MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'health service'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:05:45 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158854&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fthe-core-cities-health-network-report-new-horizons-and-new-challenges%2F Scan or click to download 'The Core Cities Health Network Report: New Horizons and New Challenges' Title:  The Core Cities Health Network Report: New Horizons and New Challenges The Skinny: Report from the Core Cities Health Network that identifies that understanding the commissioning task for securing healthcare for large city/urban areas will be essential for established (and yet to be established) GP commissioning consortia and new statutory Health and Wellbeing Partnership Boards. Building effective partnerships across agencies ensures that local health care strategies for city populations must be informed and driven by health improvement and the reduction of health inequalities. Publisher: DH Published: August 2011 Size: 35p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Annu... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158854 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:56:43 +0100 5158854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158856&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fhow-to-guide-improving-transitions-from-the-hospital-to-the-clinical-office-practice-to-reduce-avoidable-rehospitalizations%2F Scan or click to download 'How-to Guide: Improving Transitions from the Hospital to the Clinical Office Practice to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations' Title: How-to Guide Improving Transitions from the Hospital to the Clinical Office Practice to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations The Skinny: Guide from Institute for Health Improvement on avoiding avoidable rehospitalisations as a result of poor co-ordination of care settings. Avoiding this is a key step toward achieving broader delivery system transformation. Based on the healthcare system of the USA this guide is of use to those looking at primary care and community settings. Publisher: Institute for Health Improvement Published: August 2011 Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Clinical Governance, Collaboration, Coord... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158856 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:53:48 +0100 5158856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158857&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fhow-to-guide-improving-transitions-from-the-hospital-to-post-acute-care-settings-to-reduce-avoidable-rehospitalizations%2F Scan or click to download 'How-to Guide Improving Transitions from the Hospital to Post-Acute Care Settings to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations' Title: How-to Guide Improving Transitions from the Hospital to Post-Acute Care Settings to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations The Skinny: Guide from Institute for Health Improvement on avoiding avoidable rehospitalisations as a result of poor co-ordination of care settings. Avoiding this is a key step toward achieving broader delivery system transformation. Based on the healthcare system of the USA this guide is of use to those looking at intermediate care/rehabilitation settings. Publisher: Institute for Health Improvement Published: August 2011 Size: 144p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Clinical Governance, finance, Gr... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158857 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:27:37 +0100 5158857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158858&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fhow-to-guide-improving-transitions-from-the-hospital-to-home-health-care-to-reduce-avoidable-rehospitalizations%2F Scan or click to download 'How-to Guide: Improving Transitions from the Hospital to Home Health Care to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations' Title: How-to Guide: Improving Transitions from the Hospital to Home Health Care to Reduce Avoidable Rehospitalizations The Skinny: Guide from Institute for Health Improvement on avoiding avoidable rehospitalisations as a result of poor co-ordination of care settings. Avoiding this is a key step toward achieving broader delivery system transformation. Based on the healthcare system of the USA this guide is of use to those looking to aviod rehospitalisation on return to the community detailing initial steps to create an enhanced transition to home health care in the first 48 hours after the patient is discharged from the hospital, a post-acut... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158858 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:59:04 +0100 5158858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139620&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F19%2Fan-information-revolution-summary-of-responses-to-the-consultation%2F strong>Title: An Information Revolution: Summary of responses to the consultation Scan or click to download ‘An Information Revolution: Summary of responses to the consultation’ The Skinny: Summarises responses received to the consultation Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution. Key identified themes: Ensuring that the information revolution benefits everyone Information for improved outcomes The need for information to be linked across health, social care and also public health Information for professionals People’s control of and access to information held in their own care records The need for clear routes (or “channels”) to information Information for patients, service users, carers and the public Information for autonomy, accountability and democrat... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139620 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:51:15 +0100 5139620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139625&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fnhs-financial-year-201011-a-summary-of-auditors-work%2F Title: NHS Financial Year 2010/11: A summary of auditors’ work Scan or click to download ‘NHS Financial Year 2010/11: A summary of auditors’ work’ The Skinny: Provides a view of the overall financial performance of the NHS in 2010/11. Summarises the audit of the 2010/11 accounts for strategic health authorities (SHAs), NHS trusts and PCTs, and looks at auditors’ conclusion on the value for money (VFM) arrangements in place in each organisation. It also reviews the progress made by PCTs and NHS trusts in delivering their cost improvement programmes (CIPs). For 2010/11 the auditors focussed their review on whether: the organisation has proper arrangements in place for securing financial resilience; and the organisation has proper arrangements for challenging... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139625 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:40:15 +0100 5139625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139627&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Flocal-square-table-learning-and-evaluation-report%2F Title: Local square table learning and evaluation report Scan or click to download 'Local square table learning and evaluation report' The Skinny: Reports on the findings of open and honest discussion and increased understanding between those who provide children’s palliative care, those who experience it and those that play a wider part in supporting children, young people and families in a particular community. Finds that: Awareness and language is seen as a barrier to service access Parents say they struggle with the current assessment process Partnership working is seen as key to ensuring the best outcomes for lifelimited and life-threatened children and young people Workforce training and development is considered a priority by parents and professionals Parents f... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139627 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:43:14 +0100 5139627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139633&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fdiagnostic-tool-for-emerging-clinical-commissioning-groups%2F Title: Diagnostic tool for emerging clinical commissioning groups Scan or click to download ‘Diagnostic tool for emerging clinical commissioning groups’ The Skinny: A developmental, self-assessment tool to enable emerging clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to understand and reflect upon their values, culture, behaviours and wider organisational health has been issued as an Excel spreadsheet. It allows CCG leadership teams to assess the capability of their emerging CCG across six domains, identify their development needs and access further resources and examples of good practice. The tool is intended to encourage conversations about the roles and responsibilities that will be expected of CCGs as statutory bodies and their readiness to take these on. It includes some of the ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139633 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:35:50 +0100 5139633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139635&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fnhs-commissioning-board%25e2%2580%2599s-people-transition-policy%2F Title: NHS Commissioning Board’s People Transition Policy Scan or click to download ‘NHS Commissioning Board’s People Transition Policy’ The Skinny: Dear Colleague letter from Sir David Nicholson about the People Transition Policy, published on Thursday 28 July, developed specifically for the NHS Commissioning Board. Publisher: DH Published: 02/08/11 Size: 2p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Commissioning, Grey Literature, Health service staff, Human Resources, NHS Circulars, Staff (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139635 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:28:34 +0100 5139635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139636&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fa-simple-guide-to-payment-by-results-july-2011-version%2F Title: A simple guide to Payment by Results, July 2011 version Scan or click to download 'A simple guide to Payment by Results, July 2011 version' The Skinny: The aim of this updated guide is to provide an introduction for newcomers to Payment by Results. Publisher: DH Published: 01/08/11 Size: 68p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: finance, Grey Literature, Health service finance, Payment by Results (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139636 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:20:28 +0100 5139636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130647&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fthe-functions-of-gp-commissioning-consortia-a-working-document%2F Scan to download 'The functions of GP commissioning consortia: a working document' Title: The functions of GP commissioning consortia: a working document The Skinny: Document that describes the proposed statutory functions of GP consortia to support GPs in establishing consortia (as a summary of the content of the Health and Social Care Bill 2011and providing illustrative examples), it identifies: the proposed key statutory duties of consortia (the ‘must dos’) the proposed key statutory powers (the things consortia have the freedom to do, if they wish, to help meet these duties) illustrative examples of what this could look like in the future Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Audit, Clinical Audit, Commissioning, Grey Literature, Health care, Health servic... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130647 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:16:35 +0100 5130647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130664&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fnhs-reforms-in-england-managing-the-transition%2F Scan to download 'NHS reforms in England managing the transition' Title: NHS reforms in England: managing the transition The Skinny: Nuffield Trust report that assesses the 2011/12 Operating Framework for the NHS together with guidance on the operation of Payment by Results (PbR) in 2011/12. Establishes the key challenges associated with managing the transition to a reformed NHS, as envisaged in the White Paper: Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, and proposes ways in which the risks associated with transition might be mitigated. It suggests there is a need for clear guidance on the governance and structural arrangements for emerging GP consortia, to ensure adequate local and national accountability for quality, financial control and value for money. The report also identi... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130664 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:16:29 +0100 5130664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130669&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fequity-and-excellence-liberating-the-nhs-managing-the-transition%2F Scan or click barcode to download 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS - Managing the Transition' Title: Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS – Managing the Transition The Skinny: Dear Colleague letter giving an update on transition arrangements with a particular focus on the new commissioning system and providing answers to some frequently asked questions on the Health and Social Care Bill. Particularly relating to: Current performance and planning for 2011/12 Developing the new commissioning system Progress on other aspects of the transition It also refers to the imminent publication of the [download id="8"]. This guidance has been developed to help retain those staff fulfilling business critical roles to sustain business continuity during the transition. Sca... