Proposed transfer of the National Reporting and Learning System to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Following the proposed abolition of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), the NHS Commissioning Board Authority will take responsibility for the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS).

CAKE (Clinical Audit Knowledge Exchange) launched

This month HQIP have taken over responsibility for the management and commissioning of the Clinical Outcome Review Programme (also known as Confidential Enquiries), from the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). They have also launched a benchmarking platform for clinical audit – CAKE (Clinical Audit Knowledge Exchange) and have announced that the National Clinical Audits will be included within 2011/12 Quality Accounts.

Hospitals urged to think hard before using antibiotics

The DoH has issued new guidance, ‘Start Smart, Then Focus’, to provide hospital prescribers with best practice advice on antimicrobial prescribing, to help ensure patients receive the right drug, at the right time, at the right dose and the right duration

Women could avoid having unnecessary caesareans

Following the emergence on new evidence, NICE has updated its guidelines on caesarean section. It now recommend that certain groups of women, such as those who are HIV positive and those who have had a previous birth by caesarean section in these groups should be offered a vaginal birth.

First guideline on colorectal cancer care launched to promote best practice

In this new guidance, NICE sets out recommendations for the treatment of colorectal cancer from diagnosis through to management, ongoing care and support. It recommends that people who are suspected of having colorectal cancer, who do not have any other major underlying illness or condition, should be offered a colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

Huge increase in lung cancer surgery but still some way to go, says new audit

The National Thoracic Surgery Activity & Outcomes Report 2011, tracks the results of more than 400,000 operations from 1980 to 2010 and includes hospital-specific data for the past three years. Among the findings are: more patients treated; lower operative mortality; slow progress on new VATS techniques; better decisions and scanning