Good morning. Today we have new Maynard Doctrine on the charged topic of managing poor performance by consultants and on the 'featherbedded' retirement deals of senior managers.

'The case here is not that incompetent consultants are widespread in the NHS; but that there is likely to be a normal distribution curve of performance in the profession. Current systems to address poor performance do not, in Maynard's opinion and experience, work well and are expensive if 'gardening leave' is involved.'

So, what do we have in health policy terms from the last few days, during which the Labour Party has had its conference?

First things first: we still have Gordon Brown in Number 10 Downing Street. This was by no means a foregone conclusion even a week ago. Synchronised resignations within Labour (maybe an event for the 2012 Olympics?), and dismal poll ratings and a hostile media without, had Kircaldy’s favourite son looking like a distinctly sub-prime minister.

Just when you were thinking that nostalgia isn't what it used to be (oil price spike; credit tightening; house prices off a cliff; unemployment and inflation rising - let's party like it's 1974 / 1981 / 1991!), some great news breaks.

The Quiff Of Doom is back.

And he's using the word "change" (copyright Barrack Obama) a lot.

In fact by the look of this, policy-wise Alan Milburn has joined the Lib Dems .

Standing in the Halifax today, waiting to pay in a cheque (I love to swim against the tide), I was reflecting on the current havoc of the financial markets and some things that it means for healthcare.

One thing that it means is that a lot of highly numerate graduate calibre people will be looking for jobs due to the contraction of the investment banking and private equity businesses.

So what's new today? Apart from the downfall of free market capitalism and the end of the world as we know it? And no, I don't feel fine, I've got a slight ache in my wrist.

Well, I thought it would be good to find out a bit about the background of Patrick Carter - Lord Carter of Coles, the inaugural chair of the new NHS Co-operation and Competition Panel. So I did, and you can read it here.

Welcome to another fine week in health policy. Don't mention the imminent implosion of free-market capitalism.

The new Maynard Doctrine is now online, in which Alan Maynard suggests that there may be a thing or two wrong with drug pricing and with the relationship between 'the industry' and medical education.

Scandalous thinking!

Elsewhere today, you will find a new feature about the Lib Dems' health policy at their party conference.

by Andy Cowper, editor, Health Policy Insight

You know the old joke about mergers – ‘a merger is like two porcupines making love – it should be done carefully and slowly’?

Telegram Cam: Conservative leader's unambiguous signal of new Tory health policy

by Andy Cowper, editor, Health Policy Insight

Sunday is a 'good-bad' day for newspapers. The main political parties are all keen to use the Sundays to set the week's policy and political agenda.

Have you finished building your ark yet? Global warming, my eye.

Just posted a new feature on the latest reports from Reform and the Kings Fund, which are respectively very flawed and very fascinating.

Insurance is back in vogue ...

Hello again. The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy with other work, hence my temporary absence from the parish. The estimable Tom Smith has been holding the fort with aplomb and putting my absence to shame. Thank you, Tom.