PAC GP contract report
The Public Accounts Committee published its report on the GP contract on 9 October. NHS Confederation chief executive, Steve Barnett, said the report highlights a number of issues but also recognises the benefits of the new contract, such as the shift in focus to the quality of patient services and the increased number of GPs. Read more

EU Emissions Trading Scheme
As a result of NHS European Office lobbying, Euro MPs have agreed to exclude hospitals from proposals to revise the European Emissions Trading Scheme, as long as they comply with equivalent national carbon reduction measures. The agreement recognises concerns about disproportionate and excessive administrative costs and that hospitals need significant standby capacity. Read more

Reform roundtable
Director of our Mental Health Network, Steve Shrubb, recently spoke at a Reform roundtable on employment and mental health. Shadow health minister Anne Milton MP was also in attendance and discussion focused on the role of employers in encouraging the mental well-being of their staff. Separately, NHS Employers has published a revised version of Mental health and employment in the NHS. Read more

NHS carbon reduction strategy
The NHS Confederation has responded to the NHS Sustainable Development Unit’s draft carbon reduction strategy for the NHS in England, based on feedback from our member networks. Our members recognise that the NHS has a responsibility to make a significant contribution to the UK’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more

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

Communities in Control
Contribute to our response to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s consultation on implementing the provisions in the 2007 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act. The provisions relate to councils’ powers to scrutinise Local Area Agreement (LAA) partners and the delivery of LAA targets. Read more

Changes in regulating NHS bodies on HCAI
The Department of Health is consulting on changes to how NHS bodies will be regulated in relation to healthcare associated infections. The NHS Confederation will be responding on behalf of members. Read more

Free member events address issue of local leadership
Hear the Confederation’s latest analysis of the NHS Next Stage Review and its implications for NHS leaders at the autumn round of membership meetings (sponsored by Vocera). Read more

Hope joins health team in reshuffle
Phil Hope, MP for Corby, has replaced Ivan Lewis in Gordon Brown’s recent Cabinet reshuffle. Mr Hope became a minister in 1997, firstly in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He then moved to the Department for Education and Skills and most recently was minister for the third sector in the Cabinet Office. Ivan Lewis moves to the Department for International Development.

Party conferences 2008
The NHS Confederation held fringe meetings, in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing and Asthma UK, at all the party conferences asking what each political party can do to win the battle of ideas on health. Two of the Confederation’s member networks also held events. Read more