The government said it had met its 2002 target of having 30 per cent of general practitioners working to 'personal medical services' contracts, under which professionals directly negotiate the terms of their contract with the National Health Service according to local demands.
Source: Press release 4.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 2.2
Date: 2002-Dec
A survey of primary care trusts and specialist clinicians found that sexual health services are stretched to breaking point, and many are suffering as a result of National Health Service reforms. Almost two thirds of HIV doctors said their ability to provide services had been weakened, with only 3 per cent saying it had been improved, by recent reforms.
Source: Disturbing Symptoms, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330)
Links: Press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Research found that hospital accident and emergency departments are under extra pressure because of the problems that homeless people face in registering with a general practitioner.
Source: Critical Condition: Vulnerable single homeless people and access to GPs, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government announced the allocation of funding to primary care trusts (PCTs) in England over the three years 2003-04 to 2005-06. For the first time allocations were made directly to 304 PCTs rather than through health authorities; were made for three years rather than one single year; and were made using a new funding formula, which the government said gives a better measure of the health needs of each local community. Every PCT budget will grow by a minimum of 28.1 per cent in cash terms over the period, and from April 2003 over 75 per cent of the National Health Service budget will as a result be controlled by PCTs.
Source: Press release 11.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 2.1
Date: 2002-Dec
The third (and final) edition of a survey of primary care performance found that primary care groups and trusts have continued to build on their early achievements in establishing infrastructures and their capacity to improve services.
Source: David Wilkin, Anna Coleman, Bernard Dowling and Keri Smith, National Tracker Survey of Primary Care Groups and Trusts 2001/2002: Taking Responsibility?, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (0161 275 0611)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 2.2
Date: 2002-Dec
A study found that the introduction of NHS Direct (a telephone-based information and advice service) had no impact on the number of general practice consultations during the winter of 1999-2000.
Source: Rachel Chapman, Gillian Smith, Fiona Warburton, Richard Mayon-White and Douglas Fleming, 'Impact of NHS Direct on general practice consultations during the winter of 1999-2000: analysis of routinely collected data', British Medical Journal 7.12.02
Links: Article | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
Health authorities in England paid for 9.8 million National Health Service sight tests in 2001-02, an increase of 3 per cent on 2000-01.
Source: Ophthalmic Statistics for England: 1991-92 to 2001-02, Statistical Bulletin 2002/23, Department of Health (020 7972 5581)
Links: Bulletin (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The government published a guide designed to enable nurses, midwives and health visitors in primary care and the community to play a fuller part in delivering the National Health Service Plan.
Source: Liberating the Talents: Helping nurses and PCTs to deliver the NHS Plan, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Guide (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A survey found that community pharmacists are keen to expand the number of services they provide to patients, providing they have the resources to do so.
Source: Richard Lewis and Clare Jenkins, Developing Community Pharmacy, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 2.2
Date: 2002-Nov
The average number of applicants per general practitioner vacancy in England and Wales dropped from 6.9 to 4.4 in the year to 28 February 2002. Practices defining themselves as 'urban deprived' continued to attract the fewest applicants for their posts. Doctors described the figures as 'dismal'.
Source: General Practitioner Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey 2002: England & Wales, Department of Health (0113 254 5918) | Press release 19.11.02, British Medical Association (020 7387 4499)
Links: Report (pdf) | BMA press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The Medicines Control Agency began consultation on the removal of 'outdated' legal restrictions on advertising non-prescription medicines to the public, including those for treating heart disease and rheumatic conditions.
Source: Advertising of Medicines to the Public: Proposed amendments to the Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994, Medicines Control Agency/Department of Health (020 7273 0000)
Links: Consultation Document (Word file) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
In 2001-02 about 1.2 million women and 91,000 men attended family planning clinics in England. The peak age for clinic attendance was 16-19; an estimated 23 per cent of women in this age group visited a clinic during the year.
Source: NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2001-02, Statistical Bulletin 2002/20, Department of Health (020 7972 5581)
Links: Bulletin (pdf) | DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 12.3
Date: 2002-Oct
A study evaluated five projects designed to identify effective ways of changing general practice in order to decrease the gap between research evidence and practice in primary healthcare.
Source: Jane Hughes, Charlotte Humphrey, Stephen Rogers and Trisha Greenhalgh, Evidence into Action: Changing practice in primary care, Occasional Paper 84, Royal College of General Practitioners (020 7581 3232)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers found that the national rate of deregistration (removal) of patients from general practitioner lists is between four and five per 100,000 patients. Violence, or the threat of it, was reported as the main factor in 59 per cent of cases.
Source: James Munro, Fiona Sampson, Mark Pickin, and Jon Nicholl, Patient De-Registration from GP Lists: And Professional and Patient Perspectives, Medical Care Research Unit/University of Sheffield (0114 222 5202)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
An audit report on primary dental care found there are problems of access to services, and funds being wasted on over-frequent examinations. The report called for fundamental reform to the system.
Source: Dentistry: Primary Dental Care Services in England and Wales, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
An examination of General Dental Council reforms considered how well they met good practice guidelines for self-regulatory schemes, and whether they would ensure the safe care of patients.
Source: Baring its Teeth? An audit of the General Dental Council's reforms, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 2.2
Date: 2002-Aug
Dentists would be given the chance to test and develop new working methods and to improve patient care, following an advisory group report; this would include greater emphasis on improving patients' experience of National Health Service dentistry.
Source: NHS Dentistry: Options for Change, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A committee of MPs found that NHS Direct is proving popular with the public, and has a good safety record. But awareness of the service remains too low among some groups, including minority ethnic groups. (NHS Direct is a telephone-based service for primary medical advice.)
Source: NHS Direct in England, Fortieth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 610, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
A report said that dying people were not afforded nearly enough emotional, practical or spiritual support by the National Health Service.
Source: Cathy Shipman, Ros Levenson and Stephen Gillam, Psychosocial Support for Dying People: What can primary trusts do?, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Report (pdf) | KF press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A report found that National Health Service walk-in centres are a 'safe, well used addition to NHS healthcare services, achieving high levels of patient satisfaction'.
Source: Chris Salisbury et al., The National Evaluation of NHS Walk-in Centres: Final Report, University of Bristol (0117 954 6658)
Links: Report (pdf) | BMJ article
Date: 2002-Jul
An Audit Commission report examined the state of general practice in England in 2002, reviewing evidence on current strengths and weaknesses. It warned that the government may be expecting too much, too soon from general practice, given limited staff capacity.
Source: General Practice in England, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
A study found that National Health Service walk-in centres provide a standard of care comparable to general practice.
Source: Clare Grant et al., An observational study comparing quality of care in walk-in centres with general practice and National Health Service Direct using standardised patients , British Medical Journal 29.6.02
Links: BMJ article
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121 (paragraph 2.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
An official report said that up to 3.2 million general practice appointments could be freed up by streamlining bureaucratic procedures.
Source: Making a Difference: Reducing Burdens on General Practitioners - Second Report, Regulatory Impact Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 2194)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun
Each call to NHS Direct reportedly costs 25 per cent more than a visit to a general practitioner.
Source: The Independent, 17.6.02
Links: Independent article
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 2.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
