Antimicrobial resistance – House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee
This report states that tackling antimicrobial resistance needs to be firmly established as a ‘top five policy priority’ for the government in order to help prevent the virtual loss of worldwide modern medicine. No new classes of antibiotics have been developed for decades. Investment in basic scientific research is essential but so too is the investment by pharmaceutical companies in further development and bringing products to the market.

Focus on: physicians’ assistants (anaesthesia)
This week we are focusing on the role of physicians’ assistants (anaesthesia). This is part of the ongoing campaign to promote the medical associate professions (MAPs). The MAP roles are four distinct professions within the NHS developed to enhance the workforce, performing some duties traditionally associated with junior doctors and providing continuity of care.

Support for locums and doctors in short-term placements
NHS England has published the following documents on supporting locums and doctors in short-term placements, highlighting ways they may be supported to provide safe provision of healthcare:

• Supporting organisations engaging with locums and doctors in short-term placements: a practical guide for healthcare providers, locum agencies and revalidation management services.
• Supporting locums and doctors in short-term placements: A practical guide for doctors in these roles

Flu vaccination programme in England –  House of Commons Science and Technology Committee
This report examines the planning for the flu vaccination programme, how advice is formulated and cost-effectiveness issues are addressed, the reasons for different types of vaccines for different groups of the population, the effectiveness and take-up of the vaccination programme, and any plans for adjustments for the next flu season in terms of the vaccines uses and groups targeted.

Developing governance to support integrated care: a bumpy ride? – The King’s Fund Blog
Having spent a year working at The King’s Fund with integrated care systems (ICSs), I have seen first-hand the potential of this new way of working for NHS patients and staff. A key aspect has been developing governance systems, which is both important and challenging. As the recent King’s Fund report on the first year of the pilot sites has shown, building an approach to governance has helped to start creating order and process in an environment where there is currently a distinct lack of a rule book.

A short history of NHS winter funding – The King’s Fund Blog
Words can sometimes take on a whole new meaning in the NHS. A good example is the ‘non-recurrent’ funding that continues to be provided year after year to help the NHS cope with additional pressures over winter. But even if the NHS banks on the reoccurrence of this non-recurrent funding, Figure 1 shows that it is still kept on its toes each year wondering how much funding will be available and when it will be provided.

The legacy of PFI
The Centre for Health and the Public Interest has published Dealing with the legacy of PFI – options for policymakers.  This report analyses five options available to policy makers to address the problems caused by existing Private Finance Initiative schemes.

Statistics

• Sex ratios at birth in Great Britain – 2012 to 2016
• Adult social care activity and finance, England – 2017-18
• Measures from the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework, England – 2017-18
• Deferred Payment Agreements Report, England – 2017-18
• The 21st century mortality files – deaths dataset, England and Wales – 2017

Our Fabulous NHS – Academy of Fabulous Stuff 
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Enhanced Gall Bladder Disease Pathway

• This aim is important for the following reasons:
• National guidelines/clinical practice standards.
• Reduces the incidence of serious complications of gall stone disease.
• Reduces hospital stay