All Policy articles – Page 253

  • News

    Government stockpiles pandemic flu antivirals

    2007-12-13T17:34:58Z

    The government is planning to double its stockpile of antivirals to cover at least half the population in the event of a flu pandemic, health minister Dawn Primarolo revealed in her answer to a parliamentary question.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Survey of readers on the NHS's past, present and future

    2007-12-13T17:29:11Z

    The fact that the NHS exists is its greatest strength, according to a survey of over 1500 NHS managers. When surveyed about the NHS's past, present and future, a third said its very existence is its greatest asset, closely followed by the fact that care is free at the point ...

  • News

    07/12/20/n/tax/LH

    2007-12-13T11:52:40Z

    The British Medical Association and the British Dental Association have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer saying changes to capital gains tax could jeopardise the retirement plans of thousands of members. They are concerned that the abolition of taper relief from April 2008 will mean GPs and dentists will ...

  • Comment

    Sir Liam's patient safety spotlight shines on PCTs

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson is pushing primary care trusts to put his crusade on patient safety at the centre of their work (for more details, click here).

  • Comment

    Private sector sceptics take on foundation freedom-fighters

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    The deal the government carved out with Labour backbenchers to get the foundation trust legislation through Parliament has precipitated a battle between the trusts and Unison over the limits of their freedoms (for more background, click here).

  • News

    Health inequalities focus for new national strategy

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Reducing health inequalities, cutting healthcare-acquired infections and planning for emergencies will be among the priorities for the health service in 2008.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Managing patients' expectations of the NHS

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Media storms over postcode lotteries reveal the extraordinarily high standards demanded by the public. Jessica Allen argues that reform of PCTs is the best way to steer expectations and drive up service quality

  • News

    Race law warning from DoH

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    The NHS's most senior equality official has warned that the Department of Health could stop working with organisations that do not fulfil their obligations under race equality legislation.

  • News

    Junior doctor training regime sparks locum crisis

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Hospitals say they have been hit by a 'frightening' shortage of locum staff because of changes to junior doctors' training.

  • News

    Cancer strategy: earlier, faster, shorter - and more data

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Last week the government promised a further £370m to reform cancer, with a focus on prevention and shorter hospital stays. But selective fast-tracking plans have drawn criticism. Claire Laurent reports

  • News

    Foundation trusts are breaking law on private income, says union

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Foundation trusts seeking to maximise income from private patients have been dealt a blow this week by legal actions involving their regulator Monitor and the Charity Commission.

  • News

    Medics were 'hoodwinked' into accepting MMC

    2007-12-13T09:00:00Z

    Doctors have accused the government of 'hoodwinking' them into accepting controversial changes to medical training. The Department of Health ignored the profession's objections to Modernising Medical Careers, the Commons health select committee was told last Thursday.

  • News

    Scotland mulls direct elections to NHS boards

    2007-12-12T16:28:41Z

    The Scottish government will consider proposals for direct elections to NHS boards under a new strategy for health and well-being launched yesterday.

  • News

    Doctors highlight postcode lottery for palliative care

    2007-12-11T16:22:03Z

    Terminally ill patients' access to palliative care services is 'inadequate and inequitable', according to a report published today by the Royal College of Physicians.

  • News

    DoH is tackling bureaucracy, progress report claims

    2007-12-11T15:19:17Z

    The Department of Health has published a progress report on efforts to reduce the burden of regulation on NHS and social care services.

  • News

    Health policy lags behind NHS priorities, says report

    2007-12-11T14:52:41Z

    Health policy is 'tackling yesterday's problems' and failing to keep up with key priorities such as improving treatment for people with long-term conditions, says a report published today.

  • News

    Scotland aims to improve dementia diagnosis

    2007-12-10T11:25:16Z

    Targets for early diagnosis of dementia, guidance on supporting people with substance misuse and mental health problems, and a mental health collaborative to drive change around targets have been announced in Scotland.

  • News

    NHS money to go on social care

    2007-12-10T11:19:22Z

    People receiving social care are to be given control of their own budgets. NHS money will be allocated to councils to spend on social care services to keep people out of hospital.The programme, Putting People First, was set up with the support of six government departments and health and social ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Secure care: improving life in locked wards

    2007-12-10T09:00:00Z

    The latest specifications for housing patients in medium secure care clarify the rules and include welcome proposals to improve life in locked wards. Rebecca Norris reports

  • News

    GP abortion trials begin

    2007-12-06T10:39:35Z

    Trials have begun to test whether early abortions could be carried out safely in GP surgeries in England.