Health Service Journal
17 December 2007
View all stories from this issue.
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Alarms raised over neonatal capacity
NHS neonatal services are 'challenged', according to a National Audit Office report.Caring for Vulnerable Babies: the reorganisation of neonatal services in England, published today, has highlighted severe shortages in the number of neonatal nurses available to staff units across the country. -
Ban alcohol adverts, say top surgeons
Government and industry events to prevent alcohol-related harm are not working, top surgeons writing in the BMJ have claimed.They urged the government to explore more proven measures instead, such as increasing the price of alcohol, banning alcohol advertising, and reducing its availability. -
Child vaccination data missing, say Conservatives
Poor software systems mean that London primary care trusts do not know how many of the 450,000 children in their areas have been given essential vaccinations, the Conservatives have said. -
Consultation to extend GP opening hours
The government is today expected to launch a 13-week statutory consultation to change the GP contract to ensure the average practice is open for an extra three hours a week. -
DoH found in breach of Data Protection Act
The Information Commissioner's Office has found the Department of Health in breach of the Data Protection Act following an investigation into a security breach on the Medical Training Application Service website. -
DoH reneged on surplus promise, claims BMA
The British Medical Association has accused the government of reneging on a promise to use the predicted £1.8bn NHS surplus on healthcare. -
DoH responds to social care ethics review
The Department of Health has published a response to the recommendations of the Planning Group on Ethics Review in Social Care Research. -
Emergency reconfiguration plans approved
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has endorsed two separate plans to concentrate emergency services. -
EU health tourism plans delayed
A controversial European Commission directive that was set to open the way for EU patients to travel abroad for treatments at the expense of their home countries has been delayed. -
Genes triple bowel cancer risk, study reveals
Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK claim to have identified two common genetic variants that could triple a person's risk of getting bowel cancer. -
Guidance for emergency burns patients
The Department of Health has published its emergency planning guidance for the management of burn-injured patients. -
Hospital food gets low marks in Which? survey
A third of patients are unhappy with the quality of food served in hospitals, according to a new survey.Which? surveyed 1,000 patients and 250 members of staff. -
Lib Dem leader calls for 'bonfire' of NHS targets
Newly elected Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg outlined his vision for the NHS in a recent blog entry. He said he would devolve control of the NHS to locally elected representatives and have a 'bonfire of central targets'. -
Local involvement network plans 'woolly'
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health has condemned the government's plans for local involvement networks as 'vague and woolly'. -
MRSA rates under scrutiny
A report examining the factors behind the variation in MRSA rates between different hospitals has been published by the Department of Health.The report analyses the contribution of organisational factors such as bed occupancy, cleanliness and the use of temporary staffing. -
New infant mortality guidance
Guidance on reducing health inequalities in infant mortality has been published by the Department of Health. -
PCTs must get creative with commissioning, report urges
Primary care trusts must develop 'creative public health expertise' to ensure they are meeting the demands of world class commissioning, according to a new report. -
Report highlights x-ray dangers
X-ray machines may impact on public health, according to the 12th annual report by the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. -
Scotland caps NHS car parking charges
NHS facilities in Scotland will have to cap the maximum charge for car parking at £3 a day, health and well-being secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced today.NHS Scotland health boards will be issued guidance on the cap early next year. -
Scotland sets out NHS workforce plan
The Scottish government has published its NHS workforce plan for 2008-09, which includes the training numbers for doctors and nurses. -
Second-hand smoke doubles allergy risk, research claims
Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are almost twice as likely to develop allergies to inhaled allergens such as pet hair, according to research released today. -
Social care body calls for guidelines on restraining older people
The use of restraint in the care of older people has been addressed in a new report published by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. -
Welsh NHS to buy goods and services online
A project that will enable the public sector in Wales to buy all its goods and services online has been given the go-ahead.
