• NHS Improvement has established a senior advisory group, the ‘Faculty of Improvement‘, to advise and enable the creation of an improvement movement across the NHS in England.
• For a list of members (at 14 March 2016) see here.

Stepping up to the place: The key to successful health and care integration – NHS Confederation

• A description by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association, NHS Clinical Commissioners and NHS Confederation of a fully integrated, transformed system based on the evidence.
• Key components for effective integration are shared commitment, shared leadership and accountability, and shared systems.
• “The status quo is no longer an option, and everyone must innovate and transform on a scale
  and at a pace not yet seen.”
• The report calls for
  • Local systems to embed integration as ‘business as usual’.
  • A collective approach to achieving integration by 2020.
  • Consensus and action on the barriers to making integration happen.
  • Dialogue with national policy makers on ensuring integration is effective.
  • Ongoing testing and evaluation to develop the evidence base.
  • National partner action to enable the minimum requirements to integrate effectively

Brexit and junior doctors’ contracts: the real threats to the NHS – The Lancet
Editorial: On July 6, junior doctors in England’s National Health Service (NHS) voted 58% to 42% to reject the final contract offer from the UK Government. The rejection follows 3 years of negotiation and the first all-out strike for English doctors in 40 years. Some have expressed surprise at the result given that the British Medical Association supported accepting the latest offer. Although many junior doctors acknowledged that they may not receive an improved offer, a situation confirmed by Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt’s decision to impose the contract, they were unwilling to vote in favour of what they say is an attempt to stretch existing staff over 7 days without increasing spending.

Jim Mackey: ‘The NHS is in a mess’ – Health Service Journal
NHS Improvement chief executive Jim Mackey has told senior managers the health service is “in a mess”, in a stark warning on finance and performance issues.

Ten trusts responsible for 20 per cent of A&E breaches – Health Service Journal
Ten hospital trusts clocked up 20 per cent of all accident and emergency breaches in May, HSJ analysis of the most recent official data reveals.

NHS Improvement directors seek to clarify position on staffing levels – Health Service Journal
NHS Improvement directors have sought to clarify the regulator’s position on staffing levels and emphasised trusts needing to make “appropriate judgements” on staffing “within the funds available”.

Serious failings at Liverpool trust to be investigated further – Health Service Journal
QUALITY: The government has authorised a further review into failings at Liverpool Community Health Trust, after an MP called for scrutiny of the role of regulators and local commissioners.

CCGs halt service closure plan ahead of legal challenge – Health Service Journal
MENTAL HEALTH: Commissioners in Greater Manchester have halted the closure of several mental health services, ahead of a judicial review.

The King’s Fund response to the Secretary of State for Health remaining in his post.
Press releases, 14 July 2016
Commenting on the news that Jeremy Hunt will remain in his post as Secretary of State for Health, Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said:

‘Jeremy Hunt faces some formidable challenges. He is on record as saying the NHS will need more money and he must now lead an honest debate with the public about what the health service can deliver with its budget. This means reviewing current priorities and avoiding making new commitments which cannot be funded.

NHS Improvement business plan
NHS Improvement has published its Business plan 2016/17.  This plan sets out what the department will do in 2016/17 to support providers in meeting the challenges across these five areas set out by the Five Year Forward View.  NHS Improvement has also published its objectives to 2020.