External contributors – Page 5
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Why putting a cinema in a hospital works
Colin Lawrence, CEO, MediCinema gives an insight into how the charity MediCinema boosts the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of hospital patients and their families
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Cuts to HIV services put elimination goal at risk
Cuts to HIV testing ignore worrying increases in positivity and put the UK’s HIV elimination ambitions at risk. We must react and protect these vital services, writes Vanessa Apea
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Waiting times are not all that A&E patients care about
With a record number of patients stuck in A&E, Healthwatch England’s CEO Louise Ansari wants to see a longer-term plan to improve conditions in which people wait for life-saving care. This should include real-life monitoring and reporting on patient experience.
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The NHS’s approach to sickness absence is ineffective and discriminatory
The NHS’s over reliance on the Bradford Factor is potentially discriminatory and highlights the urgent need for a shift in how the service manages sickness absence, writes Roger Klein.
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The problem with 'lifers': lessons from the Post Office scandal
Peter West reflects on the Horizon Post Office scandal and suggests examining the impact of long-serving staff, or “lifers,” on organisational culture and patient care in healthcare settings
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Why NHS trusts should employ ‘corporate psychologists’
Behavioural and cognitive issues lie at the heart of many problems facing hospital NHS trusts, whether they relate to patient care or staff wellbeing. These issues can best be managed if each major hospital trust has dedicated corporate psychologists assigned to these two domains, writes Narinder Kapur
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As a trust chair I'm optimistic, despite the tough times
Though the NHS is facing several challenges, a spate of new projects in West Yorkshire that can spark innovation drawing national and international investment gives a reason to be hopeful about the future, writes Dame Linda Pollard
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User beware: How the FDP could increase health inequalities
The NHS Federated Data Platform promises data integration, but a closer look reveals potential pitfalls in perpetuating biases. By Andi Orlowski and members of the Chief Analytical Officers Network.
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Big improvement in waiting lists and times
A significant and real step in the right direction, with a lot further to go
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We need a tough conversation on the roles of ICSs and provider collaboratives
Richard Mitchell reflects on progress, strategic partnerships, and the imperative for radical change to shape a better healthcare future
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The rationing of cancer care must be addressed
Amid positive strides in addressing oncology capacity challenges, the new health secretary must now commit to sustained action, clear funding, and strategic technology integration for lasting improvements in cancer care, writes Tom Roques
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ICBs will not improve collaboration if they also try to be performance managers
Sara Gariban describes three essentials to ensure trust leaders make system working a success and thus build efficient, resilient and responsive services
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The NHS must become proactively 'anti-racist'
Amid rising awareness of racial health disparities, the authors examine healthcare organisations’ initiatives against racism, spotlighting efforts in diversity, leadership, and continual evaluation for enduring impact
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How Healthwatch helps the NHS engage with communities
As 2024 begins, Louise Ansari, CEO at Healthwatch England, highlights some of the projects that made a difference for patients last year while showing the vital role of local action. We need to hear more of such examples in the new year.
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Sickle cell should be classified as a long-term condition
The historic treatment of sickle cell patients is often cited as a prime example of the neglect shown towards the Black community, with patients often feeling misunderstood, stigmatised and ignored, writes Pippa Nightingale
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GPs cannot avoid modernisation
GPs face overwhelming workloads, hindered by administrative burdens and inadequate resources. Collaborative digital transformation is imperative to ensure sustainable, patient-centric care and the survival of general practice, writes Jay Verma
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Increased CQC fees for ICBs threaten drive to improve care
To ensure system assessments add value and help improve care quality, the CQC should rethink the assessment process and consider two alternatives, writes Sarah Walter
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Let local people decide on the public health measures the NHS should invest in
Jessica Studdert explains how community-driven health initiatives in deprived areas, funded by the Big Local programme, not only demonstrate significant preventive benefits but also reduce demand on NHS services.
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Give more prescribing and referral rights to those working in the community
Government action is crucial to enhancing primary and community care integration, and to addressing structural, funding, data sharing, and training challenges to deliver a patient-centric, sustainable health service, writes Baroness Pitkeathley
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Waiting lists and times (probably) fall, at last
The falling waits for diagnosis and decision are especially welcome