All Primary care articles – Page 278
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News
Healthcheck consultation launched
The Healthcare Commission is to consult on plans to drive a culture of safety through the NHS, using its annual assessments of NHS organisations to monitor rates of healthcare-acquired infection and compliance with the hygiene code.The proposals also include a stronger focus on clinical effectiveness and commissioning.Find out more here
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Comment
Tristan Reuser on clinical engagement
The re-engineering of health systems requires traditional barriers between primary and secondary care to come down, writes Tristan Reuser
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News
Over a million dental check-ups not being provided
Dental contacts statistics have shown that over 1.5 million units of dental activity (each worth one check-up) have not yet been provided under the new contract.The Department of Health said the amount of dental activity commissioned by the NHS continued to rise and more have been recommissioned than were lost ...
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News
Commission to look at learning disabilities accusations
The Healthcare Commission has said it will review six cases highlighted by learning disability charity Mencap of people with learning disabilities who died from physical illnesses.Mencap has accused the NHS of institutional discrimination against people with learning disabilities, saying their physical health needs are ignored.Meanwhile the Department of Health has ...
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News
Nurses encouraged to complain over pay
Nurses have been encouraged to write to their MPs to complain about this year's pay settlement.The Royal College of Nursing is urging its members to point out to their MP that this year's pay deal will mean an effective pay cut for nurses, when the rate of inflation is taken ...
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News
PCTs have 'taken their eye off the ball' on audiology
Some primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have 'taken their eye off the ball', and allowed waiting times for audiology services to lengthen, health minister Ivan Lewis has told the Commons health select committee.Mr Lewis told the committee's investigation into audiology services that the provision of hearing aids had ...
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News
Flu vaccine success
General practice staff delivered excellent levels of flu vaccination this winter despite vaccine deliveries being delayed by several weeks, health secretary Patricia Hewitt said in a written statement this morning. Figures from the Health Protection Agency showed that at the end of January 2007, vaccine uptake in those aged 65 ...
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Comment
Restoring confidence requires an end to financial fudges
.'With the NHS moving .towards a more transparent. market, top-down decisions. on the distribution of funds. must not become the norm.'.
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News
Diabetes care improving
Diagnosis of diabetes is improving and the NHS must step up to the challenge of providing high-quality care for everybody, according to a new report looking at the delivery of diabetes services. The Way Ahead: the local challenge, published today, looks at the progress made in improving diabetes care four ...
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News
Government envisions a budget for every patient
Individual budgets as piloted in social care could be used in healthcare, according to the government's Commissioning framework for health and well being.
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News
PCT network attacks 'unfair' reporting of top-slice effect
Primary care leaders are calling for changes to the way finances are reported after it emerged that the vast majority of current primary care trust debts are the result of top-slicing.
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News
News analysis: Primary care chiefs: a reorganisation too far
In the second of a three-part series, Victoria Vaughan turned to primary care trust chief executives for their views on Tony Blair's legacy to the NHS. They were found angry and disheartened by continued change.
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Comment
Look to the long term for 2020 vision on climate change
With front-page headlines this week warning that the UK's policies on climate change are set to achieve their 2020 milestone 30 years too late, the scale of the environmental challenge ahead becomes yet more daunting.
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News
Global health strategy proposals launched
The need for a global health strategy in order to protect the health of the UK was outlined in a report by chief medical officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson.The CMO made the case for concerted action on global health and for developing a strategy that will benefit the health of ...
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News
Government to review Modernising Medical Careers
The Department of Health has announced a review into round one of Modernising Medical Careers recruitment and selection into specialist training, made through the medical training and application service. The move follows discussions with the medical Royal Colleges and the British Medical AssociationThe DoH said: 'It is clear that there ...
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News
Gay men's health study announced
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint today announced that the government is to fund a major study looking at why some gay men appear to be taking more risks with their sexual health in recent years.The results of the study will help the NHS and gay men's health organisations with their ...
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News
Trusts warned over property maintenance
The Health and Safety Executive has warned the NHS to maintain its properties effectively. It follows a successful action brought by the organisation against South West London and St George's Mental Health trust after a man fell at Springfield University Hospital and subsequently died.The trust was fined £7,500 and asked ...
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News
Cash boost for health inequalities
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced an extra £8.9m for local authorities in 81 areas across the country to invest in schemes to tackle health inequalities. She also invited views on working arrangements in the commissioning framework for health and well-being, which will bring local councils and the NHS closer ...
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News
Audiology waits 'unacceptable' says minister
Patients face 'unacceptably long waits' for audiology services, according to care services minister Ivan Lewis in his foreword to today's Improving Access to Audiology Services in England national framework.He calls for a 'radical reduction' in waiting so that the most complex cases are treated within the end-of-2008 18-week target, and ...