NHS could save £1bn each year by treating patients at pharmacies instead of hospitals or GP clinics, says professional body October 19, 2014 The NHS could save over £1bn each year if common colds and other everyday illnesses were treated at pharmacies. According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), “minor ailment centres” would take pressure off the NHS by reducing GP consultations by 18m and A&E visits by 650,000 annually. The centres already operate nationally in [...]
Cameron has given up on NHS reform – and has put the health service at risk October 13, 2014 THE NHS costs £110bn a year in England alone, amounting to around 7 per cent of GDP. It employs more than 1.3m people, and its success or failure touches all of our lives, while indirectly affecting the strength of every business. So it matters that, as reported yesterday, the government now sees its NHS policy [...]
GW’s shares slump after NHS rejects cannabis drug over cost October 8, 2014 A PIONEERING cannabis drug developed by British firm GW Pharmaceuticals for treating spasticity in multiple sclerosis has been rejected as not cost-effective. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which determines if medicines are worth using by the NHS, said yesterday the modest benefits and high cost of Sativex did not justify its [...]
Drinkers could be offered NHS pill to cut down on alcohol October 3, 2014 Moderate drinkers could soon find themselves being given a £3 pill to help them cut down on their alcohol intake. Those who drink around half a bottle of wine or three pints a day could be prescribed the drug nalmefene. If the plans are given the go-ahead, 600,000 adults could be prescribed the drug, which [...]
David Cameron speech: Twitter reaction to benefit cuts, NHS and Russell Brand October 1, 2014 David Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference was hijacked by campaign group Ukuncut – on Twitter. Analysis of the Twitter reaction to the Prime Minister's speech by Impact Social showed the response was largely negative and that an attempt by Russell Brand to help UKuncut commandeer the hashtag #CPC14 was successful. Here he comes! @David_Cameron – [...]
NHS ambulance workers vote to strike October 1, 2014 Members of the GMB union of NHS workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action on 13 October. Of the ambulance staff who voted, 78 per cent cast their ballot in favour of a walk-out, which will take place between 7:00am and 11:00am. Furthermore, 91 per cent voted for action short of a [...]
Ed Miliband wants City to fund NHS spending but fails to mention UK deficit – Labour Party Conference September 23, 2014 Labour leader Ed Miliband yesterday unveiled controversial plans to force the City to pick up the bill for extra spending on the NHS if his party won next year’s election Announcing a new levy on the profits of tobacco companies, the apparent scrapping of intermediary tax relief on derivatives and a tax on the [...]
Miliband to tax mansions to fund new NHS splurge September 22, 2014 ED MILIBAND will today deliver a key pre-election speech at his party’s annual conference in Manchester, in which he is widely expected to announce a funding boost for the NHS. Miliband is thought to have found a way to pay for a budget increase for the health service as he seeks to position Labour as [...]
Ed Miliband to announce mansion tax to improve NHS health and social care September 22, 2014 Ed Milliband is set to announce a "mansion tax" to fund new an NHS spending increase. In a speech tomorrow to party activists in Manchester the Labour leader will announce the plan to tax properties worth more than £2m, with the proceeds paying for improvements in health and social care. With the election fast approaching, Miliband [...]
Why an independent Scotland could be faced with a huge £450m NHS funding gap September 16, 2014 Will the NHS in Scotland really be better off, as Alex Salmond has promised, if Scotland votes for independence on 18 September? Civil servants seem to think it will face a huge funding gap. It was reported today that the government has outlined a radical cost-cutting plan for NHS Scotland, presented to a meeting [...]