Comment archive – Page 414
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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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CommentYour Humble Servant on appropriate attire
It can be hard to decide how to dress for a dress-down, informal bonding session with colleagues, as ours gamely proved.
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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 ...
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CommentMichael White on integrity and whistleblowing
Amid the uproar over the MPs’ expenses scandal three prime ministers addressed health issues this past week. I refer, of course, to Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Alan Johnson, who is also now tipped (improbably) to succeed Alistair Darling in Number 11.
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CommentSteve Preston on NHS career values
Your values are the things which you hold dear, but inevitably they will change over time. However, few people audit them, which can be unhelpful to future jobs and career prospects.
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CommentNHS clinical leaders: take a leaf from the military's book
As a military medical officer working in the NHS and a Health Foundation Leadership Fellow, my professional development has been different from that of most clinicians in the UK, writes Ed Nicol
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CommentAngela Greatley on health in the criminal justice system
Lord Bradley’s review of mental health and learning disabilities in the criminal justice system was published last month. Fourteen months in the making, the report that emerged did not disappoint.
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CommentMichael White on swine flu and leadership
This column’s established policy is not to panic over either swine flu or Labour leadership flu. Outbreaks of both occur from time to time and are easily spread by modern life, notably by air travel and 24-hour TV news channels. The authorities do their best.
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CommentCally Bann on the swine flu outbreak
An acute trust chief executive, “Cally Bann”, casts a jaundiced eye over the swine flu outbreak…
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LeaderMid Staffordshire: improvement must be routine, not just the result of a scandal
In his report into the lessons to be learned from the failures at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust, national primary care director David Colin-Thomé concluded that responsibility lies firmly with the management board and staff.
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LeaderNHS quality improvement needs patient choice data
One year after the introduction of free choice, early analysis suggests some patients are using their right to choose the hospital at which they are treated.
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CommentNoel Plumridge on expenses and exploitation
It was a cheap Chinese restaurant, just near the bus terminal in a quiet Northern town. Now, I’m partial to Chinese food when away on business, not least because the single male traveller can usually eat a plate of chow mien or special fried rice without feeling awkward and without ...
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Comment
Media Watch: Alan Johnson for prime minister
“How Johnson became the model Labour candidate for the top job,” was The Independent on Sunday’s headline on coverage of the party’s most recent leadership dilemmas.
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Comment
Matthew Winn on community health providers
The Darzi review brings community providers the policies they have long called for but the new austerity means they must prove their worth with cost-effective innovations