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

Steps set out for greater patient involvement and more choice

Steps set out for greater patient involvement and more choice: The Government’s response to its consultation on proposals for greater patient involvement and more choice has been published today.
For the first time, people who use mental health services will get more choice about where and how they get their condition treated by the NHS.

'Monday blues' hit appointments

'Monday blues' hit appointments: Researchers identify the "Monday blues" as one of the reasons why patients miss medical appointments. BBC News

Cheap vitamin D 'would boost health'

Cheap vitamin D 'would boost health': Increasing access to cheap vitamin D supplements would improve the health of at-risk groups including children, experts say. BBC News

Liberating the NHS: no decision about me without me - Government response

Liberating the NHS: no decision about me without me - Government response: This publication outlines the government's response to a consultation on proposals for greater patient involvement and choice. It outlines
how patients will have a choice in provider when they are first referred to see a specialist in secondary care. It also outlines broader plans to increase patient involvement and patient choice.

• Government response
• 2012-13 choice framework
• 2013-14 choice framework
• Equality analysis
• Impact assessment
• Any Qualified Provider map
• Department of Health - news 

Exclusive: Interactive map of the new NHS commissioning system

Exclusive: Interactive map of the new NHS commissioning system: HSJ has launched the first comprehensive interactive map of the reformed NHS commissioning system, showing critical details about the new organisations, including their leaders, performance, budgets and size (no password required).

Are clinical commissioning groups ready to go?

Are clinical commissioning groups ready to go?: With less than four months before CCGs take over from primary care trusts, just eight out of 211 have now been fully authorised. The focus will be on failings unless the system improves
The authorisation of the first clinical commissioning groups provides a window onto the state of readiness of the new NHS structures.

Demand £500m back for Tamiflu, urge MPs

Demand £500m back for Tamiflu, urge MPs: Ministers should demand that the pharmaceutical firm Roche returns £500 million to the NHS if it is found to have sat on trials data showing the flu drug Tamiflu to be ineffective, say MPs. The Daily Telegraph

See also:

• MPs call for investigation into £500m spent on Tamiflu drug The Guardian

Obesity killing three times as many as malnutrition

Obesity killing three times as many as malnutrition: Obesity is now killing triple the number of people who die from malnutrition as it claims more than three million lives a year worldwide, according to a landmark study. The Daily Telegraph

Up to 750,000 people could be hit by norovirus bug as UK faces biggest outbreak yet

Up to 750,000 people could be hit by norovirus bug as UK faces biggest outbreak yet:
More than 750,000 people could be affected by an outbreak of norovirus in the UK, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has claimed. The Independent

Progress in making NHS efficiency savings

Progress in making NHS efficiency savings: The NHS made a substantial amount of efficiency savings in 2011-12. These will need to be sustained and built on if savings targets are to be met. National Audit Office

See also:

• More than half of NHS trusts rationing treatments The Daily Telegraph
• NHS: spending watchdog questions claims of £5.8bn savings The Guardian
• NHS Confederation and NHS Employers comment on National Audit Office report Progress in making NHS efficiency savings 
• NHS will struggle to make long-term savings, NAO warns GP Online
• NHS facing 'tough savings challenge' BBC News
• The King's Fund responds to the National Audit Office’s report on progress in making NHS efficiency savings
• NHS savings ''may be unsustainable''  Public Service