Greens Deputy Leader conference speech

In his speech to the Green Party's autumn conference, Adrian Ramsay, deputy leader of The Green Party, will outline his party's plans to buy back hospitals that have been part of the Labour government's Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs).

Ramsay sees the government's creeping privitisation of the National Health Service as the cause of increasing inequalities in UK healthcare.

On top of the health costs of PFIs, Ramsay also points to the economic consequences of what he sees as a failed experiment:

"Funding new hospitals and schools through PFIs is like buying your house on a credit card instead of getting a mortgage."

In his second conference as Green Party Deputy, Ramsay will also take the opportunity to back up much of what the party leader, Caroline Lucas, sought to address in her speech to the Conference on Friday.

He will call for a fairer electoral system, a more transparent parliament, an elected upper house and for proper regulation of party funding.

"We need root and branch reform of our political system to make it more accountable to the public, so people can see how they can influence decision making."

Finally, Ramsay, the opposition leader on Norwich City Council, will emphasise the need for Green representation in parliament in order to fight against runaway climate change and "to offer real solutions to the major problems of our time."

Cutting frontline services and not bureaucracy could destroy NHS - Lamb

"If we are to make the NHS more efficient, we need to listen to the people who really understand it," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on the leaked Department of Health report calling for 137,000 job cuts in the NHS, Norman Lamb said:

“The huge gap between what ministers say in public and the secret reports being circulated in Whitehall is becoming clearer by the day.

“While this report demonstrates the scope for efficiency savings, cutting frontline services without addressing the goliath of the NHS bureaucracy would have a disastrous impact on patient care and could destroy the service.

“The credibility of outside consultants who have squandered billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money over the last decade must be questioned.

“If we are to make the NHS more efficient, we need to listen to the people who really understand it, not management consultants whose dreadful record of failure is matched only by their over-inflated bills.”

September is the new January

English drinkers vow to cut back after holiday boozing

Drinkers in England drank an average eight alcoholic drinks every day during their summer holiday this year, a new survey from the Know Your Limits campaign revealed today.

With the typical summer break lasting ten days, that’s 80 alcoholic drinks over one holiday; 80 pints of beer is equivalent to 227 units, whilst 80 large glasses of white wine is 240 units. The NHS recommends women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day (around one large glass of wine) and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day (two pints of beer)[1].

More than a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) admitted to the Know Your Limits campaign that they drank three times or more than usual whilst away this summer.

Though many drinkers chop and change their drinks on a night out on holiday, beer lovers consumed an average of five pints a day. Wine drinkers lapped up four standard glasses of wine each day, while spirit drinkers admitted to having five mixer drinks, such as vodka and coke, each day. Drinkers also admitted to downing four other alcoholic drinks, such as strong cocktails or shots each day.

As a result, September is looking like the new January across England, with holidaymakers vowing to cut back on their return this month:

· one in five people (19%) surveyed in the ICM poll pledged to take two days off drinking a week;

· 16% planned to stop drinking altogether between Monday and Thursday;

· one in five people (22%) are generally going out less; and

· 12% are having a completely dry month.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

"It’s all too easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much on holiday. And it’s always hard to get back into a normal routine. But we should try to use September as the new January and make a pledge to be a little more healthy.

"Our survey showed that people across the country will be making a fresh start this September and are thinking about how they can change their drinking habits to get healthier.

"Sticking within the NHS's recommended daily limits means you reduce your risk of serious conditions such as liver disease, cancer and stroke."

Dr. Chris Steele MBE said:

“Most of us want to let our hair down on holiday and tend to drink more, as we socialise most nights without worrying about how we’ll cope with work the next morning. But, it’s worth taking a moment on your return to think about what you’ve been drinking in terms of your health. Take advantage of feeling relaxed post-holiday and commit to take care of yourself a bit more.

“Cutting back on alcohol for September is a great place to start; if you find yourself drinking all or most days of the week, start by taking at least two days off each week. It can benefit your skin and sleep, and in years to come you’ll have limited the risk of the damage you’d be doing to your internal organs each time you drank.”

