Target culture ‘leads to more hospital infections’
By Doireann Ronayne The NHS still has no idea of the levels of infection in hospitals in Britain because it is too obsessed with hitting targets, an influential committee of MPs has found. The Committee of Public Accounts accused the NHS of spending so much time addressing MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) that it […]
Tories promise ‘NHS autonomy bill’
By Ian Dunt The Conservatives will introduce an NHS autonomy and accountability bill if they attain power in a bid to minimise ministerial interference in the health service. The proposal to establish an independent NHS board came during a keynote speech on the NHS by David Cameron, Tory leader, in central London today. “When the […]
Women doctors ‘need govt help’
By Emmeline Saunders Female doctors should be given more help to reach the top of their profession, according to a new report by a working group. Introducing part-time working hours, flexible training and improving access to childcare and carers are among the recommendations laid out in the report by the National Working Group on Women […]
Webchat: Care services with Phil Hope
Care services minister Phil Hope takes part in a webchat about proposed changes to the care system – and the future of the sector. There are currently six million people across the UK who provide unpaid care to someone they know – a figure that will only increase with Britain’s ageing population. The government’s green […]
Out-of-hours monitoring vital, watchdog warns
By Alex Stevenson Monitoring of out-of-hours services must be improved across the NHS, a review of the death of a 70-year-old man has found. The Care Quality Commission published an interim report calling on all NHS trusts to improve the ways they monitor levels of care provided by external providers. It follows the 2004 decision […]
Closer to the end of hospital parking charges?
By Ian Dunt Andy Burnham has promised an end to hospital parking charges within three years, in his speech to the Labour party conference in Brighton. The health secretary used his keynote speech to defend the party’s record on the NHS and question whether the Conservatives could be trusted with the institution. “We can’t do […]
Lib Dems vs the quangos
By Ian Dunt The Liberal Democrats will launch a brutal attack on quangos if they have any part in government, the party’s health spokesman has said. Speaking at the party conference this morning, Norman Lamb promised deep cuts to health quangos. No quango chief would be able to earn more than the prime minister under […]
‘Obsolete’ penicillin poses EU-wide risk
By Alex Stevenson EU officials are due to address penicillin’s nearing obsolescence, which a report published today warns poses a “potential health crisis”. The London School of Economics’ research for the Swedish government, which holds the EU presidency, calls for a coordinated strategy of major reforms across Europe. It wants to see risk-sharing finance facilities […]
Burnham scraps GP boundaries
By Liz Stephens and Alex Stevenson General practice boundaries for patients are to be abolished, Andy Burnham announced this morning, allowing NHS patients to go to any doctor in the country they like. Speaking at The King’s Fund in central London, the health secretary said “service reform” would mean doctor choice would be led by […]
Privatisation is a ‘Trojan Horse’ say unions
By politics.co.uk staff The government’s privatisation of the NHS is a ‘Trojan Horse’ that could cause untold damage to public services, said a major trade union today. Unite called for safeguards to ensure that services remain within the NHS and delivered by NHS staff. Speaking at the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) in Liverpool, Unite assistant […]
