UK Politics

Eight out of ten doctors are concerned about private companies profiting from the NHS, a poll showed on Wednesday. The online poll was commissioned by the BMA and carried out by Doctors.net.uk the - UK's largest online network of medical professionals. Doctors.net.uk members were asked: "The BMA's 'Look after our NHS' campaign is concerned that some large multinational companies are making profits out of running local clinical services on...  

Reacting to the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 published, Anna Dixon, director of policy at The King's Fund, said: 'The Operating Framework sends a strong message to the NHS about the scale of the financial challenge ahead and the action that needs to be taken now. Specific priorities for the service remain the same as last year - reducing healthcare-acquired infections and maintaining target waiting times - but the efficiency and...  

All companies, individuals and organizations contracting for the NHS should open their accounts to public scrutiny to encourage financial transparency and ensure that the NHS is getting value for money, says the NHS Alliance. This includes providers commissioned by Primary Care Trusts and other primary care commissioners. With costs of secondary care rising more than double that of primary care, such a move would allow commissioners to...  

Commenting on the NHS strategy announced yesterday, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA, said: "We welcome the government's commitment to maintaining NHS funding in England and to protecting frontline services. However, the scale of the challenge in carrying out many of the plans in this document should not be underestimated. Redeploying budgets and staff, or reconfiguring services, is never straightforward. "NHS staff are...  

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) welcomed the NHS Pay Review Body report which means that the third year of the multi-year deal will be honoured. Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: "We welcome the news that the pay increase agreed as part of the multi-year deal for 2010/11 will be honoured. Good quality patient care depends on having motivated staff who feel valued - fair pay is an important factor in this...  

Commenting on the publication of the NHS Scotland Chief Executive's annual report on FridayDr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "I would like to thank Dr Kevin Woods for his appreciation of the hard work and dedication of NHS staff. Without a dedicated and highly skilled workforce, the NHS would not be what it is today. "I am pleased that the NHS is making progress towards achieving the government's targets, however this...  

Spending on NHS bureaucracy has risen by 50 per cent in just four years, according to "heartbreaking" government figures. The increases include a 43 per cent rise in the costs of managers, while spending on clerical staff rose by 78 per cent at Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which decide how NHS funds should be used. Meanwhile, their expenditure on management consultants and temporary staff more than doubled. Patients' groups accused the...  

Big Spark Publishing has re-launched a new public sector newspaper, the NHS News. The bi-monthly title has an initial print run of 35,000 and bulk deliveries will be made to NHS Trusts “by arrangement,” How-Do reports. “NHS News, like Big Spark’s only other foray into the the public sector with Police News, existed prior to the Horwich-based [...]  

Shake-up running of NHS serviceBy David Harrison Councillor and leader of the New Forest Liberal DemocratsI AM an employee of the National Health Service and a member of the health overview and scrutiny committee of Hampshire County Council. In both roles, I am concerned with the manner in which health services are delivered to local people.The performance record of different parts of the NHS is a bit mixed, to say the least.Currently, the...  

Rosalie Marshall, V3.co.uk, Monday 7 December 2009 at 16:49:00 Scaling back NHS IT programme is a sign of its failure, say critics The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have criticised the government's plans to cut back spending on the NHS IT system, arguing that the move is a clear sign that the system...  

London, Nov 7 (IANS) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Saturday resurrected the idea of the international community imposing a global tax on banks as a repayment for the billions of pounds of taxpayers' money they have received from governments.  

stv.tvRow over NHS jobs as office staff rise by 1000The HeraldThe number of administrative staff working for NHS Scotland has increased by more than 1000 at a time when full-time nurses and consultants have been ...NHS boss urges pay cut to address health inequalitiesBBC NewsBureaucrats take lion's share of new NHS jobs compared to front-line staffScotsmanNHS has record number of workersThe Press AssociationTelegraph.co.uk -stv.tvall 46 news...  

When technology giant Olympus Osyris developed in conjunction with the UK National Health Service an integrated suite of component modules for improving blood transfusion safety, they turned to Alpro (part of IEC Ltd. ) to provide electronic locking ...  

BBC NewsGordon Brown: worldwide snub over tax plansTelegraph.co.ukGordon Brown is facing international embarrassment after leading nations slapped down his proposal for a tax on financial transactions to raise hundreds of billions of pounds. By Patrick Hennessy and Angela Monaghan The Prime Minister used a speech at ...G20 appendix on framework for sustainable growthReutersUS rejects Gordon Brown's G20 plans to tax transactionsTimes...  

guardian.co.ukOverdose GP Daniel Ubani's employer loses second NHS contractguardian.co.ukYesterday, health chiefs in Suffolk decided to switch out of hours provision to Harmoni HS, a company with six other similar NHS contracts. ...