View our news stories from 2016.
2016 news archive
Annual NHS dental statistics published
23 September 2016: NHS Digital released figures today on all patients who received NHS dental care in England during the last financial year.
National Child Measurement Programme shows increased obesity prevalence in primary schools
3 November 2016: The prevalence of obesity has risen from 9.1 per cent in 2014-15 to 9.3 per cent in 2015-16 for children in reception2 and from 19.1 per cent to 19.8 per cent for those in year 6.
Report highlights increased risk of pregnancy complications for women with diabetes
21 October 2016: Many women with diabetes who become pregnant are at increased risk of complications because of a lack of preparation for pregnancy, according to a report published today.
Patients undergoing four common NHS operations rate their recovery
11 August 2016: NHS Digital has published findings of patient surveys taken before and after four common surgical procedures performed by the NHS, to measure patients' health gain.
New figures reveal running cost of NHS estate
11 October 2016: NHS Digital has today released figures detailing the costs of building, maintaining and servicing parts of the NHS estate - from how much is spent on feeding patients, to how many car parking spaces hospitals have.
Number of written complaints about NHS falls by 4 per cent
15 September 2016: NHS Digital figures released today show there were 198,739 written complaints received over the last financial year(2) - the equivalent of around 544 per day - which was 8,668 (4.2 per cent) fewer than in 2014-15.
Household survey shows decline in numbers of children and young people smoking and drinking
14 December 2016: The 2015 Health Survey for England (2) (HSE) found that 16 per cent (3) of children aged 8 to 15 reported ever having an alcoholic drink (4.) This is the lowest level ever reported since the HSE began, down from the highest point of 45 per cent in 2003.
Maternity report shows trends in hospital deliveries
9 November 2016: Figures released today by NHS Digital provide information on maternity activity in NHS hospitals in England.
NHS Digital call for social workers to help shape the future of information and technology
4 November 2016: The national information and technology partner for the health and care system is seeking expert input from social care professionals as part of its drive to best support the sector.
Cervical screening coverage falls for second consecutive year
15 November 2016: Screening coverage across women aged 25-64, under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, was 72.7 per cent as at 31 March 2016, down from 73.5 per cent in 2015 and 75.5 per cent in 2011.
Non-executive directors wanted for NHS Digital
15 September 2016: The Secretary of State for Health is looking to appoint four Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to NHS Digital.
NHS Digital named as top digital employer in Leeds
14th October 2016: NHS Digital has come top of a Leeds-List ranking of 'digital and tech companies we would love to work for'.
Latest statistics for the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards published by NHS Digital
28 September 2016: Annual statistics have been released today by NHS Digital on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications made to councils in England.
EPS 'highly commended' at prestigious awards ceremony
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) has been highly commended at the prestigious HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards 2016
Latest figures released on local councils' adult social care spending
26 October 2016: New official figures have been published today which outline the total money spent by local authorities on adult social care.
Survey shows one in three adults with common mental disorders report using treatment services
29 September 2016: One in three adults aged 16-74, with conditions such as anxiety or depression, surveyed in England, were accessing mental health treatment in 2014.
Annual childhood immunisation statistics published
22 September 2016: Figures released today present information on the vaccination of children against a number of diseases, in England, during 2015-16.
Latest figures on detentions under the Mental Health Act published by NHS Digital
30 November 2016: New statistics have been published by NHS Digital1 today on the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act2 in England throughout 2015/16.
Report examines UK dentists' morale and motivation
8 December 2016: Dentists' morale has generally fallen, according to official statistics published today.
A year of achievement
22 December 2016: NHS Digital chief executive Andy Williams looks back at the organisation's achievements in 2016 and looks forward to the new year.
Three hospital trust indicators published to aid research into seven-day NHS provision
26 October 2016: The experimental statistics presented in Seven-day Services, England, April 2015 - March 2016 provide a starting point for discussions on how to effectively measure improvement and variation in care provision across the week.
