series, in partnership with IQVIA. The series brings together leaders across the NHS, life sciences and national/local government to discuss public health in specific regions and across the UK. This year, Chamber are hosting future events in Birmingham, London, Leeds and Glasgow.

The first of the series was held in Manchester where MPs and the Shadow Minister for Public Health, Andrew Gwynne MP gave their address to an in-person and online audience.

The first of the speeches came from Chris Green MP, who discussed his priorities for public health in the North West and wider UK. Mr Green is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research and also sits on the government’s Health and Social Care Select Committee. He a strong background in healthcare and life sciences, representing Bolton West and Atherton as their Member of Parliament.

Mr Green began his address stating that “healthcare is always one of the most important issues we face as a country” which has been amplified in recent years thanks to the COVID pandemic. He then went on to talk about the role healthcare plays in devolution:

“Healthcare certainly fits into the devolution agenda at this moment in time. Devolution is becoming more common across the country and in Greater Manchester, we’ve had a mayor since 2014. However, it wasn’t until 2016 that health and social care devolution came to Greater Manchester.

“When health devolution came to Greater Manchester it wasn’t desired locally for that to fall under the responsibility of the Mayor. Instead, there was an appetite for a local authority partnership model, and fast forward to 2022 we have the Health and Care Act which has seen Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) rolled out across the country and put on a statutory footing.”

Integrating Care Systems

The introduction of ICSs marks a significant milestone for health and social care across the UK. Since their introduction, the health and life sciences sector has been discussing the potential of the new system to improve outcomes for patients across regions.

The purpose of ICSs is to bring various NHS partner organisations together to improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities and to enhance productivity. However, as these systems are still in their infancy, there are some sceptics across the sector.

Talking about the potential of these systems, Mr Green said:

“Historically, if a local authority made savings on healthcare they wouldn’t necessarily get to keep that money to reinvest in the area. ICSs have the potential to break down these barriers and to give local authorities the motivation to innovate the way they work.

“Additionally, ICSs should allow for new relationships to be built with the life science sector, pharmaceutical companies, and universities. There is a huge opportunity for more collaborative working to get companies and organisations to invest and work in your local areas which, as a result, means a gain in expertise and finances.”

Final thought

Mr Green’s address provided key insights into current issues in health and social care and the potential of ICSs to improve outcomes across the board. As Chair of the Medical Research APPG, Mr Green was well positioned to discuss these important topics with leaders across the health and life science sector. The first speech set the tone for series of discussions on health inequalities, cancer outcomes and wider public health.

To watch Mr Green’s address, see the video below.

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Torridge District Council has launched the fourth round of Household Support Funding with effect from Wednesday 5^th April. Nationally £842m has been made available by Central Government to cover the period April 2023 to March 2024. Devon County Council has received just over £10m from this sum, part of which it will utilise for its own support projects such as holiday school meal provision and a prepayment meter energy relief scheme operated through Citizens Advice. Around £4m will be split amongst the district councils for targeted support to those identified in need, with Torridge receiving £444k to allocate across the district. The previous three schemes have already released payments totalling £402k to meet basics household costs of struggling Torridge residents with the council adding a further £36k from its own resources.

In line with previous versions of the scheme the purpose of the grant is to provide support to households experiencing hardship due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has seen inflation top 10 percent or more in recent months. The grants will be available to help people in need to buy food, pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living or housing costs. Previous assistance has already allowed people to purchase clothing, blankets, and fund boiler servicing or repairs during the winter months. Applications can also be made to meet the cost of purchasing or repairing white goods such as fridges, freezers and ovens, which might otherwise currently be beyond the means of struggling households.

Access to the fund will once again be via a form, with initial applications being processed by the council’s partner and local charity organisation, Encompass. See the Household Support Fund web page here Household Support Fund.

Steve Hearse, Chief Executive of Torridge District Council said:

“Like other authorities we have been careful not to restrict the application process to particular narrow categories or types of expenditure. As well as more obvious assistance with food, utility bills or other major costs people may also need help with covering the cost of essential clothing, repairs to their vehicles or to pay for a monthly bus pass, to name just a few. What people need will very much depend on their circumstances, and as well as applying for these funds, we would also encourage them to check out all the other advice and links we have signposted.

Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, has announced that wet wipes containing plastic will be banned in England under plans to tackle water pollution.

The ban on plastic-based wipes is set to take effect next year following a consultation, Ms Coffey said.

The move to tackle water pollution

The move is part of a broader strategy, called Plan for Water, to improve water quality in England, where no river or waterway is considered clean. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is also looking at a potential ban on a variety of “forever chemicals” or PFAS that aims to tackle pollution from farming and run-off from road traffic.

