HSJ Roundup

• NHS England warns CCGs against propping up trust bottom lines
  NHS England has warned local commissioners that offer providers extra income to deliver their financial targets – and therefore trigger an incentive payment – could be “personally” scrutinized by national officials.
• ‘Outstanding’ hospital granted semi-autonomy from trust
  A top teaching trust has granted semi-autonomy to its outstanding-rated children’s hospital, to give it “more clinical ownership”, HSJ can reveal.
• ‘More unannounced inspections of providers ahead’, says CQC chair
  The Care Quality Commission is planning to shift its approach to inspections and will in future carry out more unannounced visits and focus more on specific services rather than whole organisations.
• CCGs breaching NICE surgery restrictions guidance
  At least 10 per cent of clinical commissioning groups across England are using unproven scoring tools to restrict access to hip and knee operations, HSJ can reveal.
• Cancer network to move treatment into the community
  Three London trusts have agreed to redesign their cancer services to try to improve patient care and waiting time performance.

The progress and outcomes of black and minority ethnic (BME) nurses and midwives through the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s fitness to practise process – Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
This research, carried out by the University of Greenwich, explores the progress and outcomes of BME nurses and midwives going through the NMC’s fitness to practise process. The findings highlight that BME staff are more likely to be referred to the NMC than their white counterparts but that BME staff are less likely to be struck off or suspended.

Draw the line – revised campaign resources – NHS Employers
We’ve refreshed our Draw the line assessment tool and manager’s guide to help you effectively determine where your organisation is with raising concerns and support staff more effectively.

Maternity Choice And Personalisation Pioneers: Frequently Asked Questions – NHS England 
This updated set of FAQs provides guidance and information on the pioneers who are testing ways of improving choice and personalisation for women accessing maternity services.

New models of care – The King’s Fund
The Kings Fund has published presentations from its conference Mainstreaming primary and acute care systems and multispecialty community providers. The event explored the learning from the multidisciplinary community providers and primary and acute care systems new care model vanguards. It looked at what is working well and what could be replicated in other areas.

Degree apprenticeship standard for healthcare science practitioner – NHS Employers
Approval gives the go ahead to deliver the Healthcare Science degree apprenticeship standard.