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]
27 January
Failed Addenbrookes contract signed off despite major doubts
Investigation into why Uniting Care contract was awarded in the first place.
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/26/nhs-watchdog-signed-off-doomed-750m-contract-despite-doubts
The London Economic:
http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/failed-nhs-contract-signed-off-despite-major-doubts/26/01
[8 more stories]
NHS myths
List of common myths. Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2016/jan/26/five-myths-nhs-health-service
Mental health death spike shows NHS not coping
28 January
Norwich CCG gives plans to out-of-hours GP service (local)
Includes a quote from KONP Norfolk member, Bill Adnams. Well done Bill! BBC Norfolk:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-35411439
Local hospital debate gives KONP local group publicity (local)
A good example of a local group using a local issue to get free publicity via the local press.
Weston Mercury: http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/small_weston_general_hospital_in_streetlife_debate_1_4395110
30 January
Hospitals told to cut staff in NHS cash crisis
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/29/hospitals-told-cut-staff-nhs-cash-crisis
1 February
KONP activist warns on trust merger (local)
Mike Scott on Sherwood Forest Trust merger; or ‘NHS critic’, as the BBC call him! Well done Mike – despite the label. BBC Notts: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-35453906
2 February
Two fifths of NHS budget spent on over-65s
Seems to be falling into the ‘ageing myth’ trap, sadly?
Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/01/ageing-britain-two-fifths-nhs-budget-spent-over-65s
Care home visits cut by GPs
Outlining the effects of cutting costs for this vulnerable group
BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35462112
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.
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