The NHS would appear to be suffering an in-flight emergency. It is locked on auto-pilot. The cabin crew are unsure what to do. A few are close to panic. The nature of the problem is unclear. The causes indeterminate. No one was trained for this. Cabin crew announcements become more insistent and louder by the … Continue reading Our NHS: If there is a patient on board could they please make themselves known to the cabin crew
NHS reforms
NHS reforms to face a tough round of Peer review this autumn
We are a nation that no longer knows when to put its rubbish bins out. So I reflected, as I dragged our two overflowing wheelie bins back to their usual place. To be fair to Bromley Council, it's not that they fail to pick-up our rubbish; just that no one can quite predict what sort … Continue reading NHS reforms to face a tough round of Peer review this autumn
From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
The summer break has clearly done the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, a world of good. From beating a lone path as the libertarian Claudius in the face of a centralised health service, he has resurfaced this week as the man for all seasons to launch a competition for the best ideas for … Continue reading From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
Rising cancer rates and the NHS reforms…plus NIHR and ‘impact’
I suspect you have seen today's news bulletins covering Macmillan Cancer Support's report predicting a significant rise in the number of people who will get cancer. To quote the opening lines of their statement today: Cancer rates are increasing at such a rate that research shows 42% of people who die in this country will … Continue reading Rising cancer rates and the NHS reforms…plus NIHR and ‘impact’
Back to the Future on NHS Reforms
Here's the BBC report on how the Health and Social Care Bill will now be scrutinised following the changes announced a few weeks ago. I think other reports have mentioned people's criticisms of it going back to the committee stage for only ten days in all.
NHS reforms emerge from the ‘House of Corrections’
We can all have a field day (pun intended) now that the conclusions of the NHS Future Forum have been published. For 24 hours at least anyway. The next step is the Government's response which is due tomorrow. Hopefully they will have taken on board the NHS Future Forum's overall message that it was a … Continue reading NHS reforms emerge from the ‘House of Corrections’
Cameron’s High Five
A reminder that David Cameron will be making five pledges on the NHS in a 'keynote' expected this week (possibly tomorrow (Tuesday)). Things like..there will be no privatisation, and an end to waiting lists etc. The Economist's 'Leviathan' blog - which is always worth a look - takes a rather derogatory view of the Prime … Continue reading Cameron’s High Five
Back to First Principles with the NHS Reforms
The word on the street is that the Coalition Government is going back to first principles in its review of the proposals in the Health and Social Care Bill. As each day passes, the 'natural break' begins to feel more like gardening leave for a piece of legislation that was supposed to be one of … Continue reading Back to First Principles with the NHS Reforms
International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
It is International Clinical Trials Day today and The Cochrane Library has worked with the UK Medical Research Council's Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology Research to produce a set of new podcasts about clinical trials - well worth a listen. There was a conference in Vienna this morning organised by the European Clinical Research … Continue reading International clinical trials day and a bit of mopping-up
Are you researchy?
The NHS Future Forum - the recently announced exercise by the Department of Health to get the NHS reforms back on track - has today published a list of its members. Further names are likely to be added it seems. It includes a few 'researchy' people as we tend to call them here in the office … Continue reading Are you researchy?
Department of Health about to have a Field day taking calls, I believe.
The NHS seems to be dominating my life this week. Quite apart from the news headlines, it has involved two visits to the doctors and a blood test so far ..but I am on the mend I am pleased to report. All I can say is, a 45 minute wait for a blood test and excellent … Continue reading Department of Health about to have a Field day taking calls, I believe.
A rest is as good as a change…
UPDATE - so here is the BBC report on Lansley's statement this afternoon. The 'natural break' in proceedings would seem an opportune moment for AMRC and senior leaders across clinical research to press to meet with Ministers and discuss some of the reforms that would help the legislation be a force for good for research. Watch … Continue reading A rest is as good as a change…
NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
I really would encourage you to read this morning's article in The Guardian about the impact of the NHS reforms on doctor expertise and research. Its the first article that I've seen thus far which really conveys the message about health research that AMRC has been trying to put across and on which we anticipate stepping up … Continue reading NHS reforms, research and 'localism'
Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Dear Member of Parliament, This afternoon the Health and Social Care Bill will recieve its Second Reading in the House of Commons. The legislation sets out a far-reaching programme for reforming the NHS and the provision of patient care. The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and its 127 member charities believe that high quality … Continue reading Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill: An open letter to MPs
Health and social care reforms on trial
What better starting point for today's blog than the comments of two leading clinicians speaking about the importance of clinical trials to patient outcomes. First, Dr Duncan Wheatley, a Clinical Oncologist and Lead for Research in the South West Peninsula, who is quoted in a BBC Cornwall story today about medical research at the Royal … Continue reading Health and social care reforms on trial
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 