Patients and PPI | Primary Care Today

Patients and PPI

Public fear of dentists, higher than seeing GPs

Fear of dentists and worries about the cost of dental care combine to delay trips to sort out dental problems but regular dental check-ups can help to prevent a series of health problems including heart disease, pneumonia and diabetes, according to the British Dental Association.
Caldicott backs patients’ right to confidentiality

Patients will have the right to prevent GPs from handing over their records to an NHS database hosting details of family medical histories, alcohol consumption, waist sizes and other confidential patient information, said Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Healthwatch “bound and gagged” by Regs

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt should rethink new regulations for Local Healthwatch organisations, say leaders of the National Association of LINks Members (NALM).
Public, doctors, fear online records may breach trust

Plans to offer everybody in the UK access to their own online medical records will open a “Pandora’s Box,” unless “proper safeguards” are put in place to protect patient confidentiality, says Dr Stephanie Bown (pictured) Director of Policy and Communications at MPS.
StreetLink connects homeless with services

A consortium of 500 homeless charities across England has launched a people powered initiative called StreetLink.
Partnerships will transform NHS

Patients and local people must be more than critical friends and co-planners, “they must also become an intrinsic part of our system for creating better health and care,” said Dr Michael Dixon, Chairman, NHS Alliance.
Debate opens on latest NHS Constitution plans

Patients, the public and NHS staff can now give their views on the latest proposals to improve the NHS Constitution.
76% of GPs believe automated phone booking system is accessible to all patients

A nationwide survey amongst GPs looking at how patients book appointments found that over three quarters of respondents believe that their automated telephone appointment booking system is accessible to all patients.
NHS Patient Feedback Challenge projects announced

Nine ambitious patient experience projects are about to start spreading their ideas to other areas of the NHS, after being selected as winners of the NHS Patient Feedback Challenge.
Fewer than one per cent of GP surgeries provide online access to health records

Just one in 100 NHS practices are providing patients with electronic health records, despite evidence showing that patients who take up the service secure better health outcomes.