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130669 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:17:33 +0100 5130669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125695&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2Fnursing-times-2011-vol-107-no-26-2%2F This article looks at the prevalence of depression in long-term conditions and why people with long-term conditions get depressed. It also examines how nursing staff can support people with depression as part of their long-term condition. Contact the Library for a copy of this article. Filed under: Journals Tagged: Depression, Long Term Conditions, Long-term Condition, Mental Health Service Users, Nursing (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125695 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:37:00 +0100 5125695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107648&cid=t_217524_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Fneil%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Frandom-thoughts-emr-projects-decentralized-problems-persist-despite-solutions%2F Once in a while, I run out of Big Ideas to share and resort to a rundown of short items. This is one of those times. Often, though, that approach turns out to be more interesting than a well-thought-out commentary. (Thus, the popularity of Twitter, right?) Speaking of Big Ideas, I’m thinking that the age of the massive EMR project may be coming to an end. You may have seen my piece in InformationWeek today about the reported end of the national EMR in England. London’s The Independent reported earlier this week that the Cameron government will announce next month that it will scrap the national strategy in favor of allowing local hospitals and trusts to make independent EMR purchasing and implementation decisions. This news comes on the heels of a decision by the government of ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107648 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:22:35 +0100 5107648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028537&cid=t_217524_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2FEz9y6jiX7Dc%2F I’m getting ready to head west for, among other things, the annual AMDIS Physician-Computer Connection in Ojai, Calif., a high-level gathering of chief medical information officers. After years of fighting for a seat at the table, CMIOs now are being held up as a model, at least overseas. Specifically, my friends at E-Health Insider in the UK have embarked on a mission to have every NHS hospital hire a chief clinical information officer, the British equivalent of the CMIO. Read more about the British perspective on the American CMIO here. Related posts:Google’s health plans, and more on CMIOs Podcast: Dr. Bill Bria on CMIOs and medical informatics England learns from America (Source: Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog) Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028537 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:55:11 +0100 5028537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872476&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl6OCIRjRzwE%2F And so another working week is about to come to an end, which means we can daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes hanging out with the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Maybe a dip in the pool? A walk in the park? Perhaps gazing into the future? This side of the pond has a three-day break, of course, so there will be more time to indulge. Whatever you do, have a great time and see you soon… Novartis Found Not Liable For Jaw Disease (Reuters) Medco Loses Blue Cross Blue Shield Contract (Reuters) Trimeris Gets $5M In Roche Settlement (Triangle Business Journal) Pharma Protests UK Pricing Plan (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Confirms Endings Payments For Docs To Attend Meetings (Reuters) CMS Proposes Looser E-Prescribing Rules (Internal Medicin... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872476 Fri, 27 May 2011 12:09:07 +0100 4872476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775561&cid=t_217524_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Fu-k-nice-issues-new-clinical-guidelines-re-recognition-initial-management-of-ovarian-cancer%2F On April 27, 2011, the U.K. National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence issued new clinical guidelines regarding the recognition and initial management of ovarian cancer. On April 27, 2011, the U.K. National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued new clinical guidelines regarding the recognition and initial management of ovarian cancer. In the [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775561 Mon, 02 May 2011 21:14:09 +0100 4775561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159036&cid=t_217524_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4308%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dthe-a-to-z-of-the-wellbeing-industry-from-angelic-reiki-to-patient-centred-care This is a slightly-modified version of the article that appeared in BMJ blogs yesterday, but with more links to original sources, and a picture. There are already some comments in the BMJ. The original article, diplomatically, did not link directly to UCL’s Grand Challenge of Human Wellbeing, a well-meaning initiative which, I suspect, will not prove to be value for money when it comes to practical action. Neither, when referring to the bad effects of disempowerment on human wellbeing (as elucidated by, among others, UCL’s Michael Marmot), did I mention the several ways in which staff have been disempowered and rendered voiceless at UCL during the last five years. Although these actions have undoubtedly had a bad effect on the wellbeing of UCL’s staff, it seemed a litlle... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159036 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:29:37 +0100 5159036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626886&cid=t_217524_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2FuP93TL-iZGE%2F The slams on Dr. Donald Berwick, frankly, are getting pathetic. Today, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel dismissed Berwick as a “basically a policy wonk” who “hasn’t really practiced since 1989.” Siegel tried to score points with sound bites. “This guy has more quotes than Yogi Berra, and let me tell you something, these quotes are an indictment on people that want clinicians to make decisions,” Siegel said on Fox this afternoon. Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com According to Siegel, comparative effectiveness “doesn’t work in the real world.” Well, sure, that’s the point of clinical decision support. Best practices are for common conditions, and clinical decision support is to help physicians either foll... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626886 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:11:49 +0100 4626886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4540601&cid=t_217524_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhat-is-minimum-number-of-follicles-you.html We deal with a number of difficult patients who have failed multiple IVF cycles elsewhere. Many of these are poor ovarian responders and a common question is - How many follicles do you need to go ahead with the treatment ? Is there a number in your clinic below which you will cancel the cycle ?These patients suffer from a lot of anxiety and apprehension during the superovulation, because they know they are not likely to grow many eggs. They have already had many of their cycles cancelled in the past - and this can be quite a cruel thing to do , because these are eggs which they have produced with a lot of effort ! Their eggs are precious - and represent their best chance of their having a baby with their own genes. This is why when the doctor cancels the cycle because they have not produc... