I couldn’t agree more with the views of Welsh Conservative Health spokesperson and Chair of the Assembly’s Health Committee, Jonathan Morgan about proposed structural changes to NHS Wales. We were told by the Minister that the second-stage consultation would be published in the Autumn. It’s nearly October and we still don’t have it. As for [...]
Archive for September, 2008
Disorganised reorganisation?
Monday, September 29th, 2008
So are the Tories now set to scrap free prescriptions and hospital parking?
Monday, September 29th, 2008Today’s Western Mail reports that the Welsh Conservatives consider free prescriptions and hospital car parking ‘reckless’. It begs the question – would a Welsh Conservative Assembly Government therefore scrap them? Nick Bourne is expected to tell the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham that the Welsh Assembly Government is wasting too much of the Assembly’s £15bn [...]
Hollywood stars paid a small fortune to “light up” the big screen
Friday, September 26th, 2008It probably comes as little surprise to most of us to discover that film stars of the 1930s and 40s were paid vast sums of money, to promote smoking and particular brands of cigarettes. Apparently, one tobacco firm paid more than $3m in today’s money in one year, to stars like Clark Gable, Cary Grant, [...]
GPs work extra hours for their patients
Thursday, September 25th, 2008This week’s announcement on extended opening hours for GP surgeries is good news for patients and profession alike. For months GPC Wales – the body that discusses these issues with the Welsh Assembly Government on behalf of the profession – has been discussing how best to serve our patients.GPs’ surgeries in Wales will now able [...]
Waiting on waiting times
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008Looking at the latest NHS Wales waiting times, makes for worrying reading. There is quite clearly a rise in the number of patients waiting in these target areas. As such we would be extremely about the Welsh Assembly Government’s ability to meet the two deadlines set for March 2009; Reducing the maximum waiting time for [...]
Gordon wows the English – but what about the Welsh?
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008Listening to Gordon Brown’s Labour party conference speech you could be forgiven for thinking he has no knowledge of Welsh health policy. Take for example, his announcement on prescription charges. He’s announced that cancer patients and people with long-term conditions will get free prescriptions. An excellent move, but one that’s already happening in Wales. Or [...]
Cautious commendation for Rhondda MP’s health check
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Rhondda MP Chris Bryant should be congratulated for getting-out of the Westminster bubble and spending time with the dedicated and hard-working medical professionals that serve his constituents. Like Chris Bryant, BMA Cymru Wales has called for a ‘revolution’ in primary care. We agree there’s a desperate need for resources to be pumped into GP surgeries [...]
Presumed consent for organ donation back on track?
Friday, September 19th, 2008Last month, I blogged on how disappointed I was that the Assembly’s Health Committee had rejected calls to introduce presumed consent for organ donation. That’s why I am delighted by today’s news. The Welsh Assembly Government, like the BMA, disagrees with the Committee and says that we should have the power to introduce presumed consent. [...]
Welsh Lib Dems call for free prescriptions and hospital parking to be scrapped
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008Free prescriptions and hospital car parking in Wales, could be scrapped under new plans unveiled at the Liberal Democrat’s conference yesterday. The party’s health spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM, has announced a range of new policy ideas which include getting rid of two of the Welsh Assembly Government’s flagship policies. It quickly follows last week’s controversial [...]
Salaried GPs Vs self employed GPs
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008And while I’m on the subject of the Welsh Lib Dems, at their UK conference this week, they’ve raised the issue of salaried GPs. In their discussion paper on health, the Lib Dems are looking at putting GPs on salaries, rather than the current situation of doctors being their own employers, and being partners in [...]
Light at the end of the tanning tunnel?
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008It’s only a few days ago since I posted on here about the dangers of using sunbeds, citing the example of Zara Hovelsas. She’s addicted to sunbeds, despite having had skin cancer and knowing using them, could eventually kill her. I also pointed out the heavy campaigning work BMA Cymru Wales has undertaken to try [...]
Shabby way to treat England’s newly qualified junior doctors
Monday, September 15th, 2008I whole-heartedly support my English BMA colleagues attack on the Westminster Government’s “shameful”refusal to even hold talks about the axing of accommodation support to newly qualified junior doctors. The BMA wrote to Anne Keen, England’s Health Minister, back in July to request a meeting about the move to end the legal requirement for NHS trusts [...]