What changes next, and what it costs
Health services, treatments and their costs, explained from official NHS and regulator sources.
Public Health Scotland figures to 30 September show 588,864 people on at least one outpatient, inpatient or day case list, with the longest waits shrinking but performance against the 12-week standards slipping.
New figures from National Records of Scotland show a second annual fall, driven by fewer deaths among men, as a Fife hospital starts a trial of a dedicated alcohol care team.
General practice received 8.3% of NHS spending in England in 2024 to 2025, and the college wants a guaranteed rising share as health services are moved out of hospitals.
A new laboratory at University Hospital Wales will make room for screening babies for a rare liver condition, and officials are exploring whether Wales can join UK trials of tests for two more.
Draft guidance lets the NHS in England use the software for two years, with NHS funding, while evidence is gathered on accuracy, biopsy numbers, waiting times and workload.
Most prescriptions in England carry a flat charge per item, but many people are exempt and a prepayment certificate caps the cost for regular users.
NHS dental treatment in England is priced in three bands rather than item by item. Knowing which band a course of treatment falls into explains most of what a patient will pay.
