Four out of ten pupils could not read, write and add up properly by the time they left primary school this summer, the Government admitted yesterday.
The Times reports that national curriculum results for this age group improved slightly on last year, but the figures showed that 166,500 pupils did not meet the standard expected in writing, 67,000 failed to make it in reading, 54,000 could not reach it in science and 105,000 could not add up to the same level.
Of the 600,000 11-year-olds who took tests this summer, 80% made the grade in English, 84% in reading, 77% in maths and 88% in science. However, the figures also showed that the Government had missed its targets in all areas and that only 60% of the “Blair generation” of primary school pupils had met the expected level in all subjects, including reading, writing, maths and science.
Lord Adonis, the schools minister, said that more money will be spent on classroom assistants, one-to-one tuition, intensive reading and maths catch-up programmes and on better training for teachers.
There are few more important uses for public money than giving children the best start in life.
But hundreds of thousands of children are still being failed, while the government plans to lavish billions of pounds extra a year on the audit-failing EU.
By Lord Adonis's own admission, not enough money has been invested in classroom assistants, teacher training and extra tuition programmes.
Could it have been more, if so much money didn't have to be committed to the wasteful EU?
MPs will decide where the government's spending priorities should more properly lie, when they get to vote on the EU budget deal ... and answer for their choice to parents in their constituencies, come the next election.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Lancashire: 'Give ambulances the money’ call
Campaigners have called for more funds after it was revealed that four out of ten ambulances should be taken off the roads - reports the Blackpool Citizen.
Cash-strapped North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust bosses can afford to replace only a fraction of the accident and emergency ambulances and rapid response vehicles which have reached the end of their shelf life in Lancashire.
Now officials from the NWAS public and patient information forum - the patients' watchdog - said the situation should not be allowed to continue.
Forum spokesman Salle Dare said: "Our concern, representing patients, will be to put pressure on the primary care trusts and Government to provide sufficient money to help overcome this situation."
The forum appreciated the pressures which the ambulance trust worked under, and the competing demands made upon the service.
But she added: "It is the Cinderella of the emergency services - when everyone thinks of the ambulance trust they then only think of accident and emergency but there are many different aspects to it.
"The new plans for the ambulance service, which serves a much greater role, attending to people at home and carrying out more diagnostic work, means that we need to have a modern service to meet these demands."
Cash-strapped North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust bosses can afford to replace only a fraction of the accident and emergency ambulances and rapid response vehicles which have reached the end of their shelf life in Lancashire.
Now officials from the NWAS public and patient information forum - the patients' watchdog - said the situation should not be allowed to continue.
Forum spokesman Salle Dare said: "Our concern, representing patients, will be to put pressure on the primary care trusts and Government to provide sufficient money to help overcome this situation."
The forum appreciated the pressures which the ambulance trust worked under, and the competing demands made upon the service.
But she added: "It is the Cinderella of the emergency services - when everyone thinks of the ambulance trust they then only think of accident and emergency but there are many different aspects to it.
"The new plans for the ambulance service, which serves a much greater role, attending to people at home and carrying out more diagnostic work, means that we need to have a modern service to meet these demands."
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NHS fails dementia victims, admit ministers
Thousands of dementia sufferers are being "failed" by a health system which does not diagnose their problems early enough or at all, the Government admitted yesterday - reports
The Daily Telegraph reports health experts claims that dementia is now costing society £539 a second.
Half of all victims never get a proper diagnosis, with symptoms attributed to "old age" because doctors are not trained to recognise the symptoms, and drugs are strictly rationed.
In a belated acknowledgement of the severity of the situation, Ivan Lewis, the care services minister, said the issue was "one of the great challenges now facing society" and that dementia must be "brought out of the shadows".
"The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers," he said, adding that the disease, "strikes fear into all of us".
Mr Lewis was speaking yesterday as he launched a group to work on a strategy to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
But how much money is he putting into tackling this serious problem - intro training of health workers and buying better (perhaps more expensive) drugs to ease people's suffering.
