Women's mental health: no easy thinking, no easy solutions

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UK: criticism mounts over NHS reform but pharmaceutical firms may benefit

The UK coalition government is facing legal action from public services trade union UNISON over plans to shake up the National Health Service in a bid to find efficiency savings. However, the proposed reforms could benefit pharmaceutical companies, with patients gaining access to drugs previously blocked by the health service's cost watchdog.

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UK healthcare: NHS changes will have an impact - eventually

The grossly underfunded NHS is finally receiving some help. The additional funds will be used for modernization, financial incentives, paying debts, and increasing staff - all necessary steps to improve patient care. While this budget increase is only the first step in a 20-year program, any rise in NHS funding is good news for staff, patients - and medical device companies.

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UK healthcare: encouraging patient empowerment

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UK budget: uncertainty remains over intellectual property legislation

George Osborne, the UK chancellor of the exchequer, has attempted to appease branded pharmaceutical manufacturers in his 2011 budget announcement by introducing lower corporate tax rates and increasing R&D incentives. However, it is still unclear as to whether he will go even further and reform the Bolar exemption, which could harm generic drug producers, and lead to a rise in NHS drug spending.

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UCB: innovative payment scheme behind Cimzia approval sets precedent in rheumatology

UCB's new rheumatoid arthritis drug, Cimzia, has been recommended for use on the NHS but only in conjunction with a company-sponsored patient access scheme. As such, UCB will cover all treatment costs for the first 12 weeks of therapy. This is a shrewd way of ensuring Cimzia's use by the cost-conscious NHS, and could herald change in both prescribing practices and future NICE submissions.

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Telehealth: a talking point in the UK

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Stroke: two-fifths of UK emergency testing takes more than two hours

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NHS: improvements online

The UK government has recently relaunched the NHS website, an information portal designed to help the public find the health information and services they need. Health websites are already popular with UK consumers and the NHS' ongoing improvements should go some way to meeting remaining patient requirements.

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NHS Direct: patient demand drives change

A report on the quality of patient care provided by the nurse-led Internet and telephone service says that NHS Direct is reaching capacity. The findings reflect the growing trend among UK consumers to use new channels to search for health information.

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