News – Page 1795

  • News

    Changes to general medical services contract agreed

    2008-10-14T12:06:00Z

    Changes to the general medical services contract for 2009-10 have been agreed. They include alterations to how quality and outcome framework payments are calculated to reflect the prevalence of long-term conditions and the reallocation of 72 QOF points, which will be awarded for a range of clinical interventions.

  • News

    Primary care can tackle health inequalities - World Health Organisation

    2008-10-14T12:03:00Z

    Striking worldwide inequities in healthcare - including outcomes, access, annual government expenditure and what people have to pay - could be improved through integrated primary healthcare, a report by the World Health Organisation has said.

  • News

    DH survey reveals slow progress on patient choice

    2008-10-13T11:46:00Z

    Results from the Department of Health's patient choice survey have revealed slow progress in increasing choice.The proportion of patients who recalled being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment was 45 per cent in May, down from 47 per cent in March but up from 30 per ...

  • News

    Harefield heart transplants under review

    2008-10-13T11:41:00Z

    The Healthcare Commission has begun a review of heart transplant services at Harefield Hospital after the national specialised commissioning team informed it of a rise in mortality rates.

  • News

    Wales publishes guide for mental health service users

    2008-10-13T11:21:00Z

    The Welsh Assembly has published a guide to encourage mental health service users to become more involved in planning and developing services.

  • News

    Britain 'faces pharmaceutical industry skills gap'

    2008-10-13T11:09:00Z

    A report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry says a lack of skills will threaten the long-term future of biomedicine in the country.

  • News

    Annual health check results due this week

    2008-10-13T11:03:00Z

    Annual health check results for 2007-08 will be published on Thursday, the Healthcare Commission has announced.

  • News

    Feedback: are you listening?

    2008-10-13T01:00:00Z

    How do you react to feedback? HR consultant Sheila Williams suggests how to receive it

  • News

    Emma Dent on an early coughs and colds season

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Is it me or has the sniffles season started early this year? Autumn has barely begun but already my unfortunate colleagues have been laid low by a variety of bad colds, respiratory infections and various as yet unidentified viruses.

  • News

    Andrew Lansley points finger at ministers over patient safety

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Too much blame is being placed on trust boards for patient safety incidents, due to the erosion of parliamentary accountability, according to the shadow health secretary.

  • News

    Edwina Hart takes charge in Wales

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Under plans announced last week, Welsh health minister Edwina Hart is to take direct control of the country's NHS. Dave West asks if a politician can be trusted with such a sensitive job

  • News

    Hospital chief suspended for poor record

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    The chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals trust John Watkinson has been suspended.

  • News

    Picker Institute demands clarity for exceptional case decisions

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts must communicate with patients more clearly about exceptional case decisions, the Picker Institute is demanding.

  • News

    Foundation trusts get £300m in a year-end spending rush

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Foundation trusts were handed up to £300m in advance payments by primary care trusts towards the end of the last financial year, HSJ has been told. The prepayments were made as some primary care trusts struggled to keep 2007-08 surpluses below 'control totals' set by the Department of Health.

  • News

    Brighton and Sussex chief apologises for racial victimisation

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    A hospital chief executive has publicly apologised and paid an out-of-court settlement to a member of staff who suffered race discrimination and victimisation.

  • News

    Killer health conditions go unseen by GPs

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Only half of all patients with some killer conditions have been diagnosed and treated by their doctor.

  • News

    PCTs call for continuing care help

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Strategic health authorities are having to rescue primary care trusts flooded with 'continuing care' cases, a year after the government made it easier for service users to claim NHS funding.

  • News

    NHS could be sued under free market

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    Plans to create a European Union free market in public healthcare could open the health service to legal challenges from patients demanding treatments that are not available in the UK.

  • News

    PCT must provide more funds for GPs

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    As a GP with a special interest in diabetes and who is studying for an MSc in the disease, I read your article 'Eat all that and you'll be sick' with interest.

  • News

    Emergency concerns can be eased by records access

    2008-10-09T09:00:00Z

    The Healthcare Commission report into emergency care raised serious concerns about communication between providers in the new emergency care landscape. Much of this could be mitigated by better access to the NHS care records service.