Discredited control orders scheme should be scrapped - Huhne

"This scheme should be scrapped before any more taxpayers’ money is wasted on court cases," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary. Commenting on the decision by Alan Johnson to release a man who had been held under a control order for three years, Chris Huhne said:

“This is yet another blow to the Government’s discredited and illiberal control orders scheme.

“It flies in the face of British justice to place people under de facto house arrest without even telling them why.

“This scheme should be scrapped before any more taxpayers’ money is wasted on court cases where the Home Office trying to defend the indefensible.”

New controls help protect jobs for British workforce

A raft of new government measures will ensure that resident workers can have every opportunity to fill vacancies before they are offered to workers abroad, the Home Secretary announced today.

Following careful consideration the Government has accepted the recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) last month to tighten up the rules controlling when skilled workers are allowed to take jobs in the UK under the Government's points system.

This will mean that from next year, all jobs must be advertised to British workers in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks, extended from two weeks, before companies can seek to employ individuals from outside Europe. This will ensure that British workers are not only first in line for jobs but also now have more time in which to apply.

The Government will also extend the qualifying period for all those overseas workers who want to transfer to work at the UK base of their company meaning that they must have worked for their firm for at least a year rather than just six months prior to the move.

The minimum salary that will allow an individual to qualify as a skilled worker and be eligible to work in the UK will also rise from £17,000 to £20,000.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"The introduction of the points based system has radically improved our ability to respond quickly to changing economic circumstances.

"We have now accepted all of the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendations and we will continue to work with them to make sure that we use the flexibility in the points based system to the best advantage of society and the economy.

"These changes will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce."

A total of sixteen recommendations were put forward by the Migration Advisory Committee, all of which will now be put in place to ensure that the points based system does more to support UK workers while continuing to facilitate the trade, travel, and study that benefits the UK.

In reaching this decision, the Government has been advised by informative discussions with businesses and key public service organisations and the Government will continue to work with business to develop a plan for implementing the recommendations.

UK identity card image unveiled

The image of the ID card for British citizens was officially unveiled by the Home Secretary today in Manchester and London.

The ID card, which can also be used as a travel document in Europe, was revealed by the Home Secretary at St Pancras International Station in London and to residents of Greater Manchester at an event in the city centre.

The ID card image shows the information contained on the face of the card, including photograph, name, date of birth and signature, and the card’s unique design. It will hold similar information to that currently contained in the UK passport as well as a photograph and fingerprints on a secure electronic chip – linking the owner of the card securely to their unique biometric identity.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“The introduction of ID cards today reaches another milestone, enabling the people of Manchester to prove and protect their identity in a quick, simple and secure way.

“Given the growing problem of identity fraud and the inconvenience of having to carry passports, coupled with gas bills or six months worth of bank statements to prove identity, I believe the ID card will be welcomed as an important addition to the many plastic cards that most people already carry.

“The fact that it can be used as a passport when travelling in Europe will be an added advantage.”

The new UK identity cards will feature the latest physical security features, which are designed to give the card’s owner and those being asked to accept the card maximum protection from identity fraud or forgery, which costs the UK economy £1.2 billion on average each year.

They will act as a proof of age, helping prove an individual's right to enter premises or buy goods. They will also empower communities tackling anti-social behaviour and crime by allowing local retailers, including pubs and supermarkets, to make sure they aren't selling restricted goods to those who are underage.

A National Federation of Retailers and Newsagents spokesperson said:

“Underage sales are a problem across the UK and we are always looking for new ways for the public, especially those under the age of 18 years old, to prove their identity.”

“As the cards use the latest security technology, retailers can be confident that the person in front of them is who they say they are. What’s more, UK citizens now have the option of using a document that’s very portable and extremely useful.”

The Home Office takes seriously the concerns that the public have over their information being stored securely and accessed appropriately. That is why an Identity Commissioner will be appointed before ID cards are introduced to oversee operation of the service and report annually on the uses to which ID cards are put and the confidentiality and integrity of information recorded in the National Identity Register. Public Panel meetings in Manchester and London will allow the public to join a conversation about the National Identity Service so their views, reactions and concerns inform the way service is developed and delivered.

