Here is the full text of the government's new NHS White Paper

Would you know or your members know what to expect if your rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act? The Care Quality Commission has published new information about what to expect and what to do if you're not satisfied with the care you have received.  

Malcolm Alexander, Chair, National Association of LINk Members (NALM), has provided this short report...

Statistical Press Notice - NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures - 31st March 2010  
 

Here is a summary report from the last NEAS Patient Involvement and Complaints Committee listing concerns that have been raised.

Summary Report

'Front-line Care: the future of nursing and midwifery in England'

NALM welcomes today’s Report from the ‘Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England’ and its commitment to delivering high quality and compassionate care. The Report is timely in view of the disastrous breakdown of care at Mid Stafford Hospital and the public loss of confidence in nursing services. We welcome the commitment of the Commission to put patients and carers are at the centre of service development and design with a powerful voice on the promotion of sensitive and dignified, patient-centred care.

The Commission’s proposal that ward sisters, charge nurses and team leaders in the community and midwifery should have more power, will help to restore their leadership role in the NHS, but to be successful this development must be in partnership with patients and carers and the bodies that represent them - LINks (Local Involvement Networks).

NALM agrees with the Commission that PCTs and Hospital Trust Boards (including Foundation Trusts) must become more accountable, by including
Directors of Nursing. But Boards will only become fully accountable to the public, by ensuring the active involvement of Local Involvement Networks in all major decisions that affect patient care.

NALM calls on the Commission and the Department of Health to support:

• A duty to speak out: accountability of all NHS clinical staff through the introduction of a ‘duty of candour’ when things go wrong with patient care.

• Full participation and cooperation between nurses and midwives and Local Involvement Networks, to ensure that patients and the public are at the centre of health services as decision makers.

• Regulation of all NHS staff providing clinical care.

• Full indemnity for all nursing and midwifery staff including independent midwives

Malcolm Alexander, Chair of NALM said that the Commissions Report provides a huge opportunity for nurses and midwives to restore their position as leaders in the development of care in the NHS. But appropriate professional development is impossible without full collaboration and participation with the public. Powerful alliances must now develop between local leaders of nursing and midwifery professions and Local Involvement Networks, to realise the aspirations of the Commission and ensure that the needs of patients are always centre stage in the NHS.

Malcolm Alexander
Chair
NALM

Follow this link to the e-bulletin of the Integrated Care Network for January 2010

http://www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk/nl/view.cfm?nid=595

NHS North of Tyne has approved proposals by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to invest £200 million over the next ten years to improve hospital services, at its board meeting held on 23rd October. 

This includes a significant investment to build a new emergency care hospital just east of Cramlington, south east Northumberland.

The Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together sets out the government’s proposals for a new National Care Service.  Views are invited on what care and support services should be available for adults, who will deliver them and how, and how to fund these services.

To find out more, come along to any of the roadshows being held between 10.00 and 2.30 at:

Cramlington on Tuesday 27th October (Concordia Leisure Centre)
Alnwick on Wednesday 28th October (Willowburn Leisure Centre)
Hexham on Thursday 29th October (Wentworth Leisure Centre)

Hosted by the West Northumberland Practice Based Commissioning group, this event explored new arrangements for palliative care.

The Big Care Debate

Visit the government website to have your say, find out what others are saying and view the green paper 'Shaping the Future of Care Together'

Please see attached correspondence from Ann Farrar, Chief Operating Officer for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, about plans for consultation about 'Quality Accounts' for the Trust's work programme.