Latest news – Page 1838

  • News

    patient website

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    An independent patient feedback website, has won funding to extend its service to mental health users.Patient Opinion, the social enterprise behind the website www.patientopinion.org.uk, has secured funding to develop its service to cover mental health services in England.Founder of the site Dr Paul Hodgkin said the funding will be used ...

  • News

    EU cancer case

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    The European Commission has been asked to investigate whether a primary care trust can refuse to pay for drugs that are being funding elsewhere.In a case which, if it succeeds, would set a precedent for local PCT decisions on prescribing, Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris is calling on the European Commission ...

  • News

    Improvements still needed in mental health

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Many mental health patients are not getting the support they need, a Healthcare Commission report has revealed.The government watchdog's annual community mental health service users survey shows that, while most patients are happy with standards of care, persistent gaps remain.Half of patients who wanted information about local support groups had ...

  • News

    nib 2

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Waiting times have continued to improve, new Department of Health figures show.Those waiting 20 weeks or more stood at 10,500 a decrease of 1,900 from June while the number of patients waiting less than eight weeks increased to 93.4 per cent from 84.8 per cent in July 2006.

  • News

    nib 3

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has recommended that Gloucestershire Partnership foundation trust, Gloucestershire primary care trust and Gloucestershire County Council work closely to strengthen older people 's community mental health services and community mental health teams.Chair of the IRP, Dr Peter Barrett said: 'The issue of the location of inpatient services ...

  • News

    nib 4

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    A report published this week by the Department of Health shows that the number of children achieving their five a day intake of fruit and vegetables has increased by 13 per cent in two years. Figures show that the number of children achieving 5 a day has increased from 27 ...

  • News

    nib 5

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    The UK’s first academic health science centre has been given the green light by health secretary Alan Johnson.Hammersmith Hospitals trust and St Mary’s Hospital trust will merge on 1 October and integrate with Imperial College London. Lord Tugendhat has been appointed the first chairman of Imperial College Healthcare trust by ...

  • News

    nib 6

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Graphic pictures illustrating the effects smoking can have on health will be printed on all cigarette packets from next year, health secretary Alan Johnson has announced.The 15 images to be used were chosen following a consultation in 2006, market research and a public vote. The move makes the UK the ...

  • News

    nib 1

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    A new chief executive has been appointed to NHS South Central. Jim Easton joins the strategic health authority from York hospitals foundation trust and replaces Mark Britnell who moved to the Department of Health in July.Mr Easton said: 'There is a real ambition across the NHS and its partners ...

  • News

    PCTs assured over ICATS liability

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts in the North West will not have to pay out if the number of patients using privately operated clinical assessment services is lower than anticipated.NHS North West has moved to allay concerns that PCTs across the patch would be forced to pay for the integrated clinical assessment ...

  • News

    Inquiry calls for action on age discrimination

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Age barriers to mental health services must be removed to end widespread discrimination against older people, a national inquiry has found.The UK inquiry into mental health and well-being in later life found that 3.5 million older people who experience mental health problems do not have access to adequate services and ...

  • News

    Human rights let down by existing law

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Human rights should be enshrined in health service delivery, according to a report calling for new duties to protect the rights of older people in hospitals and care homes.A joint committee on human rights report this week said existing legislation does not sufficiently protect and promote the rights of older ...

  • News

    PCTs to consult on Darzi's London blueprint

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    NHS London has asked the capital's primary care trusts to form a joint committee to carry out consultation on junior health minister Lord Darzi's report, A Framework for Action.The joint committee would be responsible for approving the consultation document, considering the impact the proposals would have on health inequalities and ...

  • News

    SNP calls for fast-track reforms

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Scotland's new SNP health secretary has called on NHS boards to accelerate the pace of change to give patients the services they deserve.

  • News

    Stroke service start

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    A 24-hour stroke service in north London has been launched at University College London Hospitals foundation trust in a joint initiative with the Whittington Hospital trust.

  • News

    Cases of invasive pneumococcal disease down

    2007-09-19T13:22:00Z

    The number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in children has fallen since the introduction of a new vaccine a year ago, figures show.

  • News

    Darzi to host webchat

    2007-09-19T13:12:00Z

    Health minister Lord Darzi is to host a webchat to answer questions about the Our NHS, Our Future consultation.The Department of Health is inviting questions for the webchat, to be broadcast at 10am on 27 September.

  • News

    Call to redirect NHS funds to councils

    2007-09-19T12:58:00Z

    The NHS should lose 0.5 per cent of its next cash settlement from government to councils to pay for preventative services for the elderly, the Local Government Association has said.

  • News

    Guidance sets out who should pay for patient care

    2007-09-19T12:53:00Z

    Guidance on when primary care trusts are legally obliged to pay for patient care has been published by the Department of Health.

  • News

    Vaccine could cut cases of cervical cancer

    2007-09-19T12:49:00Z

    A new vaccine could reduce cases of cervical cancer and genital warts if introduced into the national immunisation programme, the Health Protection Agency has said.