Patients encouraged to ask about clinical research

Patients encouraged to ask about clinical research The parents of children who need treatment at Kettering Hospital are being encouraged to inquire about the possibility of taking part in clinical research. Evening Telegraph

Hunt announces new push to create database of NHS patients' records

Hunt announces new push to create database of NHS patients' records Health secretary says government will match hospital funding for new IT systems but campaigners question privacy safeguards

The government's controversial push to create a database of patients' records containing the nation's medical details will be boosted by a £1bn technology fund, ministers will announce today.

Despite privacy campaigners warning that identifiable patient data could harm rather than help the public, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will argue today that the sharing of such information is necessary to help ease pressures on A&E departments by cutting down on the paperwork that hampers clinicians.

The cash will be used for new IT systems in hospitals that will allow consultants, GPs' surgeries, social workers and out-of-hours doctors to share patients' electronic records routinely "so they will be able to give them personal and effective treatment with full knowledge of their care history".

• NHS to receive £240m Government funding boost as health secretary pledges to revolutionise the way it uses technology  Independent
• NHS Confederation comments on the £1bn technology announcement

Where are the voices of the healthcare assistants in mental health? - The Guardian

Where are the voices of the healthcare assistants in mental health?  And even Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, who himself trained as a mental health nurse and spent 12 years as chief executive of a mental health NHS trust, is repeatedly quoted talking about the physical care tasks ... Guardian

Second NHS hospital may be franchised before election

Second NHS hospital may be franchised before election Circle, Serco and Care UK reportedly interested in taking over running of George Eliot hospital in Warwickshire

A second NHS hospital could be taken over by a private company before the general election, it has emerged.

Board papers published by the NHS Trust Development Authority reveal (pdf) that George Eliot hospital in Warwickshire, which serves 290,000 people, could be "franchised", with a private sector firm taking over its management.

Last February Hinchingbrooke became the first NHS hospital to be privatised when it was handed over to Circle Health for 10 years.

Health Service Journal reported that private firms such as Circle, Serco and Care UK were circling George Eliot, and other NHS trusts had expressed an interest in taking it over. The sell-off has been backed by the Treasury.

• NHS has been 'put up for sale': Labour accuses Government over possible sell-off district general hospital  Independent

'World's biggest silent killer': Breakthrough could revolutionise treatment of blood pressure

'World's biggest silent killer': Breakthrough could revolutionise treatment of blood pressure Removing one of the smallest organs in the human body could dramatically reduce blood pressure in patients who do not respond to medicines, potentially revolutionising treatments for thousands. Independent

Future payment systems in the NHS

Future payment systems in the NHS
Healthcare Financial Management Association -

The HFMA, in conjunction with The King’s Fund and Monitor, held a one-day workshop for NHS finance leaders in May 2013 to debate a future NHS payment system. This briefing summarises views from the day on: the limitations of the current system; desirable features of the new system; steps to achieving a new system; considerations and limitations; and ideas for further work.

• Briefing
• HFMA - publications

Building dementia-friendly communities: a priority for everyone

Building dementia-friendly communities: a priority for everyone
Alzheimer's Society - 

This report finds that while there are some excellent examples of community provision for dementia, less than half of survey respondents think their area is set up to help them live well with dementia (42%). Results also become considerably lower the more advanced the person's dementia is. Findings show that there is significant goodwill in the community to help people with dementia live well. The report states that not only do people feel that dementia-friendly places would be better for everyone, but that for every one person with dementia that is able to stay in their own home for a year longer, rather than entering residential care, £11,000 would be saved.

• Report
• Executive summary
• Alzheimer's Society - publications

A strategic review of the future pharmacist workforce: informing pharmacy student intakes

A strategic review of the future pharmacist workforce: informing pharmacy student intakes
Centre for Workforce Intelligence -

This review of the future supply and demand for the pharmacist workforce in England looks ahead to 2040. Key findings include the likelihood of a surplus supply of pharmacists in the future unless action is agreed in the short-term. Recommendations to tackle this include: intervention to bring the supply and demand of pharmacists into balance; a staged approach to balancing supply and demand to secure high-quality services; ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews of supply and demand, with a continued drive to improve data around the pharmacy workforce; and reviewing this work at least every five years, with yearly monitoring.

• Report
• Horizon scanning report
• Scenario generation report
• CfWI - publications

Give GPs hospital board posts, says RCP

Give GPs hospital board posts, says RCP GPs should be handed roles on hospital boards as part of the NHS response to the Francis inquiry, according to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).  GP Online

Mental health reports go monthly

Mental health reports go monthly 3 September, 2013: The Health and Social Care Information Centre has moved one of its important mental health reports to a monthly publication schedule. IC QOF

3millionlives industry group axed

3millionlives industry group axed NHS England has axed the 3millionlives industry group as it "redefines" its vision for the campaign to have 3m patients using telehealth and telecare by 2017. EHI News

NHS Electronic Staff Record Reprocurement

NHS Electronic Staff Record Reprocurement A project by the Department of Health to reprocure the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) is currently underway and responses to the most frequently asked questions on this topic are now available. NHS Employers