According to a parliamentary report published in 2022, pollution from intensive farming such as chicken farms is one of the most common ways that rivers become contaminated.

Wet wipes contribute to 93 percent of sewer blockages

Wet wipes are a major contributor to sewer blockages, with 9 percent of sewer blockages being caused by wipes that are flushed down toilets, including so-called fatbergs. 

According to Water UK, which represents the water sector, clearing these blockages costs around £100 million a year to clean up.

Approximately 90 percent of wipes contained plastic in 2021. As plastic doesn’t decompose, the wipes become snagged and stick together over time, obstructing sewage flow through pipes.

The plan to ban plastic in wet wipes is subject to a public consultation

In the Plan for Water strategy, the government said it wants to ban plastic wet wipes subject to a public consultation, adding they will work with industries to make sure eco-friendly alternatives are available to consumers. 

“Our proposal is to ban plastic from wet wipes,” Ms Coffey said, adding that a consultation needed to be put in place first. “It’s a legal requirement to make sure that we can go ahead with any ban,” she said.

Opposition and environment groups criticised the plan as weak

However, environment groups criticised the plan as weak and opposition MPs have accused the government of repeating failed measures “that give the green light to sewage dumping”.

During Good Morning Britain, Feargal Sharkey described the announcement as “muddled and confused,” adding that the government has made three similar announcements in the past five years. 

The announcement was also criticised by the Liberal Democrats, who said the government first pledged to ban plastic in wet wipes in 2018. The party’s environment spokesperson, Tim Farron, said: “Yet again the Conservative government is taking the public for fools by re-announcing a wet wipe policy from five years ago. This is a complete farce.”

Matt Browne, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “There is much to welcome in the multiple threads of today’s water announcements. Less plastic waste from wet wipes, bringing forward infrastructure investment, stronger forever chemical regulation, and funding from fines to deliver river restoration are all individually positive.

“But what we are still waiting to see is a comprehensive plan built around delivering on a long-term target for the health of our waters’ and an ambitious UK chemicals strategy to weave these individual threads into a world-leading tapestry of action to restore our rivers and seas.

“With so much of our wildlife and waters struggling under the weight of pollution, development, and overuse only a well-focused, well-resourced and far-reaching plan will turn the tide for nature.”

Fleur Anderson MP

Shadow Paymaster General, Fleur Anderson has been a vocal advocate on banning plastic wet wipes. Ms Anderson introduced a Private Members Bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of plastic wipes last year. On today’s announcement Ms Anderson said:

“After two long years of campaigning, two parliamentary bills, two drawn out consultations and endless hours meeting manufacturers, retailers, water companies and even counting wet wipes pile up on the Thames foreshore, the Government seem to be backing my campaign at last.

“There is not a moment to lose, so I’m disappointed to hear there will be yet another consultation. In 2018, a similar promise was made so I hope this isn’t just a shuffling of the deck chairs and the Government actually deliver this time. I’ll be making sure they do and my campaign is far from over.

“I’d like to thank all the organisations who have helped achieve this big win, including Thames21, the Marine Conservation Society, Greener UK, Tesco, Boots, the Water Research Centre Group and parliamentary colleagues from all parties.”

To watch our discussion with Ms Anderson, see below.

Final thought

While a public consultation on plans to ban plastic in wet wipes will get the ball rolling, the UK needs more than an empty promise to tackle water pollution. 

This isn’t the first time the government has promised to ban plastic wipes. In 2018, they announced plans to eliminate plastic waste including wet wipes. And during a 2021 consultation on banning wet wipes, 96% of people said they supported the idea. Yet following another consultation, the government decided against banning plastic wet wipes. 

The Welsh government also proposed a ban on plastic in wet wipes but this has not yet been implemented while Scotland consulted on a ban which has not seen further action.

While there are some biodegradable alternatives on the shelves, it was reported that 90% of wipes contained plastic in 2021. As the government fails to implement a ban, major companies such as Boots and Tesco are taking it upon themselves to stop the sale of wet wipes which contain plastic from their shops and address plastic pollution.

For too long, we have put up with women battling to be heard in a health and care system designed by men, for men. Being a woman should not mean spending a greater proportion of your life in ill health compared to men; neither should it mean being treated to second-rate healthcare.

There is evidence showing that the impact of female-specific health condition such as menstruation and the menopause on women’s lives is overlooked and that sex-based biases in clinical trials are contributing to worse health outcomes for women. This is not good enough.

