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techUK outlines its support for the UK to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

New Zealand, Chile and Singapore have recently reached a Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), which is a standalone agreement that sets new high quality, world leading standards in digital trade.  It complements ongoing multilateral talks on e-commerce at the WTO and efforts in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the OECD.

As a leading digital economy, with high rates of internet penetration and use, a skilled workforce, and sophisticated academic and financial ecosystems that is well placed to leverage new ideas, the UK is already one of the best places in the world to establish and grow a tech company.

The latest ScotSID Unscheduled Care report (February 2020) is drawn from the Scottish Suicide Information Database.

The data highlights the contact individuals have had with NHS24, Ambulance Service and out of hours GP services in the 12 months prior to them completing suicide. 

Shirley Windsor, Organisational Lead for Public Mental Health said:

“We want Scotland to be a place where anyone who is in such distress that they are contemplating suicide can access the best possible care and support when and where they need it.  The highest number of contacts across all the unscheduled care services were from the poorest areas so we need to continue our efforts to improve service interventions.  Everyone has a part to play in preventing suicide.” 

Vulnerable young families in the LB of Greenwich being left with inadequate support because of plans to dissolve the area’s Family Nursing Partnership (FNP) programme, Unite, warns. 

Unite, the union, which embraces the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA), said its members have raised the alarm over the impact on teenage mothers & young children if Greenwich’s FNP is lost. 

Despite denials by commissioners in the local authority that the FNP, which is run by Oxleas NHS Trust, has been decommissioned, the service will come to an end on 31 March if the plans go ahead.  Unite said FNP staff and parent service users were excluded from discussions over its future and called on the council to ensure that the successful initiative is protected from ‘counterproductive’ funding cuts. 

The union added that the lack of consultation over the Greenwich FNP is linked to major service changes that are being ‘conducted without transparency’ because of the confusion surrounding the creation of the South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). 

Last month, Unite called on the newly formed group, which will completely replace the CCGs for Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark in April, to make the procurement process for a £2.25bn pathology contract more transparent.  

Unite regional officer George Dodo-Williams said: “Unite is demanding a meeting with Greenwich council and NHS bosses to discuss the future for this vital service.  Since its creation in 2014, Greenwich FNP has delivered year on year results and made a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in the area. 

“FNP is the only evidence-based programme for teenage mothers in the UK and consists of intensive visiting from specialist nurses with training and experience working with vulnerable young parents”. 

Greenwich council invited bids to implement the restructuring of its community nursing services last year, however the FNP was not included as part of the bidding process.

The last of the guests staying at Arrowe Park after returning from China have left the hospital, NHS England and NHS Improvement announced recently (15 February 2020).

All but one of the patients being treated at other NHS Trusts have now been discharged after twice testing negative for coronavirus.  However, more than 100 guests remain at the Kents Hill Park Hotel, Milton Keynes.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has launched a new points-based immigration system which will open up the UK to the brightest & the best from around the world.

The new system, which takes effect from 1 January 2021, will end free movement, reassert control of our borders and restore public trust.  It will assign points for specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions and visas will only be awarded to those who gain enough points.

The new single global system will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally.  It will give top priority to those with the highest skills and the greatest talents, including scientists, engineers & academics.  The global talent scheme will also be opened up to EU citizens, which will allow highly-skilled scientists & researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.

In line with the government’s manifesto commitment there will be no specific route for low-skilled workers. It is estimated 70% of the existing EU workforce would not meet the requirements of the skilled worker route, which will help to bring overall numbers down in future.

Student visa routes will also be points-based and be opened up to EU citizens, ensuring talent from around the globe has access to the UK’s world-class universities. Those wishing to study in the UK will need to demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved educational institution, that they can support themselves financially and that they speak English.

In addition, the seasonal workers pilot will also be expanded in time for the 2020 harvest from 2,500 to 10,000 places, responding to the specific temporary requirements of the agricultural sector.

EU citizens and other non-visa nationals will not require a visa to enter the UK when visiting the UK for up to 6 months.  However, the use of national identity cards will be phased out for travel to the UK and the Home Office will set out our plans in due course.   Those EU citizens resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 can still apply to settle in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme until June 2021.