Review of the final benefits statement for programmes previously managed under the National Programme for IT in the NHS

Review of the final benefits statement for programmes previously managed under the National Programme for IT in the NHS: The National Audit Office has reported the results of its review of a statement by the Department of Health of costs and benefits of the programmes previously managed under the National Programme for IT in the NHS.

Guidance: Flu immunisation programme 2013 to 2014

Guidance: Flu immunisation programme 2013 to 2014: Local areas are being asked to make sure they offer flu vaccine to everyone at risk so uptake reaches or exceeds 75% for people:

• aged 65 and over
• under 65s in risk groups, including pregnant women

Department of Health

Guidance: NHS Bursary Scheme rules

Guidance: NHS Bursary Scheme rules: These documents set out the rules and administrative arrangements for the payment of NHS bursaries to students who are considering work in the NHS and have accepted a place on an eligible course. The NHS Bursary Scheme rules ensure the bursaries are paid fairly and consistently.

There are two sets of rules, one for students who started their course before 1 September 2012 and one for those who started on or after that date. These editions replace previous editions. Department of Health

Measles catch-up jabs sent to GPs

Measles catch-up jabs sent to GPs: More than 200,000 extra doses of the MMR vaccine have been ordered by GPs in England since efforts to vaccinate one million children started. BBC News

Early Down's test 'more sensitive'

Early Down's test 'more sensitive': A DNA blood test for Down's syndrome could be given earlier in pregnancy than current checks, research suggests. BBC News

GP trainees 'risk failing' over lack of time in general practice, GPC warns

GP trainees 'risk failing' over lack of time in general practice, GPC warns: Some GP trainees may fail to qualify because UK deaneries are using them to plug staff shortages in hospitals rather than allowing them to spend enough time in general practice, GP leaders have warned. GP Online

Discrimination by appointment: how black and minority ethnic applicants are disadvantaged in NHS recruitment

Discrimination by appointment: how black and minority ethnic applicants are disadvantaged in NHS recruitment: This publication reports the results of research which looked a cross-section of 30 NHS trusts and found that black and minority ethnic applicants are less likely to be appointed than white applicants. It argues that there has been little improvement in recent years despite the introduction of various initiatives designed to combat
discrimination in recruitment.

• Report
• Public World - news

Opening the door to better healthcare: ensuring general practice is working for children and young people

Opening the door to better healthcare: ensuring general practice is working for children and young people: This report examines the available evidence on how well general practice is delivering for children and young people, including the evidence on their experiences of the services and the particular challenges they face in accessing them. It emerges that some of these challenges are related to major flaws in the framework in which GP services are commissioned and delivered. These flaws lie in the approach to commissioning primary care, the concept of out of hours services, and very limited mandatory training in paediatrics. It argues that as a result, action is needed not just from individual GPs and their practices but right up to the highest levels of NHS leadership and
government.

• Report
• NCB - press release

High quality healthcare commissioning: obstacles and opportunities for progress on race equality

High quality healthcare commissioning: obstacles and opportunities for progress on race equality: This paper draws on findings from the Evidence and Ethnicity in Commissioning (EEiC) project, together with practice experience and other research, to highlight obstacles and opportunities for healthcare commissioning to enhance access, experiences and outcomes for minority ethnic people. The aim of the paper is to describe typical elements of commissioning work and to point out a range of actions that clinical commissioners, commissioning managers and other stakeholders can and should take to improve healthcare commissioning for multi-ethnic
populations.

• Report
• Race Equality Foundation - publications

How to cure this lethal shambles: Concluding our major investigation, Mail doctor Martin Scurr prescribes a surprisingly simple plan of action

How to cure this lethal shambles: Concluding our major investigation, Mail doctor Martin Scurr prescribes a surprisingly simple plan of action: The root of the problem is that patients are confused and anxious about where to get help if they are ill outside business hours. The Daily Mail

Jeremy Hunt gives NHS 10 months to solve A&E crisis

Jeremy Hunt gives NHS 10 months to solve A&E crisis: NHS given 10 months to provide a solution for the pressure that "vulnerable elderly people" are placing on services, Jeremy Hunt announces. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• A&E crisis: Jeremy Hunt announces fundamental review of emergency care The Guardian
• Hunt vows to make A&Es sustainable Public Service
• VIDEO: Hunt wants return to 'family doctoring' BBC News

NHS chief, Sir David Nicholson: We need to close hospitals

NHS chief, Sir David Nicholson: We need to close hospitals: The NHS faces further radical change, including the closure of hospitals and services, if it is to continue offering high-quality care, its outgoing chief executive has said. The Independent

See also:

• Outgoing NHS England boss attacks coalition over reforms The Guardian
• Nicholson wants big conversation on NHS E-Health Insider
• ''Patients must understand NHS changes'' Public Service
• Major strategy review would ''liberate'' NHS Public Service

Charity warns: Half of Britons living in 2020 will get cancer

Charity warns: Half of Britons living in 2020 will get cancer:
Almost half of the UK population in 2020 will get cancer in their lifetime - but four in every 10 will survive the disease, the country's leading cancer charity has said. The Independent

See also:

• Cancer mortality trends 1992-2020 MacMillan Cancer Support
• Half 'will get cancer in lifetime' BBC News
• Half of Britons will get cancer during their life by 2020 The Daily Telegraph
• 47% of Britons will develop cancer in their lifetime by 2020, study shows The Guardian