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4540601 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4540601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517352&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIqBNbG7HvHU%2F The UK’s Office of Fair Trading has filed a claim against Reckitt Benckiser for abusing its dominant market position by allegedly preventing doctors from prescribing lower-cost generic versions of its Gaviscon heartburn medication. The OFT sent a so-called ’statement of objections’ to the consumer goods giant for seeking to restrict competition. In the episode cited by regulators, Reckitt allegedly withdrew its Gaviscon Original Liquid from the computer system maintained by the UK’s National Health Service before a generic name was assigned. And so any doc searching for the med would only find Gaviscon Advance Liquid, which still has patent protection and, therefore, no generic alternative at a lower price. “This case raises significant and complex competition... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517352 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:44:30 +0100 4517352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399631&cid=t_217524_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fwhat-expert-patient-can-teach-expert.html I am an IVF specialist, and know lots about IVF. I read all the medical journals and keep myself updated, so I can provide high quality medical care to my patients - after all, my professional knowledgebase is my major asset and I spend a lot of time on polishing my skills and keeping current with recent advances. Since IVF is such a specialised field, it's much easier for me to do so, as compared to a general physician, for example, who has a much broader area to cover.However, no matter how good my intentions, the fact still remains that there will be areas in IVF in which I have blind spots. The good news is that my patients are getting smarter and are happy to help me fill in these blind spots. I have always respected my patients and I learn a lot from them all the time.Medicine is a r... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399631 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 04:24:00 +0100 4399631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277860&cid=t_217524_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fdoctors-gods-knights-knaves-or-pawns.html Like all professionals, doctors have a certain image about themselves . Similarly, patients have expectations of their doctors and expect them to conform to their mental model of how a doctor should behave.Life was much easier in the past when both patients and doctors expected doctors to behave as demi-Gods. The doctor was a shaman who was considered to be a healer who had been inspired by divine powers which he could use to help the sick to get better.In modern society, however, things have changed considerably; and few patients will treat their doctors as God-like figures ( and I feel most doctors would also be very uncomfortable in this role !)What roles do doctors adopt today ? These are primarily three, as articulated so well by the British economist, Julian Le Grand. We perceive doc... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277860 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:13:00 +0100 4277860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272290&cid=t_217524_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-12-stis-of-christmas%2F2010.12.19 My yearly Christmas favorite reposted, courtesy of the British National Health Service (BNHS): (Click on the title image to watch) I have seen several searches of this blog for the BNHS and wondered why. The answer: The site no longer carries the wonderful show, for reasons unknown to me. As for the searches, I guess the Christmas season has people thinking about sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) set to a Christmas tune. Merry Christmas! *This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272290 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:00:31 +0100 4272290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159284&cid=t_217524_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F12%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-12-2010%2F There’s something so soothing about a pet. (You pet owners know what I mean.) Maybe it’s their soft, furry coat or their comfort with being themselves that can be so settling. But I think it’s the feeling that no matter who you are, how much money you have or what you look like, they’ll love you unconditionally. It’s something I felt with my first dog who passed away earlier this year. And how I feel about my current love, a 5 year old mini lop rabbit. The world can be as chaotic as it can be. I could have papers piling up on my desk and emails crowding my inbox. But when I see him cleaning his floppy ears, those things don’t seem to matter. For a moment, I’m at peace. Why am I bringing up my furry friends? Aside from the fact that I adore talking ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159284 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:16:42 +0100 4159284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119640&cid=t_217524_140_f&fid=39203&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdawnwillis.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F28%2Fvaluing-the-invaluable-dawn-willis-article-for-submission-to-westminster-health-forum-next-stages-for-the-mental-health-strategy%2F Valuing The Invaluable:   What was missing from this exciting seminar offered by The Wesminster Health Forum and delivered by very influential , well qualified experts,  who have enormous influence in the direction in which Mental Health strategy is taken forward and eventually delivered, a group of individuals to whom the Government is looking for direction in the planning of it’s Mental Health Strategy? It was an informative event, no one could doubt that. No one could fail to be dismayed to hear Dr Jonathan Campion state “No other health condition matches mental ill health in the combined extent of prevalence, persistence and breadth of impact”, especially knowing that we face a time of austerity when the NHS ring fenced budgets mean that mental health service provision will n... Dawn Willis sharing the News and Views of the Mentally Wealthy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119640 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:25:23 +0100 4119640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055667&cid=t_217524_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F10%2Firish-heart-surgeon-maurice-neligan-died%2F Well-known Irish heart surgeon Maurice Neligan died suddenly at his home on October 9, 2010 of unknown causes. Neligan was on occasion an outspoken critic of the National Health Service and was the founder of the Blackrock Clinic. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055667 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:44:38 +0100 4055667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002868&cid=t_217524_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fbritish-tv-personality-sarah-beeny-describes-hospital-ordeal-suffering-appendicitis%2F British television personality Sarah Beeny started feeling ill after a family outing and then embarked on a bizarre and convoluted trip through the British National Health Service in an attempt to have her appendix removed. