Hospital outpatient attendances up by 3.9 per cent

These outpatient attendance figures are published  in  Hospital Outpatient Activity 2012/13.  The HSCIC report also shows that the treatment specialties with the highest number of attendances included Trauma and Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, and Physiotherapy.  ULHT figures are included.

Monitor to extend role to promote patient welfare this winter

Monitor has agreed to supplement its routine monitoring of the operational performance of foundation trust hospitals to help them tackle any seasonal pressures on emergency care. 

Monitor and NHS England publish new rules for the 2014/15 NHS payment system

New rules will come into force next year allowing local experiments in ways of paying for NHS-funded services in order to develop innovative new models of care for patients. The rules were successfully consulted on by NHS England and Monitor over the autumn.

Monitor seeks better planning by foundation trusts

NHS foundation trusts will have to work with local commissioners to transform radically how they operate over the next five years in order to provide quality care for patients on a sustainable basis, says Monitor.

Monitor to protect essential services by licensing independent providers

Monitor believes the expansion of its provider licence regime to include independent providers can be used to make sure that patients continue to receive the essential services they need and that providers are paid a fair price for those services. 

Winter plan for the NHS

Information and plans for winter including announcements about A&E winter pressure, the cold weather plan and flu immunisation.

The BMA has also published a briefing paper to help explain why there is increased pressure on the NHS in winter, the impact on NHS services and the need for a longer term solution.

Also see Public Health England’s winter health surveillance bulletins.

New report on seven-day NHS services

NHS Improving Quality has published case studies and examples of how hospitals, community health and social care services across the country are working together to deliver routine services seven days a week.

NHS England has published findings of an investigation into seven day services across the NHS.  It points to significant geographical variation in outcomes for patients admitted to hospitals at the weekend.

Dr Foster hospital guide 2013

This guide looks at the way money is spent on hospital treatments, the impact of drug and alcohol problems on patients and hospitals, quality of care at weekends and the measurement of hospital mortality. 

Data on ‘never events’ to be more specific

NHS England has published more detailed data about “never events” by hospital.

Good practice guide to major service change

NHS England has published a good practice guide for CCGs considering major service changes.

See also Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15 to 2018/19, NHS England’s vision for service transformation in the context of significant financial challenge. The guidance comes with planning tools. The HFMA has produced a summary.