Friday 20 July 2012

£1.89bn repayment for £379m of vital PFI funded work

£1.89bn repayment for £379m of vital PFI funded work:
The total cost of building work and maintenance of the county’s schools, street lighting and hospitals, agreed under Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), will total almost £1.9billion by the time the deals have been paid off. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Updated guidance on viral haemorrhagic fevers

Updated guidance on viral haemorrhagic fevers:
The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) has published updated specialist guidance on the management of patients with viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) or other infectious diseases of high consequence.
The guidance replaces previous ACDP guidance issued in 1996 and provides advice on how patients suspected of being infected with a VHF should be comprehensively assessed, rapidly diagnosed and safely managed within the NHS, to ensure the protection of public health.
Read the updated guidance on Management of Hazard Group 4 viral haemorrhagic fevers and similar human infectious diseases of high consequence (PDF, 762K) Department of Health

Memorandum: An update on the government's approach to tackling obesity

Memorandum: An update on the government's approach to tackling obesity: This update was prepared for the Public Accounts Committee. It outlines the government's approach to tackling obesity in England. National Audit Office

999 recordings highlight pressures

999 recordings highlight pressures: Dramatic recordings of 999 calls highlight ambulance pressures BBC News

Video: BMA chairman explains decision to halt industrial action

Video: BMA chairman explains decision to halt industrial action: Watch BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter explain why BMA Council decided not to take further industrial action over changes to the NHS pension scheme. GP Online

Reducing agency spend - new best practice case study

Reducing agency spend - new best practice case study: United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust undertook a series of actions to understand and reduce their agency spend NHS Employers

Progress in implementing the 2010 adult autism strategy

Progress in implementing the 2010 adult autism strategy:
This memorandum outlines the progress that has been made in the two years since the adult autism strategy was published in March 2010. 24 of the 56 commitments in the strategy have been implemented, and work has begun on most of the remaining commitments. However, less progress has been made in some areas, such as improving access to social care assessments, personal budgets and diagnostic services, which can all help adults with autism to access services and support.

Rest assured? A study of unpaid carers' experiences of short breaks

Rest assured? A study of unpaid carers' experiences of short breaks:
This research describes the findings of a Scottish study into unpaid carers’ experiences of short breaks from caring. It explored, from the carers’ perspective, the benefits of short breaks (provided by formal services and family and friends), good practice in planning and provision, and areas for improvement.

£2.5m spent on NHS CB staff

£2.5m spent on NHS CB staff:
New figures in annual report covering the period October 2011-March 2012 have revealed that the National Commissioning Board Authority spent £2.5m on staff in the first five months of its existence.
The documents details staff costs including up to £265,000 for its chief executive and national directors, most of whom were only working for the NHS CB for 40% of their time. Chief executive Sir David Nicholson was... Healthcare Today

Public health briefings for local government

Public health briefings for local government: NICE has published a series of public health briefings for local government. The aim is to offer advice on the public health actions that are most effective and provide best value for money.

New skills check-up for doctors

New skills check-up for doctors:
Doctors are to have their skills reassessed every year to ensure they are fit to practise, the General Medical Council said. The Independent

New report shines a light on the quality of data across health and social care

New report shines a light on the quality of data across health and social care: A new report published for the first time today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shines a light on the quality of data across ... NHS Information Centre

Advocacy by and for adults with learning disabilities in England.

This report finds that from 2009-10 to 2012-13 funding for learning disability specific advocacy services fell by 15.1% as commissioners cut their total spend for self-advocacy organisations and also moved specialist contracts to generic advocacy organisations. Learning Disabilities Observatory