The DH has outlined ten 'workstreams' for addressing the worst-case scenario for the economy. At one level, this should not get us too excited; at another, it should get us very excited indeed.

The tremulous ten are:
1. Medicines - including the notion that 30% are not taken at all (or are taken by someone else)
2. Secondary care - beds, theatres, clinics, patient flow
3. Community services
4. Appropriate clinical care, decommissioning, demand management, etc
5. New models of care
6. The health-social care interface
7. Workforce and education
8. Back office procurement

Good evening. I hope this finds you well and swine flu-free.

Swine flu. SWine flu. SWINE flu SWINE FLU SWINE FLU SWINE FLU OH MY GOD WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE, THEY'RE COMING TO GET US AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT ALIVE AFTER THE HOLOCAUST OF SWINE FLU EXCEPT FOR RATS AND PR MEN!

Good morning. It's dark and raining here in Burgundy, schadenfreude-holiday types. Still, mustn't grumble: it's not in the commissioning plan.

Interesting news on the front page of FT.com this morning. Nick Timmins reports that the private sector has been asked to take over the management of Hitchingbrooke DGH on a franchise basis, with private operators and NHS foundation trusts "being invited to take on its running and financial risk".

Good morning. New figures on the government's lower tax revenues reported in today's Indpependent set an unsurprising context for two recent reports.

Good morning from abroad. There is likely to be less frequent posting this week because I am on holiday, but one story in today's Guardian mea culpa piece by and with Damian McBride needs a bit of attention.

Good morning. Terence Kealey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham (the UK’s only independent degree-awarding institution, where Karol Sikora is Dean of Medicine), writes in today’s Times about research that may lead to the development of specific antibiotics that could work effectively on MRSA and C Dificil.

Hurrah! Baron Mandelson of Foy has confirmed that public spending is going to have to be reduced.

Expect an announcement later today from the Prime Minister revealing cutting-edge research conclusions that bears do indeed shit in the woods.

So it has been confirmed that the good Lord Darzi is off up the road. Normally, ministers get 'kicked upstairs' to the Lords, but that was not really an option in Professor the Lord Ara Warkes Darzi of Denham's case.

The story was accurately called this afternoon by Sally Gainsbury of Health Service Journal.

More details have been made available over the leak this weekend of the NICE over-ride.

Good morning. The green paper on funding social care provision should be out shortly. What has been trailed in the press is that a figure of £12,000 per person will be proposed as an insurance payment against requiring full-time social care in old age, which will replace the current asset threshold of £23,500 before social care can be provided free (not to mention the eligibility criteria threshold lottery, which makes postcode prescribing look like a minor squabble).

The £12,000 may be paid up-front in lump; in stages; or deducted from any estate remaining after death.