Practice threatened with breach notice after closing list to protect patient safety

Practice threatened with breach notice after closing list to protect patient safety A Northamptonshire practice has been told it is in breach of contract after it followed BMA guidance and informally closed its list to protect patient safety. GP Online

NHS £50 per head shortfall in south Northamptonshire

NHS £50 per head shortfall in south Northamptonshire Next year’s NHS budget in southern Northamptonshire will increase, but will still leave each person £50 worse off than health bosses need. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Why our NHS should listen and be human: this is what the public are telling us

Why our NHS should listen and be human: this is what the public are telling us This report highlights that far too many patients are still experiencing unacceptable standards of care within the health and social care system. It includes patient stories and experiences of care within the NHS to illustrate the gap between patient experience and the commitments of the NHS Constitution. The Patients Association

• Report
• Press release

Deaths in detention of hundreds of people with mental health conditions could have been avoided, new Inquiry finds

Deaths in detention of hundreds of people with mental health conditions could have been avoided, new Inquiry finds Repeated basic errors, a failure to learn lessons and a lack of rigorous systems and procedures have contributed to the non-natural deaths of hundreds of people with mental health conditions detained in psychiatric hospitals, prisons and police cells in England and Wales, according to a major new Inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

See also:

• Preventing Deaths in Detention of Adults with Mental Health Conditions: An Inquiry Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Deaths in detention 'avoidable' BBC News
• Hospital psychiatric detainees more at risk of preventable death The Guardian

Creating stronger relationships between managers and clinicians

Creating stronger relationships between managers and clinicians Tension between managers and clinicians in healthcare remains a significant area for concern and needs to be addressed in the interests of improving patient care, according to the Institute of Health Management.

See also:

• IHM calls for action to close divide between managers and clinicians Institute of Health Management
• Action needed to reduce tensions between clinicians and managers OnMedica

VIDEO: Tackling FGM's poor prosecution rate

VIDEO: Tackling FGM's poor prosecution rate BBC Inside Out investigates why there have been no successful prosecutions for female genital mutilation even though it has been a criminal offence in Britain for 30 years.

Dementia research to receive £300m

Dementia research to receive £300m More than £300m is to be spent by the government on research into dementia, Prime Minister David Cameron announces. BBC News

See also:

• Guidance: Prime Minister's challenge on dementia 2020  Department of Health
• Press release: PM launches next phase of Britain’s fight against dementia Department of Health
• David Cameron announces dementia training for all NHS staff The Guardian
• Dementia research to get over £300m as all NHS staff to be given training in the condition The Independent

A&E waits worsen across England

A&E waits worsen across England Accident and Emergency performance in England's NHS hospitals has dipped slightly in the latest weekly figures. BBC News

See also:

• Winter health check – 20 February 2015 NHS England

Exclusive: Huge gaps in GP enhanced service income revealed

Exclusive: Huge gaps in GP enhanced service income revealed GP practices now earn less than £4.50 per patient on average from local enhanced services, according to official data that reveal for the first time the huge variation in primary care funding across England. GP Online

NHS foundation trusts in 'alarming' financial difficulties with deficit of £321 million

NHS foundation trusts in 'alarming' financial difficulties with deficit of £321 million NHS foundation trusts have an “alarming” reported deficit of £321 million – which is five times more than planned, a health regulator has said. The Independent

See also:

• NHS foundation trusts deficit rises BBC News
• Our response to Monitor's quarterly report on the performance of NHS foundation trusts The King's Fund
• News story: NHS foundation trusts tackle rising patient demand Monitor
• Research and analysis: NHS foundation trusts: quarterly performance report (quarter 3, 2014/15) Monitor

Britain's flying doctors asked to come home

Britain's flying doctors asked to come home The NHS is embarking on a recruitment drive to bring home doctors who have left the UK to find a better work-life balance in Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The Independent