The Office for National Statistics must be granted the same independence from political interference as the National Audit Office if public confidence in the UK's economic data is to be restored, a...
GPs will refuse to take up practice-led commissioning because the payment by results system is riddled with errors and there is no means of rectifying mistakes, primary care representatives are...
Despite ministers' rhetoric, the long-awaited reform of Incapacity Benefit outlined this week drew on a familiar political solution to a troubling financial issue: cut basic state payments to...
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt has ruled out any extra government cash to fund equal pay despite union warnings that prevaricating could cost it more in future.
The creation of a single inspection body for the entire criminal justice system would dilute the effectiveness of the prisons' inspectorate, its head has warned.
Campaigners called on the government to clarify responsibility for funding cancer services this week after a report highlighted significant variations in death rates.
The Audit Commission is holding talks with the Department of Health on the introduction of a 'policing' system for payment by results to prevent trusts from 'gaming' the new NHS finance system.
The health service in Scotland might face a shortage of staff in the future because of poor strategic planning, the Scottish Parliament's health committee claimed this week.
The extent to which ethnic groups have their differing needs met by public services is to be more closely monitored under a new race equality plan launched by the Home Office this week.
A Conservative government would save £35bn on government spending by 2007/08 under the spending plans outlined by Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin this week.
Local government is being forced to choose between paying its staff equally or delivering essential services, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis claimed this week.
Seven more councils could be encouraged to contract out their struggling social services to other local authorities if a groundbreaking £3.6m rescue deal proves successful.
Welsh confidence has been dented. The young Assembly government was determined to be different and remodel the NHS around the principle of health promotion rather than the target-driven regime...
Primary care trusts will be forced to set up their own on-line booking services for hospital appointments to overcome GPs' reluctance and meet government targets on Patient Choice, their...
Reform of public sector pensions looks set to destroy any hopes the government had of an easy ride up to the general election, with unions agreeing on a national day of campaigning next month.
The Department of Health has denied that ministers are postponing a key element of the NHS payment by results system because it could have put trusts' financial problems under the general election...
