NHS future

Opinion Former Comments

New GP-led commissioners failing to listen to mental health patients, according to new report

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) must do more to involve people with mental illness and their families when making spending decisions, according to a new report published today by the charity Rethink Mental Illness.

New dawn delivers fresh challenges for NHS

Having been a cauldron of controversy regarding care levels, rumoured budget cuts and waiting periods over the past few years, the NHS has hit the headlines again recently with its landmark reforms coming into effect. But what challenges do these pose for our health service - and what effect will they have on patients?

NHS must do more to help people with mental illness to stop smoking, says charity

Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, has called on the NHS to do more to help people with mental illness stop smoking, as a new report reveals that health professionals are failing to support smokers with mental illness to quit.

DHT calls for help to save thousands of rabbits this Easter

National humane research charity the Dr Hadwen Trust (DHT) is calling for help this Easter to save thousands of rabbits from painful and distressing experiments. Experiments involving rabbits range from chemicals being applied to their skin through to invasive surgical manipulation.

Mental health must get same priority as physical health, says Rethink Mental Illness

“These figures highlight how patchy mental health care is across the country, which our members know only too well. Just 10 per cent of people with severe mental illness are currently being offered talking therapies for example. We have supporters who have sat on NHS waiting lists years for this basic treatment, which should be available to everyone who needs it."

MRSA Action UK: Resistant bacteria - the biggest threat to human health

We hope that the Government and the Health Secretary will take heed of the warnings in the Chief Medical Officer’s report, and calls from Dame Sally Davies to place more emphasis on prevention of bacterial infections, and on research into the bacteria and how resistance to antimicrobials can be tackled.

ESRC: A picture of health in schools

Feeling comfortable and confident in sport, health, or PE can be very difficult for some young people who can be seen as a 'risk' of becoming obese. Young people from ethnic minorities, especially girls, are more likely to be physically inactive and unhealthy.

MRSA Action UK: Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in mind “How can I provide for this right thing to be always done?”

When our Prime Minister was elected to his position he stated very clearly that his Government would be one that is transparent, open, and accountable to the people of this country. How sad it is then, that when the first real test arrives David Cameron has left himself wanting for his lack of action in having those involved in the Mid-Staffordshire debacle accountable for their insensitivities to patients’ and families’ concerns.

MRSA Action UK: Will the Francis report be The Watershed for Improvement in Patient Care?

With the anticipated release of the Mid-Staffordshire Public Inquiry on Wednesday it is not only expected to be critical of the underlying failings within the NHS concerning the standard of care at the Mid-Staffordshire hospital between 2005/2008, but across the NHS in general.

bpas response to cross-party inquiry into unplanned pregnancy

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) welcomes the findings of The Morning After: A Cross-Party Inquiry Into Unplanned Pregnancy. Bpas is particularly pleased that the report emphasises the needs of older women and their partners who are trying to avoid unplanned pregnancy in addition to recommendations to support younger women and men.

Monday, 12 July 2010 00:00

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has confirmed the coalition government's plans for the future of the NHS.

Some of the measures included in the health white paper unveiled to MPs this afternoon include handing more power to GPs, along with an extra £80 million of funding to help with the additional pressures.

GPs will now have responsibility for the bulk of service provision, including out-of-hours care and deciding which hospitals patients should be sent to for treatment.

The shift will create a market dynamic, as GPs' decisions are guided by the quality of the service provided, although it is argued the change may be difficult to achieve, with reluctant GPs having to be forced to participate.

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Bpas event: Working Together for Women

Join bpas for an informal networking event which will provide an opportunity to talk to others looking to work together to effect policy changes to improve women’s lives and hear from speakers who are doing just that.