External contributors – Page 289

  • Comment

    Paul Malcolm on centralising IT systems

    2007-10-31T09:00:00Z

    The national IT programme has the potential to bring huge benefits to patients and healthcare workers - but tight security is key

  • Comment

    All Our Yesterdays

    2007-10-31T00:00:00Z

    November 6, 1936, Public Assistance Journal and Health & Hospital ReviewThe work of the joint vagrancy authorities; 'decisions on medical examinations and removal of aged from the road' was discussed in the Journal this week.The financial officer reported that the costs of maintaining causal wards as falling in accordance to ...

  • Comment

    GP shortage story still rings true today

    2007-10-30T00:00:00Z

    Just a note to congratulate HSJ on its prescience in publishing an article of mine ('Weight watchers', 1996 106(5501), 28-30) which predated by 11 years the current concern of health secretary Alan Johnson and junior health minister Lord Darzi about the shortage of GPs in poor health areas, writes John ...

  • Comment

    Some HR managers need to brush up on the law

    2007-10-30T00:00:00Z

    Regarding the article 'Thousands of doctors may be working illegally', I am not surprised the human resources manager quoted asked not to be named, as in my opinion remedial training in employment law basics would certainly be indicated for this individual, with particular reference to laws passed since 1996, says ...

  • Comment

    Promoting easy access to healthcare websites

    2007-10-30T00:00:00Z

    We have grave concerns that many NHS service-linked information websites may be failing in their primary purpose of helping vulnerable people become empowered through access to meaningful information, write Dr Gavin Newby and Dr Christine Groom

  • Comment

    Andrew Jones on the Pandora's box of GP access

    2007-10-29T00:00:00Z

    Improved access to family doctors may not be all it is cracked up to be.

  • Comment

    Your Humble Servant: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    Whoever said the British had no stomach for public executions? Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust has demonstrated just how popular they can be.

  • Comment

    Media Watch: Cornwall trust achieves YouTube fame

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    Just when the managers at Royal Cornwall Hospitals trust thought things could not get much worse, medical staff released a video mocking its performance.

  • Comment

    Michael White on getting tough on obesity

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    Politicians need to do more to tackle the growing obesity problem

  • Comment

    Foundation trust applicants face an uncertain future

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    It is widely accepted that the target for all trusts to become foundations by December 2008 will not be met. But what is the future for those that will not make the grade?

  • Comment

    Anna Donald on healthcare in Australia

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    Returning to Australia from the UK brings to mind the differences betwen the two countries' healthcare systems, in particular Australia's clear separation of insurance and provider powers

  • Comment

    Primary care's big challenge is acting on great expectations

    2007-10-25T09:00:00Z

    One of the stated aims in the Department of Health's vision of world class commissioning is to eliminate health inequalities. Not to reduce them, but to get rid of them altogether.

  • Comment

    Duleep Allirajah on making patients' voices heard

    2007-10-24T09:00:00Z

    Proclaiming the virtues of choice and voice is all well and good, but what are primary care trusts doing to strengthen patients' involvement in commissioning?

  • Comment

    Looky likey

    2007-10-24T00:00:00Z

    More actorly looky likeys. In addition to having a rather hard to pronounce surname it has struck us that junior minister Dawn Primarolo bears something of a resemblance to actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis. Do other members of the ministerial health teams have looky likeys? Let us know at ...

  • Comment

    All Our Yesterdays

    2007-10-24T00:00:00Z

    October 31, 1941, Public Assistance Journal and Health & Hospital ReviewAt the Bridgwater Institution, a male officer (resident) with a quite diverse range of skills was required. Said officer had to be able to undertake the shaving and haircutting of inmates and was also required to have a knowledge of ...

  • Comment

    David Peat on ending the enslavement of health inequalities

    2007-10-22T09:00:00Z

    Overcoming health inequalities that have built up over generations will take vision and determination

  • Comment

    Sophia Christie on collective commissioning

    2007-10-22T09:00:00Z

    Commissioning needs to be reformed and strengthened at every level, writes Sophia Christie

  • Comment

    Emma Dent goes round the houses

    2007-10-18T09:00:00Z

    In this column last time I reported on our stressful attempts to buy a house. Well, the stress has stopped. Because we are not buying a house any more.

  • Comment

    Media Watch: Rose Gibb special

    2007-10-18T09:00:00Z

    There's nothing the media likes more than an easy target and this week's was Rose Gibb, formerly chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust, aka 'the dirtiest hospital in England'.

  • Comment

    Health check: Foundations lead the pack but PCTs still fighting in the rear

    2007-10-18T09:00:00Z

    The wealth of data unveiled today by the Healthcare Commission in its annual trust health check reveals foundation trusts are thriving, primary care trusts are struggling, and the best are leaving the rest behind.