All Policy articles – Page 216
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News
NHS constitution fails to fire public's imagination
The NHS constitution is failing to attract public interest amid criticism that it is unclear about patients' rights and will not abolish the postcode lottery.
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Comment
Nigel Edwards on NHS exceptional case panels
Over the summer no media report on the state of the NHS was complete without mention of the postcode lottery in treatments, either through challenges to primary care trust exceptional case panels or the perceived ethics of the current rules on top-ups.
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News
Trusts too optimistic over annual health check scores
Some trusts are disputing their annual health check scores as figures show many were highly over-optimistic about their performance.
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Leader
Annual health check: pedantry gets the better of common sense
The Healthcare Commission is under attack. In the aftermath of the annual health check, its data has been fired on by trusts and the Department of Health.
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News
Hospital security fears after patient suicide
Northampton General Hospital is reviewing its security procedures after a patient shot himself dead on a ward.
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News
Scotland moves to stop GP 'commercialisation'
The Scottish government is today launching a consultation on the eligibility criteria for providers of GP services in a bid to stop the 'commercialisation' of GP practices.
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News
Patients get right to self-refer to physiotherapists
Patients will be able to self-refer to allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, speech therapists, dieticians and podiatrists, health secretary Alan Johnson has announced.The British Medical Association warned that although the move could improve access it could lead to services being overstretched.
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News
Individual budgets improve patient care, says report
An evaluation of individual budget pilots has found individual budgets can give people more control over their personal care and improve their quality of life.
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News
Wales launches diabetes management guidelines
Welsh health minister Edwina Hart has launched guidelines for managing adults with diabetes in Wales.
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Comment
David Levy on world class commissioning's training implications
World class commissioning has already had a significant impact on primary care trusts and their development.
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News
DH announces primary angioplasty drive
Primary angioplasty should become the main treatment for heart attacks, the Department of Health has said.The final report by the national infarct angioplasty project said it was a feasible and cost-effective treatment for 97 per cent of people.
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News
Scotland sets target to cut C difficile rates
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has set a target for health boards to reduce C difficile rates among over-65s by 30 per cent by 2011.
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News
Foundation trusts need closer scrutiny, say MPs
More information is urgently needed on the performance of foundation trusts, the House of Commons health select committee is urging.A committee inquiry has concluded that foundation trusts have some proven strengths but a full evaluation of their impact is needed.
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News
Politicians are poor persuaders
Interesting to see Simon Stevens' comments on the science of persuasion. Clearly our politicians have much to teach us about how to motivate the public - as demonstrated by the general (let alone local) election turnouts. Strange, isn't it, that people who have money, education and access to affordable leisure ...
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News
Treasury eyes hidden PCT surpluses
Increased demand for health services as recession bitesTwo-year timetable for service reconfiguration and investmentSurpluses vulnerable
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HSJ Knowledge
Healthcare funding: is there enough to go round?
As new treatments and an ageing population put ever more pressure on health systems across the world, future governments will have to rethink the way that they are funded.
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Comment
Stephen Eames on managing by fear
Up here in the North East the community is still reeling from the collapse of Northern Rock and is now watching with horror the ongoing farcical spectacle that is Newcastle United Football Club.
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Comment
Michael White on the financial crisis
The deepening financial crisis is changing how we look at everything now. For instance, aren't NHS finance directors glad they didn't have surpluses to invest unwisely during the years when Patricia Hewitt's stiletto was on their necks?
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Leader
Good times set to end as health pays price for squirrelling cash
The credit crunch is heading your way. While the government has so far rejected the idea of revisiting its health spending plans up to 2011, there are numerous other ways it can get its hands on trust cash.
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News
City shockwaves threaten NHS budget
Economists are warning this week's£38bn rescue plan for UK banks creates a "structural hole" in public finances that will make NHS funding cuts and claw-backs inevitable.The government has insisted the bank bail-out will not affect public finances. A senior Treasury source said there were no plans to revisit the commitments ...