The following stories were selected from those sent as daily alerts under the search term ‘NHS’, and ‘Keep Our NHS Public’ from the Google alerts service. Please send any comments to Alan: [email protected]
24 March
The toll on NHS staff from meeting targets (local)
Liverpool Echo: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/unions-nhs-staff-left-stressed-11086461
[20 more stories]
Juniors next walkout
Daily Express, leading with the claim that lives will be endangered: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/655057/Junior-doctors-announce-first-full-walkout-including-withdrawal-of-emergency-care
Why juniors are striking
A more even-handed account! The Week: http://www.theweek.co.uk/65579/why-junior-doctors-are-striking
NHS pressured to fiddle figures to show finances falsely better than they are
(See also John Lister’s informative analysis:
http://www.healthemergency.org.uk/pdf/Snapshot%20survey%20of%20NHS%20acute%20Trust%20finances.pdf
Also how this is driving “transformation” in the NHS, ie driven by debts forcing cuts:
http://www.healthcampaignstogether.com/financialcuts.php
And John’s TUC blog:
http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2016/03/nhs-cash-crisis-reaching-turning-point-worse/
Also our own:
https://keepournhspublic.com/nhs-threats/nhs-finance-shortfalls-will-drive-massive-cuts/ )
Investing in social care essential to balance NHS books
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2016/mar/24/social-care-essential-balance-nhs-books
25 March
Keogh says doctors’ dispute has “derailed” 7-day plans
Keighley 38 Degrees stage support demo for NHS Bill (local)
Keighley News (West Yorkshire)): http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/14383322.Keighley_members_of_38_Degrees_campaign_group_stage_action_in_support_of_the_NHS/
Worcester CCG cuts help for obese (Local)
Worcester news: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14385100.NHS_cuts_may_mean_you_re_on_your_own_if_you_re_fat/
NHS reorganisations imposed without evidence
OurNHS’s typically robust take on how politicians impose change that is anything but evidence-led on our NHS: https://www.opendemocracy.net/hannah-basson/who-s-afraid-of-evidence-about-what-works-in-nhs
A&E warn people to stay away ‘unless an emergency’ over holiday weekend (local)
In complete contradiction to decades of encouraging people to turn up in the hope it might save lives? Coventry Telegraph: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/health/nhs-warn-people-stay-away-11096616 (based on DoH advice, see below)
26 March
Three Things MPs say about the NHS Bill and why they are wrong
Head of GP development says Government ‘has listened to GPs’ on 7-day working
Doctor whistleblowers risk ‘career suicide’
Daily Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-junior-doctors-who-turn-7635466
Trivial reasons for visiting A&E issued by NHS for holiday weekend
And there are some! Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nhs-crisis-worst-reasons-people-visit-ae-when-they-shouldnt-a6954296.html
27 March
Hunt claims Brexit could cost lives
ITV News: http://www.itv.com/news/2016-03-27/jeremy-hunt-brexit-could-starve-nhs-of-investment/
28 March
West Country MP defends privatisation (local)
Everything you didn’t want to hear about TTIP! This is the West Country: http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/14345528.COLUMN__MP_Fysh_talks__privatising_of_NHS_and_healthcare_/
How did Britain build the NHS?
BBC’s take on the reasons and history, plus a survey: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zp8bcdm#zyxdq6f
Mass GP surgery shutdown over Easter: costs and A&E pressures
Daily Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mass-shutdown-gp-surgeries-easter-7640781
29 March
NHS ‘terminally ill’, says Leeds GP (Local)
Yorkshire Evening Post: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/health/nhs-terminally-ill-claims-leeds-gp-1-7821465
STOP PRESS: There’s a Better Way…
You can now get alerts sent about health stories yourself. This is much better than a regular, ‘supplied’ service because you can choose what key words trigger the alerts: “Keep Our NHS Pubic”, “NHS”, “health” – your choice. Then you can adjust the settings to improve the coverage. This has the added advantage that local stories to you can be searched for, as well as national. Alerts can be set up to send you an e-mail as a story breaks, or summarise them under headings you decide once a day.
This is done through Google news and Google alerts: free services anyone can set up. To find out how to do this, go to the Steering Group, News & Events section and look for the “starter set of instructions”.
… and please don’t forget, your smartphone or tablet will have free apps that look for and filter news, too: try configuring those for health stories, or the NHS, as well.
Leave a Reply