Latest news – Page 2632

  • News

    Improving cancer services: CHI's first task

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Top of the Commission for Health Improvement's agenda is cancer care. A joint inquiry with the Audit Commission is scheduled for next year, working closely with the government's newly appointed cancer 'czar' Professor Mike Richards.

  • News

    Spell it out for me

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Primary care groups and trusts must be crystal clear on what action they will take when guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence arrive, says Alan Earl-Slater

  • News

    As you don't like it

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Acute services absorb two-thirds of the mental health budget, yet provision is unpopular with both users and staff. The time is right to do something about it, writes Richard Ford

  • News

    Well-laid plans

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Insurance companies tapping into NHS funds through PFI schemes are blurring the boundaries between private and public health provision in search of greater profits, argue Stewart Player and colleagues

  • News

    Profits of doom

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    A spectacular slump in the profits of HMOs is jeopardising the future of health insurance in the US. But, asks Howard Berliner, where is the alternative?

  • News

    modernisation fund

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The much-touted modernisation fund owes more to smoke and mirrors than a desire to dish out significant extra cash, says John Appleby

  • News

    Payout may open negligence floodgates

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The Medical Defence Union last month threw in its hand on the second day of a nine-day High Court trial and agreed to pay £1.57m to Richard Sheppard, who collapsed in the street minutes after leaving his GP's surgery and suffered brain damage. He had gone to see his doctor ...

  • News

    Costs set to rise as 'success fee' gets go ahead

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    From early next year a change in the law will allow winning claimants to recover from their opponents not just legal costs - as now - but also any insurance premium paid and the 'success fee' payable to their lawyers for taking on a no-win no-fee case.

  • News

    Former mentally ill patient stranded at Ashworth by lack of care plan

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Russell Hall was 23 when he killed his girlfriend nine years ago. Found guilty of manslaughter by reason of insanity, he is detained at Ashworth Hospital without limit of time under the Mental Health Act.

  • News

    in brief: compensation ceiling

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The ceiling for compensation for unfair dismissal went up on 25 October from £12,000 to £50,000. Average awards at the moment are well under the £12,000 ceiling, so the change will affect mainly cases involving senior, higher-paid employees.

  • News

    in person

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Professor Joan Higgins has been appointed chair of North West region, succeeding Alasdair Breckenridge. She is professor of health policy at Manchester University and chair of Manchester health authority.

  • News

    Events

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Items are entered free for public sector, voluntary and professional organisations, but we need at least six weeks' notice of your event. Please send details to Uli Jaeger, HSJ , Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7EJ. Fax: 0171-874 0254.

  • News

    In brief: General and senior managers

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    General and senior managers will not get a national pay rise this year, according to guidance issued by head of NHS pay Aileen Simpkins. Maxima and break-points for pay ranges for health authority managers will increase by 3 per cent. Increases for individuals within these ranges may be determined locally.

  • News

    In brief: firework injuries

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Just 42 firework injuries were treated at Welsh hospitals last year, a fall of 7 per cent on the previous year, according to statistics released by the Welsh Assembly 's health , statistics and analysis unit. Rocket injuries increased from nine to 13, but the number of injuries caused by ...

  • News

    In brief: year 2000 computer date problem

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Trusts and health authorities have been told to 'maintain a state of readiness' for the year 2000 computer date problem - and 'be aware' that 29 February 2000 could also present problems. Tests have identified a 'proportion of failures' in connection with the leap-year date change.

  • News

    In brief: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The government's new committee on nutrition and health, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, will replace the current Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy.

  • News

    In brief: Immigration and Asylum Bill

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The government's Immigration and Asylum Bill risks damaging refugees' health, the King's Fund has warned. It has called on ministers to withdraw the bill 'in its current form', claiming it would cause 'unnecessary suffering to people awaiting a decision' on their application for refugee status.

  • News

    Litigation chief fears toll of 'rocketing' negligence claims

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The 'rocketing' value of clinical negligence claims will have an 'inevitable impact' on NHS finances, the head of the NHS Litigation Authority has warned.

  • News

    Fox announces review groups for key topics

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox is to set up four policy review groups for mental health, long-term care, primary care and medical ethics.

  • News

    Service framework 'needs more money'

    1999-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Four in five managers charged with implementing the national service framework for mental health are not convinced it can be done without extra money, according to a survey of health authorities and trusts.