News

New guidance distributed by NHS England this week, formally outlined that struggling Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) could have their powers transferred to other CCGs, local authorities or providers. The guidance explains how special measure can be used for CCGs in the future being “applied to a CCG facing persistent performance, financial or governance problems where …

Failing CCGs may have their powers transferred, as new rating systems come into play Read More »

The current situation and status of adult social care is under ‘stress and strain’, according to Andrea Sutcliffe, the chief inspector of Adult Social Care at CQC. In her damning critique of the care sector in England, she highlighted how budget cuts had put the system under intense pressure, with carers being demoralised by long …

Adult social care being stretched to dangerous limits Read More »

CQC have recently announced that they will be taking a location based approach to inspections to test out how well coordinated healthcare services are in local areas. This new proposal is to be tested by a pilot which will assess whole health systems in North Lincolnshire and Greater Manchester. However, as mentioned by Professor Steve …

CQC announces pilot project to assess whole health systems Read More »

Although progress has been made in changing attitudes to mental health for the better, there is still a long way to go. According to the CQC report, ‘Right here, right now -help, care and support during a mental health crisis’, a person experiencing a mental health crisis is yet to receive the same quality of …

CQC mental health crisis care review Read More »

Yesterday, in a letter sent to NHS providers, Jane Cummings, the chief nursing officer announced discussions regarding the progress being made to create an advisory group of senior nurses and experts, which would be able to provide ‘systematic oversight’ to junior staff across the health service. NHS England stated how such a group would work …

NHS England sets out to implement safe staffing ‘advisory’ group Read More »

Legal Aid was brought into effect through the Legal Advice & Assistance Act 1949 and the main aim of the act was to provide legal assistance to the poor and those with limited means who might be able to contribute to the cost of the legal advice and assistance provided to them. In 1950 legal …

The ever decreasing scope of Legal Aid Read More »

In a letter sent yesterday to all trusts, David Bennett, the chief executive of the health service regulator Monitor, warned that the NHS financial forecasts for 2015-15 are unsustainable and ‘simply unaffordable’ restating that greater savings must be made. He has asked for all NHS trusts to revisit their plans, and to fill vacancies ‘only …

NHS providers warned of ‘unprecedented financial challenges’ for 2015-6 Read More »

A CQC board meeting held last week included discussions regarding plans to appoint a ‘Freedom to Speak Up Guardian’ in every NHS trust across England. This new proposal has come in response to concerns raised last June during an independent review of the NHS conducted by Sir Robert Francis. Last year’s review raised concerns about …

CQC to recruit an independent ‘National Speak Up Guardian’ Read More »

The report explores how well The Controlled Drugs (Supervision and Management of Use) Regulations 2013 have been adopted and applied across England. The Regulations were initially created in 2006 in the wake of the Shipman Inquiry, and the report sets out findings for the period between January to December 2014, as well as making recommendations …

CQC publishes annual report on controlled drugs for 2014 Read More »

The most recent report into HIV in the United Kingdom from Public Health England has indicated that one in four people living with HIV are over 50, a dramatic difference compared to the figures from even a decade ago where it was one in eight. This increase is due partly to both more people being …

Special consideration for users living with HIV must be taken Read More »