Wednesday 21 December 2011

Health News over the Christmas Period

Photo by JesPir
The daily health news service will continue over the Christmas period, except for the public holidays.

We would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and properous 2012.

We need to make our wards more friendly for people with dementia

We need to make our wards more friendly for people with dementia Kings Fund

NHS pensions ‘heads of agreement’ reached

NHS pensions ‘heads of agreement’ reached:

As announced in Parliament today, we are outlining the Heads of Agreement on the proposed scheme design for the NHS Pension Scheme to be introduced in 2015. The next steps are that the unions have agreed to take to this to their Executives. Further work on the remaining details will take place in the new year, and Executives will consult members as appropriate.

This agreement includes a commitment to suspend any further industrial action while the final details are resolved and Unions are consulting their members.

A new calculator based on the proposed NHS Scheme specific arrangements and will be available as soon as possible

See NHS Pension Scheme Heads of Agreement

See Annex C – Verification of cost of preferred scheme design

See Andrew Lansley’s Written Ministerial Statement

UK plays down breast implant fear

UK plays down breast implant fear: British women with silicone breast implants made by a French company should not have them removed, a UK watchdog says, amid concerns over health risks. BBC News

Government reveals final offer for public sector pensions

Government reveals final offer for public sector pensions: The government's final offer for public sector pensions has been announced by chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander. GP Online

DH ''streamlines'' its marketing plans

DH ''streamlines'' its marketing plans: The Department of Health has claimed that it has ''streamlined'' its media agency operations Public Service

NHS Confederation says patient safety must top the agenda as rules change on mobility of workers

NHS Confederation says patient safety must top the agenda as rules change on mobility of workers: The NHS Confederation’s European Office has welcomed a number of proposals for rules governing the movement of health workers across the European Union but says there are still issues that require further clarity.

Engaging your staff during periods of change

Engaging your staff during periods of change:

Engaging staff during a period of major change is challenge for NHS organisations. This quick guide offers some tips and techniques that may be helpful. Kings Fund

Managing and supporting mental health at work: disclosure tool for managers

Managing and supporting mental health at work: disclosure tool for managers:

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development carried out a survey of 2,000 people in employment in the UK which revealed that despite more than a quarter (26%) of employees having experienced a mental health problem while in employment, too few employers are taking positive steps to manage this increasingly business critical issue. This guidance, produced by Mind, will help employers ensure that how they manage people supports their mental wellbeing and resilience, and also encourage more employees to talk about any mental health issues they may be facing at an early stage.

The new public health system

The new public health system:

This suite of factsheets provide more details on the design of the new public health system, including the role and responsibilities of local government in public health, the operating model for the new executive agency Public Health England and an overview of how the whole system will work.

Health and Social Care Bill: follow up

Health and Social Care Bill: follow up:
This report calls for changes to the Health and Social Care Bill to ensure that ministerial responsibility to Parliament and legal accountability for the NHS are not diluted.

ITT to provide occupational services

ITT to provide occupational services: East Midlands Ambulance Service would like expressions of interest to provide occupational health services and/or employee assistance programme services. Healthcare Today

Using resources efficiently

Using resources efficiently: NICE has identified recommendations that could help the NHS save millions of pounds, whist maintaining or improving the quality of care. NICE

Health MOTs to be offered by local authorities

Health MOTs to be offered by local authorities: Free health checks for over-40s are to be offered by local authorities from April 2013 after primary care trusts are abolished, it was reported today. The Telegraph

Breast implant panic spreads to UK

Breast implant panic spreads to UK:

Up to 50,000 British women with defective breast implants have been warned about their safety as the French government prepares to order the products be removed from every woman who has had them fitted. The Independent

RCN welcomes new proposals on nurses right to practise across the EU

RCN welcomes new proposals on nurses right to practise across the EU: The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed European Commission proposals to update legislation to recognise nurses’ qualifications across the European Union (EU), but has warned that patient safety must be maintained.

HPA publishes second migrant health report

HPA publishes second migrant health report: The Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) second report on Migrant Health, and the first UK-wide report is published today.