GPs need more autonomy to get greater involvement in decisions about service design. This is a key finding of research into Clinical commissioning groups.

The report published by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust gives findings from a survey of GPs and practice managers in six areas of the country, conducted annually since 2013. The survey found that more than 70 per cent of CCG members were at least ‘somewhat’ engaged with the work of their CCG. This compares favourably with engagement levels under practice-based commissioning, the previous approach to involving GPs in commissioning that was implemented in 2005.

Read more on DOCTORS NEED MORE AUTONOMY TO GET BETTER COMMISSIONING RESULTS…

Local government staff are experiencing unprecedented pressure and stress in the workplace according to a report from UNISON.

The report ‘Under Pressure, Underfunded and Undervalued’ is based on a survey of more than 2,000 local council staff, including teaching assistants, social workers, librarians and carers who look after people in their own homes.

The findings highlight how staff morale and working conditions have suffered as a result of government costcutting, with more than half a million jobs in local government axed since 2010.

Three quarters of council workers said workload and pressure have increased in the last 12 months, nearly two thirds believe morale has declined and nearly three quarters report rising stress levels.

Three in five respondents said they are working beyond their contracted hours with nearly a quarter doing unpaid overtime.

A key reason for staff shortages is that employers are failing to replace workers when they leave, according to more than one in five respondents.

Nearly two thirds of local government workers who took part in the survey have experienced a job review or reorganisation at work that has led to cuts both in staffing and resources in some cases.

UNISON’s head of local government Heather Wakefield said: “Council staff are being worked into the ground because of government cutbacks.

“If you neglect the people who empty our bins, who support our children and care for our vulnerable relatives then you neglect the services we all depend upon.

“Everyone suffers if those on the front line are so stressed and undermined they cannot do their jobs properly.”

Read more on LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE AS WORKLOAD GROWS…

NHS England has failed to control the rising cost of specialised services. The Audit Commission warns that continued failure to get a grip on costs will mean other services loose out.

Read more on WATCHDOG CRITICISES NHS FOR NOT CONTROLLING COSTS OF SPECIALISED SERVICES…

Devolution of powers to Greater Manchester today marks the start of what is probably the most radical reform of public services in the UK. The budget holder plays the primary role in how services are delivered and from today a range of budgets have move from Whitehall to Manchester.

Read more on MANCHESTER LEADS PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM…

New homelessness figures show that 14,470 households were accepted as homeless between October and December last year – a rise of 6% across England and 10% in London compared to the previous year.

Read more on HOMELESSESS RISES BY SIX PERCENT…

The drive to produce greater opportunities for apprenticeships is providing neither the quantity nor quality expected. This is the conclusion of Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.

While apprenticeship starts for the over 25s increased by 17% between 2010-2014 for the under 25s the increase was only 4%. In comparison to the over 25 increase there were some 5,000 fewer apprenticeship starts by under-19s in 2014/15 compared to 2010/11.

Read more on APPRENTICESHIP DRIVE IS RUNNING OUT OF MOMENTUM…

The Work Programme, launched in June 2011, has helped more than half a million people into long term jobs.

This half a million jobseekers includes 115,490 young people and 35,790 with disabilities and health conditions who are receiving Employment Support Allowance. ERSA’s own figures show that a larger number – over 770,000 – have found some employment on the Work Programme. In many cases these individuals will not yet have been in work long enough to count in official Government statistics.

Read more on WORK PROGRAMME HELPS HALF A MILLION PEOPLE INTO JOBS…

Constipation affects millions of people in the UK and is being overlooked at significant cost to the NHS and individuals. The ‘Cost of Constipation’ a report from Coloplast, the continence and ostomy care specialist, estimates that the NHS spent £145 million on unplanned hospital admissions due to constipation during 2014/15 alone.

Read more on EMBARRASSMENT ABOUT CONSTIPATION STRAINING NHS…

The Civil Service cut 4700 jobs in the third quarter of last year. This represents 1.3% of the workforce. The cuts were mainly in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Defence.

Read more on CIVIL SERVICE CONTINUES TO SHRINK BUT BECOMES MORE DIVERSE…

The National Audit Office is concerned about the potential failure of major ICT, infrastructure and construction projects and has warned of the need to improve project delivery. The NAO report highlights that a third of projects due to deliver in the next five years are rated as being in doubt or unachievable if action is not taken to improve delivery.

Read more on WATCHDOG WARNS OF MAJOR PROJECT FAILURE…