As the Home Secretary announced last month, the National Identity Service will be accelerated with UK citizens in the North West able to apply for a card in the New Year before full national coverage from 2012. Details of how the introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals will be speeded up will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Home Office is also working closely with the Department for Transport and Manchester and London City airports on the development of plans to introduce improvements to the existing pre-employment checking and airside pass-issuing arrangements that will be possible with the introduction of identity cards for airside workers later in 2009. This includes plans for those holding an ID card to receive increasingly joined-up airport services by enabling them to confirm their identity quickly and securely as they move between aviation employers and airports across the UK.

Home Secretary statement on annual crime statistics

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“The latest crime statistics are encouraging. Since 1997 overall crime has fallen by 36 per cent - a total of six million fewer crimes, violence is down by 41 per cent and domestic burglary is down by 54 per cent.

“Today’s figures show that the reductions in crime are being maintained and the risk of being a victim is still historically low.

“Encouragingly, violent crime continues to fall with homicide figures now lower than they have been for a decade and attempted murder also falling. Overall, violent crime with injury is down seven per cent and there has been a five per cent fall in recorded robberies, now at its lowest level since 2002.

“But we are not complacent. As in previous years we see changing patterns of crime and we know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure, which is why we’ve already taken action to tackle these head-on. Although today’s figures show signs of some acquisitive crimes increasing, the Government is determined to keep these crimes down by continued investment in preventative measures, tough, targeted policing and historically high numbers of police officers.

“Of course statistics are only part of the picture and offer no comfort to victims which is why it is encouraging that confidence at a local level is rising with nearly half of people saying they feel the police and local agencies are dealing with antisocial behaviour and crime in their area.”

New strategy to tackle serious organised crime

Plans to create a more hostile environment for organised criminals, seize their assets and shut down their businesses were part of a strategy to step up the fight against serious organised crime published by Home Secretary Alan Johnson today.

The new strategy, ‘Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Serious Organised Crime’, follows an assessment of how criminals are exploiting new global trends and outlines new approaches for the Government and law enforcement agencies.

Serious and organised crime is a multi-billion pound global business: trafficking in drugs and people, fraud and financial crime cost the UK Exchequer alone in the region of £30 billion a year.

Whilst the UK’s approach to serious and organised crime is one of the most sophisticated in the world, the threat is constantly evolving and global trends are creating opportunities for organised criminals that didn’t exist five years ago. In particular, there is an increasing link between organised crime and weak or failing states, where it easier for criminals to operate without detection or disruption and the use of newer technology to commit traditional crimes like fraud or theft by attacking IT networks.

To keep pace with the evolving threat, the strategy includes plans to:

* Create a more hostile environment for organised criminals by using tax powers to pin down elusive criminals, shutting down ‘front’ businesses like saunas and massage parlours used for criminal ends and seeking to block the use of mobile phones in prisons;

* Target the proceeds of crime by going after the assets of every organised criminal under investigation and rolling out police-led Regional Asset Recovery Teams to every part of the country;

* Investigate the UK-based assets of overseas criminals; and

* Step up the approach to international organised crime through better co-ordination overseas to target the emergence of networks in weak and failing states.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“The UK is known by international partners as a world leader in the fight against serious organised crime. However, the threat continues to evolve and it is right that we update and strengthen our response to match it.

“This strategy goes further than ever before in taking the fight to organised criminals– from the hard-to-reach criminal bosses to the lower-level players that are harming our communities.

“Today we are sending a clear message to these networks that we are doing everything in our power to stop them threatening our safety, damaging our communities and subverting our economy.”

The strategy will see new regional asset recovery teams created to cover the South East, South West, East Midlands and Eastern regions, taking the total to nine teams across the country.

Today’s new approach will also arm the Government and law enforcement agencies to respond effectively as criminals seek to take advantage of the economic downturn through loan-sharking and counterfeit goods.

As well as a new emphasis on using all powers available to tackle organised criminals, the strategy sets out plans to create a new strategic body within the Home Office to drive the proposals forward, scrutinise performance and take the lead across the Government.

Public given powers to check local action on anti-social behaviour

Getting help tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and seeing what has been done in your area is now even easier thanks to a new website launched today by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The ASB Action website is part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring those suffering harassment or intimidation feel confident they know who to turn to. The website allows the public to find the person or team in their area who can tackle local problems with anti-social behaviour.

