Atlas shows variation in NHS

The NHS Atlas of Variation highlights the amount each Primary Care Trust spends on clinical services and links this to the health outcomes for patients. Published by the Department of Health, these 71 maps aim to help commissioners learn from each other, by showcasing which services are...<<Read More>>

GPs criticised for complaint handling

Some GPs are striking patients off practice lists without good cause or adequate warning, according to a report from the Health Service Ombudsman. In 2010/2011 the Ombudsman handled more than 15,000 complaints, but two thirds of these went back to their local area for adjudication...<<Read More>>

New allergy registration scheme to improve services

A new project has been launched to improve the quality of NHS specialist allergy services, by a committee of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath). Improving Quality in Allergy Services is a registration scheme for adult services...<<Read More>>

Variation in organ donation across UK

There is significant variation in organ donation rates across the UK, according to research published in the BMJ Open on Monday. Data from NHS Blood & Transplant from 1990-2009 was analysed and compared with registration and donation from other EU countries...<<Read More>>

Dignity must be upheld in trusts - NHS Confederation

The NHS Confederation has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report, which provides details of performance within NHS trusts, acknowledging several improvements, but calling for better treatment of patients in regard to dignity and respect. Commenting...<<Read More>>

Ethnic minorities unsatisfied with NHS

New research shows that minority ethnic patients are not satisfied with NHS primary care. Patient experience surveys show consistent large and significant differences between the quality of care in people of different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and age, according to the... <<Read More>>

CQC take action against NHS trust

The Care Quality Commission has taken enforcement action against East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust over standards of patient care. If the trust does not improve rapidly, it will face a big fine. The CQC have given a deadline of September 2 to address the shortcomings, after originally warning about the problems four...
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Calls for more resources for health ombudsman

MPs on the Health Select Committee want the Government to completely reform the position of health ombudsman, after a report found that only 300 out of 15,500 complaints referred to her were investigated. The role of the Health Service Ombudsman, currently...
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NHS cuts could benefit private providers

Call to protect medical degrees in university funding debate

Medicine should receive special protection in the review of higher education funding, according to Scottish doctors. BMA Scotland, in its response to the Scottish Government’s Green Paper, ‘Building a Smarter Future’... <<Read More>>

Surgeons working far beyond contracted hours

Surgeons are overworking and performing operations when they are supposed to be on-call for emergencies. The comprehensive workforce survey by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), published today, shows that alm... <<Read more>>

NHS was ‘well-prepared’ for flu season

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has rejected claims that the NHS was caught out ahead of the flu season, which has claimed at least 50 lives, saying healthcare staff have responded “excellently”. The campaign urging people in at-risk groups to get... <<Read more>>

Experts question whether patients will use performance data to choose their care

Expectations are high that the public will use performance data to choose their health providers and so drive improvements in quality. But in a paper published on bmj.com, two experts question... <<Read more>>

New mortality indicator agreed

The NHS is changing its approach towards the way it registers mortality after experts agree a better methodology. The change comes after a review into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust which prompted some to say that something needed to be done to change mortality indicators...

Complaints against the NHS still rising

New figures from the NHS Information Centre have shown that the number of complaints made against the NHS is still rising.

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: “This report shows the biggest annual rise in written complaints about NHS hospitals and community services for 12 years.