Around one in every ten patients attending large accident and emergency departments in England last year spent more than 12 hours waiting for treatment or a hospital bed, according to new analysis. In 2025, about 1.75 million people experienced these lengthy delays, showing only a small improvement compared with the previous year.

Nursing leaders have warned that prolonged waits are fuelling the continued use of “corridor care”, where patients are treated in unsuitable spaces such as hallways or side rooms. The Royal College of Nursing has shared accounts from staff describing conditions they say are unsafe and degrading, with some nurses reporting deep distress at being unable to provide dignified care.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the situation was unacceptable and acknowledged that hospitals were failing to meet expected standards. While he said some areas, including ambulance response times and elective waiting lists, are beginning to improve, he admitted corridor care remains widespread. He has pledged to end the practice before the next general election and plans to publish more detailed data on its use.

Hospital pressures have been particularly visible this winter, with several trusts declaring critical incidents. Patients have been left waiting overnight for beds, especially older people requiring urgent care. Although the overall waiting list for planned treatments has fallen to its lowest level in nearly two years, doctors warn overcrowded hospitals continue to place patients at risk. Clinicians and campaigners say meaningful reform is urgently needed to prevent long waits from becoming an accepted part of emergency care.

A 28-year-old man has become the first NHS patient to receive a newly approved “living drug” for an aggressive form of leukaemia, describing the experience as both extraordinary and hopeful. Oscar Murphy, from Bury, was treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary with CAR-T therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own genetically altered immune cells to fight cancer.

Oscar was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2025. After undergoing chemotherapy and a donor stem cell transplant, he was told later that year that the disease had returned. Given the fast-moving nature of his cancer, doctors recommended CAR-T therapy, which NHS England has now agreed to fund at specialist centres across England for eligible adults.

The treatment involves removing T-cells from the patient’s blood and modifying them in a laboratory so they can recognise and destroy cancer cells. Millions of these enhanced cells are then infused back into the body, where they continue working long after treatment ends. Clinical trials have shown promising results, with more than three-quarters of patients entering remission and some remaining cancer-free for several years.

Oscar’s consultant said the therapy could significantly extend life and may even offer a cure for some patients. Now newly married, Oscar says the treatment gives him hope for a future that includes family life and a return to normality, calling it his “chance to get life back on track.”

Applications to come to the UK on skilled worker and health and care visas fell steeply in 2025, according to newly released Home Office figures, following tougher immigration controls. The number of people applying for the health and care worker route dropped to around 61,000, a fall of just over 50% compared with the previous year. Skilled worker visa applications also declined sharply, down more than a third to 85,500.

The reduction follows changes introduced by the Labour government in summer 2025, including an end to overseas recruitment for care workers and an increase in the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers to £41,700. These measures built on restrictions brought in earlier by the former Conservative government, such as limiting dependants for care workers and raising salary requirements for work and family visas.

Other visa routes have also seen sustained declines. Applications for study visas remained well below their 2023 peak, while family visa applications fell by 12% year on year. Overall, total visa applications across all categories fell to 737,100 in 2025, continuing a downward trend from previous years and suggesting further reductions in net migration.

Government ministers say the figures show progress in reducing migration levels. Net migration is estimated to have fallen to just over 200,000 in the year to June 2025, a dramatic decrease compared with earlier highs. Further reforms are planned, including longer waiting periods for settlement and stricter criteria for indefinite leave to remain, though legislation has yet to be brought forward.

A new NHS digital hospital service is set to begin rolling out in England next year, with a full launch planned for 2027 through the NHS App. The initiative will initially concentrate on nine health areas, including menopause, prostate conditions and several eye-related disorders. Patients will be offered online specialist assessments, follow-ups and monitoring, supported by a dedicated national team of clinicians rather than a physical hospital site.

The conditions chosen for the first phase include glaucoma, cataracts, retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, inflammatory bowel disease, iron deficiency anaemia, prostate enlargement, raised PSA levels, menopause, and menstrual symptoms that may indicate endometriosis. NHS England has said the list will expand over time. Importantly, patients will not be required to use the service and can still opt for traditional in-person appointments.

