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Dementia training lacking in most hospitals, study shows

16 December 2010 Just 5% of hospitals in England and Wales require staff to undertake any specialist dementia training, research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists shows. The study of more than 200 hospitals found that eight in 10 had no system in place to ensure ward staff were aware of a patient's condition and how it might affect their care.

Next steps for NHS reform

15 December 2010 The Government has published ‘Liberating the NHS: Legislative Framework and Next Steps’, which sets out the next steps in its plan to reform the NHS. It shows how the Government has developed its thinking in the light of the 6,000 responses to the White Paper, ‘Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’, and sets out a timetable for implementation.

Health Service Ombudsman to share more information about complaints with NHS

13 December 2010 Under a new policy the Ombudsman will share all investigation reports with the relevant commissioning body and strategic health authority and pilot a targeted programme working initially with the 50 NHS trusts that her Office receives most complaints about. More reports on NHS Complaints will be publically available.

Patient's death leads to tougher European safety call

10 December 2010 Patients in the UK needing out of hours care are to get more protection from incompetent doctors following a deal being brokered across Europe.

Sainsbury's offers GPs free premises as it launches national network of practices

25 November 2010 Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is to launch a nationwide general practice network by allowing GPs to set up branch surgeries free of charge in up to 204 of its stores.

Private firm to run struggling NHS hospital

25 November 2010 Circle has been chosen to run 266-bed Hinchingbrooke hospital in Huntingdon, which has debts of about £40 million. The firm, which operates a John Lewis style-partnership model for its employees, will be responsible for clinical services including an emergency department, cancer treatment and a maternity ward. It will also run non-clinical services.

Atlas maps out variation in NHS

25 November 2010 A tool to help the NHS identify unwarranted variation in healthcare services across England has been published by the Department of Health. The NHS Atlas of Variation highlights the amount each PCT spends on clinical services and links this with the health outcomes patients see.

Maternity 'postcode lottery' revealed in NHS figures

19 November 2010 Women in England face a 'postcode lottery' when choosing where to have their baby because of wide variations between hospitals in the care they provide during pregnancy and birth, a report on maternity care published by the NHS Information Centre shows.

CNO to step down in March

17 November 2010 Chief nursing officer for England Dame Christine Beasley is to retire in March but the Department of Health said only an interim replacement would be put in place, rather than a permanent appointment. This is likely to fuel fears that the chief nursing officer role could be removed or diminished.

Some prisoner deaths from heart attacks preventable, says Ombudsman

15 November 2010 Prison staff must respond better to medical emergencies to prevent some prisoners dying from heart disease, said Jane Webb, Acting Prisons and
Probation Ombudsman, publishing a report into deaths from circulatory diseases.

Inadequate NHS hospital care for elderly 'condemns many to death'

11 November 2010 Only a third of elderly patients who are admitted to hospital for an operation get good care, according to a report from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death. The routine analysis of outcomes for patients set up by the medical royal colleges found that the needs of elderly people were not often fully understood by doctors.

NHS website gets 100m hits a year

09 November 2010 The annual report of the NHS Choices website said there has been a 10 per cent increase in visits to the site this year, compared to 2009. A team at Imperial College London calculated this saves the NHS £44m a year.

Hospitals facing closer scrutiny of death rates

04 November 2010 All deaths in hospital and within a month of discharge are to be monitored under a new system in England. The scheme is being introduced in April following the Stafford Hospital scandal when the NHS was accused of being slow to react to the high number of deaths.

NICE to lose powers to decide on new drugs

01 November 2010 The medicines watchdog, NICE, is to lose its power to turn down new medicines for use on the NHS. It will give advice on which drugs are effective, but will not decide whether patients should be given treatments their doctor recommends, the Department of Health has confirmed. Instead, groups of GPs will decide whether a drug should be funded or not.

Regulator recognises progress but calls for further improvement from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

29 October 2010 The Care Quality Commission has told Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust that it must continue to make improvements to meet minimum standards of quality and safety.

Alzheimer's patients to get drugs on NHS after government U-turn

06 October 2010 Tens of thousands of people with Alzheimer's will be provided with drugs by the NHS that may delay the onset of the disease after NICE performed a U-turn.

