Published: 28/02/2002, Volume II2, No. 5794 Page10
Plans to impose a 13.8 per cent cut in dentists' fees from April have been shelved after dentists threatened mass resignations from the NHS.The Department of Health had argued that they have treated more patients than expected, resulting in a£10,000 overspend per dentist.Despite the climbdown, the British Dental Association predicts many dentists will leave the service.
A Leicestershire GP has become the first to be registered under British Standard 5750, a quality certificate normally associated with the manufacturing and service industries.The local family health services authority said the standard set times for answering the phone and waiting to see a doctor.
Ministers have sanctioned a massive short-term loan to South Birmingham health authority, which has run up£31m in debt following its merger with Central Birmingham.Sources say it is designed to avoid bed closures in the run-up to the general election.
Trained psychiatric staff should be brought into prisons to care for mentally ill offenders, a prison medical officer has urged.Dr Brian Greaves' call adds weight for growing demands for the NHS to provide healthcare in jails.The National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts says the NHS could do this via contracts.
A group of Cardiff hospitals concealed government guidance on patients' rights to refuse to pay for nursing home care, Welsh MPs have revealed.But hospital manager Alan Trew said his unIt is policy was an improvement on the guidance.'I am not required to conform to a lot of bureaucratic paperwork coming out of the Welsh Office.'He added: 'I can amend what I like.'
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