Media Monitoring: 31st December – 7th January

People who need a routine blood test at their GP surgery are being offered a chance to get them more quickly at a centre in Hull.
The Community Diagnostic Centre on Albion Street is working with a growing number of GP practices to offer the tests, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said.
It follows a two-week pilot project alongside four surgeries which saw phlebotomy staff in the CDC take patients’ bloods instead of the practices’ own teams.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) congratulates Professor Jonathan Benger CBE on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Professor Benger’s leadership comes at a pivotal time as the MHRA and NICE deepen collaboration to deliver faster, more streamlined access to innovative medicines and technologies.
Joint work on the aligned pathway is already transforming how regulatory approval and health technology assessment operate together – ensuring patients benefit sooner from safe, effective treatments.

The government has rejected calls for legislation requiring industry to disclose its payments to the healthcare sector, five years after a major review said statutory rules should be introduced.
It will produce guidance for both the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries instead. This will set out which payments should be reported, as well as the format and frequency of the reporting.
Campaigners told HSJ it is “deeply disappointing” that the government decided against “sunshine legislation” to compel industry and the health service to declare payments to healthcare organisations and clinicians.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) welcomes Professor Jacob George, who starts his role as the MHRA’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer (CMSO).
In this new role, Professor George will lead the Agency’s science strategy and will oversee the MHRA’s scientific, research and innovation activities.
The creation of the CMSO role reflects the MHRA’s commitment to scientific excellence and innovation, supporting the UK’s life sciences ambitions while safeguarding patient safety.

The results are in for Innovate UK’s State of Innovation 2025 report, providing annual innovation insights from UK businesses.
Now in its third year, the report highlights trends and analysis from a survey of over 2,000 firms of all sizes and sectors across the UK.

The report’s findings provide a powerful evidence base for government, funders, banks, investors and trade bodies to evolve their business support services to the meet the needs of UK innovators.

Menopause and prostate problems will be among the priorities for the NHS’s revolutionary new online hospital when it launches next year.
The NHS has selected nine common conditions which will be the first to be treated by the NHS Online service, providing faster access to specialist care.
Launched by the Prime Minister in September 2025, the announcement sees the first step in delivering the new NHS Online hospital, which will transform how healthcare is delivered, allowing patients to be triaged quickly through the NHS App, speak to doctors via video consultation, and monitored in the comfort of their home, saving unnecessary trips to hospital.