The new NHS Commissioning Board, which is at the heart of the government's controversial NHS reforms in England, is due to start work , its aim is help patients shop around and compare GPs.
It will take over the running of the NHS, using a staff of around 3,500 and overall responsibility for NHS care worth around £80bn.
Its role will in time be overseeing the new clinical commissioning groups led by GPs and other clinicians who will commission/buy care within the NHS, and organising the treatment of complicated conditions.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
BBC NEWS -Bristol father's threat over disabled care centre closures
Bristol father's threat over disabled care centre closures
A Bristol man has said he would consider leaving his disabled son at the city council's headquarters if his day care centre is closed.
Ivor Needs said he would leave Matthew, 36, who has severe brain damage, with the receptionist if the council was unable to provide alternative care.
His son spends five days a week in the care of St George Field View.
A Bristol City Council spokesman said Mr Needs's son would continue to get the best care possible.
St George Field View is one of seven day care centres currently under review by the Liberal Democrat-led authority.
Mr Needs said he had written to the council stating that they should not shut the day centres as they are a "lifeline for all vulnerable people".
"[Mathew] needs his five days at the day centre and if they close it what is going to happen to him?" he said.
"I will bring him down here at 09:00 BST, leave him with the receptionist and say 'he's your responsibility, I will be back at 16:00 BST' - and I would."
Council cabinet member for health services, Dr Jon Rogers, said that it was vital Mr Needs's son received the right care and offered "absolutely categorical assurances" it would continue.
"What I cannot do is guarantee that Matthew's day service needs will continue to be met in exactly the same way that they have been for the last 12 years," he added.
"Care services in Bristol [and the rest of the country] are changing."
Mr Needs described the care of his son as a "full-time job" and questioned why council cuts had to be made to services that affected vulnerable people.
"He has got to be dressed because he can't dress himself, he can't do up his shoelaces, he can't see to his toilet requirements - I've got to see to all of that," he said.
A Bristol man has said he would consider leaving his disabled son at the city council's headquarters if his day care centre is closed.
Ivor Needs said he would leave Matthew, 36, who has severe brain damage, with the receptionist if the council was unable to provide alternative care.
His son spends five days a week in the care of St George Field View.
A Bristol City Council spokesman said Mr Needs's son would continue to get the best care possible.
St George Field View is one of seven day care centres currently under review by the Liberal Democrat-led authority.
Mr Needs said he had written to the council stating that they should not shut the day centres as they are a "lifeline for all vulnerable people".
"[Mathew] needs his five days at the day centre and if they close it what is going to happen to him?" he said.
"I will bring him down here at 09:00 BST, leave him with the receptionist and say 'he's your responsibility, I will be back at 16:00 BST' - and I would."
Council cabinet member for health services, Dr Jon Rogers, said that it was vital Mr Needs's son received the right care and offered "absolutely categorical assurances" it would continue.
"What I cannot do is guarantee that Matthew's day service needs will continue to be met in exactly the same way that they have been for the last 12 years," he added.
"Care services in Bristol [and the rest of the country] are changing."
Mr Needs described the care of his son as a "full-time job" and questioned why council cuts had to be made to services that affected vulnerable people.
"He has got to be dressed because he can't dress himself, he can't do up his shoelaces, he can't see to his toilet requirements - I've got to see to all of that," he said.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Carers allowance
A local carers support org looking for a Service Development Manager 30 Hours p/w 27k-30k pro rata -carers allowance £ £55.55 pw says it all :(
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Help find Missing Children and Adults Worldwide
Please please look at the great web site .http://socialalertme.com a wonderful group/network of users aiming to help find Missing Children and Adults Worldwide
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Commissioning groups 'concerned' about size and budgets
The following article is from the BBC news web site , its well worth a read , I am not 100% certain in my own mind that large scale GP commissioning groups will not just evolve in time into a sudo-PCt sort of organization .
Commissioning groups 'concerned' about size and budgets
By Jane Dreaper
Health correspondent, BBC News
A survey of the groups due to take over commissioning NHS care is highlighting fears about their size and budgets.
The questions were answered by 131 leaders, out of 253 new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
A third said they felt under pressure to become larger, and two-thirds expressed fears that they might inherit debt.
The Department of Health said it expected parts of the NHS to work together to resolve any deficits.
The survey was organised by NHS Alliance and the National Association of Primary Care, which have joined forces to represent CCGs, who will take over buying and organising NHS services.
