Comment archive – Page 403
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CommentMichael White on the patient-consumer parallel
It is always good to hear the NHS’s top brass trumpeting the service’s virtues, as NHS chief executive David Nicholson did when launching his third annual report. At least his list of modest triumphs serves to counteract some of the negativity generated by more regular reports of NHS failures in ...
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CommentNeil Goodwin on NHS boardroom relationships
In the recent flurry of NHS chief executive departures, little has been mentioned or heard about the possible impact on wider NHS board membership.
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CommentHilary Thomas on treating lymphoedema in the community
One of the most heart sinking conditions an oncologist encounters during his or her career is lymphoedema. I use the term “heart sinking” with some embarrassment but, if I am really honest, this is one of those afflictions that made me feel powerless as a clinician.
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CommentDavid Peat on embracing NHS change
Attitudes to the idea of change have always fascinated me. And I suppose I’m revisiting the concept since I’m on the verge of changing my own role in the NHS by moving on to take up a new post at strategic health authority level.
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CommentDeveloping an integrated falls prevention service
Falls-related injuries are the leading cause of death due to accident in older people. Sue Poulton explains how to develop an integrated falls prevention and bone health service to reduce the risk of falls
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CommentDavid Furness: Keep local people in on the act
The Budget has set the scene for a grim period in NHS finances, so accountability to the public must play an even greater role, not least in relation to local commissioning
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CommentMichael White: a search for good news in the NHS
With the expenses scandal delivering the most humiliating week for Westminster politics that I can remember in 30 years this column is committed to finding something more cheerful to write about MPs today.
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LeaderBen Bradshaw hunts down scandal-hit NHS chiefs
The Department of Health has scented blood over blocking pay-offs for chief executives quitting in the wake of a scandal.
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LeaderNHS should not be out of pocket when doctors trouser extra cash
HSJ’s revelation that the NHS is spending in the region of £2m a year subsidising private patients raises serious questions about how some trusts manage them.
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CommentSophia Christie on NHS crisis and opportunity
An emerging policy consensus looks to innovation to save the NHS. The context is an emerging “perfect storm” of financial crisis, global warming, obesity, longer lives with greater dependency and fewer working age people to pay taxes.
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Comment
Andrew Craggs on safe thinking
Imagine a patient who falls in a pothole on his way to a clinic on the main footpath. He sustains severe head injuries and subsequently dies.
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CommentPaul Corrigan: Darwin's theory on the NHS
The greatest truth in Darwin’s On the Origin of Species is that to survive in a rapidly changing environment, species must adapt. And for a species to be adaptable it needs to love diversity.
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CommentMedia Watch: expenses and NHS prescriptions for sunshine
With MPs’ expenses dominating the news this week, there was less room than usual for NHS manager bashing, miracle cures or the rest of the usual health-related fare.
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CommentNicky Spencer on the three dimensions of workload management
Overwhelmed by your workload? Need to increase capacity at work, career potential, confidence?
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CommentMike Hobbs: fear, alcohol and government policy
Mental health action week was naturally a time for ministerial statements and topical third sector reports on key mental health issues. Inevitably, some referred to the present economic context. Prominent government initiatives appear to be contradictory, but are they?
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Comment
Media Watch: the MP expenses claim swingometer
“Greedy, petty, shameless… and we haven’t had the Tories yet!” was how The Independent on Sunday heralded The Telegraph’s ongoing exclusive on MPs’ expenses.
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CommentNo time for complacency on European working time directive
NHS organisations have to be compliant with the European working time directive by 1 August and only a tiny minority can reasonably expect any exception to the rules
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LeaderPatient reported outcome measures raise questions of how need for operations is decided
HSJ’s revelation this week that tens of millions of pounds are being spent on treatments that arguably do not improve patients’ lives serves to focus minds.
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LeaderStrategic health authority chiefs bring a new flavour to the NHS
After many months, we once again have a full complement of strategic health authority chief executives, even if one of them has been given the honour of being made temporary flu czar (news, page 7).
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CommentStephen Eames on the quest for quality
At a recent meeting, a colleague likened the current welter of initiatives on quality to being “tied down like Gulliver”. It’s not that I argue with the importance of providing safe, high quality care - far from it - but I have some sympathy with the view that there is ...