NICE patient group directions (PGDs) competency frameworks published 
Three national competency frameworks have been developed to support:

• Those with responsibility for those developing PGDs and/or reviewing and updating PGDs.
• Those authorising PGDs
• Health professionals using PGDs

Closing the NHS funding gap
The Health Foundation has published an event report Closing the NHS funding gap: Can it be done through greater efficiency?  Senior health sector leaders considered whether the NHS can close the £30bn funding gap through greater efficiency. The discussion was stimulated by Monitor’s publication last year of ‘Closing the NHS funding gap: how to get better value healthcare for patients’ which highlighted the financial challenges facing the NHS in England. The report identified four key areas where there were opportunities to make significant productivity gains across the NHS by 2021 and beyond.

Right Care commissioning videos
Right Care has made available 4 new commissioning videos via the Right Care Resource Centre. The videos cover: Integrating Hub/Prime Vendor; Commissioning for Value Deep Dives; Value Based Guidance for elective surgery; and data tools for guidance development.

NICE Public Health briefing
NICE has published a Public Health briefing Encouraging people to have NHS Health Checks and supporting them to reduce risk factors.  This briefing summarises NICE’s recommendations for local authorities and partner organisations that could be used to encourage people to have NHS Health Checks and support them to change their behaviour after the NHS Health Check and reduce their risk factors. It is particularly relevant to health and wellbeing boards.

Broadening the Foundation Programme report
Health Education England has published its Broadening the Foundation Programme report, which recommends doctors in training undertake a minimum of one community or integrated placement during their two year Foundation Programme. This is to ensure they receive a wider experience of working in community settings, such as general practice, community psychiatry or community paediatrics, palliative care and public health and obtain a broader understanding of community care and the whole patient journey.

Evidence summary: unlicensed or off-label medicine: oral ketamine
NICE has published an unlicensed or off-label medicine evidence summary, ESUOM27 Chronic pain: oral ketamine. ‘Evidence summaries: unlicensed or off-label medicine’ present the published evidence for selected unlicensed or off-label medicines that are considered to be of significance to the NHS, where there are no clinically appropriate licensed alternatives. The summaries provide information for clinicians and patients to inform their decision-making and support the construction and updating of local formularies. The strengths and weaknesses of the relevant evidence are critically reviewed within this summary, but this summary is not NICE guidance.

Medical innovation consultation
The Department of Health has launched an open consultation to find out whether the Medical Innovation Bill should be made law. The main aim is to help the department understand whether the bill would help encourage responsible medical innovation and help prevent irresponsible innovation. If the bill becomes law, doctors will be able to innovate where there is no body of opinion to support the innovation or where it’s not clear whether this exists. The proposed safeguards suggest doctors should have sound reasons for their innovation and the bill would introduce a statutory best practice checklist as a safeguard against irresponsible innovation.  Consultation closes 25 April 2014.

Health Statistics

• Breast Screening Programme, England – 2012-13
• Personal Social Services: Staff of Social Services Departments, England – as at 30th September 2013
• Characteristics of Children in Need in England – Characteristics of Children in Need in England, 2012 to 13 – additional analysis