External contributors – Page 289

  • Comment

    An ode to the Daily Mail?

    2007-08-13T00:00:00Z

    Michael White's 800-word bansturbation (opinion, page 10, 26 July) to the thought of stricter discipline and control of drugs, drinking, gambling and advertising included a stout defence of the Daily Mail. Will HSJ soon have a Daily Mail editor as its political columnist?

  • Comment

    Ex-offenders should not be excluded from volunteering

    2007-08-13T00:00:00Z

    As the national volunteering development agency, we were very alarmed by the tone of the article 'Criminal checks fail to exclude staff', and the related editorial in a recent issue of HSJ. There appeared to be little understanding of vetting procedures, Criminal Record Bureau guidelines or accepted good practice in ...

  • Comment

    Hospital closure is not an option

    2007-08-13T00:00:00Z

    This letter is in response to.'Super kids in bid to save hospital' (news, page 6, 2 August).

  • Comment

    Peter Crutchfield on the end-of-life experience

    2007-08-10T00:00:00Z

    'If there is any such thing as a good death, I believe John had one. It was a very special experience for him to be able to stay at home with us until the end'

  • Comment

    Emma Dent

    2007-08-09T00:00:00Z

    I have told readers before that I cannot ride a bike. This is a piece of information that never fails to attract shrieks of disbelief from friends, colleagues and acquaintances far more at home on two wheels than I am. I should add that I can't drive either. I do ...

  • Comment

    Darzi takes the blows as review develops

    2007-08-09T00:00:00Z

    'Darzi says his rapid consultations around the country, as he prepares his interim report for October's comprehensive spending review, demonstrate widespread support for the current direction of reform'

  • Comment

    Established GPs prepare to feel the heat of big business

    2007-08-09T00:00:00Z

    'Running a practice may not be a huge money-spinner for commercial firms, but the rewards from a greater role in commissioning could be considerable'

  • Comment

    David Baker on the maze of choice

    2007-08-06T00:00:00Z

    While a.wider choice of services is a good thing.for patient care, the public needs more guidance on where to go for non-emergency urgent care, says David Baker.

  • Comment

    Andrew Jones on which way now?

    2007-08-06T00:00:00Z

    'I assume in chess terms the ploy was to bewilder the electorate and most senior managers into second guessing the next steps. I have no hidden insights at this point but then I am told the Brown team didn't have many either'

  • Comment

    Your Humble Servant: domestic inspection

    2007-08-02T00:00:00Z

    ‘The terror of arbitrary censure and pointless planning is taking its toll’

  • Comment

    The public needs reassurance that it is in the safest hands

    2007-08-02T00:00:00Z

    'Such big jumps need analysis. Are employers becoming more lax in their approach? Or is it just a statistical anomaly?'

  • Comment

    Target-driven department is off the mark

    2007-08-02T00:00:00Z

    'Reforming the DoH to make it an effective and respected department is an important step on the road to rebuilding NHS confidence in the government'

  • Comment

    Neil Goodwin on the importance of partnerships

    2007-07-30T00:00:00Z

    'With the little wisdom, insight and maturity that I hope I have developed with age and experience, I am able to confess that some inter-organisational relationships suffered as I pursued system-wide strategic change'

  • Comment

    Carers must be treated with dignity

    2007-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Lord Darzi has been asked by the health secretary.to review the main challenges facing the NHS, including ensuring that care for people with long-term conditions is joined-up, patient focused, offers best value and is delivered with dignity in the best location for each patient, which for many will be their ...

  • Comment

    Dr Maire Smith on nurturing innovation

    2007-07-30T00:00:00Z

    'NHS staff have a wealth of ideas and a number of these could be translated into tangible benefits, not only for the patient, but also for the organisation'

  • Comment

    Emma Dent

    2007-07-26T00:00:00Z

    'With the ludicrous amount of NHS reorganisation and reconfiguration last year, either the mighty Binley's gave up, or simply stopped sending them to HSJ'

  • Comment

    Hilary Thomas on trust and safety

    2007-07-23T00:00:00Z

    'Imagine hearing: 'This is your junior pilot speaking. I have no particular interest in your safety.''

  • Comment

    Protecting public and patient involvement

    2007-07-23T00:00:00Z

    The blind drive to force the introduction of local involvement networks and abolish patient and public involvement forums is dangerous and misguided.

  • Comment

    Your Humble Servant: London SHA

    2007-07-19T00:00:00Z

    ‘They’ve come up with a whizzo plan to keep Londoners happy. They are going to build lots more hospitals. At the moment they are calling them polyclinics, but that’ll change’

  • Comment

    It's a question of trust: will the new ministers devolve power?

    2007-07-19T00:00:00Z

    'Central control is a far more natural response from Brown than trusting local freedom and competition'