Latest news – Page 1927
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New waiting-time figures published
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
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New BMA guidance on end of life issues
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
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RAB axed as Hewitt defends year of pain
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
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Controverisal critical care centre axed
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.
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Trust gets £9m refund after tariff admin error
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.
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Commissioning: Hewitt slams 'unacceptable' interference by trusts
Patricia Hewitt has criticised the 'unacceptable' practice of trust managers instructing hospital consultants not to discuss reworking patient pathways with GPs.
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Healthcare Commission must 'remodel' work following 17 per cent funding cut
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.
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DoH orders review into £257m diagnosis contract
A massive diagnostics contract with the private sector has been delayed. because of concerns about quality and administrative procedures.
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Acutes accused over discharge info
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.
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BMA pushes for referral centre rules
The British Medical Association is to call for greater clinical engagement in referral management centres run by primary care trusts, HSJ has learnt.
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Workforce SHAs' failure to plan staff numbers has been 'disastrous'
Workforce planning is at risk of being abandoned by NHS chief executives burdened with 'excessive' Whitehall demands, a damning report has found.
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Separating provision and commissioning
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.
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GPs urged to use 'care farms'
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 ...
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Nicholson: NHS financial system now fit for the future
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 ...
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Survey reveals inaccurate perceptions on smoking
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 ...
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Choice of treatment on the rise
More patients say they have been offered a choice of treatment at referral, the latest patient choice survey reveals.Forty-one per cent of patients say they had a choice, compared with 38 per cent two months previously.Read the report here
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North West Wales trust lands award
North West Wales trust has won the sustainable procurement category at the Local Government Chronicle and HSJ Sustainable Communities Awards 2007 for its combination of an apprentice buyer scheme, green buying and its work in creating opportunities for small local companies.The winner of the headline partnership award for sustainable communities ...
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NHS human rights framework launched
A human rights framework has been launched by the government to help NHS organisations apply a human rights-based approach to delivering healthcare.Launching Human Rights in Healthcare - a framework for local action, health minister Rosie Winterton said it had been developed with help from the British Institute of Human Rights ...
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Healthcare Commission reports on heart mortality rates
A report by the Healthcare Commission has found that rates of mortality for heart surgery at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals trust are within statistical limits.Commission chief executive Anna Walker said surgeons were to be 'strongly commended' for publishing the data.Read the report here
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Proposals to update law on infectious diseases
Public health minister Caroline Flint today welcomed the publication of a consultation paper setting out the government's proposals for changes to the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984.Ms Flint called for legislation to promote an 'effective and proportionate' response to the potential spread of infectious diseases and contamination.Read more ...