In this special ‘8 Big Things’ issue:

1.    National Voices Update

§  The NHS white paper and all that  - and two dates for your diary

2.    Health update

§  Letter from David Nicholson and time-line for NHS changes

§  NHS Local video on Out of the Box conference

§  £50m fund for cancer drugs

§  CQC chair role goes permanent

3.    Social care update

§  Supporting people to live and die well: a framework for social care at the end of life

§  NEoLCP: Route to Success – achieving quality in care homes and acute hospitals

§  Commission on the funding of care and support

§  CQC chair role goes permanent

4.    Members’ news

§  The Stroke Association: Moving On campaign

§  Disabled Motorists Federation: network and be noticed

§  Care and Support Alliance welcomes Commission announcement

§  Work, welfare benefits and ME – is anyone listening?

5.    Consultations

§  The Health White Paper

§  The King’s Fund seeks views on two recent publications

6.    Reports

§  One million more men: the Men’s Health Forum physical activity and sport challenge

§  Policy Exchange: Careless: Funding long term care for the elderly

7.    Conferences and events

§  GP Commissioning: making it happen

§  Liberating the NHS: making the white paper vision a reality

§  Infection Control: working together to fight infection

§  Engaged and informed patients: the potential of shared decision-making

§  Developing care plans for long term conditions

§  A practical guide to handling, resolving and learning from Complaints

§  UKABIF annual conference 2010

§  Measuring, monitoring and improving clinical, patient and health outcomes

§  Facing the care challenge conference

8.    Vacancies

§  Shelter: user involvement & diversity officer (maternity cover)

§  Mencap: community development officer

§  Macmillan Cancer Support: social media & online communities manager

§  Banardo’s: digital & social media officer - head office

1.  National Voices Update

With the government’s health white paper out, alongside a growing number of related consultation papers, many people are going to have a busy summer.  National Voices will be orchestrating responses on behalf of our members on issues where a collective voice will be stronger.  Watch this space.  In the meantime don’t hold back from going directly to the consultation website (below) and posting your views.  And tell us the things you particularly want us to include in our collective responses.

National Voices’ conference on Thursday 16 September will bring together members, service users, partners and government to debate the white paper and give feedback to the Department of Health. Invitations will be issuing next week to our members.  

We are also partners in an NHS Confederation conference in London on Wednesday 8 September.  This too is on the theme of the NHS white paper.  It is free for National Voices members, patients, service-users and their organisations.  For details see below under “conferences and events”.

Jeremy Taylor

Chief Executive

National Voices

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2.  Health update

Letter from David Nicholson on NHS changes

A letter from David Nicholson, NHS chief executive, to NHS chairs and bosses on upcoming changes in the NHS has been published on the Department of Health website. Click for the time-line.

NHS Local video on Out of the Box conference

NHS Local, the new West Midlands website features a video on the Out of the Box conference which took place on 22 June.

£50 million funding for cancer drugs.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley announces £50 million fund. 

CQC chair

Dame Jo Williams has taken on the permanent role of chair of the Care Quality Commission.

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3.  Social care update

Commission on the funding of care and support

The government has established an independent commission on the funding of care and support. Clickhere for information.

Supporting people to live and die well: a framework for social care at the end of life

This framework, developed by the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) sets out a direction of travel for social care at end of life.

NEoLCP: route to success – achieving quality in care homes and acute hospitals

The National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) has made available two booklets in their Route to Success series. The Route to Success in end of life care – achieving quality in care homes and The Route to Success in end of life care – achieving quality in acute hospitals are available on their website.

CQC chair

Dame Jo Williams has taken on the permanent role of chair of the Care Quality Commission.

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4.  Members’ news

The Stroke Association: Moving On campaign

The Stroke Association and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy continue their campaign to improve access to community based physiotherapists. See  www.stroke.org.uk/movingon which now offers a facility to write to your MP in support of the campaign.

Disabled Motorists Federation: network and be noticed

The Disabled Motorists Federation is offering National Voices member organisations and service providers the opportunity to establish website networking relationships, free of charge. Seewww.dmfed.org.uk.

