Ear, Nose & Throat news

Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 6-9 July 2026

PRAC agrees new safety information on desogestrel- and etonogestrel-containing contraceptives and Litfulo, a medicine to treat alopecia areata   Desogestrel- and etonogestrel-…, Agenda Agend…

Warm weather and World Cup drives record NHS demand as satisfaction with GPs continues to bounce back

The NHS is facing a “summer onslaught”, with A&Es experiencing their busiest month on record in June amid record heatwaves and the World Cup. Average daily A&E attendances exceeded 80,000 (81,264) for the first time eve…

NHS warns ‘snooping’ staff face sack or prison for inappropriate access of patient data 

The head of the NHS has today issued a stark warning to staff that they face the sack or even prison if they access patient records without a legitimate reason, as part of a new crackdown by the health service. Sir Jim …

NHS to overhaul patient communications and end ‘farce’ of invitations arriving after appointment

Patients are to receive at least 3 weeks’ notice from the NHS for all new medical appointments, under plans to overhaul patients’ experiences of the health service. NHS Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, today said that t…

EMA steps up efforts on medicines for women’s health

EMA is launching initiatives to better embed women’s health considerations in medicines development and regulation. Women live longer than men on average but spend more of their…, Advancing developments in women…

655 million people still living without electricity underscore urgent need to deliver on universal energy access target

At a time when energy security and affordability have risen to the top of the development agenda, 655 million people globally still lack access to electricity, and two billion use polluting fuels and technologies for co…

Impact of Medical Training Prioritisation Act on specialty training recruitment

The latest NHS England management data has shown the real life and immediate impact of the Medical Training Prioritisation Act. The Act came into force in March responding to concerns about increasing competition faced …

NHS braces for jump in post-match A&E visits

Football fans are being urged not to ignore health problems, as new analysis reveals a significant drop in A&E attendances while the Three Lions are playing. Analysis of A&E attendance data during Euro 2024 found there …

Public urged to access NHS care amid ‘triple whammy’ of doctors’ strike, heatwave and World Cup

Industrial action by resident doctors will be taking place from 7am on Monday 15 June to 6:59am Friday 19 June 2026. This four-day strike coincides with more expected hot weather and the start of the football World Cup,…

Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 8-11 June 2026

PRAC concludes evidence of potential risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to men treated with valproate is inconsistent  Committee recommends updating product…, Agenda Agend…

A&Es ‘bore the brunt’ as heatwave piled pressure on NHS

A&Es experienced their busiest month on record in May, as last month’s heatwave piled pressure on NHS services. The NHS managed 2,457,398 attendances in A&E during May – up 25,000 on the previous record set in March ear…

Chair of new NHS online hospital trust is named

The chair of the NHS’s groundbreaking new online hospital trust has been named as business leader and former supermarket chief executive John Browett. NHS Online, which will provide virtual specialist care for patients …

United for Health: EMA in WorldPride 2026

June is PRIDE month and EMA starts a two-month celebration of diversity and inclusion in science and healthcare, leading up to its participation in the world-famous Amsterdam…, Our strength in the EU comes from …

World Health Assembly opens in Geneva, Switzerland

The Seventy-ninth session of the World Health Assembly (WHA79) opened in Geneva, Switzerland today, with the election of Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic as the President of the Health Assembly.  …

WHO warns nicotine pouch brands targeting youth as sales surge

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns about the rapid growth and aggressive marketing of nicotine pouches, especially targeting youth, amid limited regulation worldwide. Nicotine pouches pose significant health risk…

“Huge moment” as the health service hits 18-week target amid half-a-million waiting list drop

The NHS has hit its target for the number of patients waiting 18-weeks thanks to the biggest improvement in waiting times since the launch of the iPad. In March, 65.3% of patients were waiting 18-weeks, as the waiting l…

Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 4-7 May 2026

At its monthly meeting, EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) carried out its broad range of responsibilities, which cover all aspects of the risk management of the use of medicines:…, Agenda …

1,000 NHS staff call Martha’s Rule helplines in first 18 months

More than 1,000 NHS staff across England have used Martha’s Rule helplines to help identify rapid deterioration of a patient’s condition in the first 18 months of the scheme, new figures show. Latest NHS England data sh…

Hospital patients can now check appointments in the NHS App

Hospital patients at every NHS trust across England can now check their referrals and appointments through the NHS App, making it easier for millions of people to manage their care in one place. Around two-thirds (64%) …

New pilot to support development of ‘breakthrough’ medical devices

EMA has launched a pilot programme to support the development of breakthrough medical devices in the European Union (EU). The purpose of the pilot is to test a new regulatory…