The Health service journal
-
The NHS Litigation Authority has a great deal of information on individual doctors that should be made available to trusts in order to ensure patient safety. The authority is so focused on managing clinical negligence cases that it neglects its wider mission to serve the NHS. The authority should be reformed to make it more accountable.
-
Now that the NHS plan's agenda is being turned into action, this series of special reports aims to assess progress in key areas. This report looks at training, a crucial aspect of the government's resolve to ensure NHS staff are treated better. A leadership academy, individual learning accounts for staff and better courses for nurse returners are some of the initiative promised in the plan. The report examines progress in these areas, as well as courses and schemes to help managers make the best of their careers.
-
The launch of smoking-cessation drug Zyban in June last year greatly increased demand on a local smoking-cessation service. It is important to use local media to increase awareness of local services. Health authorities and pharmaceutical companies should work with the media when new drugs may put extra strain on local services.