NHS boss will ask for more money

The head of the NHS in England has claimed that the health service will need more cash and has denied bowing to pressure to request less from the Treasury, The Times reports.

Simon Stevens dismissed claims that he dropped a demand for £16billion a year in extra funding under pressure from Downing Street, settling for an £8billion rise instead.

David Laws, a Liberal Democrat former minister, says in his new book Coalition: “Stevens’ original estimate was that the NHS needed £15billion to £16billion extra.

“No10’s reaction was: ‘You’ve got to be joking’.”

Easter warning as North East's A&E departments struggle to cope

Health bosses in the North East have issued a warning ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as A&E services in the region struggle to cope, the Chronicle Live reports.

Hospitals across the area are already under unprecedented pressures as they struggle to hit waiting time targets following a crippling winter.

Every hospital trust in the area missed their A&E waiting time targets in January.

Now ahead of the Easter weekend, the region’s NHS is encouraging people to visit a pharmacist if they need quick access to health advice and treatment rather than turning up at A&E with minor ailments.

Sugar tax campaigner puts ice-cream on expenses

As chief medical officer, she has been unbending in her condemnation of “calorie-packed” soft drinks and was an influential voice in the government’s decision to introduce a sugar tax, The Times reports.

When entertaining, however, it seems Dame Sally Davies is partial to a spot of lemonade and ice cream.

She was criticised last night for failing to practise what she preaches after putting the unhealthy snacks on expenses when hosting a party for a leading US doctor.

Dame Sally claimed £3 for six litres of Schweppes lemonade, made by Coca-Cola, alongside a claim for two tubs of “seriously creamy” ice cream, the Sunday Mirror discovered.

Smokers sign up for help at Nuneaton chemists

A healthy message has been spread at a Nuneaton chemists, the Nuneaton News reports.

Kasli Pharmacy offered help and support to people looking to quit smoking.

The Tomkinson Road-based business was part of the recent No Smoking Day with several customers calling in to find out more.

"The event went very well, we had a number of people sign up to the Stop Smoking Scheme on the day," said a spokesperson.

Scarlet fever returns: Primary schools hit by sharp rise in outbreaks as family doctors are warned to watch out for the Victorian disease

Family doctors have been told to look out for scarlet fever as the once feared Victorian disease has made an alarming comeback, the Daily Mail reports.

Primary schools across Britain are being hit by the disease as the numbers of children being infected by the bug have hit a 50-year high.

Outbreaks of the highly contagious disease have risen steeply – with 6,157 new cases since September according to Public Health England.

The figures show that 17,586 cases were reported in England in 2015, the highest total since 1967. This compares with only 1,678 in 2005.