Mutual recognition of professional qualifications in healthcare
The Department of Health has published the outcome of its consultation on mutual recognition of professional qualifications in healthcare. The consultation response outlines the changes relevant to health professions, specifically on the drafting of the regulations which will amend the UK health and care professions’ primary and secondary legislation.

Policy changes to implement the NHS five year forward view: a progress report
Chris Ham, Tom Buckley, Alex Baylis, The King’s Fund.
Two years on from the publication of the NHS five year forward view (Forward View), we assess what changes have already been made and what still needs to be done to align policies with the plan.

Two years on from the Forward View, is there hope for sustainability and transformation in the NHS? The King’s Fund Blog
In the two years since the NHS five year forward view was published, the need for change within the NHS has become more urgent. Pressures on health and social care have been growing year on year, with most providers now in deficit and key patient care targets being consistently missed.

Choosing wisely –  Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)
As part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, AoMRC have outlined a list of 40 treatments and procedures which have limited clinical value or impact. The campaign calls for doctors and patients to have a fully informed conversation about the risks and benefits of treatments and procedures.

Attitudes to dementia: findings from the 2015 British Social Attitudes survey –  Public Health England (PHE)
This report outlines findings from a survey carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) which examined public awareness of risk factors for dementia. It found that 28 per cent of the British public is unable to correctly identify any health and lifestyle factor that can increase the risk of developing dementia.

Modernising fitness to practise: changes to the Fitness to Practise Rules 2004 –  Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
This consultation seeks feedback on proposed changes to the NMC’s fitness to practise processes. The proposed changes will allow the NMC to give advice, issue warnings and recommend undertakings. The consultation closes on 19 December 2016.

New NHS data reveals extent of weekend patient mortality – NHE
The first NHS Digital report into seven-day service provision across the NHS has found worse outcomes for patients who are admitted at the weekend, with over 50% of trusts having significantly higher odds of mortality. The ‘Seven-Day Services’ statistics, based on experimental data, found that the national odds ratio of…

STPs being brought in ‘under the radar’ with inadequate consultation – NHE
Doctors are being excluded from the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) agenda, and will lack a sense of ownership if the consultation is rushed or inadequate, the BMA has said. Dr George Rae, chairman of the North East BMA, told a Westminster Health Forum conference on regional devolution: “I can only speak for the north…

NHS support staff continue to have highest sickness absence rate – NHE
Sickness absences affected healthcare assistants and other support staff more than any other group of NHS staff in April-June 2016, the latest figures from NHS Digital show. In the previous quarter, healthcare assistants overtook ambulance staff for the rate of sickness absences, with a 6.5% aggregated sickness absence rate. In…

Provider bulletin: 26 October NHSI
This fortnightly newsletter is sent to NHS trust and foundation trust chairs, chief executives, finance, medical and nursing directors, and foundation trust board secretaries.

HSJ roundup: (contact the library for further details on any of these HSJ articles)

• Bill Kirkup to lead review into trust’s care failings
  Dr Bill Kirkup is set to lead a review of care failings at Liverpool Community Health Trust, the MP who helped expose the scandal has said.
• Private providers get chance to bid for up to £15bn of NHS contracts
  Private providers have been given the chance to bid for thousands of NHS services for the first time due to new European Union competition rules.
• Data confidentiality row intensifies ahead of crucial ruling
  Over two thirds of NHS Digital data releases between April and August included information about the 1.2 million patients who have asked for their records not shared for purposes beyond direct care.
• Troubled ambulance trust launches patient harm review
  An ambulance service in special measures is to review whether any patients have been harmed by problems locating defibrillators during emergency calls.
• Third council publishes STP amid growing criticism of NHS England
  A south London local authority has become the third council to release its full sustainability and transformation plan, and has criticised NHS England’s directive that the plans should not immediately be published.