Trial systems for assessing and reviewing patients may have a negative effect on the training of junior doctors, according to a new study of acute care at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. The findings, published in the journal ‘Clinical Medicine’ show that while NHS targets are being met trainees’ learning opportunities have suffered.

Read more on STEPS TO IMPROVE WAITING TIMES HAVE ‘NEGATIVE IMPACT ON DOCTORS’ TRAINING’…

A new study has found that on average nursing homes that do not have to make a profit deliver higher quality care than those run to make money. The research is published on bmj.com but the authors say more work is needed to explore the impact of profit status on the quality of care.

Read more on NOT-FOR-PROFIT NURSING HOMES ‘ON AVERAGE PROVIDE BETTER QUALITY CARE’…

By Michael Johnson and Katie Schmuecker

Regions and sub-regions play an important, if often unseen, role in policymaking. Influential decisions linked to regeneration, planning, housing, economic development and the allocation of European funding are all taken at these levels by a complex web of quangos and partnerships.

Read more on ALL INCLUSIVE? THIRD SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN REGIONAL AND SUB REGIONAL POLICYMAKING…