A GP practice has been ordered by NHS England to prohibit the sending of emails to patients advising them to visit alternative NHS providers in a bid to alleviate the ‘great pressure’ faced by general practice. The Devon-based practice had sent emails to patients detailing NHS-funded services that can be accessed without the need for … [Read more…]
George Osborne has announced that he will put an extra £2bn into frontline health services across the UK. The chancellor said the money was a ‘down payment’ on a plan drawn up by the NHS bosses calling for an extra £8bn a year above inflation by 2020. He claimed he was able to make the … [Read more…]
Prime Minister David Cameron has said accident and emergency units are 0.3% short of meeting their 95% target of patients waiting four hours maximum before being seen. The PM has admitted the NHS is under pressure and suffering as a result of the influx of patients visiting accident and emergency units. David Cameron acknowledged that … [Read more…]
“Unexpectedly high” demand for acute service The NHS Trust Development Authority is set to investigate the “unexpectedly high” demand for acute services, which has seen winter pressures roll over into the summer months. The work is due to examine the causes behind the apparent surge in demand and how trusts had responded, with many hospitals missing national A&E … [Read more…]
75% of patients require a second consultation A new study has shown that introducing GP phone consultations instead of face to face appointments does not ease pressures in hectic surgeries – in fact, it increases the workload. Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School analysed 42 practices, where a GP or nurse phoned back … [Read more…]
Funding crisis could lead to no more free services A Nuffield Trust survey has revealed that NHS funding issues could lead to patients being charged for treatment within the next 10 years. Half of the 78 trusts reported the status quo couldn’t possibly remain with the current financial pressures, with Labour labelling NHS budgets as … [Read more…]
Survey says council-run care is unsustainable Social services chiefs have stated that council-run care systems for the elderly and disabled adults is increasingly becoming unsustainable, due to increasing funding cuts yet rising demands. The survey of 144 social care departments across England discovered that savings of over a quarter have had to be made since 2010, … [Read more…]
New campaign searching for long term solutions for GP’s Doctors’ leaders claim that piling pressure on GP’s is leading to a recruitment and retention crisis, with demands for more doctors and cash. The ten minute appointment slot system is deemed unsuitable in current climates, with 340 million people booking appointments over the year, which is … [Read more…]
