All Regulation/inspection articles – Page 154

  • Comment

    Ofcare: 'Ambitions and metrics' mark launch of a new regulatory era

    2007-06-07T00:00:00Z

    'Ofcare's performance framework commences with mea culpa, admitting what healthcare professionals have been telling the Department of Health for years - top-down targets undermine innovation, motivation and accountability to communities'

  • News

    AIDS drug recalled

    2007-06-07T00:00:00Z

    The European Medicines Agency has recalled the drug Viracept due to contamination.

  • News

    Concerns raised over accuracy of PCT benchmarking

    2007-06-07T00:00:00Z

    Doubts have been raised over the accuracy of the latest quarterly hospital episode statistics following reports of problems with data collection, HSJ has learned.

  • News

    'On track to hit the 18-week target'

    2007-06-07T00:00:00Z

    Nearly half of patients are currently being treated within 18 weeks, a year and a half ahead of schedule, according to figures published by the Department of Health.

  • News

    Healthcare Commission announces hygiene spot checks

    2007-06-04T00:00:00Z

    The Healthcare Commission has today launched a year-long programme of unannounced spot checks to 120 NHS trusts to check compliance with the government's Hygiene Code.

  • News

    Former NHS chief heads disability inquiry

    2007-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Former chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' foundation trust Sir Jonathan Michael is to chair an independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities, health secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced. The investigation follows charity Mencap's March report into the death of six people with learning disabilities.

  • News

    Primary care trusts charged with rewriting £300m script

    2007-05-31T00:00:00Z

    The National Audit Office has urged primary care trusts.to use generic medicines to save money. Oliver Evans hears from the leaders who will be expected to drive the savings in the milieu of restructuring and inform GP prescribing behaviour right down the line

  • News

    PCTs grapple with grey areas of GP-led commissioning

    2007-05-24T00:00:00Z

    PBC has the potential to increase the quality and range of services available to patients, but PCTs must exercise caution to avoid conflicts of interest. Alison Moore reports

  • Comment

    Andrew Jones on independence day

    2007-05-21T00:00:00Z

    'The conundrum is simply how to devolve day-to-day responsibility to an independent board with the benefits of efficient delivery, local decisions and avoidance of political interference'

  • News

    Pharmacy regulation plans get go-ahead

    2007-05-16T00:00:00Z

    Government proposals to give pharmacy a second regulatory body have been endorsed by an independent working party.The party, led by Lord Carter, recommended forming a General Pharmaceutical Council to regulate the profession and a body similar to a royal college to provide leadership.Download the working party's report

  • News

    In pursuit of happiness

    2007-05-10T00:00:00Z

    The NHS goes to great lengths to implement complex and ever-changing outcome measures, but do they pay enough heed to how well patients feel, asks Mark Gould

  • News

    Performance rating appeals upheld

    2007-05-10T00:00:00Z

    Two requests for performance ratings to be reviewed have been upheld. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire trust has had its score for quality of services changed from good to excellent.Bassetlaw primary care trust had a request for a review of decontamination procedures upheld but this had no effect on its ...

  • News

    NHS chief warned over 'damning' contract report

    2007-05-03T00:00:00Z

    MPs are preparing a scathing indictment of the consultant contract, NHS chief executive David Nicholson was warned this week.

  • News

    Cash-strapped contraceptive services plead for a target

    2007-05-03T00:00:00Z

    Contraceptive services are struggling as PCTs direct budgets to the GUM target. Family planning needs a target of its own, reports Helen Mooney

  • News

    Tories and Lib Dems criticise Blair legacy

    2007-05-03T00:00:00Z

    The three main political parties have come out fighting over what 10 years under a Labour government has meant for the NHS.

  • News

    Blair warns against independence

    2007-05-03T00:00:00Z

    Prime minister Tony Blair has warned against creating an independent NHS. He said it would slow down decision-making and be in danger of becoming distracted by special interest groups.

  • News

    Diagnostic test waiting times released by DoH

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Diagnostics waiting times and activity data for February and the census of all diagnostic tests up to December 31 2006 have been published by the Department of Health.The data shows progress in tackling waiting times for tests such as scans. The monthly data gives the waiting times for 15 key ...

  • HSJ Knowledge

    David Amos on grievances

    2007-04-16T10:10:13Z

    Groups of professionals find it remarkably difficult to talk about anything other than the day job. A cluster of doctors will swap stories - in confidence of course - about interesting and demanding patients.

  • News

    Web system to monitor C Difficile hotspots

    2007-04-13T00:00:00Z

    The Department of Health has announced it setting up a new web-based system to monitor Clostridium difficile.The new system, similar to the one used to monitor MRSA, will show where cases occur rather than just assigning all cases to the trust reporting the problem.The DoH hopes it will identify C ...

  • News

    Trusts face legal action over disability duty

    2007-04-05T09:32:20Z

    Nineteen NHS trusts are being threatened with court action by the Disability Rights Commission for failing to produce evidence that they do not discriminate against disabled patients or staff.