Latest experimental statistics about female genital mutilation published
New official figures published today provide experimental statistics on female genital mutilation (FGM) in England, from July 2016 to September 2016.
Mental illness recovery linked with deprivation, report finds
18 October 2016: Official statistics published today show a strong link between deprivation and the likelihood of recovering from anxiety and depression.
Largest English study into health and care of people with learning disabilities published today
09 December 2016: Report published by NHS Digital, in collaboration with Public Health England, highlights differences in the health outcomes of people with learning disabilities.
Prescribing costs in hospitals and the community
22 November 2016: "Prescribing costs in hospitals and the community", published today by NHS Digital, reports the overall costs of medicines used in hospitals and those prescribed in primary care. It also looks at medicines positively appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Latest figures released on the earnings and expenses of GPs and dentists
14 September 2016: New official figures have been published today which outline the earnings and expenses of GPs and dentists for the 2014/15 financial year.
Reproductive health statistics published
19 October 2016: National statistics on reproductive health services have been published today by NHS Digital.
A common vocabulary to reduce GP burden and improve patient care
3 November 2016: A programme of work is underway to introduce a single vocabulary for patient records to help drive primary care efficiencies and improve patient care.
Latest GP workforce figures released
27 September 2016: New official figures published today provide detailed statistics relating to the general practice workforce in England as at 31 March 2016.
Report shows prevalence of conditions across England
27 October 2016: Figures released today by NHS Digital provide information on the prevalence of 21 conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, dementia, diabetes, and depression.
Hospital admissions hit record high as population ages
9 November 2016: Hospital admissions in England rose to record levels last year, with 16.2 million admissions during 2015-16 - up from 12.7 million ten years ago.
NHS Digital CEO Announces Retirement
15 November 2016: NHS Digital Chief Executive Andy Williams has announced to staff he will retire from his role on 31 March 2017.
Summary Care Record now used in 50% of community pharmacies
08 December 2016: A major milestone has been achieved after uptake of the Summary Care Record among community pharmacies in England reached 50%.
Hospital Outpatient Activity data published
1 December 2016: Statistics on outpatient activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector during 2015-16 are published by NHS Digital today.
Rebuttal of Mail on Sunday article "Hundreds MORE die unexpectedly at crisis hospitals"
14 December 2016: An article published by the Mail on Sunday on 11 December, said that "hundreds of patients are feared to have died unexpectedly at three NHS hospitals".
Breast and cosmetic implant registry launched
15th October 2016: New registry will improve safety if implants fail
Annual NHS stop smoking service figures published
18 August 2016: Figures released today by NHS Digital show the number of people setting a quit date through NHS Stop Smoking Services in 2015/16
Hospital admissions estimated to be attributable to smoking go up by 5 per cent in ten years
The number of hospital admissions estimated to be attributable to smoking was 475,0004 in 2014-15 - a rise of 23,000 (5 per cent) in the last ten years.
New report sheds light on GP practice workforce
New official figures published today detail all staff who provide health and care services within the GP practice workforce.
NHS Digital statement on NHS Mail service disruption
15 November 2016: In relation to service disruptions to NHS Mail on the morning of November 14, 2016, NHS Digital has released the following statement.
Two HSCIC projects in the frame to win prestigious award
Two NHS wide technology projects have been shortlisted for a prestigious HSJ Value in Healthcare Award 2016, recognising innovation and the hundreds of millions of pounds of savings they have made for the NHS.
National Information Board: Paperless 2020
In line with the NHS Five Year Forward View, Paperless 2020 presents HSCIC with a real opportunity to transform health and social care.
NHS e-Referral Service saves £10million in first year
7 September 2016: Development of new features now underway
First monthly report published on out of area placements for mental health patients
02 December 2016: NHS Digital has today published initial provisional figures from a new interim data collection which captures details on mental health patients being admitted to a unit that does not form part of their usual local network of services.