The hospital has been recently criticised by the Care Quality Commission. About 100 student nurses have been removed from Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital after the Nursing and Midwifery Council expressed “serious concerns” about it. The Universities of Nottingham and Lincoln, and the Open University, have confirmed their students are affected. The Patients Association said the move [...]

In response to the recent media coverage on homecare and the wider social care sector, UKHCA Chair, Mike Padgham, has written a letter highlighting the importance of the homecare sector and thanking homecare workers for that fantastic job that they do. In his letter, published in the Guardian online, Mike Padgham highlighted that the percentage of people [...]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12092971?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23910075-nhs-staff-cuts-could-cost-lives.do

NHS Direct Closes. What do you Think? Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced the plan to close down NHS Direct in England. As the BBC reported: NHS Direct currently employs more than 3,000 staff, 40% of whom are trained nurses. It is understood the ratio on the 1-1-1 helpline is slightly less in the pilot, [...]

Recruiters, employers and healthcare workers have welcomed plans for the introduction of a ‘skills passport’. A one-year pilot project was conducted among nursing staff at seven English NHS Trusts during 2009/10 seeking to test ‘proof of concept’ for the passport which allows workers to create a verified online record of their skills, qualifications and experience. [...]

The Department of Health (DH) has relaxed its position on the use of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) Certificates, effectively introducing a limited system of “portability” for care services regulated by CQC. This new approach applies in services provided to adults (but not children) in England and allows employers – under certain circumstances – to accept [...]

The commission set up this week to reform care funding must give as much weight to the needs of adults with lifelong conditions as they do to older people, one of its three members has said. In her first interview since her appointment, Jo Williams said people with lifelong conditions had particular funding needs due [...]

Private companies believe the shake-up of the NHS will lead to a big expansion of their currently small role, as many GPs will need their help to carry out their new role as commissioners of healthcare. Firms which already have small-scale involvement with family doctors are preparing to exploit the chance to gain an unprecedented foothold in [...]

People who suffer from depression could be at a much greater risk of developing dementia later in life, a study has revealed. Depression can significantly increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia later in life, the research suggests. The findings, from a US study, reinforce a perceived connection between depression and [...]