65 years old, but will the NHS keep going?
Despite what many people in government think, the NHS is still the most cherished institution in the country. What is more, it is even more popular than the monarchy and the army. Although many of the nurses now employed in NHS hospitals are agency nurses rather than full time, the general population still feels that nurses do a valuable job. …
Read More
Cabinet reshuffle brings new health minister
Both agency nurses and NHS nurses will have had one eye on the government’s cabinet reshuffle, keen to learn which person would be put in charge of controlling the industry in which they work. This week they finally got their answer. Jeremy Hunt was confirmed as the new health secretary, replacing Andrew Lansley, while there is also a new minister …
Read More
Less staff working in NHS
As government cutbacks take hold across the NHS and trusts start to use more nurses to fill vacant roles, it has been revealed that the number of nurses in employment across the NHS has dropped by 20,000. More than 12,000 of these posts represent positions that have been left vacant by people retiring, moving to another position or resigning. Between …
Read More
MP claims care cap is not the protection it promises
A new claim has been made that if the government presses ahead with its plans to cap the amount of assistance people can receive when it comes to care at home or care homes, a large number of elderly people could be left with large, unpaid bills. The overhaul, which has been backed by the Prime Minister David Cameron, would …
Read More
High Court says no to assisted dying
Two high profile challenges aimed at protecting people from immunity for assisting a loved one in dying have failed in the High Court, resulting in the Dying with Dignity chief executive, Sarah Wootton, calling for the UK government to bring in laws which would allow assisted dying in the future. The cases, which involved two people suffering from locked-in syndrome …
Read More
Nurses overworked and under-supported, says study
A new report has found that nurses, including agency nurses, are being required to look after up to 15 patients at any one time. The study, which examined 46 NHS hospitals, was undertaken as part of the international research ordered by the European Commission in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal, in which hundreds of people were found to …
Read More
Government cuts affecting front line nursing
Official figures have shown that thousands of nurses have been cut from the NHS, meaning that health trusts are relying on agency nurses more often. Released by Southampton University, the figures showed that there were 349,219 nurses, midwives and health visitors as of April 2012, despite the pledges that had been made by the government that front line services would …
Read More
House of Lords committee to look at problems caused by ageing population
It has been revealed that a new House of Lords committee will look at how Britain’s ageing population is likely to affect public services, as well as examining the relationship shared between the state and the people. The Committee on the Impact of Demographic Change on Public Services will be seeking the views of the population on one of the …
Read More
Bristol City Council to close all of its elderly care homes
It has been announced that Bristol City Council is planning to close eight of its residential care homes over the next three years, leaving many elderly and in need people considering care at home or having to make other arrangements with a different care home. The move to close the care homes comes as part of the city council’s plans …
Read More
Government launches consultation aimed at protecting vulnerable adults
It has been revealed that the government proposes a new legal and policy framework that has been designed to protect adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect. The Care and Support Bill will be released in draft form this week, and it includes a proposed framework for local authorities to ensure that they are able to decide if …
Read More
Popular posts
Stay in touch
RSS blog feed
- Keeping fit cuts mental health risk 18 February, 2013
- Prevention drugs being pushed for cancer 25 January, 2013
- Winter virus putting intolerable pressure on hospitals 25 January, 2013
- Nurses hailed as heroes in Norfolk 22 January, 2013
- Nurse recruitment in Eire in crisis 21 January, 2013
- 65 years old, but will the NHS keep going? 18 January, 2013
Readers comments