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002868 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:12:42 +0100 4002868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868743&cid=t_217524_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3339 Jump to follow-up Having recently been fired from Ofquack, the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). I found I was missing the constant dribble of double-speak, Then, as luck would have it, a friend emailed me to draw my attention to a lucrative job at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.  On August 11th I put out a tweet, just in case any of my friends were interested. How to save money. NHS Scorland (Tayside) advertises for homeopathic doctor http://bit.ly/9Ou9Yo Pathetic #fail After the story appeared in the Daily Express it occurred to me that I should apply. It seems that NHS Scotland Tayside) is determined to look idiotic in the eyes of the world.  They advertised for a homeopathic doctor,  The upper level of salary, £68,000 for two sessions a week, is a... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868743 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:12:59 +0100 3868743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595894&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOQTzwXd50pc%2F The UK’s new Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition has proposed moving to a so-called ‘value-based pricing’ model for medicines, which means drugmakers would no longer be free to set prices. At the same time, a reform of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which evaluates cost effectiveness, is also being considered, although details have not yet emerged. The plan comes as other European governments raise drug prices in the face of huge deficits. The UK’s National Health Service, for instance, is predicted to face a shortfall of more than $28 billion, suggesting the willingness to set price controls will add significant pressure on the pharmaceutical industry sooner than later. The notion, however, isn’t news. Back in 2007, the UK Offi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595894 Tue, 25 May 2010 12:07:28 +0100 3595894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3590498&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fj47CzWlHuXM%2F The drugmaker leaned on its sales staff illegally to sell Tamiflu to people who were not doctors, a former employee alleged in court. John Miller claims Roche’s UK subsidiary promoted the med to companies that wanted to secure supplies for private stockpiles at a time when concern was rising over the likelihood of a flu pandemic, The Financial Times writes. Miller was in court seeking compensation for unfair dismissal; he claims he was moved around internally and ultimately forced out after complaining of regulatory and ethical breaches. Roche denies the charges and maintains he was an underperformer. Miller claims he was asked to create a special business unit to sell Tamiflu to companies in 2006, and was given unrealistically high sales targets, given tight legal controls on marke... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3590498 Fri, 21 May 2010 19:24:33 +0100 3590498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3589041&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fj47CzWlHuXM%2F The drugmaker leaned on its sales staff illegally to sell Tamiflu to people who were not doctors, a former employee alleged in court. John Miller claims Roche’s UK subsidiary promoted the med to companies that wanted to secure supplies for private stockpiles at a time when concern was rising over the likelihood of a flu pandemic, The Financial Times writes. Miller was in court seeking compensation for unfair dismissal; he claims he was moved around internally and ultimately forced out after complaining of regulatory and ethical breaches. Roche denies the charges and maintains he was an underperformer. Miller claims he was asked to create a special business unit to sell Tamiflu to companies in 2006, and was given unrealistically high sales targets, given tight legal controls on marke... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3589041 Fri, 21 May 2010 19:24:33 +0100 3589041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529773&cid=t_217524_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fc9rGCP3b7U8%2F By Michael F. CannonShortly after President Obama signed his health care law, French president Nicolas Sarkozy offered this backhanded compliment to the United States: “Welcome to the club of countries that does not dump its sick people.” In this month’s Diplomat magazine (U.K.), I explain pourquoi c’est fou: Every member of Sarkozy’s “club” has its stories of sick people who have been “dumped,” in one manner or another, despite laws that officially preclude such things from ever happening. In 2005, Canada’s Supreme Court wrote of its country’s Medicare system: “Access to a waiting list is not access to healthcare…[T]here is unchallenged evidence that in some serious cases, patients die as a result of waiting lists for publi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529773 Mon, 03 May 2010 17:11:12 +0100 3529773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499309&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FLz3zbR0ti1A%2F Drugmakers lost a legal battle against programs promoted by the UK’s National Health Service that encourage docs to prescribe cheaper meds. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry had argued NHS incentives were an illegal inducement under strict European rules on promotion. But the European Court of Justice ruled they complied with European Union advertising legislation (see the ABPI statement). Under the programs, UK medical practices are rewarded for switching patients to generics or prescribing them to new patients who would otherwise get more expensive patented meds. Individual docs who share in the profits of medical practices could ultimately benefit from the incentives, prompting drugmakers to argue they breached an EU ban on incentives for prescribing, Reuters ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499309 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:44:44 +0100 3499309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366151&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F14%2Fnursing-times-2010-vol-106-no-8%2F This article  looks at Leicester Partnership Trust’s training programme to support staff in raising this issue and providing appropriate care. Contact the library for a copy of this article Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Child Abuse, Education, Mental Health, Service Provision, Sexual Abuse, Training (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366151 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:03:14 +0100 3366151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927308&cid=t_217524_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2369 Jump to follow-up This is a post about Markovian queueing theory. But hang on, don’t run away.  