NHS 60 Today! Reform or Die?

                   
marketoracle.co.uk     05-Jul-2008            

The NHS celebrates its 60th birthday today. The government has been marking the landmark event through a string of initiatives aimed at bringing the ageing and bureaucratic institution into the 21st century. Following New Labour's victory the cry went out for more spending on the NHS in real-terms. i.e. above the rate of inflation as the NHS had been under funded for the duration of the preceding Conservative government. Labour more than fulfilled this pledge by delivering a whopping £300 billion (est.) of extra real terms spending, as an example of the magnitude of the increase, £300 billion is more than the amount the government has earned from North Sea Oil and Gas since 1997 and has resulted in the NHS expansion from approx 4.8% of the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 8% of GDP, and is destined to continue to grow... [read full story]                    

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GP contracts in £160m overspend

bbc.co.uk     03-Jul-2008          

The auditor general's report pointed to a 'lack of basic management data' The new GP contract, which allowed most doctors to stop doing out of hours calls, cost £160m more than had been allocated in its first three years. An...                    

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Cost outweighs benefits on primary care

scotsman.com     03-Jul-2008          

EVERY Scottish patient visits their GP on average three times each year. As a result, Scotland's 4,721 GPs are on the front line when it comes to improving the nation's health. But four years ago, a quarter of these GPs were...                    

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Wasted: The millions spent trying to boost Scottish healthcare

scotsman.com     03-Jul-2008          

Published Date: 03 July 2008 A LUCRATIVE new contract for Scottish GPs that gave them a 38 per cent pay rise over three years has failed to reduce health inequalities or improve access for patients. After lengthy contract...                    

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Candidate sounds warning on prescriptions

eveshamjournal.co.uk     03-Jul-2008          

EVESHAM GPs could be among those to lose the right to run a prescription drug dispensary if the government gets its way, a local parliamentary candidate has claimed. Harriett Baldwin, Conservative parliamentary candidate for...                    

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Benefits Of New GP Contract To Patients Recognised In New Audit Scotland Report

medicalnewstoday.com     03-Jul-2008          

Responding to the Audit Scotland's review of the new GP contract which was published, Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, welcomed the recognition that the contract would benefit...                    

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Leading GP warns over 'boom and bust' funding approach

scotsman.com     03-Jul-2008          

A LEADING GP has backed an Audit Scotland report which found that new contracts for doctors are improving patient care. However, Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish general practitioners committee, as well as a GP...                    

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Health groups welcome increased patient control

inthenews.co.uk     04-Jul-2008          

Plans announced by the Department of Health (DoH) to increase patient choice have been described as "good news for patients" by health representatives. Under the strategy the GP patient survey will be extended to encourage...                    

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