Latest news – Page 1944
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Survey says nine out of 10 patients can see GP within 48 hours
Nine out 10 patients can visit their GP within 48 hours and four out of 10 can get an appointment on the same day, according to a survey of 10,000 patients by Picker Institute Europe.The survey, commissioned by the Department of Health, also found that 70 per cent of patients ...
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Roger Noon on six immediate steps to better change management
I don't envy the leaders of PCTs. Following the recent rationalisation programme, they are under more pressure than ever to deliver improvements in healthcare within tight budgets and aggressive timescales. This against a backdrop of continuous political, policy, regulatory and clinical change.
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Five-point plan for older people's services unveiled
NHS national director for older people's services Professor Ian Philp has recommended a five-point plan to improve older people's services.His report Recipe for Carehighlights: early intervention; long-term conditions management; early supported discharge; acute hospital care when needed; and partnership working.Professor Philp acknowledged that this ...
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Spotlight on lung cancer care
A report gives detailed information on 25,000 people in England and Wales with lung cancer
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DoH names renal services 'czar'
The Department of Health has named Dr Donal O'Donoghue for the newly created post of 'renal services czar'.Dr O'Donoghue has been a consultant renal physician at Salford Royal Hospitals foundation trust since 1992, was involved in the development of the NSF and is co-chair of the DoH renal advisory group.Read ...
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BMA slams student resource cuts
The British Medical Association has criticised a decision by the Department of Health to remove funding which enables medical students to have a free copy of the British National Formulary.In a letter to the Department of Health, BMA medical students' committee chair Emily Rigby ...
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Another boost for drug treatment funding
Funding for drug treatment services is set to increase as the government looks to build on the progress made in getting people into treatment over the last few years.Public health minister Caroline Flint announced the pooled drug treatment budget is to increase from £375m to £388m for 2007-08.Find out more ...
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Cancer charity hails landmark children's ruling
Cancer Research UK has welcomed a new European law for any new medicine licensed in Europe to be explored for its potential use in children.This is the first time specific EU legislation has been passed to regulate pharmaceutical research involving children.Read the press release here
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NHS to recover up to £150m costs
New rules allowing the NHS to claim back money for treating people who have been paid personal injury compensation could see more than £150m being put back into patient care, health minister Andy Burnham announced today.The NHS injury costs recovery scheme means trusts will be able to recover costs from ...
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DoH: reforms cutting unnecessary appointments
The Department of Health says GPs are sending fewer patients to hospital for unnecessary appointments following government reforms to give practices a greater say in procurement and provision of services.Evidence from early practice-based commissioning adopters shows that practices have cut patient referrals for hospital treatment by between 25 and 33 ...
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Watchdog appoints three new commissioners
The Healthcare Commission today welcomes Professor Deirdre Kelly, Clare Dodgson, and Clifford Prior as commissioners.The trio will join the twelve current commissioners tasked with driving quality in healthcare and public health. Read the press release here
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Staffordshire Ambulance trust faces safety probe
The Healthcare Commission has launched an investigation into Staffordshire Ambulance Service trust to establish whether it has adequate systems and processes in place to ensure the safety of patients.Serious concerns about the service have been raised concerning arrangements for clinical governance, management and leadership, safety issues and the quality of ...
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Watchdog seeks people involved in learning disabilities
The Healthcare Commission is seeking people with learning disabilities, family members, carers and other workers in the sector to take part in what will be the largest audit of learning disability services ever done in England.Up to 200 services will be inspected and data will be collected from more than ...
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£1m recovered from Welsh fraud
The NHS Counter Fraud Service annual report for Wales reveals that specialists recovered £1,079,659 via civil action in 2005-06.This along and other reductions were made possible through point of service checks introduced in 2001, in which patients must tick a box on a form to say they are entitled to ...
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'Third sector' inquiry launched
The Commons public administration committee has launched an inquiry into the growing trend towards government buying or commissioning services from the third sector - charity or voluntary organisations and non-government organisations.The committee's inquiry aims to explore the costs and benefits of the policy, and to judge the effectiveness of the ...
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Doctors criticise patient involvement plans
The British Medical Association has said that government proposals to give patients and the public in England more say in the NHS are likely to fail due to insufficient resources.The BMA's patient liaison group criticises the plans to replace patient forums with new local involvement networks (LINks) without addressing resourcing ...
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PCTs fight UCLH over data validity
Three primary care trusts are disputing the validity of a massive increase in activity at a flagship London hospital.
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IHM calls for better training
Managers need better training and more rigorous checks, and are being held back by limited opportunities to develop their skills, the Commons health select committee heard at last Thursday's workforce planning inquiry.
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Conservatives call for in-house laundries to fight infection
Trusts should be obliged to provide changing and laundry facilities as part of the war on infection control, the Conservatives have said.
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PCTs wanted for interactive media health service
The government is calling on strategic health authorities to suggest primary care trusts to test NHS Health Direct, a new interactive media service to help people improve their health.