Health
Dementia training lacking in most hospitals, study shows
Next steps for NHS reform
Health Service Ombudsman to share more information about complaints with NHS
Patient's death leads to tougher European safety call
Atlas maps out variation in NHS
Private firm to run struggling NHS hospital
Sainsbury's offers GPs free premises as it launches national network of practices
Maternity 'postcode lottery' revealed in NHS figures
CNO to step down in March
Some prisoner deaths from heart attacks preventable, says Ombudsman
Probation Ombudsman, publishing a report into deaths from circulatory diseases.
Inadequate NHS hospital care for elderly 'condemns many to death'
NHS website gets 100m hits a year
Hospitals facing closer scrutiny of death rates
NICE to lose powers to decide on new drugs
Regulator recognises progress but calls for further improvement from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
Alzheimer's patients to get drugs on NHS after government U-turn
£70 million support to help people in their homes after illness or injury
CQC ratings will measure staff-service user relationships
Service veterans 'miss out on NHS treatment rights'
Many former servicemen and women are not benefiting from changes introduced in 2008 entitling them to priority treatment on the NHS.
Huge cultural shift needed in NHS childcare
A huge cultural shift is needed in the NHS in England to ensure children get the right care, a government-commissioned review says.
Incontinence services condemned by doctors
Millions of people in the UK with bladder and bowel problems face a "life sentence" of suffering because of the poor quality of care, say doctors.
Farm work prescribed to Norfolk and Suffolk patients
In a trial aimed at helping patients with their rehabilitation GPs in Norfolk and Suffolk can refer patients with mental and physical health problems to take part in activities at a 'care farm'.
Unions to launch campaign against cuts
Trade unions will mount a campaign of "real political potency" by mobilising public opinion against the government’s planned spending cuts Britain’s top trade union official has warned.
Towards a joined-up health service
We are a long way from an integrated NHS, says a new report – but local successes may point the way forward.
I want to spend a penny, not go to the shop: nurses to be taught euphemisms
A Norfolk hospital has organised lessons for foreign nurses to avoid cultural misunderstandings with patients.
Wards rely on agency staff as trusts strive to save cash
Trusts are undermining safety and efforts to cut costs by placing too much reliance on agency nurses, according to a report by the health service’s in-house temporary staff bank NHS Professionals.
Report: Patients dying because NHS ignores warnings from safety agency
Hospitals, mental health services and primary care trusts are killing and injuring patients by ignoring orders from an NHS regulator to improve the safety of treatment, a report alleges today.
Joint working between health and social care in Herefordshire
Community Care says that councils would be wise to look to Herefordshire when they draw up their plans to integrate health and social care services.
Nurses 'reminded of duties'
Nurses are being reminded that it is part of their job to feed patients and check if they have bed sores.
Are councils the winners in the proposed changes to the NHS?
Local authorities have an opportunity to make a big impact on health but it will depend on imaginative GPs says Ray Jones, professor of social work and formerly director of social services in Wiltshire.
Candidate for post of Care Quality Commission chair announced
Dame Jo Williams, currently interim CQC chair has emerged as the government's candidate for the permanent post.
NICE to provide guidance on GP referrals
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is set to publish guidelines for referral thresholds to ensure GPs avoided "inappropriate" referrals.
Life expectancy gap 'is widening'
The gap between average life expectancy and that of the poorest in England is widening despite efforts to close it, a National Audit Office report says.
Power to the patient
Patients will be offered more choice and control over their healthcare with the launch of the first direct payment scheme, Care Services Minister Paul Burstow has announced.
New President for the BMA: Sir Michael Marmot
Sir Michael Marmot has been appointed as the new President of the British Medical Association. Sir Michael Marmot is a world expert in health inequalities and the social determinants of health and has led a research group on this issue for the past 30 years.
Employers set to help NHS staff blow the whistle
A new guide, Speak up for a Healthy NHS, will advise employers how to set up arrangements to ensure staff feel comfortable and secure if they want to report bad practice.
Treasury sends back Lansley plan to give GPs control of £80bn
The white paper was due to be out next week but the timetable has slipped after Treasury officials said there was not enough provision for making GPs accountable to the public.
Permanent secretary resigns from DH
The permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Sir Hugh Taylor, will retire on 31 July 2010.
Doctors say patients with a learning disability receive poorer care
Almost half of doctors (46%) and a third of nurses (37%) say that people with a learning disability receive a poorer standard of healthcare than the rest of the population.
NHS plans suggest health funding for social care
NHS resources could be directed at funding social care support for people leaving hospital, according to NHS guidance published today.
Poor data security in the NHS
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) remains highly concerned that data breaches involving people’s personal information are continuing to occur in NHS organisations.
Huge disparity in NHS death rates revealed
Doctors in the NHS do not know how well they are performing and whether they are more likely than their colleagues to kill or cure their patients.
Hospitals to face financial penalties for readmissions
Hospitals will face financial penalties if patients are readmitted as an emergency within 30 days of being discharged, under government plans.
Full public inquiry into Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal to be announced
David Cameron is preparing to announce a full public inquiry into the Mid-Staffordshire hospital scandal.
Maintaining older people's dignity
The Social Care Institute for Excellence presents updated guidance on achieving dignity in care for older people.
Man 'banned' from using the NHS
A homeless man who became an expert at faking illness so he could stay in hospital has been given a criminal Asbo.
NHS hospital infection rates go online
From early next month, infection figures for all hospitals in England will be published every seven days on data.gov.uk
Opinion: The court of protection opens its doors
Stuart Andrews says we should applaud Sir Nicholas Wall's decision to make public the reasoning of the usually secretive court of protection.
Ministerial portfolios confirmed
The Department of Health has published biographies and lists of ministerial responsibilities of the new ministerial team.
Why 'sorry' shouldn't be the hardest word for doctors
Many fear we are living in a blame culture - something has gone wrong, so somebody must pay. In the NHS doctors may fear both litigation and censure.
NHS explores paying people to become healthier
The NHS is exploring the possibility of using financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles.
NHS failing whistleblowers, says study
The NHS does not do enough to help whistleblowers seeking to raise concerns about colleagues' behaviour, according to research in the British Medical Journal.
