Ambulance staff in England and Wales struck again, as union relationships with the government deteriorated, and unions refused to submit evidence to the NHS’ pay review bodies for the coming year. Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay announced that £200 million would be spent on buying additional beds from care homes to try and ease the discharge crisis without addressing its underlying causes.
NHS England pushed ahead with plans for a Federated Data Platform, despite doubts about its efficacy and the provider of the predecessor Covid-19 Data Store, Palantir. And trusts rolled out apps, virtual wards – and robotic penguin helpers.
