Report that evaluates the first two waves of new style hospital inspections, covering inspections carried out in 18 hospital trusts between September 2013 and April 2014. The authors found that the new approach commands strong credibility, in particular through the use of specialists to inform assessments, and the granular detail of ratings within services rather than at provider level.

The GMC is responsible for regulating doctors and the PSA oversees the regulation of all healthcare professionals, protecting the health and safety of the public by ensuring fitness to practise. This consultation is seeking views on proposed changes to the way each body carries out its regulatory functions.

This short guide seeks to answer the questions merging providers often ask us about the UK merger review process. It is designed to highlight important aspects of the process of merger review and provide an overview of the substantive test. It is therefore not intended to be comprehensive.

NHS providers considering a merger are urged to contact Monitor early in their planning to ensure proposals work well for patients. These guidance documents will help NHS providers navigate their way through a transaction such as a merger or acquisition.

Update from Monitor on progress made at 11 NHS trusts and foundation trusts that were put into special measures in July 2013. Practical measures that have led to significant changes at some of the trusts include: recruiting extra staff, using better systems to manage the way patients are moved throughout their stay from admission to discharge (known as ‘patient flow’), better managing patients with life threatening conditions and placing renewed emphasis on the quality of care provided.

Reveals that over half (53.7%) of health and social care managers signalled doubt that greater integration of health and social care will take the pressure off the NHS. Other key concerns and issues included uncertainty on whether their organisations could deliver safe and compassionate care; an appetite for greater collaboration between the public and private sector; and increasing financial pressure inspiring greater innovation.

This paper is a resource for hospital Trust boards, senior managers and clinicians leading the implementation of the Priorities for Care. 

Using learning from hospital Trusts who are part of NHS Improving Quality’s Transforming End of Life Care in Acute Hospitals Programme, it focuses on how to assure quality and demonstrate improvement in the care provided to patients in the last days of life and those who are important to them.

NHS Improving Quality has published a new White Paper – The new era of thinking and practice in change and transformation: A call to action for leaders of health and care.

The paper looks at new directions in improvement and change thinking from around the world, and from other industries. It distils this information to inform the design and delivery of improvement and transformational change techniques in health and care services.

It sets out five enablers for the “emerging direction” in change and references research evidence as well as ideas from opinion leaders:

In 2014 a pilot scheme was developed by the North Western Foundation school to teach newly-qualified doctors about the NHS constitution and NHS values. Results of this training have been analysed to help answer the question: ‘Can NHS values be taught?’

Sets out five key messages which have emerged from the analysis of a number of CCG quality frameworks and strategies as well as other relevant literature. It aims to help commissioners with quality improvement.

1. Listen to the voices of patients and the public
2. Triangulate data and intelligence
3. Make use of the levers available
4. Walk the service – look and see
5. Share concerns and take action