Failing to capitalise: capital spending in the NHS – Health Foundation
This briefing concludes that a short-termist approach has resulted in years of declining and inadequate capital spending for the NHS in England, risking patient care and staff productivity. It also warns that an ageing infrastructure, together with a substantial and growing repairs backlog, is likely to undermine ambitions to transform the health service, including plans to improve cancer survival and make the NHS a world-leader in technology-driven care.

Patient safety collaboratives
The King’s Fund has published Improving patient safety through collaboration: a rapid review of the academic health science networks’ patient safety collaboratives.  This report examines the progress and impact made by England’s Patient Safety Collaboratives in their first four years.  It explores what has worked best in particular circumstances, what practices might be applied more consistently across the collaboratives, and what further learning is needed to increase their effectiveness.

Commissioning for Quality and Innovation: CQUIN guidance for 2019-2020
NHS England has published Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) Guidance for 2019-2020.  This document sets out the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme for 2019 – 2020.  It is accompanied by CCG CQUIN 2019/20 Indicators Specifications which sets out the technical specification for each of the indicators in the scheme.

NHS Standard Contract
NHS England has now published the final NHS Standard Contract and Contract Technical Guidance for 2019/20.  The response to consultation document summarises the key changes made in the final Contract and Guidance in response to stakeholder feedback received during the recent consultation process.

Social prescribing
Public Health England has published Social prescribing: applying All Our Health.  This resource supports health professionals prevent ill health and promote wellbeing as part of their practice. It includes guidance on understanding local needs and measuring impact.  It also recommends actions that managers and staff holding strategic roles can take.

Primary care commissioning activity
NHS England has published 2018/19 Primary Care Commissioning Activity Report: Guidance notes for completion.  This guidance supports the completion of the Primary Care Commissioning report (PCAR).

Flash glucose monitoring
NHS England has published Flash Glucose Monitoring: National arrangements for funding of relevant diabetes patients.  This guidance document sets out the criteria for flash glucose monitoring and the maximum amounts CCGs will reimburse for the ongoing costs of flash glucose sensors. Additional link: NHS England press release

Concerns about medical practice
NHS England has published A practical guide for responding to concerns about medical practice.  This guide provides generic, practical advice for responsible officers to address a potential concern about a doctor’s practice in a manner consistent with existing literature and previously established principles.

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care
The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust have published Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2018: results from the British Social Attitudes survey.  This document presents the results of a survey of 2,926 members of the public about their satisfaction with the NHS overall, and 973 people about their satisfaction with individual NHS and social care services.  The results indicate satisfaction with the NHS sits at its lowest level for more than a decade, driven by concerns about a lack of money, staff shortages and mounting waiting times.

Atlas of Shared Learning
NHS England has added the following case studies to the Atlas of Shared Learning:

• Introducing group consultations for adults living with Type 2 diabetes at Brigstock Medical Practice
• Improving infection control in nursing care homes using a quality improvement tool – Bassetlaw CCG
• Improving insulin administration in a community setting – Shropshire
• General Practice Matron led delivery of a responsive/pro-active service supporting residents of care homes – Consett
• Implementing the Mum and Baby App across North-West London
• Introducing an integrated safeguarding service in Somerset
• The ‘Nightingale Programme Initiative Committee’ at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Reducing perineal tears during childbirth at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
• Introducing bedside vital signs devices at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

NIHR Signals
The following research summaries have been added to the National Institute for Health Research website:

• Training programme to improve communication between staff and patients with dementia in hospital shows promise
• Dermoscopy plus visual inspection aids melanoma diagnosis
• Medication to reduce stomach acid may increase risk of hip fractures
• An ultrasound scan is not as useful as a CT scan in assessing trauma
• Treating vitamin D deficiency may reduce exacerbations of COPD
• Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) may help lower limb spasticity after stroke
• Updated evidence on progesterone to prevent preterm birth in at-risk pregnancies
• Prolonging anticoagulant treatment after abdominal cancer surgery reduces clot risk

Ambulance service standards
NHS Providers has published The Ambulance Service: understanding the new standards.  This briefing explores how to make sense of the new standards for the ambulance service introduced 18 months ago.  The briefing looks at the data collected so far in order to gain a deeper understanding of performance.

NHS Pension
The Department of Health and Social Care has published Consultation response: the National Health Service pension scheme, additional voluntary contributions and injury benefits (amendment) regulations 2019.  This outcome document summarises the consultation findings and the government’s response.

Statistics

• NHS injury costs recovery scheme: April 2018 to March 2019 – February 2019 data
• Hospital tooth extractions 0 to 10 year olds 2011 to 2018 Additional link: PHE press release
• Statistics on women’s smoking status at time of delivery: England – October to December 2018
• General ophthalmic services workforce statistics – 31 December 2018
• Appointments in general practice – January 2019
• Data on written complaints in the NHS 2018-19 – quarter 3

Bulletins

• Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) News – February 2019
• New Medicines Newsletter – February 2019
• Medicines Use and Safety Updates – March 2019