Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
You are here:
- Home >>
- News >>
- Recent stories
Recent stories
A week rarely passes by without the Department making a major announcement. The Recent stories area is updated whenever such an announcement is made to ensure that you are kept up to date.
NHS staff help develop measures of quality care
18 November 2008
NHS staff in England are helping to develop new standards to measure and improve the quality of care in the NHS.
Government welcomes taskforce report on organ donation
17 November 2008
Alan Johnson calls for 25 million people to be on the organ donor register by 2013.
Corner shops to help customers eat their greens
13 November 2008
Corner shops in the north east to help get the country eating more fruit and vegetables.
Change4Life coalition is launched
12 November 2008
Health Secretary Alan Johnson announces the launch of the Change4Life coalition.
Nine towns to share £30 million to kick start Change4Life movement
10 November 2008
Alan Johnson announces nine "Healthy Towns" to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Sir Michael Parkinson and Phil Hope launch first dignity in care award.
10 November 2008
The first ever award to recognise people who treat patients with dignity and respect was launched today.
New sudden cardiac death database to save lives
7 November 2008
A database launched today will help identify the incidence and causes of sudden cardiac death and save the lives of people who may currently be at risk from the inherited heart condition.
Health Minister announces £500,000 partnership fund
6 November 2008
A new fund to promote and develop partnership working between employers and trades unions was announced today by Health Minister Ann Keen.
New smokefree 'Scared' campaign launches
31 October 2008
A new Smokefree campaign, designed to motivate smokers to quit, portrays the fears that children have of their parents dying from smoking.
Consultation on GP Quality Incentive Scheme launched
30 October 2008
Delivering the best possible care for patients and addressing health inequalities will be at the heart of proposed changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), announces health minister Ben Bradshaw.
Public give their views on care and support
27 October 2008
People in London get the opportunity to talk to care services minister Phil Hope about the future of care and support.
Photos from Phil Hope's visit to St Helens Hospital
23 October 2008
We've selected the best photos from Phil Hope's visit to St Helens Hospital in Merseyside, the 100th new hospital to be opened since 2000.
NHS meets key commitments on waiting times and tackling infections
23 October 2008
NHS staff are making excellent progress against two key priority areas - reducing waiting times to 18 weeks and cutting clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections.
100th hospital scheme opens doors to patients
22 October 2008
St Helens Hospital in Merseyside, the 100th hospital to be built under the biggest hospital building programme in the history of the NHS, has admitted its first patients.
Older people's quality of life improved through national scheme
22 October 2008
Almost 100,000 older people have benefitted so far from a £60 million scheme to keep them in their homes and out of hospital and residential care, according to a report published today by Care Services Minister Phil Hope.
NHS Direct joins forces with NHS Choices online
22 October 2008
From the end of October, the public will be able to access all NHS online health information from one website, www.nhs.uk.
Patients to refer themselves for NHS treatment
21 October 2008
More people will have the freedom to self-refer for services such as physiotherapy and podiatry, which will further empower patients
and cut waiting times.
New line of defence for heart attacks
20 October 2008
Primary angioplasty is set to become the nation’s first line of treatment for heart attacks, saving hundreds of lives each year.
Health Minister to lead development of NHS Constitution
17 October 2008
Health Minister Ann Keen has been confirmed as the new ministerial lead for the NHS Constitution, it was announced today.
Government consults on safeguarding vulnerable adults
16 October 2008
Care Services Minister Phil Hope today launched a consultation on how to improve safeguarding policy, the protection of vulnerable adults, and address abuse in all its forms in the care system.
Annual health check shows significant improvements across NHS
16 October 2008
Healthcare Commission report rates 42 trusts as 'excellent', over twice as many as last year.
Additional links
Access keys
