Latest news – Page 2786

  • News

    In brief: Helen McCallum

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Helen McCallum has been appointed to the new post of director of communications at the Department of Health. She is currently head of communications at the NHS Executive, and managed the celebrations for the NHS 50th anniversary.

  • News

    In brief: World Health Organisation

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The World Health Organisation has launched an international year of older persons by urging policy makers to take steps to develop 'active ageing' policies to deal with the social and public health challenges of ageing populations. There are 580 million people aged over 60 in the world, but by 2020 ...

  • News

    In brief: Drink and drug misuse

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Drink and drug misuse is costing UK employers an estimated £3bn a year, delegates to a conference hosted by the TUC, Alcohol Concern and the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence were told this week. They called for effective workplace policies that 'ensure employees are supported, not punished'.

  • News

    In brief: Institute of Health Services Management

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Institute of Health Services Management members have voted in favour of a merger with the Association of Members in General Practice at an extraordinary meeting. AMGP members will vote on the merger plans at their annual meeting tomorrow.

  • News

    Calman 'astonished' by farmers' line on CJD

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The farming industry displayed an 'astonishing' attitude to the risk of 'mad cow disease' being transmitted to humans through contaminated offal, former chief medical officer Sir Kenneth Calman told the BSE inquiry this week.

  • News

    More upheaval set to follow long review of forces hospitals

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Military hospitals are facing further change in the wake of an 18-month review prompted by concerns about staff shortages and morale raised by the defence select committee.

  • News

    Langlands is forced to admit failings by NHS Executive over Read codes

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    NHS chief executive Sir Alan Langlands has been forced into a grudging and embarrassing admission of NHS Executive failures in handling the Read computer codes.

  • News

    Book adds to criticism of Health of the Nation

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The Health of the Nation programme launched by the former Conservative government has come under fire for the second time in two weeks, this time from right-wing think-tank the Social Market Foundation.

  • News

    Through the round window

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Seven-year-old Sam Hodgkins tries out a new children's waiting area in the accident and emergency department of St James's Hospital in Leeds. The £75,000 children's room, opened officially last week, was funded by the hospital's special trustees, and includes a fish tank and videos as well as toys and games.

  • News

    Scottish GPs demand meeting with Galbraith

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    GP leaders in Scotland have demanded an urgent meeting with Scottish health minister Sam Galbraith to raise concerns about primary care trust appointments.

  • News

    Milburn hints at clinical governance cash help

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The government may find extra cash to meet the cost of clinical governance in primary care, health minister Alan Milburn hinted last week.

  • News

    NHS scoops £2m for treatment of drugs misuse

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The Scottish Office has announced an extra £5m to tackle drugs-related crime and increase the availability of treatment for drug misusers. The NHS will receive £2m for treatment programmes. Other measures include a £700,000 national drug prevention team, plans for increased multi-agency working and a Health Education Board drive against ...

  • News

    King's Fund finds interpretation services are 'vital'

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    A King's Fund report has concluded that interpretation and advocacy services in primary care are 'vital' for meeting government targets for improving health among ethnic minority communities. The report calls for their 'precarious' funding position to be addressed.

  • News

    Social exclusion programme starts in Wales

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Welsh Office minister Peter Hain has selected eight communities to take part in the Welsh Office's 'people in communities' programme. A development co-ordinator will be appointed in each area to identify the problems leading to soc ia l exclusion , draw up long term action plans and identify funding needs. ...

  • News

    Hawker in the chair at BMA consultants committee

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Peter Hawker, deputy chair of the British Medical Association's consultants and specialists committee, has been elected as its chair. Dr Hawker, a consultant gastroenterologist at Warwick Hospital, succeeds James Johnson, who held the post for four years.

  • News

    London Ambulance Service faces industrial tribunal

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    London Ambulance Service trust is facing an industrial tribunal next April over the sacking of a senior manager. Former director of ambulance services David Carrington led an investigation into the alleged refusal of two crew members to answer a 999 call. The two were dismissed but later successfully sued LAS ...

  • News

    Poll shows over-55s miss out on hearing tests

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    A MORI poll for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People has found that only 22 per cent of people aged 55 and over have had a hearing test in the past 10 years, compared with 87 per cent who had taken an eye test. RNID chief executive James Strachan ...

  • News

    Disability campaigners slam benefit restrictions

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    The Disability Benefits Consortium, an umbrella organisation for 250 campaign groups, has condemned leaked reports that indicate the government is planning to restrict entitlement to incapacity benefit in the disability benefits green paper. Reports say newly disabled people will have to wait two years before claiming incapacity benefit. The consortium ...

  • News

    Lights, music, and action

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Care worker Sheena Carle (left) and Hilary Monger try out the new Thunderama at The Towse, a therapeutic daycare centre for people with learning disabilities in East Grinstead, Surrey, run by the Lifecare trust.

  • News

    Reforms 'could lead to financial instability'

    1998-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Finance managers have raised renewed concerns that a lack of guidance on implementing the detail of the government's NHS reforms could lead to financial instability.