News – Page 1986
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News
Legal briefing: organising key commissioning relationships
Commissioning has been part and parcel of the NHS for a number of years. What has changed recently is the view that a reinvigorated and more sophisticated commissioning process, with the implementation of practice-based commissioning, will improve services and ensure value for money.
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Annual healthcheck overhauled
The Healthcare Commission has revised the criteria that will be used to assess NHS trusts' performance against the core standards in 2006-07.It takes into account new targets, revised policy as well as attempting to reduce repetition and increase clarity.See the revised criteria here
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Polonium-210 guidance issued
The Health Protection Agency and NHS Direct have issued information about the radioactive material polonium-210 in the wake of the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.It offers advice to anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the substance.Read the HPA's guidance ...
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Department of Health launches GP satisfaction survey
A survey asking 5 million patients to rate their satisfaction with their GP is launched today.The GP patient experience survey, Your Doctor, Your Experience, Your Say, is part of the improved access scheme directed enhanced service. The results will be used to reward GPs ...
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Healthy food vouchers launched
Public health minister Caroline Flint has launched a new scheme to ensure low-income mothers and pregnant women can provide their families with milk, fresh fruit and vegetables.Healthy Start replaces the Welfare Food Scheme. It will give qualifying people weekly vouchers that they can exchange at 20,000 participating retailers.Click ...
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Mike Cooke on mental health
We have made measurable progress in mental health services over the past six years but there is still too much variation in services and in investment, primarily in services not covered by a national service framework.
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National learning disabilities audit updated
The Healthcare Commission has published an update on its forthcoming audit of services for people with learning disabilities.It outlines which types of services will be reviewed, the pilot schemes now under way to test the methodology and plans for the national roll out.The update can be found ...
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Treasury: more civil service cuts on way
The Treasury has announced further cuts in civil servants as par of the Gershon efficiency programme.It said that the government was two thirds of the way to the target to save £21.5bn by 2008. A total of 55,000 civil service posts have been cut in the last two years.
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Joint report on mental health NSF
The Department of Health and Department of Education and Skills has published a report on implementing the mental health standard of the national service framework on children, young people and maternity services. It says that the target to introduce a child and adolescent mental health ...
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CHAMPS publish healthier hospitals guide
Cheshire and Merseyside Partnerships public health team has published a guide to healthier hospitals, collating the evidence on health promotion for secondary care settings.More information on CHAMPS and copies of the guide can be accessed via www.champs-for-health.net
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New palliative care guide launched
The National Council for Palliative Care has launched a guide for nurses, general practitioners and care home workers on managing the last days of life. It covers a range of good practice, legal and emotional issuesTo download a copy of the report go to ...
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Widespread uptake of PBC incentives
Eight-one per cent of practices had taken advantage of incentive payments to implement practice-based commissioning by the end of September, according to new figures from the Department of Health. This is up from 74 per cent in August.Eighty-two per cent of PCTs have put in place arrangements to support PBC, ...
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How Middle England turned into a nation of reconfiguration rebels
Demonstrations against changes to hospital services have brought thousands on to the streets. Tash Shifrin spoke to some of the campaigners about their aims
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Author of reconfiguration blueprint rails against 'wrong, confusing and puzzling' opposition
The man who wrote the blueprint for Scottish health services has hit out at politicians and unions who originally backed his plans but are now opposing them as they are rolled out locally.
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Doctors to provide treatment at threatened site
Teams of GPs have used their commissioning skills to help keep open a community hospital that was threatened with closure.
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Cumbria and Lancashire CATS contract goes to consultation
A contract to allow healthcare company Netcare to provide clinical assessment and treatment services (CATS) across Cumbria and Lancashire has been delayed after local primary care trusts decided to consult on some details.
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Joint health and social care regulation body delayed as plans are left out of Queen's Speech
The merger of the health and social care inspectorates looks set to be delayed by at least six months following the absence of a bill to implement it in the Queen's Speech.
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Funding formula and fairness
I read with interest the article by Sheena Asthana and Alex Gibson (HSJ 16 November 2006). The article sets out some interesting data which we would be unwise to ignore in terms of what it means for the NHS. However, I do believe that the conclusions drawn from the data ...
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GP shortage procurement scheme may be abolished
The government's national procurement programme for under-doctored areas looks set to be drastically scaled back or scrapped.
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A welcome bid to put PECs at the heart of decision-making
If a commissioning revolution is vital to making a success of the new NHS landscape, we must know who will be making the decisions. In too many cases members of primary care trusts' professional executive committees have found themselves - or placed themselves - well away from the issue.