Prescription Charges in Pregnancy

Mothers-to-be need to be aware of the need for a “maternity exemption certificate” in order to get free prescriptions. The NHS is catching and fining those who don’t have the certificate but still claim free prescriptions. Guardian news item at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/04/nhs-fines-mothers-for-claiming-free-prescriptions-while-pregnant.

Catch-up with Recent Items from NWL NHS

First of all, many apologies for the lack of updates over the last several weeks. I’ve been ill and most normal activity just wasn’t possible. Luckily (and thanks to our GPs) I’m now pretty much back to what passes for normal, but I’m still trying to catch up! I’ve had quite a few potentially useful …
Continue reading Catch-up with Recent Items from NWL NHS

Diabetes Transformation Programme

The following received from NW London NHS … The North West London Diabetes Transformation Programme have commissioned a Facebook and Instagram platform for people living with Diabetes/who have an interest in Diabetes which provides a peer support network. Just click on or cut and paste the links to join: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofknowdiabetes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friends_of_know_diabetes/

The Changing GP Job

Dr Clare Gerada, a senior GP and former chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, looks at the way the GP’s job has changed over the last 30 years. No wonder the NHS is haemorrhaging GPs, because it is not a pretty tale. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/22/my-30-years-as-gp-profession-horribly-eroded-clare-gerada [LONG READ]

NHS Complexity & Covid

Interesting and useful background article in BMJ this week, from three well respected academics, on the complexity of the NHS and how it is affected by Covid. It’s worth a read, if only for the perspective. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3128

Local Hospital Performance

NHS Tracker: How is the NHS in your area coping? Find out how your local NHS hospitals are currently performing with this app from the BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59592551. It doesn’t say, but one has to assume the information presented is taken from publicly available NHS performance data.