Latest news – Page 1946
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BMA slams private treatment centres
Plans for privately run clinical assessment, treat and support (CATS) centres in England could jeopardise NHS finances, threaten medical posts, and create potential conflicts of interest, the British Medical Association says today. The warning comes in response to consultation on plans for up to 10 CATS centres in Cumbria and ...
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UK transplant register tops 14 million
Nearly one in four of the UK population is now signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, new figures reveal. Over 1 million signed up in the last year, taking the total to 14 million people.Read more here
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Ethnic health inequalities examined
Poverty is the main factor driving the worse health experienced by black and minority ethnic groups, says the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology today. A review of the evidence looks at the causes and patterns of health inequalities and offers policy options.Download the review from 4.30pm today
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Conservatives launch health policy
GPs should be given control of health service budgets, Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley will say today as they set out their vision for an NHS with fewer targets and a stronger focus on health outcomes.Details of the policy will appear on the Conservative Party ...
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LINks bill gets second reading
The government bill to abolish patients' forums and replace them with local involvement networks (LINks) gets its second reading in parliament today. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill also seeks to introduce 'community petitions' that can trigger service reviews.Download the bill
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Gail Richards on achieving 18-week targets
Efforts to meet the 18-week target are intensifying, as the growing number of articles, tools and workshops show. Are we focusing our energies in the right place?
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NHS Partners Network respond to commission report
I read with concern your article of January 18 reporting on the leaked Healthcare Commission draft report into data on clinical quality of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs).
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Consultation on disabled facilities grants
The government has published a consultation document on its proposals to improve the disabled facilities grant programme.The report is a response to the findings and recommendations of the independent Bristol University report on the programme in 2005. The consultation period closes on 13 April.Read the document here
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Survey highlights equipment funding shortage
The Information Centre for health and social care has reported 'anecdotal evidence' that health funding of integrated community equipment schemes for items such as stairlifts and hearing loops 'has been a problem, and one that is getting more acute'.The results of a survey of 51 local authority directors of adult ...
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DoH publishes travel expenses consultation
The Department of Health has published consultation on the hospital travel costs scheme, which allows those on low incomes to claim travel expenses.The document looks at how the scheme can be changed to reflect a shift in care closer to home.Read the consultation here
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Labour MP slams workforce planning
Labour MP and health select committee member Dr Howard Stoate has criticised a 'boom and bust' culture in NHS workforce planning and argued against local planning.Speaking at a committee hearing yesterday, he said a lack of centralised workforce planning meant the NHS was 'chasing its tail'.
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Hewitt: government should have capped GP profits
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has said the government would have considered capping GPs' earning potential under their contract if it had predicted the extent of their increased profits.Information Centre for health and social care figures show that the percentage of GPs' revenue taken as profit after expenses rose from 40 ...
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Gerry Robinson and media coverage
The Gerry Robinson TV programme illustrated the differing systems in NHS and private hospital operating theatres. In the private sector time is money, and so the rate tha cases are moved through theatres is much greater. There are no hold-ups, such as waiting for the porter to bring a patient ...
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Consumers switch on to healthy eating message
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has revealed a rise in demand for fruit and vegetables in the last year as the public starts to adopt healthier lifestyles.New figures suggest people bought more fruit and vegetables in 2005-06, while buying less confectionary and soft drinks.The Expenditure and ...
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Pension guidance released
The Department of Health has produced a guide for staff leaving NHS employment but wishing to continue their membership of the NHS pension scheme.The guidance also sets out advice about employer responsibilities for pension provision where staff have to leave the scheme.Read the guide here
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Overweight drivers urged to detox
The RAC Foundation has called for overweight drivers to look at their habits after finding that they are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in road accidents.Every hour spent behind the wheel increases the risk of obesity, says the charitable foundation.www.racfoundation.org
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Smoking cessation more successful in deprived areas, says report
Primary care trusts in areas of deprivation are providing the best approach to reducing smoking levels, says the Healthcare Commission in a report today.Half the PCTs rated excellent were in deprived areas where smoking is most prevalent.Read the report here
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Trusts prepare for hard sell to earn picky patients' custom
DoH guidelines have opened the door for hospitals to use commercial advertising techniques. Is this necessary for healthy competition or a green light for unseemly publicity battles? Kaye McIntosh hears some early pledges of fair play
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NHS North West: support older patients on choice
Older patients need more support in choosing where to have their elective surgery, research by NHS North West has shown.
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Report calls for 50pc funding boost
Spending on mental health services needs to rise by an extra 50 per cent if the government's targets in the national service framework are to be achieved, according to a leading charity.