Archive for the ‘PRimage press releases’ Category
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
As Health Secretary Andrew Lansley publishes further details on the NHS White Paper today, Judy Viitanen and the PRimage team had their mid-morning coffee break tuning into Mr Lansley’s live online White Paper Q&A via the Number 10 web site.
With clients in the pharmacy and healthcare sector, PRimage has been keen to know what the NHS Health White Paper would mean for pharmacists. So Judy was delighted and encouraged to hear some really positive comments from the health secretary on the value and potential of community pharmacy.
Andrew Lansley commented:
“Pharmacies are an under-used asset in delivering better health”
“ GPs have too often seen themselves and pharmacists in competition for resources. With GP-led commissioning I believe we will see a greater recognition by local consortia that pharmacy is an integral part and an effective part of how they can deliver services better, for example minor ailments and medicines’ use reviews”
“Through local authorities we will also be delivering local health improvement strategies, they can and should be developing preventative work with pharmacists, like the health check or Chlamydia screening”
“Under the pharmacy contract we had simply not seen the development of those additional services that was intended, we need to ensure that the pharmacy contract delivers what all participants wanted which is fair and transparent funding for dispensing and an increasing opportunity for pharmacy to offer health services”
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Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Mooching over the Sunday papers, Judy Viitanen has just read a good piece of investigative journalism in today’s Mail on Sunday on the dramatic increase in generic drug prices in UK and pharma companies excessive profits. 
Check out this link to read the 3-page article in full: http://bit.ly/dk2CK6
As an example, the piece cites two years ago, when a packet of hydrocortisone tablets cost the NHS £5 – and now the cost is claimed to be £44.
You’d think with the buying power of the NHS we’d get the cheapest possible prices – but as the article reveals, we don’t. This situation is clearly unacceptable – and needs to be reviewed.
So, as a specialist healthcare lobbying and communications consultancy, PRimage is pleased to hear that the Department of Health is evidently launching a review to examine why the cost of some generic drugs has risen so dramatically. In our view, Labour poured millions of pounds of tax payer’s money into the NHS and various PCTs and Procurement Departments, but clearly failed miserably to check just how the money was being spent!
The NHS as a huge customer should be able to negotiate huge discounts on these cheap medicines! Maybe NHS should manufacture their own generic medicines - and use the money from savings from removal of the PCTs to fund it? 
What’s your view?
There is certainly no profit being made from pharmacies in this. All the pharmacy gets paid by the Government is the price that they’ve paid the wholesaler, - (or at least, the Governments idea of what should have been paid. - which is frequently less!) - plus a dispensing fee of around 90p. That’s their profit!
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Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Have spent this morning assessing media reaction to NHS reforms. Very predictable!
The reforms have been broadly welcomed by right-leaning papers, who like the prospect of putting ‘doctors back in charge’, while left-leaning press raise concerns about a move towards a ‘pro-market NHS’ and public sector job cuts.
PRimage especially liked The Sun’s welcome of the removal of ‘thousands of NHS penpushers’ – and The Express’s description of the cost savings as coming from ‘taking the axe to bloated NHS management’ ……
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Monday, July 12th, 2010
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/LiberatingtheNHS/index.htm
Judy Viitanen believes Lansley and the Government need to factor in safeguards to ensure GPs are competent and appropriately incentivised to commission health services! A total focus on a medical model to revolutionise NHS services could risk diluting the great potential and benefits of other primary care services - community pharmacy, optical services, dentistry etc - and their valuable role in public health.
We were amused by Burnham’s quote that ‘PCTs are screwed’ in response to Lansley statement!
We are especially pleased that “Patients will be in charge of making decisions about their care.” … and their carers. 
Implications
implications for all health organisations in the NHS and very significant changes for PCTs and SHAs: PCTs will go by April 2013! Many staff will be worried … Thank God we have an end to tick-box targets! GP commissioning to be compulsory and ‘management allowances’ to fund it.
- patients at the centre of the NHS
- empowering clinicians and GPs in particular
- refocusing the NHS on outcome measurement.
