New detailed analysis about NHS staff pay in England released for first time today

New detailed analysis about NHS staff pay in England released for first time today: December 18, 2012: Average basic pay among NHS staff rose slightly in 2012 but by a smaller amount than in 2011, according to experimental data published for the first time today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Hospitals to reveal performance data

Hospitals to reveal performance data: Hospitals will be required to publish survival rates for operations by the surgeon who carries them out under plans to help patients to choose more effectively where they have their care. The Independent

See also:

• Surgeons' death rates to be published following ten operations The Daily Telegraph

Why oh, why oh, wi-fi

Why oh, why oh, wi-fi: Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has made a technology revolution in the NHS one of his top priorities - but how well equipped is NHS infrastructure to deliver it? E-health Insider

New guide on sickness absence - musculoskeletal disorders

New guide on sickness absence - musculoskeletal disorders: NHS Employers has published a new guide to support line managers that are managing staff with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Developing and updating local formularies

Developing and updating local formularies: This guidance provides advice and guides good practice for those
involved in handling, prescribing, commissioning and decision-making about medicines. It has been designed to help organisations develop and update local formularies that reflect local needs, reduce variation in prescribing, and allow rapid uptake of innovative medicines and treatments, in accordance with statutory requirements.

• Guidance
• NICE - news

Redbook to go digital

Redbook to go digital: The Redbook, a record of children's development and health, is the subject of a project by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in order to create an online version of the data.Dr David Low, Chair of the RCPCH Informatics for Quality Committee, said: "Having it (the Redbook) online with the right information and advice should encourage parents to use it in a much more interactive way and put in mo... Healthcare Today

NHS to drop poverty as yardstick for local funding

NHS to drop poverty as yardstick for local funding: NHS commissioning board will discontinue funding system using a formula involving age, poverty and regional variations
The new independent quango at the heart of the coalition's health reforms has said it will stop using income to determine health spending levels around in the country next year as part of a set of reforms designed to promote "patient choice" in the NHS.

Hospital consultants could lose £40,000 in pay shake-up

Hospital consultants could lose £40,000 in pay shake-up: Senior hospital consultants' pay packages should undergo a radical shakeup, according to a report commissioned by ministers. The Daily Telegraph

EU directive had led to 'rigid doctors' shift patterns'

EU directive had led to 'rigid doctors' shift patterns': The junior doctors' contract is "not suitable" for today's NHS, while the European Working Time Directive has led to "rigid shift patterns" that do not benefit medics or patients, according to a report. The Daily Telegraph

Bowel Cancer: Postoperative deaths fall for fourth consecutive year, says national audit

Bowel Cancer: Postoperative deaths fall for fourth consecutive year, says national audit: December 17, 2012: Call to "break taboo that locks symptoms behind bathroom door" as emergency admissions continue to cause concern NHS Information Centre

MP raises concerns over services at Kettering hospital in Commons debate

MP raises concerns over services at Kettering hospital in Commons debate: MP for Corby and East Northants Andy Sawford raised concerns over the future of services at Kettering General Hospital during a Commons debate on Wednesday, December 12. Evening Telegraph

Hospital celebrates above average A & E care results

Hospital celebrates above average A & E care results: Kettering General Hospital is celebrating after achieving above average scores in a survey on the care it provides in accident and emergency. Evening Telegraph

‘Bump book’ to help pregnant mums keep healthy

‘Bump book’ to help pregnant mums keep healthy:
Start4Life, the sister brand to Change4Life, has today launched a free booklet for all pregnant mums to help them keep healthy throughout pregnancy and beyond.

NHS 'should operate seven days a week'

NHS 'should operate seven days a week': Hospitals and GPs' surgeries could soon be expected to provide more routine services at the weekend under proposals to accelerate the spread of seven-day working across the National Health Service. The Independent

See also:

• Learn from Tesco to work seven days a week, doctors told The Daily Telegraph
• Hospitals to offer more weekend operations under NHS plans The Guardian
• NHS weekend provision considered BBC News

Football 'lessons' for healthcare

Football 'lessons' for healthcare: Medicine has a lot to learn from football about developing new approaches, says researchers in the British Medical Journal. BBC News

Services must evolve and revolve around the changing needs of patients; community services are the key, says Rob Webster

Services must evolve and revolve around the changing needs of patients; community services are the key, says Rob Webster: The 21st century NHS faces the biggest challenges of a generation. So why are we still using 20th century approaches to healthcare that ignore patients’ assets and 21st  century technology? Many reasons – financial flows; disjointed IT; and professional hierarchies. But perhaps the biggest barrier is in our culture – one that we must overcome, … Continue reading » NHS Voices

A future state of mind: facing up to the dementia challenge

A future state of mind: facing up to the dementia challenge: This report draws on in-depth interviews with people with Alzheimer's and their carers and a wealth of research to identify the barriers to early diagnosis, from a patient and professional perspective. New policies are proposed to better incentivise the health system to
diagnose dementia earlier.

• Report
• SMF - publications

NHS lone worker services framework agreement

NHS lone worker services framework agreement: This letter provides information in relation to concerns which have arisen regarding early terminations of NHS lone worker services framework agreements.

• Letter
• NHS Employers - news

Liverpool Care Pathway: watchdogs must be informed about 'inappropriate' use

Liverpool Care Pathway: watchdogs must be informed about 'inappropriate' use: Health watchdogs must be informed when doctors or loved-ones think the Liverpool Care Pathway has been used "inappropriately", the Care Quality Commission has stated. The Daily Telegraph

Hospital closes wards to visitors to stop spread of winter vomiting bug

Hospital closes wards to visitors to stop spread of winter vomiting bug:
A hospital has closed its doors to visitors in a bid to stem the growing number of people infected with the winter vomiting bug. The Independent