WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
| One wonders how the SNP would finance an independent Scotland without Barnett formula |
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New analysis from the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) reveals real-terms squeeze on non-health spending per person of almost 20% over the decade to 2020/21. The Institute has called for an ‘open and transparent’ debate on the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s devolved budget. In the report ‘Scotland’s Budget: 2017’, the FAI provides independent analysis of Scotland’s public finances ahead of the publication of the Scottish Government’s devolved budget in December. Analysis reveals that real-terms resource spending per capita on public services other than health is expected to be almost 20% lower in 2020/21 than it was a decade earlier. |
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Debate needed on long-term sustainability of Scotland’s budget: Fraser of Allander Institute IFS: Scotland’s Fiscal Framework does not satisfy Smith’s “Taxpayer fairness” principle |
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| What future for large nuclear projects? |
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The UK’s first subsidy-free solar farm was officially last week by Climate Change Minister, Claire Perry. The 45 acre Clayhill solar farm & energy storage facility near Flitwick in Bedfordshire, built by energy provider Anesco, is made up of over 30,000 solar panels - enough to power 2,500 homes. The solar farm will be the first in the UK to be built & operated without Government subsidy, following a fall in the cost of solar panels by two thirds since 2010. Battery technology also has an important role to play in making renewable energy a viable part of the UK’s energy network by ensuring energy can be captured and stored for use when needed. |
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BEIS: Subsidy free solar comes to the UK Greg Clark speech at Energy UK Independent review to ensure energy is affordable for households & businesses Guardian: Alarm sounded over delays to develop UK mini nuclear reactors ... |
| Vital to minimise antibiotic use in children |
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NICE has updated its guidance for diagnosing & managing urinary tract infections in children. The new recommendations give clear advice to GPs & healthcare professionals about how they can accurately test children’s urine for an infection. This will help to give them a better indication of whether the child needs antibiotics or not and therefore assist in the fight against antibiotic resistance, which can be caused by the misuse of medicine. A dipstick test offers a quick & painless way to check a child’s urine for signs that their body is fighting an infection. |
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NICE: Test children’s urine before prescribing antibiotics for UTIs Antibiotic resistance 'high among children with urinary tract infections' Most common ear infections should not be treated with antibiotics, says NICE Cancer Research UK: Prescription history could help GPs diagnose cancer earlier Teach children simple hygiene to help curb infections Success in NHS push to reduce avoidable antibiotic prescribing |
| Care shouldn’t end at the hospital exit |
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NICE is urging health & social care staff to support people to safely continue with everyday activities such as climbing stairs, dressing themselves or cooking after a period of illness or if they have been struggling at home. In a new guideline on ‘intermediate care’ issued recently NICE has set out how health & social care staff can support people to be independent following a hospital stay or when daily life at home becomes too difficult. The new guideline covers how to assess intermediate care needs, including setting goals with the person so that they can overcome the problems they are experiencing. NICE says staff should talk openly about any risks but in a positive manner so as not to discourage people. The aim is to ensure that people can confidently get on with the things they would like to do themselves whilst any risks are discussed & managed safely. |
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Time to move: Get up, get dressed, keep moving CQC: Guidance: Needs assessments on hospital discharge LGA responds to PACAC report on unsafe discharge from hospital The King's Fund response to the PAC report on discharging older people from hospitals NHS Confed comments on the Ombudsman report on NHS discharges In the bag: Making moving between hospital & social care better We have ‘known’ about the problem for decades, but little ever seems to be achieved |
| SME Supplier Locator update... |
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UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. The past 5 years have seen government make a priority of getting money through its supply chain into the hands of SMEs, by both setting targets and introducing new procurement mechanisms. Against this backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers. |
| 40+ years on |
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The government has announced reforms to payments supporting people who received infected blood during NHS treatment in the 1970s & 1980s. The DH published its response to the recent consultation on infected blood support and the special category mechanism on 28 September 2017. As part of this response, the government announced new payment ‘uplifts’ and a new special category mechanism (SCM) to improve financial support for those affected by the infected blood tragedy of the 1970s and 1980s. At least 2,400 people died and thousands more were exposed to Hepatitis C and HIV, with life-changing consequences, as a result of receiving infected blood. |
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DH: Infected blood scheme reform Infected blood payment scheme reformed ScotGov: Support for those affected by infected blood Current global shortage of hepatitis B vaccine PHE encourages hepatitis C testing Test people for infections as they enter prison, says NICE More options to be made available to treat hepatitis C Millions should be offered routine HIV testing, NICE & PHE say on World Aids Day |
| A potential less than healthy outcome from a country walk |
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New NICE guidance will help GPs, specialists and other health professionals spot a potential diagnosis of Lyme disease. It outlines when doctors can diagnose Lyme disease without the need for tests and when they should investigate further. NICE sets out how to diagnose and treat Lyme disease |