The key highlights of the document, entitled Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, are listed below:
· Put patients right at the heart of decisions made about their care
· Put clinicians in the driving seat on decisions about services
· Focus NHS on delivering health outcomes comparable with, or even better than, those of our international neighbours
· Introducing an Outcomes Framework to set out what the service should achieve leaving the professionals to develop how
· General Practices responsibility for commissioning NHS services
· Real, local democratic accountability to healthcare
· Reward commissioners for delivering care in line with quality
· The Outcomes Framework will be supported by clinically established quality standards
· Reform the payment system in the NHS
· Patients will be at the heart of the new NHS. Our guiding principle will be ‘no decision about me, without me’
· Extend ‘personal budgets’, giving patients with long-term conditions real choices about their care
· An independent and accountable NHS Commissioning Board will be established
· The Care Quality Commission will safeguard standards of safety and quality
· Detailed consultation documents will enable people to comment on the implementation of this strategy
· Ensure patients’ voices are heard, so we will establish ‘HealthWatch’
· All NHS trusts will become Foundation Trusts
· Reduce the Department of Health’s NHS functions
· Phase out the top-down management hierarchy
· Publish a report setting out the future of NHS-related quangos. Meaning a reduction of at least a 1/3
· Reduce the Department of Health’s NHS functions
· Patients will have choice over treatment options
· All GPs expected to join commissioning consortia by 2012, says the white paper
Strategy:
- The government will devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to GPs and practice teams working in consortia.
- Every GP will be a member of a ’shadow’ consortium by 2011/12.
- Consortia will start taking on duties from 2012/13 and full financial responsibility from April 2013.
- Management allowances will be available to help fund commissioning.
- An independent and accountable NHS commissioning board will allocate and account for NHS resources.
- NHS commissioning board will calculate practice-level budgets and allocate these directly to consortia and will hold practices to account.
- GP consortia will include an accountable officer.
- Each consortium will hold its constituent practices to account.
- GP consortia will agree local priorities each year, taking account of the NHS Outcomes Framework.
- GPs will need to engage patients and the public in the commissioning process.
- Over time the DoH will seek to establish a single GP contract and funding model.
- PCTs and SHAs will be phased out.
- Patients will be able to choose which GP practice they register with regardless of where they live.
- The current performance regime will be replaced with separate frameworks for public health and social care.
- A new NHS Outcomes Framework will provide the direction for the NHS.
- The government will incentivise ways of improving access to primary care in disadvantaged areas.
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Monday, July 12th, 2010
The coalition government is set to launch its much anticipated NHS White Paper later today and with it major changes to the NHS system.
Amongst the main changes and market dynamics expected in the White Paper are:
- Compulsory commissioning for GPs
- Scrapping of PCTs and PECs
- NHS Board with regional offices will be established.
- Patients to have elected positions on boards
It’s likely that the White Paper will propose that around £80 billion should be handed directly to general practitioners who will then be given the power to invest the money in patient care as they see fit.
As a specialist healthcare communications and lobbying consultancy, PRimage is keen to see a new results-driven framework – which works for the benefits of patients. Labour’s top-down targets were way over the top and frustrated many primary healthcare professionals.
In our view it is crucial that Andrew Lansley and the Government stick to their plan to cut £1bn from NHS bureaucracy and use it to improve frontline services. It’s also spot-on to allow patients to be given more choice and control of their care.
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Friday, July 9th, 2010
Day Lewis Pharmacy Group – the UK’s largest independent pharmacy multiple - is urging people to keep hydrated, following official weather forecasts of high temperatures and a possible heat wave alert - which could pose health risks. Daytime temperatures could reach 29-30 degrees C, with a night-time minimum of 15-18 degrees C.
While most people enjoy a hot summer, it is important suitable precautions are taken. The heat is especially dangerous for the very young, older people or those with serious illnesses. In particular, it can make heart and respiratory problems worse. In extreme cases, excess heat can lead to heat stroke, which can be fatal.
Peter Glover, Day Lewis Superintendant Pharmacist, comments: “Heat exhaustion can happen to anyone in hot weather and if it isn’t treated it can lead to heatstroke, which can be dangerous and even fatal. To help prevent heat related illnesses during a heat wave, it’s best to stay in the shade wherever possible, and cool yourself down and stay hydrated by having plenty of water to hand, but avoiding caffeine and alcohol.”
Remember that if you must go out into the sun, to wear sun protection and comfortable clothing. It is important we follow the health guidelines, and look after both ourselves and the more vulnerable members of our community to ensure a safe and happy season for everyone.”
Top tips for coping during a heat wave include:
· Keep plenty of water to hand and stay in the shade where possible.
· Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.
· Shut and shade windows when it is hotter outside and open them for ventilation when it is cooler outside.
· People with serious health problems (for example heart conditions), should avoid going out in the heat, especially between 11am and 3pm.
