New publication on diagnostic services across seven days

Across the country, hospitals and primary and community care organisations are working together to look at ways of delivering safe and effective care over seven days a week. This NHS Improving Quality publication helps address the link between poorer outcomes for patients and the reduced levels of service provision at the weekend.

Lifesaving initiative for stroke patients

The Living Longer Lives team at NHS Improving Quality has secured £1m of 'pump priming' money to purchase six months' supply of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) sleeves for all stroke units in England as part of a major national programme to improve outcomes for stroke patients. 

Bite-size guides to support patient and public participation in the NHS

NHS England has developed some bite-size guides to support patient and public participation in the NHS.  These guides are linked to the participation guidance published in September 2013. The guides have been developed with partners and by reviewing good practice in each area. They aim to support clinical commissioning groups and others to plan and deliver good patient and public participation.

Diabetes no longer leading cause of blindness thanks to screening

Better screening is preventing many people from diabetes from going on to develop blindness, according to new research.  A report on the causes of adult blindness found a widening gap between prevalence of diabetes and the number of people with related eye problems. It says that better screening is one of the main factors in the change.

Transformative ideas for the future NHS

Monitor, NHS England and the Trust Development Authority have published a document to encourage debate about how the NHS can provide better services in the future.

Making our health and care systems fit for an ageing population

Our health and care system is not meeting the needs of older people, who are most likely to suffer problems with co-ordination of care and delays in transitions between services. This King’s Fund report sets out a framework and tools to help local service leaders improve the care they provide for older people across nine key components.

Telehealth and telecare

The UK’s elderly population is growing and with it the number of people with long-term health problems. This note describes current UK telehealth and telecare initiatives and the role they may play in delivering future care.

Health service is driving change but needs support, survey finds

This NHS Confederation survey finds that unprecedented challenges facing health and care services have compelled leaders to action, but there is anxiety across the system about whether it is fully equipped to deliver the level of change required.

New standards to increase role of pharmacy in frontline care

This framework aims to help pharmacy professionals to improve their skills in carrying out consultations with patients and in delivering public health messages.  It represents a national programme of change in pharmacy and will apply to more than 60,000 pharmacy professionals across England.