Month: August 2014

The NSPCC has called for more robust laws to deal with professionals who fail to protect children following the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal. John Cameron, head of the child protection charity’s helpline said: “When people who have authority to act deliberately fail to act, then we need to think more about the consequences of …

NSPCC calls for tougher laws following Rotherham child abuse scandal Read More »

According to the Guardian, councils are putting care packages for vulnerable people out to tender in ‘eBay-style timed auctions’. It is common for local authorities to tender for block contracts with care providers but in a new development councils are now searching for the most competitive bid to support elderly, disabled, ill or dying people …

Councils tendering care contracts in online ‘auctions’ Read More »

Nurses and midwives who complete their training in hospitals outside Europe will now face shorter tests to check if they are fit to work in the UK. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) says its plans include a computer-based exam and tests in simulated clinical scenarios. These will replace the minimum three months of supervised …

Non-EU nurses and midwives to ‘face shorter assessments’ Read More »

According to Pulse, CQC inspectors have begun shadowing practice managers to gain ‘hands-on’ experience of GP practices following concerns over their level of training. CQC has said that the shadowing is part of the robust training regime for new CQC inspectors and will also be offered as a‘learning and development opportunity’ for all existing inspectors. …

CQC inspectors shadowing GP practices Read More »

The GMC has launched a consultation covering the improvement of patient protection and public confidence in doctors.  They are carrying out a major review of the guidance provided to fitness to practice hearing panels which are responsible for deciding what action should be taken to address doctors who do not meet the GMC professional standards.  …

Doctors who fail to apologise to patients could be struck off Read More »

A report published this month by the Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI) calls for private hospitals to be required to release the same levels of data about patient safety incidents as NHS trusts and foundation trusts.  It states that this should be a requirement of registration with the CQC. The report also …

Report calls for increased transparency in private hospital data Read More »

The CQC is planning on inspecting 10% of dental care services in England from spring 2015 focusing on services which are seen as “cause for concern”. A fresh start for the regulation and inspection of dental care services, is referred to by CQC as a “signposting statement”and sets out CQC’s initial thoughts on a new …

More CQC inspections of dental services Read More »

The Care Minister, Norman Lamb, has stated that care homes should furnish resident’s rooms with their own furniture, curtains and bed spreads to ‘civilise’ institutions and ensure familiarity with their surroundings. Mr Lamb said “The whole focus needs to be on personalising care as much as possible.  For everyone, but particularly with dementia, it is …

Norman Lamb comments on personalisation of care homes Read More »

According to a recent survey of practice staff on the future of general practice, only a fifth of GPs expect their practice to still exist in 10 years. The survey was initiated by a practice manager in Oxford and was initially sent out to local practitioners. Due to the number of responses received, a more …

Only one fifth of GPs expect their practice to survive Read More »

CQC has announced plans to introduce a new special measures scheme for GP practices from October 2014. Practices offering poor care will be given deadlines to make improvements and will be faced with closure if they fail. This will coincide with CQC starting to rate 8,000 NHS GP practices on the basis of whether they …

CQC’s special measures scheme for GP practices Read More »