Monthly Archives: December 2011

Free NHS helpline for whistlblowers launching 1st January 2012

NHS whistleblowers helpline due to be launched

 The new free helpline is being launched on 1 January 2012

A free helpline for whistleblowers in the NHS and social services is to be launched on Sunday.

The move is part of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s drive to ensure staff can raise “genuine concerns” about standards “without fear of reprisal”.

But a whistleblowers’ group said the announcement was an “admission of failure” that existing internal processes were not working.

The helpline – 08000 724 725 – will be provided by the Royal Mencap Society.

It will operate Monday to Friday between 0800 GMT and 1800 GMT, and there also be an out-of-hours answering service at weekends and bank holidays.

Please rethink move which stopped blind people from using their bus pass with carer

Crunch decision due on free blind bus travel in Norfolk

by DAN GRIMMER

A crunch decision on whether to rethink a move which stopped blind people from using their bus passes to travel to work for free before 9.30am will be made next week.

Norfolk County Council took over responsibility in April for the administration of concessionary bus travel, but the authority, facing a gap of £4.5m between what the government gives it to reimburse bus operators and the actual cost of the scheme, cut the hours bus pass holders can get free travel.

More patients to be treated by NHS staff at home

NHS Confederation: Hospital-based care ‘must change’

 Reducing hospital stays is right for some patients

The NHS in England must end the “hospital-or-bust” attitude to medical care, says the body representing health service trusts.

At least one in four patients would be better off being treated by NHS staff at home, figures suggest.