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January 7 2008
PM announces new reforms for NHS and more screening
The Prime Minister has outlined a programme of "deeper and wider" reform of the National Health Service to enhance its role in care, prevention and personalised health services.
January 23 2008
Healthy living strategy announced
A £372m strategy aimed at cutting levels of obesity in England has been launched by the government.
The strategy includes £75m for an "aggressive" campaign to promote healthy living to parents. Several "healthy towns" will be created at a cost of £30m with comprehensive cycle routes and pedestrian areas. Ministers said measures could potentially include offering obese people vouchers for gyms as an incentive to exercise.
Announcing the strategy, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said food labelling was also key to helping people eat well, and said regulation may be needed if industry could not agree on one system.
January 25 2008
More money for maternity services
Alan Johnson, Labour’s Health Secretary, has announced extra funding for maternity services in England that will increase over the next three years to reach an additional £122 million annually.
The extra funding will support the implementation of Maternity Matters – the Labour government’s maternity strategy that will modernise options for place of birth; improve flexibility of maternity services’ opening times; and increase workforce capacity within maternity and neonatal services to meet the needs of individual populations.
February 4 2008
Alan Johnson asks GPs to open surgeries for longer
Alan Johnson is writing to all GPs to ask them to opne their surgeries for longer. Surveys have shown that patients would like to see surgeries open for longer into the evening and on Saturdays.
February 5 2008
Fluoridation drive launched
Alan Johnson announced a drive to increase the use of fluoride in drinking water. He has started a public debate on the issue and asked Strategic Health Authorities to consider the measure, which can have a massive effect on dental health. Currently only 10% of drinking water has fluoride added.
February 25 2008
Extra 4,000 midwives for the NHS
A package of measures to recruit an extra 4,000 midwives over the next three years has been announced by Alan Johnson MP, Labour’s Health Secretary.
Announced during a visit to the Royal Victoria Infirmary maternity unit in Newcastle, the new measures include giving former midwives an incentive to return to work after a break in service.
A Return to Practice campaign in the summer, launched by the Department of Health and the Royal College of Midwives, will include a package of incentives including free training, support with childcare, child costs and a grant of up to £1,500. The total value of the incentive to return to the service will be around £3,000.
March 6 2008
GPs agree extra hours
Today the British Medical Association announced that members had voted to extend surgery hours. The average GP practice will be opne for an extra 3 hours either in evenings or at the weekend. The government aksed GPs to consider this after a 2006 survey showed that nearly 6.5 million patients were dissatisfied with the opening hours of their GP surgery.
May 12th 2008 PM launches debate on social care
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson today launched an intense six month debate about the future shape of care and support services.
Over the next six months, the government will be asking the public and stakeholders at a series of regional events for their views about care and support to create a new system that:
Promotes independence, choice and control for everyone who uses the care and support system.
Ensures everyone can receive the high quality care and support they need, and that government support should be targeted at those most in need.
Is affordable for government, individuals and families in the long-term.
The public will be able to contribute to the debate through a series of events and through a new national website www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk
Other Health Pages
Commission Work Programme 2007
Health report August 2006
Health report June 2006
Health report January 2006
Commission Work Programme 2006