healthcare

The NHS Future Forum is to conduct a second stage of its listening exercise following a request by the government to assess its revised proposals.

Older people taking up personal budgets often face cuts to the level of care they can afford and are forced to do so because it is the only way they can continue to use their familiar care worker, according to new research.

The NHS is in good financial health after producing a surplus of £1.5bn over the last financial year but it faces a stiff challenge over the coming years.

More NHS services are set to be run by private companies after it was revealed that nine more primary care trusts (PCTs) are planning or are in the process of putting entire care pathways out to tender.

Groupama has seen its healthcare business revenues grow over the first six months of the year and further discussed its decision, announced this week, to sell the business.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has said it does not support Bupa's medical reviews for knee surgery because it has no input or control over the process.

Bupa has launched a new private medical insurance (PMI) product on to the direct market.

The Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII) has called revelations of NHS Trusts using cost cutting tactics that result in patients dying or force them into private treatment as "a cynical approach" and "regrettable".

Doctors have called on Britons to take greater responsibility for their health and voiced their fears that GP-led commissioning could harm patient care.

Surgeons' representatives have questioned Bupa's claim of support by the General Medical Council (GMC) for its knee surgery review procedure.