Latest news – Page 1943

  • News

    PCTs pull plug on £550m hospital for Hertfordshire

    2006-11-16T00:00:00Z

    Plans for new hospitals in Hertfordshire were in tatters this week after a £550m scheme to build a hospital and cancer centre in Hatfield were axed.

  • News

    Queen's Speech reignites row over mental health legislation

    2006-11-16T00:00:00Z

    The government used yesterday's Queen's Speech to confirm that it will introduce a bill to reform mental health legislation, following its decision to abandon plans for a new mental health act in March.The bill will introduce a new definition of 'mental disorder', a new 'appropriate treatment test' and supervised community ...

  • News

    New dental strategy for Northern Ireland

    2006-11-16T00:00:00Z

    Northern Ireland health minister Paul Goggins has unveiled a strategy to reform primary care dental services.The strategy includes a clearer focus on disease prevention, moves to ensure better access to services, local commissioning and a new remuneration system for dentists.Mr Goggins said that despite examples of good practice, the current ...

  • News

    Growing debts in Wales

    2006-11-16T00:00:00Z

    A report from the Welsh Assembly's audit committee has warned that the NHS deficit in Wales is continuing to grow. The report says the service overspent by more than £30m last year, while carrying 'historic debt' of more than £80m.The committee has also highlighted 'significant variations' in the way that ...

  • News

    New emergency planning guidance published

    2006-11-15T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health is consulting on new guidance for dealing with major emergencies like terrorist attacks.The best practice guidance is meant to help health services in planning, preparing and responding to all types of emergencies including natural disasters, infectious epidemics and major power cuts.The consultation closes on 31 December.Read ...

  • News

    Scottish Executive unveils plans to reform nursing

    2006-11-15T00:00:00Z

    New measures to reform nursing in Scotland have been unveiled by the Scottish Executive.Health minister Andy Kerr launched the Delivering Care, Enabling Healthstrategy, which will give nurses, midwives and allied health professionals a bigger role in patient care.The strategy was published alongside a review ...

  • News

    Healthcare managers face future outside the NHS, says IHM president

    2006-11-15T00:00:00Z

    Many more healthcare managers may end up working in the private and voluntary sector, said the president of the Institute of Healthcare Management.Speaking at the IHM's annual conference in Cardiff, Gerry McScorley said the growing range of organisations delivering healthcare meant many new career opportunities.At the same conference, IHM chief ...

  • News

    Clinicians should take the lead on commissioning, says BMA

    2006-11-15T00:00:00Z

    Government plans to change how NHS services are commissioned will only succeed with the full involvement of clinicians, the British Medical Association said today.Honest and open debate with the public is also crucial, said the association as it unveiled its own set of principles for commissioning.The BMA was responding to ...

  • News

    BMJ study says Evercare fails to cut hospital admissions

    2006-11-15T00:00:00Z

    A new case management system for older patients has failed to reduce emergency admissions and death rates, says a study in the BMJ.The Evercare system is a key plank of government community care policy and has been rolled out across England.Researchers, who studied nine ...

  • News

    HIV awareness pack launched for schools

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    The National AIDS trust has launched a free resource pack to help teachers integrate HIV education into the national curriculum at key stages three and four. The trust fears the failure of the curriculum to include HIV within relevant subjects means many young people leave school without knowing the facts. ...

  • News

    Telephone marketing raising awareness of COPD

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Cheshire and Merseyside Partnerships for Health (ChaMPs) are using telephone marketing to encourage vulnerable communities to reduce the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. People living in Vauxhall, Everton and Netherley in Liverpool, Kirby in Knowsley and Runcorn in Cheshire will be encouraged to ...

  • News

    Fall in psychiatric inpatient care suicides

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Suicide in psychiatric inpatient care is becoming less common, according to research by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. The study looked at all patients admitted to inpatient psychiatric care in England between 1997 and 2003 and found ...

  • News

    Dignity in care campaign launched

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Minister for care services Ivan Lewis has launched a dignity in care campaign. The campaign aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care and a system of zero tolerance for abuse and disrespect of older people. A network ...

  • News

    NHS financial crisis squeezing medical education, BMA warns

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    Patient care could be affected by cuts to medical training and education, according to the British Medical Association. Funding for study leave and academic posts in medical schools has been cut to help tackle deficits. The BMA junior doctors committee has written to health secretary ...

  • News

    Belfast to get extra mental health services

    2006-11-14T00:00:00Z

    A dedicated self-harm team, four additional cognitive behavioural therapists and a primary care mental health team for young people are to begin work in the North and West Belfast trust area. The services are part of the area's action plan on renewing communities.

  • News

    National Patient Choice survey results published

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    The results of the National Patient Choice survey carried out in May and June have been published.The survey found that 30 per cent of patients had been offered a choice of hospital for their outpatient appointment, and 29 per cent of patients were aware before visiting their GP that they ...

  • News

    New safe sex campaign aimed at young people

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    A new campaign to raise awareness of the risks of sexually transmitted infections has been launched by the Department of Health.Health minister Caroline Flint said the campaign would be aimed at 18-24 year olds and would also target healthcare professionals.The advertising campaign shows young people with the names of STIs, ...

  • News

    Government funding for prison drug treatment 'slashed'

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Cuts in NHS funding have led to a budget shortfall for drug treatment for prisoners, according to a charity.The drugs information charity DrugScope said that the government had pledged £28m for an integrated drug treatment system in 2006-07 and £40m for 2007-08. But it says the budget for this year ...

  • News

    NPSA issues advice on blood transfusions

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    A range of new measures to improve the safety of blood transfusions has been announced by the National Patient Safety Agency.The measures will include photo ID cards for regular patients and electronic tracking systems for patients and blood.The NPSA has drawn up the measures in conjunction with the Serious Hazards ...

  • News

    Patients to use libraries to choose healthcare

    2006-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Patients will be able to use their local libraries to access their choice of healthcare provider under a new pilot scheme called Partnership for Patients.Read the press release here