Trusts battle to secure ‘specialist’ status amid Healthier Together controversy – Health Service Journal – Acute care news 

The four hospitals fighting to win ‘specialist’ status in a major reconfiguration of services across Greater Manchester have drawn their battle lines amid escalating political controversy.

Improvements for patients seen in trusts placed in special measures – NHS Trust Development Authority 

The NHS Trust Development Authority, Monitor and the Care Quality Commission have published a report which summarises the progress made by the first 11 trusts placed into the new special measures regime in July 2013.

Quality and Outcomes Framework indicator menu

A series of annual checks to monitor and improve the health of people with diabetes are among measures proposed by NICE for its latest Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicator menu. New indicators to be added to the NICE QOF menu and amendments to existing QOF indicators  provides a summary of the latest set of indicators NICE has published for inclusion within the NICE Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) menu.  Amendments to the NICE QOF indicator menu include a number of new indicators and amendments to existing QOF indicators to reflect an update in the underpinning NICE guidance.  NHS England and the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales can use the NICE QOF menu to help decide which indicators are included in the 2015/16 QOF within their countries.
Additional link: NICE press release

Whistleblowing report

The Public Accounts Committee has published its ninth report on Whistleblowing. The report concludes that careful and appropriate treatment of whistleblowers is important to protect and reassure the workforce, and to encourage openness that is vital to supporting better public services.  The treatment of some whistleblowers has been shocking and departments have sometimes failed to protect some whistleblowers from being victimised. None of the departments included in the review had systematic arrangements in place to provide support and advice to whistleblowers.

NHS Pension Scheme reforms and contribution rates: update

The Department of Health has provided an update to scheme members and employers on NHS pension scheme reforms ahead of a formal regulatory consultation. The NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales 2015: update on scheme reforms and contribution ratessets out the proposals for the detailed design of the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales 2015 and transitional arrangements for existing members. The regulatory consultation will take place in the autumn.

Public sector pay 2015/16

The Chief Secretary of the Treasury has written separately to the Senior Salaries Review Body, Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration and the NHS Pay Review Body about government policy on public sector pay for 2015/16.

Better Care Fund planning update

A number of technical amendments have been made to the Better Care Fund Part 2 plan template that was released on 25 July. Any old versions should be discarded. A macro is also available for download for areas who have already started their Part 2 plans to avoid having to start again. A summary of what has changed is contained within the spreadsheet.