Council tenants who want to become involved in improving the estates on which they live may get the right to time off work so they can do so. The idea is included in plans to be unveiled by the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears in a move to make it easier for more people to volunteer for key roles in their local communities.

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The Improvement Network, set up to assist public sector managers and practitioners with partnership working to help deliver better services for local people is being extended. As part of this the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement has joined the Network, which already includes the Audit Commission, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Improvement and Development Agency and the Leadership Centre for Local Government.

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By Joshua Rowe

Keeping patients out of hospital benefits everyone. Patients are less stressed and anxious because they can remain in a familiar environment with the assurance that their condition is being managed. The NHS benefits because beds, equipment and resources are freed up. Patients with chronic cardiac conditions traditionally make frequent visits to hospital, so cutting the frequency has a big impact. The author describes how hospital visits are being cut by the use of telemedicine which provides ECG and weight scale readings from home.

Read more on TELE MEDICINE SUPPORT KEEPS PATIENTS AWAY FROM HOSPITALS…