External contributors – Page 273

  • Comment

    Failure to assess

    2008-02-15T17:19:17Z

    Congratulations for highlighting out-of-area assessments for mental healthcare. This problem is not confined to people needing to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act, writes Linda Davidson

  • Comment

    Proud of our A&E

    2008-02-15T17:15:29Z

    I was pleased Emma Dent had a positive experience in accident and emergency, but she did not name the trust. So, on Emma's behalf, I just wanted to thank the hard-working staff who treated her colleague at UCLH.

  • Comment

    BMA will fight

    2008-02-15T17:13:25Z

    It is not the BMA which is 'grossly misrepresenting' the argument over GP opening hours. It is the government's campaign of misinformation, inaccurate media reporting and misleading articles such as Richard Vize's blinkered editorial, writes Robert Morley

  • Comment

    Is it reasonable to audit GPs' hours?

    2008-02-15T17:09:52Z

    Far from 'standing between patients and a better service' over longer GP opening hours, the British Medical Association has said most GPs would offer appointments in extended hours, writes Richard Vautrey

  • Comment

    Your Humble Servant's NHS Diamond 60 suggestions

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    To: Don Wise, chief executiveFrom: Paul Servant, assistant chief executiveRe: Diamond geezers

  • Comment

    Media Watch: GP opening hours

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    Doctors were in the spotlight this week, after the British Medical Association advised GPs to accept a new contract that means practices will open for longer.

  • Comment

    The BMA is standing between patients and a better service

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    Not content with grossly misrepresenting the government's position on opening hours, the British Medical Association has now resorted to sabotage to block modernisation of our primary care services.

  • Comment

    Michael White on NHS reform

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    I'm always getting into trouble for trying to be open minded. That Hitler, I say, he was kind to animals. So I turned to this week's polemic from the pro-market pressure group Reform so full of good will that I ignored the title, NHS Reform: national mantra, not local reality.

  • Comment

    Sophie Christie on the Lucentis drug controversy

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    The latest media celebration of how terrible the NHS is gathers pace. The press has been reporting that people are going blind because they are being refused a drug (as opposed to going blind because they have a degenerative disease). Yet the fourth estate seems to be missing a far ...

  • Comment

    Find the funds to keep violence in check

    2008-02-14T09:00:00Z

    Uniquely among the main care disciplines, mental health services routinely have to manage a triangle of potentially violent relationships: patients attacking staff, patients attacking each other and - when it comes to restraining aggression - staff using force on patients.

  • Comment

    A case for extending GP hours

    2008-02-13T09:00:00Z

    Changing the way GP surgeries are managed could help improve access for patients who are excluded by the current system, argues Jim Ford

  • Comment

    All Our Yesterdays

    2008-02-12T15:46:57Z

    February 20, 1948, Public Assistance Journal and Health & Hospital Review A letter issued on behalf of ten trade unions and organisations states that they have learned that moves are being made to launch a new organisation…The National Federation of Hospital Officers. The majority of hospital officers (states the letter) ...

  • Comment

    This week's lookey likey

    2008-02-12T15:44:17Z

    Reader Peter Munday of Mersey Care trust writes: 'Before he (Rhydian that is), fades into obscurity, I feel I have to point out the astounding similarity between Rhydian Roberts of runner up in TV talent show X-Factor fame and David Dalton, the chief executive of Salford Royal foundation trust.'We agree ...

  • Comment

    World class credibility gap

    2008-02-12T09:00:00Z

    Management and leadership are a lot about clarifying a desired future and then helping people and organisations to get there.

  • Comment

    World class credibility gap

    2008-02-12T09:00:00Z

    Management and leadership are a lot about clarifying a desired future and then helping people and organisations to get there.

  • Comment

    Lisa Rodrigues on NHS acronyms

    2008-02-11T09:00:00Z

    Obscure abbreviations and over-complicated policies keep the NHS from focusing on what is really important

  • Comment

    Lisa Rodrigues on NHS acronyms

    2008-02-11T09:00:00Z

    Obscure abbreviations and over-complicated policies keep the NHS from focusing on what is really important

  • Comment

    Hilary Thomas on challenging NHS rhetoric

    2008-02-08T16:03:35Z

    One of my enduring impressions of the NHS is that of mythology. Not the classical Greek type representing animal/human chimaeras but perhaps equally contradictory. There are a number of platitudes which people love to cite: “free at the point of delivery”, “the GP as gatekeeper”, and first prize has to ...

  • Comment

    Hilary Thomas on

    2008-02-08T16:03:35Z

    One of my enduring impressions of the NHS is that of mythology. Not the classical Greek type representing animal/human chimaeras but perhaps equally contradictory.There are a number of platitudes which people love to cite: “free at the point of delivery”, “the GP as gatekeeper”, and first prize has to go ...

  • Comment

    Jackson letter

    2008-02-08T15:42:05Z

    The article on page 10 of the 7th Feb issue refer to months of legal wrangling in relation to UHE’s first contract with Derby City PCT. In fact the legal challenge was with Derbyshire County PCT, relating to a county practice. Derby City PCT appointed UHE to run its Normanton ...