Latest NHS performance figures highlight whole-system pressures. The 'busiest June on record' saw access targets continue to slip for A&E, ambulance and elective waitlists while delayed discharges rose by 23 percent.

Financial pressures force growth in 'care rationing'£. St Helens CCG's £ proposals to manage costs and service pressures got national media coverage. Meanwhile Stockport CCG rations access to statins £.

Staffing pressures grow.  Reduced access to A&E services reflect severe shortages in emergency doctors, while HEE says nursing shortages will continue past 2020 £ unless hospital activity declines.

Concerns about timely treatment for mental health. Separately, discrepancies are found in the number of patient deaths while detained under the mental health act, which are reported to the CQC and to coroners £.

NHS Improvement aims to support change at board level, with plans to introduce a 50:50 gender quota for NHS boards and engagement with FTSE 100 companies £ to source ‘top talent’ for NHS NED positions.

NHSI outlines £ priorities for back office consolidation. NHSI said trusts would need to address all areas over time but that finance, HR, IT and procurement are top of the agenda.

New report says devolution of health services is being held back. Meanwhile Sadiq Khan MP reiterates his call for devolution of health powers in London £ and Andy Burnham MP sets integration as a top priority £ in Manchester.

HEE extends whistleblowing protections to junior doctors with a new clause in their contract. Meanwhile NHSI requests that trusts meet the contract’s provisions on safe staffing guardians £.

CQC "is not doing its full job" on duty of candour, says charity £. Action Against Medical Accidents raises concern about how the CQC gathers statistics on breaches of the duty and corrective action taken by providers.

Hinchingbrooke to exit special measures after being rated “good” by the CQC. The trust’s chair cites a change in the management structure £ and praises staff who "have really risen to the challenge”.

Chris Hopson and Ben Clacy, NHS Providers chief executive and director of operations and development, meet Tim Slater, chief executive, NHS Supply Chain.

Chris Hopson visits East Cheshire NHS Trust.

Kim Hutchings, NHS Providers head of development and engagement, and Claire Mescia, GovernWell programme manager, deliver a policy update to a governors’ meeting at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS Providers hosts an engagement event for members on NHS Improvement’s single oversight framework.

Dame Gill Morgan, chair of NHS Providers, visits Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

We brought together 40 provider representatives to hear early thoughts on the specialised commissioning intentions for 2017/18 from NHS England.

We are conducting our third annual membership survey, asking for your views on NHS Providers, which services you value, and whether there is anything else you would like us to provide. The online survey will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete, and is open until 9 September. 

Chris Hopson visited County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Chris Hopson was interviewed by the BBC Radio 4 Today programme (package starts at 2h10) on NHS finances and the broader challenges facing the NHS. His comments were subsequently covered by the Daily Mail and the Mirror. The Daily Telegraph £ quoted Chris in their coverage of the NHS performance figures, and the Times £ covered the NHS Providers' response to the Nuffield Trust report on NHS finances.

Chris Hopson and head of analysis Siva Anandaciva attended a specialised commissioning systems leaders group meeting.