Author: Tim Gilling
Setting the standard for accessible information
NHS England has produced a briefing about the Standard for Accessible Information which CfGS is circulating via its newsletter and networks. The Accessible Information Standard was published in July 2015, following approval as a new ‘information standard’ for the NHS and adult social care system. The Standard directs and defines a specific, consistent approach to […]
Let’s not forget about social care
With media attention so often focussed on NHS services, social care doesn’t always get the coverage it deserves. With councils’ social care budgets under pressure and with continuing financial deficits in the acute health sector, the capacity for local health and care systems to meet people’s needs in an integrated way is under strain. It […]
Have your say about proposed changes to local congenital heart disease services
In July 2015, the NHS England Board agreed on new standards and service specifications for congenital heart disease services and developed a three tier model with split levels of treatment options and responsibilities. The model divides all centres into the following: Specialist Surgical Centres (Level 1) that provide the most highly specialised diagnostics and care […]
Inform national study – insight from local scrutiny
Have you carried out a scrutiny review of local plans for integrating health and social care services? Would you like the findings to inform a national study? The National Audit Office is carrying out a study of progress towards integrating health and social care services. The study will examine the progress of the range of […]
Preparing scrutiny for Sustainability and Transformation Plans
“Now is quite obviously the time to confront – not duck – the big local choices needed to improve health and care across England over the next five years, and STPs [Sustainability and Transformation Plans] are a way of doing this. Their success will largely depend on the extent to which local leaders and communities […]
Brexit, health and care system planning….and scrutiny?
The referendum result has shifted the ground under what are already a tough set of challenges faced by NHS and social care managers. The health and care system is experiencing some unprecedented pressures – and uncertainty about the impact of Brexit will add to the complexity. Money for the health service (nobody mentioned social care […]
Scrutinising immunisation services – two new guides published
Immunisation is a critical component in the public health armoury. It prevents death and disease and has a significant impact on health services, reducing infections and making hospital stays less likely – especially during critical period of ‘winter pressure’. These two new connected reports, which we are publishing today, will help local areas in scrutinising immunisation services. […]
MJ Awards Excellence in Governance and Scrutiny category – judges announced. Get your nominations in!
As you know, CfGS has decided to raise the profile of governance and scrutiny this year by introducing an Excellence in Governance and Scrutiny category in The MJ Awards 2016. This new category provides an great opportunity to highlight the value that effective decision-making, supported by scrutiny and accountability, can bring as well […]
There’s a scrutiny category of the MJ Awards 2016!
It’s an exciting time for us here at CfGS. Not just because we’ve opened our secret Santa presents, but because we’re moving our recognition of good scrutiny on to the national stage through our sponsorship of the ‘Excellence in governance and scrutiny’ category as part of next year’s Municipal Journal Achievement Awards. We […]
Winter pressures and scrutiny
It’s that time of year. The clocks have changed, the days are getting shorter, traditional Christmas music enhances our shopping experience… Soon we can expect to start hearing about ‘leaves on the line’ or ‘the wrong kind of snow’ or other circumstances that tend to annually disrupt our lives and which, on the […]