Primary Care – Page 258

  • News

    nib 3

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    The Independent Reconfiguration Panel has recommended that Gloucestershire Partnership foundation trust, Gloucestershire primary care trust and Gloucestershire County Council work closely to strengthen older people 's community mental health services and community mental health teams.Chair of the IRP, Dr Peter Barrett said: 'The issue of the location of inpatient services ...

  • News

    nib 4

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    A report published this week by the Department of Health shows that the number of children achieving their five a day intake of fruit and vegetables has increased by 13 per cent in two years. Figures show that the number of children achieving 5 a day has increased from 27 ...

  • News

    nib 5

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    The UK’s first academic health science centre has been given the green light by health secretary Alan Johnson.Hammersmith Hospitals trust and St Mary’s Hospital trust will merge on 1 October and integrate with Imperial College London. Lord Tugendhat has been appointed the first chairman of Imperial College Healthcare trust by ...

  • News

    nib 6

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Graphic pictures illustrating the effects smoking can have on health will be printed on all cigarette packets from next year, health secretary Alan Johnson has announced.The 15 images to be used were chosen following a consultation in 2006, market research and a public vote. The move makes the UK the ...

  • News

    nib 1

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    A new chief executive has been appointed to NHS South Central. Jim Easton joins the strategic health authority from York hospitals foundation trust and replaces Mark Britnell who moved to the Department of Health in July.Mr Easton said: 'There is a real ambition across the NHS and its partners ...

  • News

    PCTs assured over ICATS liability

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Primary care trusts in the North West will not have to pay out if the number of patients using privately operated clinical assessment services is lower than anticipated.NHS North West has moved to allay concerns that PCTs across the patch would be forced to pay for the integrated clinical assessment ...

  • News

    PCTs to consult on Darzi's London blueprint

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    NHS London has asked the capital's primary care trusts to form a joint committee to carry out consultation on junior health minister Lord Darzi's report, A Framework for Action.The joint committee would be responsible for approving the consultation document, considering the impact the proposals would have on health inequalities and ...

  • Comment

    Anna Donald on drugs in the headlines

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Hardly a day passes without press reports on products of one kind or another, be they heart drugs, vitamin tablets or laser surgery.Of late: the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos may cause heart failure. Our national heart disease director Professor Roger Boyle thinks all men older than 50 should take ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Trading places

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    After an exceptional week spent in each other's roles, the chief executives of a primary care trust and its main acute provider agree the idea works. Daloni Carlisle reports

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Maggie Rae on building trust

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Competence-based work and well-defined skills are key to an effective workforce. My civil service colleagues benefit greatly from the Professional Skills for Government training they get. Of course, experience and creative thinking are also part of a well-rounded person.However, you can have all the skills, intelligence and qualifications you like, ...

  • News

    SNP calls for fast-track reforms

    2007-09-20T00:00:00Z

    Scotland's new SNP health secretary has called on NHS boards to accelerate the pace of change to give patients the services they deserve.

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Money management

    2007-09-18T10:29:00Z

    Reform and reorganisation in health services is not new. But arguably the most recent changes have had the most fundamental impact on the working lives of staff and there is increasing concern about the personal financial implications of these developments

  • News

    children's health

    2007-09-18T00:00:00Z

    The UK can do more to stop children being harmed by environmental hazards such as air pollution, says a new report by the Health Protection Agency.The document is a first step towards a UK Children’s Environment and Health Strategy, which will be put into action by local and regional public ...

  • Comment

    Andrew Jones on world-class commissioning

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    'World-class commissioning sounds exciting but the definitions need sharpening up. What does it mean? You might ask: does anyone know and does it really matter?

  • News

    Specialist services essential in diabetes care

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    A new publication from the diabetes specialist services liaison group highlights the challenges that diabetes poses for the NHS and how specialist services can help overcome them.

  • News

    Mental health focus for humanitarian agencies

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    New guidelines to address the mental health needs of survivors of conflict and disaster have been agreed.

  • News

    Poor access costs businesses

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    Rigid and inflexible GP services are costing workers and businesses millions of pounds every year, according to the Confederation of British Industry.Restricted opening hours, difficulty in booking forward appointments and the limited range of services on offer cost theUKeconomy an estimated£1bn and 3.5 million working days a year, it says.The ...

  • News

    BMA coming back to table

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    The British Medical Association’s GP committee looks set to come back to the negotiating table with NHS Employers. The two sides have met ahead of talks on the general medical services contract for 2008/09. The BMA pulled out of negotiations nine months ago and this year received a 0 per ...

  • News

    BMA new deputy chair

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    Dr Kate Bullen, an associate specialist anaesthetist from Bristol, has been elected as the deputy chairman of the British Medical Association’s council.She will take over immediately from Dr Sam Everington, who was deputy chairman of BMA Council from 2004 to 2007.In addition to being a member of BMA Council and ...

  • News

    How pharmacists can help with PBC

    2007-09-17T00:00:00Z

    NHS Alliance and the Primary Care Pharmacists' Association have published a guide for practice-based commissioners and GPs, highlighting the contribution that pharmacists can make to patient care and practice budgets.PCPA chair Shailen Rao said: 'Primary Care Pharmacists are a valuable and as yet, largely untapped resource within practice based commissioning.'