NEWS
UKHSA detects further cases of Clade Ib mpox
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced that it has detected three cases of Clade Ib mpox. The first case was detected on 30 October, with two household contacts of that individual subsequently also testing positive. These are the first detected cases of this Clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox Clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who- have-sex-with-men (GBMSM). Contacts of all three cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised
on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. The UKHSA, NHS and partner
organisations have well-tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases. There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.
The first case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of Clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual. The further two patients are currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low.
The UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health. While the existing evidence suggests mpox Clade Ib causes more severe disease than Clade II, it will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. UKHSA will initially manage Clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst it learns more about the virus.
EDITOR’S COMMENT A big year to come
As 2024 comes to an end it’s no surprise that thoughts are turning to next year. And what a year it is set to be. The new Labour government has delivered its first budget, without any major surprises; and with Lord Darzi having delivered his diagnosis on the NHS, the next step is to come up with a treatment plan. We are promised a new 10-year plan to fix the National Health Service, due in the spring. This will follow the conclusion of a significant consultation exercise, launched by Health Secretary Wes Streeting; but we already know that the new plan will be underlined by three big shifts in healthcare – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.
This will be a significant opportunity for pathology and diagnostics to play a greater part – something which has long been called for by industry bodies. As covered in the issue’s news section, the IBMS, RCPath, BIVDA (and many others of course) will already be working on their submissions to influence the new NHS plan. However, for the potential of our area to be fully realised, there are many barriers which need to be removed – managed contracts, increasing regulation and red tape, workforce shortages. Only by overcoming these will the NHS be able to benefit from meaningful change. It will be asking a lot of those working
in the NHS, and those in government too. Let’s hope the very real opportunity to transform the NHS is taken, and doesn’t just result in window dressing masquerading as transformation. For the final issue of Pathology in
Practice this year, subjects under the microscope include multiplex PCR point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses, the development of EQA schemes, how microRNAs are shaping our understanding and treatment of cancer, as well as the potential for plasma viscosity to diagnose vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We also have some seasonal content with Neil Bentley examining Christmas tree syndrome, and a look at the 40 year history of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures, now part of UKHSA. Our cover story for this issue also looks at a contribution from the National Pathology Working Group towards forming a cohesive strategy to transform histopathology services within the NHS via digital pathology. As we look towards next year, this type of project is emblematic of the advances new technology can bring, with input from stakeholders and those ’at the coalface’ fostering a collaborative approach and maximising the chances of success and improved patient outcomes. Happy new year to you all!
andymyall@pathologyinpractice.com
Budget gives NHS extra £25 billion
As part of the Autumn Budget 2024, the government has allocated the NHS an extra £25.7 billion over this year and next as it looks to reform the Service and cut waiting lists.
This is the biggest increase in NHS spending since 2010, excluding COVID-19 years. It includes funding to reduce waiting times by supporting the NHS to deliver an extra 40,000 elective appointments a week. Since July, the government has invested an additional £1.8 billion to support this. These extra appointments will help
reduce waiting times. This is part of the new government’s plan to make sure patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from their referral to getting treatment. The Budget also includes:
n £1.5 billion to fund new surgical hubs which will help build capacity for over 30,000 additional procedures, and more
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM DECEMBER 2024
than 1.25 million additional diagnostic tests (which use CT or MRI scanners).
n £70 million to invest in new radiotherapy machines to improve cancer treatment.
n Over £2 billion for NHS technology and digital improvements to increase productivity and save staff time.
n Over £600 million increase in local government spending to support social care.
n £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres.
Looking beyond this Budget, the government will publish a 10-year health plan for the NHS in spring 2025, which will set out the long-term vision for fixing the NHS. The Change.nhs consultation is currently running, gathering experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS from the public, as well as NHS staff and experts.
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