This Venn diagram pulls together the health policies of both parties’ manifestos pre-election, letting us see the similarities and differences that could affect future health care policy. The policies in the intersecting centre are ones that are shared by both parties. The policies that sit on the dividing lines around the centre reveal policies that are [...]

The REC has responded to the announcement on out-of-hours care by the new Health Secretary Andrew Lansley by underlining the crucial role played by locum doctors and other temporary staff within the NHS. According to the plans outlined by the Health Secretary, family doctors will be forced to take back responsibility for out-of-hours care, although [...]

Social work experts are welcoming the appointment of Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow as the new care services minister. The Sutton and Cheam MP is being described as a useful counterpoint to the Conservative health secretary Andrew Lansley, given Burstow’s understanding of and interest in social care. However, questions are being raised over whether his appointment will [...]

It’s worth paying attention to medicine, because when it goes wrong, people suffer and die. But how do we know when things are going wrong? This week the BMA produced a report on whistleb This lowers. Of the 384 doctors who responded to its survey (that was a dismal response rate of 12%, we should be clear), [...]

Plans from all three parties to tighten immigration controls could restrict recruitment to adult social care and damage the quality of services. Immigration shot to the top of the election agenda yesterday when Gordon Brown described a supporter who questioned him about eastern European immigration as bigoted. All three parties have plans to impose greater [...]

The Royal College of Nursing publishing results from its Employment Survey, which highlights how pressures on workload and staffing levels can impact on patient care. The survey shows fewer nurses responding positively to views on workload, particularly those working in the NHS. Over half of the respondents (55%) say that there aren’t enough staff to [...]

As the dust settles after the first of the leaders’ debates, did it tell us any more about the parties’ approach to health? For health aficionados, the debate was perhaps as notable for what the leaders didn’t say, as what they did. There was no discussion about the Conservative proposal for an independent NHS board [...]

The first ever World Autism Awareness Day has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The idea was promoted by the State of Qatar who worked hard to make World Autism Day a reality – this historic day will take place on Wednesday 2nd April 2008. Autism campaigners around the globe [...]

247 Professional Health now adds 2 star CQC for 247Homecare to the already established CQC in 247Nursing. This is the highest available rating for a new service, and very importantly we received no recommendations or statutory requirements from the report, which is very unusual, all care homes we have researched have been very impressed with [...]

In the biggest change to the welfare state since the creation of the NHS, everyone who needs care when they are old or disabled will get it for free, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced today as he launched the National Care Service in England. The National Care Service will be based on a principle of [...]