Latest news – Page 1927

  • News

    PEC arrangements published

    2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

    Guidance on new arrangements for primary care trust professional executive committees has been published. PCTs can use local circumstances to determine how PECs should be structured and operated locally.See the arrangements here

  • News

    Department of Health business plan launched

    2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has published its business plan for 2007-08. The plan includes the DoH's objectives in health and social care and in supporting ministers.Get the plan here

  • News

    Expert patients become social enterprise

    2007-04-02T00:00:00Z

    The expert patients programme has been set up as a community interest company, or social enterprise, by the Department of Health. The move means primary care trusts will be able to commission the company to run self-management courses for patients.Read the press release here

  • News

    Three-quarters of NHS staff doing unpaid overtime

    2007-03-30T12:57:30Z

    Nearly three-quarters of NHS workers in England are regularly doing overtime, much of it unpaid, according to the annual Healthcare Commission staff survey, published today.

  • News

    Burnham launches next wave of foundations

    2007-03-30T00:00:00Z

    Health minister Andy Burnham has given support to the next wave of nine NHS foundation trusts, bringing the total up to 62.He has also welcomed the authorisation of three more foundation trusts by Monitor.

  • News

    New waiting-time figures published

    2007-03-30T00:00:00Z

    Inpatient waiting times in February have fallen, according to new monthly figures released by the Department of Health today.Outpatient waiting times are also down, with 16,900 patients in England waiting over 11 weeks for a first appointment.Get the full figures here

  • News

    New BMA guidance on end of life issues

    2007-03-30T00:00:00Z

    The BMA is launching updated guidance on withholding and withdrawing life-prolonging treatment.It takes into account the major changes for patients and doctors that will come into force when the Mental Capacity Act is implemented in England and Wales in April and October 2007.Read the guidance here

  • News

    RAB axed as Hewitt defends year of pain

    2007-03-29T10:07:08Z

    Has the NHS finally emerged from its financial quagmire? Patricia Hewitt argues the new post-RAB system has never been more fair and open. Nick Edwards talks to a buoyant health secretary

  • News

    Controverisal critical care centre axed

    2007-03-29T10:05:49Z

    Hospital managers have scrapped plans for a £450m critical care centre and a network of community units across south London on the grounds of affordability.

  • News

    Trust gets £9m refund after tariff admin error

    2007-03-29T10:04:56Z

    Hinchingbrooke Health Care trust has received a £9m refund from the Department of Health, after an administrative error by the trust left it £13.5m out of pocket.

  • News

    Commissioning: Hewitt slams 'unacceptable' interference by trusts

    2007-03-29T10:04:01Z

    Patricia Hewitt has criticised the 'unacceptable' practice of trust managers instructing hospital consultants not to discuss reworking patient pathways with GPs.

  • News

    Healthcare Commission must 'remodel' work following 17 per cent funding cut

    2007-03-29T10:01:16Z

    The Healthcare Commission will have its budget cut by 17 per cent in 2008-09 because of the government's decision to delay the creation of a combined regulator by a year until April 2009.

  • News

    DoH orders review into £257m diagnosis contract

    2007-03-29T09:55:34Z

    A massive diagnostics contract with the private sector has been delayed. because of concerns about quality and administrative procedures.

  • News

    Acutes accused over discharge info

    2007-03-29T09:53:47Z

    The acute sector is showing 'institutionalised contempt for primary care' by its failure to provide GPs with prompt discharge summaries, the NHS Alliance has claimed.

  • News

    BMA pushes for referral centre rules

    2007-03-29T09:52:08Z

    The British Medical Association is to call for greater clinical engagement in referral management centres run by primary care trusts, HSJ has learnt.

  • News

    Workforce SHAs' failure to plan staff numbers has been 'disastrous'

    2007-03-29T09:49:48Z

    Workforce planning is at risk of being abandoned by NHS chief executives burdened with 'excessive' Whitehall demands, a damning report has found.

  • News

    Separating provision and commissioning

    2007-03-29T00:00:07Z

    Jennifer Taylor's piece entitled 'PMs unit pushes more, but 'fairer', competition' was an important news article however does raise a fundamental question about whether entrenching a more explicit separation of commissioner and provider functions is indeed the right policy.

  • News

    GPs urged to use 'care farms'

    2007-03-29T00:00:00Z

    GPs are being urged to take advantage of greater prescribing freedoms to refer people with addiction and depression problems to 'care farms', which provide health initiatives in a rural setting.Due to speak at the second National Care Farms conference today, NHS Alliance chair Dr Michael Dixon said care farms are ...

  • News

    Nicholson: NHS financial system now fit for the future

    2007-03-29T00:00:00Z

    NHS chief executive David Nicholson has welcomed the abolishment of the 'inconsistent and unfair' resource accounting and budgeting system.The move was announced by health secretary Patricia Hewitt following recommendations by the Audit Commission. Mr Nicholson said it will be replaced by a system that 'ensures fairness, transparency and responsibility'.Read the ...

  • News

    Survey reveals inaccurate perceptions on smoking

    2007-03-29T00:00:00Z

    Most young people in England believe that becoming a smoker is the norm, a survey by charity Cancer Research UK has found.While official smoking figures put the proportion of adults in England who smoke at about a quarter, nearly 83 per cent of the 16-24-year-olds questioned in the survey believed ...