The future of healthcare: our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care – Department of Health and Social Care
This policy paper outlines what is needed to enable the health and care system to make the best use of technology to support preventative, predictive and personalised care.

Estimating diversion ratios in hospital mergers – Competition and Markets Authority
Understanding patient choice is vital in assessing the closeness of competition between hospitals. The standard technique used in the UK is to estimate substitution patterns based on historical GP referrals. This paper compares the results of the ‘GP referral’ methodology to a demand estimation approach.

Making the most of the money: efficiency and the long-term plan – NHS Providers
This report says trusts recognise their responsibility to maximise efficiency but a different approach will now be needed as the current method of driving efficiency in the health service is no longer sustainable. The report says the forthcoming NHS long-term plan, backed by the new funding settlement, can provide a vision for a transformed and sustainable NHS. It concludes that the success of that plan will depend on the ability of the health service to deliver stretching levels of efficiency.

Standards for pre-registration nursing associate programmes – Nursing & Midwifery Council
This document sets out the specific requirements that apply to all pre-registration nursing associate education programmes. In order to be approved to run pre-registration nursing associate programmes, approved education institutions and their practice placement partners must meet these standards, and the requirements within the NMC’s standards framework for nursing and midwifery education as well as the standards for student supervision and assessment.

Standards of proficiency for nursing associates – Nursing & Midwifery Council 
This document sets out what nursing associates know and can do when they join the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) register. They are the minimum standards required to join the new nursing associate part of our register. Approved education institutions, with their practice placement partners, will need to ensure that nursing associate education and training programmes enable students to demonstrate these proficiencies and qualify as nursing associates.

An overview of reviews: the effectiveness of interventions to address loneliness at all stages of the life-course – What Works Centre for Wellbeing 
This review is the first of its kind to establish what we know about loneliness and effective ways to tackle it. It is a first step to develop the evidence, revealing big gaps in the current evidence base. It is important to remember that these findings only cover the interventions included in the studies looked at by the review.

Physician associates at The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust – NHS Employers 
The Royal Free London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has successfully recruited two physician associates. This case study explores how the introduction of physician associates within urology at the trust has helped to increase educational opportunities for junior doctors, reduced workload intensity and improved continuity care for patients. It describes how the trust developed a business case for the roles, how physician associates were integrated into the workforce, and the education and training involved.

Advanced critical care practitioners – NHS Employers
This case study looks at how Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NUTH) introduced advanced critical care practitioners (ACCPs) into multidisciplinary teams across its critical care units. NUTH introduced the role to overcome challenges around patient demand and workforce supply, and was one of the first trusts in England to train and employ ACCPs.

Physical activity resource for health professionals
Public Health England has launched a new physical activity resource for health professions aimed at improving conversations between patients and healthcare professionals.  The Moving Medicine tool will help healthcare professionals advise patients on how physical activity can help to manage their conditions, prevent disease and aid recovery.

Cold weather plan for England
Public Health England has updated its Cold weather plan for England: protecting health and reducing harm from cold weather.  This framework aims to prevent the major avoidable effects on health during periods of cold weather in England by alerting people to the negative health effects of cold weather, and enabling them to prepare and respond appropriately.  Public Health England has also updated its Keep Warm Keep Well leaflet which gives advice on staying well in cold weather, covering issues such as financial help, healthy lifestyle, flu jabs and heating.

Statistics

• Compendium – Mortality from fracture of femur
• Compendium – Mortality from skull fracture and intracranial injury
• Compendium – Mortality from potentially avoidable or amenable causes
• Compendium – Mortality from land transport accidents
• Compendium – Mortality from chronic rheumatic heart disease
• Compendium – Mortality from chronic renal failure
• Compendium – Mortality from hypertensive disease
• Compendium – Mortality from Hodgkin’s disease
• Compendium – Mortality from gastric, duodenal and peptic ulcers
• Compendium – Mortality from infectious diseases
• Compendium – Mortality from chronic liver disease

NICE guidance

Highly specialised technologies guidance:

• HST8    Burosumab for treating X-linked hypophosphataemia in children and young people

Technology appraisal guidance:

• TA544   Dabrafenib with trametinib for adjuvant treatment of resected BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma