Workforce – Page 467

  • News

    New chief executive for NHS Direct

    2007-03-20T00:00:00Z

    Department of Health director general of communications Matt Tee is to be the next chief executive of NHS Direct.Mr Tee was previously business development director at Dr Foster and takes over from Ed Lester, who will leave NHS Direct in May.

  • News

    Review says junior doctors should get guaranteed interviews

    2007-03-19T00:00:00Z

    The review group examining the selection process for junior doctors has recommended all eligible applicants are guaranteed an interview for their first or second choice of training post.The review also said those who have not been shortlisted for any interviews will have their applications reviewed.Read the press release here

  • News

    All new healthcare workers to be checked for diseases

    2007-03-16T00:00:00Z

    Under new Department of Health guidance, all new healthcare workers will be checked for tuberculosis and offered hepatitis B immunisation and tests for hepatitis C and HIV.These standard health clearance checks would be completed on appointment, with additional health clearance required by those performing exposure-prone procedures. The guidance will affect ...

  • News

    Conservatives slam government 'incompetence'

    2007-03-15T00:00:00Z

    Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has blamed Labour 'incompetence' for NHS job losses. Commenting on Office of National Statistics figures released yesterday which show that 11,000 jobs were in the NHS during the last three months of 2006, Mr Lansley said: 'What's demoralising for NHS staff is that the incompetence ...

  • News

    BMA defends GPs over out-of-hours criticism

    2007-03-14T00:00:00Z

    The British Medical Association has said that the quality of out-of-hours services is the responsibility of the local NHS - not GPs.GP committee chair Dr Hamish Meldrum agreed with the findings of a Public Accounts Committee report on out-of-hours care, but rejected the report's assertion that GPs were the only ...

  • News

    DIY service improvement kit launched

    2007-03-14T00:00:00Z

    Doctors, nurses and call handlers will be able to assess their ability to identify emergencies, the quality of their advice and speed of response using a new clinical audit toolkit to help improve the standard of out-of-hours services.The arrangements are set out in a document published by health minister Andy ...

  • News

    Lord Crisp heads bid to tackle health worker shortage

    2007-03-13T00:00:00Z

    A World Health Organisation international task force co-chaired by former NHS chief executive Lord Crisp met for the first time today to tackle the global shortage of health workers.The shortfall of workers worldwide is around 4.3 million in 57 countries, including 1 million in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Initial ...

  • News

    Over a million dental check-ups not being provided

    2007-03-12T00:00:00Z

    Dental contacts statistics have shown that over 1.5 million units of dental activity (each worth one check-up) have not yet been provided under the new contract.The Department of Health said the amount of dental activity commissioned by the NHS continued to rise and more have been recommissioned than were lost ...

  • News

    Review reveals shortcomings in medic recruitment

    2007-03-12T00:00:00Z

    The review into the Modernising Medical Careers recruitment and selection process for specialist training has recommended applicants should be allowed to provide CVs and portfolios to support their applications after finding shortcomings in the process.Junior doctors who fear they have had applications overlooked in the first round will have their ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Set out your stall for equality

    2007-03-12T00:00:00Z

    We must not treat our duties to minority ethnic communities lightly, says Helen Hally

  • News

    Nurses encouraged to complain over pay

    2007-03-09T00:00:00Z

    Nurses have been encouraged to write to their MPs to complain about this year's pay settlement.The Royal College of Nursing is urging its members to point out to their MP that this year's pay deal will mean an effective pay cut for nurses, when the rate of inflation is taken ...

  • News

    United on the streets in day of protests

    2007-03-08T00:00:00Z

    With placards, banners and, in some cases, daffodils, campaigners took to the streets on Saturday to protest over, well, just about everything. NHS job cuts, service closures, marketisation - all were targets of the day of action which saw rallies and marches take place across England and Northern Ireland.

  • News

    New campaign to encourage social care careers

    2007-03-07T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has launched a campaign to boost the number of people taking up a career in social care. The campaign aims to attract applicants to the social care sector, which needs thousands of new recruits each year.The adverts on TV, radio and press break new ground in ...

  • News

    Hewitt defends nurses' pay offer

    2007-03-02T00:00:00Z

    Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has said the 2007-08 pay deal for NHS staff and GPs is 'sensible' and 'fair'. Nurses and other healthcare professionals will receive a 1.5 per cent rise in April and 1 per cent more in November; hospital doctors a flat £1,000; junior doctors 3 per cent; ...

  • News

    New nursing officer for diversity

    2007-03-01T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health today welcomes Dawn Atkinson into her new role as England's nursing officer for diversity.The assistant director of nursing for quality and standards at Newham University Hospital trust will be seconded to the DoH for two days a week for a year.Read more here

  • News

    Executives 'battered' by constant change

    2007-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Chief executives feel bruised by constant reorganisation, and 93 per cent described their job as stressful. Twenty-nine per cent deemed it very stressful and 8 per cent rated it extremely stressful.

  • News

    Chief asks for less comment

    2007-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Responding to the survey findings, NHS chief executive David Nicholson said: 'Part of my job is to support the local NHS to deliver improvements in services for patients using the reforms we've put in place

  • News

    Changes to GP regulation welcomed by managers

    2007-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Primary care managers have welcomed the government's white paper on regulation of health professionals.

  • News

    Acute chiefs: NHS vision is lost in a political mire

    2007-03-01T00:00:00Z

    Labour's sweep to power in 1997 was followed by a groundswell of NHS optimism. Ten years on, an HSJ survey of 100 chief executives suggests the glory days are over. Helen Mooney asked a group of acute trust leaders why

  • News

    Government calls for discussions on happy workplaces

    2007-02-27T00:00:00Z

    The Department for Work and Pensions has called on businesses, government and charities to discuss and agree what constitutes 'good work' and ensure workplaces are happy, healthy and productive.Work and pensions minister Lord McKenzie this morning opened the first in a series of events which will inform and develop a ...