Do patients choose hospitals that improve their health? – Centre for Health Economics (CHE)
Patients in the English NHS can choose which hospital to attend for planned surgery. Among other things, their choice depends on the quality of care that each hospital provides. But the existing information on hospital quality is often limited and focuses only on the negative experience of patients, for example how many patients died after surgery or were readmitted for unplanned care. Patients increasingly have access to better information on hospital quality. The NHS has recently begun to publish information on improvements in health as reported by patients themselves. This paper tests whether hip replacement patients in England are more likely to attend a hospital that achieves larger improvements in their patients’ health. It finds that health improvements are more important for the choice of hospital than readmission or mortality rates. However, patients’ reaction to quality information is generally limited: even for large changes in quality patients would only be willing to travel few kilometres more.

Patient experience – Picker Institute
Improving patient experience is going to be a big challenge for the incoming government, according to Picker Institute Europe. Picker has created an infographic which highlights some of the key patient experience related challenges, that need to be addressed going forward, if a person centred approach is to be achieved.

Expanding ‘super-practice’ wants GPs to work across secondary care – Health Service Journal
A GP ‘super-practice’ is seeking doctors to work in urgent care centres, accident and emergency and other secondary care settings across the East Midlands as part of ambitious expansion plans. Corby based Lakeside Healthcare has already announced its intention to become the country’s largest GP led primary care provider in the country, with an aim to establish a registered list of 300,000 patients.

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Regional spinal specialist unit rated ‘inadequate’ – Health Service Journal
A regional centre for spinal injuries has been rated as ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission.  The regulator highlighted concerns over “significantly low” staffing levels at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, which is run by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust. Some care and dignity issues were also identified.

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FT becomes ‘emergency caretaker’ of GP surgeries – Health Service Journal
An East Midlands foundation trust is to take over all GP services in three local surgeries under ‘exceptional circumstances’, its commissioners have said.  Chesterfield Royal Hospital FT’s primary care branch, Royal Primary Care, will start to deliver services at three of the five surgeries currently run by Holywell Medical Group on Friday.

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New NHS company reveals outcomes based targets – Health Service Journal
A new NHS owned company overseeing an £800m integrated older people’s services contract will have to hit outcomes based targets to secure up to 15 per cent of its income, its chief has told HSJ.

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RCN Employment Survey – Royal College of Nursing
The RCN’s Employment Survey is an opportunity to tell us what matters to you as a nursing workforce.

Peer support is valued but wider impact needs further evidence –  National Voices
Peer support has great potential to boost person centred care and is greatly valued by people who take part in it says Nesta and National Voices as they launch the review Peer Support: What Is It and Does It Work?

Corporate report: Monitor and the General Medical Council: memorandum of understanding – HM Government
The working relationship between Monitor and the General Medical Council supports a co-ordinated regulatory system for healthcare in England which exists to ensure the health sector works well for patients, promotes patient safety and delivers quality healthcare.

Nurses’ Day kicks off recruitment drive for nursing staff – Nursing Times
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust used International Nurses’ Day to announce a £1m recruitment drive.

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