Rail commuters are being warned to expect a 3.5% fare increase next year.

This would increase the annual cost of getting to work for many long-distance travellers by more than £150.

The exact fare rise will be confirmed when the July Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation is released by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday.

But economists from Investec and EY Item Club both predict the figure will be announced as 3.5%.

For more click here.

An innovative idea to treat people earlier for illnesses like flu and chest infections has led to patients in one area avoiding 17,000 nights in hospital and the NHS saving £7 million to be reinvested back into patient care.

The iCares system in Sandwell in the West Midlands flags people with long-term conditions who are at high risk of hospital admission to a team of 100 staff who make sure they are seen as early as possible.

Previously, patients were coping at home until in many cases they needed to be admitted to hospital.

For more click here.

Top A-level pass rates could drop this year in part due to the soaring numbers of unconditional degree offers handed out by universities, it has been suggested.

There are warnings that the hike in these guaranteed places could mean students have “taken their foot off the pedal”, leading to lower overall A-level results.

For more click here.