A twelve-day course in Cancer Counselling for qualified psychotherapists and counsellors is being organised by the Cancer Counselling Trust (CCT), which offers counselling for anyone impacted by cancer across the UK.

Work is the curriculum in this unique development scheme being piloted at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. The scheme, which combines degree-level education with professional development and mentoring is already showing service improvements.

Building on their 2007 programme, the Forum continues to provide evidence-based, practical resources that help in practice and in training, to complement and supplement available resources.

The landscape of healthcare education is set to change, following the signing of a contract for a UK-wide strategic alliance between The Open University (OU) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in October 2007.

By Professor Nigel Sparrow, Vice-Chairman, RCGP

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is developing a continuing professional development (CPD) scheme to support general practitioners (GPs), focussing on patients' needs and expectations.

Successful general practice in the 21st century is as much about having good business skills as it is practising good medicine. With modern surgeries run as small businesses, the role of practice manager has never been more important.

By Geoffrey Bowden, Institute of Healthcare Management

Healthcare is striving for a culture of continuous improvement and learning. Whether in healthcare management, the public or private sector, or the allied areas of academia, continuous development is important for both organisation and patients to reap positive benefits.

As the months and years move on all too quickly, we all try to fit more and more in to what are already hectic lives.

By Val Hempsey, Practice Manager, Bridges Medical Practice & Millenium Family Practice, Gateshead and Chair - Primary Care Sector - IHM

Clare Chapman, who is currently the Group Personnel Director of Tesco, has just been appointed as the Director General of Workforce at the Department of Health.