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News 2002
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New NHS staff face HIV tests
December 9th, 2002
HIV tests are likely to be offered to all new surgeons, midwives and other healthcare workers taking up jobs in the NHS where there is a risk of infecting patients with the virus, it emerged yesterday. An expert group has been looking into ways round the issues of confidentiality for healthcare professionals with HIV who do not pose a danger to patients or the public. The initiative is a response to the government's need to recruit doctors and nurses from abroad - and the reality that many come from places in Africa with high rates of HIV. (The Guardian 09/12/02; p.7) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
Trust faces legal action over operation wait
December 9th, 2002
A woman is suing her local NHS trust after being refused permission to seek a hip replacement operation in France. Bedford Primary Care Trust told Yvonne Watts she would have to wait up to a year for the operation, while a hospital at Lille said it could treat her immediately. Her solicitors say the trust misinterpreted the term "undue delay", contained in European rules governing the referral of patients. (The Independent 09/12/02; p.1) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
AIDS alert
December 8th, 2002
Some 125 patients have been advised to take an AIDS test after being treated by an unnamed Dorset and Somerset health worker infected by HIV. More than 90 per cent of those contacted have come forward, and all those tested so far have been given the all clear. (The Times 05/12/02; p.4) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
Patients at risk from hospital drug errors
December 8th, 2002
A London teaching hospital made almost 20 errors prescribing drugs every day, a quarter of which were so serious they put patients at risk, a study has shown. The hospital is not named in the report, published in Quality and Safety in Health Care, but the authors say they believe it is typical. The errors, revealed during monitoring at the hospital over a four-week period, involved patients receiving the wrong drug or the wrong dose. (The Independent 05/12/02; p.9) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
TB in London "above Third World levels"
December 8th, 2002
It appears that rates of tuberculosis in areas of London are worse than in parts of the developing world. The borough of Brent has a rate of 116.5 per 100,000 people, ahead of Brazil and Tajikistan. In Europe only Spain and Portugal have worse records. Sixty per cent of cases in the UK are acquired abroad and some 17 per cent of sufferers are asylum seekers. (The Daily Telegraph 05/12/02; p.7) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
Caesarean doctor denies neglect
December 8th, 2002
A doctor at a private London hospital has denied he took too long to treat a dying mother who was suffering severe breathing difficulties after a Caesarean section. Tracey Sampson had insisted on a general anaesthetic due to a severe needle phobia. Kenneth MacLeod, a consultant anaesthetist, said complications after the operation were so rare that it would take "ten professional lifetimes" to encounter a similar problem. Westminster Coroner's Court earlier heard that he acted with "grave neglect" by taking up to 100 minutes to put Ms Sampson, 36, back under anaesthetic to stabilise and take over her breathing. (The Times 05/12/02; p.14) © HMG Worldwide 2002 http://www.health-news.co.uk
Medical Technical Officer - PTB Staffs B Whitley Council - New Pay Rates
June 16th, 2002
*Increases to National Salary Scales 2002/3. *Increases in Emergency Duty Payments *Increases to London Allowances
Full details of the arrangements available at: http://tap.ccta.gov.uk/doh/coin4.nsf/page/AL(PTB)-1-2002?OpenDocument
Look for reference: Advance Letter AL(PTB) 1/ 2002.
STRENGTHENED REGULATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
March 26th, 2002
Appointments to the new Nursing and Midwifery and Health Professions Councils
Health Minister John Hutton today announced appointments to the new Nursing and Midwifery and Health Professions Councils, which will be formally established from 1 April. Members will serve for three years.
The Councils were set up in Shadow form from 1 May 2001 in order to identify what needs to be done to reform ways of working, structures and functions in line with the key tests set out in the NHS Plan.
The NHS Plan said that, as a minimum, they must:
Be smaller with much greater patient and public representation Have faster, more transparent procedures Develop meaningful accountability to the public and the health service.
The new Councils, with both professional and lay membership from each part of the UK, will be consulting and collaborating over the next few months to implement reforms. Most members of the Shadow Councils have accepted appointment to the first Councils to continue this valuable work.
Mr Hutton said:
"Professional self-regulation underpins our aim to develop a modern, patient-centred NHS. We are committed to requiring the new Councils to treat the health and welfare of patients as paramount. Effective self-regulation reassures patients that the staff who treat them are fully qualified and trained in the most up to date practices. I am delighted that members of the existing Shadow Councils have accepted appointment to the full Councils so that they will be able to carry on the excellent work they have begun."
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) will replace the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) and the four national boards. It will regulate nurses, midwives and health visitors. Its President is Jonathan Asbridge, Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Nurse St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital.
The Health Professions Council (HPC) will replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) and its twelve boards. It will initially regulate twelve professions - arts therapists; chiropodists; clinical scientists; dietitians; medical laboratory technicians; occupational therapists; orthoptists; paramedics; physiotherapists; prosthetists and orthotists; radiographers; and speech and language therapists. There will be scope to add other groups as they become ready for regulation. Professor Norma Brook, self- employed consultant - physiotherapist is the President.