By Nigel Edwards - Acting CEO NHS Employers
After the relative novelty for this country of the coalition negotiations, the new government has started about implementing its policy agenda. While controlling the budget deficit is the obvious priority, for the NHS, we have already seen a number of announcements around the introduction of an independent NHS board, putting commissioning power in the hands of GPs, the scrapping of targets and the removal of strategic health authorities.

A survey conducted by the Local Government Association, on behalf of local councils has found the public would support cuts to NHS managers, quangos and overseas aid ahead of other budget cuts. The survey of 2,000 taxpayers is in sharp contrast to government plans to protect the NHS and overseas aid

Dementia care in Bournemouth has drawn attention from Japan. Researchers there are looking for best practice models that they can adopt to look after their own population of people affected by dementia.

Coalition Government plans to hand real budgets to GPs could help the NHS save money and respond to rising demand, but significant challenges lie ahead, says news report.

Clare Munro, partner at Haslers Chartered Accountants comments on the new system of penalties for late payment of PAYE with effect from the 2010-2011 tax year.

Richard Laing, Group Chief Executive, Prime plc explains how a new model of shared funding can enable budget-pressured trusts to continue to develop new buildings

Public health has improved in the last decade but stark health inequalities remain despite the billions of pounds invested in the NHS -that's the conclusion of "Healthy Balance", a report just published by the Audit Commission.

In recent months the debate about the NHS has intensified as all three political parties begin to outline their plans for the health service in greater detail. While each party continues to argue why they are best placed to run the country's health system, all three acknowledge the NHS is facing the most severe funding challenge in its history.

Yet again GP's face further changes that will reduce their income when the Finance Act 2009 comes into force in April 2010. Rosemary Smith, a senior healthcare manager, Whittingham Riddell LLP goes through some of the changes and how these will affect GP's.

Johnny Marshall Chairman NAPC (National Association of Primary Care) and John Stapleton from Thomas Eggar LLP look at the reasons why Commissioning remains an unattractive commercial activity.