All Primary care articles – Page 284

  • News

    Five-point plan for older people's services unveiled

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • News

    New patient experience scores published

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has published updated patient experience scores for the public service agreement to take account of its 2005-06 primary care trust survey and the latest patient survey results for community mental health services.The overall score for primary care fell from 77.4 to 77.0, with a higher score ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Dave Roberts on QOF and chronic diseases

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    'As well as supporting QOF payments, the QMAS provides the NHS with a database of public health information on the prevalence of chronic and long-term illnesses.'

  • Comment

    Neil Goodwin on the training challenge for NHS managers

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    'Foundation trusts will need to lead the way in learning to establish effective working relationships with their investors, namely primary care trusts and practice-based commissioners, and being proactive in discussing future strategy.'

  • HSJ Knowledge

    New improved information catalogue

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    An improved information catalogue, with enhanced search facilities, has been launched

  • News

    Spotlight on lung cancer care

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    A report gives detailed information on 25,000 people in England and Wales with lung cancer

  • News

    Roger Noon on six immediate steps to better change management

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • News

    Winterton announces end-of-life strategy board

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    Health minister Rosie Winterton has announced a 27-strong advisory board to support the development of the end-of-life care strategy.The board is chaired by national cancer director professor Mike Richards and includes chief executives of leading charities, senior clinicians and NHS and social care managers.Working groups will include: measuring the quality ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    What the statistics reveal about tackling obesity

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    As slimming advice overwhelms the media in the new year, the Information Centre for health and social care has added to the throng with a compendium of information on obesity, physical activity and diet.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    E-bulletin on HRG4 launched

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    NHS trusts can sign up to a new electronic mailing service that will help them prepare for the introduction of the new set of healthcare resources groups

  • News

    Survey says nine out of 10 patients can see GP within 48 hours

    2007-01-29T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • News

    Watchdog appoints three new commissioners

    2007-01-26T00:00:00Z

    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

  • News

    DoH: reforms cutting unnecessary appointments

    2007-01-26T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • News

    Another boost for drug treatment funding

    2007-01-26T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • News

    PCTs wanted for interactive media health service

    2007-01-25T00:00:00Z

    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.

  • Comment

    NHS independence: removing politicians will leave a hole that must be filled

    2007-01-25T00:00:00Z

    Would an 'independent' NHS create a worse provider monopoly than British Leyland or set it lose from the targetitis of Whitehall? Who would hold the reins of scrutiny - regulators, Parliament or local councils? Where are the models - the BBC, Scandinavia, Oregon or New Zealand? Is independence even a ...

  • Comment

    Joint working: more power for councils will test relations

    2007-01-25T00:00:00Z

    The government has proposed that councils and primary care trusts sign up to joint 'strategic assessments' of local health needs and, potentially, 'a single regime' to meet them (news, page 5). The details will emerge next month, but already a number of things are clear.

  • News

    New moves to tackle obesity in children

    2007-01-25T00:00:00Z

    The Commons public accounts committee has published its eighth report on child obesity based on evidence from the departments of Health; Education and Skills; and Culture, Media and Sport.It is estimated the rise in obesity costs the NHS around £1bn a year.The government aims to tackle these problems by influencing ...

  • News

    NHS and councils could be placed under 'single regime' for assessment

    2007-01-25T00:00:00Z

    Local authorities and primary care trusts could have a 'single regime' which assesses them against joint outcome measures, under proposals due to be announced next month.

  • News

    New website to give NHS patients more power

    2007-01-24T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has announced the launch of a new website that will bring together information on all hospitals and treatment centres.The Choice website will allow members of the public and clinicians to access a range of information through one super site that will act as a one-stop gateway ...