And could that amount be more if so much wasn't being wasted on the audit-failing EU?
The Daily Telegraph reports health experts claims that dementia is now costing society £539 a second.
Half of all victims never get a proper diagnosis, with symptoms attributed to "old age" because doctors are not trained to recognise the symptoms, and drugs are strictly rationed.
In a belated acknowledgement of the severity of the situation, Ivan Lewis, the care services minister, said the issue was "one of the great challenges now facing society" and that dementia must be "brought out of the shadows".
"The current system is failing too many dementia sufferers and their carers," he said, adding that the disease, "strikes fear into all of us".
Mr Lewis was speaking yesterday as he launched a group to work on a strategy to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
But how much money is he putting into tackling this serious problem - intro training of health workers and buying better (perhaps more expensive) drugs to ease people's suffering.
And could that amount be more if so much wasn't being wasted on the audit-failing EU?
NHS dentists treat 47,000 fewer patients
The Daily Telegraph reports today that 47,000 fewer people a year are receiving dental treatment on the NHS following the introduction of controversial reforms, according to the Government figures.
The report also claims that there are 500 fewer dentists working on the NHS now than before the new dentist contracts were introduced in April 2006.
Patients groups and dentists have critised the report for claiming that the new system has improved services, saying access to dental care under the NHS has not improved and people are struggling to be seen.
Citizens Advice says there are two million people trying to registers with an NHS dentist but have been unable to get on the books.
And the British Dental Association said these figures were extremely conservative and were likely to actually be significantly higher.
The new contract aimed to simplify a multitude of different payment methods, but this has meant that dentists are paid just once for doing fillings, no matter how many they do for a patient.
A quota system on the number of patients they were allowed to treat in a year was also introduced. But some practices are filling their year's quota in nine months and are having to close for the remainder of the year.
The controversy over the new system led to hundreds of dentists leaving the NHS altogether.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of British Dental Association, said "This first year report on the new untested contract for dentists justifies our concerns and will do little to rebuild trust with the profession.
"By the government's own admission, we now have fewer NHS dentists and access to care for patients remains patchy. This is not a picture of success and confidence."
Which? research showed 59% of NHS practices in London were taking on new patients compared to just 13% in the North West.
Liz Phelps, from Citizens Advice, said its bureaux still received reports of huge problems.
She said "The shocking truth is that despite all the assurances that the situation is improving, there has been no overall increase at all in the number of patients seen by NHS dentists in the first year of the reforms.
"That means that even by the Governments own estimate there are still two million people trying to get NHS dental treatment who cant find a dentist."
Claims by Health Minister Ann Keen that the new system has proved better for patients have also been criticised by Richard Thomas, secretary of the Federation of London Local Dental Committees, who has said that new dental services have only been provided at the cost of services elsewhere, as there is no extra money in the system.
"Where PCTS have increased access to dental services in an area of higher need, it is at the expense of other areas because there is no extra money", he said.
The report also claims that there are 500 fewer dentists working on the NHS now than before the new dentist contracts were introduced in April 2006.
Patients groups and dentists have critised the report for claiming that the new system has improved services, saying access to dental care under the NHS has not improved and people are struggling to be seen.
Citizens Advice says there are two million people trying to registers with an NHS dentist but have been unable to get on the books.
And the British Dental Association said these figures were extremely conservative and were likely to actually be significantly higher.
The new contract aimed to simplify a multitude of different payment methods, but this has meant that dentists are paid just once for doing fillings, no matter how many they do for a patient.
A quota system on the number of patients they were allowed to treat in a year was also introduced. But some practices are filling their year's quota in nine months and are having to close for the remainder of the year.
The controversy over the new system led to hundreds of dentists leaving the NHS altogether.
Peter Ward, Chief Executive of British Dental Association, said "This first year report on the new untested contract for dentists justifies our concerns and will do little to rebuild trust with the profession.
