What next for the NHS after the Mid Staffs scandal?

What next for the NHS after the Mid Staffs scandal?:

We round up readers' thoughts on the direction of the NHS after the Francis report, following an online live discussion

Think every hospital should survive? You need to see a doctor | Catherine Benett

Think every hospital should survive? You need to see a doctor | Catherine Benett: It is wrongheaded for MPs to claim that their local health establishments are a credit to their communities.

Dozens of hospitals too full to take new patients

Dozens of hospitals too full to take new patients: A third of England's hospitals have been completely full at some point this year, official figures have revealed. The Daily Telegraph

Number of full-time unpaid carers hits 1m in England and Wales

Number of full-time unpaid carers hits 1m in England and Wales:
A “growing army” of more than one million people spend more than 50 hours a week providing free care for family or loved ones. The Independent

Disabled face 'funding black hole'

Disabled face 'funding black hole': Leading charities say disabled adults are in danger of being forgotten in the social care debate after the Health Secretary's statement last week failed to allay their fears of a £1.2bn deficit in disability funding. The Independent

'The greatest public health crisis affecting the UK': Doctors demand curbs on fizzy drinks and fast food

'The greatest public health crisis affecting the UK': Doctors demand curbs on fizzy drinks and fast food:
Fizzy drinks should be taxed, fast food outlets near schools limited and new parents given specific advice on how to feed their children properly to help tackle spiralling levels of obesity, an influential medical group has demanded. The Independent

Hospital choices to be taken locally

Hospital choices to be taken locally: A group examining the future of five hospitals says decisions will now be made at local level. BBC Northamptonshire

Extra funding for NHS dentists announced

Extra funding for NHS dentists announced: The Department of Health is today announcing £30 million funding for NHS dentists. Dental practices can use the extra funds to put on extra clinics, attract new patients or buy in new services such as orthodontics.
Dental surgeries have been applying to the local NHS to access the extra funds which will allow them to take on new patients and fund extra clinics.
This is the second year the Government has made extra dental funding available. This will allow more patients to register with a dentist and get their oral health checked.
Read our press release 30 million reasons to smile this Valentine’s Day Department of Health

Telehealth benefits realised

Telehealth benefits realised: A Yorkshire project proves the cost benefits of telehealth, says a report on the scheme by think-tank 2020health. E-Health Insider

Lessons from Europe: provider governance

Lessons from Europe: provider governance: This Briefing outlines key insights from a 'Lessons from Europe' seminar that examined the impact of recent reforms in hospital governance in Spain and the Netherlands. NHS Confederation

How the NHS locks away its secrets - BBC News

How the NHS locks away its secrets - BBC News:

BBC News

How the NHS locks away its secrets BBC News On setting up the NHS, its founder Nye Bevan is reported to have said if a bedpan was dropped on a ward of a hospital, the noise would reverberate all the way to the corridors of power in Westminster. That may be so, but the level of control and ... NHS whistleblower speaks outITV News NHS boss 'not interested in safety'Express.co.uk NHS must not 'gag' nurses who raise safety concerns, says whistleblowerNursing Times RT -The Times (subscription) -Wall Street Journal all 41 news articles »

NHS whistleblower faces ruin after speaking out about patient safety

NHS whistleblower faces ruin after speaking out about patient safety: An NHS whistleblower who claims he was paid £500,000 to keep quiet over patient safety last night said he feared he would "lose everything" by speaking out against the "culture of fear" in the health service. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MPs ask former hospital trust boss to back up allegations against NHS chiefs The Guardian
• Victimised for blowing whistle on NHS chiefs: Man who defied gagging order faces ruin The Daily Mail
• NHS 'gagging' compromises patient care Public Service
• AUDIO: Former NHS manager breaks gag order BBC News

Patients at risk from junior doctors working 100 hour weeks: GMC

Patients at risk from junior doctors working 100 hour weeks: GMC: Patients are being put at risk by exhausted junior doctors working 100 hours a week, the General Medical Council has warned, because the European rules on working hours are not working. The Daily Telegraph

See also

• Trainees still working nearly 100 hours a week OnMedica

The NHS: we can make it better

The NHS: we can make it better: Improving NHS hospitals means enforcing a culture of accountability - as the best do already, says Nick Seddon The Daily Telegraph

