Media Hub

21
Jan 2015

Failure to protect whistleblowers a “stain” on NHS

MPs have said that the treatment of whistleblowers continues to be a stain on the NHS in England. According to the Health Select Committee, the way staff who raise concerns are treated has undermined trust in the system. The report adds that whistleblowers who are absolved should receive an apology and “practical redress”. The report…

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21
Jan 2015

FIT FOR WORK SERVICE – GUIDANCE PUBLISHED

  The Government is due to introduce a new service known as ‘Fit for Work’ (FFW) on a phased basis up to May 2015.  This article looks at the main aspects of the service which are aimed at providing free services for employers and employees to try and ensure earlier and more sustained returns to…

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21
Jan 2015

Holiday Pay Updates

We recently reported on recent important decisions on holiday pay in the Employment Appeals Tribunal which held that non-guaranteed overtime must be taken into account in calculating holiday pay. One concern for employers at the time of the Judgment was the potential for employees to go back a number of years in claiming holiday pay,…

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21
Jan 2015

Shared parental leave

A new entitlement for employees who are parents to take shared parental leave (“SPL”) came into force on 1 December 2014, and will apply to cases where a child is expected to be born on or after 5 April 2015. As a starting point, mothers will still be entitled to take 52 weeks of maternity…

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21
Jan 2015

CQC propose special measures to help GP practices improve

Under proposals announced recently, GP practices rated inadequate by Care Quality Commission inspectors will be offered assistance to help them to improve and will be placed in special measures. The CQC have been working with the Royal College of General Practitioners and NHS England to introduce a new programme of support for GP practices that…

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20
Jan 2015

Safe nurse staffing rules given to A&E

Strict guidelines are being given to Accident and Emergency units in England on numbers of staff needed on duty in order to provide safe care to patients. The guidance, which is being provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, recommends that there should be one nurse for every four cubicles, and in…

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