All Acute care articles – Page 440
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News
Open or shut case as service shake-ups hinge on SNP result
An SNP victory in next week's Scottish elections would take a hatchet to a host of Labour's NHS reforms north of the border, writes Jennifer Trueland
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News
C difficile rates still on the rise
Clostridium difficile cases in hospitals rose by 8 per cent in 2006, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency. The quarterly data shows infection rates remain high, particularly in small acute trusts. There were 55,681 cases reported in patients aged over 65 years in England in 2006.Cases ...
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News
Variations in patient care continue, says Dr Foster
Despite a year of record investment variations in standards of care remain, according to the Dr Foster Intelligence Hospital Guide, launched today.Among the findings in the 2007 guide, mortality rates are falling with 95 per cent of trusts improving over the past five years. But only 10 trusts provided robust ...
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HSJ Knowledge
Shedding light on hidden activity
Payment by results requires accurate recording of activity but, as Clive Evans reports, the system is far from flawless
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HSJ Knowledge
David Lee on tough communications
. 'Until you start getting complaints that the same message has been repeated too often, you probably aren't getting through to the masses' ...
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HSJ Knowledge
Legal briefing: St Mary's Hospital and the Freedom of Information Act
How can managers be open and.limit damage to their trust under the Freedom of Information Act? Simon White advises
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News
Four Seasons names chief operating officer
Dr Pete Calveley has been appointed chief operating officer of independent provider Four Seasons Health Care. Dr Calveley joined Four Seasons in November 2005 as primary care medical director, while also continuing his role as a GP and primary care trust director in Lincolnshire.His new role is a full-time position. ...
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News
Pressure group calls for healthcare funding debate
UK healthcare is not free at the point of delivery and in perpetuating this idea politicians are stifling proper debate on future funding of healthcare, says a report from Doctors for Reform.The report, written by three doctors, including oncologist Karol Sikora, highlights 20 case studies to show how patients are ...
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News
Health workers to vote on strike action
Delegates at trade union Unison's health conference in Brighton will today vote on a ballot for strike action in protest at the government's proposed 2.5 per cent pay increase.Yesterday health workers voted to campaign against payment by results, set up a campaign against all forms of privatisation and marketisation, oppose ...
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News
NHS staff risk losing pay and pensions, says union
Tens of thousands of NHS staff could lose out on pay and pensions if they are transferred to privately-run social enterprises, Amicus has warned.A report from the union said social enterprises are outside the NHS and Agenda for Change pay conditions would not necessarily apply.Read the report here
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News
Toolkit for better hip and knee replacements
A toolkit for orthopaedic teams to improve efficiency in primary hip and knee replacements has been launched by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.It identifies the six key characteristics of high performing organisations and includes audit tools for managers and teams to improve patient care.Read the report here
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News
Hospital patients to get VTE risk assessments
Every patient should be assessed for potentially fatal blood clots on admission to hospital, chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson announced as he launched a working party report on venous thromboembolism (VTE).A national risk assessment tool is being developed for clinicians to detect the complications of VTE, which include deep ...
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Comment
It's up to executive teams to champion productive wards
Do ward staff need the encouragement and support of their executive team to get on and make changes to improve everyday processes?
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Comment
Time to draw a line under Granger era
The national programme for IT is reeling from its most damning verdict yet - this week's report from the Commons public accounts committee that condemns uncertainty over the schedule of implementation and value for money (see news, page 9).
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News
Diagnostic test waiting times released by DoH
Diagnostics waiting times and activity data for February and the census of all diagnostic tests up to December 31 2006 have been published by the Department of Health.The data shows progress in tackling waiting times for tests such as scans. The monthly data gives the waiting times for 15 key ...
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News
How crude tariffs are getting under the skin of specialists
Dermatologists and rheumatologists have claimed their specialties are under threat of bankruptcy and patient care at risk as the payment by results tariffs do not cover costs. Is a move into community care services really a better option, asks Daloni Carlisle
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News
NAO says consultants' contract is poor value
Under the new NHS consultants' contract, consultants in England are earning on average 25 per cent more than three years ago but are working the same number of hours or less states the report from the National Audit Office.The report on the contract found that while it has the potential ...
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News
Cancer charity warning over HRT link
Cancer Research UK has highlighted a study published in the Lancet that has found women who take hormone replacement therapy are more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and to die of the disease.Results from the Million Women Study, the biggest of its kind in the world, show that ...
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News
RCN will back closures - as long as patients benefit
The Royal College of Nursing will give its support to hospital closures but only if they are in the best interests of patient care, its new general secretary has said.