It isn’t so hard. The idea came from my recent experience.  On Friday 23 October, I was supposed to have a kidney removed at the Royal Marsden Hospital.  At the very last minute the operation was cancelled.  That is more irritating than serious.  A delay of a few weeks poses no great risk for me.  . The cancellation arose because there was no  bed available in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), which is where nephrectomy patients go for a while after the operation.  Was this a failure of the NHS?  I think not and here’s why The first reaction of a neighbour to this news was to say "that’s why I have private insur... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927308 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:18:45 +0100 2927308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924785&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F24%2Falternative-provider-medical-services-directions-2009%2F Title: Alternative Provider Medical Services Directions 2009 Skinny: These Directions, which may be cited as the Alternative Provider Medical Services Directions 2009, are given to Primary Care Trusts in England and shall come into force on 17th September 2009 Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 12p Published: 12/10/2009 Posted in Legislation, NHS, Primary Care Tagged: Alternative Providers, Governance, Legislation, National Health Service Act 2006, Primary Care, Regulation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924785 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:56 +0100 2924785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2761851&cid=t_217524_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTEVTJ-UCQEc%2F Convicted pedophile in the United Kingdom given taxpayer-funded Viagra through the National Health Service. Cato senior fellow Tom Palmer filing a lawsuit to legally carry firearms in Washington D.C. How it all came crashing down: The causes of the financial crisis. A few things you should know to better understand the elections in Afghanistan. Podcast: How some on the right-wing are doing everything they can to defend torture. Let’s just call them “enhanced justification techniques.” (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2761851 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:00:10 +0100 2761851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2703815&cid=t_217524_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2073 Conservatives in the USA have been lying about the NHS on a massive scale. As Simon Hoggart comments today “There are few tribes more loathsome than the American right”. In the forefront has been a far-right lobby group, Conservatives for Patients’ Rights (CPR).  Even I was surprised to read in the Washington Post “The campaign is being coordinated by CRC Public Relations, the group that masterminded the “Swift boat” attacks against 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, John F. Kerry” CRC Public Relations is a conservative PR firm previously known as Creative Response Concepts. ‘Creative’ appears to mean ‘lying’, but I guess that is what PR is all about. The founder of CPR, Rick Scott, has an interesting background.... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2703815 Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:16:31 +0100 2703815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389928&cid=t_217524_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F07%2Fnational-childrens-mental-health-awareness-day%2F In 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services launched an annual national initiative called “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day.” Awareness Day is designated as a day in May of each year to coincide with May Is Mental Health Month. This day presents an opportunity for children’s mental health initiatives within SAMHSA to promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. The theme of Awareness Day is “Thriving in the Community.” Children’s mental health initiatives will hold similar events and other activities throughout the country to b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389928 Thu, 07 May 2009 07:00:06 +0100 2389928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347788&cid=t_217524_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKvRxHU_B4nk%2F As we all know, the American health care system is less than perfect.  An inefficient amalgam of government spending, federal tax incentives, employer-based insurance, and private providers, the U.S. system costs us more than it should for the services provided.  Nevertheless, medicine in America remains far more directed by and for patients, in contrast to nationalized systems, which are usually organized by and for bureaucrats. The results sometimes are horrific.  Indeed, the best way to understand the consequences of Britain’s National Health Service is simply to read stories in British newspapers.  Consider this one in the Daily Mail about  the lack of adequate dental care: Like so many young women, Amy King always took great pride in her appearance. Standing in front of... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347788 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:19:55 +0100 2347788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284358&cid=t_217524_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTWZvTs0i-rE%2F In the 2003 film The Barbarian Invasions, a patient’s wealthy son offers a handsome bribe to the administrator of a decrepit, chaotic, state-run hospital in Montreal that is (mis)treating his dying father.  “This is silly,” the startled administrator exclaims.  “We’re not in the Third World.” Britain’s health-care system is perhaps slightly less state-dominated than Canada’s.  Yet today comes the following report: The British government apologised Wednesday after a damning official report into a hospital likened by one patient’s relative to “a Third World” health centre… Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period at the National Health Service (NHS) hospital, accordin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284358 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:31:45 +0100 2284358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267108&cid=t_217524_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FEwE_3jtpDlA%2F I’ve been really amazed at the number of people I’ve heard talking about the HITECH Act bringing in a “new age of EHR” and other similar phrases. Then, I usually consider who’s been saying it and I realize that their pocketbooks are going to be lined with money from the HITECH Act and EHR adoption. So, I take it with a grain of salt. Instead, I like to look at examples to help me better understand what might happen with the $18 billion Obama’s planning to spend on EHR adoption. The best example I know of comes from the British National Health System. It’s certainly not a perfect match, but should open our eyes on government funded EHR systems. The Examiner (San Francisco) provided an interesting editorial on Britain’s National Health Service&... