Latest news – Page 1918
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DoH launches national special interest framework
A national accreditation framework for GPs and pharmacists with special interests has been launched by the Department of Health. It aims to ensure standards of care in the community are equivalent to those in the acute sector.
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Director general defends IT plan and blasts critics of the electronic patient record
Critics of the electronic patient record have been branded 'privacy fascists' by the Department of Health director general of IT.
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Cash-strapped contraceptive services plead for a target
Contraceptive services are struggling as PCTs direct budgets to the GUM target. Family planning needs a target of its own, reports Helen Mooney
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Tories and Lib Dems criticise Blair legacy
The three main political parties have come out fighting over what 10 years under a Labour government has meant for the NHS.
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Respect patients' right to die at home, says report
Patients nearing the end of their lives who choose to die at home should have their preferences respected, according to a paper published in the May issue of the Journal of the RoyalSociety of Medicine.Leading palliative care experts say that despite most people saying that they would prefer to die ...
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Sir George in call for service closures
National emergency care director Sir George Alberti is expected to call today for the closure of accident and emergency and maternity services at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, north London. This is despite a campaign by junior Home Office minister Joan Ryan to retain services at the hospital, which ...
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Doctors barring staff access to IT
Doctors move computers away from shared areas and add protected passwords to prevent nurses and junior staff using them, a study from York University's e-society research programme has found.
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It was a difficult journey, but under Blair the NHS was saved
Ten years ago this week, Tony Blair told the country that it had 24 hours to save the NHS. Now that the remainder of his premiership can be measured in days, what can be concluded on whether he delivered on that bold claim?
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National Patient Safety Agency appoints new medical director
The National Patient Safety Agency has announced the appointment of Dr Kevin Cleary as its new medical director.Dr Cleary will join the NPSA from West London Mental Health trust, where he is currently clinical director of adolescent forensic services and consultant child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist. He will take up ...
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Trial starts to find cure for childhood blindness
A Department of Health-funded team have begun a clinical gene therapy trial to test a revolutionary treatment for blindness in children.The trial, which was given £1m by the DoH, is the first of its kind and could have a significant impact on future treatments for eye disease.Find out more here
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Health visitor posts being lost daily, says Amicus
At least one health visitor job is being lost every day according to Amicus and the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association.The latest workforce statistics show a 4.5 per cent drop in the number of full-time equivalent health visitors in the year to September 2006. The union says the figures ...
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BMA demands assurances over website security breaches
The British Medical Association has hit out at health secretary Patricia Hewitt's Commons statement on security breaches on the medical training application service website.BMA medical students committee chair Emily Rigby demanded 'absolute assurance' from Ms Hewitt and 'a promise that it can never happen again'.Read the press release here
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New head of commercial relations at NHS Confederation
Andrew Escott will join the NHS Confederation as head of commercial relations. He will head up a six-strong commercial relations team with a remit of building links between the NHS, the commercial sector and government.Mr Escott joins the confederation after nearly six years at public relations firm APCO Worldwide, where ...
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Pressure group raises infection alarm
Pressure group Health Emergency has claimed that a new healthcare-acquired infection is spreading through hospitals in the South, Wales and East Anglia.According to the organisation in the past two weeks the norovirus has caused 10 hospitals to close wards and restrict admissions and visitors.
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NHS dentists down since new contract introduced
According to the British Dental Association there are approximately 1,200 fewer dentists providing NHS services than before the new dental contract was implemented in April 2006.In a letter to prime minister Tony Blair, BDA chief executive Peter Ward has called for the creation of circumstances that would make NHS care ...
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Call for evidence into maternity service safety
The King's Fund has called for evidence to an independent inquiry into the safety of maternity services in England.The investigation invites professionals across maternity services to help identify obstacles to the delivery of safety improvements.For more information click here
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NHS Alliance gives appointments advice
The NHS Alliance has provided advice to the NHS Appointments Commission on good practice in primary care trust non-executive director appointments.The alliance's recommendations have been prepared by the NED Network national steering committee and are based on a survey of NEDs, including those who were not reappointed after last year's ...
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New way to measure impact of policies unveiled
A report published today by the Health Foundation gives a new approach to measuring the impact of healthcare policies on NHS productivity.Estimating Health and Productivity Gains in England from Selected Interventions offers a population-based model that can be applied across different disease groups.To read the report click here
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Blair warns against NHS independence
Prime minister Tony Blair has warned against creating an independent NHS, saying it would stymie decision-making and be in danger of being hampered by the demands of special interest groups.
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Case managers make all the difference
When my mother was near death from kidney failure in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, US, I was amazed that she was stabilised and transferred to an excellent rehab centre in one week. I was amazed again when the rehab centre had her mobile, on a stable dialysis regime and ...