RCN London Safe Staffing Report 2014 – Royal College of Nursing 
This report shows that the region’s nursing shortage is increasing with more than 8000 nursing posts in the capital unfilled. 14% of London nursing posts are now vacant, up from 11% a year ago. It calls for system-wide action to ensure London employers are able to recruit enough nurses to keep staffing numbers at the level they believe are needed to keep patients safe.

Investing In People: Draft Workforce Plan For England – NHS Health Education England
This plan sets out the £5bn investment that NHS Health Education England will make in education and training programmes for 2015/16. It is built upon the needs of local employers, commissioners and other stakeholders who, as members of Local Education Training Boards, have shaped the thirteen local plans. The priorities in the plan are the priorities of the NHS, identified locally and nationally by employers, colleges and other stakeholders. The plan commissions 370 more postgraduate medical training posts than in the 2014 plan, as well as over 800 additional nurse commissions, over 500 additional AHP commissions, and more than 800 new commissions for pharmacy, healthcare scientists and other therapeutic roles.

No more hero leaders – Health Services Management Centre (HSMC)
Across all public services, including health, the skill sets of leaders in the future need to be different, and the type of leadership approach also needs to change.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) systems map: overview of the factors influencing the development of AMR and the interactions between them – Department of Health
The aim of producing an AMR systems map is to provide a broad overview of the factors influencing the development of antimicrobial resistance and the interactions between them rather than detailed consideration of individual factors or infectious agents. It is hoped that this will increase awareness of the diverse factors that influence AMR, aid research groups in identifying issues for investigation and aid in policy development.

Professional Guidance on the Structure and Content of Ambulance Record – NHS England 
New guidance describing the clinical professional standards for the structure and content of ambulance patient records: “Professional Guidance on the Structure and Content of Ambulance Records” is published today.  The guidance was commissioned by NHS England from the Health and Social Care Information Centre and produced by the Royal College of Physicians Health Informatics Unit.

NHS England earmarks £1bn for underfunded CCGs – Health Service Journal
NHS England has approved plans to use more than half of the extra £2bn that has been freed up for health service spending in 2015-16 to bring underfunded clinical commissioning groups closer to their “fair share” of allocations.

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

Emergency care demand for older people predicted to rise – Health Service Journal 
Emergency admissions among older people are likely to keep rising during the next five years, a Department of Health funded study has found. This comes despite ministers’ claims that the better care fund will lead to a reduction in non-elective activity

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

Support for young people in A&E with alcohol problems – Public Health England
Public Health England has published Young people’s hospital alcohol pathways: support pack for A&E departments. The guidance is aimed at A&E clinicians, hospital managers, substance misuse and young people’s commissioners and includes a set of key questions or prompts for professionals to help them develop care pathways within A&E and into other services for young people. 

Evidence update: ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage  – NICE
NICE has published a new evidence updateEctopic pregnancy and miscarriage(Evidence Update 71). It provides a summary of selected new evidence relevant to NICE clinical guideline 154 ‘Diagnosis and initial management in early pregnancy of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage’ (2012) 

Using surveillance: guidance for service providers – CQC
The Care Quality Commission has published Using surveillance. This guidance sets out some of the key issues providers need to take into account to help ensure decisions about the potential use of surveillance are informed, appropriate and lawful. It describes some of the alternative steps providers can consider before deciding to use surveillance and signposts relevant legislation.  Whether to use surveillance is a decision for care providers to make in consultation with the people who use their services, and with families, carers, trade unions and staff. Surveillance in care services must be lawful, fair and proportionate and it must be used for purposes that support the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care.

NICE guidance
NICE has published the following guidance:

• Dabigatran etexilate for the treatment and secondary prevention of deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism (TA327) Technology appraisals
• Idelalisib for treating follicular lymphoma that is refractory to 2 prior treatments (terminated appraisal) (TA328) Technology appraisals
• Antibiotics for neonatal infection (QS75) Quality Standard
• Single‑incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (IPG508) Interventional procedures guidance
• Accessing NHS care and treatment recommended by NICE (PIP1). Public involvement programme

Statistics

• NHS sickness absence rates – August 2014 monthly tables
• NHS staff earnings estimates to September 2014 provisional statistics
• NHS workforce statistics – September 2014, provisional statistics
• CCG Outcomes indicator set – December 2014