RECENT NEWS

The Government has announced that it will scrap plans for six clinics that were to provide privately run services for the NHS. One clinic which is already up and running will also be closed. This is likely to result in the Government having to reimburse bid costs and compensation worth millions of pounds. Wave two has cost £84 m on legal fees and procurement costs, although some of this has been spent on schemes that have been implemented. Dr Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA’s consultants committee described the waste of money as a “crying shame”.

The All-Party parliamentary thrombosis group has found that around two-thirds of Trusts are failing to follow Government guidelines on DVT, which could have resulted in 11,000 unnecessary patient deaths.

Bosses at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have approved a one-off payment of £100 to staff as a thank you for helping the Trust to achieve an “excellent” score in the recent NHS performance ratings.

The London Clinic is set to be the first UK hospital to offer cancer patients advanced RapidArc treatments as part of a long-term collaboration with Varian Medical Systems.

Barts and The London New Hospitals Programme is the largest PFI Healthcare scheme ever to be signed in the UK.

The NHS is failing to offer sufficient out of hours GP care for severely ill patients according to a report by the Royal College of Physicians taskforce.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have announced a new joint arrangement for clinical trials. The initiative forms a key part of the developing MRC-NIHR joint strategy for translational research.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a comprehensive five-year plan to further improve NHS cancer services, supported by an investment of £370 million. Key elements of the strategy include focus on prevention, faster treatment, extended screening, fast-track drug approval and extended services for the increasing numbers of people surviving cancer.

Bill Al-Khatib has been appointed managing director of Maquet.

AUK-coordinated clinical trial involving up to 20,000 patients across the globe is testing a new way of stopping blood loss in patients who have suffered a major injury (trauma). Trauma is the second biggest cause of death in young people worldwide, claiming about three million lives each year. The CRASH-2 trial has been funded by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), to examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of using tranexamic acid.

Stoke Mandeville bosses have avoided prosecution for their handling of an outbreak of C.diff, which caused 33 deaths and infected 334 patients, after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ruled there was insufficient admissible evidence.

Anyone in a higher-risk group who suffers a minor stroke will receive an MRI scan within 24 hours under plans to revolutionise stroke services unveiled by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson. The strategy aims to accelerate the emergency response to stroke, by setting out a framework for care for those affected and raising awareness about symptoms and risk factors.

Anyone in a higher-risk group who suffers a minor stroke will receive an MRI scan within 24 hours under plans to revolutionise stroke services unveiled by the Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Stoke Mandeville bosses have avoided prosecution for their handling of an outbreak of C.diff , which caused 33 deaths and infected 334 patients, after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ruled there was insufficient admissible evidence.

The Government has admitted that it has shifted the “goal posts” in relation 18-week waiting times and is no longer looking to achieve its 100% target by 2008.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a comprehensive five-year plan to further improve NHS cancer services, supported by an investment of £370million.

Lives can be considerably improved with a pressure monitor which increases the accuracy of leg ulcer treatment.

Nuffield Hospitals has acquired Health Club Investment Group, the parent company of Cannons Health and Fitness and related businesses.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report: Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, confirms that high intakes of calcium may cause prostate cancer. However, the Prostate Cancer Charity notes that calcium is important for men with prostate cancer who are receiving hormone treatment to prevent osteoporosis.

The University of Edinburgh has agreed a contract to market a technology which can clean surgical instruments contaminated by CJD, and save the health industry thousands of pounds.