36% of GPs and other leaders who responded to the survey said they were under pressure from NHS managers to become bigger, so they could pass a viability test next month.
And 67% suspect they will have to deal with some legacy debt from former primary care trusts (PCTs) when the new system begins in England in April 2013.
Dr Michael Dixon, who heads the NHS Alliance, said: "Having a board with other clinical representatives and allowing for audit will be expensive.
"So the CCGs need to reach a critical mass in terms of size. But there's a risk of ending up recreating the old system of 150 primary care trusts.
'Double whammy'
"We're very concerned about the possibility of debts. My GP leaders don't want to be in the position of decommissioning services.
"It's been accepted that the CCGs shouldn't inherit deficits. But in practical terms, the squeeze on NHS finances is greater than people realise.
"Savings can be made in reducing referrals by GPs - but that won't achieve all the efficiencies that are needed.
"So there's concern not just about deficits but also the ongoing savings that are needed - and whether the CCGs will have sufficient budgets. It could be a double whammy."
Dr Dixon defended the idea of GPs taking a more active role in rationing treatment under the new system.
He said: "The NHS isn't some sort of soup kitchen where everyone can just pile in.
"GPs have always had to be responsible for the use of NHS resources, and to think about balancing them against the greater good.
"People are presenting this as a brave new world - but it's something we're doing anyway.
"Rationing is the duty of every patient, commissioner and manager - or we won't have a sustainable NHS."
No 'right' size
Dr Dixon said though that he agreed with the British Medical Association that GPs should not receive bonuses for saving money.
A Department of Health spokesman denied officials were being prescriptive about the size of CCGs.
He said: "There are widespread variations in the size and population coverage of PCTs and there is no single 'right' size."
"CCGs will not be responsible for PCT debt that arose before this current financial year.
"During 2011/12 and 2012/13, we expect PCT clusters, PCTs and developing CCGs to work together to resolve PCT deficits."
Commissioning groups 'concerned' about size and budgets
By Jane Dreaper
Health correspondent, BBC News
A survey of the groups due to take over commissioning NHS care is highlighting fears about their size and budgets.
The questions were answered by 131 leaders, out of 253 new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
A third said they felt under pressure to become larger, and two-thirds expressed fears that they might inherit debt.
The Department of Health said it expected parts of the NHS to work together to resolve any deficits.
The survey was organised by NHS Alliance and the National Association of Primary Care, which have joined forces to represent CCGs, who will take over buying and organising NHS services.
36% of GPs and other leaders who responded to the survey said they were under pressure from NHS managers to become bigger, so they could pass a viability test next month.
And 67% suspect they will have to deal with some legacy debt from former primary care trusts (PCTs) when the new system begins in England in April 2013.
Dr Michael Dixon, who heads the NHS Alliance, said: "Having a board with other clinical representatives and allowing for audit will be expensive.
"So the CCGs need to reach a critical mass in terms of size. But there's a risk of ending up recreating the old system of 150 primary care trusts.
'Double whammy'
"We're very concerned about the possibility of debts. My GP leaders don't want to be in the position of decommissioning services.
"It's been accepted that the CCGs shouldn't inherit deficits. But in practical terms, the squeeze on NHS finances is greater than people realise.
"Savings can be made in reducing referrals by GPs - but that won't achieve all the efficiencies that are needed.
"So there's concern not just about deficits but also the ongoing savings that are needed - and whether the CCGs will have sufficient budgets. It could be a double whammy."
Dr Dixon defended the idea of GPs taking a more active role in rationing treatment under the new system.
He said: "The NHS isn't some sort of soup kitchen where everyone can just pile in.
"GPs have always had to be responsible for the use of NHS resources, and to think about balancing them against the greater good.
"People are presenting this as a brave new world - but it's something we're doing anyway.
"Rationing is the duty of every patient, commissioner and manager - or we won't have a sustainable NHS."
No 'right' size
Dr Dixon said though that he agreed with the British Medical Association that GPs should not receive bonuses for saving money.
A Department of Health spokesman denied officials were being prescriptive about the size of CCGs.
He said: "There are widespread variations in the size and population coverage of PCTs and there is no single 'right' size."
"CCGs will not be responsible for PCT debt that arose before this current financial year.
"During 2011/12 and 2012/13, we expect PCT clusters, PCTs and developing CCGs to work together to resolve PCT deficits."
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