GMC calls for more powers to regulate overseas-trained doctors

Doctors surveyed about the NHS

A survey suggests that many GPs are not happy with the current state of the NHS. Out of 576 doctors questioned, 35% are planning to leave, or retire, in the next five years. Conducted for Pulse magazine, the results also show that 46% of doctors... <<Read More>>

Study warns of impacts of GP-commissioning on children’s healthcare

The Health and Social Care Bill in its current form will be a “missed opportunity” to improve children’s healthcare, experts warn. The Government’s proposals fail to learn the lessons from... <<Read More>>

‘Elephant-sized’ conflicts of interest thrown up by GP consortia structure

The business opportunities for private companies wanting to run or manage GP consortia could create huge conflicts of interest, according to a new investigation. Documents leaked to Channel 4 News showing how one such... <<Read More>>

Health centre gains outstanding review after a year in operation

A £3 million health centre has proved immensely popular after its first year with 97% of people rating it ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. The West Lancashire Health Centre, based at Ormskirk and District General Hospital, offers pre-booked and drop-in GP... <<Read more>>

Target scheme for GPs costing almost £2bn had ‘no impact’

Doctors have said more time needs to be given to a target and incentive scheme for GPs to improve the care of patients with high blood pressure after a study said it has had ‘no impact’. The £1.8bn Quality and Outcomes Framework... <<Read more>>

'Nudging' may help but we need concrete action too, say doctors

In the BMA’s initial response to the public health White Paper Healthy Lives, Healthy People, the BMA’s Director of Professional Activities, Dr Vivienne Nathanson said that while it is encouraging that the Government is seeking to create...<<Read more>>

GPs to get commissioning support

The Department of Health has announced that it is to provide GPs with commissioning support packs, which will help GPs in designing and commissioning services. The support packs will include various tools and templates, which the government says will remove some of the...

Survey shows support for GP Commissioning

The NHS Alliance has commissioned a survey which found support for GP commissioning amongst both doctors and PCT managers, but that they simply differed on its implementation strategy.

Engaging GPs holds key to coalition health reforms say leading health organisations

Plans by the coalition government to give GPs power and responsibility for holding real budgets and commissioning health services on behalf of their local communities have the potential to help improve care, but will need time and careful design if they are to be successful.

That is the verdict of six national organisations that have joined forces to inform the coalition government’s aim of fully...

Keeping the status quo is not an option

If the NHS is to survive one of its toughest financial challenges yet, the coalition government needs to move quickly towards clinically led commissioning, says the NHS Alliance.

Developing GP Commissioning - a new form of local clinically led and empowered commissioning, a paper published by the NHS Alliance, argues that partnerships which allow clinicians, in both primary and secondary care, as well as managers, to work together...

Dealing With Doctors’ Dilemmas: Website Aims To Help Doctors Treat Patients Towards The End Of Life

The GMC has updated its Good Medical Practice in Action website with a brand new set of scenarios targeting the ethical dilemmas that doctors find the most trickiest to deal with.

326 doctors took part in an online BMJ poll commissioned earlier this year, voting on the situations they felt most worried about in their career. ‘Knowing when it’s in the public’s interest to breach patient confidentiality’ came out on top and so all three scenarios of one of...

Primary Health Care In The Spotlight At Three-Day Conference

Research into how primary health care is delivered to patients will come under the spotlight at a three-day conference being held at the University of East Anglia this week.

The latest research into diagnosis, treatment and care for people with conditions including dementia, diabetes, stroke, depression, arthritis, and cancer will all be showcased at the conference...

Is the government serious about GP commissioning, asks NHS Alliance

Members of the NHS Alliance have questioned whether the government is serious about handing over control to GPs, saying that the decisions within the NHS need to be made in the consultation room, not the Department for Health headquarters.