Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Derogation, an ultra processed food system, and catch up pay for the NHS

Mar 29, 2024

Felice Jacka, Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, discusses the link between diet and health, emphasizing the need for governments to focus on the food system. The podcast also covers the challenges in NHS funding and the importance of stability for securing healthcare services' future.

29:47

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Episode guests

Felice Jacka

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Derogation process for doctor recalls is underutilized and often rejected, raising questions about government-doctor relations.

High intake of ultra-processed foods is linked to increased health risks, highlighting the need for effective food policies.

Deep dives

Derogation Requests and Patient Safety Concerns

Hospitals in the UK have a process called derogation requests to recall doctors when unexpected safety concerns arise during strikes. Data revealed that while most trusts did not utilize this process, a few made requests, mostly rejected by the BMA. Despite warnings of potential harm like last-minute operation cancellations, no evidence showed patient safety compromise.

Introduction

2min

Challenges in Trust Requests During Doctor Strikes

4min

Navigating Patient Safety and Nutrition Research

8min

Challenges and Solutions in Financing the UK's NHS System

11min

Bridging the NHS Funding Gap: A Call for a Catch-up Fund

4min

Derogation, the way in which striking doctors can be recalled to the ward to protect patient safety, was agreed by NHS England and the BMA. Now, new data The BMJ has uncovered shows that the mechanism was rarely used - and when it was tried, was often rejected. Gareth Iacobucci explains what that means about relations between the government, the NHS, and doctors.

Felice Jacka, director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, is one of the authors of our recent ultra-processed foods umbrella review - and joins the podcast to talk about the link between diet and health; and why goverments need to pay more attention to the food system.

Finally, John Appleby, senior associate at the Nuffield Trust, and Gillian Leng, dean and president elect of the Royal Society of medicine, have been thinking about healthcare funding, and how more stability is essential in securing the service's future.

Reading list

Hospital leaders warned that failure to recall striking doctors risked patient safety in some trusts, documents show

Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes

NHS funding for a secure future

Chapters

00:31 Derogation and doctor strikes 06:59 Ultra processed food producers and health 13:59 Rethinking NHS funding