Key speech by shadow health secretary focuses on end of life care Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has promised voters that Labour will “rescue a shattered service” , saying the NHS will be at the forefront of Labour’s election campaign. Speaking about the “personal to you and your family” ethos Labour wants to adopt with the NHS, Mr Burnham … [Read more…]
King’s Fund member explains why charging for healthcare should be a no go area King’s Fund member and social policy professor Julian Le Grand has spoken out against the idea of charging for healthcare services, instead advocating a “a single pathway of care with a single ring fenced budget and a single commissioner.” Long opposing the … [Read more…]
NHS leaders strive for a commitment before the 2015 elections A collection of 21 health and social care leaders have called on political parties to make manifesto commitments of at least an additional £4 billion to fund NHS changes over the next parliament. The group of organisations supporting the ‘2015 Challenge Manifesto’ include the NHS … [Read more…]
Labour leader pledges to turn around health services Labour’s Ed Miliband has vowed to “save and transform” the NHS, planning to reveal more details in due course. Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham is also due to speak about what a £2.5 billion annual funding boost could mean for patients, although Mr Miliband has already stated that … [Read more…]
Unfair system could see some services underfunded A report by the National Audit Office has revealed that some local healthcare services across England have been underfunded, as the government use an unfair system to allocate £79 billion to resources. The NAO claims that many funding decisions are being made on individual civil servants’ judgments rather … [Read more…]
Dementia patients left to pay for the majority of their care themselves The Alzheimer’s Society have discovered that dementia patients in the UK pay on average £21,322 per year towards their own care, with the NHS only stumping up a third of the total costs. Figures compiled by the London School of Economics and Kings College … [Read more…]
Chief Medical Officer wants mental health to be treated more like physical health England’s Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies has declared that mental health needs to be more of a priority, with both the NHS and employers playing a greater role. Dame Sally has suggested that funding is being cut at a time when … [Read more…]
They could offer more support for deprived areas A recent study by Durham University has suggested that pharmacies should be providing a wider range of health services because of their influential reach into local communities. The researchers revealed that 89% of the English population live within a 20 minute walk of a nearby pharmacy, however … [Read more…]
Healthcare expert pinpoints flexible approach as waiting list solution Vanguard Healthcare chief executive Ian Gillespie believes a locally led approach can combat failed hospital waiting time targets. Writing in the Health Service Journal, Mr Gillespie notes that despite many people claiming recent pressures are seasonal, waiting lists are in fact at an all time high, … [Read more…]
Labour’s Andy Burnham calls for a halt to privatisation plans Labour’s shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has urged NHS England to stop privatisation of health services until after the general election. Declaring that voters need a “proper debate” about the future of the NHS, Mr Burnham will say in a speech later today that “privatisation is being forced … [Read more…]