Suicide prevention: policy and strategy – House of Commons Library
This briefing examines suicide prevention policies and strategies throughout the UK. It outlines national and local approaches to prevention policy in England, as well as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It does so by considering the strategies of the UK Government, as well as the devolved administrations, through the lens of various policy perspectives.

Joint working protocol: when a hospital, services or facility closes at short notice – NHS England 
This guidance aims to gives clear guidance and direction to any organisation involved in a short notice closure to take appropriate and timely action in supporting patients and making sure they get the care and treatment they deserve.

Evidence review of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products – Public Health England (PHE)
This evidence review provides an update on the findings of PHE’s 2015 report on e-cigarette use, public attitudes, the impact on quitting smoking, the risks to health and the role of nicotine. It finds that there are substantial health benefits in switching from smoking to vaping and estimates that at least 20,000 people are quitting smoking year due to e-cigarette usage.

In and out of hospital – British Red Cross
This report proposes introducing automatic home assessments and other simple interventions for elderly and vulnerable people who are often admitted to hospital to reduce avoidable hospital admissions in vulnerable patients. The report contains analysis of first-hand accounts of frontline health and care workers who argue that there are too many missed opportunities to prevent many of these avoidable admissions.

Local ‘health and care heroes’ sought for awards marking 70 years of the NHS – NHS England
A competition to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday will be launched in Westminster today (7 February). The NHS70 Parliamentary Awards will see English MPs put forward individuals and teams serving their constituencies for national recognition, with the winners being announced at a special awards ceremony on the House of Commons Terrace the day before the […]

Carillion liquidation forces delays at £335m Liverpool hospital – NHE | NEWS
The new Royal Liverpool Hospital will suffer from delays after the collapse of contractor Carillion, trust bosses have confirmed. Officials at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust (RLBUHT) say the facility may not be open until next year, a long way from its scheduled March 2018 completion date. In a…

HSJ Roundup (contact the Library for further details)

• NHS England abandoned ‘forward view’ for community services 
  NHS England has abandoned plans to create a “forward view” for community services, despite arguing that sustainability and transformation partnerships need one to achieve their full potential, HSJ has learned.
• Investigation reveals excess heart surgery deaths at teaching hospital 
  A major teaching hospital is still working to improve its heart surgery unit after high infection rates and a larger than expected number of deaths.
• GMC chief ‘had no choice’ over appealing manslaughter doctor case 
  The chief executive of the General Medical Council has said he believes he had no choice but to appeal the case of a doctor convicted of manslaughter to the High Court.
• NHS England moves to clear up flu vaccine confusion 
  NHS England has moved to try to clear up confusion over flu vaccines for next winter, following concerns that a better approach last year could have reduced pressure in hospitals.
• DHSC refuses to explain where bulk of extra £540m comes from 
  The Department of Health and Social Care has declined to explain how it is funding the bulk of the £540m of additional funding for the NHS next year.
• Government announces £150m extra social care allocation 
  Housing and communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced he will provide an additional £150m for adult social care services in 2018-19.
• Ian Dalton criticises ‘unrealistic’ A&E plans 
  The chief executive of NHS Improvement has called for an end to “unrealistic” planning for emergency admissions to hospital, arguing that new money for the NHS will not “make it to patients” if demand is underestimated.
• Jeremy Hunt announces review of medical manslaughter 
  Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced a national review into the application of gross negligence manslaughter in healthcare.