Under the model, GPs will be able to refer patients to the online service, where consultations take place remotely. Any tests, scans or procedures will still be carried out locally, with specialists reviewing results digitally. The government hopes the scheme will deliver up to 8.5 million appointments in its first three years and help reduce waiting lists by easing pressure on hospital clinics.

While similar virtual schemes have shown success in areas such as eye care and inflammatory bowel disease, experts have raised concerns about staffing, funding and IT systems. Think tanks have welcomed the focus on women’s health but warned that sharing patient data smoothly across NHS organisations remains a major challenge.

Hospital admissions for flu in England have eased in recent days, offering some relief to the NHS at what is traditionally its most demanding time of year. Figures from NHS England show 2,676 patients were in hospital with flu last week, a drop from just over 3,000 the previous week. Health leaders said the decline was encouraging as January often brings the highest levels of winter pressure.

However, the improvement could be short-lived. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold weather health alerts across England, warning that freezing temperatures are likely to place fresh strain on health and care services. The alerts, in place from Friday evening until the morning of 9 January, highlight risks such as rising demand, difficulties maintaining safe indoor temperatures and potential staff shortages caused by travel disruption.

NHS England’s medical director, Professor Meghana Pandit, said the fall in flu admissions was partly due to strong vaccination uptake, with more than half a million additional flu jabs delivered compared with the same point last year. She stressed, though, that services remain under significant pressure, noting that NHS 111 experienced its second busiest day in two years over the weekend.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the cautious tone, saying there were some positive signs compared with last winter, including fewer ambulance delays. But he urged people to get vaccinated if eligible and to use emergency services responsibly, as cold conditions could still lead to a resurgence in flu cases in the weeks ahead.

The Government has unveiled plans to invest an additional £3bn in creating tens of thousands of new specialist places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within mainstream schools. Ministers say the funding will help expand high-quality, purpose-built spaces that enable pupils to learn closer to home, while still accessing mainstream lessons where suitable. The move is intended to form the foundation for wider reforms to be detailed in the upcoming Schools White Paper.

However, the announcement has prompted concerns from charities and advocacy groups. Some fear the money may be used to deliver low-quality facilities, with no guarantee of sufficient specialist staff to support children effectively. Organisations including IPSEA warn that the shift could reduce access to dedicated special schools, while creating isolated units lacking proper integration or individualised support. They argue that without a national workforce plan, shortages of teachers, therapists and educational psychologists will continue to undermine provision.

Others, including Contact, stress that any new units must uphold children’s rights to mainstream education while complementing, not replacing, specialist schools. They caution that poorly regulated expansion could lead to increased segregation rather than inclusion. Meanwhile, recent surveys show significant anxiety among teachers, many of whom fear that more SEND pupils entering mainstream settings without adequate support will place further strain on staff and resources.

Local authorities and unions have responded more positively, welcoming the investment as a step toward reducing long waiting lists and providing support closer to home. They now await the White Paper, which is expected to set out a clearer roadmap for building a more responsive and better-resourced national SEND system.

People in England who need emergency dental treatment or have serious oral health problems are set to be prioritised under new government proposals aimed at easing the growing strain on NHS dentistry. Officials say the plan could cut costs for patients facing multiple appointments for complicated procedures, potentially saving them up to £225.

Access to NHS dentists has become increasingly difficult in many areas, with some communities described as “dental deserts”. Ministers argue the system introduced in 2006, which pays dentists according to Units of Dental Activity (UDAs), has long rewarded quick, routine check-ups instead of time-intensive work. Health minister Stephen Kinnock said too many people with good oral health were being seen unnecessarily, suggesting most only need a check-up every two years.

Under the proposed overhaul, dentists would be encouraged to provide extended treatment plans through the NHS for issues such as advanced gum disease or widespread tooth decay. Instead of several costly visits, patients would receive a tailored package of care delivered across a longer period, aimed at reducing both waiting times and out-of-pocket expenses.