CQC ratings will measure staff-service user relationships

05 October 2010 Staff relationships with service users will be at the heart of a revised quality rating system for providers run by the Care Quality Commission. "We need to concentrate on the things that are important to people: how engaged are they, are they treated with respect, do they have plenty of choice and are they treated as an individual," said CQC chair Jo Williams.

£70 million support to help people in their homes after illness or injury

05 October 2010 Around 35,000 people will benefit from a £70 million cash boost that will enable the NHS to support people back into their homes after a spell in hospital, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced. “Re-ablement” packages give people who are leaving hospital after illness or injury help and support for six weeks.

Service veterans 'miss out on NHS treatment rights'

22 September 2010

Many former servicemen and women are not benefiting from changes introduced in 2008 entitling them to priority treatment on the NHS.

Huge cultural shift needed in NHS childcare

16 September 2010

A huge cultural shift is needed in the NHS in England to ensure children get the right care, a government-commissioned review says.

Incontinence services condemned by doctors

14 September 2010

Millions of people in the UK with bladder and bowel problems face a "life sentence" of suffering because of the poor quality of care, say doctors.

Farm work prescribed to Norfolk and Suffolk patients

10 September 2010

In a trial aimed at helping patients with their rehabilitation GPs in Norfolk and Suffolk can refer patients with mental and physical health problems to take part in activities at a 'care farm'.

Unions to launch campaign against cuts

09 September 2010

Trade unions will mount a campaign of "real political potency" by mobilising public opinion against the government’s planned spending cuts Britain’s top trade union official has warned.

Towards a joined-up health service

01 September 2010

We are a long way from an integrated NHS, says a new report – but local successes may point the way forward.

I want to spend a penny, not go to the shop: nurses to be taught euphemisms

31 August 2010

A Norfolk hospital has organised lessons for foreign nurses to avoid cultural misunderstandings with patients.

Wards rely on agency staff as trusts strive to save cash

24 August 2010

Trusts are undermining safety and efforts to cut costs by placing too much reliance on agency nurses, according to a report by the health service’s in-house temporary staff bank NHS Professionals.

Report: Patients dying because NHS ignores warnings from safety agency

13 August 2010

Hospitals, mental health services and primary care trusts are killing and injuring patients by ignoring orders from an NHS regulator to improve the safety of treatment, a report alleges today.

Joint working between health and social care in Herefordshire

10 August 2010

Community Care says that councils would be wise to look to Herefordshire when they draw up their plans to integrate health and social care services.

Nurses 'reminded of duties'

26 July 2010

Nurses are being reminded that it is part of their job to feed patients and check if they have bed sores.

Are councils the winners in the proposed changes to the NHS?

21 July 2010

Local authorities have an opportunity to make a big impact on health but it will depend on imaginative GPs says Ray Jones, professor of social work and formerly director of social services in Wiltshire.

NICE to provide guidance on GP referrals

20 July 2010

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is set to publish guidelines for referral thresholds to ensure GPs avoided "inappropriate" referrals.

Candidate for post of Care Quality Commission chair announced

20 July 2010

Dame Jo Williams, currently interim CQC chair has emerged as the government's candidate for the permanent post.

Life expectancy gap 'is widening'

02 July 2010

The gap between average life expectancy and that of the poorest in England is widening despite efforts to close it, a National Audit Office report says.

Power to the patient

01 July 2010

Patients will be offered more choice and control over their healthcare with the launch of the first direct payment scheme, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow has announced.

Employers set to help NHS staff blow the whistle

01 July 2010

A new guide, Speak up for a Healthy NHS, will advise employers how to set up arrangements to ensure staff feel comfortable and secure if they want to report bad practice.

New President for the BMA: Sir Michael Marmot

01 July 2010

Sir Michael Marmot has been appointed as the new President of the British Medical Association. Sir Michael Marmot is a world expert in health inequalities and the social determinants of health and has led a research group on this issue for the past 30 years.

Treasury sends back Lansley plan to give GPs control of £80bn

25 June 2010

The white paper was due to be out next week but the timetable has slipped after Treasury officials said there was not enough provision for making GPs accountable to the public.

Permanent secretary resigns from DH

23 June 2010

The permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Sir Hugh Taylor, will retire on 31 July 2010.