A&E departments so short-staffed four in 10 doctors are locums, warns report

A&E departments so short-staffed four in 10 doctors are locums, warns report: Accident and emergency departments are so short staffed that at some hospitals four in 10 doctors are locums, a report has warned. The Daily Telegraph

GMC investigates senior Department of Health manager over claims she put targets ahead of patient safety

GMC investigates senior Department of Health manager over claims she put targets ahead of patient safety:
A senior Department of Health manager is under investigation by the General Medical Council over allegations that she ordered a hospital trust to hit its waiting list targets “whatever the demand.” The Independent

See also

• Senior NHS official 'should be suspended' over whistleblower's claims The Daily Telegraph

Monitor publishes new provider licence

Monitor publishes new provider licence: Monitor today signals a new approach to regulation of the healthcare sector with the publication of its standard licence conditions.

Outlook for NHS and social care pessimistic as financial squeeze bites

Outlook for NHS and social care pessimistic as financial squeeze bites: Pessimism is growing in the NHS and social care as local leaders respond to mounting financial pressures, according to the latest quarterly monitoring report on service performance published by The King's Fund.

The Francis report - reflections from abroad

The Francis report - reflections from abroad: Norway has no tradition of public inquiries into healthcare, says Morten Pytte, and so he's been following the coverage around the final report of the Francis Inquiry with interest.   The Health Foundation

Call to ban gluten-free food on NHS

Call to ban gluten-free food on NHS: A medical journal is calling for prescriptions of gluten-free food to be scrapped as they are costly and outdated. BBC News

'Safety concern gag' on NHS chief

'Safety concern gag' on NHS chief: Health service manager Gary Walker claims he was gagged by the NHS from speaking out about his dismissal and his concerns over patient safety. BBC News

See also:

• Head of NHS ignored warnings that patients were in danger, alleges whistleblower The Daily Telegraph
• NHS whistleblower claims he was forced to quit then gagged The Guardian

CSUs to spend £670m a year on IT

CSUs to spend £670m a year: The commissioning support units that will come into being on 1 April will spend around £700m a year on IT and other support services, according to a new report from EHI Intelligence.
E-Health Insider

Foreign patients ‘lucrative source of NHS income’

Foreign patients ‘lucrative source of NHS income’:

More UK residents seek treatment abroad than vice versa Related items from OnMedica Cosmetic tourism is burdening the NHS Tough new sanctions to combat ‘health tourism’ Action needed to curb global smoking NHS finances in dire straits warn health leaders

Carers to lose benefits

Carers to lose benefits: New regulations could see thousands of carers in England, Wales and Scotland losing out on benefits.
Changes to disability-claim rules will mean about 5,000 carers who now receive an allowance of £58.45 a week will no longer get the benefit when personal independence payments replace the disability living allowance from April. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says the changes are necessary and that 20,... Healthcare Today

Women's lung cancer death rates set to rise

Women's lung cancer death rates set to rise: The news that lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in British women is being widely reported by the media. The stories are based on well conducted research that predicts cancer deaths in 2013.

Prince's charity lobbied government to water down homeopathy criticism

Prince's charity lobbied government to water down homeopathy criticism: Foundation for Integrated Medicine persuaded officials to neuter advice about homeopathy on the NHS Choices patient website
Draft guidance for the website NHS Choices warning that there is no evidence that homeopathy works was suppressed by officials following lobbying by a charity set up by the Prince of Wales.

Sars-like coronavirus appears to have spread person-to-person within the UK

Sars-like coronavirus appears to have spread person-to-person within the UK:
Health experts have confirmed that a Sars-like virus appears to have spread from one person to another within the UK. The Independent

See also

• Further UK case of novel coronavirus The Health Protection Agency
• Sars-like virus 'spreads in people': BBC News

Third of NHS finance directors think quality of care is declining

Third of NHS finance directors think quality of care is declining: Findings of survey for King's Fund prompt fresh concern about how hospitals look after patients
Fears are growing in the NHS that quality of care experienced by patients is falling as the service struggles to cope with rising demand for treatment and tight budgets, a new survey reveals.

