Defend our NHS

Labour has launched their new NHS Campaign Patient Care Not Paper Work.

Carers and young carers’ strategy in Scotland

Scotland's new Carers Strategy was launched on 26 July 2010 and outlines support for carers and young carers for the next 5 years. Carers Scotland has worked closely with the Scottish Government in developing this new strategy.

Where do I go from here? New report from Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

This is a report from a series of visits to the majority of mental health admission wards for older people in Scotland in the summer of 2009.

Less use of laws to protect people who may need to be deprived of their liberty

Hospitals and care homes are making less than expected use of new measures designed to protect people unable to consent to their care or treatment, according to data from Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Assessments (England). First report on annual data, 2009/10.

Independent commission on funding of care and support for adults in England

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, recently set out the terms of reference for the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, and made it clear that the Commission will consider a range of funding ideas, including both voluntary insurance and partnership schemes.

New report: extent and causes of international variations in drug usage

The Department of Health has published a report on the extent and causes of international variations in drug usage. This report, by Professor Sir Mike Richards, explores the extent and causes of international variations in drug usage across 14 countries, including the UK, for a range of disease areas.

Autism charity aims to set legal precedents

The National Autistic Society is hoping to bring about changes in the law to help the half a million people in the UK who are affected by autism. It has ramped up its legal campaigning with the launch of a new Autism Legal Network and is calling for cases with the potential to change the law. 

Children’s trusts – removal of bureaucracy

Subject to parliamentary approval, as part of its programme of measures to reduce bureaucracy, the Government intends this autumn to revoke the 2009 regulations underpinning the Children and Young People’s Plan and withdraw the statutory guidance on Children’s Trusts. Health bodies’ duty to cooperate under the 2004 Children Act will remain, but local organisations will be free to decide how best to achieve this.

Big society boost for NHS enterprises

A scheme that puts NHS staff in the driving seat of innovative projects to transform patient care was given a boost by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow. 15 projects will form the second wave of NHS organisations that want to set up social enterprises, a scheme that gives public sector workers the ability to take over the services they deliver.