All Government/DH policy articles – Page 155
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News
Four countries’ pulses beat to different tunes
The devolved nations of the NHS are showing striking contrasts in productivity and performance, with Scotland’s policy paths in particular appearing to have led its services into a much less healthy state than England’s. Alison Moore reports
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News
Swine flu preparations cost £1bn
The government spent more than £1bn in preparation for a flu pandemic, it has been disclosed.
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News
Department of Health defends NHS energy contracts
The Department of Health has defended NHS organisations that have signed cut-price energy contracts that allow gas supplies to be cut off with minimal warning.
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News
Renewed speculation over minimum drink price
Andy Burnham’s comments that some alcoholic drinks are “ludicrously cheap” has renewed speculation that the government could impose a minimum price per unit.
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News
Politics ‘distracting’ from NHS quality drive
Political pressure and rapid leadership turnover are hampering the health service’s ability to improve quality of care, two reports have warned.
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News
Improvement tsar warns SHAs to ‘refresh’ Darzi visions urgently
The health service will be set timetables and held to account for implementing “must do” quality and efficiency improvements to try to save £20bn, the Department of Health has announced.
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Comment
Sophia Christie on a crumbling model of healthcare
Much health policy is about achieving a balance. A common tension is that between the popularity of “local” and the necessity of “strategic”.
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Comment
Brian James: how to save NHS services in a recession
If politicians want to protect frontline services, they should ask those working there what they should do
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News
Andy Burnham insists home care bill is affordable
Health secretary Andy Burnham has defended the Personal Care at Home Bill amid fears it will divert money from other NHS priorities and lead to fresh conflict between primary care trusts and councils.
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News
Andy Burnham backs sunbed ban for under 18s
The government has backed a call to ban under 18s from using sunbeds at tanning salons.
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News
Internet fund 'to boost telehealth'
The quality of healthcare provided to elderly people and patients living in remote areas will be vastly improved by a £1bn investment in super-fast broadband, the government has said.
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News
Dignity in care funding announced
A “bright ideas grant” to help support innovative projects that promote dignity in care has been launched by the Department of Health.
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News
Combat Stress charity in mental health trust tie-up
Staff from the Combat Stress charity are to work in NHS mental health trusts in a bid to improve treatment offered to traumatised soldiers, the government is expected to announce.
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News
Andy Burnham warns of limits to localism in social care
Andy Burnham has warned there are limits to localism in social care provision, insisting users regard fairness as more important than devolution.
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News
NHS trusts count cost of free parking
Plans to phase out hospital car parking charges for a significant proportion of patients will cost NHS organisations up to £140m a year.
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Leader
Put the brakes on NHS car park consultation
If ever there was an example of pointless Department of Health micromanagement it is the launch of the consultation paper on car parking.
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Comment
John Deffenbaugh asks what next for foundation trusts
How would a Tory government bring up Labour’s young provider model?
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Comment
Andrew Jones on healthcare Darwinism
What is the most important book ever written? Most clinicians will refer you to On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.
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News
Patricia Hewitt calls for vote on Gordon Brown's future
Former health secretary Patricia Hewitt has sparked political turmoil by publicly calling for a vote on whether Gordon Brown should remain as Labour Party leader in the run up to this year’s general election.
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News
Chief medical officer supported over tough line on drink pricing
Introducing minimum pricing for alcohol should be the priority of chief medical officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson during his last months in post, say public health directors.