Personal health budgets: the 10 features of an effective process

Personal health budgets: the 10 features of an effective process: It draws on the learning of pilot sites in the region and nationally to outline the 10 features of an effective personal health budget process within NHS continuing healthcare. NHS Networks

Painkillers 'cause' of headaches

Painkillers 'cause' of headaches: Up to a million people in the UK are giving themselves severe headaches by taking too many painkillers, doctors have warned. BBC News

Health ministers' portfolios revealed by DH

Health ministers' portfolios revealed by DH: Conservative peer Lord Howe will remain the health minister responsible for primary care and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) following the cabinet reshuffle. GP Online

Hospitals on the Edge

Hospitals on the Edge: The Royal College of Physicians has published 'Hospitals on the edge: the time for action?' This report sets out the magnitude of the challenges facing acute care services. It is a call for action for all involved in the design and delivery of health services. The report suggests it is increasingly clear that the organisation of hospital care must be radically reviewed if the health service is to meet the needs of patients. Royal College of Physicians

Shake-up to employment law

Shake-up to employment law: The Coalition Government started a systematic review of employment law in 2010. This is the update. NHS Employers

Safe staffing for older people: RCN full report and recommendations

Safe staffing for older people: RCN full report and recommendations: This report, from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), sets out guidance and recommendations for the provision of good quality, compassionate and
safe nursing care for older people in hospital.

• Report 
• RCN - publications

Caring Conversations: Half a Million Voices: improving support for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) carers – one year on

Caring Conversations: Half a Million Voices: improving support for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) carers – one year on: As part of a series of Caring Conversations policy and practice papers focussing on carers, Carers UK and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have jointly produced a briefing looking at improving recognition, responsiveness and outcomes for BAME carers, to mark the first anniversary of the publication of the research Half a Million Voices.

• Briefing
• Carers UK - policy briefings

British Social Attitudes 29

British Social Attitudes 29: The National Centre for Social Research has released the latest British Social Attitudes report, a study of how people's lives are changing and their views on how Britain is run. It draws on three decades of data, and spans three recessions and seven elections. The results for health show a decrease in the public's satisfaction with the way the NHS is run.

• Full report
• Health
• National Cenre for Social Attitudes - press release

Cancer support offered by libraries

Cancer support offered by libraries:


Macmillan Cancer Support and Glasgow Life are collaborating in order to offer cancer support and information at libraries across the city.The new project, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, wants to ensure that people with cancer are able to get support from their local community.A Macmillan Service Delivery Manager will lead a team of volunteers at 25 libraries around Glasgow.The... Healthcare Today

Complaints about doctors at 'record high'

Complaints about doctors at 'record high':

The number of complaints against doctors in the UK is on the rise, according to widespread media coverage. The Daily Telegraph has reported that complaints have reached a “record high”, while the Daily Mail says that GPs are “rude, dishonest and hard to understand”.

Eleven NHS foundation trusts have serious financial problems, MPs told

Eleven NHS foundation trusts have serious financial problems, MPs told: Provision of services to change at struggling south London trust, and finances of 13 other trusts under scrutiny. Key services are set to end at hospitals operated by a debt-ridden NHS trust in south London as part of efforts to rescue it, and a growing number of NHS organisations are getting into financial trouble, MPs have been told.

Hundreds of patients dying of thirst in Britain's hospitals

Hundreds of patients dying of thirst in Britain's hospitals: Hundreds of hospital patients are dying of dehydration each year, official figures show. The Daily Telegraph

Drug giants give up on Alzheimer's cure

Drug giants give up on Alzheimer's cure:
The world's leading pharmaceutical companies are downgrading the search for new treatments for Alzheimer's disease after the failure of a series of high-profile drugs trials. The Independent

Poisons experts issue warning about wild mushroom foraging

Poisons experts issue warning about wild mushroom foraging: Wild food enthusiasts are being urged to take extra care when foraging for mushrooms because of the risk of picking toxic varieties, says the Health Protection Agency's poisons experts. Health Protection Agency