A principle of the NHS is that all patients are treated equally. But should that principle extend to effectively banning patients from buying treatments that may prolong their life, just because other patients cannot afford to purchase the same drugs? The tragic death of Linda O’Boyle in June shone a light on an […]
Co-payments – the inevitable reality for public services?: Health Service Review Read More »
Questions Of Cash: ‘Come on Lloyds, all I want is my debit card’ By Paul Gosling Saturday, 13 September 2008 Q In May, I opened an account with Lloyds TSB. I am still waiting for the debit card, in spite of more than 30 phone calls and three formal complaints. Without a debit card I
Questions of Cash: ‘Come on Lloyds: where’s my debit card?’: The Independent Read More »
Social enterprises are beginning to play an important role in the Government’s drive to extend public service choice and break down the old state public service monopolies. The creation of a social enterprise unit in the Department of Health led to a big increase in the number of social enterprises providing health and social
Enterprising journey for public monopolies: Public Eye Read More »
Trade finance by Paul Gosling The global ‘credit crunch’ has caused the financing of many commercial deals to fall through. Surprisingly, though, there is one financing activity that has not only resisted this trend, but has actually grown significantly – supply chain financing. Supply chain financing provides a secure basis
The Paul Gosling Column Treasury proposals to bring co-operative legislation ‘into the 21st Century’ have been strongly welcomed. But the updating of legislation for co-operatives and other mutuals raises fresh questions about whether the right legal and regulatory framework is in place for social enterprises – whose legislation is not being reviewed.
New co-op legislation is welcome: Co-operative News Read More »
Children in care Children in care are now more likely to be listened to by local authorities, but more needs to be done to make more children in care feel safe, according to the first Children’s Care Monitor report. While children are able for the first time to report regularly on their experiences, too
Listening to the children: Local Government Chronicle Read More »
Questions Of Cash: ‘I was broke, but my bank still charged me’ By Paul Gosling Saturday, 6 September 2008 Q. I was a subcontracted carpenter when business dried up unexpectedly and I found myself in the middle of London with few prospects and no money. I had to write cheques to survive. I
Questions Of Cash: ‘I was broke, but my bank still charged me’: The Independent Read More »
Legal services for Northern Ireland’s health bodies taken back in-house Legal services provided to health bodies in Northern Ireland are being brought in-house as part of the fallout from a massive fraud committed by a firm of solicitors against the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. A report from the Northern Ireland Audit
NI health takes legal services back in-house: Public Finance Read More »
Questions Of Cash: The ‘co-operative’ bank that failed to deliver when it was really needed By Paul Gosling Saturday, 30 August 2008 Q I have had a bank account, credit card and debit card with the Co-operative Bank for many years. I am now in the Philippines, a trip about which I pre-advised
Questions of Cash: Co-op Bank fails to deliver: The Independent Read More »
Questions Of Cash: On track for a refund at First Great Western By Paul Gosling Saturday, 23 August 2008 Q. I bought eight rail tickets from the First Great Western ticket office at Stroud station in March to be used for a holiday with friends a month later. I didn’t notice at the
Questions of Cash: On track for First Great Western refund: The Independent Read More »
The Paul Gosling Column The Co-operative Group’s decision to abandon the out-of-town hypermarket sector is being made to look very clever indeed with the massive jump in energy prices. True, prices are beginning to fall back – but the world is getting used to the idea that energy will always be expensive. Retail
Questions Of Cash: You’re a smarter investor if you can close Alliance & Leicester’s accounts By Paul Gosling Saturday, 16 August 2008 Q. I have written to Alliance & Leicester three times with no reply. My son had a “young worker” account that A&L changed to a premier current account, despite his already having
Questions of Cash: Smarter investors quit Alliance & Leicester: The Independent Read More »