£3.8bn cash boost for NHS

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £3.8bn cash injection for the NHS.

The above-inflation funding for frontline NHS services is part of a manifesto promise to give the NHS an extra £8bn a year by 2020.

Responding to the Government’s announcement Rob Webster, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said: “The NHS has made a strong and consistent case to the Comprehensive Spending Review, based on sound economic and social policy.

"This has been hard to ignore and we welcome the early announcement of elements of the settlement.

“Increasing NHS spending by £3.8bn in 2016/17 appears a positive step.

“It could give the NHS a fighting chance of transforming care in line with the Five Year Forward View, and longer term would provide the certainty that enables it to invest in new models of care.”

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Patients Association respond to funding news

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “As winter approaches, more elderly and vulnerable people are expected to be admitted to hospitals around the country, so we welcome today’s funding announcement from the Chancellor.

“However, we are concerned that this is not enough to avert the current crisis and more must be done to prioritise patient safety.

“In addition, the funds have been appropriated from other parts of the Department of Health following changes to nurses’ training bursaries, at a time when the NHS is struggling to recruit and retain staff.”

Pfizer in world’s biggest takeover

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US drugs giant Pfizer has sealed a deal to buy Botox-maker Allergan for £106bn in what is the biggest pharmaceuticals deal in history, the BBC has reported.

The takeover could allow Pfizer to escape relatively high US corporate tax rates by moving its headquarters to Allergan's Dublin base. The merged company will be the world's biggest drug maker by sales.

Students on health binges

Students are ditching kebabs and TV dinners in favour of healthier lifestyles, The Times has reported.

An analysis of shopping habits revealed that many of the most popular items bought via Amazon’s student discount scheme are related to nutrition, exercise, health and wellbeing.

NHS England negotiates price cuts for ultra-rare Morquio A syndrome drugs

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People in England who suffer from the ultra-rare Morquio A syndrome should in future be able to access the only drug for their condition after a ground-breaking agreement was reached between NHS England and the manufacturer.

NHS England has successfully negotiated a five-year, fixed-fee agreement on elosulfase alfa (brand name Vimizim) with manufacturers BioMarin Pharma.

Morquio A syndrome (full name Mucopolysaccharidosis IV Type A, or MPS IVA) is a rare condition that affects under 100 people in England.