"By the government's own admission, we now have fewer NHS dentists and access to care for patients remains patchy. This is not a picture of success and confidence."
Which? research showed 59% of NHS practices in London were taking on new patients compared to just 13% in the North West.
Liz Phelps, from Citizens Advice, said its bureaux still received reports of huge problems.
She said "The shocking truth is that despite all the assurances that the situation is improving, there has been no overall increase at all in the number of patients seen by NHS dentists in the first year of the reforms.
"That means that even by the Governments own estimate there are still two million people trying to get NHS dental treatment who cant find a dentist."
Claims by Health Minister Ann Keen that the new system has proved better for patients have also been criticised by Richard Thomas, secretary of the Federation of London Local Dental Committees, who has said that new dental services have only been provided at the cost of services elsewhere, as there is no extra money in the system.
"Where PCTS have increased access to dental services in an area of higher need, it is at the expense of other areas because there is no extra money", he said.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb called for an independent review, saying "This report is almost Orwellian in its interpretation of the truth.
"It is a total whitewash and will be of little comfort to patients who cannot find a local NHS dentist and is an insult to the many dentists who are forced to turn away patients because of the new contract."
GP out-of-hours complaints soar
The number of serious complaints made against GPs over out-of-hours care has soared in recent years, reports the BBC.
Figures show that the two leading family doctor insurance companies, which cover nine out of ten GPs in England, dealt with nearly 300 complaints in 2006.
One of the firms has seen cases triple since a new contract started in 2004.
Patients said it showed the service had got worse and urged Gordon Brown to take action, but doctors said people were more likely to complain now.
Critics of the new GP contract have always maintained that the service has got worse with patients struggling to get through to doctors out-of-hours.
And the latest figures come after Gordon Brown promised to address problems with out-of-hours care on the eve of becoming prime minister.
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) and Medical Protection Society (MPS), which also offer legal advice, only get involved with the most serious and complex cases, such as those that involved deaths, compensation claims or issues that involve the regulatory body, the General Medical Council.
The MPS figures show that officials started dealing with 30 new cases in the UK in 2003 - the last full year under the old system - but by 2006 that had risen to 100.
This was during a period when the overall number of cases about doctors remained steady at around 3,500.
Meanwhile, the MDU dealt with 182 complaints in England last year, up from 120 in 2002.
Stephanie Bown, of the MPS, said doctors are under a lot of pressure dealing with lots of patients "one after another".
Michael Summers, chairman of the Patients Association, said: "These figures are worrying, but not surprising.
"It is quite clear the service has got worse. Patients complain that they cannot get through and we have heard of doctors who have to travel hundreds of miles to see people.
"It was good that Gordon Brown said he would be looking at this issue and we would urge him to act straight away. Out-of-hours care needs more funding."
Figures show that the two leading family doctor insurance companies, which cover nine out of ten GPs in England, dealt with nearly 300 complaints in 2006.
One of the firms has seen cases triple since a new contract started in 2004.
Patients said it showed the service had got worse and urged Gordon Brown to take action, but doctors said people were more likely to complain now.
Critics of the new GP contract have always maintained that the service has got worse with patients struggling to get through to doctors out-of-hours.
And the latest figures come after Gordon Brown promised to address problems with out-of-hours care on the eve of becoming prime minister.
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) and Medical Protection Society (MPS), which also offer legal advice, only get involved with the most serious and complex cases, such as those that involved deaths, compensation claims or issues that involve the regulatory body, the General Medical Council.
The MPS figures show that officials started dealing with 30 new cases in the UK in 2003 - the last full year under the old system - but by 2006 that had risen to 100.
This was during a period when the overall number of cases about doctors remained steady at around 3,500.
Meanwhile, the MDU dealt with 182 complaints in England last year, up from 120 in 2002.
Stephanie Bown, of the MPS, said doctors are under a lot of pressure dealing with lots of patients "one after another".
