Can satisfaction with the NHS get any higher?

Can satisfaction with the NHS get any higher?: John Appleby analyses the results of the British Social Attitudes survey to see why our satisfaction with the NHS is so high. (Blog, 8 Dec 2011) Kings Fund

Government response to NHS Pension Scheme consultation

Government response to NHS Pension Scheme consultation:

Announced today over half a million extra staff will not need to pay any extra into their pensions next year. The government response to the consultation on proposed increases to employee contribution rates raises the threshold for freezing pension contributions in 2012/13. It will affect 630,000 staff in the NHS who earn up to £26,557 almost half the members of the NHS Pension Scheme.

This change will protect the lower paid in the NHS. The increase in employee contributions is shared among higher earners where the impact is offset by the benefit of tax relief for higher rate taxpayers.

Proposals for employee pension contributions in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and other changes following the Hutton review will be subject of further discussion with Trades Unions.

Read NHS Pension Scheme: Government response to consultation on proposed increase to employee contribution rates effective from April 2012

Press release: More NHS staff to benefit from NHS pension contribution freeze

VIDEO: NHS 'is failing surgery patients'

VIDEO: NHS 'is failing surgery patients': More than half of high-risk patients undergoing surgery on the NHS do not receive good care, increasing the risk they will die - according to a new review. BBC News

Medico-legal group warns 'tsunami' of guidelines swamping GPs

Medico-legal group warns 'tsunami' of guidelines swamping GPs: An 'impractical and burdensome' quantity of guidelines is swamping GPs and may mean crucial information is being missed, a medico-legal group has warned. GP Online

Who will pay the price of CQC failure?

Who will pay the price of CQC failure?: The Care Quality Commission has been deemed 'unfit for purpose' by many of those it was supposed to police, and heads are likely to rollWhen is a regulator not a regulator? When it's called the Care Quality Commission and has, critics say, either lost the confidence of many of those whom it seeks to police or even to quote Cure the NHS, the patient campaign group composed of relatives who died because of poor care at Stafford hospital become unfit for purpose. England's NHS and social care ... The Guardian

Chancellor confirms introduction of local pay in the public sector

Chancellor confirms introduction of local pay in the public sector: Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne has confirmed that he wants to introduce local pay in the public sector in time for the 2013-14 pay round. NHS Employers

NHS Employers/PSNC overview: Clinical governance requirements for community pharmacy

NHS Employers/PSNC overview: Clinical governance requirements for community pharmacy: Source: NHS Employers, PSNC (Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)

NHS Employers and the PSNC have published a document for community pharmacy that provides an overview of the clinical governance changes, confirmation of the approved particulars that are to be released, the transitional arrangements and the implications for pharmacies.

New report says there is a desperate need for government to wake up to implications of health reforms for children

New report says there is a desperate need for government to wake up to implications of health reforms for children: The Government must simplify and clarify the significantly more complicated system it has created for child health under its reforms says a new NHS Confederation report

NHS Confederation statement on NCEPOD report 'Knowing the Risk'

NHS Confederation statement on NCEPOD report 'Knowing the Risk': NHS Confederation deputy chief executive David Stout says NHS leaders need to give proper consideration to how they can best implement the report's recommendations.

£2bn extension for NHS IT

£2bn extension for NHS IT: Claims that a US company contracted to provide NHS IT has been given a £2bn extension. Healthcare Today

Patients to give GP surgeries TripAdvisor-style ratings

Patients to give GP surgeries TripAdvisor-style ratings: Patients will be able to compare how their GP practices are performing as part of the Coalition's reforms, the Health Secretary has announced. The Telegraph

Minister warns of 'institutionalised abuse' in learning disability homes

Minister warns of 'institutionalised abuse' in learning disability homes: Ministers have warned of the risk of "institutionalised abuse" in care homes and hospitals for people with learning disabilities, as five recent inspections showed four were breaking the law. The Telegraph

Unions say Lansley offer to protect low-paid NHS staff is 'divide and rule'

Unions say Lansley offer to protect low-paid NHS staff is 'divide and rule':

Ministers moved to split the union movement yesterday by announcing that more than half a million NHS workers will not need to pay more into their pensions next year, but those earning more than £26,000 will have to make up the difference. The Independent

Competition inquiry into healthcare industy

Competition inquiry into healthcare industy:

Private healthcare could face intense scrutiny over its practices after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) criticised the industry over competition issues and revealed plans to pass its investigation to a higher regulator. The Independent

RCN opposes Chancellor’s push for local pay deals

RCN opposes Chancellor’s push for local pay deals: The Royal College of Nursing has responded to a letter from Chancellor George Osborne to the pay review body opposing his proposal to a move from a national NHS pay deal to one based on regional negotiation.

Monitor reports good performance across foundation trust sector but highlights challenges ahead

Monitor reports good performance across foundation trust sector but highlights challenges ahead: Monitor has today published its review of NHS foundation trust performance for the second quarter of 2011/12.

Work and Mental Health

Work and Mental Health:

Advice on returning to work following a period of mental ill-health is available via an online work and mental health resource on the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s website. The information is divided into sections for workers, employers, clinicians, and carers. It addresses issues such as looking for work, disclosing information about mental illness to an employer, and support services or benefits available.