New analysis confirms government target missed as A&E waiting times hit nine-year high

New analysis confirms government target missed as A&E waiting times hit nine-year high: New analysis of data for the final quarter of 2012/13 shows that nearly 6 per cent of patients waited four hours or longer in A&E departments, the highest level since 2004.

The latest quarterly monitoring report from The King’s Fund shows that 313,000 patients (5.9 per cent) spent four hours or more in A&E in the period January to March 2013, an increase of more than a third on the previous three months and nearly 40 per cent on the same quarter in 2011/12. This means that, across the quarter as a whole, the government’s target that no more than 5 per cent of patients should wait longer than four hours in A&E was missed for the first time since the Prime Minister pledged to keep A&E waiting times low in June 2011.

What's in a name? Codifying mental illness

What's in a name? Codifying mental illness: Does it matter how we codify mental illness? BBC News

NHS managers reject Ofsted ratings

NHS managers reject Ofsted ratings: NHS managers have rejected the idea of 'Ofsted-style ratings' for hospitals - one of the government's big planned responses to the Francis Inquiry into the scandal at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. E-Health Insider

Reading well books on prescription: public mental health in action

Reading well books on prescription: public mental health in action: Public mental health and wellbeing has gathered greater currency following the publication of No Health without Mental Health in 2011.  Public health is about improving the health of the population through preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health. Local Authorities are now the public sector organisation with lead responsibility for public health and public mental health. [read the full story...] The Mental Elf

Workforce information architecture in the reformed NHS landscape

Workforce information architecture in the reformed NHS landscape: This report sets out findings and recommendations from a review of the arrangements for handling health workforce data and intelligence. A
supporting document provides links to best practice and toolkits on information governance. Health Education England will take forward the implementation of the recommended actions, publishing further details during 2013 to 2014.

• Report
• Sources of information on information governance for all providers of NHS-funded services
• Workforce minimum dataset explained
• Department of Health - news

National surgical commissioning centre

National surgical commissioning centre: This online resource aims to help commissioners and healthcare
professionals find clear, consistent and evidence-based guidelines for a variety of surgical procedures. As well as bringing together commissioning guidance, it also provides access to an online tool which is designed to help commissioners understand local clinical variation for the surgical procedures covered by the commissioning guidance.

• National surgical commissioning centre
• RCS - news

GPs are not to blame for all that is wrong with the NHS

GPs are not to blame for all that is wrong with the NHS: Rather than pointing the finger, it would be better to focus on lack of resources and an inability to increase service provision.
The strained relationship between central government and healthcare professionals has come to a head, with tensions running high on both sides. The King's Fund NHS leadership and management summit brought both parties together to analyse the failings of the healthcare system, although the conclusions were not entirely impartial.

Plans to turn NHS into global technology leader revealed

Plans to turn NHS into global technology leader revealed: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed plans to turn the NHS into a global technology leader despite the billions wasted on similar projects in the past. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital chiefs took home almost £200,000 in bonuses despite two-year staff pay freeze

Hospital chiefs took home almost £200,000 in bonuses despite two-year staff pay freeze: Hospital bosses in Oxford have been accused of "hiding in secrecy" after they refused to explain why executives took home generous bonuses despite a two-year staff pay freeze.The Daily Telegraph