Facilitating technology adoption in the NHS: negotiating the organisational and policy context – a qualitative study – NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) 

NHS race equality standard unveiled – HSJ Article

NHS organisations are to be forced to increase the representation of ethnic minorities in senior positions or face contractual and regulatory consequences

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

The performers lists and suspension: a paper for consultation – Department of Health 

This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to how NHS England should respond when practitioners are suspended by an interim suspension order. The regulator may issue an interim suspension order when there is a concern about a practitioner. The closing date for comments is 25 September 2014.

Big data and public health – Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (POST) 

Patient health records and other large scale medical and administrative datasets are increasingly being considered as a valuable tool for the study and improvement of health. This POSTnote examines the sources of data, their current and potential uses for health improvement, and the legal and practical issues raised by data use for public health or research purposes.

National flu programme training slide set for healthcare professionals – HM Government 

This slide pack has been developed for trainers and leaders of the national flu programme. The material is comprehensive and you can adapt the pack to suit your particular training needs.

Changing how the GMC decides on doctors’ fitness to practice – Department of Health

The General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for regulating doctors and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) oversees the regulation of all healthcare professionals, protecting the health and safety of the public by ensuring fitness to practise.

The GMC is seeking views on proposed changes to the way each body carries out its regulatory functions, including:

• establishing the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service as a statutory committee of the GMC
• strengthening adjudication procedures
• confirming the objectives of the GMC and its fitness to practise functions
• amending the grounds on which the PSA can refer fitness to practise panel decisions to the higher courts and introducing a new right of appeal for the GMC

The Scottish government are also jointly consulting using this consultation paper for professions for whom responsibility is devolved in Scotland.

Monitor to bring consultancy work in-house – HSJ Article 

Monitor is seeking to save millions of pounds by beefing up its internal team of troubleshooters to reduce its reliance on consultants.

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

 Adult obesity and type 2 diabetes – HM Government

The paper provides an overview of obesity and type 2 diabetes among adults, describing the epidemiology of each disorder, how the 2 conditions are linked and why they present a major public health challenge. Latest available data and evidence illustrate prevalence trends in both obesity and diabetes at a national and local level as well as the potential implications in terms of health consequences, inequalities and cost. The paper also signposts latest relevant policy and guidance documents.

Summary Care Record hits 40 million milestone – NHS England

A milestone 40 million patients now have a Summary Care Record and health professionals are using them to improve and speed up patient care every 30 seconds. NHS England is delighted by the achievement and is now focusing on rolling it out in A&E, NHS 111, and GP out-of-hours services. Usage of the SCR is up with clinicians viewing them more than 19,000 times a week or once every 30 seconds.

Webinar: using data to improve outcomes and performance – HSJ Article<

Watch our webinar on how timely data can help managers and clinicians

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

Launch of the National Care Makers Clinical Scholar Awards – NHS Employers  

Applications are now being accepted for the second cohort of the National Care Makers Clinical Scholar Awards.

Inspection notice periods could treble – HSJ Article

Hospitals, GP practices and care homes could see pre-inspection notice periods trebled under a new Care Quality Commission approach.

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

Keogh trusts have progressed one year on, says Richards – HSJ Article

Strong leadership and good clinical engagement are the essential qualities for turning around failing trusts, chief inspector of hospitals Sir Mike Richards has told HSJ.

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

A Care Certificate for support workers – have your say NHS Employers 

From April 2015, all new care assistants, support workers, and assistant practitioners in health and social care settings will be expected to complete the ‘Care Certificate’ within the first few months of their employment.

Health Statistics

• Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) Recorded Dementia Diagnoses 2013/14 Provisional statistics
• Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) – Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, January 2013 – December 2013