HOW patients perceive and rate the quality of their care while being treated by the National Health Service will, in future, affect the funding of hospitals and general practitioners in England. Information on “service quality” will also be displayed on new “dashboards” in hospitals, GP surgeries and on the worldwide web.

Unions have rallied to Labour to ensure that the party is rescued from financial and political bankruptcy.

RARELY are anniversaries marked by anything more substantial than symbolism and a chance to commemorate, or give vent to collective commiseration of, a past event. But the publication of plans for the foreseeable future of the National Health Service stamps the 60th anniversary of its creation with a tangible milestone, albeit with some brightly flashing hazard warning lights.

THE European Court of Justice has ruled against the European Trade Union Congress in a case brought by the European Commission. The court upheld a complaint that the manner in which Luxembourg has implemented the posting directive is an obstacle to the free provision of cross border services.

THE Government’s public sector pay policy came under new pressure from unions this week, as council workers in Unison voted to go on strike while the GMB said it wanted to renegotiate wages for National Health Service staff.

LABOUR chiefs have been forced to resort to auctioning dates with “star” attractions in order to plug gaps in the party’s finances.

IT MAY be rash, or even foolhardy, to look through the political gloom that surrounds this Government for signs that something more positive is flourishing. But it seems that many people are actually doing just that. Even, if some analysis of this week’s reversal of what was to be Government policy on age discrimination is to be believed, Gordon Brown himself may have seen the light and is preparing to bend towards policies supported by his party and which might actually increase his chances of winning the next election. As one of those involved in the talks about the legislation said: “It’s no accident when the good guys win.”

A BROAD reservoir of “stealth support” for Tory David Davis’ campaign against 42-days detention of terrorist suspects has sprung up among Labour MPs.

THE Labour-trade union link has been preserved in a white paper on party funding published by Justice Secretary Jack Straw this week. The paper suggests they should better inform members about political funding.

AFTER 15 years of continuous growth in the housing sector the House Builders Association has warned that fewer than 110,000 new homes are likely to built this year.