How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system 
For the 2019/20 financial year the National Tariff Payment System (NTPS) for emergency care moved from a fee-for service arrangement to a blended payment system. The blended system encourages the provider to moderate activity growth by providing financial incentives for effective demand management. However there is currently scant detail surrounding crucial aspects of the NTPS scheme. Failure to address this issue may not only lead to the inappropriate distribution of resources across the health system; it could result in tens of millions of pounds being diverted away from urgent care.

Introducing criteria-led discharge in an acute medical unit – NHS Improvements
A case study detailing how criteria-led discharge (CLD) was introduced on an acute medical unit at Tameside General Hospital resulting in increased weekend discharge rates.

Engagement Practitioners Network
NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched the NHS Public Engagement Practitioners Network. This interactive network is aimed at anyone in health and care who is directly involved in undertaking public engagement work. It aims to offer peer to peer support; share knowledge, good practice, resources and approaches to engagement and provide professional development and learning.  Additional link: NHS England blog

Branded medicines
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on the Branded medicines: statutory scheme which seeks views on proposed changes to the statutory scheme to control the costs of branded medicines. It focuses on proposed amendments to the payment percentages that are currently set out in the legislation for the statutory scheme. The consultation closes on 17 February 2020.

NHS Funding Bill briefing
NHS Providers has published Parliamentary Briefing: NHS Funding Bill, House of Commons, 2^nd Reading. This parliamentary briefing looks at the content of the NHS Funding Bill in advance of its second reading in the House of Commons, and outlines NHS Providers’ view on the additional funding committed by government to deliver the long term plan.

MenB vaccination programme evaluation
Public Health England has announced that the MenB vaccination programme has reduced cases of meningitis and septicaemia in young children by almost two-thirds.

Investigation into the rescue of Carillion’s PFI hospital contracts – National Audit Office
This report finds that the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which was due to open in June 2017, is now forecast to be completed more than five years late, in the autumn of 2022, and the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has not yet set an opening date. It is now predicted to cost a total of £1,063 million to build and run compared to the original £746 million. The 669-bed Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which was originally due to open in October 2018, is now expected to open in July 2022. The investigation focuses on the role of central government and the Trusts in relation to the two hospital projects before, during and after Carillion’s failure in January 2018.

Shifting the mindset: a closer look at hospital complaints
There has been some positive change in the years following the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry to improve openness and transparency in the NHS. Yet when it comes to complaints, many hospitals are too focused on process rather than demonstrating how they’ve listened.

International recruitment toolkit: an interactive guide to encourage and enable good practice in the NHS
This toolkitis for those involved in leading and delivering international recruitment in the NHS. It aims to encourage and enable good practices and processes for the recruitment of international staff across a wide range of professions. This resource can be used to plan approaches to overseas recruitment activity for the first time, or to review the quality and efficiency of existing practices and processes.

The King’s Fund strategy 2020–24: towards better, fairer health and care
Our work spans the breadth of health and care policy and practice, giving us a unique understanding of the strategic context for health and care now and in the future. Within this, we will focus our resources on specific priorities where we believe we can maximise our impact. Working with our staff and people from across the health and care system, we have chosen three areas of focus for the next five years where we have the greatest opportunity to use our skills and resources to improve health and care.

Report shows more NHS staff are speaking up – NHS Employers
Data collected by the National Guardian’s office over a two year window shows an increase in NHS staff raising concerns in their organisations.

Develop a financial wellbeing strategy – NHS Employers 
Use our new guide which will support you to develop a strategy for financial wellbeing for your staff.