All News articles – Page 1312

  • News

    UK transplant register tops 14 million

    2007-01-22T00:00:00Z

    Nearly one in four of the UK population is now signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, new figures reveal. Over 1 million signed up in the last year, taking the total to 14 million people.Read more here

  • News

    NHS Partners Network respond to commission report

    2007-01-19T08:43:31Z

    I read with concern your article of January 18 reporting on the leaked Healthcare Commission draft report into data on clinical quality of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs).

  • News

    Labour MP slams workforce planning

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    Labour MP and health select committee member Dr Howard Stoate has criticised a 'boom and bust' culture in NHS workforce planning and argued against local planning.Speaking at a committee hearing yesterday, he said a lack of centralised workforce planning meant the NHS was 'chasing its tail'.

  • News

    Survey highlights equipment funding shortage

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The Information Centre for health and social care has reported 'anecdotal evidence' that health funding of integrated community equipment schemes for items such as stairlifts and hearing loops 'has been a problem, and one that is getting more acute'.The results of a survey of 51 local authority directors of adult ...

  • News

    Gerry Robinson and media coverage

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The Gerry Robinson TV programme illustrated the differing systems in NHS and private hospital operating theatres. In the private sector time is money, and so the rate tha cases are moved through theatres is much greater. There are no hold-ups, such as waiting for the porter to bring a patient ...

  • News

    Consultation on disabled facilities grants

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The government has published a consultation document on its proposals to improve the disabled facilities grant programme.The report is a response to the findings and recommendations of the independent Bristol University report on the programme in 2005. The consultation period closes on 13 April.Read the document here

  • News

    DoH publishes travel expenses consultation

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has published consultation on the hospital travel costs scheme, which allows those on low incomes to claim travel expenses.The document looks at how the scheme can be changed to reflect a shift in care closer to home.Read the consultation here

  • News

    Hewitt: government should have capped GP profits

    2007-01-19T00:00:00Z

    Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has said the government would have considered capping GPs' earning potential under their contract if it had predicted the extent of their increased profits.Information Centre for health and social care figures show that the percentage of GPs' revenue taken as profit after expenses rose from 40 ...

  • News

    Unisons weighs options at troubled trust

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Unions are considering industrial action in what they fear will be a bitter fight against cuts at one of the most financially troubled trusts in the UK.

  • News

    Labour PRs win SHA jobs

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Two former New Labour PR gurus have been appointed directors of communications in strategic health authorities.

  • News

    Pension guidance released

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has produced a guide for staff leaving NHS employment but wishing to continue their membership of the NHS pension scheme.The guidance also sets out advice about employer responsibilities for pension provision where staff have to leave the scheme.Read the guide here

  • News

    Gerry Robinson and the NHS

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Management guru Sir Gerry Robinson's televised stint at Rotherham foundation trust to reduce waiting lists might have worked better in a trust that has not already achieved so much to place it on a more business-like footing.

  • News

    Overweight drivers urged to detox

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    The RAC Foundation has called for overweight drivers to look at their habits after finding that they are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in road accidents.Every hour spent behind the wheel increases the risk of obesity, says the charitable foundation.www.racfoundation.org

  • News

    Trusts prepare for hard sell to earn picky patients' custom

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    DoH guidelines have opened the door for hospitals to use commercial advertising techniques. Is this necessary for healthy competition or a green light for unseemly publicity battles? Kaye McIntosh hears some early pledges of fair play

  • News

    Consumers switch on to healthy eating message

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has revealed a rise in demand for fruit and vegetables in the last year as the public starts to adopt healthier lifestyles.New figures suggest people bought more fruit and vegetables in 2005-06, while buying less confectionary and soft drinks.The Expenditure and ...

  • News

    Data on ISTCs' clinical quality is 'extremely poor', says Healthcare Commission

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    National data on the clinical quality of independent sector treatment centres is 'incomplete and of extremely poor quality', according to a review by the Healthcare Commission.

  • News

    A new realism needed on CJD

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Surely the time has come to end the monthly issue of CJD statistics. Last year's returns showed there were only five deaths from vCJD (7.5 per cent of total) compared with 62 deaths from non-vCJD. Peak mortality from vCJD was reached in 2000 when 28 deaths (34 per cent of ...

  • News

    NHS North West: support older patients on choice

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Older patients need more support in choosing where to have their elective surgery, research by NHS North West has shown.

  • News

    Now Blair says ministers can fight closures

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Tony Blair contradicts himself by giving his backing to Labour MPs who oppose hospital closure when he once instructed Labour politicians to give their backing to changes in local services

  • News

    Smoking cessation more successful in deprived areas, says report

    2007-01-18T00:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts in areas of deprivation are providing the best approach to reducing smoking levels, says the Healthcare Commission in a report today.Half the PCTs rated excellent were in deprived areas where smoking is most prevalent.Read the report here