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News

Pharmacist-led reconciliation backed by draft NICE guidance
A pharmacist should be involved in reconciling a patient's medicines as soon as possible after admission to hospital, according to draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence


NHS progress is mixed, patient reports show
Health Foundation’s report “Patient and public experience of the NHS”

News in brief

NHS hospitals will face spot checks where there is concern that older people are not being treated with dignity. A new report published by the Healthcare Commission shows that trusts are generally putting appropriate systems in place, but improvements are needed.

The report can be accessed online

Performance of NHS foundation trusts over the first quarter of 2007 is detailed in the latest report from Monitor, the independent regulator for trusts. It highlights the financial strengths of the trusts and the number which have failed to achieve their predictions.

An “innovation council” has been announced by health minister Lord Darzi. The council will be given £100 million to help the NHS develop innovation across several categories, including pharmaceuticals.

Lord Darzi’s interim report on “Our NHS, our future”

An online toolkit to encourage better hydration for hospital patients has been launched by the National Patient Safety Agency and the Royal College of Nursing.