The Know Your Limits campaign has created some top tips for those holidaymakers wishing to leave their holiday boozing behind and get into the habit of drinking less:

1. Have at least two alcohol-free days each week: not drinking at all on certain days is often easier than promising yourself you won’t have quite as many in the pub. Many people find Monday and Tuesday are the easiest days of the week to cut back. As time goes by and you’ve proved you’ve got the willpower, try adding Wednesdays as well.
2. Alternate with soft drinks: there’s nothing like an exotic pineapple juice or a fizzy orange drink to remind you of your holidays, so alternate your alcoholic drinks with a soft one to help you stay in control and cut back your overall intake.
3. Clock your starting time: if you regularly begin drinking early in the afternoon, it’s likely that you’re drinking too much. If you’re at home when you reach for your first drink, limit the amount of alcohol you have in the cupboards.
4. Focus on next year’s swimsuit! For those of you who came back vowing to look better on the beach next summer, cutting back on your alcohol intake is an easy way to cut out ‘empty calories’ from your diet. You’ll also be less tempted to reach for the snacks if you’re not drinking wine in front of the TV most evenings.
5. Cut down with a friend/partner: If there is one particular person you always drink with or only ever meet in the pub, suggest that you both cut down together and find alternatives to drinking for each other. Many people find this helps their own willpower and removes unnecessary temptation.

Over ten million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits, affecting their general day to day health, but also increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers.

Regular drinkers keen to cut back on their intake and keep an eye on their drinking after the holidays should visit www.nhs.uk/units, where an interactive units calculator can help you keep track of how much you’re really drinking.

Women being denied labour beds to give birth

Last year, almost 4,000 women in England gave birth in a location other than a designated labour bed in a hospital.

Hospitals also gave examples of babies being born in midwife offices, lifts, toilets and a caravan. Some of these births will have been genuine emergencies and unavoidable, but many are because services are overstretched.

"New mothers should not be being put through the trauma of having to give birth in such inappropriate places", Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said. "It is extremely distressing for them and their families to be denied a labour bed because their maternity unit is full".

Lansley added that the fact that mothers are getting this sort of sub-standard treatment despite Gordon Brown’s tripling of spending on the NHS reflects the incredible waste of resources in recent years.

He also pledged that under a Conservative Government would make sure every woman who wants a single hospital room will get one, and also that it would make sure the money follows the patient "so that if more women are giving birth then more money is available".

Government’s policies on drugs failing - Lamb

“These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on today’s ONS statistics which reveal that deaths from drug overdoses are at an eight year high, Norman Lamb said:

“These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous.

“The Government’s punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing. Ministers must make sure that schools and public services work together to make sure that the message gets out that drugs kill.

“Ministers have been very good at talking tough when it comes to drugs, but this isn’t working. They must urgently re-think their strategy before even more lives are lost.”

Stop smoking money being wasted - Lamb

"The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on reports that the number of people who stopped smoking with NHS help fell by 4% last year despite the Government spending 21% more money on helping people quit, Norman Lamb said:

“The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives.

“It’s extraordinary that more money is being spent for worse outcomes.

“The incentive system for doctors has to be urgently changed. GPs shouldn’t be paid just for referring people to stop smoking services, they should be paid for helping them to successfully quit.”

PM backs Twitter NHS support

The Prime Minister has added his voice to a Twitter campaign supporting the NHS.

Many Twitter users have united behind the message “we love the NHS”, adding personal messages of support for the health service via the popular social networking site.

Gordon Brown provided his backing via Downing Street’s official Twitter account with his own message which read:

“The NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death. Thanks for always being there.”

Health Secretary Andy Burnham added that he was over the moon about the strong support for the NHS on Twitter, adding it was an “institution I will defend to my dying day”.

Cameron pledges support to the NHS

David Cameron has expressed his support for the NHS in an exclusive post on the Blue Blog.

He stressed, “One of the wonderful things about living in this country is that the moment you're injured or fall ill - no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you've got - you know that the NHS will look after you.”

In his post, David said the Conservatives were committed “not just to the principles behind the NHS, but to doing all we can to improve the way it works in practice.”

And he promised to not only spend more on the NHS, but also to make it more “efficient and responsive” to patients.

We are proud of the NHS

I've been enjoying the sun and touring my beautiful constituency of Witney today. But it goes without saying that just because I and most other politicians are not in Westminster at the moment, politics isn't somehow put on hold.

People still care about the issues they care about, and thanks to the internet they can voice their concerns whenever they want. Just look at all the support which the NHS has received on Twitter over the last couple of days. It is a reminder - if one were needed - of how proud we in Britain are of the NHS.