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267108 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:25:18 +0100 2267108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075526&cid=t_217524_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D675 The National Health Executive (”the Independent Journal for Senior Health Service Managers) asked for an article about quackery. This is a version of that article with live links. Download the pdf version. On May 23 th 2006 a letter was sent to the chief executives of 467 NHS Trusts. It was reported as a front page [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075526 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:27:28 +0100 2075526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1943295&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F07%2Fimproving-access-to-medicines-for-nhs-patients%2F sets out a series of recommendations on improving access to medicines for NHS patients.  It also makes recommendations on the consequences for NHS patients of seeking additional private care.   This has led to the issuing of a Draft guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care for consultation supported by an Equality Impact Assessment. To gain further insight into the subject Paying for (expensive) drugs in the statutory system: an overview of experiences in 13 countries provides international comparisons of access to medicine. Posted in Decision Making, Equity, Financial Management, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Health Needs, NHS, Primary Care   Tagged: Ethics, Financial Management, Grey Literature, Health, Health Service Economics, Insura... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1943295 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:56:22 +0100 1943295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1862657&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F08%2Fdiabetes-beware-the-silent-assassin%2F a report from Diabetes UK confirms that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK. 10% of NHS spending goes on diabetes and its complications - (approximately £9 billion per year, or £1 million an hour). 10% of people in hospital in the UK have diabetes and 60% of inpatients with diabetes have been admitted as emergencies. Type 2 diabetes can remain undetected for ten years or more before someone is diagnosed. It really is a silent assassin – more than 500,000 people have the condition but do not even know it, and by the time they are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 50 per cent of people are found to have started developing complications. Posted in Diabetes, Grey Literature, Health Economics, NHS   Tagged: Chronic Diseases, Diabetes, Grey Literature,... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862657 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:59:57 +0100 1862657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1863025&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F413681568%2F The UK government is pushing for lower initial prices for new drugs and, in return, is saying the National Health Service will pay more later if the meds are proven to offer greater effectiveness, The Financial Times reports. The move is seen by government officials as an answer to whether patients should be allowed to obtain NHS treatment for cancer and other meds that NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, judges to be clinically effective but insufficiently cost-effective for the NHS to pay for, the FT writes. Senior government officials say some drugs will be allowed once a review is completed later this month. But in an attempt to reduce the scale of the problem, weekly negotiations are taking place with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, the trade ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1863025 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:24:08 +0100 1863025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1738932&cid=t_217524_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fdavies-public-health-winners.html I've just gotten the news that the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority in Cherokee, N.C., and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services have won the 2008 Nicholas E. Davies Public Health Awards of Excellence.The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority, part of the Indian Health Service, does not have its own Web site, but I did find one presentation that might shed some light on the IT work being done there. For info on the Davies Awards, click here.On an unrelated topic, check out the op-ed piece in Tuesday's Christian Science Monitor by Sue Blevins of the Institute for Health Freedom, where she calls for Congress to scrap HIPAA and pass a new health privacy law. (Source: Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog) Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1738932 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:55:00 +0100 1738932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1556513&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F323179530%2F Welcome back. We hope your weekend was pleasant and you had time to enjoy a few things. Now, of course, the time has come to return to the usual routine of meetings, deadlines and the like. Of course, this may be a short week for many in the US with the upcoming holiday. Nonetheless, there is work to be done. So here are a few items to help you get started… Lundbeck Shares Plunge On Failed Alzheimer’s Test (Bloomberg News) UK To Boost Patient Rights To Approved Meds (The Financial Times) Merck Reports Favorable Data On Migraine Drug (Yahoo/Reuters) Fighting Fat Will Be A $2 Trillion Industry (The Times of London) Private Equity To Be Cautious About Indian Drugmakers (Business Standard) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556513 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:29:28 +0100 1556513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1413600&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F281416068%2F The industry’s trade group has launched its strongest attack to date on the government, accusing it of damaging the integrity of the UK’s business environment by renegotiating the drug pricing mechanism halfway through the current five-year period, The Daily Telegraph reports. “The decision dented business confidence and the reaction from our global head offices moved the matter beyond the UK, as they began to question the integrity of the UK investment environment,” says Nigel Brooksby, outgoing head of the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry and head of UK operations at Sanofi-Aventis. The missive comes just a few days after the UK’s third largest drugmaker, Shire Pharmaceuticals, decided to move corporate headquarters to Ireland for tax reasons.... