The Guardian (Free subscription) | yesterday
On-screen alcohol and junk food plugs may be restricted if product placement is allowed on television The government has launched a consultation looking at how product placement could work on UK television, with a view to restricting the promotion of alcohol, junk food and gambling. The culture secretary, Ben Bradshaw, said the move, which confirms a U-turn on the government's previous position ,...
The Jobbing Doctor (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009
I have a suggestion for our latest health ministers. Now, let me see, who are the health ministers this month? Ah Yes, Mr Andrew 'Andy' Burnham MP and Mr Michael 'Mike' O'Brien MP. But before I reveal my suggestion, may I say that it is entirely in keeping with this current Government that the Secretary of State should 'suddenly' be unable to attend a conference at the last minute because he has an...
John Rostill's Blog (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
Care Quality Commission All NHS providers have to register under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. We need to apply for registration in January 2010. The Care Quality Commission is currently consulting on proposed fees for registration and it looks as though it will cost this Trust £60,000 per year. Politics! Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Health, is/has been in Washington (perhaps...
Labour Matters (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
International survey of frontline doctors rates NHS best for specialist waiting times. Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Health Secretary, slammed the Tories' pledge to scrap cancer treatment guarantees whilst commenting on news that an international survey announced this morning has ranked the NHS a world beater. The Commonwealth Fund survey of frontline doctors in 11 countries ranked the UK as 1st in short...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
• News: Poor handovers 'causing hospital deaths' • Video: Save the Children presents Chunilal's story from India Welcome to the daily news round-up from SocietyGuardian.co.uk **************** Today's top story - International study shows UK GPs rate improvements to their health service highest Andy Burnham welcomed the findings at a speech in Washington, and said it showed that the overhaul...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
Andy Burnham welcomed the findings at a speech in Washington, and said it showed that the overhaul of the health service had paid off GPs rate improvements to the quality of patient care in the UK more highly than doctors in 10 other industrialised countries rate their health services, according to an international comparative study released today. Coincidentally, British primary care physicians also...
Downing Street Says (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
Asked if Andy Burnham’s event in the US was in support of President Obama’s health plans, the PMS said that it was not. It was a think tank event. The Government was very proud of the achievements of the NHS and the improvements over the last 10 years or so. There may or may not [...]
The Jobbing Doctor (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
We have another lightweight politician as Secretary of State for Health. He has become the latest in a long line of people ill-suited to the job and without the intellectual calibre and management skills to do the job. They come and they go. The latest person in the revolving seat (average tenure 18 months) is Mr Andrew 'Andy' Burnham MP . He is a likeable cheeky-chappie kind of politician with no...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
GPs rate improvements to the quality of patient care more highly than doctors in 10 other industrialised countries, according to an international study released today. Coincidentally, British primary care physicians also emerge as those most likely to be financially rewarded for meeting medical targets or care goals. The study of health services in 11 nations, carried out by the US-based Commonwealth...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 04/11/2009
On paper, it made sense to set up a common register for every paid worker in social care, says David Brindle The dream of a professional register of 1.4 million social care workers in England is over. Today's report on the inquiry into the failure of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to regulate competently the conduct of social workers and social work students – the first and easiest 100,000...
Labourlist (Free subscription) | 03/11/2009
The Amanjit Jhund NHS Column This weekend has seen battle lines being drawn with the Conservatives over the issue of waiting times and targets . Andy Burnham has announced that he wishes to enshrine many of the Labour party's pledges on waiting times in the statute books in effect to “Tory proof” the NHS. The primary beneficiary of this policy will be the 18 week target on treatment. As...
Ambush Predator (Free subscription) | 02/11/2009
...as 'Right Said Fred' didn't sing: Harry Cohen has called for a public health warning to be issued about the risk of spreading swine flu by kissing . The Leyton MP, who is standing down at the next election, asked Andy Burnham, health secretary, to issue a public health warning about the perils of kissing, “ including a two-cheek greeting .” A 'two cheeck greeting'. On the face , I presume...?...
Denverstrope (Free subscription) | 31/10/2009
Having been bed-ridden with some kind of stinking cold for the past few days, I thought it appropriate to do something on health tonight. That's not the only reason, of course, nor even the main one. The main one is Labour's latest attempt to steal Tory policy thunder with an announcement by their child of a health minister, Andy Burnham, that filled this morning's front pages, to rig NHS waiting list...
The Telegraph (Free subscription) | 31/10/2009
A war of words has broken out over the future of the National Health Service after ministers launched the right to free private treatment for patients on waiting lists.
NHS-THE OTHER SIDE (Free subscription) | 29/10/2009
The Health Secretary Andy Burnham says age discrimination in the NHS must end and there is particular concern about the treatment given to those over 65 suffering from mental health problems. It seems that treatment or support for Mental Health problems stops at the age of 65; it also seems that for every 1 million older people with depression 850,000 receive no treatment. “ The Royal College...
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