Millions of people are grateful for the care they have received from the NHS - including my own family. One of the wonderful things about living in this country is that the moment you're injured or fall ill - no matter who you are, where you are from, or how much money you've got - you know that the NHS will look after you.

That's why we as a Party are so committed not just to the principles behind the NHS, but to doing all we can to improve the way it works in practice. So yes, we will spend more on the NHS, but we will also improve it so that it is more efficient and responsive to patients. People working on the frontline will actually be able get on with the job they signed up for, without getting tied up in a web of targets. And we will put more power in the hands of patients by giving them better information about the care they can expect to receive.

Underlying these reforms, and our whole approach to the NHS, will be one big ambition - that future generations will be even prouder of the NHS than we are today.

NHS apprenticeships to boost jobs for young people

£25 million announced to more than treble the number of NHS apprenticeships.

NHS organisations will receive a total of £25 million to create 5,000 new NHS apprenticeships by March 2010, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced today.

The funding forms part of the Prime Minister’s commitment made in February 2009 to increase the number of apprenticeships by 21,000 across the public sector, expanding and strengthening apprenticeships as a mainstream option for young people and adults alike.

New NHS apprenticeships will get real ‘on the job’ experience while improving their qualifications and contributing to the NHS workforce. Apprenticeships will include clinical support roles such as dental nurses and pharmacy support workers and non-clinical roles such as IT support, estates and facilities management and catering.

Apprenticeships widen the range of young people who can work in clinical support roles with the added potential of progressing to a professional career.

In addition to the £25 million worth of funding announced today, progress towards achieving the 5,000 new apprenticeships has so far included:

• The creation of a National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee chaired by Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Ron Kerr to drive progress and promote recruitment and retention of apprenticeships in the NHS;
• Plans from Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) which demonstrate their individual planned contribution to this important commitment; and
• Joint working between the NHS, Skills for Health (the sector Skills Council for the health sector) and NHS Employers who are actively supporting the NHS to promote a skilled, flexible workforce to improve the quality of health and healthcare through appropriate apprenticeship training programmes and frameworks for both health employers and employees.

Meeting apprentices on a visit to Aintree Hospital, Liverpool, today Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:

“We are totally committed to being able to provide apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Our ambitious programme to more than treble the number of apprentices will create over 5,000 new apprenticeships in the NHS.

“Apprenticeships are an excellent way of giving young people the chance to learn life changing skills and offer a genuine opportunity to train clinical staff.

“In these tough economic times, we must do all we can to provide high quality routes into jobs so that we can ensure we have a highly skilled, highly motivated and loyal NHS workforce for future generations.”

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:

“The funding to create 5,000 new NHS apprenticeships is the right move at the right time.

“The public sector has an important role to play in supporting people through the recession. Young people in particular are

being hit hard and are struggling to get even near the jobs ladder.

“The NHS is a stimulating and worthwhile environment and the apprenticeships will provide excellent training opportunities and a vital springboard into full-time employment.”

Apprenticeship Working Group Chair Ron Kerr said:

“I am very excited to have been offered the opportunity to Chair the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee that will look to develop and sustain a longer term vision for the role of apprenticeships.

“Opportunity is the key to development and I am convinced that the apprenticeship agenda will see a raft of talent coming through into the NHS.”

There are currently 1,500 apprentices in the NHS. All new apprentices will be in post by March 2010.

Lansley questions Labour's handling of swine flu

Andrew Lansley has questioned the effectiveness of Labour’s containment strategy for swine flu after it was revealed that surprisingly few anti-virals have been given out.

New information released in response to a Parliamentary Question shows that for 7,447 swine flu cases, only 6,138 courses of anti-virals were distributed.

Although there would have been some cases that were diagnosed too late for anti-virals to be effective, this would have been outweighed by the fact that anti-virals would also have been given to people with suspected - not just confirmed - swine flu.

In addition, anti-virals should have been given to anyone who had been in close contact with a swine flu victim. However, just 10,363 courses of anti-virals have been given out to contacts of people with swine flu – which is fewer than two confirmed contacts of each swine flu victim.

Andrew, the Shadow Health Secretary, said the Conservatives had supported the Government’s containment strategy, but stressed he would have expected all confirmed and suspected victims of swine flu to be given anti-virals, as well as anyone who had been in contact with them.

He described the anti-viral figures as “worrying” and stressed, “(They)suggest that the Government’s containment strategy was not anything like as effective as it should have been.”