Care and Support Alliance welcomes commission announcement

The Care and Support Alliance has welcomed the announcement of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support (see Social Care Update above). For more information click here.

Work, welfare benefits and ME – is anyone listening?

This conference by Action for ME, 25 September, will explore problems with the welfare support system. For more information, see their webpage.

Katherine White, Chair of the Addison's group, on the BBC

Katherine White has been interviewed by the BBC. See the case study here. She was also featured on Radio 4’s Today programme, available  here.

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5.  Consultations

The Health White Paper

Following the publication of the government’s health white paper, four consultation documents have now been made available. These can be found on the Department of Health website.

The King’s Fund seeks views on two recent publications

The King’s Fund are inviting views on two recently published research papers: A rapid review of access to care’ and ‘The quality of patient engagement and involvement in primary care’.

Refreshing the national carers strategy – call for evidence

The Department of Health is seeking views on the key priorities, supported by evidence of good practice, on what will have the greatest impact on improving carers’ lives in the next four years. The letter from the Minister for Care Services and the template for responses can both be found on the DH website.

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6.  Reports

One million more men: The Men’s Health Forum physical activity and sport challenge

The Men’s Health Forum has released a document outlining recommendations to tackle physical inactivity in men. More information can be found on their webpage.

Policy Exchange: Careless: Funding long term care for the elderly

Policy Exchange’s latest report, Careless: Funding long term care for the elderly is available herefollowing the creation of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support (see Social Care Update above).

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7.  Conferences and events

GP Commissioning: making it happen

The King’s Fund is hosting a conference, GP Commissioning: Making it happen, on Tuesday 7 September 2010. It will explore the challenges of implementing GP commissioning and how it can be effectively translated into practice. For more information, visit their webpage.

Liberating the NHS: making the white paper vision a reality

This event on 8 September is an opportunity for NHS leaders, clinicians, local government, patient groups and the independent sector to come together to explore key issues, consider questions raised by the white paper, highlight risks, and discuss where priorities lie.  For details click here. 

Infection Control: working together to fight infection

This event at the Barbican, London, on 6 October 2010 will look at the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection (HCAI) across care homes, ambulances, and primary medical care, as well as in hospitals. More information is available here.

Engaged and informed patients: the potential of shared decision-making

Following the recent white paper, this conference will explore the potential of shared decision-making and will explore how it can be achieved in practice. This conference will take place on Thursday 7 October between 10:00 and 16:00. For more information, visit the King’s Fund website.

Developing care plans for long term conditions

This conference on Tuesday 12 October will provide important updates on the latest developments in long term conditions and the care planning commitment released by the Department of Health on 4 March 2010. More information and booking information is available on the Healthcare Events website. Our chief executive, Jeremy Taylor will be speaking at this event.

A practical guide to handling, resolving and learning from complaints

This conference on Wednesday 10 November will provide an opportunity to hear from healthcare professionals on the topic of complaints. For more information, go to the Healthcare Events website.

UKABIF annual conference 2010

Acquired Brain Injury Behind Closed Doors: unspoken issues and possible solutions,  the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF)’s annual conference is being held on Thursday 11 November 2010 at the Russell Hotel, London. Visit their website for more information.

Measuring, monitoring and improving clinical, patient and health outcomes

This conference on Tuesday 16 November will offer the chance to hear from healthcare professionals on a variety of topics surrounding health outcomes. For more information, go to the Healthcare Events website. Our chief executive, Jeremy Taylor will be speaking at this event.

Facing the care challenge conference

This one-day conference on 17 November focuses on nurse education, leadership and practice. It will give people the chance to listen to experts and have their voice heard in the search for solutions to support the delivery of care. For more information, see their webpage. Our chief executive, Jeremy Taylor will be speaking at this event.

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8. Vacancies

Shelter: user involvement & diversity officer (maternity cover). Go to website.

Mencap: community development officer. Go to website.

Macmillan Cancer Support: social media & online communities manager. Go to website.

Banardo’s: digital & social media officer - head office. Go to website.