The British Medical Association wants to peel away the spin put on the launch of the core contract for GPs. Family doctors have been developing new services, auditing their practice and keeping themselves professionally up to date for many years. Commitment to quality is not a Government invention forced on unwilling GPs The new contract option is just another
mechanism for achieving high quality patient care.

Read more on QUALITY HEALTH CARE NOT A GOVERNMENT INVENTION…

Prime Minister Tony Blair has launched the UK online campaign without the portal ‘UK Online’ that is to give access to all government services. The contract for the portal, which eventually will be the citizen’s main connection to interactive services dealing with tax, employment, licensing, passports and other national and local government functions, was won by BT in April 2000. The launch was scheduled to be part of the campaign ‘UK online’ and initially it was to provide services relating to having a baby, going away, dealing with crime and moving home. A revised launch date has not been announced.The UK online campaign is a partnership between Government, Industry, the voluntary sector, and consumer groups to make the UK one of the world’s leading knowledge economies. The Government is working to ensure that everyone who wants it will have access to the internet by 2005 and to deliver all its services electronically by 2005. The campaign includes a raft of initiatives and major investment to get people, business and Government itself online. The first wave of partners in the drive to make Britain a leading knowledge economy include the CBI, the TUC, the IOD, the Consumers Association and major businesses, from BT to the Royal Bank of Scotland, from Microsoft to the BBC.

Read more on PROJECT DELAY CASTS SHADOW ON LAUNCH OF UK ONLINE…

Two thirds of parents responding to a survey recognised they have a role to play in helping their children to learn. Many feel unsure about how to help. The Department for Education and Employment has launched an initiative to remedy the situation and bring more parents into the learning process.A new package of materials will open up the secrets of the curriculum and give parents an insight into what is going on in school. In addition to the National Curriculum Guide, there are books for parents of nursery, primary and secondary children showing what their child is learning at school and why. There is also a new, free magazine ‘Parents & Schools’ with practical advice as well as leaflets on favourite school topics.

Read more on PARENTS GET BRIEFING ON HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN…