Latest news – Page 1927
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News
Separating provision and commissioning
Jennifer Taylor's piece entitled 'PMs unit pushes more, but 'fairer', competition' was an important news article however does raise a fundamental question about whether entrenching a more explicit separation of commissioner and provider functions is indeed the right policy.
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GPs urged to use 'care farms'
GPs are being urged to take advantage of greater prescribing freedoms to refer people with addiction and depression problems to 'care farms', which provide health initiatives in a rural setting.Due to speak at the second National Care Farms conference today, NHS Alliance chair Dr Michael Dixon said care farms are ...
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Nicholson: NHS financial system now fit for the future
NHS chief executive David Nicholson has welcomed the abolishment of the 'inconsistent and unfair' resource accounting and budgeting system.The move was announced by health secretary Patricia Hewitt following recommendations by the Audit Commission. Mr Nicholson said it will be replaced by a system that 'ensures fairness, transparency and responsibility'.Read the ...
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Survey reveals inaccurate perceptions on smoking
Most young people in England believe that becoming a smoker is the norm, a survey by charity Cancer Research UK has found.While official smoking figures put the proportion of adults in England who smoke at about a quarter, nearly 83 per cent of the 16-24-year-olds questioned in the survey believed ...
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Choice of treatment on the rise
More patients say they have been offered a choice of treatment at referral, the latest patient choice survey reveals.Forty-one per cent of patients say they had a choice, compared with 38 per cent two months previously.Read the report here
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North West Wales trust lands award
North West Wales trust has won the sustainable procurement category at the Local Government Chronicle and HSJ Sustainable Communities Awards 2007 for its combination of an apprentice buyer scheme, green buying and its work in creating opportunities for small local companies.The winner of the headline partnership award for sustainable communities ...
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NHS human rights framework launched
A human rights framework has been launched by the government to help NHS organisations apply a human rights-based approach to delivering healthcare.Launching Human Rights in Healthcare - a framework for local action, health minister Rosie Winterton said it had been developed with help from the British Institute of Human Rights ...
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Healthcare Commission reports on heart mortality rates
A report by the Healthcare Commission has found that rates of mortality for heart surgery at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals trust are within statistical limits.Commission chief executive Anna Walker said surgeons were to be 'strongly commended' for publishing the data.Read the report here
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Proposals to update law on infectious diseases
Public health minister Caroline Flint today welcomed the publication of a consultation paper setting out the government's proposals for changes to the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.Ms Flint called for legislation to promote an 'effective and proportionate' response to the potential spread of infectious diseases and contamination.Read more ...
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Blair sets out principles for public service reform
Prime minister Tony Blair told a public service reform conference yesterday that changing public services must give people more power, ensure diversity of supply and offer specific help to those most in need.Mr Blair said massive increased investment in services had been needed, and had yielded more hospitals, lower waiting ...
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Computer says 'yes' to more accessible therapy
Computer-based therapy for milder, but more common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety should be made available to any patients in England who could benefit from it from April, according to health secretary Patricia Hewitt.Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy is a first-line treatment for people with anxiety and depression, ...
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Doctors to issue 'information prescriptions'
Doctors and other health professionals will prescribe information as well as pills under a new schemed launched by health secretary Patricia Hewitt.People with long-term conditions or social care needs will receive 'information prescriptions' to guide them to relevant information about their condition.Find out more here
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New NHS London chief executive named
Ruth Carnell has been appointed chief executive of NHS London, after taking on the post on an interim basis last September when David Nicholson was appointed NHS chief executive.Mr Nicholson commented: ëI strongly believe we have found the right person to lead the NHS in London. Since she took up ...
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Care UK set for Mercury Health takeover
Care UK has agreed a conditional contract with Tribal Group to buy Mercury Health for £31.5m, as well as assuming debts of £20.7m and repaying inter-company borrowing of £24.6m.Among the conditions for the acquisition to go ahead is approval from the Department of Health for the change of ownership. If ...
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New social enterprise guide published
The Social Enterprise Coalition and law firm Hempsons have published a guide on social enterprise in health and social care designed for commissioners and providers.Healthy Business includes nine case studies highlighting the diversity of social enterprises already operating in health and social care. The coalition will set up a health ...
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Go-ahead for judicial review on drug recommendations
The High Court has cleared the way for the first judicial review challenging how the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence reaches decisions on drug recommendations.Alzheimer's drug manufacturer Eisai and its co-promotion partner Pfizer were granted permission for a review yesterday on the decision by NICE not to recommend ...
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Hewitt to host public summit
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt is hosting a citizens' summit today for 90 members of the public who were involved in the listening exercises for the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say white paper.They will have the opportunity to discuss the implementation of the white paper since last January and the ...
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Low-weight births increasing, says report
More babies are being born at dangerously low weights than in 1989, according to a report from the Fabian Society.Born Unequal says 67 of every 1,000 babies had low birth weight in 1989, rising to 76 by 1999 and 78 by 2006. The report calls for mandatory one-to-one care for ...
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RCGP names new chair
Professor Stephen Field has been named as the next chair of the Royal College of GPs when Professor Mayur Lakhani finishes his three-year term of office in November.Professor Field is GP in Birmingham, regional postgraduate dean for West Midlands Deanery and chair of the RCGP's professional development board.Read the press ...
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Best practice: how to predict length of stay
Asking patients to answer a unique set of questions about themselves helps assign them to the right beds from the beginning. Heather Waterman and Cherry Mason detail how a new allocation system has been working