Delight as axe is finally lifted from the under-threat daycare centre Favell House

Delight as axe is finally lifted from the under-threat daycare centre Favell House:

FAVELL House, a Northampton day centre for people with multiple sclerosis, will not close, NHS bosses have said, after they revealed funding will not be removed until a charitable solution is found. Northampton Chronicle & Echo

New managing sickness absence briefing available

New managing sickness absence briefing available:

The NHS is committed to reducing the costs of sickness absence by £555 million by 2013/14. Trust boards need to understand the variety of policies that can contribute to a reduction in sickness absence and embed those policies in the long term.

This briefing includes a variety of good practice examples from NHS trusts as well as a private sector business example. Also included is a useful checklist for managing sickness absence. NHS Networks

Guide to using quality improvement tools to drive clinical audits

Guide to using quality improvement tools to drive clinical audits:

This guidance aims to help implement improvements to health services through quality improvement tools that can be applied to the clinical audit process. NHS Networks

Scheme to support healthcare assistants unveiled

Scheme to support healthcare assistants unveiled:

The project
will be taken forward jointly by Skills for Health and Skills for Care – in partnership with unions, employers, regulators, educators and others. It will focus on areas like communication, confidentiality, nutrition and hydration, and basic observations.

It will help nurses know which tasks they can delegate and which they shouldn’t. And it will bring clarity to the training assistants need where they deliver more advanced tasks. NHS Networks

European Strategic Action Plan on antibiotic resistance published

European Strategic Action Plan on antibiotic resistance published:

The UK government, along with other European Union member states, has agreed this new World Health Organization (WHO) initiative on antibiotic resistance in recognition that ‘together we will have greater impact’.

The European strategic action plan on antibiotic resistance 2011-2016 recognises that antibiotic resistant bacteria do not stop at national boundaries and it is vital to:

• share information


• develop effective interventions to prevent and slow down the development of multi-resistant bacteria


• work together to stimulate the development of new drugs and diagnostics

The recommendations of the Action Plan include:

• strengthening surveillance of antibiotic resistance


• promoting prudent prescribing


• strengthening infection control


• promoting innovation and research on new drugs and technology


• improving patient awareness to develop an integrated approach

All European countries are expected to bolster a whole range of activities to tackle antibiotic resistance under a resolution passed by the European Regional Committee of the WHO. Department of Health

'One in 12 teenagers self-harm'

'One in 12 teenagers self-harm': Self-harm is common in teenagers, especially adolescent girls, a new study finds. BBC News

Lansley defends DoH's reluctance to publish NHS reform 'risk register'

Lansley defends DoH's reluctance to publish NHS reform 'risk register': Health secretary Andrew Lansley has defended the DoH over its reluctance to publish a report outlining the risk of NHS reforms. GP Online

Discontinuation of commissioning tools could drive up CCG workload

Discontinuation of commissioning tools could drive up CCG workload: A DoH decision to discontinue its support for the development of two commissioning tools could drive up clinical commissioning groups' (CCG) workload, the Nuffield Trust has warned. GP Online

ISB approves barcode wristband standard

ISB approves barcode wristband standard: The Information Standards Board for Health and Social Care has approved a requirement for all trusts to issue patients with barcoded wristbands - but they have been given yet another year to comply. E-health Insider

GPs face huge gaps in COPD funding

GPs face huge gaps in COPD funding: A lack of PCT investment in the 'gold standard' treatment for COPD is undermining patients' quality of life and increasing practice workload, a GP investigation has found. GP Online

With money in mind: the benefits of liaison psychiatry

With money in mind: the benefits of liaison psychiatry: This briefing outlines the benefits that the Birmingham RAID liaison psychiatry service has brought in terms of cost savings and improved health and well-being for patients. NHS Confederation

Exclusive: Lansley on the CQC, integration the reform risk register and ... - Nursing Times

Exclusive: Lansley on the CQC, integration the reform risk register and ... - Nursing Times:

Telegraph.co.uk

Exclusive: Lansley on the CQC, integration the reform risk register and ... Nursing Times Andrew Lansley has told Nursing Times' sister journal, HSJ, the Care Quality Commission is now running a “proactive and tough” inspection regime and revealed he does not favour further reorganisation of NHS regulation. In an exclusive interview, ... Health watchdog branded unfit for purpose by patients groups as concerns mountTelegraph.co.uk Quality of care for the vulnerableThe Guardian all 19 news articles »

Government pledges to cut NHS waiting lists

Government pledges to cut NHS waiting lists:

Too many patients waiting too long for treatment, health minister admits, with hospitals given no incentive to improve situation

The government has said it will crack down on NHS patient waiting lists in England, saying too many have to wait for a long time time to receive treatment.

The current target time for hospitals to see non-urgent patients is 18 weeks, but ministers are concerned there is no incentive to treat people once that period has elapsed.

It was reported that 250,000 people are still waiting for treatment after the target was missed in their cases.

A spokesman for the Department of Health confirmed the initiative was in place and said full details would be announced on Thursday.

The health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said targets under the Labour government had created "hidden waiting lists".

He told the BBC: "Because of Labour's perverse approach the NHS actually had an incentive not to treat patients.

"The new approach we will take from next year will clamp down on this practice. We will reduce the number of patients on hidden waiting lists, ensuring everyone gets access to the treatment they need." The Guardian

'Hidden NHS waiting lists' tackled

'Hidden NHS waiting lists' tackled:

The Government is set to launch a crackdown on the number of NHS patients in England who have to wait for an extended period of time to receive treatment. The Independent

The Quality and Outcomes Framework exception reporting 2010/11

The Quality and Outcomes Framework exception reporting 2010/11: SummaryThe Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) allows practices to exception-report (exclude) specific patients from data collected. NHS Information Centre