GPs could be legally liable for errors in care record

GPs are being warned they could be held legally accountable for any errors in Summary Care Records, after a leaked report claimed inaccuracies have been identified that could put patients’ lives at risk.

24 March 2010

Heart tsar calls for QRISK to replace Framingham score

Exclusive: The Government’s heart tsar has given the strongest endorsement yet for QRISK to be used instead of the Framingham cardiovascular risk score - saying it would be ‘perverse’ not to use the newer tool.

23 March 2010

Ministers back calls to tear up GP contract

Exclusive: The Government has backed calls from senior NHS managers for the GP contract to be torn up and rewritten to include tougher powers for dealing with poor performers, and financial incentives for GPs to work in polysystems.

23 March 2010

Bowel cancer screening ‘has improved survival rates’

The national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme has been hailed a success by cancer screening experts, after preliminary results showed the most advanced cancers were detected earlier through screening - significantly improving five-year survival rates.

23 March 2010

Minister defends closed doors talks on polysystems

Health minister Mike O’Brien has defended the decision to hold the talks on shifting hospital workload to GP polysystems in secret.

23 March 2010

Warnings over long-term use of bisphosphonates

An unusual type of bone fracture has been reported in women who have taken bisphosphonates for osteopenia and osteoporosis for more than four years, according to two new studies.

22 March 2010

GPs sent warning letters as tax crackdown gathers pace

Thousands of GPs have received letters from HM Revenue & Customs warning that they are suspected of owing unpaid tax going back up to two decades.

22 March 2010

Video: How can GP management of CVD be improved?

Experts address problems with vascular screening, identifying patients with FH and putting patients on warfarin to avoid strokes.

22 March 2010

Survey reveals lengthy delays to psychological therapy access

Only 15% of GPs say their mentally ill patients are able to access psychological therapies within two months of referral, and only 6% of GPs say children are seen within this time.

22 March 2010

Nateglinide does not stop progression in diabetes

Adding a prandial glucose regulator to a lifestyle advice in patients with impaired glucose does not reduce their chances of developing diabetes – even if they have cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors.

22 March 2010