Good afternoon and welcome to my latest patient safety update in which we look at an excellent opening evidence session for the Select Committee’s workforce enquiry, government action to make cosmetic procedures safer, NHS reservists, and Covid.

UKRAINE Not an obvious patient safety issue but I thought it worth highlighting what the Health Secretary told Parliament yesterday – 50,000 items of medical equipment have already been sent to Poland for onward dispatch to Ukraine and a second flight is on its way. He suggested more would be sent in due course. I was Health Secretary back in the days when Russia was in the G8 - pre the annexation of Crimea - and remember noting my Russian counterpart was the only Health Minister with her own plane.

WORKFORCE INQUIRY SESSION In a fascinating opening session for our inquiry into recruitment, training and retention in health and social care the Select Committee heard a really powerful description of the day in a life of a GP including the memorable phrase that going to work was like ‘being pelted with rocks.’ But what are the solutions? Both Helen Stokes-Lampard and Chris Hopson gave excellent reasons for the government to accept the amendment being proposed this week by Baroness Cumberlege and Lord Stevens establishing independent workforce projections, which all indications suggest the government is still planning to reject in the Commons. We also looked in depth at issues in the social care sector where the issue is more about pay than the pipeline of qualified staff: retail and hospitality businesses are outbidding care organisations in a market where labour is scarce. We also heard for the first time from Nicola McQueen of NHS Professionals - a not for profit organisation that organises bank staff for around one quarter of NHS trusts - about the scandal of agencies supposedly supplying locum staff at ‘framework’ prices but migrating their staff to separate ‘off-framework’ subsidiaries where they can charge rip-off prices. All these scams, of course, will continue until the government regains control of the NHS labour market by training enough doctors.

NHS RESERVISTS Amanda Pritchard has urged people to sign up to the NHS Reservists as a campaign is underway to recruit thousands of new people to the scheme. Anyone can register their interest in becoming a reservist at this website and you don’t need any health or care experience as full training is provided. Scaling up quickly is a big learning point from the pandemic so it is great this is now happening.

COSMETIC PROCEDURES REGULATION The government has also announced that it intends to introduce a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers.  An amendment has now been tabled to the Health and Care Bill to give the Secretary of State the power to introduce such a system and he will consult on the details shortly. It will introduce consistent standards for those carrying out these procedures will have to meet, as well as hygiene and safety standards for premises. The safety of cosmetic surgery and procedures will also be a key part of the Select Committee’s inquiry into body image which starts next week.

COVID? It might seem strange given what else is  in the news but the ONS says that there are still 2 million people with the virus in England. Perhaps we are finally getting back to normal if there is so little fuss about it.

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Jeremy Hunt