Primary Care – Page 238
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News
Lib Dems scrap free social care promise
The Liberal Democrats have formally ditched their policy of free social care in England. The party has opted instead for a co-payment system based on the one set out by Sir Derek Wanless for the King's Fund.
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News
Frustration over advance GP appointments
Nearly three quarters of England's GP practices have left at least one in 10 patients dissatisfied because of the difficulties of making appointments more than two days in advance.
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News
Public health network to help avoid 'postcode lotteries'
A new public health network is to give primary care trusts advice on licensed drugs before the publication of NICE guidance, HSJ can reveal.The advice will help PCTs avoid accusations that they are imposing a 'postcode lottery'.
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News
Doubts over community foundation trusts
Conflicts of interest, difficulties in demonstrating autonomy and low pay are just some of the potential problems facing community foundation trusts.
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Comment
Preparing for a pandemic in the NHS
We live in a climate where the threat of bio-terrorism is significant enough to warrant serious preparation for a biological attack.This, together with the possibility of global outbreaks of infectious disease, such as avian influenza or SARS, increases the need to prepare for a pandemic.
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News
Scottish doctors to vote on no-confidence motion
Scottish GPs are set to consider a vote of no confidence in the UK government's stewardship of the NHS.
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News
Commissioner-provider split is inefficient, study claims
Separating commissioner and provider functions, as advocated in world class commissioning, may damage the efficiency of the health service, a leading academic has claimed.
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News
Conservatives to let GPs pick their own hours
The Conservatives have backed GPs' calls to be allowed to determine their own opening hours.
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News
PCTs plan to recruit public members to shape reform
Primary care trusts could link up with foundations by sharing public membership bodies that drive local health priorities. PCTs are considering recruiting public members to counter perceptions they are undemocratic and overly centralised.
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News
Darzi reforms under threat in London
Poor leadership in NHS organisations is threatening to jeopardise Lord Darzi's vision to transform the capital's healthcare.NHS London board papers state it is 'likely' there will be 'insufficient leadership capacity and capability in primary care trusts and allied NHS organisations' to deliver the now junior health minister's plans.
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News
Vascular checks could mean insurance hikes
Thousands of people face higher health insurance premiums and may unwittingly invalidate their policies if government plans for vascular checks get the green light.
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News
London must focus on prevention
Service reform in the capital must go beyond Healthcare for London proposals and focus on prevention if fatal strokes are to be avoided, the London health observatory has warned.
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HSJ Knowledge
Joint working: passing the partnership test
PCTs and local authorities are now working even more closely on understanding the needs of local people in a leap forward in partnership working. By Renu Bindra
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Comment
Andrew Jones on the next big shift in healthcare
I often wonder what will drive the next quantum shift in healthcare. If we ran a poll today, world class commissioning or the Darzi review would probably top the list. These ideas are fine, but it seems to me that they represent an incremental nudge rather than a quantum shift.
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News
Doctors' leaders challenge GP pay deal
British Medical Association chair Hamish Meldrum has written to health secretary Alan Johnson challenging the proposed pay deal for GPs.
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Comment
Sophia Christie on tackling the digital divide
Economic growth is increasingly driven by the skill of the local workforce and more specifically confidence and competence in using digital technologies.
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News
NHS funds exclusive GP practices
HSJ has uncovered further evidence of NHS-funded GP practices in prestigious institutions which are not accessible to ordinary members of the public.
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News
PCTs warned not to fail on choice
Health minister Ben Bradshaw has told primary care trusts to 'get their act together' to promote and deliver choice of treatment for patients.
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News
Bradshaw warns PCTs: make the right choice
As ‘free choice’ is extended to all patients, minister Ben Bradshaw tells primary care trusts they must undergo a cultural change to make it work - with consequences if they fail. Rebecca Evans met him
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HSJ Knowledge
Improving the detection of COPD
There are over 15 million people in England with long-term conditions. Lord Darzi's interim report last October highlighted how less than 50 per cent of patients with long-term conditions receive optimal treatment, and that care does not always meet recommended guidelines.