- NICE is set to consider ambulatory BP monitoring for hypertension for the QOF, the institute has revealed.
- Practices must be able to sack CCG leaders if they fail to deliver, LMCs have said.
- QOF 'box-ticking' has become so arduous that it now interferes with GPs' ability to deliver traditional primary care and should be frozen for two years in light of commissioning reforms, LMCs have said.
- Controversial quality and productivity (QP) indicators added to the QOF last year were the 'price we had to pay' to avoid GPs losing pay, GP leaders have said.
- Treating obstructive sleep apnoea with breathing equipment may prevent hypertension, a study has found, though other research suggests it may have no effect.
- GPs should be allowed to charge their patients private fees to provide treatment not funded by the NHS, LMCs have said.
- The BMA's leadership has avoided being reprimanded over its efforts to oppose the Health Bill, after a motion condemning it for taking 'too long to wake up' was thrown out by LMC leaders.
- LMCs have contested health secretary Andrew Lansley's view that GPs have an 'ethical duty' to save wider NHS costs, saying GPs' primary duty is to the patient in front of them.
- Core general practice work is 'seriously threatened' by the magnitude of the current NHS reforms, LMCs have said.
- Women will be invited for cervical cancer screening later than at present in Scotland and Wales under potentially controversial plans from the UK's screening body.
- The NHS risks being swamped by too many outcomes targets and should revert to one register of good health outcomes, according to a patient group.
- The Daily Mail's front page featuring an article from this week's GP on patients facing delays accessing new drugs was waved before delegates at NICE's annual conference on Wednesday.
- GPs have an 'ethical duty' to save NHS costs and must be transparent about how they are spending taxpayers' money, health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.
- England's CMO has set GPs a deadline to submit flu plans in a bid to improve flu vaccination coverage this winter following 'disappointing' uptake last season.
- Researchers believe a blood test to detect genetic changes could predict breast cancer years before it develops.
- Sending text messages to remind parents to vaccinate their child against flu increases uptake in hard-to-reach groups, a study has suggested.
- The DH's refusal to explain how it calculated that telecare could save the NHS £1.2bn has angered doctors.
- Playing a specialised CBT computer game could help teenagers with moderate depression, research has suggested.
- Government advisers have said the switch to the new public health system could disrupt vaccination plans in England.
- Labour has criticised the coalition government for dropping the annual flu awareness campaign, after a report found this may have led to hundreds of preventable deaths in the winter after the swine flu pandemic.
