Website of the Department of Health

Concern over cancer waiting times

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report into NHS cancer services, 'Cancer - Improving the Patient's Journey', says that 40 per cent of patients eventually diagnosed with cancer still wait more than two weeks to see a specialist following referral by their GP.

However, the report says referral times have improved since 2000.

• View the full report on the Parliamentary website (opens new window)

New NHS Walk-in Centres improve access

Commuters can now see a doctor or nurse for a range of treatment or advice in two new NHS Walk-in Centres.

The centres at London's Liverpool Street and Manchester's Piccadilly stations are the first of seven due to open as part of a £50 million makeover of services outside hospitals.

• View more information on the new NHS Walk-in Centres (opens new window)

New Choose and Book materials available

GPs and primary care staff can now access a revised version of the Choose and Book primary care pocket guide.

It summarises the referral and booking process and is a valuable guide to the day-to-day use of the new service.

• Access the guide from the Choose and Book website (opens new window)

Civil Partnership Act

GPs and practice teams should consider how they and their staff work with patients, carers and family members who are in same-sex relationships, following the introduction of the new 'Civil Partnership Act 2004', which has now come into effect.

Staff should ensure same-sex partners and family members feel comfortable being open about their relationships so they can be supported during illness and crisis.

• View more information about the 'Civil Partnership Act' (opens new window)

New contracts for housing asylum seekers.

Some GPs could see relocation of asylum seekers in their practices over the next four months. The changes are due to the National Asylum Support Service awarding new contracts, subject to signature, for the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers. Not all accommodation providers will change and the number of moves may be reduced where new providers take over responsibility for occupied properties. Where asylum seekers have medical conditions which impact on their ability to move, these will be taken into account.

• View more information from the Home Office website (opens new window)

Flexible careers and returners schemes

The 2005-2006 central budgets and management of the flexible careers and returners schemes schemes for GPs and hospital doctors have been reviewed. The Department of Health has circulated a letter outlining both the allocations and the way the schemes will be managed. The letter confirms funding to SHAs and provides information about the future status of the schemes.

• Read the letter on the Department of Health website and view more information on flexible careers and returners

Next phase of LIFT

The latest stage of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) scheme, will see around 60 new GP surgeries, health centres and clinics open this year.

• View more information on the LIFT scheme on the Department of Health website

Good practice goes online

GPs and practice staff can now access a database produced by The Working in Partnership Programme showcasing innovative approaches to practice workload management.

• View the case studies on the WIPP website (opens new window)

Commissioning support programme underway

GP practices in 28 PCTs are taking part in the first wave of a programme to help them use practice-based commissioning (PBC) to improve patient services.

Applications can still be made for two further waves of the programme due to begin in April and September.

• View the Department of Health's 'Practice-based commissioning: early wins and top tips' document. It includes service re-design examples which could achieved through practice-based commissioning.

Changes to non-medical prescribing

GPs will be able to use the skills of practice nurses and pharmacists more flexibly when changes to non-medical prescribing take effect.

From the spring, specially-trained nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe any licensed drug for any medical condition within their competence, with the exception of most controlled drugs.

Non-medical prescribing is designed to improve patients' access to medicines free up GPs so they have more time with patients.

• View more information on the non-medical prescribing programme on the Department of Health website

Support for those with long-term conditions

An overhaul of the support available to help people with a long-term condition to self care was announced in February with the publication of 'Supporting People with a Long Term Condition to Self Care - A Guide to developing local strategies and best practice'.

The document explains how health and social care services can support people with long term conditions to self care through an integrated package which includes information, self monitoring devices, self care skills education and training and self care support networks.

• View more information on support for long-term conditions on on the Department of Health website

NSF for long-term conditions - Getting Started events

GPs with a special interest in neurological conditions are invited to attend one of a new range of practical events designed to implement the 'National Service Framework for long-term conditions'.

Dates and locations for the events are: