Primary Care – Page 280
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News
Unions: NHS chaplaincy services being slashed
Amicus and the College of Health Care Chaplains have claimed the NHS chaplaincy service is under attack after compiling a list of areas where services have been cut.The organisations claim chaplains are seen as soft targets for cost cutting.
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News
Ethnicity and health
This document reviews the evidence on ethnic health inequalities, the causes and policy options. It is a useful document for parliamentarians working on the policy options for tackling ethnic inequalities in health.
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News
Defend general practice, say BMA
The BMA has written to over 42,000 GPs urging them to stand together to defend general practice.In the letter BMA GP committee chair Dr Hamish Meldrum said the profession was under threat from local deficits, encroachment from the private sector and political criticism of doctors.
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News
Calls for mental health emphasis in primary care
Policy makers should ensure opportunities to improve mental health in primary care are always considered, according to a report by the Mental Health Foundation and the Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Initiative.The report Primary Concerns: A better deal for mental health in primary caresays practice-based commissioning needs ...
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News
Winterton announces end-of-life strategy board
Health minister Rosie Winterton has announced a 27-strong advisory board to support the development of the end-of-life care strategy.The board is chaired by national cancer director professor Mike Richards and includes chief executives of leading charities, senior clinicians and NHS and social care managers.Working groups will include: measuring the quality ...
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News
New patient experience scores published
The Department of Health has published updated patient experience scores for the public service agreement to take account of its 2005-06 primary care trust survey and the latest patient survey results for community mental health services.The overall score for primary care fell from 77.4 to 77.0, with a higher score ...
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HSJ Knowledge
Ruth Hussey on prevention
By now, New Year's resolutions will have been made and broken. Many people will have pledged to adopt healthier lifestyles, and many column inches will have been devoted to such ambitions. Often the messages are complex, with competing advice on what is important and how to achieve one's goals.
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News
Roger Noon on six immediate steps to better change management
I don't envy the leaders of PCTs. Following the recent rationalisation programme, they are under more pressure than ever to deliver improvements in healthcare within tight budgets and aggressive timescales. This against a backdrop of continuous political, policy, regulatory and clinical change.
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Comment
Neil Goodwin on the training challenge for NHS managers
'Foundation trusts will need to lead the way in learning to establish effective working relationships with their investors, namely primary care trusts and practice-based commissioners, and being proactive in discussing future strategy.'
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HSJ Knowledge
Dave Roberts on QOF and chronic diseases
'As well as supporting QOF payments, the QMAS provides the NHS with a database of public health information on the prevalence of chronic and long-term illnesses.'
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HSJ Knowledge
E-bulletin on HRG4 launched
NHS trusts can sign up to a new electronic mailing service that will help them prepare for the introduction of the new set of healthcare resources groups
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HSJ Knowledge
New improved information catalogue
An improved information catalogue, with enhanced search facilities, has been launched
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HSJ Knowledge
What the statistics reveal about tackling obesity
As slimming advice overwhelms the media in the new year, the Information Centre for health and social care has added to the throng with a compendium of information on obesity, physical activity and diet.
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News
Survey says nine out of 10 patients can see GP within 48 hours
Nine out 10 patients can visit their GP within 48 hours and four out of 10 can get an appointment on the same day, according to a survey of 10,000 patients by Picker Institute Europe.The survey, commissioned by the Department of Health, also found that 70 per cent of patients ...
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News
Five-point plan for older people's services unveiled
NHS national director for older people's services Professor Ian Philp has recommended a five-point plan to improve older people's services.His report Recipe for Carehighlights: early intervention; long-term conditions management; early supported discharge; acute hospital care when needed; and partnership working.Professor Philp acknowledged that this ...
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News
Spotlight on lung cancer care
A report gives detailed information on 25,000 people in England and Wales with lung cancer
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News
Another boost for drug treatment funding
Funding for drug treatment services is set to increase as the government looks to build on the progress made in getting people into treatment over the last few years.Public health minister Caroline Flint announced the pooled drug treatment budget is to increase from £375m to £388m for 2007-08.Find out more ...
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News
Watchdog appoints three new commissioners
The Healthcare Commission today welcomes Professor Deirdre Kelly, Clare Dodgson, and Clifford Prior as commissioners.The trio will join the twelve current commissioners tasked with driving quality in healthcare and public health. Read the press release here
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News
DoH: reforms cutting unnecessary appointments
The Department of Health says GPs are sending fewer patients to hospital for unnecessary appointments following government reforms to give practices a greater say in procurement and provision of services.Evidence from early practice-based commissioning adopters shows that practices have cut patient referrals for hospital treatment by between 25 and 33 ...
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News
PCTs wanted for interactive media health service
The government is calling on strategic health authorities to suggest primary care trusts to test NHS Health Direct, a new interactive media service to help people improve their health.