The same interactive website also includes the latest data showing what public perceptions of anti-social behaviour are in each area and which of the many powers available to hit back at yobbish behaviour are being used. It even allows them to compare their local area with others across the country meaning they can demand further action if not enough is being done.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:

“No one should assume anti-social behaviour is a problem they should have to live with.

“Giving the public easy access to support and ways of holding authorities to account when they are not doing well enough is vital if we are to give the public confidence that tough action is being taken on antisocial behaviour.

“We have given local areas a raft of tools and powers to tackle this problem and many areas have done excellent work, but local people expect action and now every member of the public can see what is being done.”

The data listed on the website includes the latest information on the number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued.

As part of wider and ongoing work with local partnerships across the country the Home Office has agreed to prioritise 16 local partnerships to support them in tackling anti-social behaviour, increasing the use of ASB powers and in lowering perceptions of anti-social behaviour.

The ASB Action Squad, formed by the Home Office, will be working closely with these and other areas to ensure they are fully supported and have the expertise to use all the powers at their disposal in a way that responds to the needs and concerns of local people. The priority areas have been chosen because they have low use of tools and powers and high public perception of ASB.

Overall the British Crime Survey shows that the proportion of people who think there is a problem with anti-social behaviour in their area has fallen since 2002, thanks in large part to the increased use and effectiveness of the tools and powers we have introduced.

Councils and the police now have more powers to deal with anti-social behaviour than ever before:

- the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 gave the police and other; authorities powers to issue ASBOs and introduced parenting orders;

- the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 gave police the right to disperse crowds of people in areas where anti-social behaviour is a problem, and also gave landlords the right to evict tenants who persistently engage in such behaviour; and

- the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 gave police the power to close premises which are regularly being used by drug dealers and users.

Grayling says Labour have never been "more complacent"

Chris Grayling criticised Alan Johnson’s first speech as Home Secretary, despite the Labour Minister admitting that they have been ‘complacent’ as regards anti-social behaviour.

Chris, the Shadow Home Secretary, said “Alan Johnson says the Government has been ‘complacent’ in tackling anti-social behaviour. But in the next breath he contradicts himself by boasting that the Home Office has done so much to improve the quality people’s lives over the past 12 years.”

Chris added, “On the same day we found out that Britain has the highest violent crime rate in Europe, his comments show just how complacent and out of touch this Government really is.”

Grayling slams "absurd fudge" over ID cards

Chris Grayling warned that the Government’s decision not to make ID cards compulsory makes them even more of a “white elephant”.

Alan Johnson, Labour’s Home Secretary, announced today that the public will not be forced to carry an ID card.

Chris, the Shadow Home Secretary, stressed, "If this system is not going to be compulsory...what is the point of it?"

And he said the decision was “symbolic of a Government in chaos”:

"They have spent millions on the scheme so far. The Home Secretary (Alan Johnson) thinks it has been a waste and wants to scrap it, but the Prime Minister won't let him. So we end up with an absurd fudge instead. This is no way to run the country."

Chris added that spending millions on a scheme such as this “makes no sense at all”, stressing, “This is a project that nobody wants and the nation can’t afford."

Alan Johnson has called today for a referendum to be held in conjunction with the next General Election.

The referendum would be one whether the UK should adopt some form of proportional representation for election to the Westminster Parliament.

"Alan Johnson seems to be the only Labopur politician who has got this right" said Nigel Farage, UKIP leader. "No, not about whether we should have PR, rather, that the people should be asked directly upon such questions.

"What the laws are, that's properly the province of Parliament, however elected. But how the laws are made is something that must be put to a referendum. Johnson gets this about elections to Westminster. It's just a pity that no one in his party understands that this applies to the Lisbon Treaty as well.

"Lisbon changes the way that the laws are made not just which laws are made. Thus we must have a referendum, the people must be asked directly. In the absence of such a referendum being offered there's only one choice, to vote for UKIP on June 4th to show that you demand your right to decide how the laws are going to be made in the future."

(DH) Review of the effect of European working time directive on junior doctor training

A review into the quality of training for junior doctors in the light of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive was announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson today.

The review will consider the concerns raised by some professionals that the introduction of a 48-hour working week may have a detrimental effect on junior doctors' training, particularly on the training they receive while at work.

The Health Secretary has asked Medical Education England (MEE), the independent advisory board on medical training, to commission the Post-graduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB), the independent regulator of standards of training, to work with stakeholders to identify areas where changes to training might be necessary as a consequence of reduced working reduced hours.

