Evaluating quality improvement: time for a new approach?

Evaluating quality improvement: time for a new approach?: The relationship between people who strive for quality improvement and those tasked with evaluating their efforts has not always been an easy one. Indeed, there have been some high profile fall outs over the perceived merits of improvement programmes, says Dale Webb. The Health Foundation

Winterwatch keeps public up-to-date

Winterwatch keeps public up-to-date:

A nationwide information service to help keep everyone safe and well this winter was launched today by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.

The online hub will provide regular updates about the increased demand on the NHS during the cold winter months and offer practical advice on keeping well when the weather is very cold.

Winterwatch will be published at 2pm each Thursday and you can sign up for the weekly Winterwatch email alerts.

It is the second year that Winterwatch has been available and, for first time, it will also publish information about flu, pressure on A&E and hospital statistics in one place. This will provide an invaluable source of information for health and social care professionals around the country.

Figures released today show that 29% of healthcare workers are currently vaccinated compared to only 11% this time last year. Although this shows a positive increase in the early uptake of the vaccination, the numbers are still too low and more work needs to be done.

Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, said: “The cold winter months bring additional risks to our health and well-being. It’s important we all look after ourselves and those around us to make sure we stay safe and well.

“Winterwatch will provide an invaluable source of information for doctors, nurses and commissioners around the country.“NHS staff keep our health service running and it is vital they continue to protect themselves, their patients and their families over the coming months.”The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, has today also announced that five hospitals will be able to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) this winter. ECMO is an additional treatment for patients with severe reversible respiratory failure.

Visit Winterwatch

Department of Health

HR agreement for staff affected by public health transition

HR agreement for staff affected by public health transition:

A best practice framework for organisational changes affecting staff as part of the transition between the NHS and local government has been published.

The Public Health Human Resources Concordat sets out a range of principles jointly agreed by the Department of Health, NHS employers and the Local Government Association. The Concordat was developed in partnership with employers and trade unions.

‘Our aim in developing this Concordat is to help ensure that the HR transition processes are transparent, fair and clear,’ said Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, John Ransford, LGA Chief Executive, and Sir Neil McKay, Chief Executive NHS Midlands and East SHA Cluster, in a joint letter. Department of Health

DoH must remove barriers to NHS integration, says NHS Future Forum

DoH must remove barriers to NHS integration, says NHS Future Forum: The government should allow local flexibility in NHS tariffs to help 'align incentives' for integration in the health service, the NHS Future Forum has recommended. GP Online

Training boosted for healthcare assistants

Training boosted for healthcare assistants: Unison welcomes plans to support the training standards of healthcare assistants unveiled by Andrew Lansley Public Service

Nuffield issues predictive risk guide

Nuffield issues predictive risk guide: The Nuffield Trust has issued a guide to choosing a predictive risk model for commissioners wondering where to turn after the government stopped funding for the two models developed for the English NHS. E-Health Insider

Free wi-fi 'would calm down A&E patients'

Free wi-fi 'would calm down A&E patients': Offering patients free wi-fi in accident and emergency waiting rooms would cut the number of aggressive and violent incidents, say designers. The Telegraph

Report reveals significant challenges for mental health tariff

Report reveals significant challenges for mental health tariff: A new report commissioned by the NHS Confederation's Mental Health Network shows that despite enthusiasm for the policy, the first tariff in mental health faces significant challenges. NHS Confederation

Integrated service improves care and saves at least £3.4 million in just one hospital

Integrated service improves care and saves at least £3.4 million in just one hospital: A study commissioned by the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network shows integrated services saved at least £3.4 million in one hospital alone. NHS Confederation

NHS waiting times force coalition U-turn on targets

NHS waiting times force coalition U-turn on targets:

Government forced to abandon opposition to NHS waiting time targets as number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks grows

The government has been forced to abandon its opposition to NHS waiting time targets and introduce a new rule to halt the growing number of patients not being treated within the promised 18 weeks. The Guardian

First rise in patients on mixed wards since ban

First rise in patients on mixed wards since ban: Hospitals reported 1,244 breaches of the guidance in England during October, compared with 1,079 in September. The Telegraph

Antibiotic-resistant infections spread through Europe

Antibiotic-resistant infections spread through Europe:

The world is being driven towards the "unthinkable scenario of untreatable infections", experts are warning, because of the growth of superbugs resistant to all antibiotics and the dwindling interest in developing new drugs to combat them. The Independent

Electronic Health Records: An International Perspective on "Meaningful Use"

Electronic Health Records: An International Perspective on "Meaningful Use": This issue brief describes the extent of meaningful use in three countries with very high levels of health information technology adoption—Denmark, New Zealand, and Sweden. Commonwealth Fund

Good governance

Good governance:

The Foundations of Good Governance by the Foundations Network Trust brings together examples of good and best practice. Good governance underpins effective leadership, management and accountability within NHS Foundation Trusts.

To access the document online you will need to login or register – if you already use NHS Confederation or NHS Employees websites you will have a login. Alternatively a print copy of the compendium is held in Poole Hospital library.

The Foundation Trusts Network website is well worth exploring for information on benchmarking, social enterprises (in Publications) and NHS management and finances (news). NHS Confederation