That’s why we have published the first-ever government-led Women’s Health Strategy for England. Based on a consultation that more than 100,000 people across England took part in, this document sets out an ambitious ten-year plan for improving the health and well-being of women and girls and reforming how the health and care system listens to them. The appointment of Professor Dame Lesley Regan as the Women’s Health Ambassador is instrumental to achieving this to raise the profile of women’s health, increase awareness of ‘taboo’ topics and support the implementation of the strategy’s priorities.

The strategy sets out the cross-cutting themes of women’s voices, including information and awareness, access to services, disparities in health outcomes between women, health in the workplace, education and training for health and care professionals, research and evidence, and data and digital.

Eight priorities for year one

We have chosen eight implementation priorities for the first year of the strategy, and have outlined our progress against them so far:

1. Encouraging expansion of women’s health hubs in every integrated care system to improve women’s access to services, support women in maintaining good health and create efficiencies for the NHS. We are working with stakeholders to develop a best-practice resource to support local implementation.
2. Improving information provision on women’s health so all women know what to expect from our healthcare system throughout their lives, including transforming the NHS website into a first port of call for women’s health information and supporting teachers to deliver the women’s health elements of the statutory relationships, sex and health education curriculum.
3. Supporting women’s health in the workplace to prevent the loss of women from the workforce who are not properly supported with their health needs. We want the workplace to follow those like the Civil Service and John Lewis, who are making simple adjustments such as flexible working to better deal with menopause symptoms. We are also acting through the Health and Wellbeing Fund 2022-25, which has funded 16 projects focused on supporting those with reproductive ill-health to remain in, or return to, the workplace.  
4. Providing people with the tools to feel supported during pregnancy loss. We will publish the final report of the independent Pregnancy Loss Review and develop the pregnancy loss certificate in England, which will be an important way of acknowledging and validating people’s experience with miscarriage.
5. Helping anyone struggling to have children, which is why everyone should have fair and equal access to NHS fertility treatment. We’re looking at ways to remove barriers to IVF services, which offer opportunities for people to start a family including by removing the additional financial burden on female same-sex couples accessing treatment. Currently, women who already have children from a previous relationship are prevented access to certain treatment a practice that is unfair and outdated and is something we’re working to remove.  
6. We’re introducing the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescription prepayment certificate in April 2023. Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with a quarter experiencing severe symptoms that seriously affect their quality of life. We’re increasing access to HRT the main treatment for menopause symptoms through the HRT pre-payment certificate. This certificate enables women to pay no more than the cost of two single prescription charges for a year. We’re also continuing to work with suppliers to encourage and support them to boost supply to meet growing demand.  
7. There’s ongoing work to address healthy ageing and long-term conditions, including looking into heart health and heart disease, musculoskeletal conditions and dementia, to better understand the key gaps and barriers that women face, which will feed into the Major Conditions Strategy. 
8. We’re investing in research into women’s health issues and improving participation of women in all research, including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) conducting a menopause research prioritisation exercise, and commissioning an emergent Policy Research Unit dedicated to reproductive health. 

There is still more to do. If women’s health is improved, we all benefit. As leaders at a national or local level, we all have a powerful role to play in shaping the areas of health that are prioritised.

While it is so important we can talk about women’s health, it is important to practice what we preach. We can all act within our own work environments, including through implementing policies, to make a huge difference to women’s daily lives. 

I am proud of the work we have done to put women’s health permanently on the agenda¾and I am looking forward to the progress to come. 

Curia’s NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission

Last year, the NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission developed an implementation plan to improve the access environment for innovative treatment such as HRT, to improve population health and reduce health inequalities across the UK.

The Commission is developing a programme for women’s health, bringing together leaders across the NHS, life sciences, national and local government to develop thought leadership and practical solutions for the health service and patients. To find out more about the Commission, read the 2022 report here.

For further insight, please contact our Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Harry Blacklock at harry.blacklock@politicsuk.com

Early political steps

Haringey Council’s Labour Leader, Peray Ahmet, says that her parents’ culture meant “I was never supposed to be that interested in politics, you know, because I am a woman.” but that it was difficult to avoid with a politically engaged father.

Cambridgeshire’s Liberal Democrat Leader, Lucy Nethsingha, also describes being interested in politics since an early age, saying that when she was first elected to Truro town council at the age of 25, she was “by a long way, the youngest person” on the council.

And Glasgow’s SNP Leader, Susan Aitken, says she “always considered myself to be a kind of a policy wonk,” making a name for herself campaigning for more women in front-line politics, following her parents and grandparents, whom she described as “activists in things like CND and the anti-apartheid movement…as well as in party politics”.

