NHS News - May 2004.
In partnership with Health Direction

England - Local PCT News

Bassetlaw PCT - Specialist Support Night Nursing Team
This team has been running for almost a year and has prevented many unnecessary admissions to hospital for terminally ill patients. Nurses are now undertaking training for extended roles following government legislation on out-of-hours services.

Camden and Islington and Central and North West London Mental Health Trusts - Risk Sharing Service
An innovative pilot scheme has been launched in the three London boroughs of Camden, Islington and Westminster in a bid to improve the sharing of data between emergency services, mental health services and other agencies. [click here to read more]

Central and South Huddersfield PCTs - Joint Management Team
A review of the joint management arrangements between the two PCTs is now complete. Recommendations include one Chief Executive and a joint management team, with each organisation retaining its own identity, Board and PEC.

Central Suffolk PCT - Looked-After Children
A new Health Service for Looked-After Children will be hosted by Central Suffolk PCT and will comprise a team of paediatricians and nurse specialists working across all Suffolk PCTs in partnership with social services, education and voluntary groups.

East Surrey PCT - Dermatology
East Surrey PCT and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust have jointly developed a new Integrated Dermatology Service. Three GPswSI in Dermatology are currently working within East Surrey and patients will usually be offered an appointment within 4 weeks

Hounslow and Richmond and Twickenham PCTs - Improved Patient Care
Delayed hospital discharges and avoidable admissions should be reduced under a landmark joint initiative launched, which will integrate all teams responsible for assessment, discharge and rehabilitation. [click here to read more]

Ipswich PCT - Weight Management Programme
Ipswich PCT is hoping to lead a project tackling obesity involving schools and social workers. Policies will be developed around local needs and are more likely to aim at changing lifestyles and attitudes to food in the family than US-style "Fat Camps".

North Devon PCT - Pharmacist Partner
PCT Pharmaceutical Adviser, Karen Acott, has become a partner at Wallingbrook Health Centre, a rural dispensing practice. She will be in charge of the dispensary service and work closely with patients reviewing use of long term medicines.

North East London MH Trust - Award
A nurse-led community project aimed at dual-diagnosis patients has received an Innovation and Creative Practice Award from the Queen's Nursing Institute. The "Friday Group" is six weeks into a twelve-week pilot.

Norwich PCT - Hospital At Home Pilot
The new Harnser Outreach Service began in February and means that some patients from Norwich Community Hospital can be supported at home while they recover from surgery. The service will be evaluated after six months.

Peterborough PCTs - Social Services Integration
It has been agreed that all adult social services staff from Peterborough City Council will be transferred to North Peterborough PCT along with a budget of £25.1m, to become part of the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership (GPPCP). [click here to read more]

Southern Derbyshire - Speech and Language Therapy Services
Southern Derbyshire's Speech and Language Therapy Service has launched a new website to provide information about local services and also to make the general public more aware of the needs of people with communication problems.

Woking Area PCT - Name Change
Woking Area PCT has changed its name to "Surrey Heath and Woking PCT". The change of name is intended to better represent the area covered by the PCT.

Wales - Local Health Board News

Caerphilly LHB - Enhanced GP Services
Ty Bryn surgery has developed a minor surgery service as part of the new enhanced GP services. An extra £5.5m has been announced for these services in Wales. [click here to read more]

Diabetes Foundation Course for GPs in Wales
A new Diabetes Foundation Course for GPs, which is unique to Wales, is designed to allow GPs to make the necessary changes to implement the Diabetes NSF. It is expected that each LHB will nominate two lead GPs in Diabetes for the first of these courses. [click here to read more]

Swansea NHS Trust - Cardiac Unit Honoured with Top Award
The cardiac unit at Swansea's Morriston Hospital has been given Practice Development Status in recognition of its excellent service. There are more than 100 Practice Development Units in England, Ireland and America but this is the first in Wales.

Scotland - Local NHS News

Argyll and Bute LHCC - Community Stroke Rehabilitation Teams
NHS Argyll and Clyde is investing £100,000 to develop community stroke rehab teams for Cowal and Bute. The new service is expected to help over 120 patients a year to go home sooner and be rehabilitated in their own homes or a local community centre.

Carrick and Doon Valley / SW Ayrshire LHCCs - Amalgamation
Carrick and Doon Valley LHCC and South West Ayrshire LHCC have amalgamated and are now known as South Ayrshire LHCC.

NHS Argyll and Clyde - Cancer
NHS Argyll and Clyde and Argyll and Clyde Health Council have been successful in their £206,950 bid to develop an electronic information resource for cancer patients, their families, carers and professionals in Argyll and Clyde. [click here to read more]

NHS Lothian - Adolescent Mental Health
A new service is to be set up in Edinburgh for young people who self-harm. Currently, they would be treated at the Royal Infirmary and then referred to their GP, but the new team will support patients at home to prevent unnecessary hospital admission.

Northern Ireland - Local NHS News

North and West Belfast HSS Trust - Award
A team from Whiterock Health Centre has won an award for their "Young Men's Mental Health Promotion" project. A video and workbook have been produced aimed at reducing the high percentage of suicide among young people in North and West Belfast.

Northern H and SSB - Wound Care Formulary
The H and SSB has organised a Wound Care Symposium, providing an opportunity for delegates to update their skills on current best practice and to learn about the newly published Northern Board Wound Care Formulary and the proposed Wound Management Manual.

Southern H and SSB - Teenage Health
Local GP practices in Crossmaglen have teamed up with Southern H and SSB to focus on adolescent health. The main health promotion messages for the information evening were sexual health, self-esteem and the effective use of the emergency services. [click here to read more]

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