Social care providers are under relentless pressure from Covid-related staff absences and there are calls to delay the timetable for mandatory staff vaccination in the NHS. Meanwhile, academics have been discussing the likely trajectory of the Omicron variant.
The aligned payment and incentive system will provide a single framework for secondary care financial flows, but the real test will be if it encourages system working
The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (Cquin) financial incentive scheme is to be reintroduced in 2022/23 with a focus on short-term clinical improvements that support Covid recovery and reductions in variation between providers.
The independent sector will be guaranteed up to £90m a month under the three-month deal with the health service, which will also have to pay significantly more than the NHS-provided equivalent should surge support be triggered.
Guidance will be issued soon on the pricing and funding of a short-term contract with independent sector providers that aims to ease the pressure on the NHS in England.
Booster after booster in a small number of countries will not end the pandemic, world health leaders warn. Elsewhere, academics call for ‘vaccines-plus’ policy, while the real pressures facing the NHS are becoming increasingly clear.
MPs have called for a wide-ranging health and social care recovery plan that includes better workforce planning and does not focus solely on targets to reduce elective waiting times.
The cyber threat has evolved since the Wannacry attack just over four years ago. Incidents have increased in number and sophistication, but what should healthcare bodies be doing to protect themselves from the risks?
The NHS in England is expected to expand activity in 2022/23, increasing capacity while taking out costs and delivering additional efficiencies, according to the operational planning guidance.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have confirmed proposals for the aligned payment and incentive (API) approach in 2022/23, with a higher payment for activity above plan.
Latest news alerts
Primary care mental health model to be implemented (Scotland)
12 January 2022
Model system collaboration agreement published (England)
12 January 2022
Cquin guidance issued (England)
12 January 2022
Independent sector deal: direction needed due to financial risks (England)
12 January 2022
Free PPE policy extended (England)
13 January 2022