Alan Johnson said:

"Everyone's overriding objective is the quality and safety of patient care. We are also concerned for our workforce and the hours they work. We want to provide doctors with a good work life balance and we do not want a return to junior doctors working excessive hours.

"There is no evidence that greater numbers of trainees are failing their end of year assessments where 48 hour working has been introduced.

"Also no junior doctor can become a consultant until the appropriate Royal College has issued a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). This is an essential safeguard, ensuring medical training remains of the highest standard.

"However, given the concerns raised by some professional groups it is important that there is an independent and objective assessment of whether the introduction of the European Working Time Directive fully into the NHS will necessitate changes to the current system of postgraduate medical training."

Chairman of Medical Education England, Sir Christopher Edwards, said:

"MEE is delighted that the Secretary of State for Health, by asking MEE to commission a review by PMETB, is being proactive in trying to ensure that the introduction of the European Working Time Directive does not have an adverse effect on high quality medical training.

"This will be discussed as a main agenda item at the next meeting of MEE on June 8th. After this we will be submitting to the Secretary of State Alan Johnson our proposals for both the programme and the timetable for this review."

(DH) Agreements secured for pre-pandemic vaccine for the UK

Agreements have been signed between the UK Government and vaccine manufacturers to secure supplies of up to 90 million doses of pre-pandemic H1N1 vaccine before a pandemic begins, the Department of Health announced today.

The deals signed between Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, and Baxter, will enable production of pre-pandemic vaccine to begin as soon as possible.

The agreements could provide enough vaccine to protect the most vulnerable in our population before a pandemic is likely to arrive, without affecting our supply of seasonal flu vaccine.

Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson said:

"The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been mild, and our strategy of containing the spread with anti-virals appears to have been effective in reducing symptoms and preventing further spread of infection.

"Scientists tell us that as yet we don't know enough about this novel strain, or whether it's likely to mutate, but that this virus has the potential to become a pandemic and we can't predict how serious that would be. We have an opportunity to secure vaccine in advance of a pandemic wave. We have Advance Purchase Agreements to provide vaccine for the entire UK population which will take effect when Phase 6 pandemic is declared. It will then take over a year for all the vaccine necessary to be provided.

"These additional arrangements provide the opportunity by December this year to have enough pre-pandemic vaccine to protect at least half of the population from swine flu. This will however depend on when and if the manufacturers switched from seasonal to H1N1 pandemic specific vaccine production at a time after Phase 6 is declared by the World Health Organisation, as this will take precedence over pre-pandemic contracts."

If a pandemic is declared, Advance Supply Agreements signed by the Government with GSK and Baxter in July 2007, will enable the UK to purchase up to 132 million doses of pandemic specific vaccine, when it becomes available.

(DH) New health taskforce to spot signs of violence against women

A new taskforce of health professionals working together to spot early signs of violence and abuse against women and girls, investigate the scale of the problem and ensure victims across the NHS get the support they need was announced today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

The taskforce has been set up in response to issues raised during the Violence against Women and Girls consultation which began in March. The Government recognises that victims may talk more freely with health professionals about their fear of violence - even when they are not ready to take the next step to reporting the crime. The Government wants to make sure that health professionals are prepared to give victims of violence and abuse information about local support services. The taskforce will also look at helping health workers to identify women at risk earlier and how they can offer these women support to reduce repeat victimisation.

Professor Sir George Alberti, former National Clinical Director for Emergency Access and Service Design, will lead the work of the taskforce. The taskforce will comprise health professionals, NHS managers and representatives from the public, social services and voluntary sector.

Alongside this, the Government also pledged to double funding for the 24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline, bringing total support to £1 million for this year.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"Violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable and we must all see it as our duty to step in and help someone who is at risk. This is not limited to friends and family; as we said in our consultation document, we need a wide range of workers on the frontline to be alert to the signs of violence against women and girls and able to provide support.

"I want to make sure that vulnerable women or victims who access healthcare can also get help and advice about protecting themselves as well as information about local support services.

"That is why we need this new taskforce - violence against women and girls is a public health issue affecting the lives of thousands of NHS patients every year and we need to do all we can together to prevent violence from occurring."