However, the British Dental Association warned that the changes amount to minor adjustments to a system that is fundamentally flawed. The BDA said years of underfunding have driven dentists away from NHS work, and argued that meaningful improvement will only come with major investment and full-scale reform of the contract.

England’s busiest emergency departments are already straining as an early and intense wave of winter viruses fills hospital beds by midday. At Leicester Royal Infirmary, rapid cleaning and turnaround procedures are underway as soon as one patient leaves, with staff racing to prepare space for the next arrival. This early flu spike, driven by a stronger H3N2 strain, has significantly increased demand ahead of the typical peak period.

Across the country, hospitals are reporting rising cases of flu and other respiratory illnesses, squeezing already stretched services. Leicester’s emergency unit, which handled more than 1,000 daily attendances last winter, is again approaching similar volumes. Attendance numbers are up by about 8% compared with last year, and the hospital continues to face a shortage of dozens of beds every day, with many already occupied by patients with respiratory conditions.

To cope, the hospital has introduced enhanced triage processes at the entrance, allowing clinicians to assess patients immediately and divert less urgent cases to more appropriate community services. Additional units, including prefabricated structures converted into clinical spaces and off-site recovery facilities, have been brought online to ease ambulance delays and free up acute beds.

NHS leaders expect pressure to escalate further into January, with some planned procedures likely to be postponed to create emergency capacity. The Department of Health and Social Care has urged eligible people to get vaccinated, confirming there is no national shortage of flu jabs and emphasising the importance of protection as virus levels continue to climb.

A dedicated set of learning materials has been released to help road safety practitioners better support autistic and neurodiverse learners. The toolkit, created by Co-Pilot in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, includes 24 concise videos showcasing practical demonstrations of accessible, inclusive approaches to road safety education.

The resource is designed to guide professionals as they put together lesson plans, develop teaching materials and anticipate situations where autistic people may require additional support. It also encourages organisations to consider reasonable adjustments that ensure disabled learners are not placed at a disadvantage. According to the National Autistic Society, the aim is to give staff clear and usable insight so they can build confidence in adapting their practice.

With an estimated 700,000 autistic people in the UK, most road safety professionals are likely to work with autistic children or adults at some point, including individuals without a formal diagnosis. Differences in communication, sensory processing and executive functioning can influence how autistic people engage with safety sessions and learning environments. One local authority recently improved its school walking-route guidance—adding clearer maps, colour cues and quieter alternatives—after feedback from a parent, demonstrating how small adjustments can enhance accessibility.

Co-Pilot’s CEO James Evans said the new toolkit aims to equip practitioners with practical, inclusive methods as the sector prepares for the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy. He emphasised that understanding autism not only supports effective learning but also fulfils professional and legal duties to create fair and accessible services.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed another round of industrial action in England as its dispute with the government over pay continues. Resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — will withdraw their labour for five days from 17 December, marking their 14th walkout since March 2023. The strike is expected to place further strain on hospitals already under seasonal pressure, with both emergency and planned care affected.

NHS leaders have condemned the timing, calling it highly provocative. Daniel Elkeles of NHS Providers warned that December is a crucial period for patient discharges and said the strike would be unfair to both patients and staff who remain on duty. Senior doctors are expected to step in to provide cover, though widespread disruption is still anticipated. The BMA, however, maintains that the government has yet to present a meaningful offer and insists it has been pushed into taking further action.

Talks collapsed last month after ministers proposed improvements to training opportunities, workplace conditions and financial support for exam fees, but refused additional pay increases. Health Secretary Wes Streeting argues resident doctors have already received pay rises approaching 30% over three years and says he will not reopen negotiations on salary. The union counters that, after inflation, doctors’ pay remains around 20% lower than in 2008.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said the union was still open to discussion, noting that gradual pay restoration and basic job-security measures were achievable. With the current strike mandate due to expire in early January, the BMA has confirmed it will ballot members again to decide the next steps.