Michael Summers, chairman of the Patients Association, said: "These figures are worrying, but not surprising.
"It is quite clear the service has got worse. Patients complain that they cannot get through and we have heard of doctors who have to travel hundreds of miles to see people.
"It was good that Gordon Brown said he would be looking at this issue and we would urge him to act straight away. Out-of-hours care needs more funding."
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Hospices warn of cash shortfall
Hospice managers in Hull and Grimsby have warned services could be cut amid a shortfall in government cash, according to the BBC.
Dove House Hospice in Hull is facing a deficit of £400,000 and says it has seen its money cut in real terms.
Finance director Chris Sadler said: "That is not something we could sustain indefinitely. The only way we can really save costs is to shut beds."
Bosses at Grimsby's St Andrew's Hospice said it may have to cut services as it forecasts a £100,000 deficit this year.
Two thirds of the hospices in England are run by the voluntary sector, providing support to the NHS.
St Andrew's Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Jane Whenham-White said: "The government told us two years ago that end-of-life care was its top priority and it had a strategy to meet that need.
"But they haven't yet come up with any funding.
"Because we actually haven't got a guaranteed income it is very, very difficult for us to plan our services.
"The only way to cut costs is to lay staff off, close beds or drop services.
"We don't want to do that, but we may have to if the funds are not available."
She said the hospice was relying more and more heavily on income generated by its shops and a lottery scheme.
"The worst thing is that because of the geographic area we cover we have been told we should have 16 adult beds here and we've only got eight.
"That means at a time when we should be doubling the number of beds we're actually facing the real prospect of having to cut back."
Dove House Hospice in Hull is facing a deficit of £400,000 and says it has seen its money cut in real terms.
Finance director Chris Sadler said: "That is not something we could sustain indefinitely. The only way we can really save costs is to shut beds."
Bosses at Grimsby's St Andrew's Hospice said it may have to cut services as it forecasts a £100,000 deficit this year.
Two thirds of the hospices in England are run by the voluntary sector, providing support to the NHS.
St Andrew's Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Jane Whenham-White said: "The government told us two years ago that end-of-life care was its top priority and it had a strategy to meet that need.
"But they haven't yet come up with any funding.
"Because we actually haven't got a guaranteed income it is very, very difficult for us to plan our services.
"The only way to cut costs is to lay staff off, close beds or drop services.
"We don't want to do that, but we may have to if the funds are not available."
She said the hospice was relying more and more heavily on income generated by its shops and a lottery scheme.
"The worst thing is that because of the geographic area we cover we have been told we should have 16 adult beds here and we've only got eight.
"That means at a time when we should be doubling the number of beds we're actually facing the real prospect of having to cut back."
Monday, 6 August 2007
NHS malnutrition cases jump 64%
The number of people leaving NHS hospitals in England malnourished has risen by almost two thirds so far this decade, official figures have revealed.
The London Metro newspaper reports that there was a 64% jump to 2,265 cases in 2005/6, compared to 2000/1 figures.
The rise comes as the number of meals left untouched by patients grew by 22% to 13 million.
Whether the reason for this rise is unappealing hospital food, or insufficient supervision by hospital staff of those patients at risk of not feeding themselves properly, clearly greater investment is needed either to relieve over-stretched staff or in better quality food.
What are MPs doing to tackle this basic problem, before considering lavishing a 63% increase in payments to the audit-failing EU?
The London Metro newspaper reports that there was a 64% jump to 2,265 cases in 2005/6, compared to 2000/1 figures.
The rise comes as the number of meals left untouched by patients grew by 22% to 13 million.
Whether the reason for this rise is unappealing hospital food, or insufficient supervision by hospital staff of those patients at risk of not feeding themselves properly, clearly greater investment is needed either to relieve over-stretched staff or in better quality food.
What are MPs doing to tackle this basic problem, before considering lavishing a 63% increase in payments to the audit-failing EU?
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