Research by The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency into portable equipment that can be used on the battlefield will soon benefit NHS patients. Work on developing equipment such as sensors that can monitor vital signs (heart, pulse rate etc) and provide other medical information that can that can then be relayed to a remote location, has progressed to the point where it can be used for non military purposes.The Treasury has made a grant of 10m pounds from the Capital Modernisation Fund to allow the equipment to be used by NHS patients in their homes as an alternative to spending time in a hospital. Initially trials will be restricted to a limited number of conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Patients will have all the equipment necessary for monitoring their condition, including a video link. The data would travel through the telephone line to whichever hospital was in charge of the patient’s treatment. The community nurse would play a vital role in providing ‘on the spot’ care.
Measures announced by Education Secretary David Blunkett to deal with disruptive pupils and the introduction of youth justice reforms are part of the Government’s joined up approach to tackle the growing problem of disaffected young people. Research shows that when disruptive pupils are excluded from school they are on a potential fast track to crime. Some 70% of excluded pupils enter the criminal justice system.The aim of the new education measures is to deal with the various stages of disruption and limit the number of exclusions whilst recognising that disruptive pupils have a harmful effect on the total school system. Learning support units, or ‘sin bins’, within schools will be increased from 420 to 1000 at a cost of 28m pounds. There will also be a recruitment drive for ‘learning mentors’ who will assist teachers in dealing with disruptive pupils. In a move to get excluded pupils off the streets and back into a school, there will be a payment of 3000 pounds for schools that take in pupils excluded from other schools. The target is to reduce exclusions by one third by 2002.
Read more on JOINED UP APPROACH TO DISAFFECTED YOUNG PEOPLE…