Tax reforms have driven thousands of locum doctors and nurses into tax avoidance schemes – and are creating a staffing and mental health crisis in the NHS – an association that represents thousands of health professionals has claimed. Dr Iain Campbell, Secretary General of the Independent Health Professionals’ Association (IHPA), told the Plymouth Live he believes a combination of pressure from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to deny self-employed status to workers, and budget cuts, have caused NHS trusts to employ more freelance workers through Tax Avoidance Schemes, in a bid reduce staffing costs –because these allow the trusts to avoid VAT, Employers’ National Insurance payments, and giving workers holiday and sickness pay. A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Treasury, speaking on behalf of the HMRC and Central Devon MP Mel Stride, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury who oversees tax issues, said it had said seen no … [Read more...] about Tax reforms creating NHS staffing and mental health crisis
Nhs
NHS boss says new hospital in Grantham is ‘worthwhile idea’
Campaigners’ proposals for a new hospital on a health and social care campus in Grantham have been dubbed a “very worthwhile idea” by the top boss of the NHS.During a lecture at Lincoln University, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of the NHS, avoided tackling the A&E overnight closure directly, but praised plans for a new medical school in Lincoln.Fighting 4 Grantham Hospital campaigner Jody Clark took the opportunity to raise issues about the town’s hospital – including more than 1,000 days of overnight closure of the A&E, and the distances people were having to travel for emergency treatment.She and her supporters believe a brand new building to replace the old Grantham Hospital would be a boon to the town, reducing running costs and pollution, improving access and services and incentivising people to come and work in the area. This was particularly true she said, given the large-scale developments being built in the town. She says the site of the … [Read more...] about NHS boss says new hospital in Grantham is ‘worthwhile idea’
Why 36 patients could cost local NHS more than £100k a month
Patients waiting longer than a year for planned treatment could cost NHS budgets in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire more than £100,000 a month. Despite the clinical commissioning group’s zero-tolerance approach, as of February there were 36 patients breaching the 52-week standard. The body says it expects cut the number to zero by September, unless it is the patient’s choice to delay, although it could rack up a bill in the meantime. As of April the CCG now faces a monthly fine of £5,000 per patient, split equally with the relevant provider. The 36 patients in February would have cost them £90,000 each, although the figures for last month have not yet been confirmed. A report to the CCG's governing body meeting last week said: “Patients waiting over 52 weeks for planned treatment worsened in February, increasing from 25 to 36 and the trajectory of seven was not achieved. “This continues to be driven by numbers above … [Read more...] about Why 36 patients could cost local NHS more than £100k a month
NHS to fund wonder drug that could help North East children
Campaigners have won a victory in their battle to convince the NHS to fund a miracle drug which can prolong the lives of children with a rare genetic condition. Nusinersen, also called Spinraza and made by Biogen, is the first treatment that targets the underlying cause of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). And it is now to become available on the NHS for a time-limited period, potentially leading to treatment becoming available permanently. ChronicleLive has highlighted the case of six-year-old Sam McKie , from Forest Hall in North Tyneside, who suffers from the condition. Father Gary believes Sam’s life could be transformed by Spinraza, and joined dozens of supporters at a protest outside the offices of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in Manchester earlier this year. Seven-year-old Oli Crawshaw, from Whitley Bay, also has SMA. His father, Rob Crawshaw, has described the wait for treatment as … [Read more...] about NHS to fund wonder drug that could help North East children
NHS Nurses can get a FREE stay at Hallmark Hotels on Sundays
Hallmark Hotels are celebrating International Nurses Day by offering NHS nursing staff free stays on Sundays at its hotels. All NHS nurses are eligible for the special offer, which can be redeemed at any one of the hotel's locations across the UK until 1 December 2019. To claim the offer NHS nurses will need to use the IND19 code online at www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk when booking (or quote the code over the phone) and spend a minimum of £50 on food and drink in a Hallmark Grill or lounge bar. Nurses after a well-deserved break can select from any of Hallmark's 21 locations, which includes Glasgow, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester, Gloucester and more. The promotion is only valid on bookings made before 31 May, so anyone who is eligible will need to book sooner rather than later to take advantage of the savings. What's included in the Sunday-night breaks? Choice of any Sundays from 12th May to 1st December 2019. Choice of stay at any of the 21 Hallmark Hotels located across … [Read more...] about NHS Nurses can get a FREE stay at Hallmark Hotels on Sundays