Social care funding debate
Should social care be funded through a new form of social insurance? The Prime Minister has launched a national consultation on the future of social care, a month after the NHS Confederation published a debate paper calling for a new social insurance model. Join the debate and read the report on our debate web forum

NHS Next Stage Review
Challenges for Darzi, an NHS Confederation report published on 14 May, warns that Lord Ara Darzi must learn the lessons of previous poor policy making to ensure NHS reform delivers real and sustainable benefits for patients and NHS staff. The report sets out tests for assessing and developing health policy against which Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review proposals should be judged. Read more

Healthcare Commission's inpatient survey
Commenting on the Healthcare Commission's survey, NHS Confederation deputy policy director, Jo Webber, said it is reassuring to see that more patients are satisfied with the quality of care they receive. The survey highlights areas for improvement so trusts can see the lessons they need to learn from others to help deliver a more consistent, high quality of care. Read more

Acute sector dinner with Ben Bradshaw
Chairs and chief executives of acute trusts recently met with Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister of State for Health Services. Issues discussed included the link between failure and incentives, payment by results and the future of the acute sector. For further information contact martha.burgess@nhsconfed.org.

Politicians' lunch
London NHS representatives met London MPs on 8 May as part of the London NHS Confederation work programme. The discussion covered Healthcare for London and, in particular, polyclinics and the political conflict beginning to arise locally; academic health science centres; the lack of capital investment for trusts in deficit; and healthcare associated infections. MPs thought sexually transmitted infections should be prioritised regionally alongside HIV/AIDs and TB. For more information contact rachel.maybank@nhsconfed.org.

Ivan Lewis addresses council
Health minister Ivan Lewis MP addressed our council meeting on 24 April, talking about the Government's health and well-being agenda, accountability and the NHS constitution. He said the Government is exploring a number of options for making those who run local NHS services more accountable. Read more

ASN director gets to work
Liz Kendall joined the NHS Confederation as director of our Ambulance Service Network (ASN) in May. She said: "I am delighted to have joined the NHS Confederation and to be representing its members in the ambulance service. Ambulance trusts are making great strides in improving patient care and delivering new clinical services, and are an integral part of the NHS." Read more

Contact programme
See details of key NHS Confederation meetings held recently. Read more

Westminster lecture series
Our recent series of lectures from the health spokesmen of political parties saw shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley talk about how he would make the NHS operationally independent from the Secretary of State by setting up an independent board, and decentralise power, putting it in the hands of patients. Liberal democrat Norman Lamb talked about reducing health inequalities, empowering communities and individuals, and value for money. Read more.

Care Quality Commission Chair hearing
The Health Select Committee has concluded that the Government's candidate for the chair of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) , Baroness Young of Old Scone, is suitable for the post. The decision was made at a pre-appointment hearing in a new process for positions where Parliament has a strong interest, where the Government's candidate is given independent scrutiny by Parliament. Baroness Young was questioned on the role of the chair, her independence, the mergers that will lead to the CQC and the potential overlap of work with Monitor.