Primary Care – Page 237

  • Comment

    Raj Persaud on getting blood out of a stone

    2008-03-17T09:00:00Z

    Management is all too often about persuasion; powerful managers are better at persuading those in the workplace to pursue helpful change, while less competent managers are not so effective at overcoming resistance.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Médecins Sans Frontières?

    2008-03-17T09:00:00Z

    There are conflicting approaches to providing NHS care to those not entitled to it, and the charity Médecins du Monde is at the front line of the battle. Mark Gould reports

  • HSJ Knowledge

    NHS continuing care: a new batch of claims?

    2008-03-14T09:00:00Z

    Compensation claims from patients who were denied continuing healthcare on the NHS are beginning to hit finance directors' desks. David Lock explains how to respond to them

  • News

    GPs urge PCTs to remain flexible

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts will have to negotiate with family doctors over how to implement extended hours locally after the overwhelming majority of GPs voted to accept the government’s proposed deal.

  • News

    GPs fail to help with appointments audit

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts have been unable to complete an audit of the number of GP appointments provided by practices because GPs have refused to hand over the information, following British Medical Association advice.

  • News

    Britnell moots PCT rebrand

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts could change their names over the next year to boost the public’s understanding of their role.

  • News

    PCTs may be subject to people power

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts and other healthcare providers could face increased pressure to respond to local people's concerns under a new 'community empowerment' white paper.

  • News

    Patients demand 'creativity' in dental commissioning

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts successful at commissioning dental services should be able to take over from those that are failing, says the Patients Association.

  • News

    Lib Dems plan PCT tax-raising power

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    The Liberal Democrats would turn primary care trusts into elected bodies that would eventually enjoy tax-raising powers, the party decided at its spring conference in Liverpool.

  • News

    FESC is thrown open without Treasury probe

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has extended its commissioning support programme without carrying out an expected value-for-money assessment of the scheme, HSJ has learned.Health secretary Alan Johnson announced last week that the framework for procuring external support for commissioners, FESC, is now open to all primary care trusts to buy in ...

  • Comment

    PCT rebrand will help end identity crisis

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Public sector rebranding exercises are often seen as a costly and pointless distraction. But the proposal to rebrand primary care trusts - so Oldham PCT would become NHS Oldham, for example - makes a great deal of sense and does not need to cost money.

  • News

    PCTs pressured to lose provider arm

    2008-03-13T09:00:00Z

    Strategic health authorities are forcing primary care trusts to divest themselves of their provider functions, PCT chiefs have claimed.

  • Comment

    AIDS: getting the word out to diverse communities

    2008-03-12T09:00:00Z

    Educating immigrant groups about the AIDS epidemic in the UK must be treated as a key public health priority, as Hazel Barrett explains

  • Comment

    Andrew Jones on extending primary care

    2008-03-10T09:00:00Z

    As I opened the envelope from the British Medical Association, I found myself reflecting on a tumultuous few months. The envelope in question contained a justification of the GPs' committee's negotiating stance on extended hours and a form for voting on enhanced payments options.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    How to pick a prescription

    2008-03-10T09:00:00Z

    Prescribing advisers help curb the national drugs spend and GPs value them too. Daloni Carlisle looks at their developing role

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Change of view: improving primary care

    2008-03-10T09:00:00Z

    GPs in Essex were stimulated by the arrival of an alternative provider contract in their patch, say Hilary Ayerst and Paul Corrigan

  • News

    PCTs cut continuing care packages

    2008-03-06T09:00:00Z

    More than a quarter of primary care trusts have cut the number of adults they give NHS 'continuing care', despite guidance intended to boost provision.Figures published by the Department of Health show 44 PCTs reduced the number of people to whom they give the care package between April and December ...

  • Comment

    Sizing up the national child measurement programme

    2008-03-05T09:00:00Z

    Forcing primary care trusts to measure all four and 11 year olds in their schools will not help tackle childhood obesity, argues Catherine Gleeson

  • Comment

    David Peat on community spirit

    2008-03-03T09:00:00Z

    It occurred to me the other day that just as TV soap devotees have Coronation Street, in East Lancashire we have Howard Street. But instead of the Rovers Return being the centre of everything that moves, we have Howard Street's community health centre.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Richard Gleave on healthcare wholesalers

    2008-03-03T09:00:00Z

    Mastering the latest management jargon is as much of a skill in the US as it is in the NHS. Even after several months, I am still a novice and get especially confused by the sporting analogies: it is easy to guess what is meant by a 'play book', but ...