| No risk of ticks either! |
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Have you wondered what it would be like to cycle through traffic-free roads in central London? Now's your chance to find out by registering for the ballot for next year's Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100. |
| It’s bad enough that they have already suffered the violence |
| During his visit to New York for UN General Assembly week the UK PM’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, hosted an event to launch the Principles for Global Action on tackling the stigma of Sexual Violence. |
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FCO: Launch of the Principles for Global Action EU: Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict FCO: "This cannot become the new reality of warfare." UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra meets child survivors of sexual violence in Zimbabwe UK continues to lead on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Cooperating partners in Zambia commit to ending Gender Based Violence |
| Two ‘voices of reason’? |
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PM call with Chinese President Xi: 25 September 2017. Theresa May spoke to President Xi about trade, security cooperation and North Korea. 10DS: PM call with Chinese President Xi: 25 September 2017 |
| Off the sofa and onto the pitch |
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The power & popularity of football is helping more & more men lose weight – and experience the benefits of getting active. |
| Shine a light on great female talent today |
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Now in its eighth year, the 2018 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards will uncover & celebrates the most inspirational women working within STEM industries, demonstrating the vast range of career opportunities that the sector has to offer for women. This year’s programme will have a focus on celebrating & identifying role models to help inspire tomorrow’s world. techUK: Nominate Now For the everywoman In Tech Awards 2018 |
| Two more scams |
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Action Fraud is warning people to be wary following reports of a letter claiming to be from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). Action Fraud: Warning - Fraudsters send out letters claiming to be from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau – (Action Fraud: Counterfeit campaign warns of dangers of identity theft |
| Essential part of preventing terrorism |
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The government has taken steps to prevent the creation of a safe space for criminals & terrorists to communicate. Home Office: Action to stop safe space for criminal & terrorist communications |
| Proof we still ‘build things’ |
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British-designed & built technology being used in the hunt for gravitational waves has enabled another scientific first – and is now also helping fix broken bones. STFC: British technology at heart of gravitational wave discovery |
| Arnie is ‘back’ and helping the Dstl |
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It has been 3 years since the introduction of Porton Man, the life-size robot that mimics the movement of a serviceman in combat. Three years after it arrived, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Porton Man is proving its pioneering value by helping to shape the way the UK and the US develop the latest in suited protection against chemical and biological (CB) warfare. The life-size robot mimics the movement of a serviceman in combat. Built using lightweight materials developed for Formula One racing cars, it can walk, march, run, sit, kneel and lift its arms to sight a weapon like an infantry soldier. Since its introduction Porton Man has run over 200 miles, carried out an extensive number of trials and has been exposed to various chemical warfare agents. It has now been involved in an extensive number of chemical warfare trials and is providing ‘never seen before’ results, which will inform design of the next generation of CBR protection. |
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Dstl: 200 miles and countless tests - Porton Man three years on |
| Wheat crop in danger of ‘rusting away |
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New research reveals for the first time the most likely months & routes for the spread of new strains of airborne ‘wheat stem rust’ that may endanger global food security by ravaging wheat production across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the wider world. Now, a team of scientists of the University of Cambridge, the UK Met Office and CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre) have adapted modelling systems previously used to forecast, ash dispersal from erupting volcanoes and radiation from nuclear accidents (NAME), to predict when and how Ug99 and other such strains are most likely to spread. |
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| Still risk of Asian visitor ‘horning in’ |
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The National Bee Unit has confirmed a sighting of the Asian hornet at an apiary near Woolacombe in Devon. The Asian hornet is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than a bee. The FREE Asian Hornet Watch reporting app, launched last March & downloaded 6500 times already, allows people to quickly & easily report possible sightings of the invasive species and send pictures of suspect insects to experts at the National Bee Unit. |
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Defra: Asian hornet identified in Devon New app to report Asian hornet sightings Asian hornet outbreak contained in Gloucestershire and Somerset |
| Great fun, BUT are you ‘Legal’ |
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Most people will either have flown or seen a Quadcopter type drone being flown about. But how many of you are aware that drones present a hazard to aviation and are subject to the law through the Air Navigation Order? |
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More news, opinions, documents, claims & counter-claims; |
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ScotGov: Devolution must be protected Debate needed on long-term sustainability of Scotland’s budget: Fraser of Allander Institute |
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