Latest news – Page 2822

  • News

    Suspensions: doctors not always in the wrong

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    I was disturbed to read your Comment (29 October) about the suspension of surgeons, 'Crack in the complacency', especially in the light of your sympathetic treatment of poorly performing managers on the same page. The fallacious deduction that an increase in the number of suspensions reveals a greater readiness to ...

  • News

    Still a long way to go on equal opportunities, and subjectivity doesn't help

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    At first I thought Steve Ainsworth's piece on equal opportunities ('Opportunities knock', 29 October) was a spoof. I suspect instead that he gives us a perfect illustration of why the NHS and so many other employers still have significant work to do on equal opportunities.

  • News

    The Institute of Health Services Management stands up and applauds its outstanding director

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    It is disappointing that Peyman Javidan continues to pursue his criticism of the Institute of Health Services Management's director (Letters, 5 November).

  • News

    PFI mortgages the future of the NHS, and professionalism is at risk when profit drives the system

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    David Stelmach (Letters, 15 October) feels it is not the role of the Society of Radiographers to influence trusts in their choice of cost- efficient ways to acquire high technology.

  • News

    The price of false prophecy

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    'Many cancer trials in recent decades have measured the end joint (the outcome) in terms of additional months or years of life. Trialists have been very reluctant to measure the quality of the additional time.'

  • News

    The price of false prophecy

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    'The cancer industry provides much advocacy and little evidence of cost-effectiveness...

  • News

    WEB WATCH MARK CRAIL

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    London's 32 boroughs spent an estimated £126m on mental health services in 1997-98 - more than the combined total for all other metropolitan districts, and almost a quarter of the entire local government spend on such services across the whole of England and Wales.

  • News

    Showing a flicker of life but firing blanks at Dobbo

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    There are weeks when you wonder how long it will take the Tories to get their act together after the collective nervous breakdown they inflicted on themselves in the mid 1990s. 'I go canvassing - the voters still hate us, don't they?' a former Downing Street official confided at a ...

  • News

    Short cuts Welsh waiting list figures show 'downward trend'

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Figures released by the Government Statistical Service show that the number of Welsh residents waiting for hospital admission on 30 September was 74,269 - down 1,747 on 31 August. Welsh health minister Jon Owen Jones welcomed the 'positive downward trend' but condemned as 'completely unacceptable' a further rise in the ...

  • News

    Short cuts Solihull's public health director is joint appointment

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Solihull health authority and Solihull metropolitan borough council have appointed a joint director of public health. Andrew Richardson, previously director of commissioning/consultant in public health medicine with Worcestershire HA, has taken up the post, thought to be the first joint appointment of its kind in the country. HA chief executive ...

  • News

    Short cuts Central Scotland 'over-payment' inquiry reports

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    An independent inquiry into allegations of over-payments to senior managers at Central Scotland Healthcare trust is due to hand its findings to the trust board and the procurator fiscal. Trust chief executive Derek Pollacchi has been suspended on full pay since July, when internal auditors highlighted 'areas of concern'.

  • News

    Short cuts Move to deregister 'failing' consultants delayed

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    The General Medical Council has delayed a decision on setting up a scheme to remove consultants who fail regular competency tests from the specialist register. But the GMC is to press on with plans to make all doctors demonstrate that they are keeping themselves up to date and are still ...

  • News

    Short cuts NHS acts to defuse GP telephone advice fees row

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    The NHS Executive has issued guidance to resolve a row with GPs over payment for telephone advice. Health authorities were told not to pay for telephone consultations in February, prompting anger among GPs in areas with large numbers of temporary residents. The new guidance says fees should be paid and ...

  • News

    Short cuts 'Institutional barriers' undermine partnerships

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Partnerships between the NHS and local authorities are frequently undermined by 'institutional barriers and insensitive management', according to a report from Manchester Business School, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council's management innovation programme. It says managers and politicians need to 'move towards a more democratic form of government', ...

  • News

    Short cuts Durham trust launches learning disabilities charter

    1998-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Durham County Priority Services trust has launched a charter for patients and carers using its learning disabilities services. The charter, launched by the Bishop of Durham, sets out rights and standards that can be expected.

  • News

    Lawyers at large

    1998-11-12T00:00:00Z

    The legal and ethical aspects of telemedicine By BA Stanberry Royal Society of Medicine Press 172 pages £19.99

  • News

    The talking cure for poor performance

    1998-11-12T00:00:00Z

    Counselling for managers By Nigel MacLennan Gower 296 pages £24.99

  • News

    Pluralist approach to the promotion race

    1998-11-12T00:00:00Z

    Evaluating health promotion Edited by Scott and Weston Stanley Thornes 168 pages £18

  • News

    Theatre people

    1998-11-12T00:00:00Z

    Cutting waiting lists depends on high levels of overtime by operating theatre staff, but this is no long-term solution to persistent shortages. Jonathan Edgar and colleagues report on a survey

  • News

    A life in the theatre: survey results

    1998-11-12T00:00:00Z

    All but one of the trusts identified current nursing and operating department assistant staff vacancies in their theatres. The number of vacancies reported ranged from four to 26 - equivalent to 10 per cent overall.