Delayed transfers of care – The Nuffield Trust
The Nuffield Trust has published What’s behind delayed transfers of care?  This briefing explores what data says about delayed transfers of care and outlines what can be done to address the problem.

Vitamin D supplementation does cut respiratory infections, new study suggests – BMJ
The debate over whether patients should be encouraged to supplement their diet has reignited after a study found that vitamin D supplementation can help reduce the risk of acute respiratory tract…

Long term conditions scenarios: osteoporosis and wound care
NHS RightCare has published two new scenarios in its long term conditions series.  The scenarios, on osteoporosis and wound care, use fictional people to examine patient journeys, comparing sub-optimal but typical scenarios against ideal pathways.  The  scenarios contain modelled costs of care for commissioners.

Financial analysis of STPs – British Medical Association (BMA)
This analysis of the 44 STPs in England estimates that £9.5bn of capital funding is required to create the infrastructure to deliver the plans. The BMA sent out a series of FOI requests and have compiled information for each STP area on the financial needs required to implement the plans in each area.

The sustainability and transformation plans: a critical assessment – Centre for Health and the Public Interest (CHPI)
This report assesses the published drafts for STP plans and it raises concerns around the credibility of the implementation measures outlined in the plans. It argues that the scale of the planned reduction in hospital services implies rationing and risks the collapse of some services.

Healthcare social media toolkit – Skills for Health
This toolkit aims to support the health care sector in utilising social media effectively and efficiently. It includes guidance on strategy and content creation, downloadable templates and resources and advice on how to encourage team members in using social media.

NIHR Signals
The National Institute for Health Research regularly publishes Signals.  Signals are summaries of recently published research and intended to provide decision makers in health and social care organisations with evidence they can use. The following Signals have been published:

• Risks and benefits of ondansetron for children with acute gastroenteritis
• Group education linked to a lower chance of diabetes, for those who stick with the course
• Transient ischaemic attacks may have greater long-term impact than previously thought
• Ultrasound therapy doesn’t speed healing of leg fracture after surgery
• Wound complications remain a concern for CABG surgery using both mammary arteries

HSJ roundup: (contact the library for further details on any of these HSJ articles)

• Doctors could be allowed to opt out of new consultant contract
  A new consultant contract for hospital doctors in England could be made optional for both existing consultants and junior doctors.
• NHS Improvement admits trusts will miss deficit target
  Jim Mackey has admitted NHS trusts will miss their financial target in 2016-17, after provider forecasts indicated the year-end deficit will be £280m worse than predicted three months ago.
• Regulator to consider ‘special measures’ for up to 15 trusts
  Regulators are due to place another raft of NHS trusts into special measures as a result of their worsening financial position, HSJ has learned.