Lansley warns "shocking" number of children addicted to alcohol and drugs

Andrew Lansley has accused Labour of neglecting a “forgotten generation of children” after it was revealed that 11,294 under-16-year-olds were treated for alcohol and drug dependency last year.

The Shadow Health Secretary, who uncovered the figures, called on the Government to take action to tackle the problem “before it’s too late”.

And he said it was a “sad indictment of our broken society” that so many children are turning to things like drug and alcohol abuse at such a young age.

The new information shows that in 2008:

• 6,075 under-16-year-olds were treated for cannabis dependency - with 102 of those under 12
• 4,005 children under-16-year-olds were treated for alcohol dependency - with 57 of those under 12
• 93 under-16-year-olds were treated for heroin dependency - with 10 of those under 12

Andrew said, “Tackling these problems has been low on (Labour’s) priority list and their irresponsible decision to roll out 24-hour drinking on our towns and communities has not helped.”

And he stressed that the NHS needs “a robust strategy” to improve public health – and that more must be done to tackle the wider causes of social breakdown.

Labour's "extraordinary" infections boast attacked

Andrew Lansley has attacked an “extraordinary” boast from Labour's new Health Secretary, Andy Burnham the day new figures revealed that cases of both Clostridium difficile and MRSA are on the rise.

Responding to Andy Burnham’s claim that he is “proud” of Labour’s record on tackling infection rates, Mr. Lansley said:

“These figures expose Labour’s complacency and their failure to tackle this blight on our hospitals.”

The Shadow Health Secretary also criticised Labour’s lack of real action on infections, highlighting gimmicks like Gordon Brown’s flawed “deep-cleaning” programme, and he added:

“A Conservative Government would take a zero tolerance approach to hospital infections. We are committed to doubling the number of single rooms in NHS hospitals so that all patients who need to be isolated can be.”

Lamb: Government sleepwalking into an NHS disaster

In his speech to the NHS Confederation Norman Lamb discusses the need for a fundamental change to the way the NHS currently works.

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, will accuse the Government of ignoring the scale of the dangers facing the NHS and discuss the need for a new approach.

He will also say that this can only be achieved by devolving accountability and financial responsibility to a local level and by empowering patients and the NHS workforce.

In his speech Norman will say; "We are facing the lull before the storm. The last decade has been the years of plenty. We supported the Government with a programme of increased investment in public services."

(DH) New Health Secretary sets out vision for a people centred NHS - New emphasis on quality, innovation and prevention

A new era in the National Health Service that builds on targets achieved and prioritises quality of care was set out by new Health Secretary Andy Burnham today.

Addressing an audience of senior NHS leaders and managers at the NHS Confederation's annual conference, Mr Burnham pledged a 'deep clean' of superfluous national targets in favour of clearer, simpler standards and said that quality was "the route map through the funding challenges on the horizon".

Mr Burnham described the impact of the economic downturn on the NHS as a "moment of opportunity, not threat" and set out how improving the quality of health services - with a greater focus on preventing illness and disease - will lead to both a better patient experience and greater efficiency, helping the NHS meet the financial challenges ahead.

Announcing work to develop and introduce a new minimum standard for the NHS to eliminate all preventable MRSA infections, Mr Burnham said:

"The NHS has made huge progress. But I want it to go from good to world-class, moving away from numbers and towards what matters most - the patient's experience.

"On MRSA, infections have been reduced by 65% since 2003. I have asked the National Quality board to help develop a new minimum standard that will ensure all hospitals drive down MRSA bloodstream infections to the levels currently being achieved by the best performers - making the NHS even safer for staff and patients. I want this to be fairer - taking into account local differences - based on clear evidence and developed together with NHS staff and stakeholders.

"Reducing infections makes sense not just for patients, but for the NHS's finances too. Cutting cases of MRSA and C. difficile not only saves many lives, it also saved the NHS at least £75 million last year."

The Health Secretary also announced that from 2010-11 the top performing NHS Primary Care Trusts will be rewarded with greater freedom and flexibility to enable them to deliver more improvements, more quickly to their local communities.

This elite group of PCTs who have made the most significant impact in improving the quality of healthcare in their local communities, ensuring patients get the best possible treatment and leading the way on preventing disease - for example quitting smoking services - will benefit from greater control over how they operate.

