- The DH has published details of how NHS funding currently managed by PCTs will be split between clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the NHS Commissioning Board (NCB).
- The RCGP has written to prime minister David Cameron demanding the complete withdrawal of the Health Bill.
- In an exclusive video interview with GPonline.com DH clinical commissioning lead for England Dr James Kingsland talked about how the quality premium will work and how contracts could change to reflect GPs' role in commissioning.
- The BMA, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have agreed to continue talks about their 'approach to the Health Bill' after a meeting on Thursday.
- Health secretary Andrew Lansley has compared his bid to force through NHS reforms in the face of growing opposition to Aneurin Bevan's efforts to establish the NHS in 1948.
- GP practices will be allowed to close their lists and continue to provide additional and enhanced services under changes proposed by the DH.
- BMA leaders will meet this week with the Royal College of Nursing and other medical royal colleges to build a united front in opposition to the Health Bill.
- Only a third of DH employees believe the department is well managed, a poll of more than 1,000 staff has found.
- Small clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should fight back against claims they will fail to achieve authorisation unless they merge, according to a DH commissioning adviser.
- A tool set up to mine data from GP practice IT systems moved closer to implementation this week as major companies signed a deal with the NHS Information Centre.
- Take part in our online poll to have your say on issues affecting general practice, including revalidation, commissioning and workload.
- Successful clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) may be barred from distributing bonus payments among member practices, a DH report suggests.
- The government's health reforms are descending into chaos and are putting the NHS in England at risk, the BMA has warned.
- The RCGP has echoed BMA criticism of a draft DoH report on commissioning, warning that 'alarm bells' are ringing over the government's plans.
- Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff are estimated to have taken part in strikes on Wednesday in protest at cuts to public sector pensions.
- Slashing emergency admissions in high-cost areas to national average rates could save the NHS in England more than £500m by 2015, according to a financial watchdog.
- Nearly half of parents who spot the symptoms of a brain tumour in their child would not refer them to a GP, research by health charities shows.
- Average income for salaried GPs and partners in the UK fell from £97,500 in 2008/9 to £97,200 in 2009/10, official NHS data show.
- GPs face a stark choice between cutting their income and scaling back the services their practices offer as the pay freeze bites, accountants have warned.
- GP practices could be forced to pay higher indemnity fees after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) cut back its cover for practice nurses.