Warwickshire’s Conservative Leader, Izzi Seccombe OBE, married into a political family. Her mother-in-law has been a member of the House of Lords since 1991. As her own mother became unwell, she began “to understand the difficulties of caring and things like that,” and decided to stand for council because of the experiences she gained trying to navigate council systems.

Differences in standards

Aitken felt that women in politics were held to different standards than men and gave an example. A Glasgow City Council officer gave incorrect information about the number of buildings with potentially problematic cladding to a post-Grenfell inquiry. She continued, “The media went absolutely nuts about it…one of my colleagues in the press office had phoned me…and he said…apparently, STV and another one of the radio stations…are coming to doorstep you at your house because of this.”

She contrasts this with how the media treated her three male predecessors. According to Aitken, one was caught “on microphone at committee making really misogynist and racist remarks,” one was “cautioned by the police for public indecency,” and one “had to resign in a scandal over cocaine use”. She says none of them were doorstepped over these things.

Seccombe, however, says “Women can be more challenging to women…There’s a sort of general acceptance in the world of women that this is a man’s world and sometimes we are our own worst enemy.”

Ahmet feels pressure being a mother of young children. “I’ve got a three-year-old and it’s that sense of just feeling a bit judged as a mother…It’s not seen as, wow, Saffy has a fantastic role model. It’s seen as, she misses Mum.”

Nethsingha points out the importance of different communities being properly represented in local Government. For “county councils in particular, the extent to which they are populated by white men with private means is extraordinary, really shocking”. She goes on to explain, “If you think about the people who largely carry the burden of caring for the elderly, the disabled, children with special educational needs, they are disproportionately less well-off women and very under-represented…If I didn’t have a husband in a well-paid and secure job, I couldn’t have carried on doing this either.”

Ahmet goes on to describe some of the differences she sees between the way men and women approach novelty or opportunity. “You talk to people about standing for council, and a lot of the women say ‘I don’t know, I’ve got this to do and I’ve got work to do.’ while men will usually say, ‘Yeah, I can do that, no problem.’” Despite this, Ahmet says eight of her cabinet of ten are women.

Seccombe describes a conversation she had when deciding whether to stand for Parliament. “I had a meeting with a woman [who said] ‘well, your husband’s on the list and what would happen if he and you both got constituencies? How would you work out your domestic arrangements?’ And I said, ‘have you asked him that question?’”

Seccombe didn’t say whether she got an answer.

Nethsingha adds that policies that are supposed to help women in politics do not necessarily work. As an example, she states “Most councils have a policy that is supposed to allow you to claim back to get paid for the caring responsibilities that you have while you’re at Council…[But] you can’t book a child into nursery for only the times when you’re at council meetings. So, I had to book [my child] into nursery every week, in order to be able to go to a council meeting every two months.” She added that this incurred considerable extra costs, which she could only just afford.

Issues with council funding

The pressure on council funding, again, emerges in all the conversations. Seccombe was the most positive, stating “I was particularly keen to try to reduce our costs and face the demand pressures, you know, growing ageing population and all that. So, within the first six months, I took seven very difficult papers to cabinet, all on the same day.” She closed all of Warwickshire’s council-owned care homes and day-care centres, while funding schemes to keep people living at home for as long as possible.

Ahmet is focusing on trying to improve youth services but said that councils were “getting grants from the government services, but they are never long term. They are never sustainable. It is just a bit of pot of money.”

Aitken explained that Glasgow City Council is facing around a £750 million settlement around equal pay and that the impact for the foreseeable future was a reduction in headcount. “I think one of the important things that our council does is to be an employer¾and to be a good employer and an exemplar for fair work. That’s part of how we contribute to the city’s economy. For every one less person that we employ, that role is a little bit diminished.”

Nethsingha thinks the problem is wider still. “The way in which Government hands out money makes it even more difficult. The short term is ‘Here’s a bit of money here and here’s a bit of money there and you’ve all got to bid for it and compete.’ It makes planning for decent services very difficult as well because they don’t give us any timescales to get the structures in place to enable us to deliver what they’re offering.”

Respect for women

Turning to International Women’s Day itself, all were supportive. Aitken says “I think it’s important that we, if nothing else, just keep reminding ourselves that we haven’t won. The patriarchy is still there.”

Seccombe preferred to focus on building women’s confidence. “I accept that there are some people who feel they need that extra leg up and that extra sort of crutch to support them. And it helps people to feel more confident about taking a step into the world of business, politics, give them confidence in their voice, which actually is what it’s all about.”