Mr Burnham added:

"Innovation, efficiency, productivity and prevention are what should drive the next stage in creating a people-centred NHS. The best primary care trusts are ably demonstrating that they can respond to the health needs of the people they serve - in particular, tackling the causes of ill health as well as treating it.

"In line with Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review, I want these top performers to have even further powers, with greater freedoms and more scope to innovate - for instance being able to set longer term plans and preferential access to the new Innovation Fund.

"We cannot underestimate the importance of preventing disease. It is estimated that if PCTs improve their performance on key health outcomes such as smoking, alcohol, cardio vascular disease mortality, diabetes and stroke over the next five years this could result in a 10-15% reduction in health inequalities."

Professional responsibility is the key to a better NHS

David Cameron promised to make sure nurses and NHS workers can “exercise real professional responsibility” in his speech to the Royal College of Nursing Conference.

He attacked the targets and bureaucracy that hold nurses back - and said, “The right way to a better health service is by getting the best out of the people who work in it”.

He told delegates that a Conservative Government would give them “the professional responsibility to get on with the job they signed up for”:

“We’re going to scrap all those top-down, centralising, interfering targets that undermine your professional responsibility.”

He outlined three areas which are crucial to ensuring nurses can exercise real responsibility:

• Improving training, by making it more accessible and more practical
• Providing more time for care, by slashing the bureaucracy on which nurses spend a million hours a week, according to the Royal College of Nursing
• Creating an improved atmosphere of respect, with “zero tolerance” on violence and a "clear right" for nurses to have their voice heard

David made clear, “It is the patience and care of nurses that nurses patients back to health - and if we’re in government, you have my word that we will do everything we can to support you in that.”

(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.

NHS Alert: Important information about swine flu

There are two confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK. Read the latest official advice and find out about the simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and others.

If you have flu-like symptoms and have recently returned from Mexico or another affected area, or been with someone who has, stay at home and contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

If you are unsure about your symptoms, use this special flu symptom checker.

For an explanation of swine flu, its causes, symptoms and treatment, go to Swine flu.

For quick questions and answers go to Swine flu Q&A.

For the latest updates on the swine flu outbreak go to Flu virus latest.

Remember, preventing the spread of germs is the single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases such as swine flu. You should always:

• Ensure everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water
• Clean surfaces regularly to get rid of germs
• Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• Place used tissues in a bin as soon as possible

You can also prepare now in case the swine flu becomes widespread by:

• Establishing a network of "flu friends" - friends and relatives - who can help if you fall ill. They could, for example, collect medicines and other supplies for you, so you wouldn't have to leave home
• Having a stock of food and other supplies, including basic cold remedies, available at home. This should be enough to last two weeks, in case you and your family are ill

For more information go to Swine flu.

Maternity: UK needs private standards as a public service, says new Green report

A new policy report from the Green Party will demand radical improvements in UK maternity services.

A Green New Deal for the NHS will demand a single-tier approach for all mothers, funded from the public purse:

* A wider range of birth choices - including home birth for all women who want it
* All women to be entitled to support from a single midwife throughout each pregnancy
* A major recruitment drive for midwives
* Medical interventions to be significantly reduced
* Culture change throughout the NHS so that birth is treated as a normal event - not an illness - in which mothers are empowered and able to be in control

The Greens announced these policies on the day that a study was published in the British Obstetrics and Gynaecology Journal showing that home-birth is no more dangerous than hospital birth, for "normal" pregnanices - something Greens had long claimed, and which has now been demonstrated in a study of half a million births in the Netherlands.

The party's recent spring conference decided the Greens must take the lead in proposing huge improvements in UK maternity services. The conference debate was told:

* In 25% of NHS trusts intervention rates are double the targeted rates
* There is a severe shortage of midwives within the NHS
* The proportion of women giving birth by caesarian section remains at twice the target rate suggested by the World Health Organization
* The bill for medical negligence in childbirth rose almost 60% from 2005 and 2007

NHS maternity services need to change direction towards midwife-led, women-centred services that provides medical interventions only when necessary.

The Greens estimate that the dramatic improvements in maternity services proposed in A Green New Deal for the NHS would cost about £500m.

Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP, who is widely tipped to become the first Green MP at Westminster in the next general election, said today: "The UK must achieve the best possible standards of maternity care. Currently, due to shortage of funding, shortage of midwives and excessive interventions, we are far behind where we ought to be. The Green Party will fight the next general election on this platform - huge improvements in the NHS, and not least in maternity services."