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October 7th 2007
NHS to use new technology more quickly
The NHS Technology Hub, established in Manchester, will introduce 15 new life-saving technologies over the next three years. One is a new bloodflow monitor that could save the NHS £500m a year. There will also be machines to monitor male prostates and a new ECG machine that can be used by GPs locally, but the results checked by experts remotely.
October 4th 2007
Lord Darzi gives his initial report on the future of the NHS
Lord Darzi has delivered his interim report on the future of the NHS. The full report can be accessed here
but a summary of his conclusions:
a new strategy to reduce inequalities
more GP surgeries, starting with the 25% of PCTs with the poorest provision
new health centres that will give convenient access
work with PCTs to improve flexibility of surgeries, to give longer opening hours
a new regulator to be responsible for hospital infections, with powers to demand cleaning
powers for matrons to close wards and demand cleaning
MRSA screening on entry for elective patients, with emergency admissions to follow as soon as possible
Lord Darzi will now proceed to the second stage of his report, including using a jury of over 1,000 people nationwide to get the views of the public.
September 17th 2007
New measures to fight hospital infections
A new set of measures have been introduced by the government to help fight hospital infections.
The new measures will start in the new year, and include:
matrons will have to report their concerns to hospital boards 4 times a year
infection cases must now be all be reported to the Health Protection Agency
doctors will have a new dress code, banning items that could spread infection, such as long sleeves, ties, jewellery or watches
More single rooms will be used to isolate infection victims
September 10th 2007
Alan Johnson looks for longer opening hours in GP surgeries
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said he wants to see more weekend and evening opening of GP surgeries.
The government would like to see extended opening in the evenings and on Saturday mornings, as patients look for more flexibility on appointments - something confiremd in a survey of NHS patients.
Alan said he hopes to work with the British Medical Association, to ensure the health service was "fit for the 21st century".
"I think there is a bit of an anomaly that there is half day closing on Wednesdays and Thursdays and you can't get to see a GP after you leave work.
"Many GPs practices are addressing that and opening on a Saturday morning. We want to see that more widespread."
Wednesday July 11 2007
New Bills to be launched in Autumn
Gordon Brown announced that the Queen's Speech this Autumn will include new health bills.
The Health and Social Care Bill will create Ofcare, to regulate adult social care, and to introduce the one-off payment for healthy food for pregnant women.
There will also be a new Human Tissues and Embryos Bill, looking at a wide range of issues. The draft bill was published in May for consultation.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Shaping health care for the next decade
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced a review of the NHS that would advise on how to meet the challenges of delivering health care over the next decade.
The review will be led by one of the world's leading surgeons Professor Ara Darzi, the new health Minister, and will report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Health before the 60th anniversary of the NHS in July 2008.
There will be an interim assessment in autumn 2007 to inform the Comprehensive Spending Review. More details here
October 5 2007
Lord Darzi’s interim report published – 250 new GP surgeries announced
Lord Darzi, the Health Minister and a surgeon, published his interim report on the Health Service. The report has been published to allow consultation on its initial findings. However, Lord Darzi has already made a series of recommendations that will be implemented, including:
100 GP practices will be created in deprived areas where there are currently no services. These will be open within 3 years
150 more health centres will open within 3 years in easily accessible locations, such as high streets and sports centres. These will be open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week
a new programme to screen all patients entering hospital for MRSA, starting with pre-planned admissions and including emergency admissions within 3 years (this is based on the scheme used in the Netherlands, where MRSA is almost non-existent)
For more details, click here
October 10 2007
Pre-budget report
The pre-budget report had a number of announcements on spending – see for details
October 14 2007
Mental health services get £170m boost
Alan Johnson announced an extra £170m spending between now and 2010-11 to improve psychological treatment. The money will be used to slash NHS waiting times to see therapists from as long as 18 months to just 2 weeks. The aim is to recruit 3,600 extra therapists, to treat an extra 900,000 people a year.
October 27 2007
Cervical cancer vaccines to be given to girls
After years of debate on the issue, the government has decided to routinely immunise all schoolgirls aged 12 and 13 against cervical cancer. The programme will start in September 2008 and a catchup programme for all girls aged up to 18 will start in September 2009. The Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation recommended this move and think it could save several hundred lives a year.
November 6 2007
Queen’s Speech has new health bills
There were 29 bills and draft bills mentioned in the Queen’s Speech on November 6 2007. For more details on the Bills relating to this Commission, click here.
November 16 2007
Private sector NHS clinics scrapped
The Department of Health announced that because of the increase in capacity in the NHS, plans for 6 new private sector-run health clinics were being scrapped. An existing clinic in the West Midlands will also be closed. Alan Johnson did say that he still supported the use of private sector clinics in certain circumstances and did confirm 10 new ones would open. He said, “We are totally committed to using the independent sector where it represents value for money.”
November 2007
NHS deep clean details announced
Alan Johnson, Labour’s Health Secretary, has announced details of the Government’s deep cleaning funding programme for all NHS hospitals in England. Deep cleaning is one element of a wide range of measures introduced by the Labour Government to tackle healthcare associated infections.
The Strategic Health Authorities have now allocated funding so that hospitals can get on with the Deep Clean programme this winter with the aim of completing all deep cleans by the end of March 2008.
December 3 2007
New five-year cancer plan announced
The Prime Minister has outlined details of a five-year cancer strategy aimed at improving care for patients and implementing stronger preventative measures.
December 5 2007
Faster stroke treatment to save thousands of lives
Alan Johnson, Labour’s Health Secretary, has announced details of a new stroke strategy which could avoid up to 6,800 deaths every year.
Anyone in a higher-risk group who suffers a minor stroke will now receive an MRI scan within 24 hours. The strategy also aims to accelerate the emergency response to stroke and set out a framework of care for those already affected.
Labour's new stroke strategy will also invest £105 million for extra training posts and raising awareness.Alan Johnson said: "This is a bold vision for the delivery of world-class stroke services, from prevention right through to life-long support.
December 11 2007
Personal Care Budgets to revolutionise social care
Labour’s Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced an extra £520 million to transform Social Care over the next three years through the introduction of Personal Care budgets.
In a groundbreaking concordat "Putting People First" Central Government, Local Government, the professional leadership of adult Social Care and the NHS have jointly committed to a radical transformation of Care Services over the next three years. The extra £520 million will be allocated to councils as a Social Care Reform grant over the next three years. The grant includes some NHS resources in recognition of the impact social care can have on improving people's health and well-being.
Key elements of the transformation programme in every community will include:
Giving the vast majority of people who receive funded care their own personal budgets so they can choose the support services they want for themselves of a family member. An increasing number of people to utilise direct payments.
High quality care homes, home care and day services to be rewarded, with poor performers who fail to respect people's dignity no longer used by local councils and the NHS.
Initiatives such as first-stop shops becoming common place so that everyone, including people who don't have support from social services, will have access to advice and advocacy about community services, such as local community equipment providers, fall services or domiciliary support and transport links
Investing in support that keeps older people healthy and tackles loneliness and isolation
Closer collaboration between the NHS and local government so that people receive more coordinated and efficient support in the community.
December 13 2007
Health spending grows again
Alan Johnson announced a 5.5% increase in health spending for financial year 2008-2009
Other Health Pages
Commission Work Programme 2007
Health report August 2006
Health report June 2006
Health report January 2006
Commission Work Programme 2006