Clinical commissioning groups – what do we know so far?

Clinical commissioning groups – what do we know so far?: In the past few days, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have come several steps closer to taking control of £65 billion of NHS spending. The NHS Commissioning Board published the results of the first wave of the CCG authorisation process last week, and today released more details about how it intends to support the development of the new approach to commissioning. The results of the authorisation process so far tell us important things about how CCGs are developing.

The abandoned illness?

The abandoned illness?: 100 years after the term ‘schizophrenia’ was coined, things are beginning to change, says Victoria Bleazard. The Schizophrenia Commission’s report ‘The Abandoned Illness’ and the National Audit of Schizophrenia have been published over recent weeks. The reality of living with the condition has been exposed – some of which makes for very uncomfortable reading. The Health Foundation

Determining arrangements for supporting research in primary and community care

Determining arrangements for supporting research in primary and community care: A discussion paper, Determining arrangements for supporting research in primary and community care, has been published.

Winter bug cases '83% up on 2011'

Winter bug cases '83% up on 2011': Latest figures show that cases of the winter vomiting bug norovirus have risen, experts say. BBC News

NHS 'blueprint' reveals GP commissioning and quality premium targets

NHS 'blueprint' reveals GP commissioning and quality premium targets: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be judged on 48 targets including death rates, a blueprint for the NHS reveals, and face four key targets to earn controversial quality premium payments worth up to £30,000 per practice. GP Online

Memorandum on leprosy: 2012 report

Memorandum on leprosy: 2012 report: This report has been published to provide information to both clinicians and consultants in communicable disease control involved in notifying and managing a case of leprosy. The memorandum draws on the best available evidence together with the specialist knowledge of the Panel of Leprosy Opinion. Leprosy is an uncommon disease in England and Wales, yet it remains an important disease globally with 250,000 cases diagnosed annually. Its importance lies in the need for early diagnosis and expert treatment and support, both for those with active disease and for those who are physically, psychologically, or socially affected by it. Health Protection Agency

Making integrated out of hospital care a reality

Making integrated out of hospital care a reality: This report presents a set of principles to act as foundations for delivering integrated out-of-hospital care. NHS Confederation

Everyone counts: planning for patients 2013/14

Everyone counts: planning for patients 2013/14: This planning guidance aims to help local clinicians deliver more
responsive health services, focused on improving outcomes for patients, addressing local priorities and meeting the rights people have under the NHS Constitution. It outlines the incentives and levers that will be used to improve services from April 2013, the first year of the new NHS where improvement is driven by clinical commissioners.

• Guidance
• Clinical datasets
• CCG outcomes indicator set 2013/14: at a glance
• CCG outcomes indicator set 2013/14: factsheet
• NHS Commissioning Board - news

21st century welfare: seventy years since the Beveridge Report

21st century welfare: seventy years since the Beveridge Report: This report examines the giant evils as conceived by Beveridge, places them in the context of today’s society and explores how they are experienced. It examines public attitudes towards the NHS and the funding of care and support in future.

• Report
• Ipsos MORI - publications

New NHS planning guidance puts patient first

New NHS planning guidance puts patient first: Many newspapers are reporting new planning guidance for the NHS released by the NHS Commissioning Board, which it says will "drive a revolution for patients…giving them greater control of their health."

Hospitals specialising in community healthcare are key to future of the NHS

Hospitals specialising in community healthcare are key to future of the NHS: Prevention and rehabilitation need to be more widespread if the NHS is to cope with the costs of ageing, say healthcare leaders

NHS trusts are enmeshed in private provision – as buyers and suppliers

NHS trusts are enmeshed in private provision – as buyers and suppliers:

FOI requests reveal NHS hospitals spending millions buying beds in private hospitals or profiting from patients who pay
NHS hospitals deal with private firms to buy and sell patient care and treatment services worth more than £500m, creating a marketplace for commercial healthcare companies in the English health service, an analysis by the Guardian reveals.

Surgeons' ranking system 'could lead to cherry picking patients'

Surgeons' ranking system 'could lead to cherry picking patients': Surgeons could be discouraged from treating "difficult" patients because of new tables that rank them according to how many people die in their operating theatres, it has been warned. The Daily Telegraph

Judge overrules mother over cancer treatment for seven-year-old Neon Roberts

Judge overrules mother over cancer treatment for seven-year-old Neon Roberts:
A seven-year-old cancer sufferer is due to have life-saving surgery today after a High Court judge intervened to order the operation against his mother’s wishes. The Independent

New detailed analysis about NHS staff pay in England released for first time today

New detailed analysis about NHS staff pay in England released for first time today: December 18, 2012: Average basic pay among NHS staff rose slightly in 2012 but by a smaller amount than in 2011, according to experimental data published for the first time today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).