All Policy articles – Page 229

  • News

    NHS inequalities row is shrouded in secrecy

    2008-09-11T09:00:00Z

    The question of whether poor urban areas should continue to get the most funding is about fundamental NHS principles - so why is it being discussed behind closed doors? Sally Gainsbury reports

  • News

    Top-up status quo not an option - Mike Richards

    2008-09-11T09:00:00Z

    National clinical director for cancer Mike Richards has hinted that his review of top-up payments will result in a definite policy shift.

  • News

    Working group on women in medicine holds first meeting

    2008-09-10T12:44:00Z

    The first meeting of the national working group on women in medicine took place this week.

  • News

    Liberal Democrats voice support for top ups

    2008-09-10T12:33:00Z

    Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has called for patients to be allowed to pay for extra treatment without losing the right to free NHS care.

  • News

    Police cells 'unsuitable' for Mental Health Act detentions

    2008-09-10T12:27:00Z

    Twice as many people are detained in unsuitable police custody for assessment under the Mental Health Act as are taken to hospital by police for this purpose, a report published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission has revealed.

  • News

    DH figures show slight rise in diagnostic waits

    2008-09-10T12:07:00Z

    The Department of Health has published waiting times for 15 key diagnostic tests to the end of July.The figures show a slight increase in long-term waiters compared with the previous month.

  • News

    Think tank calls for NHS overhaul

    2008-09-09T11:49:00Z

    The NHS should be replaced by a health protection model in which the government acts as a regulator, according to a report by think tank Reform.The system proposed in the report would include incentives for healthy living, an insurance model to cover rare drugs and luxury items and clarity over ...

  • News

    Increase in GPs offering extended hours

    2008-09-09T11:37:00Z

    The percentage of GP practices offering extended opening hours has increased from 37.8 per cent in July to 44.9 per cent in September, according to figures from the Department of Health.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Benchmarking out of hours healthcare

    2008-09-08T09:00:00Z

    Huge variations in the cost and quality of out of hours healthcare around the country have led to moves to benchmark these services. Kaye McIntosh reports

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Patient choice in mental health: your shout

    2008-09-08T09:00:00Z

    The views of mental health patients will become much more important over the next decade as they demand services tailored to their needs, writes Mark Gould

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Mental health foundation trusts: F marks the spot

    2008-09-08T09:00:00Z

    Just under half of mental health trusts have achieved foundation status. Helen Mooney looks at the options for those that may not be able to make the grade

  • News

    Unite members canvassed on industrial action

    2008-09-05T12:05:00Z

    Members of Unite, the country's largest union, are being canvassed on a menu for industrial action to reverse the government's stand on below-inflation pay awards for NHS staff.

  • Comment

    Angela Greatley on tackling social exclusion

    2008-09-05T09:00:00Z

    There is a group of people who are chronically excluded from housing, work, relationships and the kinds of activity most people aspire to in 21st century Britain. They exhibit the most complex problems but they can be the most excluded from the very help they need.

  • News

    Alan Johnson approves A&E closure plans

    2008-09-04T12:42:00Z

    Health secretary Alan Johnson has given his backing to controversial plans to close the accident and emergency department at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, London.Proposals by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey primary care trusts, which had been referred to the independent reconfiguration panel, will see parts of the hospital rebuilt and ...

  • News

    Accountancy firms win PCT board roles

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    Three of the 'big four' accountancy firms have been selected to improve primary care trust boards' skills.KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young are all leading consortiums that have made successful bids to be on the Department of Health's new PCT board development framework.

  • News

    Drug addiction services hit by unrealistic targets

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    Unrealistic targets to get more drug addicts into treatment are causing the quality of services to plummet, psychiatrists are warning.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Get happy: the secret to a healthy old age

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    There is clear evidence older people benefit from preventive healthcare. For the fulfilled old age that people want, services must spot depression early and support good diet and mobility

  • News

    PFI plan could keep debts off NHS trusts' balance sheets

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    NHS trusts may hand their private finance initiative hospitals over to specially created charities to avoid reporting PFI debts on their balance sheets, HSJ has learned.The controversial plans would involve trusts ceding control of the hospitals to a third party.

  • Leader

    Trusts survey the wreckage as PFI hospitals begin to crumble

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    Arcane accountancy rules are in danger of costing the NHS control of some of its buildings. As HSJ reveals this week, the Treasury's decision to adopt new international accountancy standards is pushing trusts with private finance initiative debts to consider hiving off their estate to charities.

  • News

    Conservatives plan to step up councils' role in health

    2008-09-04T09:00:00Z

    Public health directors would have to report to local authorities under plans announced by the shadow health secretary last week.