All News articles – Page 1279

  • News

    Drug harm reduction plan published

    2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

    A new drug harm reduction action plan published today is intended to help reduce the number of people dying from drug overdoses or contracting blood-borne viruses through injecting themselves with dirty needles.Around £2m will be spent on more effective treatment for drug misusers and support for rehabilitation.To read the plan ...

  • News

    New commercial director for Heart of England

    2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Heart of England foundation trust has appointed Simon Hackwell as commercial director. Mr Hackwell took up the role in April having overseen the trust's merger with Good Hope Hospital trust.

  • News

    UK comes first in health survey

    2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

    US-based health foundation The Commonwealth Fund has put the UK at the top of a health system league that compares large English-speaking countries and Germany.According to the report the UK came out top as no-one is excluded due to inability to pay and because the NHS delivers the correct and ...

  • News

    Men at far greater risk from cancer, report claims

    2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

    A new report claims that men are nearly twice as likely as women to develop and die from virtually all cancers that can affect both sexes.Tackling the excess incidence of cancer in men says that particular attention needs to be paid to the need for 'male sensitive' communication strategies.For more ...

  • News

    New appointment for Care UK

    2007-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Care UK has appointed Richard Jackson as managing director of the specialist care division, part of the social care business area.The health and social care solutions provider has also announced its interim results.To read the results click here

  • News

    Kidney disease management improving

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    More people with chronic kidney disease are being identified and are accessing treatment, according to the second progress report of the national service framework for renal services. The report puts the success in diagnosis and management of the condition down to it being included in the quality and outcomes framework ...

  • News

    Violent patients: legal dilemmas

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    The NHS has a.legal duty to provide 'reasonable services', but this does not include a legal duty to continue the services if the patient is being unreasonable.

  • News

    Dr David Jenner on the workability of PBC

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    Are primary care trusts and strategic health authorities really encouraging GPs to get to grips with practice-based commissioning? Or are some of them encouraging this policy to fade away?

  • News

    BMA chair quits

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    British Medical Association chair James Johnson has resigned over not fully being able to express the anger felt by junior doctors over the MTAS appointments system. Mr Johnson said Association members were unhappy over a letter he recently sent to The Times. BMA treasurer Dr David Pickersgill said that the ...

  • News

    BMA chair quits

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    British Medical Association chair James Johnson has resigned over not fully being able to express the anger felt by junior doctors over the MTAS appointments system. Mr Johnson said Association members were unhappy over a letter he recently sent to The Times. BMA treasurer Dr David Pickersgill said that the ...

  • News

    Department of Health annual report published

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health's annual report, including an outline of its spending and investment programmes, has been published. The report includes plans for 2007-08 and progress against the department's public service agreements.To read the report click here

  • News

    Digital x-rays across the UK by 2008, says Hewitt

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has said that digital x-rays will be available across the country by 2008. They are currently being used in every London hospital trust. It is hoped that the system will save over £6.2m in the first year and speed up diagnosis.To read more click here

  • News

    Decision on directly enhanced services ends uncertainty

    2007-05-18T00:00:00Z

    NHS Employers and the BMA's GPs committee have agreed that the 2006-07 directly enhanced services for access, and choice and booking will be rolled over into the current financial year. The move ends months of uncertainty where some Primary care Trusts have introduced locally enhanced services as interim measures.

  • News

    Millions could be saved on prescribing costs

    2007-05-18T00:00:00Z

    The NHS could save up to £200m if all doctors made cheaper prescribing decisions, according to a National Audit Office report.Prescribing costs in Primary Care identified that there is scope for most PCTs to increase efficiency without affecting clinical outcomes by using more low-cost drugs. It also found there were ...

  • News

    Half of emergency units could be axed, say Conservatives

    2007-05-18T00:00:00Z

    Almost half of all NHS hospital accident and emergency units could be shut if reforms are implemented, the Conservative party has claimed. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said 92 departments out of 204 could be closed down or downgraded if trusts follow official guidance that A&E units should in future ...

  • News

    Nearly all A&E units meet four-hour wait

    2007-05-18T00:00:00Z

    A&E services are delivering the fastest ever access to treatment, according to the latest Department of Health figures. In the year up to March 2007, 98.2 per cent of the 18.9 million people who attended A&E departments were seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours.Read the full report here

  • News

    Referral management schemes must operate as a partnership

    2007-05-17T00:00:00Z

    Referral management schemes run by primary care trusts must develop in partnership with practice-based commissioners, according to national clinical director for primary care David Colin-Thome.

  • News

    Review of fertilisation rules launched

    2007-05-17T00:00:00Z

    A review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 has been launched in response to scientific developments and changing public opinion. The law governs assisted reproduction and embryology.To see a draft of the revised law click here

  • News

    DoH scales down 'unfair' junior doctor selection system

    2007-05-17T00:00:00Z

    The controversial selection system for trainee hospital consultants has been drastically scaled down amid mounting anger from junior doctors.

  • News

    Have trusts turned the corner, or just papered over the cracks?

    2007-05-17T00:00:00Z

    As a raft of swiftly implemented cost-cutting measures hits home, panic over NHS finances has largely subsided. Alison Moore looks at the implications of breaking even