Elderly warned of growing isolation as face-to-face care cut

Elderly warned of growing isolation as face-to-face care cut: ELDERLY people dependent on help in their homes are facing growing isolation after social services chiefs admitted they are planning to cut face-to-face care. The Daily Telegraph

Half of Britons don't expect high quality care from NHS in old age, survey finds

Half of Britons don't expect high quality care from NHS in old age, survey finds: Half of people in Britain do not expect to receive high-quality care from the NHS in their dying days, according to a survey. The Daily Telegraph

One million patients waiting too long in A&E, report suggests

One million patients waiting too long in A&E, report suggests: The number of patients forced to wait more than four hours in Accident and Emergency wards is at its highest in ten years. The Daily Telegraph

See also

• A&E waits 'highest for a decade' BBC News

Hospital outpatients: Men in their 20s fail to attend one in six appointments

Hospital outpatients: Men in their 20s fail to attend one in six appointments: Men in their 20s miss considerably more outpatient appointments compared to women of the same age, Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) figures show. NHS Information Centre

New help group aims to protect women at risk of GMU

New help group aims to protect women at risk of GMU: A new Northamptonshire group which aims to protect women at risk of genital mutilation is appealing for volunteers to help. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

DH website to move to GOV.UK in March 2013

DH website to move to GOV.UK in March 2013:
The Department of Health website will move to the new single website for government in March 2013.
GOV.UK is the new single website for UK Government. In October 2012 it brought together government  information and guidance from Directgov and Business Link into one place.
GOV.UK will also replace all UK central government department websites. Some departments can already be found in the ‘Inside Government’ section of GOV.UK. Information from the Department of Health will be found there from Tuesday 26 March.

Elderly 'suffer from poor home care'

Elderly 'suffer from poor home care': A quarter of home-care services provided to the elderly in England are failing to meet quality and safety standards, inspectors say. BBC News

Thousands of carers to lose benefits

Thousands of carers to lose benefits: Thousands of carers are set to lose benefits when new disability claim rules begin in April. BBC News

TB emerging in increasingly drug-resistant forms, experts warn

TB emerging in increasingly drug-resistant forms, experts warn:

TB – ‘the most successful human pathogen of all time’ Related items from OnMedica TB drug resistance is growing around the world Hopes raised by TB drug cocktail TB toolkit for commissioners GPs warned to consider TB in pregnancy Countries must work together to tackle disease security threat

Big picture challenges for health and social care: implications for workforce planning, education, training and development

Big picture challenges for health and social care: implications for workforce planning, education, training and development: This report uses the five domains of the Education Outcomes Framework (EOF) as a template to put forward questions to encourage readers to consider how Health Education England (HEE) and partners could help to address the challenges facing health, social care and public health as well as to draw out their workforce implications. The aim of this work is to create reports which will stimulate thinking in the sector and
demonstrate the need for change in the context of the whole workforce.

• Report
• Infographics
• CfWI - publications

Local tobacco control profiles for England

Local tobacco control profiles for England: These profiles provides a snapshot of the extent of tobacco use,
tobacco related harm, and measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level. They are designed to help local government and health services to assess the effect of tobacco use on their local populations. They aim to inform commissioning and planning decisions to tackle tobacco use and improve the health of local communities.

•  Profiles

Want to save NHS money? Start with more effective data

Want to save NHS money? Start with more effective data: Rather than ration care or urge staff to work harder, the NHS could make huge savings by using its existing information.

Jeremy Hunt plans reforms to tackle NHS regulatory 'madness'

Jeremy Hunt plans reforms to tackle NHS regulatory 'madness': Health secretary says he wants to avoid 'elephant trap' of more regulation in wake of Francis report on Stafford scandal
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, raised the prospect of hospital super-heads and a new chief inspector of family doctors, in his first public response to the Francis report on hundreds of needless deaths at Stafford hospital.

Mid Staffs comment: This is why the NHS must defend its whistleblowers

Mid Staffs comment: This is why the NHS must defend its whistleblowers: The Mid Staffs scandal shows the NHS needs staff who are prepared to blow the whistle more than ever, says Stephen Barclay MP. The Daily Telegraph

Lung cancer overtakes breast cancer as most deadly form of disease among UK women

Lung cancer overtakes breast cancer as most deadly form of disease among UK women: Deaths from lung cancer have overtaken deaths from breast cancer as it becomes the most lethal form of the disease among British women, new research has shown. The Daily Telegraph

Under pressure hospital sees 20 per cent fall in A&E visits thanks to appeal

Under pressure hospital sees 20 per cent fall in A&E visits thanks to appeal: Last week’s surge in A&E attendances at Kettering General Hospital declined over the weekend enabling the hospital to recover from a period of extreme pressure on its bed capacity. Evening Telegraph

Reforming social care funding: a step in the right direction?