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1413600 Thu, 01 May 2008 12:09:16 +0100 1413600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347613&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F263479204%2F Actually, we just returned from the bank and the post office, but could use a good cup of coffee. So while our water is boiling (we fancy that metaphor), we thought this would be a good time to catch up with some of the stray items that were rattling around our computer while we were out. And of course, thanks for your patience. Hope your day is going well…. The UK’s National Health Service is spending nearly $4 billion annually to treat patients who had adverse reactions to drugs, according to new figures from the Compass think tank. The amount of money spent on hospital care for those given the wrong med or who suffered a side effect could pay for 10,000 new midwives or easily cover the estimated cost of combating MRSA infections, The Guardian writes. Pfizer plans to launch a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347613 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:08:29 +0100 1347613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221232&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F11%2Fnhs-reform-national-mantra-not-local-reality%2F The Reform think tank have produced NHS reform: national mantra, not local reality uses recent academic studies to show that the performance of the NHS across the lifespan is well behind other countries. Improving patient care will need new investment in many areas, but taxpayer funding is (and should be) restricted in coming years. The solution is improved productivity. The report finds that the internal market has altered to favour producers rather than patients. Patient choice and independent sector treatment of NHS patients are in decline. The report defines two scenarios: Current trends will lead to the negative scenario where the NHS delivers substandard quality and access for 11-12 per cent of GDP (c.£110 billion – c.£120 billion). In this scenario key staff leave the NHS incre... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221232 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:32:42 +0100 1221232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158446&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F218229741%2F And a damning new report from the UK’s Committee of Public Accounts blames the pharmaceutical industry, which spends more than $1.7 billion annually on marketing its products to general practitioners, PharmaTimes reports. (Look here for the report). Edward Leigh, who chairs the committee, says this: “One fifth of all general practitioners surveyed by the National Audit Office say their behavior in prescribing drugs is more influenced by pharmaceutical company marketing than by official National Health Service advice. And the NHS spends each year at least $400 million more than it should as a result of GPs prescribing too great a proportion of higher cost, branded medicines, rather than generic versions which are cheaper, but no less effective in clinical outcomes.” He continues: ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158446 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:03:58 +0100 1158446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156737&cid=t_217524_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F17%2Fprescribing-costs-in-primary-care-second-report-of-session-2007%25e2%2580%259308%2F Creating a stir in the news today is House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts (2008) Department of Health: Prescribing costs in primary care: Second Report of Session 2007–08: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London: TSO it concludes and recommends: The NHS could save more than £200 million a year, without affecting patient care, by GPs prescribing lower cost but equally effective medicines. Generic drugs should be prescribed The proportion of prescriptions written by chemical name rather than by brand name, known as generic prescribing, rose from 51% in April 1994 to 83% in September 2006. Where it is clinically appropriate, GPs should prescribe those available in generic form. The proportion of lower cost prescriptions for some common condit... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156737 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:17:05 +0100 1156737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142702&cid=t_217524_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F214579957%2F Patients are getting a poor deal from the NHS because new meds arent being assessed efficiently or fast enough, according to a highly critical report by Members of Parliament, The Telegraph reports. They listed a raft of problems that they said were preventing the efficient workings of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which is responsible for assessing the cost-effectiveness of drugs. The MPs say Nice was trying hard in difficult conditions to decide which drugs were best for use in a health service constrained by limited resources, growing demand and an ever-widening choice of drugs and technologies. But they found serious flaws in its workings, saying its decisions were often not based on empirical evidence nor directly related to the pressures of the NHS... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142702 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:55:20 +0100 1142702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=830931&cid=t_217524_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F150074832%2Fcomment-wars.html I recently posted about Dr. Rita Pal, who is under investigation by the General Medical Council in the UK. There have now been 67 comments written regarding the post, and I suspect the number will continue to rise. Anonymous commenters have made several posts challenging the veracity of Dr. Pal's assertion that she is being investigated for the ludicrous charge of linking to a "secret" document from her blog. Other comments have attacked Dr. Pal from other angles. Dr. Pal has refuted the allegations of the anonymous commenters vigorously. My original post is here and more in-depth reporting can be found at Furious Seasons and the Scientific Misconduct Blog, as well as at the Register, where the story was initially reported.I've not been very impressed with some comments, such as the one th... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830931 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:18:00 +0100 830931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=824659&cid=t_217524_109_f&fid=34800&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FClinicalPsychologyAndPsychiatryACloserLook%2F%7E3%2F148803131%2Fcrime-of-linking.html Both Philip Dawdy and Aubrey Blumsohn (and others) have described the tale of Dr. Rita Pal, who committed the apparently serious offense of linking to a document on her website, lost her job (coincidence?) and is being further investigated by the General Medical Council. The linked document was the transcript of the case of Lisa Blakemore Brown, a British psychologist who was accused of misconduct. Feel free to read my tirade about the ludicrousness of how Blakemore Brown has been persecuted (1, 2).The real killer here is that Pal's fitness to practice medicine is being questioned because she linked to a document that had not a thing to do with patient confidentiality and is entirely unrelated to Pal's fitness to practice medicine. Perhaps someone can explain how linking to a document make... Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=824659 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:30:00 +0100 824659