Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Liver disease deaths: areas with highest levels 'most starved of NHS funds'

Liver disease deaths: areas with highest levels 'most starved of NHS funds' British Liver Trust slates funding policy giving areas with lowest fatalities 10% more in GP budgets than areas with most deaths.
Health reforms have ensured that the areas with the greatest number of deaths from liver disease are being "starved of NHS funds", a leading charity has warned.
According to an analysis by the British Liver Trust, areas with the lowest numbers of deaths will on average get funding increases worth 10% more than those areas with the highest number.
Despite a personal commitment from the prime minister for liver disease to be tackled as a priority, charities said that no real action had been taken and that a promised strategy was now two years overdue.
Campaigners also said also that the money to tackle the disease was slowly being reduced. Just before Christmas NHS England unveiled how much local groups of GPs would be able to spend on their patients.

Minister calls for shake-up of ambulance response targets in rural areas after death of young chef

Minister calls for shake-up of ambulance response targets in rural areas after death of young chef Norman Lamb, minister for care and support, says rural areas are often neglected as ambulance trusts focus on easier urban response times as they chase targets. The Daily Telegraph

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Monday, 30 December 2013

Doctors fork out £5 million to fight private rivals due to Government health ...

Doctors fork out £5 million to fight private rivals due to Government health... Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG paid £503,310 in legal costs, Nene CCG in Northamptonshire spent £330,000, West Cheshire CCG £176,544 and East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG £129,069. Others with high legal bills include Southern Derbyshire ... The Daily Mirror

Migrants to face NHS care charges

Migrants to face NHS care charges Migrants are to face new charges for some NHS services in England, ministers say, but GP consultations will remain free. BBC News

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Was 2013 the NHS's annus horriblis?

Was 2013 the NHS's annus horriblis? Nick Triggle on whether 2013 was NHS's annus horriblis. BBC News

Growing exodus of A&E doctors to Australia adds to strain on NHS

Growing exodus of A&E doctors to Australia adds to strain on NHS College of Emergency Medicine says NHS cannot afford to lose so much talent at a time of understaffing in A&E units.

8,000 people get tummy tucks on NHS

8,000 people get tummy tucks on NHS NHS offers 'tummy tucks' to 8,000 people at an estimated cost of £50m amid concerns taxpayers' money is being wasted. The Daily Telegraph

Exclusive: Action on implants - Government to implement cosmetic surgery controls

Exclusive: Action on implants - Government to implement cosmetic surgery controls

Every woman who undergoes a breast implant operation will have the procedure logged on a national register, to help prevent a repeat of the cosmetic surgery scandal which affected tens of thousands in the UK and 400,000 worldwide, The Independent on Sunday reveals.

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Friday, 27 December 2013

Patients’ views on Northampton General Hospital could be passed to inspectors

Patients’ views on Northampton General Hospital could be passed to inspectors Views of NGH patients are being sought so they can passed to inspectors who will visit next month. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

The Care Bill: factsheets

The Care Bill: fact sheets The Care Bill was introduced into Parliament on 9th May 2013 and published on 10 May 2013. These fact sheets have been produced to accompany the bill. The Department of Health

Trust apologises over DNA failings

Trust apologises over DNA failings An NHS Trust apologises for "inexcusable failings" after complaints a sexual assault referral centre in London did not send samples for DNA testing. BBC News

Surgeon suspended over 'branding'

Surgeon suspended over 'branding' A surgeon has been suspended over allegations he "branded" his initials on to a patient's liver, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust says. BBC News

Care home bosses jailed for neglect

Care home bosses jailed for neglect A former care home owner and his manager are each jailed for 12 months for neglecting elderly patients in their care. BBC News

Better Care Fund guidance

Better Care Fund guidance This guidance provides local areas with the detail they need to complete plans for how they will use their portion of the fund to join up health and care services around the needs of patients, so that people can stay at home more and be in hospital less. Local Government Association 

So, farewell then, 2013

So, farewell then, 2013 The NHS was finally reorganised, health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he wanted a paperless NHS - and found some money for it - the National Programme for IT came under fire yet again, and trusts had variable luck implementing their own IT systems. E-Health Insider

Securing sustainability: planning guidance for NHS trust boards 2014/15 – 2018/19

Securing sustainability: planning guidance for NHS trust boards 2014/15 – 2018/19 This guidance sets out what NHS boards should focus on to be able to continue to deliver high quality care today whilst taking the necessary action to ensure they can continue to do so in the future. NHS Trust Development Authority

Meeting the needs of patients: improving strategic planning in NHS foundation trusts

Meeting the needs of patients: improving strategic planning in NHS foundation trusts This document is aimed at NHS foundation trusts; it looks at what strategic and operational planning can achieve and how the sector can be supported in moving towards these goals. Monitor

Elderly want home care but don't discuss needs

Elderly want home care but don't discuss needs Pensioners end up going into care homes or hospitals because they leave decisions on their long term care until they are facing a crisis situation, experts say. The Daily Telegraph

Ministers scrap £20m scheme to keep elderly warm

Ministers scrap £20m scheme to keep elderly warm Ministers 'shameful' for scrapping £20m scheme to keep pensioners warm. The Daily Telegraph

Scrap routine follow-up of cancer survivors, says leading charity

Scrap routine follow-up of cancer survivors, says leading charity Scrap routine follow-up appointments for cancer survivors or NHS will collapse, charity says. The Daily Telegraph