Developing clinical senates and networks

The role of clinical networks and the new clinical senates is being reviewed. The work is expected to lead to a suggested operating model for networks and proposals for the operation of senates. Clinical senates are expected to bring together clinical leaders across broad areas of the country to give clinical leadership and expert advice for commissioning.

Guidelines for design of in-patient prescription charts

A study commissioned by the General Medical Council showed an unacceptable rate of prescribing error amongst all grades of doctor in hospitals. The researchers considered that the design of in-patient prescription charts was one factor contributing to errors.

Two new quick reference guides published to help you support patients with asthma and COPD

These guides provide a brief summary of the conditions and their causes, and explain how pharmacists can support patients to improve the management of symptoms and medicines adherence.

The Higher Risk General Surgical Patient: Towards Improved Care for a Forgotten Group

This RCS report says that the NHS must address the significant variations in care experienced by the 170,000 patients who have major emergency abdominal surgery each year. It makes nine recommendations, which if implemented within two years, will reduce complications and deaths, as well as reduce the cost of treating a group of patients who account for almost 90 per cent of post-operative general surgical deaths.

Following NICE guidelines for diabetes treatment 'could save NHS £625m'

NICE's guideline on type 2 diabetes recommends that human NPH insulin should be the first-line treatment offered to people with the condition. However, a study published in BMJ Open, has found that NHS spending on the more expensive insulin analogues rose from £18.2 million to £305 million between 2000 and 2009.

Women giving birth to twins or triplets should be offered specialist care

NICE's says that women with multiple pregnancy should be referred to a team of doctors, midwives and ultrasonographers once their scan is confirmed. The team should offer women information and emotional support specific to such births at first contact, and that on-going opportunities for further discussion should be given.

Better emergency care could save 500 lives a year in London

The evidence put forward by leading clinicians in this report suggests that increasing the number of hours hospital consultants are available at weekends and improving access to diagnostic scans could save more than 500 lives every year in London.

Radical changes needed to hospital services to ensure quality and safety of NHS care

This briefing from the King’s Fund calls for radical changes to streamline the process for reorganising hospital services and prevent politicians from blocking essential changes that would improve the quality and safety of NHS care.

Integrated care summary: What is it? Does it work? What does it mean for the NHS?

Chris Ham summarises the different forms of integrated care and their impact so far on the NHS. It has been prepared in the light of the increased interest in integrated care arising out of the work of the NHS Future Forum and the government’s response.

Issues facing commissioners of end-of-life care

This paper highlights the current barriers to commissioning personalised, integrated services for end-of-life care and outlines the opportunities commissioners have to improve services in the future.

NICE recommended risk assessments 'help prevent falls in elderly'

NICE recommends that older people who are in contact with healthcare professionals should be identified and risk assessed for the likelihood that they will suffer a fall. This BMJ clinical review says that, despite evidence showing risk assessments can prevent falls, they are not being regularly carried out.