Health Service Journal
1999-11-04
View all stories from this issue.
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300 NHS staff could be seconded to CHI
Up to 300 staff could be seconded from frontline NHS jobs to the Commission for Health Improvement, which was given its official launch by prime minister Tony Blair this week. -
A jab in the dark
How would the NHS cope with a quarter of the population ill or dying from flu? Mark Gould reports on the Department of Health's contingency plan for the next flu pandemic, which experts believe is on its way shortly -
Arts surgery
A new national council aims to promote the use of music, dance, drama and painting in the health service. Laura Donnelly tunes in -
As winter begins to bite so will a newly sceptical media
Managers should beware as Milburn passes on the pressure to deliver -
As you don't like it
Acute services absorb two-thirds of the mental health budget, yet provision is unpopular with both users and staff. The time is right to do something about it, writes Richard Ford -
BMA seeks regulation for complementary medicine
The British Medical Association has called for complementary and alternative medicine to be regulated to end the 'current unacceptable situation' in which 'virtually anyone is free to practise, irrespective of training or experience'. In evidence to a Lords sub-committee, the BMA says a single regulating body should be established for each therapy, with an accessible complaints procedure. -
Booking pilots present 'challenges'
The introduction of airline-style booked admission systems to the NHS presented a series of 'unforeseen challenges and obstacles' that required 'ingenuity and creativity to overcome', according to an independent survey. -
Coming down to earth
Expectations have been sky-high ever since the announcement of the mental health national service framework in June 1998, and at last it is published . -
Complaints: a footnote
Letters -
Consultants seek region control of development
Consultants have called for health secretary Alan Milburn to restore regional responsibility for shaping hospital developments. -
Costs set to rise as 'success fee' gets go ahead
From early next year a change in the law will allow winning claimants to recover from their opponents not just legal costs - as now - but also any insurance premium paid and the 'success fee' payable to their lawyers for taking on a no-win no-fee case. -
Cross-channel career
David Fraser got involved with Health Rendezvous - chairing this year's conference - because of an interest in French healthcare. Though now chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway primary care trust, he once worked in the French public healthcare system. -
Days are numbered for national GP contract as pilots prosper
The days of a single national contract for all GPs 'must now be considered to be in doubt', according to a King's Fund study. -
Days like this
Bottomley replaces Mellor. . . internal market 'projects'. . . plea for £1bn extra. . . managers' performance pay frozen. . . HA merger row -
Deacon announces £1m for 'seamless' provision
Scottish health minister Susan Deacon has announced £1m investment in 14 projects to encourage 'seamless care' for patients under the Designed to Care initiative, which has already released £2m for service redesign at Ayrshire and Arran Acute Hospitals trust and Lothian University Hospitals trust . -
Discipline review is 'urgently needed'
A consultant suspended from his job for more than a year has called on health ministers to release a review of disciplinary procedures, ordered a year ago. -
Education expert calls for integrated early service
One of Britain's most prominent education officials has called for an integrated 'pregnancy-to-age-three' service to give children a 'flying start in life'. Professor Tim Brighouse, Birmingham city council chief education officer, told a conference that the government's Sure Start programme had 'got off to a very uncertain start' because civil servants were 'mistrustful' of local government and health service bureaucracy. But the programme could be modified to form the basis of a multi-agency -
End the delay over HIV funding inequalities
Letters -
Equal to the occasion
Health secretary Alan Milburn is keen to assure social services that they are equal partners with the NHS. But he warned that means signing up to a similar strict regime of regulation. Pat Healy reports -
Events
Items are entered free for public sector, voluntary and professional organisations, but we need at least six weeks' notice of your event. Please send details to Uli Jaeger, HSJ , Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7EJ. Fax: 0171-874 0254. -
Former mentally ill patient stranded at Ashworth by lack of care plan
Russell Hall was 23 when he killed his girlfriend nine years ago. Found guilty of manslaughter by reason of insanity, he is detained at Ashworth Hospital without limit of time under the Mental Health Act. -
Fox announces review groups for key topics
Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox is to set up four policy review groups for mental health, long-term care, primary care and medical ethics. -
GADFLY
A few foetid days after talking the Admiral into agreeing to Tarantino's sacking, Greycoat prepared the execution chamber. -
Glasgow seeks to up its SHARE
The chief executive of Greater Glasgow health board has called for more money from a proposed shake-up of Scottish health service funding, under which it would already be a major beneficiary. -
Improving cancer services: CHI's first task
Top of the Commission for Health Improvement's agenda is cancer care. A joint inquiry with the Audit Commission is scheduled for next year, working closely with the government's newly appointed cancer 'czar' Professor Mike Richards. -
in brief: compensation ceiling
The ceiling for compensation for unfair dismissal went up on 25 October from £12,000 to £50,000. Average awards at the moment are well under the £12,000 ceiling, so the change will affect mainly cases involving senior, higher-paid employees. -
In brief: firework injuries
Just 42 firework injuries were treated at Welsh hospitals last year, a fall of 7 per cent on the previous year, according to statistics released by the Welsh Assembly 's health , statistics and analysis unit. Rocket injuries increased from nine to 13, but the number of injuries caused by sparklers fell from 12 to just three, the lowest figure recorded in 10 years. -
In brief: General and senior managers
General and senior managers will not get a national pay rise this year, according to guidance issued by head of NHS pay Aileen Simpkins. Maxima and break-points for pay ranges for health authority managers will increase by 3 per cent. Increases for individuals within these ranges may be determined locally. -
In brief: Immigration and Asylum Bill
The government's Immigration and Asylum Bill risks damaging refugees' health, the King's Fund has warned. It has called on ministers to withdraw the bill 'in its current form', claiming it would cause 'unnecessary suffering to people awaiting a decision' on their application for refugee status. -
In brief: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
