UK government strategy to protect women and girls from violence ‘seriously underfunded’

A landmark strategy to protect women and girls from violence and abuse “falls seriously short” of the funding required to realise the government’s ambitions, campaigners have said.The government’s strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) was hailed as a “milestone” by women’s organisations. It will focus on prevention and tackling harmful behaviours in boys, by teaching pupils about healthy relationships and pornography and equipping teachers with the skills to intervene if they witness disturbing or worrying behaviour.Presenting the strategy in the House of Commons on Thursday, Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, who has played a central role in developing the policies, said the strategy was backed by £1bn of funding and was “more than a document”.“It is a call from a government that recognises this as a national emergency, a government that is willing to back up its words with action,” she said

Long waits and ‘unacceptable’ lack of data at NHS gender clinics in England, review finds

Doctors treating vulnerable patients with gender dysphoria have no way of assessing whether the NHS treatment provided has worked because outcomes are not systematically recorded, a damning official inquiry into the clinics has found.Waiting times for a first appointment at NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics (GDCs) in England are projected to reach 15 years unless there are improvements, the review found. The number of people seeking treatment is rising significantly and on average patients are already waiting five years and seven months for a first assessment.The review conducted by Dr David Levy, an NHS medical director and cancer specialist, was commissioned after last year’s Cass report on gender care for children and young people.Levy, an NHS medical director and cancer specialist, took a team to nine NHS England clinics to assess the effectiveness and safety of each service, interviewing staff and patients

Stay at home if you have flu symptoms, experts urge amid fears of second surge

People should stay home over the Christmas period if they have symptoms of flu or Covid, experts have warned amid fears flu cases could see a second surge in the New Year.Flu levels appear to be plateauing, but it is too soon to say whether they have peaked, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As a result, experts are urging people to wash their hands regularly, make sure indoor spaces are well ventilated, get a free vaccination if eligible, and stay home where possible if symptoms develop.An average of 3,140 people were in hospital with flu each day by the end of last week, an increase of 18% compared with the previous week. At the same time last year, an average of 2,629 patients were in hospital, while in 2023 the number was 648

Better to be online than on hold for a GP | Brief letters

As the sole parent of two disabled children who have lots of medical needs, I have found the new GP online booking system an immense improvement (Letters, 12 December). It is efficient and far less stressful for me. My inner‑city practice responds quickly. It is streets ahead of the old system where I was caller No 26 at 9am.Anne McLaughlinManchester Politicians of all stripes have condemned the resident doctors for striking for meaningful progress in getting their pay back to real-terms parity with that prior to the 2008 crash (Officials fear NHS will be hit hard after resident doctors reject latest offer, 15 December)

Council funding deal: who are the winners and losers – and will tax bills rise?

English councils have received a new three-year financial settlement. But is it fair? Who are the winners and losers? Will your council tax bill go up, and will it stop councils from declaring effective bankruptcy?The government announced a three-year funding settlement for English councils on Wednesday. This sets out each local authority’s core finance allocation, enabling them to set local council tax bills for next April and finalise an overall budget.For the first time, government funding for councils was distributed using a new Fair Funding formula that gives higher weighting (and thus a greater relative share of overall resources) to local authorities with high “deprivation” scores (relative deprivation is measured by factors such as income, employment, health, housing costs and crime).Middlesbrough, Manchester and Birmingham were among the most deprived local authority areas according to the latest indices of deprivation – and they will see some of the biggest increases in spending power from April

Acas offers to help break deadlock in resident doctors’ strike

The conciliation service Acas has offered to help try to break the deadlock in the resident doctors’ strike in England.The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has made clear that it is willing to become involved in an effort to find a resolution to the long-running dispute, as medics remain on strike for the 14th time over pay and jobs.Acas’s intervention comes after NHS bosses and the Patients Association in recent days urged the government and the British Medical Association to agree to independent mediation to break the deadlock.“Acas is in contact with all the parties involved in the resident doctors’ dispute,” said Kevin Rowan, the body’s director of dispute resolution.However, Acas quickly clarified its position after Rowan’s statement led to speculation that it was already involved in trying to broker a deal