Nethsingha concentrated on the international aspect. “I think, maybe we’ve done more to fix things at the top than the bottom. And I think if you are a vulnerable woman, living in many, many countries around the world, your situation is probably worse than it was ten years ago.”

Ahmet agreed that such days were useful, but she wants a more lasting impact. “I think it’s good to come together and have these events that focus us, but let’s be honest,  it is Women’s Day, every day, right? It should be all year round.”

Ann Keen is a former Labour Health Minister, serving as Member of Parliament for Brentford and Isleworth from 1997 to 2010. She became Parliamentary Private Secretary for Gordon Brown and later, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health Services from 2007 to 2010. Keen led an independent commission on the future of nursing and midwifery, resulting in the Front Line Care report. The report worryingly stands as the last workforce strategy published by the Government. Given the recruitment and retention issues facing the NHS, a new workforce strategy is the top priority for improving health and social care performance.

Prior to her career in Parliament, Keen worked as a nurse in the NHS, later becoming Head of the Faculty of Advanced Nursing at Queen Charlotte’s and General Secretary of the Community and District Nursing Association.

Keen is chairing policy institute Curia’s workforce inquiry this year as part of the NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission, combining her expertise with leaders across the NHS and social care sector to find implementable solutions to current workforce issues.

What was it that first encouraged you into nursing and the NHS?

“A hospital is full of really interesting people from all walks of life and all over the world. I began as a clerk in outpatients but I moved to casualty, looking after patients’ families. Colleagues would ask why I didn’t think about nursing but I didn’t have the qualifications. I was then encouraged to take the relevant tests and gain qualifications and I was thrilled when I was accepted to be a nurse.”

In your clinical career, how have you seen the environment of the NHS change for frontline staff?

“There has been a massive change. When I started training in 1976, the model was all about obedience, it was about a hierarchy that you had to respect¾no one would ever challenge that because there wasn’t anything to question. The present conditions have thrown this out the window.”

“There is hope with the brilliant innovation that has taken the patient’s journey into the modern day, with specific treatments through genomics that can streamline the health service. Of course, nurses are at the centre of that.”

We are all worried about the current pressures facing the NHS, if there was one thing you could change overnight, what would it be?

“I would make sure the staff knew they were valued by investing in them and ensuring they are looked after properly. Their job is fascinating but it’s so hard emotionally¾the brain, hands and heart are used daily. Staff don’t feel comfortable taking breaks and that needs to change.”

“We’ve got to invest in all staff, particularly their education, to retain them. How are we losing so many? We know why, it’s because of this lack of investment in their education and pay and a feeling of being undervalued.”

“People are worn out; they are exhausted and now, patient safety is at risk.”

Moving to your parliamentary career, how and why did you enter politics to gain your first seat in 1997?

“I stood in ’87 and ’92 before finally getting there in ’97. The reason I wanted to enter politics was not to be a Member of Parliament, or because I wanted to be a woman in politics. What caught me was the opportunity to make a difference to my colleagues in the health service. I didn’t like how people were being left in the side room at the end of their life.”

“As Gordon Brown’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, I sat behind him when he announced the rise in pensions, the heating allowances and other things¾I was tearful because at last, I could see politics changing people’s lives.”

What has your experience been like as a woman in parliament and in the political world?

“I was one of ‘Blair’s Babes’ in 1997, we all came in colourful jackets and trouser suits, and I remember other MPs saying we didn’t look right. Older female MPs said they were so glad we wore trousers as this was frowned upon and it was 1997¾so there were challenges like that to deal with.”

“I’m afraid to say I did adjust to some behaviours, it’s almost a culture, but this did change over the thirteen years I was in Parliament. Of course, it was exciting to be there, and people would say ‘Gosh you’ve done well for a nurse.’ However, the whole experience was fabulous, and I greatly enjoyed it.”

As Chair of Curia’s workforce programme, what are you looking to see out of this inquiry?

“The workforce plan I completed with Gordon Brown in 2010 wasn’t taken seriously because there was no workforce crisis, and we weren’t planning for one. The workforce now is absolutely critical, investing in the workforce is essential to improve the health service.”

“We do know how to change but we haven’t got the people to enact that change. That is why I’m looking forward to undertaking this work with Curia, it has to be taken seriously because it’s the future of the NHS.”

Curia’s workforce programme

Ann is joining Lord O’Shaughnessy and Professor Bewick to steer the NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission’s workforce programme. Given the importance of workforce to the future of the NHS, the inquiry is a timely piece of work that will bring together leaders across Parliament, the NHS, life sciences and local government to enact positive change.

To read the Commission’s 2022 report see here.