Hospital worker in pornography probe

Hospital worker in pornography probe A worker at a Northamptonshire hospital is arrested for allegedly distributing indecent images. BBC News - Northamptonshire

Politicians demand more information on possible cuts to Cransley Hospice funding

Politicians demand more information on possible cuts to Cransley Hospice funding The Labour group on Northamptonshire County Council has called for immediate action to safeguard funding for two local hospices. Evening Telegraph

7 steps to cultural heaven – David Nicholson

7 steps to cultural heaven – David Nicholson After what feels like 10 years of the NHS and those with an interest in the NHS obsessing about structures and systems, culture is starting to get the profile it deserves. In fact, it is hard to read anything about the NHS these days without culture getting a mention. This is how it should be. But to say this is the real challenge facing the NHS is to grossly underestimate its importance.

Press release: Data collection shake-up as social care moves into the 21st century

Press release: Data collection shake-up as social care moves into the 21st century An overhaul of the way social care data is collected will be brought in to help improve the way that care and support is measured, Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb said today.

In order to support the new ways of collecting data, the Department of Health has agreed to give local authorities an extra £11.8 million of funding for implementation. The data will be collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and published annually. The statistics will help to improve social care standards by looking at the results people who use care and support are supported to achieve, rather than counting activities and processes.

Care Quality Commission report details full extent of bullying culture

Care Quality Commission report details full extent of bullying culture Report was commissioned by new CQC chief executive, David Behan, to determine scale of the problems

The full extent of the bullying culture within the Care Quality Commission has been revealed in an internal report, which talks of fear and harassment, often in a drive to reach targets.

Allegations of a bullying culture at the CQC were first made during the inquiry into poor care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS hospital trust. Low staff morale and fear of criticism were thought to have contributed to the CQC's series of disasters, including overlooking problems at the Winterbourne View care home and the row over an report into inspections at Morecambe Bay where several babies died, which was said to have been suppressed.

TV Reporters reveal staff failures in 111 call centres

TV Reporters reveal staff failures in 111 call centres Serious concerns about the privately run 111 NHS call service are revealed on TV tonight in a Dispatches undercover special. Independent

Guidance: Flu plan: Winter 2013 to 2014

Guidance: Flu plan: Winter 2013 to 2014 This plan sets out a coordinated and evidence-based approach to planning for and responding to the demands of flu across England taking account of lessons learnt during previous flu seasons. It will aid the development of robust and flexible operational plans by local organisations and emergency planners within the NHS and local government. It provides the public and healthcare professionals with an overview of the coordination and the preparation for the flu season and signposting to further guidance and information. Department of health

Alzheimer's blood test edges closer

Alzheimer's blood test edges closer Researchers believe they are closer to developing a blood test that could identify Alzheimer's patients. BBC News

Drug use at lowest level since 1996

Drug use at lowest level since 1996 The proportion of adults who say they use illegal drugs has fallen but 6% of young adults used "laughing gas" in the last year, a Home Office study finds. BBC News

New virus 'not following Sars' path'

New virus 'not following Sars' path' The new Mers virus, which has killed half of those infected, is "unlikely" to reach the same scale as Sars, ministers in Saudi Arabia say. BBC News

NHS Employment Check Standards have been updated

NHS Employment Check Standards have been updated The NHS Employment Check Standards have been updated. There are six documents in total that outline the employment checks that employers must carry out before appointing staff into NHS positions across England. NHS Employers

Enter the CCG

Enter the CCG From time to time I come across something in the NHS that leaves me screaming, but this is the mother and father of them all - the Section 251 debacle. E-Health Insider

Strength in numbers: how independent hospices could raise more income

Strength in numbers: how independent hospices could raise more income This report explores the opportunities and challenges for hospices to raise more income from voluntary and donated sources in the future.

• Report
• Help the Hospices - publications

Auditing the accounts 2012/13: NHS bodies

Auditing the accounts 2012/13: NHS bodies This report summarises the results of auditors’ work for 2012/13 at NHS bodies within the Commission’s audit regime. These bodies comprised NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. It covers the timeliness and quality of financial reporting, auditors’ local value for money work, the extent to which auditors utilised their statutory reporting powers, and the challenges facing NHS bodies for 2013/14. 

• Report
• Audit Commission - publications

Can the new NHS bodies solve the current problems?

Can the new NHS bodies solve the current problems? Few people would look at the new NHS structure and conclude that the health service needs more organisations.

Who is in charge? Hidden among the predictable dissection of urgent and emergency care woes in the health select committee report, published on Wednesday, are serious concerns about whether the myriad of new NHS bodies are capable of sorting the problems out.

Labour calls for investigation into rise in deaths of older people

Labour calls for investigation into rise in deaths of older people Official figures show 23,400 more deaths of older people than expected in 18 months, with many in poorest parts of country.

A&E doctors 'should focus on patients, not pay'

A&E doctors 'should focus on patients, not pay' A&E doctors should worry less about their pay packets and more about their patients, the head of NHS Employers has claimed as he dismissed complaints about evening and weekend work. The Daily Telegraph

£25 to see your GP: Majority of doctors want to charge patients for routine appointments

£25 to see your GP: Majority of doctors want to charge patients for routine appointments

The ideal of an NHS free at the point of need was dealt a serious blow today, as a survey of family doctors revealed unprecedented levels of support for charging patients for routine appointments. The Independent

See also:

• Patients should pay us, say doctors The Daily Telegraph
• NHS bosses rule out charging patients to visit GP The Guardian

NHS staff told to stop moaning and come up with solutions

NHS staff told to stop moaning and come up with solutions In an effort to boost morale NHS bosses have banned staff from moaning unless they come up with a solution to the problem. The Independent

Mock health inspections aim to boost quality

Mock health inspections aim to boost quality A new scheme of mock inspections of community health services has started in Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in a bid to drive up standards and ensure services are fit for purpose. Northamptonshire Telegraph