Agency and overseas staff vital to ‘buy time’ until ‘boom and bust’ approach overturned – NHE News
Mismatches between funding and staffing levels and repeated reorganisation have caused a “boom and bust approach” to the NHS frontline and will threaten the FYFV ambitions unless NHS providers use agency staff and overseas recruitment “to buy time” in the short term, the Health Foundation said in a scathing report…

Staffing matters; funding counts: an analysis of workforce profile and trends in the English NHS –  The Health Foundation
This report examines the profile and features of the NHS workforce in England, including; health labour market trends; relevant international data and comparisons from other countries; and a series of specific ‘pressure points’. The report concludes that the greatest threats to the delivery of the NHS five year forward view are funding constraints and workforce shortages. It argues that policymakers need to look at how targeted and aligned policies covering the effective use of temporary staff, retention of existing employees and international recruitment can be used to address current shortages in staffing and skills in order to buy time, while a more long-term sustainable approach is introduced.

No clarity given on benefits of being in earlier wave of STPs, says London Councils – NHE News
Sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) will fall into a number of separate waves for approval over the next few months, but no clarity has been provided around the benefits of being in earlier waves, according to a new paper published by London Councils. The organisation, which represents London’s 32 borough councils and the…

RCGP ambassadors to demand GP involvement in regional NHS plans – GP Online
The RCGP has appointed regional ambassadors across England to ensure that sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) that will shape local NHS services are drawn up in GPs’ best interests.

Creating a quality strategy for the NHS
The Health Foundation has published A clear road ahead: creating a coherent quality strategy for the English NHS.  This report sets out actions for policymakers to safeguard and improve care within current priorities, as well as support the development of the NHS for years to come. It recommends that national bodies undertake coordinated action including: articulate a single set of quality goals and common definition of quality; provide unified national leadership for quality; build on experience and evidence; update a set of core quality metrics; and articulate a shared understanding of how improvements in quality and costs are linked.

King’s Fund: Key targets must be relaxed if finance to be top priority – NHE News
The government may have to review its key waiting time targets and the feasibility of a seven-day NHS as it comes to terms with the fact that the health system can no longer meet demand and deliver current standards of care whilst also staying within its allocated budget, the King’s Fund has said.

Patient Activation Measure
People with long-term conditions in thirty seven areas across England will be able to access the Patient Activation Measuretool which captures the extent to which people feel engaged and confident in taking care of their health and wellbeing.  Thirty seven bids have been confirmed from organisations who wish to implement the measure which will allow professionals tailor support to better meet patient needs

The NHS celebrates its 68th birthday – Education & Training – Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust
You can discover the history of the NHS through NHS Choices:
http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/NHSTimeline.aspx
The Nuffield Trust have also created a timeline of NHS reform:
http://nhstimeline.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/1990s.html

Controversial ‘technical’ measures cut £900m from provider deficit – Health Service Journal
Numerous one-off accounting measures helped boost the reported performance of the NHS provider sector by around £900m last year, according to figures obtained by HSJ.

Patients at risk as doctors forced to work without rest at night – Health Service Journal
Hospitals are putting patient safety at risk by forcing junior doctors to work throughout the night without rest despite evidence-based guidelines dating back over a decade, HSJ has been told.

We need to talk about caring: dealing with difficult conversations –  Independent Age
This report summarises research looking at how and why families avoid talking about challenges they may face in older age. It draws on an online poll of 2,066 people conducted by ComRes and a series of focus groups and interviews. The research suggests that almost two thirds of those aged 65 and over have never had a conversation with their family about key issues including preferences for end of life care, where they would like to live if they can no longer live at home, and who will care for them. The report warns that by putting off difficult conversations about ageing, families risk making rushed decisions about care, health, housing and financial matters at times of crisis.