· Drink cold drinks like water or fruit juice regularly and avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
· Stay tuned to the weather forecast and plan ahead with supplies – think of elderly neighbours who may need help with supplies.
· Identify the coolest room in the house to use as a room to cool down or sleep in.
The symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness or cramps, pale skin, and a high temperature. If you find yourself suffering from these, you should move somewhere cool and drink plenty of water or fruit juice. If you can, take a lukewarm shower, or sponge yourself down with cold water.
Contact your Day Lewis pharmacist, your doctor, or NHS Direct if you are worried about your health during a heat wave, especially if you are taking medication, if you feel unwell or have any unusual symptoms.
Day Lewis Pharmacies - Caring for our local communities
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Friday, May 21st, 2010
This terrible news story today – ‘Schoolboy, 15, hangs himself after ‘being plagued by bullies’ http://bit.ly/dxZhDg - highlights the urgent need for the new coalition government to take action and deal with the issue of bullying, especially in schools.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6dbJk4i0VY – Saving lives campaigning documentary is lobbying for affirmations in schools, to help deal with bullying and racism!
To find out more and to lend your support to this campaign, please contact: saving_lives@hotmail.co.uk or judy@primage.org
Posted in Alternative therapies, Blogging, By the way, Children's Health, Communications, Consumers, Crime, Education, Family, Lifestyles, PRimage press releases, Political Scene, Public Affairs, Social Issues | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 9th, 2010
As the General Election campaign gets underway, the three main political parties have outlined their key policies and targets for health. PRimage has reviewed these - and for Judy Viitanen and the team, our vote goes to the Conservatives. We totally agree with their view that the NHS under Labour has been totally target driven. This has to change! 
Read the summary below and let us know your views.
CONSERVATIVE HEALTH POLICY
The party says that “we can’t go on with an NHS that puts targets before patients”
Specific health policies and targets
Scrapping all politically-motivated process targets
Putting more detailed NHS performance data online
Improving cancer and stroke survival rates
Enabling patients to rate hospitals and doctors
Giving anyone the power to choose any healthcare provider that meets NHS standards
Opening up the NHS to new independent and voluntary sector providers
Linking GPs’ pay to the quality of the results they deliver
LABOUR HEALTH POLICY
Labour believes the NHS is its “greatest achievement”
Specific health targets if the party is re-elected:
Working to eliminate mixed sex accommodation in hospitals
Rolling out a national programme of vascular checks for everyone aged between 40 and 74.
To prevent at least 9,500 heart attacks and strokes every year and save 2,000 lives.
Extending the ages at which adults are screened so that an additional 500,000 women will be screened for breast cancer.
2 million men and women will be screened for bowel cancer
Training 3,600 more new psychological therapists to treat people with depression and anxiety.
Reduce the numbers on sick leave and benefits.
Giving every 11 to 14-year-old hands-on cooking lessons from 2011 to help reduce childhood obesity
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS HEALTH POLICY
Specific health policies:
Giving people control over their local health services
Introducing patient contracts
Improving access to GPs around the clock
Abolishing strategic health authorities
Universal care payments for those over 65 who require personal care
Closing medical wards and sending staff home during super bug outbreaks
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Friday, March 19th, 2010
Posted in Advertising, Alternative therapies, Blogging, Business, By the way, Children's Health, Communications, Conferences, Consumers, Crime, Economy, Education, Employment, Environment, Europe, Event Management, Family, Financial, Food and diet, Healthcare, Humour, Leisure Market, Lifestyles, Market Research, Marketing, Media, Men's Health, NHS, News Bytes, PR, PRimage press releases, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacy, Political Scene, Property, Public Affairs, Publishing and Literature, Retail, Social Issues, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Twitter, USA, Uncategorized, Web Links, Women's Health | No Comments »
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
PRimage has been involved in ‘Saving Lives’ - a very worthwhile factually-based campaigning documentary, written and produced by Kenan Hudaverdi, which aims to bring awareness of the issues of bullying, racism, domestic violence, drugs and crime. The campaign will lobby Governments and decision makers around the world. 
PRimage managing director, Judy Viitanen, co-narrated the documentary - which can be viewed on YouTube - and she is developing a special campaign web site, with the aim of setting up a charity to support the campaign’s aims. Please view the documentary on YouTube – and give us your support and comments! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6dbJk4i0VY&feature=autofb
You can also become a member of the Saving Lives Face Book Group - ‘I bet I can find 1,000,000 people who want to save lives!’
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