Gordon Brown outlines vision for more health and social care at home
Prime minister Gordon Brown has pledged to provide more NHS and social care to people in their own homes with new guarantees for cancer patients and elderly people.
Complaints against GPs rise 11pc
Complaints against GPs have risen 11 per cent in a year, figures show.
Doctors' leaders warn on rising population
New GP practices should be established in areas with growing populations, the British Medical Association has said.
PCTs told to review management of out of hours care
Primary care trusts have been told to review the way they oversee their arrangements for out of hours GP services to “ensure they are robust and fit for purpose”.
Plans to scrap GP practice boundaries draw fire
The British Medical Association and the NHS Alliance last week stepped up their opposition to government plans to scrap GP practice boundaries within 12 months.
NHS Direct to increase web presence
The chief executive of NHS Direct wants to significantly shift its operations towards the web, saying the health service needs to leave behind its “1950s bank” approach to services.
Out of hours GP variations 'unacceptable'
An unacceptable variation exists between doctors’ out of hours services around the country, Mike O’Brien has admitted.
Lib Dems call for tightening of foreign GP law
The Liberal Democrats launched new proposals today to tighten rules on employing foreign doctors after the death of a 70 year old man treated by a doctor from Germany.
SHA steps in to GP branch row
NHS London has been criticised for delaying the opening of a branch surgery in Kingston, despite the cooperation and competition panel having already recommended its go-ahead.
Out of hours GP complaints pass 500
Complaints about out of hours GP care have risen by more than 50 per cent, latest figures have shown.
Essex PCT to begin offloading GP surgeries
NHS South West Essex is seeking alternative providers to take over and run some of its general practices.
Peterborough PCT chief steps down as deficits pile high
The chief executive of NHS Peterborough has resigned, admitting she “cannot shirk responsibility” for its growing deficit.
Rise in acute admissions will be ‘unsustainable’ for PCTs
Just 10 per cent of primary care trusts have successfully reduced emergency admissions to their local acute trusts.
Elder care pilot slashes hospital admissions
A pilot programme for improving care of older patients has slashed hospital overnight stays and accident and emergency attendances, and produced significant financial savings.
Variations in GP training come under scrutiny
The competence of foreign GPs is to be examined by the General Medical Council following a report recommendation.
Tories promise out of hours review
The Conservatives have said that they will review NHS out-of-hours care if they win the forthcoming general election, following the death of a 70-year-old Cambridge man who was given an overdose by an overtired locum.
DH drawn into row over GP practice expansion
The Department of Health has been dragged into a row between NHS Kingston and one of its GP practices.
Personal health plans for injured soldiers
Improved NHS mental health services for soldiers returning from Afghanistan was one of the plans announced by the government in a bid to provide better care for war veterans.
Four SHAs have swine flu jab deals in place
Four strategic health authorities have now agreed regional deals with GPs for delivering swine flu vaccine to the under fives.
Public health at risk from TV product placement - BMA
Doctors’ leaders have become the latest in a series of groups to express concerns over plans for US-style product placement on UK television.
More on GPs
World class commissioning: the human factor
A diagnostic tool boosts organisations’ world class commissioning competencies, says Carol Brooks
How to make clinical commissioning work
In Kent, clinicians and managers are working together as teams to concentrate expertise on specific clinical areas
Build a virtual polyclinic
Streamlined care cannot be delivered unless clinicians are able to share information easily. Mark Caulfield describes how Tower Hamlets solved the problem with integrated IT
Map of Medicine - plot the best pathway to care
A software based tool gives clinicians a picture of the ideal route patients need to take for many important conditions. Lynne Greenwood explains how it works
Care homes: getting to grips with GP retainers
GPs demanding fees from care homes must justify their charges to avoid provoking a scandal, says Stuart Shepherd
NHS performance: GPs in the spotlight
Tight budgets mean PCTs must scrutinise all contractors to ensure they are providing the right value and quality of services - and this includes GPs. Graham Clews looks at the role of the balanced scorecard