NHS plans suggest health funding for social care

21 June 2010

NHS resources could be directed at funding social care support for people leaving hospital, according to NHS guidance published today.

Doctors say patients with a learning disability receive poorer care

21 June 2010

Almost half of doctors (46%) and a third of nurses (37%) say that people with a learning disability receive a poorer standard of healthcare than the rest of the population.

Poor data security in the NHS

15 June 2010

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) remains highly concerned that data breaches involving people’s personal information are continuing to occur in NHS organisations.

Huge disparity in NHS death rates revealed

13 June 2010

Doctors in the NHS do not know how well they are performing and whether they are more likely than their colleagues to kill or cure their patients.

Hospitals to face financial penalties for readmissions

08 June 2010

Hospitals will face financial penalties if patients are readmitted as an emergency within 30 days of being discharged, under government plans.

Full public inquiry into Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal to be announced

06 June 2010

David Cameron is preparing to announce a full public inquiry into the Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal.

Maintaining older people's dignity

04 June 2010

The Social Care Institute for Excellence presents updated guidance on achieving dignity in care for older people.

Man 'banned' from using the NHS

03 June 2010

A homeless man who became an expert at faking illness so he could stay in hospital has been given a criminal Asbo.

Opinion: The court of protection opens its doors

02 June 2010

Stuart Andrews says we should applaud Sir Nicholas Wall's decision to make public the reasoning of the usually secretive court of protection.

NHS hospital infection rates go online

02 June 2010

From early next month, infection figures for all hospitals in England will be published every seven days on data.gov.uk

Ministerial portfolios confirmed

20 May 2010

The Department of Health has published biographies and lists of ministerial responsibilities of the new ministerial team.

Why 'sorry' shouldn't be the hardest word for doctors

19 May 2010

Many fear we are living in a blame culture - something has gone wrong, so somebody must pay. In the NHS doctors may fear both litigation and censure.

NHS explores paying people to become healthier

19 May 2010

The NHS is exploring the possibility of using financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles.

NHS failing whistleblowers, says study

18 May 2010

The NHS does not do enough to help whistleblowers seeking to raise concerns about colleagues' behaviour, according to research in the British Medical Journal.

Boost for volunteering in health and social care

05 May 2010 NHS and local government leaders are being called on to refresh their thinking on the role and value of volunteering

New online resource: worldwide evidence for patient and public experience and engagement

05 May 2010 A new on-line tool has been launched to help the NHS unlock the benefits of effective patient and public engagement in healthcare.

NHS record praised on speed and access to care

10 April 2010 The NHS in England has improved significantly since 1997, according to the independent King's Fund think-tank.

Hospital criticised for not advertising CE post

08 April 2010 West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust has been criticised for appointing a chief executive without allowing other potential candidates to apply for the post.

Attention-grabbing antics for autism

07 April 2010 One woman's bold campaign to increase awareness of autism is causing controversy. But has it had the desired effect?

Care Quality Commission one year on

07 April 2010 The Care Quality Commission has done a lot of juggling in its first year.

NHS trusts in England told to improve or face tough sanctions

31 March 2010 A dozen NHS trusts in England - meant to be among the elite - have been told to improve or face tough sanctions

Easter eggs 'may be healthy'

30 March 2010 Easter eggs and other chocolate can be good for you, as long as you eat only small amounts, latest research suggests.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust is to take over the running of community services in Lambeth and Southwark

29 March 2010 Services including district nursing, health visiting, reproductive & sexual health, school nursing, specialist child health, elderly care and therapies such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, currently provided by primary care trusts, will be brought under the umbrella of Guy's and St Thomas' as part of the deal.

Ambulance service gets £38 for every patient they don't take to hospital

27 March 2010 The Sunday Telegraph has discovered that dozens of Primary Care Trusts in London are now paying the capital's ambulance service a £38 bonus for each patient crews do not send to hospital.

Budget 2010: How state spending will be cut

25 March 2010 Health offers to make biggest cuts using 'back-office' savings, following the budget announcement on Wednesday.

Revealed: New designs transform patients’ privacy and dignity in NHS hospitals

23 March 2010 Revolutionary 'bed pods' and screening systems, modular toilets and washrooms and a redesigned patient gown are just some design prototypes to improve patient privacy and dignity unveiled by Health Minister Ann Keen at the Design Council.

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