Reforming social care funding: a step in the right direction?: Today's announcement that the government will act on the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission is a significant milestone in the tortuous journey of social care reform. How we pay for long-term care is a policy conundrum that successive governments have wrestled with for at least 15 years, generating two independent commissions, three consultations, and several White Papers.

Thousands of patients wrongly removed from GP lists

Thousands of patients wrongly removed from GP lists:

‘Heavy-handed’ list-cleansing is to blame Related items from OnMedica One million extra patients on London GP lists GPs removing patients from lists “without warning” DH abolishes “open but full” practice lists ‘Ghost’ removal from GP lists saves £6.1 million

Social care reforms announced

Social care reforms announced: Most of the UK media is covering the announcement made in Parliament by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary State for Health, about proposed changes to social care.

The two confirmed points to have garnered the most media attention in the run-up to the announcement are:

• a ‘cost cap’ of £75,000 worth of care costs – after this point the state would step in to meet these care costs
• raising the current means-testing threshold for people to be eligible for state-funded social care from £23,520 to £123,000

Second UK case of coronavirus

Second UK case of coronavirus: A second case of a new respiratory illness similar to the deadly Sars virus has been identified in the UK. BBC News

Trusts question national pay deals

Trusts question national pay deals: A body representing more than 200 NHS trusts across England says new ways of negotiating pay need to be considered. BBC News

Making it better? Assuring high-quality care in the NHS

Making it better? Assuring high-quality care in the NHS: The Francis report painted a shocking picture of appalling standards of patient care. This paper aims to start a constructive debate, leading to concrete proposals about how to tackle these issues. NHS Confederation

Working with schizophrenia: pathways to employment, recovery and inclusion

Working with schizophrenia: pathways to employment, recovery and inclusion: This report examines the impact of schizophrenia on an individual's ability to enter or remain in the labour market, outlining how such barriers can be addressed by policy makers, employers, and healthcare professionals as well as those with the condition and their carers.

• Report
• The Work Foundation - publications

CPA and recovery report

CPA and recovery report: This study explored how effective service users find the Care Programme Approach (CPA) in promoting recovery as they understand it. Study participants were service users and survivors of 18 and above who have experienced the CPA since October 2008 and who live in a London borough. The findings demonstrate that whilst service users hold some positive views about the 2008 CPA, they also think that significant improvements are needed if they are to recover.

• Report
• Summary
• NSUN Network for Mental Health - publications

Official advice about horsemeat safety released

Official advice about horsemeat safety released: Concerns have been raised about the safety of horsemeat in the wake of the contaminated beef scandal. The Daily Mail asks, 'Is horsemeat harmful after all?', while The Guardian states that, 'Contaminated horsemeat could harm health, warns environment secretary.'

Horsemeat has been confirmed to have been present in several products labelled and sold as "beef". Horsemeat in itself is not a health risk, with some commentators arguing it is actually healthier than beef as it contains less fat.

'Systematic' failures by GPs lead to rise in children admitted to hospital as emergencies

'Systematic' failures by GPs lead to rise in children admitted to hospital as emergencies: A 'systematic failure' by GPs and hospitals has led to a 50 per cent rise in the number of under fives being admitted to wards as emergencies in the last decade, researchers have said. The Daily Telegraph

Jeremy Hunt: 'Let's cut nurses' paperwork by a third'

Jeremy Hunt: 'Let's cut nurses' paperwork by a third': Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, wants to cut the amount of paperwork doctors and nurses have to do by a third so they can spend hours more every week with patients, he will announce today. The Daily Telegraph

After Mid-Staffordshire scandal, death rates at 14 hospitals to be investigated

After Mid-Staffordshire scandal, death rates at 14 hospitals to be investigated:
At least 14 NHS hospitals are to be investigated for their persistently high patient death rates, it was announced. The Independent

NHS warn do not put extra pressure on county hospitals - Northampton Herald and Post

NHS warn do not put extra pressure on county hospitals - Northampton Herald and Post:

Northampton Herald and Post

NHS warn do not put extra pressure on county hospitals Northampton Herald and Post Northampton General Hospital Minor Emergencies Minor is located next to Accident and Emergency, just inside the main entrance at Northampton General Hospital. It shares the same opening hours as Accident and Emergency. - If you need a doctor outside ...

