Mills & Reeve | Health and care

From Muckamore to maternity services, inquiries across the UK continue to expose what can happen when organisations fail to hear concerns, challenge assumptions and act on the warning signs. The latest review by Baroness Amos is focused on maternity and neonatal care, but its findings reach far beyond one part of the health and care system. In her latest article, Jill Mason explores the lessons for boards, executives and governance leaders, and why this report should prompt reflection across the wider sector. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eBz5XGTA #Inquiry #Investigations #AmosReport #MaternityCare #NeonatalCare #PatientSafety #NHSProviders #Governance #Safeguarding #MaternityAndNeonatal10PointPlan

A major inquiry in Northern Ireland. Important lessons for health and care organisations. The Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry in Northern Ireland may have focused on one organisation, but its findings resonate far beyond its borders. The report highlights how culture, leadership, oversight and safeguarding arrangements can collectively determine whether concerns are identified and acted upon or missed. In her latest article, Jill Mason looks beyond the Inquiry itself to explore the broader lessons for organisations across the health and care sector. A valuable read for boards, executives, governance leads across health and social care. Whether you're in the public, independent or voluntary sector, the Inquiry offers important lessons for everyone involved in delivering safe, high-quality care. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSj84bRt #Inquiry #MuckamoreHospital #Safeguarding #Governance #IndependentHealthandCareProviders #Leadership #Culture #PatientSafety #DutyOfCandour #Healthcare #NHS #Commissioners #NHSProviders

Latest: CQC confirms risk based approach to inspections Amid ongoing NHS reorganisation, the Care Quality Commission has made it clear that regulatory oversight will continue uninterrupted. Inspections and assessments will remain in place, with a risk-based and proportionate approach designed to balance accountability with the realities of organisational transition. More on what this means in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eqv2r26z #CQC #Regulation #Inspections #Assessments #HealthcareProviders #CareProviders #NHS #IndependentSectorHealthAndCare

After AGNI: Six outstanding questions on deprivation of liberty The Supreme Court's ruling in AGNI marks a significant change in the legal framework for deprivation of liberty. Recent DHSC guidance seeks to provide clarity and encourages a "proportionate and considered approach". Yet concerns remain regarding the protection of individuals' rights and the practical consequences for those working across health and social care. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has formally sought answers from the Secretary of State on key aspects of the ruling and its wider implications. In our latest blog, James Wood examines what the guidance means, the concerns being raised and the questions that still need answering. Read the blog here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/epTqnW3m #HealthAndCare #HumanRights #SocialCare #MentalCapacity #DeprivationOfLiberty #AGNI #Charities https://lnkd.in/epTqnW3m

Closing the gap between physical and mental health care How can mental health services ensure that a patient's physical health does not become secondary to their psychiatric care? That's the question that sits at the heart of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)'s latest report. Five areas of improvement are made ☑️ Supporting healthier lifestyles ☑️ Improving physical health assessment facilities ☑️ Clarifying clinical responsibilities across services ☑️ Strengthening trauma-informed support and shared learning ☑️ Enabling more personalised care planning in inpatient mental health settings HSSIB's report forms part of its wider scrutiny of patient safety in mental health care. Read Jill Mason's blog to find out more 🔗 ➡️:https://lnkd.in/e7gvPd8e #PatientSafety #Investigations #LowSecureMentalHealthUnit #Healthcare #IndependentHealthCareProviders #MentalHealth

The UK femtech sector has come a long way in the last decade. Our latest research shows deal activity has increased by more than 194%, with total funding growing from £9.4m in 2015 to more than £100m in 2025. The data points to growing investor confidence and an increasingly mature market, but it also highlights that there is still more to do to ensure funding and support are accessible across all regions of the UK. As we mark 10 years since the term femtech was first coined, we're proud to contribute to the conversation around the future of women's health innovation and the importance of supporting businesses developing solutions in this space. A particular thank you to Ida Tin, co-founder of Clue and the person who coined the term femtech, for sharing her perspective and thoughtful contribution to the article: “I want men with money and power to get femtech on their radar. The business opportunity is there. The societal economic argument is there.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e2-f8ZQm #Femtech #WomensHealth #HealthTech #Innovation #Investment #Healthcare #MillsReeve Charlotte Lewis Gayle Curry Tania Richards Steph Caird Sophie Burton-Jones

Three important developments for Ambient Voice Technology ☑️ New MHRA guidance on when AVT products may be regulated as medical devices ☑️Updated NHS England guidance aligning with the MHRA's approach ☑️ A new HSSIB investigation examining patient safety issues linked to AVT use in hospitals For innovators, the guidance provides greater clarity on intended purpose, product claims and regulatory obligations. For NHS organisations, it offers a more structured framework for assessing and adopting AVT products safely and compliantly. Read Isabel Teare and Steph Caird's latest blog on what these developments mean for the sector 🔗 ➡️ ☑️ https://lnkd.in/e76pdJmq #AmbientVoiceTechnology #SMEs #HealthTechSuppliers #NHSEngland #MHRA #Innovation #HealthTech #AI #MedTech #PatientSafety Mills & Reeve | Life sciences

🚨Cyber breaches: Is your organisation ready to respond? A cyber incident affecting one of your suppliers can quickly become an issue for your organisation. Whether you are an NHS organisation, independent sector healthcare provider, care provider or health charity reliance on third party systems means cyber risk increasingly sits across your whole supply chain. The recent Beacon CMR incident is a timely reminder that organisations need clear plans for responding to supplier cyber breaches, protecting sensitive personal data and maintaining services. Helen Tringham and Claire Williams explore the lessons from the incident and highlight new National Cyber Security Centre guidance on cyber recovery. The NCSC's message is simple: recovery planning is just as important as prevention. Contact Helen Tringham and Claire Williams for more information and support. Find out more here ➡️🔗 https://lnkd.in/eymSudXu #Healthcare #CyberSecurity #CyberResponse #DataBreach #Charity #IndependentSectorHealthProviders #NHSProviders #Commissioners #CareHomes

🔊 Public sector outsourcing: ERA changes to workforce rules coming down the track The Employment Rights Act 2025 is set to introduce important changes for public sector outsourcing, with new Regulations expected to come into force on 30 October 2026. The aim is to address the long-standing issue of the “two-tier workforce” that can arise after a TUPE transfer, where transferring public sector employees and existing private sector staff working on the same contract may be on different terms. While the detail is still subject to consultation and final Regulations, the direction of travel is clear. Public authorities and private sector suppliers involved in procurement exercises will need to understand the potential cost, compliance and contractual implications. Stuart Craig and Alexandra Byrne explore what the changes could mean and how organisations can start preparing: ➡️ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecdMz_Xg #EmploymentRightsAct #TUPE #ContractingAuthority #Suppliers #Worforce #PublicSectorOutsourcing #PrivateSector #Procurement