Doctors raise concerns via helpline

Doctors raise concerns via helpline: Figures seen by the BBC show a whistle-blowing helpline set up by the UK's regulator of doctors two months ago has led to 12 investigations into allegations of a "very serious" nature. BBC News

See also:

• Doctor 'unfit to practise', callers warn The Independent
• Doctors' phone line leads to GMC inquiries Healthcare Today

Hospital food schemes 'wasted money'

Hospital food schemes 'wasted money': The government has wasted more than £54m on "failed" schemes to improve hospital food, a Campaign for Better Hospital Food report says. BBC News

See also

• £54m down the pan over 20 years to improve hospital food, report says The Guardian

96 per cent of GPs don't do online records

96 per cent of GPs don't do online records: Many don't even know if their systems would be able to cope, despite a 2015 deadline to provide the option Public Service

Language support: challenges and benefits for users and providers of health and social care services

Language support: challenges and benefits for users and providers of health and social care services: This briefing paper identifies and discusses different approaches to language support in health and social care, by comparing the use of professional and volunteer interpreters. It identifies key implications for policy and practice from both a patient and a provider perspective, and offers an understanding of how interpreting can reduce health inequalities.

• Briefing

Using staff survey data to assist with an organisational response to the Francis report

Using staff survey data to assist with an organisational response to the Francis report: The national NHS staff survey provides a very useful source of data to help identify the scale and nature of any issues in many of the areas identified by the Francis Report. This resource sets out some tips and guidance on analysing local survey results.

• Guidance
• NHS Employers - news

HMRC investigating trusts

HMRC investigating trusts:
The taxman has started to closely examine the tax arrangements of hospital trusts amid moves by some to lawfully avoid paying VAT on outpatient drugs.
It has emerged that at least 30 trusts have brought in private firms to run their outpatient dispensaries and HSJ has identified two foundation trusts - South Warwickshire Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust - which have set up who... Healthcare Today

Suggestions that new drug numbers are falling rejected

Suggestions that new drug numbers are falling rejected:
A research team from Birmingham University has refuted suggestions that the number of new medicines available to patients in the UK is declining.
Writing in the BMJ Open journal, they said the number of drugs introduced in recent decades has risen, despite suggestions to the contrary.
They used data in the British National Formulary guide on drugs to look at how many new medicines were added between 197... Healthcare Today

Latest obesity stats for England are alarming

Latest obesity stats for England are alarming: Most of the UK news media is covering the latest official NHS statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet in England.

The data, compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, relates to information gathered during 2011. The statistics paint an alarming picture that reveals that the obesity epidemic in England shows no signs of abating any time soon.

Whittington hospital case shows importance of good communications

Whittington hospital case shows importance of good communications: Healthcare services need to engage the public early over reforms and not wait until others have united against them.
North London's Whittington hospital provides the latest excruciating example of how not manage service reorganisations. By mishandling the communication of plans to replace wards with community facilities it has a rebellion on its hands.

Pioneers from around the world are showing how to improve health care

Pioneers from around the world are showing how to improve health care: After the Mid Staffs disaster, the NHS needs to open itself up to the cutting-edge practices in place elsewhere, says Lord Darzi The Daily Telegraph

NHS must operate seven days a week in order to be 'compassionate' Sir Bruce Keogh has said

NHS must operate seven days a week in order to be 'compassionate' Sir Bruce Keogh has said: The NHS must provide routine services seven days a week in order to be 'patient centred, compassionate and convenient', Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director, has said. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Top consultant warns against routine surgery at weekends The Independent
• NHS chief wants consultants to embrace seven-day working The Guardian

GP receptionists do not deserve their 'dragon' reputation: researchers

GP receptionists do not deserve their 'dragon' reputation: researchers: Patients are really to blame for GP receptionists having a grumpy reputation as they have to deal with people trying to play the system and are forced to make snap clinical decisions, researchers said. The Daily Telegraph

NHS spent £15m gaging whistleblowers

NHS spent £15m gaging whistleblowers: Pressure increases on Sir David Nicholson to resign after it emerges £15m has been spent on gagging hundreds of whistleblowers. The Daily Telegraph

Monitor sets out its guidance on costing to get the right price for NHS services

Monitor sets out its guidance on costing to get the right price for NHS services: Monitor moves a step closer to improving the pricing of NHS-funded services today by issuing guidance to providers about how to allocate the cost of their services to individual patients.