Latest news – Page 2678
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News
Costs set to rise as 'success fee' gets go ahead
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.
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Former mentally ill patient stranded at Ashworth by lack of care plan
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.
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in brief: compensation ceiling
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.
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In brief: General and senior managers
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.
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In brief: firework injuries
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 ...
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In brief: year 2000 computer date problem
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.
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In brief: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
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.
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In brief: Immigration and Asylum Bill
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.
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Litigation chief fears toll of 'rocketing' negligence claims
The 'rocketing' value of clinical negligence claims will have an 'inevitable impact' on NHS finances, the head of the NHS Litigation Authority has warned.
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Fox announces review groups for key topics
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.
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Service framework 'needs more money'
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.
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'More NHS jobs for mental health patients' call
The NHS has been urged to 'put its own house in order' by employing more staff with mental health problems, in a report on social exclusion by mental health charity Mind.
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Scots campaigners want action on long-term care
Age Concern Scotland has launched a campaign in favour of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care. The WeCare campaign will aim to persuade the Scottish Parliament to implement the recommendations to 'restore dignity and fairness to the care system'. Commission chair Sir Stewart Sutherland backed the campaign, ...
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Deacon announces £1m for 'seamless' provision
Scottish health minister Susan Deacon has announced £1m investment in 14 projects to encourage 'seamless care' for patients under the Designed to Care initiative, which has already released £2m for service redesign at Ayrshire and Arran Acute Hospitals trust and Lothian University Hospitals trust .
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Education expert calls for integrated early service
One of Britain's most prominent education officials has called for an integrated 'pregnancy-to-age-three' service to give children a 'flying start in life'. Professor Tim Brighouse, Birmingham city council chief education officer, told a conference that the government's Sure Start programme had 'got off to a very uncertain start' because civil ...
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Welsh bed numbers drop by a third in two decades
The number of hospital beds in Wales has dropped by a third in less than 20 years, but roughly twice as many patients are receiving hospital treatment. A summary of statistics from Wales published last week shows that the number of beds fell by 8,000 to 15,000 between 1980 and ...
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Junior doctor drafted in to help Assembly cut hours
A junior doctor has been seconded to the Welsh Assembly for nine months to 'help identify how doctors' working hours can be reduced and working conditions improved'. Dr Catrin Elis Williams, 25, was a senior house officer in general medicine at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
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BMA seeks regulation for complementary medicine
The British Medical Association has called for complementary and alternative medicine to be regulated to end the 'current unacceptable situation' in which 'virtually anyone is free to practise, irrespective of training or experience'. In evidence to a Lords sub-committee, the BMA says a single regulating body should be established for ...