• NHS news—This weekend social media has been awash with NHS health workers proudly tweeting their secretary of state for health, Jeremy Hunt, with photos and declarations of their commitment to 24/7 service provision. The trending #ImInWorkJeremy, comes on the back of a week of announcements from Hunt around the direction the NHS will take. Hunt has firmly stated a seven day working week will come, challenging the British Medical Association (BMA) to a six week period of negotiation over the “opt-out” clause for weekend working in new consultant contracts. The BMA has stated support for seven day services, which many consultants already work to, and challenge Hunt to explain more about the wider plans and funding to support this, particularly what provisions will be put in place in the community to support seven day discharges in the face of austerity and social care budget cuts.
• NHS vision for leadership—More quietly this week, Conservative peer Stuart Rose released his report into leadership in the NHS in England. Commisioned by UK Government and making 19 recommendations, Rose found “staff motivated and focused, often running on goodwill in a tough environment,” but an organisation lacking common vision and ethos. Perhaps now is the time to harness the pride from those that work in the NHS that has been demonstrated over this weekend to support creation of such a vision.
• Learning how to share—In a personal view Ara Darzi discusses the unintended consequences of legislation, like the Health and Social Care Act 2012, that create issues for data sharing of patient information with researchers, and why this impact is not just a concern for scientists, but is a wider public health issue with implications for patients primarily.
• “Transparency is therapeutic”—The first in our patient led series on the experience of mental health explains how all healthcare professionals can learn from the calm approach of paramedics to help someone experiencing acute psychosis in A&E. This personal portrayal is a powerful reminder of what healthcare is there to do, and how small changes to practice can make a big difference to those seeking support.
Emma Parish, editorial registrar, The BMJ.
Competing interests: I have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare that I have no competing interests.
I am paediatric trainee doctor currently out of programme on the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellowship scheme organised by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management.