The government's new committee on nutrition and health, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, will replace the current Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy. -
In brief: year 2000 computer date problem
Trusts and health authorities have been told to 'maintain a state of readiness' for the year 2000 computer date problem - and 'be aware' that 29 February 2000 could also present problems. Tests have identified a 'proportion of failures' in connection with the leap-year date change. -
in person
Professor Joan Higgins has been appointed chair of North West region, succeeding Alasdair Breckenridge. She is professor of health policy at Manchester University and chair of Manchester health authority. -
Inadequate understanding, unhelpful attitude
Letters -
Insurance policy
It's not 'repugnant' privatisation and he doesn't have any himself, but shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox thinks health insurance is the key to improving health outcomes, as he tells Patrick Butler -
Junior doctor drafted in to help Assembly cut hours
A junior doctor has been seconded to the Welsh Assembly for nine months to 'help identify how doctors' working hours can be reduced and working conditions improved'. Dr Catrin Elis Williams, 25, was a senior house officer in general medicine at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor. -
Langlands blames market for unknown cost of IT strategy
NHS chief executive Sir Alan Langlands has blamed the internal market for being unable to say how much was spent on the NHS's first information management and technology strategy or exactly what it achieved. -
Litigation chief fears toll of 'rocketing' negligence claims
The 'rocketing' value of clinical negligence claims will have an 'inevitable impact' on NHS finances, the head of the NHS Litigation Authority has warned. -
modernisation fund
The much-touted modernisation fund owes more to smoke and mirrors than a desire to dish out significant extra cash, says John Appleby -
monitor
If life were fair, a reward would be winging its way to the press office at 10 Downing Street as a thank-you for passing on news of our pal Joe McCrea. But it isn't, so it won't be. Apparently, having found his skills surplus to requirements in the Department of Health and on Dobbo's mayoral campaign, the Enforcer has moved to a new job in Downing Street's research and information unit. Alas, a Number 10 spokesperson says the post is temporary and unpaid, so our man will be feeling the pinch. -
'More NHS jobs for mental health patients' call
The NHS has been urged to 'put its own house in order' by employing more staff with mental health problems, in a report on social exclusion by mental health charity Mind. -
No alternative: counselling is part of the mainstream of primary care
Letters -
Payout may open negligence floodgates
The Medical Defence Union last month threw in its hand on the second day of a nine-day High Court trial and agreed to pay £1.57m to Richard Sheppard, who collapsed in the street minutes after leaving his GP's surgery and suffered brain damage. He had gone to see his doctor complaining of chest pains. The GP diagnosed indigestion, although he knew Mr Sheppard had a family history of heart disease, a high cholesterol level and worked long hours in a stressful job. -
Problems and lessons in Russia's health service - but it hasn't gone west
Letters -
Profits of doom
A spectacular slump in the profits of HMOs is jeopardising the future of health insurance in the US. But, asks Howard Berliner, where is the alternative? -
Public, private and voluntary services can all contribute
Letters -
Read my lips. . .
In his speech in the Commons last week, Dr Fox declared: -
Scots campaigners want action on long-term care
Age Concern Scotland has launched a campaign in favour of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care. The WeCare campaign will aim to persuade the Scottish Parliament to implement the recommendations to 'restore dignity and fairness to the care system'. Commission chair Sir Stewart Sutherland backed the campaign, saying: 'The health select committee of the House of Commons has already said it would be a 'dereliction of duty' for the government to refuse to act promptly. I a -
Service framework 'needs more money'
Four in five managers charged with implementing the national service framework for mental health are not convinced it can be done without extra money, according to a survey of health authorities and trusts. -
Shelter urges government to firm up housing duties
Shelter has warned that 'many vulnerable people' are 'giving up asking for help' because they face an insurmountable battle trying to access housing and care. It has urged the government to use its forthcoming housing policy green paper to firm up local authority duties to provide comprehensive housing and care packages for people with mental health problems and disabilities. -
Spell it out for me
Primary care groups and trusts must be crystal clear on what action they will take when guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence arrive, says Alan Earl-Slater -
Take a closer look at your own evidence base
Letters -
Take a deep breath and try again
Parliamentary time is needed to put the tobacco ad ban beyond doubt -
The French connection
While trade relations between Britain and France nose-dived, a meeting of minds on health highlighted much common ground, writes Barbara Millar -
To sum up, Hutton's not a calculating character
Dining in intimidating company the other evening, I found myself seated next to a distinguished medical academic. A man of lifelong Labour persuasion, he was nonetheless fiercely sceptical of the evidence-based approach to NHS drugs policy as represented by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. -
Tobacco ad ban hitch
Anti-smoking campaigners have expressed disappointment at a High Court ruling blocking the government's tobacco advertising ban. -
Tribunals give important rights, which should be maintained and extended to informal patients
Letters -
Trusts' improved note handling 'good news'
Fewer than half of all trusts start outpatient clinics with a set of casenotes for every patient, according to an Audit Commission report published today. -
WEB WATCH
Two out of three people now retire before the age of 60, and four out of 10 go before they hit 55, according to a report produced by Income Data Services. -
Well-laid plans
Insurance companies tapping into NHS funds through PFI schemes are blurring the boundaries between private and public health provision in search of greater profits, argue Stewart Player and colleagues -
Welsh bed numbers drop by a third in two decades
The number of hospital beds in Wales has dropped by a third in less than 20 years, but roughly twice as many patients are receiving hospital treatment. A summary of statistics from Wales published last week shows that the number of beds fell by 8,000 to 15,000 between 1980 and 1997-98. Inpatient admissions rose from less than 400,000 to just over 500,000, while the number of day cases jumped from about 25,000 to more than 300,000. Average lengths of stay tumbled from 18 days to just over eigh
