Just 12% of GPs back NHS shake-up, says poll

Family doctors are at the heart of the reforms but only 12% agreed that they would make things “noticeably” better, down from 23% when a similar survey was taken in September 2010.

Under the changes, GP-led groups will take control of about £60 billion of the NHS budget in England from April next year. They will be expected to plan and buy most routine healthcare within their community.

Yet the poll of 814 GPs for the BBC showed 55% did not agree that the changes would improve care, while 33% said they did not know whether it would or not.

The vast majority, 83%, also predicted that there would be an increase in rationing in their area, because of financial pressures.

Some 87% agreed the changes would lead to private companies having a bigger role in the health service.

Full Article on Telegraph

SURVEY: Neurology User Experience

An online Neurology User Survey for people living in Swindon and Wiltshire has been launched and is available via the Swindon & Wiltshire Neurological Alliance website.

The first of its kind in the country, the survey’s results will be presented to interested parties across the county to demonstrate where improvements can be made.

There are two versions: one for those living or mainly using services in Swindon and another for Wiltshire. The surveys will close at the end of April.

Take the survey

Urgent information for working age couples with children who get Working Tax Credit

Urgent information for working age couples with children who get Working Tax Credit

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Couples with children who are receiving Working Tax Credit where one partner is receiving Carer’s Allowance are at risk of losing their full tax credits unless they contact the Tax Credit Office by 6th April. From the 6th of April the Government is increasing the number of hours a couple with children has to work in order to receive Working Tax Credit (lone parents are not affected). Instead of needing to work for 16 hours or more a week couples with children will have to work 24 hours a week or more. If they are unable to find the extra hours they will lose their entitlement to Working Tax Credit. However, following campaigning from Carers UK and other groups including the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group and USDAW the union, the Government has announced that couples including someone on Carer’s Allowance will be exempt from this increase from 16 to 24 hours. This means that a couple with at least one dependent child and where one partner is entitled to Carer’s Allowance, will continue to be able to receive Working Tax Credit if one parent is working for at least 16 hours a week. This includes people with an ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carer’s Allowance - where you are entitled to the benefit but it is not being paid to you because you receive other benefits which are seen to ‘overlap’ with Carer’s Allowance. The Tax Credits Office should already know that someone in your household is receiving Carer’s Allowance if you informed them of this when you claimed Working Tax Credit. However if you are not sure, and particularly if you have started to receive Carer’s Allowance since you claimed Working Tax Credit, you should contact the Tax Credit Office to tell them you are entitled to Carer’s Allowance. To contact the Tax Credit Office, you can call 0345 300 3900, email via www.hmrc.gov.uk/contactus/email.htm or write to: Tax Credit Office Preston PR1 4AT You should provide your full name, date of birth, National Insurance Number and email address (if you have one) and inform them that you fulfil one of these exceptions. New entitlement to childcare costs As well as protecting carers from this change, the Government has announced that couples receiving Working Tax Credit which include someone receiving Carer’s Allowance will now be able to claim extra tax credits for childcare if they pay for registered/approved childcare. Again, if this applies to you, you should inform the Tax Credits Office to ensure you receive the extra amount. You can do this from 6th April, but should do it by 6th May 2012. For more information on the Government’s other changes to the benefits system, read our Welfare Reform Frequently Asked Questions at: http://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/focus-on/item/2479-welfare-reform-your-questions-answered

NHS prescription fee rise to £7.65 comes into effect

An increase in NHS prescription charges in England of 25p to £7.65 has come into effect.

Health Minister Simon Burns outlined the changes earlier this year, and the government says exemptions mean 90% of prescription items are dispensed free.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society campaigned for a freeze and says the rises are completely unacceptable.

Dental treatment costs will also rise. There are no prescription charges in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Full Article on BBC News

Wiltshire health services to merge

The three organisations that were due to take over from NHS Wiltshire in organising and buying health services are to merge.

After months of working as three separate Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) GPs have decided it would be better to have one CCG serving the county.

Dr Steve Rowlands, NHS Wiltshire’s medical director and a GP in Trowbridge, said: "There was a reality check about the volume of work coming through to the CCGs and the population base wasn’t big enough."
Dr Helen Osborn, joint chairman of the West Wiltshire, Yatton Keynell and Devizes CCG and a GP in West Lavington, said: "It's not a good use of our resources to duplicate the work among three CCGs. Having one CCG will save a huge amount of time and adminstration.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times

Thousands to be sent for scans as GPs paid to spot brittle bones

Under the pay for performance part of the GP contract, family doctors have to earn a proportion of their practice income by hitting targets to pick up problems among their patients.

From today GPs will be paid for every patient they diagnose with osteoporosis and begin treating with drugs to prevent further bone deterioration and fractures.

Once a patient has suffered a fracture the doctor should assess them, send them for a bone density scan and begin treatment where necessary in order to receive the payment.

It is expected that the average GP practice will earn about £1,500 a year in this way.

Full Article on Telegraph

Website launched to assist carers

A WEBSITE which will transform the way patients, carers and professionals access information was launched in Swindon this week.

The website, which has received support from Prime Minister David Cameron, focuses initially on dementia and stroke services and has been pioneered by the NHS across the south west, along with social care partners, voluntary groups and with key input from patients and carers.

The website, called Our Health, was highlighted with the launch of the PM’s Challenge on Dementia. It is the first of its kind in England and will eventually be rolled out across the whole country.

The project has been in the making since June and it is hoped that it will help patients and their families make informed decisions about their care.

For more information visit www.ourhealth.southwest.nhs.uk

Article taken from This is Wiltshire