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"Almost one in three women will experience domestic violence at some point during their lives and nearly one in four will experience some form of sexual assault. This taskforce will bring together health professionals and women's organisations to help tackle violence against women and girls by responding to its early signs and supporting its victims.

"Many women who have suffered violence and abuse turn to GPs and A&E for support and treatment - the taskforce will help us to ensure that all NHS staff are trained to care for women and girls and help prevent further abuse.

"We are also continuing to support the National Domestic Violence helpline for women so they can safely get the help they need at any time."

Professor George Alberti said:

"Violence and abuse against women and girls is an enormously important and rather a neglected area. I am delighted to have been invited to lead this taskforce to help better support victims and protect them from further harm.

"The taskforce will bring together people with a range of different skills and experience to help tackle violence and abuse against women and girls. We will also ensure that the voices and experiences of victims themselves are properly represented."

(DH) First step towards Swine Flu vaccine prototype achieved

The first step towards producing a European prototype of a swine flu vaccine has been achieved by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.

On a visit to the HPA's National Institute of Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) this morning, Alan Johnson learnt that researchers have sequenced the full genetic code of the virus. This is critical in understanding how the virus operates and identifying the crucial parts of the virus that can be used in vaccine manufacture.

Researchers hope that European manufacturers will be able to take delivery of candidate vaccine prototypes in the coming months so preliminary steps to mass vaccine production can begin.

The NIBSC is the only centre in the UK and one of a handful around the world developing vaccine prototypes for the European vaccine manufacturers. In the US, efforts are focused through the Centre for Disease Control.

In July 2007, the Government signed advanced supply agreements, which will enable the UK to purchase up to 132 million doses of pandemic specific vaccine, when it becomes available. The advanced supply agreements are worth £155.4 million over four years. Under these contracts, GSK and Baxter are committed to supplying a pandemic influenza vaccine as soon as the pandemic strain is identified and made available by the World Health Organization.

The HPA researchers will also work with sister organisations to compare the characteristics of this virus with other samples to gain a greater understanding of how flu infects people and how it can quickly change to evade our immune systems.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"A significant step towards protecting the world's health against swine flu has been taken.

"The speed with which vaccine prototypes can be created to combat potential pandemics is testimony to the dedication and world-class expertise of Health Protection Agency researchers.

"We have been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for some time. We now look to the vaccine industry to produce the required quantities of vaccine as quickly as possible."

Professor Maria Zambon, Director of the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections, said:

"We are continuing to learn more and more each day about swine flu. The pure sample of virus that we have isolated, together with its genetic fingerprint, will be important resources as scientific organisations join forces on the development of an effective vaccine.

"The rapid assessment of this virus will ultimately help us to make future decisions regarding the health implications of swine flu."

(DH) New National Director for NHS Flu Resilience appointed

Ian Dalton has been appointed the new National Director for NHS Flu Resilience at the Department of Health, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.

Mr Dalton, currently Chief Executive of NHS North East, will take up this newly created position with immediate effect, reporting to NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson.

The establishment of this new role follows the recent Swine Flu outbreak. Mr Dalton will be responsible for ensuring that all NHS organisations in England build on the robust planning that is already in place to deal with a flu pandemic, that NHS front line organisations are supplied with adequate equipment and drugs, and leading on appropriate vaccination programs.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"We have been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years and the World Health Organisation says we are among the most prepared countries in the world.

"We already have robust arrangements in place that are continuing to ensure we are well-placed to deal with Swine Flu. The appointment of Ian Dalton will support the vital operational side of our plans by ensuring every NHS organisation in England is in the best possible position to protect the population.

"Ian Dalton is highly respected in the NHS and brings a wealth of skills and experience to this challenging role. I am extremely pleased to be welcoming him to the Department."

NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson said:
"The NHS has done a good job so far handling the swine flu challenge and we have clear plans in place for responding to future developments. Ian's many years of senior management experience mean he is well placed to ensure the NHS is prepared and can continue to protect and care for people."

Ian Dalton said:

"Preparing for and dealing with the threat of pandemic flu is extremely important. The NHS is well placed to deal with such an eventuality and I am looking forward to working with colleagues throughout England to ensure the NHS continues to respond appropriately to any developing
situation."

Mr Dalton will remain substantive in his current post as Chief Executive for NHS North East and will return to this role in due course. David Stout, currently Director of Finance and Communications, will be appointed as Acting Chief Executive for NHS North East.

