Damning report into child protection in Northamptonshire identifies “legacy of children exposed to chronic experiences”

Damning report into child protection in Northamptonshire identifies “legacy of children exposed to chronic experiences”: Officials at Northamptonshire County Council have “accepted unreservedly” the findings of a damning Ofsted report which has labelled the county’s child protection services inadequate. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• Council criticised over child protection pledges to improve Evening Telegraph
• Child protection system 'inadequate' BBC Northamptonshire

How are health and wellbeing boards shaping up to their new responsibilities?

How are health and wellbeing boards shaping up to their new responsibilities?: As implementation of the government’s controversial health reforms draws near, health and wellbeing boards seem to have the ‘X-factor’ – they are one of the few features of the new system that have attracted growing popularity during the passing of time and legislation. In our survey of a sample of boards last year we found widespread optimism about their prospects, tinged with a hint of nervousness that top-down national imperatives might override locally agreed priorities.

Learning from tragic mistakes in surgery

Learning from tragic mistakes in surgery: Can doctors learn from other jobs about life-or-death decisions? BBC News

e-mental health strategy developed

e-mental health strategy developed: The Mental Health Network is developing a national strategy for e-mental health. E-Health-Insider

New language checks for all doctors

New language checks for all doctors: From 1 April 2013, there will be a legal duty to check that all doctors wishing to work in the UK can speak English to the necessary level before they can treat patients in a hospital or GP practice. NHS Employers

Choice and competition in commissioning clinical services in the NHS in England

Choice and competition in commissioning clinical services in the NHS in England: This briefing note sets out information about a new website which is being developed by the NHS Commissioning Board and Monitor which will help commissioners and providers understand where competition may deliver improved outcomes for patients. The website will bring together key material which has a bearing on choice and competition in the NHS in England.

• Briefing
• NHS Commissioning Board - news

The independent sector and the NHS - quality and outcome data briefing

The independent sector and the NHS - quality and outcome data briefing: This analysis of PROMS data finds that independent sector organisations which carry out elective hip and knee replacement surgery for the NHS dominate the top ten providers for improving patients' post-operative quality of life.

• Data briefing
• Executive summary
• NHS Confederation - news

One in three seniors in US die with dementia

One in three seniors in US die with dementia:
One out of every three senior citizens in the United States now dies while suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
The study from the Alzheimer’s Association found dementia is the cause of death in many instances, or contributes to it.
Figures show Alzheimer-related deaths rose by 68% in the first decade of the new millennium, while deaths from heart disease and HIV/AIDS fell.
... Healthcare Today

Pressure mounts on clinical commissioning group leaders

Pressure mounts on clinical commissioning group leaders: With the clock ticking to the launch of CCGs, Richard Vize looks at the challenges they face.

The NHS must improve the way it handles patient complaints

The NHS must improve the way it handles patient complaints: Complaints offer an early warning system that trusts can use to identify pockets of poor care.
Today, more than 300 senior leaders from NHS trusts will gather for the Foundation Trust Network's conference Governance after Francis and the NHS reforms, which will highlight how the NHS has to improve the way that it listens to patients.

Breakthrough breast cancer drug 'too expensive'

Breakthrough breast cancer drug 'too expensive': A breast cancer drug described as the biggest advance in almost 20 years has been rejected by the Government's rationing watchdog as too expensive. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• Breast cancer drug does not provide value for money, regulator rules The Guardian
• Breast cancer treatment not value for money says draft NICE guidance NICE

Budget 2013: Public Sector Pay - NHS workers bear brunt of cuts as pay freeze is extended

Budget 2013: Public Sector Pay - NHS workers bear brunt of cuts as pay freeze is extended: Public sector pay rises are to be capped at 1 per cent for a further year, in a move which unions claim will leave family budgets "at breaking point". George Osborne said that salaries of NHS staff, council workers and civil servants will remain at below inflation levels until at least 2016. The Independent