Healthcare-associated infections are a major concern to patients and the public as a result of both high rates of infection across the National Health Service (NHS), and media coverage of outbreaks at individual hospitals. The government has put in place a range of policies designed to reduce healthcare-associated infections in ...
This is the third paper in a series, Kicking Bad Habits, on how people can be encouraged to adopt healthier behaviour. Information-based health campaigns are a major part of the government's health promotion strategy. A £75 million marketing programme has been recently announced to encourage healthy behaviour in children. This ...
Lord Darzi's report, NHS Next Stage Review, attempts to open a new chapter in the story of 'quality' in the English NHS: how to move on from a centrally driven performance management regime - with its focus on driving activity and meeting targets - to a more sophisticated strategy that ...
Government policy is driving a fundamental shift of care from hospitals to more community-based settings. There is a growing expectation that this shift will be supported by the development of a network of new facilities in which primary, community and secondary care services are co-located, often referred to as polyclinics. ...
Local accountability has been a significant policy issue within the NHS generally. However, primary care trusts are in the main accountable to the centre and there have been calls to review this. This paper discusses a range of options for reforming the relationships between PCTs and their public. It explores ...
An independent NHS board has been advocated by a number of commentators, who believe it will reduce both micromanagement and day-to-day political interference in the running of the health service. This report argues that an independent board would be limited in its ability to achieve these aims. It suggests a ...
There is a level of public concern about the safety of maternity care in England, highlighted by a number of high-profile cases. The King's Fund set up an independent inquiry to establish how safe maternity services are and to make practical recommendations for change. This report of their findings is ...
Complementary medical practitioners may be a distinct minority in places such as Europe, North America and Australia, but in other countries the number of practitioners and the people who use their services are in the majority. Many practitioners practise without qualification or adequate training, and in response to this the ...