Rehabilitating Blair: Politicians must revive the spirit of radical NHS reform November 20, 2014 WE NEED to have a serious talk. The topic may be painful. Being faced with the warts of a much-loved figure often is. But it is crueller by far to let it die the death of a thousand cuts, a thousand scandals, and tens of thousands of needless deaths. The NHS – the jewel in [...]
Watch: Rochester and Strood by-election fight gets dirty – from Tory attack ads to Ukip’s NHS fightback November 20, 2014 As voters in Rochester and Strood finally head to the polls to decide the fate of Ukip defector Mark Reckless, the local electorate will soon be spared the endless stream of leaflets and political door knockers. If the polls are right, Reckless is on course for a comfortable win, and the Tories are in for [...]
How should George Osborne spend the £1.1bn forex fine? 38 Degrees launches “Nurses vs Bankers” NHS petition November 14, 2014 We had a go at suggesting a few ways George Osborne could spend the £1.1bn windfall from the fine the Financial Conduct Authority slapped on five banks for the parts they played in the forex scandal, and now it's the turn of campaigning organisation 38 Degrees. But where our ideas could have sent us into [...]
NHS will face annual shortfall of £30bn without major services overhaul, health officials say October 23, 2014 The NHS needs extra cash and an overhaul of its services if it is to avoid a £30bn annual shortfall over the next five years, according to senior health officials. In a five year plan unveiled today, they said the next parliament would have to adopt measures such as introducing hospital services to GP [...]
The NHS’s monopoly is weakening – UK healthcare has a bright future October 22, 2014 Monday 7 July started out as any other day for me, but it quickly took a dramatic turn for the worse. Mid-morning, my aorta (the main artery from the heart) tore, and the rest of my life changed. Weeks spent in a hospital bed led me to contemplate the future of the NHS. Will it [...]
Diane Abbott: Labour’s mansion tax on £3m properties will not save the NHS October 21, 2014 Labour MP Diane Abbott has urged shadow chancellor Ed Balls to rethink his so-called mansion tax policy, warning that the “tax on London” will fail to raise enough to support the NHS as promised. “I am worried about how much this policy will actually raise and I am worried about it as a sustainable funding [...]
NHS could save £1bn each year by treating patients at pharmacies instead of hospitals or GP clinics, says professional body October 19, 2014 The NHS could save over £1bn each year if common colds and other everyday illnesses were treated at pharmacies. According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), “minor ailment centres” would take pressure off the NHS by reducing GP consultations by 18m and A&E visits by 650,000 annually. The centres already operate nationally in [...]
Cameron has given up on NHS reform – and has put the health service at risk October 13, 2014 THE NHS costs £110bn a year in England alone, amounting to around 7 per cent of GDP. It employs more than 1.3m people, and its success or failure touches all of our lives, while indirectly affecting the strength of every business. So it matters that, as reported yesterday, the government now sees its NHS policy [...]
GW’s shares slump after NHS rejects cannabis drug over cost October 8, 2014 A PIONEERING cannabis drug developed by British firm GW Pharmaceuticals for treating spasticity in multiple sclerosis has been rejected as not cost-effective. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which determines if medicines are worth using by the NHS, said yesterday the modest benefits and high cost of Sativex did not justify its [...]
Drinkers could be offered NHS pill to cut down on alcohol October 3, 2014 Moderate drinkers could soon find themselves being given a £3 pill to help them cut down on their alcohol intake. Those who drink around half a bottle of wine or three pints a day could be prescribed the drug nalmefene. If the plans are given the go-ahead, 600,000 adults could be prescribed the drug, which [...]