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Consultations
DH: Patients, staff & stakeholders are being invited to share their views (by 6 April 2010) on a strategy to tackle the growing problem of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England published by the Department of Health. COPD is thought to affect over 3m people in England, but less than a million of these have been diagnosed.
One of the main aims of the strategy will be to support the local NHS in identifying those who are not aware they have the condition and helping them to receive an early & accurate diagnosis and treatment to limit further damage. The strategy also looks at care for people with asthma, as it is often confused with COPD and there are similarities in treatment for the two conditions.
Press release ~ Consultation on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ~ British Lung Foundation ~ Asthma UK
DWP: The next step in a shake-up of the way disabled people use state funding took place last week, as Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, named the Trailblazer areas which will test the Right to Control, which gives disabled adults more choice & control over the state funding they receive – allowing them to shape the support they receive, or use the money to buy their own services or equipment.
The government has also published a consultation (closes on 19 May 2010) on the regulations that will govern the trailblazers. This is aimed at Trailblazer authorities & local disability organisations.
Press release ~ Right of Control consultation (scroll down)
DH/HO: New proposals on the access of foreign nationals’ to the NHS, aimed at preventing health tourism ‘ hhave been set out by the Department of Health. The proposals include failed asylum seekers who are not co-operating with the UK Border Agency should not be entitled to free healthcare, but those who are cooperating will not have to pay for NHS treatment’. The consultation runs until 30 June 2010..
Linked to this, the Home Office is also consulting on a proposal to refuse entry to the UK to those who have significant outstanding debts for previous NHS treatment. This consultation runs until 28 May 2010.
Press release ~ A Consultation of the review of access to the NHS by foreign nationals ~ DH: Overseas visitors ~ HO consultation: Refusing entry or stay to NHS debtors
