Northern Ireland reports significant delays in breast cancer diagnoses due to system integration issues, while new health services, including private GP appointments in London and gender clinics for children, launch in the UK.
Breast cancer diagnosis delays have been reported in Northern Ireland, primarily affecting the South Eastern Trust area, due to the integration of a new patient record system. Patients, including those urgently red-flagged, have faced waits of up to seven weeks, significantly longer than the Department of Health’s two-week target. The rise in demand for breast cancer assessment services and staffing challenges have exacerbated the situation. Measures are being taken to address the backlog, with the Western Trust offering additional assessment clinics. The Norwegian private GP provider, Dr.Dropin, has expanded to London, offering an alternative to NHS patients facing extended waiting times for GP appointments. Since its inception in 2017, Dr.Dropin has served over 1.5 million patients with a range of healthcare services. Its London clinic in Fulham provides same-day appointments, starting at £79 for in-person visits and £59 for virtual consultations. This move aims to alleviate pressures on the NHS by bridging the gap between public healthcare and exclusive private treatments.
NHS England is set to open new gender clinics for children in London and Liverpool in April, following the closure of the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. The shift to regional services aims to offer comprehensive care for young people exploring their gender identity, supported by a multi-disciplinary team of experts. However, NHS England has announced that puberty blockers will no longer be prescribed at these clinics outside of clinical research trials due to limited evidence of their safety and effectiveness. This decision aligns with recommendations for more evidence-based care and has been endorsed by the Government.
