NHS England has strengthened its position as one of the safest and most transparent healthcare systems in the world by publishing the Never Events Policy Framework Review consultation. The purpose of the consultation is make it is clearer as to what needs to be done, and by whom, to prevent never events. Part of the […]

The NHS in England is to invest a further £120million over the next two years on improving mental health services. The investment and the new standards for mental health services have been announced today by NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as part of a five-year ambition that will […]

The Care.Data Programme closed in 2016 GP-led clinical commissioning groups in four areas of the country are to help develop the care.data programme as it moves into a ‘pathfinder stage’. The programme will be rolled out in participating GP surgeries in the CCG areas of Leeds North, West and South and East, Somerset, West Hampshire and […]

Public Health England has launched their annual public flu vaccination campaign which encourages uptake of the influenza (flu) vaccine among the most at-risk groups. The campaign – across press, radio and online channels – targets people of all ages with a health condition, pregnant women and parents of children aged two to four. Kate Davies […]

Patients and their long-term needs will again be the focus of this year’s Future of Health Conference. The conference, which won Best Event of the Year for 2013 at the prestigious British Media Awards, will be held on 21st November in London. The key themes will include: Personalisation and Empowerment – What are the barriers and […]

NHS England is proposing changes to the way its Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) operates, in order that it delivers maximum benefit for patients, within the resources available. Clinicians and cancer specialists believe the changes, if adopted, would: improve patient access to the most clinically effective drugs available through the fund; encourage pricing that delivers value […]

NHS England has today published details of its commissioning intentions for specialised services for 2015/16. The document, Commissioning Intentions 2015/16 for Prescribed Specialised Services serves as notice to all providers of specialised services in England of changes and priorities for the coming year for the specialised services to be commissioned by NHS England, as well as […]

Simon Stevens has praised CCGs for the huge progress they’ve made in their first operational year in a speech to the Commissioning Assembly. Addressing CCG leaders and other health professionals he commended them on how far they’d come on engaging with key stakeholders and patient groups and taking their opinions on board when commissioning healthcare […]

Some of the people who rely most on NHS services today get the right to have their care delivered through a personal health budget. It marks an important landmark in NHS England’s vow to get serious about the personalisation of care for people living with long term, disabling or life limiting health conditions. It will […]

NHS England is today welcoming changes to the national GP contract from April 2015. The changes follow agreement between NHS Employers, on behalf of NHS England, and the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC). Dame Barbara Hakin, National Director for Commissioning Operations at NHS England, said: “Having been a GP, I know how central primary care […]