(DH) Work begins to eliminate mixed sex accommodation in NHS

Building work to continue the progress made and finally eliminate mixed-sex accommodation in hospitals across England has started with over 700 projects planned across 200 organisations, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.

The work is part of the government's pledge to ensure that men and women will not have to share sleeping areas, bathrooms or toilets when admitted to hospital and that their privacy and dignity is upheld whenever possible.

Some improvement works started in April after Alan Johnson allocated a £100 million Privacy and Dignity Fund to all Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in England. This followed approval of their plans on how best to eliminate mixed sex accommodation in hospitals in their areas.

Approximately £40 million of the funding has been allocated for new and refurbished same-sex sanitary facilities such as bathrooms, with the remainder spent on other work including:
* Erecting separating walls
* Provision of same-sex lounges,
* Improved partitions
* Approved pan-trust bed management systems.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"We have made great progress, however our message is clear- over the coming months we only expect to see mixed sex accommodation where it is clinically justified and from next year those trusts who fail in this duty will be financially penalised.

"It is simply unacceptable for top quality treatment by our finest surgeons, doctors and nurses to be undermined by a sub-standard mixed sex environment that patients find unsettling, uncomfortable and undignified.

"We are committed to providing patients with high quality care that is safe, effective and which puts a patient's privacy and dignity at its core. Everyone working within the NHS has a clear duty to ensure that this is not just implemented, but maintained."

Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

"Nurses strive to provide high quality, dignified care at all times, but mixed sex wards have often been a major obstacle. Eliminating mixed sex accommodation would be a hugely significant step towards dignified patient care for all."

To ensure that the improvements are delivered to a high standard and on time; a national improvement team has been set up to support hospitals and monitor all improvement works.

(DH) NHS healthchecks to help reduce heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and kidney disease - Preventative checks will soon be available in England -

NHS Health Checks, which could prevent 1600 heart attacks and strokes each year and help save 650 lives will begin from April this year, announced Health Secretary Alan Johnson today.

The Health Secretary also announced the start of two further groundbreaking measures - the abolition of prescription charges for cancer patients and the start of MRSA screening for elective patients.

Everyone aged between 40-74 in England will begin to be invited for a free health check as part of a national programme to identify their risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The programme is an essential tool in tackling health inequalities across the country.

The health checks are part of a drive to ensure that people from this age group have the necessary information about their health in order to make important lifestyle changes and reduce their risks of developing diseases like diabetes and coronary heart disease. These illnesses currently affect the lives of 4 million people in England and are responsible for a fifth of all hospital admissions.

The checks are part of the drive towards a more preventative NHS.

The health checks will consist of:

* Straightforward questions to patients on their health and diet, exercise habits and family medical history
* Height and weight measurements taken from patients
* A simple blood test for cholesterol and in some cases for glucose levels
* A follow up, personal assessment setting out the individual's level of risk and what they can do to reduce this
* Recommendations of what could be done to reduce risk including: weight management programmes, stop smoking, physical activity programmes

Local Primary Care Trusts are designing their own local implementation plans to make sure that they can deliver the checks and follow up services that will be best suit the needs of the local population.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"The NHS is becoming more personal and responsive to individual needs; becoming as good at prevention and keeping people healthy as it is at providing care and cures; and able to offer the information and support people need to make healthy choices.

"There are a number of different commitments that we are delivering on which will start from this April. The national programme of Health Checks could save 650 lives a year and reduce the health inequalities that blight the lives of the country's most deprived families.

"Screening of all relevant elective patients for MRSA before admission is an and additional preventative measure that will help to protect patients against infection, and also, free prescriptions for people living with cancer and related conditions is one less worry for them at such a difficult time and will be welcomed by many patients and their families."

The preventative checks will be rolled out across England from April and will be fully implemented by 2012/13. They are likely to be available at GP surgeries, health centres, walk in centres and pharmacies to ensure as many people benefit from them as possible.

Further measures to protect patient's health being delivered by the NHS on April 1 include all NHS Trusts being able to offer MRSA screening to all relevant elective patients. This will allow the NHS to reduce the chances of patients getting an MRSA infection, or passing MRSA onto another patient. Although the number of people getting infections from MRSA is falling (latest figures show reductions of 38 per cent), we still have further to go and this is part of our continued efforts to reduce numbers even further.

