External contributors – Page 256
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Comment
Robina Shah on another day in another NHS year
A very belated happy new year to all my colleagues. If your January 2009 has been anything like mine, it will have presented time to reflect on the past while managing the present and identifying aspirations for the future.
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Mark Goldman on shifting healthcare into the community
In spite of every policy and every effort, it is not happening, not so far at least in Birmingham. The endeavours of primary care to shift healthcare into the community are yet to make a significant dent in hospital activity.
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Julia Tybura on NHS career survival
What would you do if 90 per cent of the world's population died from a flu virus and you were one of only a handful of survivors?
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Stephen Ramden on keeping failure in mind
'It could never happen here…' These are five words that sent a chill up chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson's spine.
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David Peat on quality life years
It might seem odd at first glance to think we are doing 'old Joe' a favour by getting him fit and happy enough to pop down to his local for a pint or two with his pals.
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Comment
Nicholas Hunt on specialised healthcare commissioning
Since the first statement of intent from the Department of Health back in December 2007, world class commissioning has grown rapidly from concept to, some might say, mantra.
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Naomi Chambers on NHS lessons from the private sector
Public sector organisations are frequently exhorted to raise their game by borrowing from approaches used in the business world.How can non-executive directors on NHS boards make sense of their role in today's uncertain climate?
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Comment
Media Watch: NHS Blackpool
Anyone still planning their Christmas celebrations may wish to take heed of the recent experience of NHS Blackpool.
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Michael White on NHS politics
In these times of global recession and rising unemployment we should seek cheerful news. I offer these crumbs of comfort from the thinly attended fag end of the Queen's Speech debate, where health and education were bundled up as one.
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Jon Restell on an NHS Christmas list for Santa
For this column, I am going to cheat by giving you something I have been working on for a while - my Christmas wish list.
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Your Humble Servant: an NHS Christmas
To: Don Wise, chief executiveFrom: Paul Servant, assistant chief executiveRe: Manager in a manger
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Andrea Sutcliffe on PCT provider services
In recent weeks, I have been contacted by increasing numbers of chairs and non-executives who are struggling with the governance arrangements for the separation of their provider services.
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Comment
Mark Simmonds on developing young clinical leaders
The profile of NHS clinical leadership has risen considerably in recent times, but the concept is not a new one. Arguably, it rests at the heart of working as a doctor.
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Maggie Rae on the role of GPs
Yes, they have won again. The GPs have excelled in our local area survey. Each year, like the rest of the country, we participate in what is known as the place survey.
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Jenny Rogers on friendships
A holiday in deepest Norfolk has brought home some lessons about friendship. In a village you do not have the lazy luxury of making friends who are identikit portraits of yourself: same profession, age, income, newspaper - and prejudices.
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Hilary Thomas on clinical-managerial networks
I have had the worst cold I can remember for some years - and every time I get on the Tube somebody sneezes on me. The economy is depressing, the weather has been depressing and the built-in obsolescence of collapsible umbrellas convinces me their manufacturers did not consider the eventuality ...
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Comment
Sandy Watson on NHS performance management
NHS boards have very clear roles. They must ensure governance arrangements are sound, probity and propriety are to the fore, a strategic steer is given to the executive team and staff, the executives are held to account and supported, and there are clear and effective performance management mechanisms.
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Comment
Your Humble Servant on NHS co-payments
To: Don Wise, chief executiveFrom: Paul Servant, assistant chief executiveRe: Co-payment cunning
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Sophia Christie on becoming a world class commissioner
Every primary care trust is participating in the first stage of the world class commissioning assurance process. World class commissioning is not the little brother of foundation trust development, or even Big Brother, although it can seem like that.
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Comment
Media Watch: public health budgets
Those seeking to defend public health budgets amid financial turmoil were unlikely to take heart from the press this week.