CQC whistleblower 'subjected to mental health assessment'

CQC whistleblower 'subjected to mental health assessment': A high-profile whistleblower at the Care Quality Commission, the health watchdog, was subjected to a mental health assessment after raising concerns about poor leadership and performance at the organisation, internal documents show. Telegraph

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters

Launch of part two of the single operating model for strategic health authority clusters:
A letter sent out on the 3 August  indicates the launch of part two of the single operating model (SOM) for strategic health authority (SHA) clusters, focussing on SHA oversight of NHS trusts to support the foundation trust pipeline.
The guidance for this next stage of the SOM details the rationale for this launch alongside the detail of the model and the associated tools to deliver this.
Write-able versions of the self certification templates can be found below. Further tools may be issued following this launch to supplement these.

• single operating model: part two letter
  
• delivering the NHS foundation trust pipeline: single operating model part 2 – SHA oversight of NHS trusts

• writeable self-certification templates (Excel 2003)

• writeable self-certification templates (Excel 2010)

Read the single operating model part one

Department of Health

Views sought for review of cosmetic procedures

Views sought for review of cosmetic procedures:
A major review of cosmetic surgery and procedures is launched today by the Department of Health.
The review, led by NHS Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, wants people to give their views on and share their experiences of the cosmetic surgery industry and cosmetic procedures. A call for evidence asks for views on:

• the regulation and safety of products used in cosmetic interventions
• how best to ensure that the people who carry out procedures have the necessary skills and qualifications
• how to ensure that organisations have the systems in place to look after their patients both during their treatment and afterwards
• how to ensure that people considering cosmetic surgery and procedures are given the information, advice and time for reflection to make an informed choice
• what improvements are needed in dealing with complaints so they are listened to and acted upon.

This comes as a survey shows that many people consider the cost of surgery more important than the qualifications of the people doing it or how they will be looked after.

• Read Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions: Call for Evidence
• Send your views online

A team of experts will assist Sir Bruce Keogh to gather evidence and make recommendations to the Government by next March.
The review, requested by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, is in response to concerns raised about the industry following the PiP breast implant controversy. Department of Health

New briefings for health and wellbeing boards

New briefings for health and wellbeing boards: The NHS Confederation has published two new resources for health and wellbeing board (HWB) members. The briefings aim to help both GP commissioners and local authorities understand some of the structural and cultural differences between the NHS and local government. The briefing for GP Commissioners includes information on what councils do, how they are structured and how they work across tiers. The purpose is to help commissioners understand more about local government and suggest ways of bridging structural and cultural differences to build strong, productive local partnerships. The briefing for local councillors and officers explains the implications of the changes introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and includes tips for councillors when working with health colleagues and for strong and cohesive working.

Briefing for GP Commissioners: http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Documents/government-guide-commissioners.pdf

Briefing for local councillors and officers: http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/Documents/gp-commissioners-councillors-officers.pdf

CASH Full news feed

End blacklisting of NICE-approved drugs

End blacklisting of NICE-approved drugs: PCT clusters and CCGs should publish information which sets out which NICE technology appraisals are included in their local formularies from April 2013. NICE

Diabetes prescriptions up by 50% in six years

Diabetes prescriptions up by 50% in six years:

Data shows how diabetes is having growing impact on health service
Diabetes prescription numbers topped 40m for the first time last year, according to official figures. The number of diabetes prescriptions rose by nearly 50% in six years, from 27.1m in 2005-06 to 40.6m in 2011-12, data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows.
Net cost of diabetes drugs also rose by just under 50% during the same period, according to the report. In 2005-06 diabetes drugs cost the NHS £514m. Last year they cost £760.3m.
The growth is much greater than the rise seen in prescription numbers overall, at 33%. As a result, diabetes drugs take up a bigger share of both total drugs dispensed and the total net cost to the NHS each year.
While the overall cost of drugs to the NHS fell last year by 1%, the diabetes drugs bill increased by nearly 5%.
Tim Straughan, HSCIC's chief executive, said: "Our figures show diabetes is having a growing impact on prescribing in a very obvious way, from the amount of prescriptions dispensed to patients in primary care to the annual drugs bill costs to the NHS.
"Other reports we produce, such as our National Diabetes Audit and the Quality and Outcomes Framework, also demonstrate the impact of diabetes is widespread in all areas of the health service, from pharmacy to hospital care. When all this information is considered together, it presents a full and somewhat-concerning picture of the increasing impact of this condition." Guardian