April 1 is also the date when the abolition of NHS prescription charges for everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment, will also come in to effect. Up to 150,000 patients already diagnosed with cancer are expected to benefit, saving them £100 or more each year in prescription charges.

(DH) NHS delivers shortest waits since records began

The NHS is celebrating the shortest waits since its records began, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced today. New data shows that across England the NHS has met its target to treat patients within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral by their GP - an achievement that was unimaginable 12 years ago. The average wait for treatment for admitted patients is now just 8.6 weeks.

Time spent waiting is important to patients, which is why the NHS made it a priority to reduce waiting times. This has made a significant difference to the treatment experience of millions of patients:

* Over 250,000 patients have a cataract removed every year. The average referral to treatment time for these patients has reduced by half, from 20 weeks in March 2007 to 10 weeks in January 2009.

* Hardness of hearing and deafness affect the lives of large numbers of people. The NHS treats over 400,000 patients every year referred directly from primary care to audiology departments where the average wait from referral to treatment has been dramatically reduced and is now around 5 weeks.

* 125,000 patients are admitted for heart treatment1 each year, over 40,000 of whom have a heart bypass or angioplasty2. The average referral to treatment times for these patients has reduced by half, from 14 weeks in March 2007 to 7 weeks in January 2009.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"Twelve years ago it was not uncommon for patients to have to wait well over 18 months for an operation. Achieving the shortest waits since NHS records began is a tremendous achievement for staff and I congratulate them for all their hard work. Meeting the standard nationally five months before it came into effect, shows the commitment of the whole health service to improving patients' experiences.

"This has improved the lives of millions of people. Every year the NHS carries out 60,000 hip operations, in the last two years the waiting time for this procedure has fallen from around 30 weeks to 12 weeks. It's not just patients that benefit from this, clinicians also value the difference it makes to the quality of care they provide."

Barbara McLaughlan, Campaigns Manager at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said:

"RNIB welcomes the fact that the NHS has been able to meet the 18-week target for cataract operations. If removed early, cataracts are likely to have a minimum impact on a patient's quality of life. Prompt removal of cataracts allows patients to avoid the risks of loss of independence, higher risk of falls and a much-reduced quality of life."

There are still a small number of trusts and specialties not meeting the standards and the Department of Health is working with them to ensure that all patients receive the same high standard of care. However, even in areas where the operational standards are not being met, patients have still experienced a significant improvement in waiting times.

DH) Department of Health responds to Healthcare Commission investigation at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

The Department of Health today responded to the Healthcare Commission investigation at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:

"I would like to thank the Healthcare Commission for their extensive investigation and the thoroughness of their work.

"On behalf of the Government and the NHS I would like to apologise to the patients and families of patients who have suffered because of the poor standards of care at Stafford Hospital.

"There was a complete failure of management to address serious problems and monitor performance. This led to a totally unacceptable failure to treat emergency patients safely and with dignity.

"NHS staff working hard across the country to provide excellent care will be appalled by this report and I would urge every manager and clinician to digest its findings to ensure that these events are never repeated.

"I have set in train the following course of action:

"Local patients will want absolute certainty that Stafford Hospital has been transformed since this investigation began. To that end I have, jointly with Monitor, asked Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care to lead an independent review of the trust's current A & E services.

"I have asked the National Quality Board to ensure that the early warning system for clinical underperformance is working effectively across the whole of the NHS. The Board was established to bring about improvements in all areas of patient care and is made up of clinical experts as well as independent representatives of Royal Colleges and patient groups. I have also asked Dr David Colin-Thome, National Director for Primary Care & Medical Adviser, to review the standards of care and treatment at the trust between 2002 and 2007, the period before the Healthcare Commission began its investigation, to determine how the obvious failings were allowed to continue for so long.

"We cannot know exactly how many patients were affected by the poor care described in the report. The relatives of people who died in Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2008 will rightly have questions that must be answered.

"The new leadership of the Trust will respond to every request from relatives and carry out an independent review of their case notes. This will be an essential step "to put relatives' minds at rest and to close this regrettable chapter in the hospital's past.

"The Healthcare Commission did its job in getting behind the initial reaction of the Trust that the problems were statistical rather than real. We must now do our job in ensuring that patients in Mid Staffs can have confidence in a local hospital that puts patient care above all other considerations."