Devolution: detailed analysis
The likely grave consequences and the legislative framework for health devolution, with massive differences in provision over the country and a lack of integrated services as the true legacy, are described by Greg Dropkin’s article in Our NHS:
7 more stories:
‘Bed Blocking’ Crisis looms as number of patients not safe to discharge increases
The growing crisis in hospitals’ inability to discharge frail patients back into the community because of a lack of social care was highlighted by the Telegraph:
A more even-handed and autobiographical story in the Yorkshire Post on the same subject:
Bruce Keogh urges self-help to lessen looming winter crisis
The NHS Medical Director has urged people to take simple measures to help lessen the growing strain on acute series this winter such as ensuring elderly people are kept warm.
Daily Express: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/628819/hospitals-close-collapse-NHS-begs-families-care-elderly-instead
Shropshire CCG announces plans to cut staff and axe A&E unit
The CCG is looking for ways to make up for a £10.6 million deficit. This includes ‘Future Fit’, a ‘transformation’ scheme likely to result in the closure of one of the two A&E units based in Shrewsbury and Telford.
Shropshire Star: http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/12/21/nhs-boss-vows-to-break-even-next-year-but-financial-challenge-could-result-in-job-losses/
NHS mandated to provide weekend routine GP appointments for all by 2020
Routine weekend and evening access has now been written into NHS England’s mandate, to be applied by 2020.
GP Online: http://www.gponline.com/nhs-mandated-provide-weekend-routine-gp-appointments-2020/article/1377598
NHS Choir vying for Number 1 chart position for Christmas
Several outlets report that the NHS Choir’s single, ‘A Bridge Over You’ (based on the Simon & Garfunkel hit, Bridge Over Troubled Water) is fighting with Justin Bieber’s release, ‘Love Yourself’ which is reportedly around 3,000 sales ahead. The NHS Choir is composed of staff from Lewisham and Greenwich Hospitals.
The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/21/justin-bieber-nhs-choir-christmas-no-1
Official charts site: http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-nhs-choir-continues-to-chase-justin-bieber-in-very-close-christmas-number-1-battle__13247/
Free wi-fi at NHS premises by 2020
Jeremy Hunt has pledged to ensure NHS premises have free wi-fi for all users by 202, using a £1 billion technology fund.
Car parking charges row
A Press Association FOI enquiry has revealed that trusts are making as much as £3 million a year on car-parking charges, which private companies are often brought in to manage at a profit.
The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/21/nhs-trusts-make-as-much-as-3m-per-year-car-park-fees
The Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/scandalous-nhs-hospital-car-parking-7054250
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 on the KONP website (https://keepournhspublic.com/support-konp/steering-group-page/news-events/ ) and look for the “starter set of instructions”.
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