Policy Announcements, Thursday 10th May

Government

• As part of reforms to deliver a patient-led NHS and to meet targets to cut waiting times by 2008, the Department has involved the independent sector in delivering health services. These services are run by the independent sector, but funded by the NHS. The Department has signed a contract with to BUPA to provide approximately 6,000 NHS procedures a year across the region, including general surgery, gynaecology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, ear, nose & throat surgery and plastic surgery.
• The Government today pledged its support for legislation aimed at protecting the victims of forced marriages and preventing them from taking place. The Forced Marriages Bill is a private member's Bill that was introduced to Parliament by Lord Lester. The Government has been working to strengthen the draft legislation and laid amendments to the Bill in April that would provide greater powers for the courts to identify and protect victims of forced marriages. The amendments will be debated in the House of Lords today during the Committee stage of the Bill.
• £2m to increase access to therapy for people suffering from anxiety and depression. Following the success of the psychological therapies pilot programme in Doncaster and Newham, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt today announced new funding for a further ten pathfinder projects.