#News

It was literally all about the size, shape, cost and support services of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) this week with GP splashing on a story that they were forcing practices to sign ‘draconian’ legal agreements that could put contracts at risk.

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#Twitter

To Manchester and the NHS Alliance conference where National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) chairman and Twitter newcomer Dr Johnny Marshall (@marshall_johnny) observed:

Clinical lead for commissioning at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and Manchester GP Dr Robert Varnum (@robertvarnam) tweeted:

#weekinreview wonders where were we again? To Manchester and the NHS Alliance conference …

 

Wednesday saw David Cameron dub the pensions ‘day of action’ a ‘damp squib’. GP services were largely unaffected.

To an ordinary consultation where Manchester GP Dr Andy Hershon (@andyhersh) tweeted:

 

Meanwhile, in Westminster on Wednesday ‘DoH policy wonk (EU cross-border healthcare)’ Rob Dickman (@ChairmanChegwin) tweeted:

 

‘IT spod’ John Hall (@ormondroyd) replied:

#Petitions

The bid by @KailashChandOBE to force a parliamentary debate on the Health Bill has so far earned a whopping 13,800 (correct at time of going to press) backers including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver), shadow health secretary Andy Burnham (@andyburnhammp), former shadow health minister Ben Bradshaw (@BenPBradshaw) and former deputy PM John Prescott (@johnprescott).

Prezza has even promised to tweet a video of him singing should the 50,000 mark be reached.

#weekinreview is uncertain whether this is a reason to sign – or not.

#gobbledygook

A new hashtag but one #weekinreview feels @DeptHealthPress more than merits in response to questions including: ‘Can you tell me exactly what patient information will be available to researchers which wasn’t before?’

Response: ‘Page 5 of the pdf document states that "the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care will set up a secure data linkage service as part of its core delivery service and by September 2012 will deliver data extracts, using linked data from primary and secondary care and other sources, on a routine basis at an unidentifiable, individual level."

It also states that "in addition a complementary new secure data service, the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), will be established within MHRA to service the specialised needs of the research and life sciences communities. Plans to establish this were published on 31 October. "

#weekinreview resorts to Google Translate. Nothing. Could the simple answer based on the evidence with which we are presented be: ‘No’? What does it all mean? Answers on a postcard (or memory stick) to the usual address.

#FollowFriday

 

 

@gponlinenews for all the primary care news that matters. Individual news streams @CooperColin @EmmaBower @NeilDurham @TomMoberly @NickBostock @emiliereymond @SH_Robinson @Susie_Sell @Abi_Rimmer @AoifeMLynch @pphensler @emiliereymond

#TopTweetsNextWeek

@SH_Robinson from the diabetes Westminster Health Forum event on Wednesday.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for primary care also meets in Westminster om Wednesday.