in brief

Primary care trusts in London do not have enough money to provide effective mental health treatment, a survey by the King's Fund has found.

Mental Health Services in Primary Care concludes that PCTs are focusing too much on patients with severe mental illness, at the expense of primary care mental health treatment. It also found that people vulnerable to mental health problems, such as the homeless and asylum seekers, were not getting adequate support.

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Funding to train new nurses will be increased by half, providing more than 8,000 extra nursing training places, under government plans to boost the NHS workforce.Health minister John Hutton announced that by 2005-06, there will be a 50 per cent increase in funding for training of nurses, allied health professionals and healthcare scientists.There will also be 27 per cent more money to train undergraduate medical and dental students.

The two-week referral rule for treating cancer has led to skin cancer sufferers receiving a poor level of treatment, according to the House of Commons all-party parliamentary group on skin.The group's Inquiry into the Treatment, Management and Prevention of Skin Cancer , said this form of the illness has become the 'Cinderella of oncology'. It concluded that up to 19 out of 20 skin lesions are inappropriately referred to secondary care to meet the two-week target.

Fourteen local pharmaceutical pilot schemes have been announced by the government in the second wave of the project to widen the role of pharmacists.All pilots will dispense drugs, but some will also offer tailored services for patients aged over 75, as well as providing training and education for patients, carers and pharmacists.An evaluation will be published in 2005-06.

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