Press Releases

12 Jan 2018 Simon Bramhall, a surgeon who admitted burning his initials onto the livers of two transplant patients, while working at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, has been given a 12-month community order and has been fined £10,000.

11 Jan 2018 Today’s NHS performance data shows a significant decline in the percentage of patients seen within 4 hours of attendance at a major A&E department. Waits in A&E during December in England were the worst since the target was introduced in 2004.

04 Jan 2018 Professor Derek Alderson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, has responded to winter data published by NHS England today. In particular, bed occupancy for critical are beds has increased compared to the same period last year.

03 Jan 2018 Yesterday NHS England’s National Emergency Pressures Panel noted that the NHS has been ‘under sustained pressure over the Christmas period’. The Panel recommended that trusts defer non-urgent inpatient elective care until the end of January and that day-case procedures and routine patient appointments ‘should also be deferred where this will release clinical time for non-elective care’. Derek Alderson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons has commented on this decision.

30 Dec 2017 Clare Marx has been made a dame in today’s New Year’s Honours List and Professor Tim Briggs, RCS Council member, has been awarded a CBE for services to the surgical profession.

21 Dec 2017 In recent days a number of newspapers have reported that cabinet ministers are discussing whether the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) should continue to apply following Brexit. On Monday the Prime Minister told the House of Commons that the Government would ‘maintain, and indeed enhance, workers’ rights. This morning, the Guardian are reporting that the BMA have urged Theresa May to stand firm against Brexiters who want to scrap European laws, warning of risks to patient safety.

21 Dec 2017 The new National Emergency Pressures Panel (NEPP)has said that non-urgent inpatient elective care should be deferred until mid-January to ensure beds and staff are available for the sickest patients. By acting early Trusts can avoid last minute cancellations that can be costly and inconvenient for patients.

07 Dec 2017 he Government has launched an independent national Inquiry following the malpractice of jailed surgeon Ian Paterson. The Government says the new independent Non-Statutory Inquiry will examine the circumstances and practices surrounding Ian Paterson’s malpractice to learn and share lessons. The Right Reverend Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, will chair the Inquiry.

06 Dec 2017 The Royal College of Surgeons has launched an independent Commission to explore the future of surgical care in the next twenty years. The Commission on the Future of Surgery will identify and explore the innovations that will most likely affect surgical treatment.

30 Nov 2017 At this morning’s NHS England board meeting the organisation warned that budget shortfalls will continue to hit waiting times for surgery and other types of planned treatment.