A&E visits rise at Northampton General Hospital

A&E visits rise at Northampton General Hospital: Almost 100,000 people will visit Northampton General Hospital’s A&E in just 12 months, bosses predict, as admissions continue to increase. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

E-cigarettes - miracle or menace?

E-cigarettes - miracle or menace?: The growing use of e-cigarettes continues to divide opinion BBC News

Social care cap 'set at £75,000'

Social care cap 'set at £75,000': Elderly people in England will not have to pay more than £75,000 for long-term social care after 2017, the health secretary is set to say on Monday. BBC News

Cancer patients 'struggling alone'

Cancer patients 'struggling alone': Thousands of cancer patients are struggling to manage their treatment and recovery because they get no support from family or friends, a charity says. BBC News

Beef products 'pose no health risk'

Beef products 'pose no health risk': All processed beef products are safe to eat but there is likely to be more unwelcome news of contamination in the ongoing horsemeat scandal, the government says. BBC News

The Francis Report - support for employers

The Francis Report - support for employers: Access our updated web pages for information and resources to support employers with the key workforce implications of the Francis Report. NHS Employers

Unison accept proposals for Agenda for Change

Unison accept proposals for Agenda for Change: Unison have announced that, following their consultations with members about proposed changes to Agenda for Change, they have agreed to accept the changes. NHS Employers

Specialists working in a generalist way is what works best for patients, argues Dr Partha Kar

Specialists working in a generalist way is what works best for patients, argues Dr Partha Kar: The NHS is struggling. Reports are pouring out suggesting that the health service needs more generalists and better trained general practitioners, as the patient coming through the door rarely has one pathology any more. Think of the olden days which had general medicine clinics and general physicians. They ‘specialised’ in having the bigger picture, could join … Continue reading » NHS Voices

The NHS friends and family test: publication guidance

The NHS friends and family test: publication guidance: This guidance is aimed at providers of NHS funded services on calculating and presenting the NHS friends and family test results. It details how scores will be calculated and how national and local publication should be carried out. It aims to support those who are
currently implementing the test.

• Guidance
• Ipsos MORI survey
• Department of Health - news

Job applicants with schizophrenia facing ‘discrimination’

Job applicants with schizophrenia facing ‘discrimination’: Tens of thousands of people with schizophrenia are being denied the chance to work because of “severe discrimination”, a report has found. The Independent

Innovation in Patient-Centered Care: Lessons from a Qualitative Study of Innovative Health Care Organizations in Washington State

Innovation in Patient-Centered Care: Lessons from a Qualitative Study of Innovative Health Care Organizations in Washington State: There are several different approaches to promoting patient-centered care. Little is known, however, about how health care organizations choose their approach and set goals. In this Commonwealth Fund–supported study, researchers interviewed health plan leaders and providers in Washington State, a leader in patient-centered innovation. The Commonwealth Fund

Measles at highest level for 18 years

Measles at highest level for 18 years: There were 2,016 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in 2012, which is the highest annual total since 1994.

Kettering General urges people not to come to hospital unless absolutely necessary

Kettering General urges people not to come to hospital unless absolutely necessary: Kettering General Hospital is urging people not to come to the hospital over the next 48 hours unless their condition is an accident, emergency or life threatening. Evening Telegraph

Scheme will guide lost Northamptonshire dementia sufferers back home

Scheme will guide lost Northamptonshire dementia sufferers back home: A scheme is to be launched in Northamptonshire that uses volunteers to return people with dementia home if they get lost. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Healthcare, holidays and how we make choices

Healthcare, holidays and how we make choices: Until levels of health literacy increase and we recognise our need to take an active role in our care, we will fail to capitalise on the greatest asset the NHS has - the people using its services, writes Jo Bibby. The Health Foundation

Most cancer cases 'referred quickly'

Most cancer cases 'referred quickly': More than 80% of patients with suspected cancer in England are referred by their GP after just one or two consultations, a study has found. BBC News

Where next for the NHS?

