| Psych-cow-ology The "cow whisperer" brought in to help make animals happier bbc.co.uk |
Plan to switch patients to cheaper drugs is scrapped Plans to force pharmacists to switch patients from branded medicines to cheaper generic alternatives have been abandoned by ministers over safety fears. telegraph.co.uk |
Inchape closes car dealers and 500 staff Inchcape will offload 10 of its car dealerships in UK, Singapore, Greece and BelgiumSlowing sales have forced car dealer Inchcape will sell 10 dealerships in a cost-cutting move that will reduce its staff by 500.Inchcape has decided to sell dealerships in the UK, Singapore, Greece and Belgium – four markets it operates in that are not expected to grow next year. It employs 14,141 people worldwide but it was unclear today which dealerships would be affected."As expected, we saw a slowdown in new car registrations in the UK following expiration of the scrappage incentive and demand for new cars fell in Greece," said André Lacroix, the chief executive.By contrast, Hong Kong, Australia and South America have seen a strong industry recovery and conditions are also improving in Russia. The Hong Kong market is up 52% so far this year."The group has performed better than expected in the third quarter and Inchcape will deliver a robust earnings recovery in 2010, slightly ahead of expectations," said Lacroix.InchcapeAutomotive industryJulia Kolleweguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Is a potato-only diet good for you? A man in the US has eaten nothing but 20 potatoes a day for the past two months. The Magazine asks what such a diet might do to the body. bbc.co.uk |
Andrew Lansley aims to tackle health of vulnerable with better NHS care Health secretary plans health inclusion board to improve chronic medical problems among marginalised groups The coalition will tomorrow pledge to improve the health of vulnerable groups such as the homeless, sex workers and prisoners by providing them with better NHS care.The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, is setting up a health inclusion board to tackle chronic health problems among marginalised groups, many of whom often do not visit GPs, hospitals or dentists.He has recruited one of the UK's leading doctors, Prof Steve Field, who until two weeks ago was chair of the Royal College of GPs, to lead the new body of expert advisers. Its members – doctors, nurses, charities and specialist in reducing health inequalities – will assess whether the NHS is doing enough to increase access to services for such groups and reduce the gaps between their quality of health and that of other members of the population.Field said: "Andrew Lansley wants to make a big difference in health inequalities and to make sure that the most disadvantaged in society get the healthcare they need and deserve. The board will champion the cause of people who are vulnerable and socially excluded, such as the homeless and street sex workers."The move is part of a new approach to tackle health inequalities, which research suggests are as wide as during the Depression, and which did not improve under the last Labour government. More comprehensive details will be unveiled when Lansley publishes a white paper on public health."It's a scandal that life expectancy among homeless people is in the low 40s," said Field. "At a time when healthcare and lifestyle improvements mean that men and women are living longer than ever, some homeless people only live for about half the time average Britons do."Although some local NHS services do provide specialist care for the homeless, Field added, "it's appalling that the NHS has failed to deliver consistently good services across the country for disadvantaged groups."We want to ensure that all members of society, whether they live in Kensington or are homeless, receive the benefits of our ever-improving NHS."The board will also seek to improve care for groups such as problematic drug users, refugees, asylum seekers, those who have left care and young people who are not in education, employment or training. Improvements would save money because such groups cost the NHS disproportionate amounts of money, said Field. Homeless people spend eight times more time in hospital and make five time more visits to A&E departments than other groups."The coalition government is committed to tackling health inequalities," said Lansley. "We believe we have a responsibility to look after the most vulnerable."That's why, unlike Labour, we are putting our money where our mouth is and providing a ring-fenced public health budget, weighted towards the most deprived areas, to ensure resources are spent on preventative work, with incentives to improve the health of the poorest".Charles Fraser, the chief executive of St Mungo's, an agency for the homeless in London, welcomed the move as "the best template I've yet seen for addressing the very acute and entrenched health needs of this population. The NHS doesn't easily deliver tailored care to people with multiple health problems and who are defined socially rather than medically. We hope this initiative will end the neglect of homeless people's health and give them the same sort of universal healthcare which is offered to every member of the population."Fraser also suggested that regular health checks should be offered to all homeless people, he suggested.Andrew LansleyHealth policyNHSHealthDenis Campbellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |