Do missed GP appointments cost the NHS £160m per year? Health Comments by the Health Secretary have sparked a debate about charging patients for doctors’ appointments. But how common are missed slots, and how much do they cost the health service? 18 Jun 2014 • 3:45 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Short stays in English hospitals: on the rise? Health The new chief executive of NHS England has said he’s concerned by an increase in the number of hospital stays lasting less than two days. We look into the available evidence on the issue. 30 May 2014 • 4:42 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Immigration and the NHS: how many staff are from the EU and Commonwealth? Health The role of EU and Commonwealth nationals in the NHS was discussed on the Today programme this morning. We look into the number of NHS staff falling into each group. 28 May 2014 • 3:57 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Are hundreds of patients being ‘thrown out’ of hospital beds overnight? Health Reports this morning about patients being ‘thrown out’ of hospital beds highlight a serious issue, but the figures being quoted aren’t necessarily a very good measure of how widespread the practice is. 22 May 2014 • 6:10 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
NHS walk-in centre closures: is everyone losing services as a result? Health Labour reports that a quarter of NHS walk-in centres have closed, but how far does this represent a loss of primary services? 13 May 2014 • 5:45 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Are there 800 needless asthma deaths a year? Health Yesterday we raised questions about media reports of 800 ‘needless’ deaths from asthma. We’ve spoken to the report’s author and our concerns turned out to be well-founded. 7 May 2014 • 6:20 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
800 avoidable asthma deaths: do media reports reflect the research? Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 6 May 2014 • 4:18 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
NHS safety: rise in number of incidents reported by staff Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 2 May 2014 • 12:20 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
‘No simple explanation’ for child mortality gap Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 1 May 2014 • 11:30 am • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Is cancer the biggest killer at every age? Health It’s claimed this week that cancer is the biggest killer in every age group, but the figures give us reason to differ. 30 Apr 2014 • 12:54 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Are more women overdue for a cervical smear? Health Figures from Labour on the number of women overdue for a cervical screening test made headlines today. We look into the trends. 24 Apr 2014 • 12:59 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
NHS infections: do ‘filthy’ hospitals cause 5,000 deaths a year? Health The Daily Mail has claimed that one in 16 patients pick up infections due to dirty hospitals, and that these infections cause 5,000 deaths a year. We look into the available data. 17 Apr 2014 • 4:20 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Do we have fewer hospital beds than most of Europe? Health We take a look at the statistics behind yesterday’s stories. 17 Apr 2014 • 1:10 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
When it comes to surveys, significance and bias are separate issues Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 14 Apr 2014 • 4:38 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
The 29,000 air pollution deaths that aren’t quite what they seem Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 11 Apr 2014 • 12:56 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Is steroid use up 645% over the last 3 years? Health The BBC today reported on a big increase in the number of steroid users seen by a charity. We look into what we know about the total number of users. 9 Apr 2014 • 3:40 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
How often do patients see their preferred GP? Health Ian Austin MP yesterday claimed that 35% of patients in England are unable to see their first choice GP. We look at the figures. 7 Apr 2014 • 1:25 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
London Mayor’s smog deaths claim comes with a health warning Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere 7 Apr 2014 • 12:24 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Air pollution: how many people does it kill? Health Yesterday the Guardian said that air pollution is estimated to cause 29,000 early deaths per year, and that this is more than is caused by obesity or was caused by passive smoking before the smoking ban. We look into the research behind the claim. 4 Apr 2014 • 1:03 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
NHS reform: has it affected staff morale? Health Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham today said that there has been a drop in staff morale following NHS reforms. We look into the source of the claim. 1 Apr 2014 • 5:25 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
How much is the ‘NHS market system’ costing? Health Is it as much as £10 billion a year, as suggested this morning? 31 Mar 2014 • 5:00 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Is the NHS losing £5 billion a year to fraud? Health It has been widely reported that fraud is costing the NHS £5 billion a year – far higher than official estimates suggest. But the £5 billion is an uncertain figure, based on international averages applied to the UK. 24 Mar 2014 • 5:18 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
Are NHS staff “10% worse off” under the coalition? Health The extent of pay rises for NHS staff has been a matter of controversy. It was claimed that staff are 10% worse off than when the coalition came into power. We look into the figures. 17 Mar 2014 • 4:53 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail
£3bn cost of NHS reorganisation likely to be an overestimate Health Full Fact Live: factchecking in brief from Full Fact and elsewhere. 14 Mar 2014 • 12:56 pm • Share Twitter Facebook Mail