Where next for the NHS?: Changing health service culture will not be easy BBC News

VIDEO: MPs criticise disability work tests

VIDEO: MPs criticise disability work tests: The government's workplace capability assessments, designed to get more disabled people back to work, have been heavily criticised by a committee of MPs. BBC News

Threat of prosecution could scupper transparency

Threat of prosecution could scupper transparency:

People less likely to speak out if calls for prosecution are heeded Related items from OnMedica Francis calls for culture of care in NHS National charter launched for NHS to encourage and protect whistle-blowers Doctors' concerns over care are often ignored Increasing nurse numbers ‘is not’ the answer NHS should give patients 'more clout'

Change4Life alcohol campaign

Change4Life alcohol campaign:
The government has launched a new drive to help combat heavy drinking.
The initiative, part of a Change4Life campaign, aims to raise awareness of the health risks associated with drinking regularly over the guidelines.
The key message behind the four-week TV advertising campaign is that drinking over the recommended levels can “sneak up” on people.
It urges people to check their alcohol in... Healthcare Today

Stafford Hospital: Does NHS boss have case to answer? - BBC News

Stafford Hospital: Does NHS boss have case to answer? - BBC News:

BBC News

Stafford Hospital: Does NHS boss have case to answer? BBC News For a man who is so renowned for keeping a tight control on the health service, the past few days have been undoubtedly uncomfortable for NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson. Campaigners have been calling for his resignation from his £270,000 post ... NHS DEATHS MOUNT BUT BOSS STAYS PUTDaily Star 3000 more 'needless' deaths at NHS trustsExpress.co.uk Anger as NHS chiefs escape action over hospital scandalshropshirestar.com Mirror.co.uk -The Times (subscription) -The Guardian all 50 news articles »

CQC 'can't guarantee' it would spot another Mid Staffs

CQC 'can't guarantee' it would spot another Mid Staffs: The main health regulator "cannot guarantee" it will spot another scandal on the scale of Mid Staffs, its new chairman has admitted. The Daily Telegraph

Nurses who don't care about patients must leave the NHS

Nurses who don't care about patients must leave the NHS: Compassion must be an essential qualification for the profession that is at the heart of the NHS, says Jane Cummings. The Daily Telegraph

Multiple births are on the increase

Multiple births are on the increase: More than 170 sets of triplets and three quads were born to women in the UK last year amid a rise in the number of multiple births, official figures have revealed. The Independent

Corby’s new urgent care centre expands services

Corby’s new urgent care centre expands services: The second phase in the development of the new Corby Urgent Care Centre is now complete with two additional services moving into the premises. Evening Telegraph

Prostitution fears following demise of support group - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Prostitution fears following demise of support group - Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Prostitution fears following demise of support group Northampton Chronicle & Echo Despite SWAN widening its scope to include all vulnerable women last year, NHS Northamptonshire Healthcare's £65,000 stopgap funding has run out and the free service will close on February 28. Samantha Benfield said a rise in crime could be the result: ...

The Francis report: key findings

The Francis report: key findings:
The catastrophic failures started at the patients’ bedside but reached up, through the Byzantine hierarchy of the NHS, to heart of Government. The Independent

See also:

• Mid Staffs inquiry calls care failings a 'disaster' NHS Choices
• NHS Commissioning Board promises fundamental change in response to Francis Report NHS Commissioning Board
• Building a culture of compassionate care in the NHS The King's Fund
• The Francis Report: right diagnosis but will the treatment work? The Health Foundation
• VIDEO: Hunt: Finances have overtaken care BBC News
• Mid Staffs inquiry: how a 10-year cover-up was uncovered The Independent
• Medical staff must face criminal charges for failures, says care scandal report The Independent
• Failure at every level has shaken trust in the NHS The Daily Telegraph
• Mid Staffs report: the key figures in the scandal The Daily Telegraph
• NHS culture at Mid Staffs that tolerated low standards and sold patients short The Guardian
• What does the Mid Staffs hospital report mean for the NHS? - video The Guardian
• Francis calls for culture of care in NHS OnMedica
• Indicators and placards E-Health Insider
• NHS needs cultural shift, not shake-up Public Service

You can find the Francis Report here: http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/report

