Lansley gets health job in tough times
The new health secretary has confirmed that the NHS will receive ‘real terms’ increases in funding, but this will not make it immune from the need to find ‘efficiency savings’.
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Yorks and Humber plans telehealth hub
NHS Yorkshire and the Humber is considering spending £1m on a telehealth hub as part of its cost-saving plans.
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Experts fear Punch and Judy election
The general election Policy and healthcare IT experts have urged an incoming government to resist the temptation to shake up the NHS and radically reorganise its IT. Asked to put forward manifesto ideas for the general election that is likely to be called after the Easter break, commentators from think tanks, analysts and the health […]
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DH commissions ‘Darling Dashboard’
The Department of Health has appointed a consortium to develop a ‘Darling Dashboard’ that will proactively help the NHS to make the savings demanded by last week’s Budget. The consortium of consultants, data analysts, and software developers has been asked to build a web-based application that will give the NHS real-time access to information about progress […]
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Improve PCT data skills, say MPs
Poor quality data analysis skills have played a key part in the failure of many primary care trusts to work effectively as commissioners, MPs have concluded. A report into commissioning by the Commons’ Health Committee says that while there are some examples of good work from PCTs, many believe they are working effectively “although the evidence […]
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Predict and survive
Predictive risk modelling is coming into its own as the NHS looks to improve productivity and efficiency. Daloni Carlisle reports.
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Lower borrowing, more savings in Budget
Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed that government borrowing will be lower than predicted in last year’s Pre-Budget Report, while committing the public sector to making "challenging" savings. Speaking in the House of Commons at lunchtime, Darling said that borrowing would be £167 billion in the coming financial year, rather than the £178 billion predicted in […]
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iPlato launches mobile internet service
Text messaging specialist iPlato has launched a smartphone service to enable GP practices to create their own mobile internet sites. The service, mSite, gives licensed users of iPlato’s Patient Care Messaging system free access to the module, which allows practices to create their own mobile internet site to inform patients about opening hours, contact details, […]
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GPs back cuts to NHS Direct and NPfIT
NHS Direct and the National Programme for IT in the NHS are both appropriate targets for cuts in the current economic climate, according to GPs. A survey of almost 900 GPs by the GP newspaper Pulse found that 59% thought the health helpline NHS Direct should take a funding cut while 52% thought the national programme […]
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Telehealth put on the (Google) map
More than a third of primary care trusts are involved with telehealth programmes, according to the Department of Health‘s Telecare Local Integrated Network. The telecare LIN has created a Google map for PCT telehealth, which shows which areas have begun some form of remote monitoring programme. The network says more than a third of PCTs are […]
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