All News articles – Page 1289
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WHO steps up plans to eliminate deadly parasite
The World Health Organisation has announced plans to step up efforts to eliminate Chagas disease, a parasitic disease which affects an estimated 9 million people, mostly children.Chagas disease causes its victims' internal organs to slowly swell and can cause eventual death. The disease used to largely affect people in rural ...
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Latest information for health and social services chiefs released
The Department of Health has issued its latest bulletin for NHS and council chief executives and social services directors.It includes information about a best practice toolkit for the mental health workforce and statutory guidance on safeguarding the welfare of children.Get the bulletin here
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Web system to monitor C Difficile hotspots
The Department of Health has announced it setting up a new web-based system to monitor Clostridium difficile.The new system, similar to the one used to monitor MRSA, will show where cases occur rather than just assigning all cases to the trust reporting the problem.The DoH hopes it will identify C ...
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RCN head 'would back strike on pay'
The new general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing will tell its annual congress next week that he will support strike action if it is demanded by the membership.
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Why bed-blocking is making an unwelcome comeback
Fines for social services departments brought early success in reducing bed-blocking, but the numbers are creeping up again as more difficult problems - which may be a result of targets and choice - rise to the surface. Alison Moore investigates.
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Nurses want more time on patient care, says survey
Three-quarters of staff nurses in acute trusts say they do not spend enough time on direct patient care, according to research by HSJ and Nursing Times. And nine in 10 of those believe this has an adverse impact on patients.
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Providers given open choice rules in PCTs
NHS providers must not turn down patient referrals on the grounds of a primary care trust's location, the Department of Health has warned.
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New national IT setback as devolution is delayed
The national programme for IT is facing another setback as it emerges that plans to enhance the role of strategic health authorities have been delayed.
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Last-minute cancellations on way down, claims DoH
The number of operations cancelled at the last minute is continuing to drop, according to the winter report from the Department of Health.
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DoH calls in librarians and web to boost patient choice uptake
Local librarians and a £15m website have been unveiled by the government as the twin levers to drive take-up of full choice this year.
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New wave of community hospitals and services
Health minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a £50m wave of new NHS community hospitals and super surgeries.Six new health centres, two new community hospitals and eight refurbished community hospitals will open across the country as part of a drive to increase capacity for minor operations, medical tests and follow-up care ...
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National suicide rate at all-time low
The National Institute for Mental Health in England today reports good progress towards the government target to reduce suicide by 20 per cent by 2010, but calls for more action to bring the rate down further.National clinical director for mental health Professor Louis Appleby said: 'The overall rate of suicide ...
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£45m funding boost for national research programmes
The Department of Health has pledged £45m for 29 research programmes to be carried out by the National Institute for Health Research.The programmes will cover areas including mental health, children's medicines, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, stroke and neurology.Read the press release here
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WHO praises price cuts for HIV drugs
The World Health Organisation has welcomed the decision of Abbott Laboratories to significantly reduce the price of lopinavir/ritonavir, a second-line antiretroviral therapy to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS.WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to universal access to HIV prevention services and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS by 2010.Read more ...
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Hewitt unveils patient choice plans
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced new measures to increase patient choice.The NHS Choices website will go live in July, and a pilot will see trained librarians helping the public to access choose and book.Ms Hewitt also said there will be 'free' choice of any hospital provider in the country ...
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Ofsted publishes children's services report
Education regulator Ofsted has published a report on joint working in education and children's services across the country.Narrowing the gap: the inspection of children's services says partnership working between different sectors provides 'a clear strategic focus on key priorities' in meeting children's health needs.Read the report here
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BMA welcomes embryo ruling
The British Medical Association has welcomed the European Court's decision not to allow Natalie Evans to use embryos fertilised by an ex-partner in IVF treatment.Commenting on the ruling, BMA medical ethics committee chair Dr Tony Calland said the European Court has supported the principle of consent from all parties.Ms Evans ...
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Hospices in line for refurbishment programme
Hospices are to receive £40m from the Department of Health to carry out improvement works. The money will go to 191 projects in 146 adult hospices in England.It will be spent on refurbishing and upgrading hospice areas including wards, dining facilities, gardens and IT. A further £10m will be made ...
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Scottish Labour party vows to halve waiting times
The Scottish Labour party has pledged to halve waiting times to 18 weeks from referral to treatment by 2011. The promise comes in the party's new manifesto, launched today.There is also a specific commitment to cut waits to see physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and chiropodists to nine weeks by the same ...
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Cash pledge for London research centres
Two expert research centres in London have received more than £10m in funding from the Department of Health.The money is intended to drive improvements in the safety, quality and effectiveness of the services the NHS provides to patients and the public.