News Snippets

Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson took a break from the stressful world of football to help Disabled Living and Salford City Council launch their new £750,000 purpose-built, state of the art ‘Disabled Living Centre’. Sir Alex spent the afternoon learning all about Disabled Living’s new headquarters and range of services, taking a tour of the brand new building, meeting staff and users and unveiling a special plaque.

More about.... Sir Alex Ferguson opens Disabled Living Centre

Clinicians and researchers are invited to bid for infrastructure funding to support collaborations between the NHS and industry to lead to the development of medical devices and healthcare technologies.

More about.... Medical Device funding bids

‘3 million lives’ will extend the reach of telehealth and telecare, to improve the lives of many people with long term conditions and social care needs. Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services has re-affirmed his commitment to working with industry to improve the lives of millions of people by publishing a Concordat with the four trade associations representing the telehealth and telecare industry.

More about.... Telehealth and Telecare Concordat launches

A leading urologist has called for the subject of urinary incontinence to be spoken about more openly to stop it being dubbed a ‘taboo’. Emeritus consultant urologist to the North Bristol NHS Trust, Professor Roger Feneley was speaking following the launch of the world’s first intelligent catheter leg bag with an electrical pump by UK-based Albert Medical Devices.

More about.... Incontinence should not be a taboo, says leading urologist

Patients across the country will benefit as the NHS receives a cash injection of up to £100 million to boost services in their communities, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced. The Department of Health is providing up to £100 million in additional funding to doctors in emerging Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to improve local services and reduce pressures on the NHS during the colder months.

More about.... £100 million boost for community services

Scientists are reporting the development and successful tests in humans of a sensor array that can diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) from exhaled breath.

More about.... MS diagnosis development

As growing numbers of public venues acknowledge the need for fully accessible washroom provision, leading provider Total Hygiene is making a significant commitment to help ensure specifiers and operators achieve ‘best value’ in delivering consumer requirements.

More about.... Changing Places development

Sarah Ezekiel, who suffers from motor neurone disease, has regained independence and control of her home life, thanks to leading-edge eye tracking equipment supplied by assistive technology specialists RSLSteeper.

More about.... Patient with MND regains independence through eye controlled home

Three million lives could be improved across England thanks to new high-tech healthcare. After seeing the technology in practice in Cornwall Care Services Minister Paul Burstow, has pledged to make it available to more people with long term conditions. In order to make this a reality, over the next five years the Department of Health will work with industry, the NHS, social care and professional organisations to bring the benefits of assistive technology such as telehealth and telecare to millions of people with long term conditions.

More about.... Millions could be helped with telecare and telehealth

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has launched a new deal to help older people to continue living comfortably in their own homes - with particular support for those leaving hospital. With nearly one in five of the whole population expected to be aged 65 or over by 2020, Ministers are determined to ensure elderly, vulnerable people get the help they need to live independent lives, and can be safe in the knowledge that they won't get ripped off by dodgy dealers and fraudsters.

More about.... More help for people leaving hospital

Health Minister Edwin Poots has launched a remote telemonitoring healthcare system which will be used by up to 20,000 patients across Northern Ireland. The £18m system will help to improve health outcomes for patients with long-term conditions through better engagement with clinicians and enhanced self-management. The contract has been led by the European Centre for Connected Health (part of Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency) who worked in partnership with, and on behalf of, the five Health and Social Care Trusts.

More about.... Telemonitoring to help 20,000

There has been a record surge in people going online for trusted health information and advice over the winter period, according to new figures from NHS Choices and NHS Direct. Daily visits to the NHS Choices website from October to the end of December were up 56 per cent compared to the same time last year, despite lower levels of flu so far this year. This equates to 133,000 more visits a day this year (368,000), in contrast with the same period in 2010, in which there were 235,000 visits a day.

More about.... Winter surge for online trusted health information