MP Clwyd to advise on NHS complaints

MP Clwyd to advise on NHS complaints: David Cameron asks a Welsh Labour MP - who protested about the care her late husband received in hospital - to look at how NHS hospitals handle complaints. BBC News

NHS ahead of target on efficiency savings

NHS ahead of target on efficiency savings: The NHS is on course to achieve two thirds of its efficiency targets within the first two years, says Sir David Nicholson Public Service

'Councils and NHS must face compulsory data protection audits'

'Councils and NHS must face compulsory data protection audits': Data breaches which have led to serious distress for people and substantial fines could be avoided, says Information Commissioner Public Service

Contraception restrictions could cost NHS billions

Contraception restrictions could cost NHS billions:
A joint report authored by a sexual health charity and the Family Planning Association has warned that restrictions to contraceptive services could cost the health service £125 billion in less than a decade.The report, Unprotected Nation, was written by the FPA and Brook's sexual health charity. It said restricting access to sexual health care could cause over 90,000 more sexually transmitted infection by 20... Healthcare Today

NHS's darkest day: Five more hospitals under investigation for neglect as report blames 'failings at every level' for 1,200 deaths at Stafford Hospital

NHS's darkest day: Five more hospitals under investigation for neglect as report blames 'failings at every level' for 1,200 deaths at Stafford Hospital:
Five hospital trusts with persistently high death rates are facing investigation tonight after a damning report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust raised fears that basic clinical failings could be putting patients at risk across the NHS. The Independent

Mid Staffordshire Trust Inquiry Report Published

The final report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (the Francis Report) has now been published:

• Executive Summary
• Volume 1: Analysis of evidence and lessons learned (part 1)
• Volume 2: Analysis of evidence and lessons learned (part 2)
• Volume 3: Present and future, annexes
• Key facts and figures

You can also find more information on the Inquiry's web site.

Managing NHS hospital consultants

Managing NHS hospital consultants: The 2003 contract for hospital consultants delivered many expected benefits, but there is room for improvement in how trusts manage their consultants. National Audit Office

NHS trust tricked in email scam

NHS trust tricked in email scam: A NHS trust in South Yorkshire admits it lost more than £680,000 in an email fraud. BBC News

VIDEO: Stafford nurse describes failings

VIDEO: Stafford nurse describes failings: 'Whistleblower' nurse Helene Donnelly believes Stafford Hospital's major failing was not listening to patient care concerns. BBC News

Would zero tolerance boost patient care?

Would zero tolerance boost patient care?: Hospital managers are given too many incentives to do the wrong thing, says Dr Foster co-founder. Public Service

Important changes to clinical scientist education, training and regulation

Important changes to clinical scientist education, training and regulation: Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) Scientist Training Programme (STP) has standardised pre registration clinical scientist training and education. It is important employers are aware of the subsequent arrangements for statutory regulation. NHS Employers

Introducing Health Education England: our strategic intent

Introducing Health Education England: our strategic intent: This document sets out HEE's purpose and the role that they will play in leading education, training and development across the system to deliver improvements in the quality of care for patients. It also includes high level guidance for workforce planners. HEE are welcoming
views and feedback on this document at HEE.StrategicIntentFeedback@nhs.net

• Consultation document
• HEE - news

Why is racism rife in the NHS?

Why is racism rife in the NHS?: Without immigrant staff, the health service would come to a standstill. So why aren't BME health professionals treated fairly?

Mid Staffs hospital scandal: the essential guide

Mid Staffs hospital scandal: the essential guide: With a new inquiry into the causes of poor care at the hospital being released, the findings may have ramifications for the rest of the NHS. Study the issue in depth and learn all you need to know about what happens next with our essential guide.

GSK to publish clinical trial data for drugs

GSK to publish clinical trial data for drugs:
Britain’s largest pharmaceutical company has stunned the medical world by announcing it would back a campaign to publish all clinical trial results to preserve the safety of medicines. The Independent

Mid Staffordshire Trust care scandal: Report highlighting serious failings due to be published

Mid Staffordshire Trust care scandal: Report highlighting serious failings due to be published:
The campaigner who kick-started exposure of the Mid-Staffordshire health care scandal has called for people to be held to account for its failings as a landmark report on “shocking” care at the hospital trust was due to be published today. The Independent