Evidence summary new medicine: Hyperphosphataemia in adults with chronic kidney disease on dialysis
NICE has published a new medicines evidence summary ESNM51 Hyperphosphataemia in adults with chronic kidney disease on dialysis: sucroferric oxyhydroxide. Evidence summaries: new medicines’ provide a summary of the published evidence for selected new medicines, or for existing medicines with new indications or formulations, that are considered to be of significance to the NHS. The strengths and weaknesses of the relevant evidence are critically reviewed within the summary, but the summaries are not formal NICE guidance.

Winter funding: where the money is spent
NHS England has published details of how the extra £700million of winter funding is being used across the country to open extra beds, employ more frontline clinicians, and support community and local council services.

Investigation of tissues and biopsies from deep-seated sites and organs consultation
Public Health England has launched an open consultation UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations Investigation of tissues and biopsies from deep-seated sites and organsSMI B 17: Investigation of tissues and biopsies. Consultation closes on 26 January 2015.

A&E performance at all-time low as emergency admissions peak – Health Service Journal 
Hospitals say there is ‘unprecedented’ demand on their emergency services as admissions hit their highest level in 10

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Data Sharing
The Department of Health has published the first report from the Independent Information Governance Oversight Panel, chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott and set up by the Secretary of State for Health in November 2013. The report information: to share or not to share looks at whether health and social care organisations are sharing information wisely and preventing improper disclosure of personal data. It shows evidence of pockets of exemplary practice but the overall picture is of a need for improvement.

Social media in the NHS
NHS Providers has supported a report by consultancy JB McCrea On the brink of something special.  The nine-month analysis examined a range of NHS organisations, including foundation trusts, trusts, community healthcare trusts, ambulance trusts and clinical commissioning groups to understand the patterns of social media use by different levels in the organisations.

New patient safety incentives revealed – Health Service Journal
New incentives to improve patient safety have been outlined by NHS England. These include advances in seven day services, care of sepsis and acute kidney injury, as well as moves to tackle antibiotic resistance.

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The rich picture: people with cancer – Macmillan Cancer UK 
This document is a collation of the key available evidence about the numbers, needs and experiences of people affected by cancer. It finds that 2.5 million people today are living with cancer in the UK, an increase of over half a million over the past five years. It argues that this increase puts huge pressure on the NHS, which will have difficulty coping unless urgent action is taken by all political parties.

New action to reduce sepsis – Department of Health 
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced further measures to tackle sepsis, involving the NHS, government and national health bodies.   The aim is to make tackling sepsis as important to the NHS as C. difficile and MRSA, where rates have virtually halved since 2010. It is estimated that 11,000 lives and £160 million could be saved every year through better diagnosis and treatment. Plans include an audit of practice in every GP surgery in England by March 2015, and a new tool for GPs to diagnose sepsis among children under 5. New diagnosis and incentivised treatment goals for hospitals are also designed to help raise standards.

Planning guidance full coverage: next steps for the forward view – Health Service Journal
Health economies seeking to be at the forefront of moving to the new models of care set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View have been given six weeks to submit an expression of interest to NHS England.

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