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Recent changes in the National Health Service in the UK have included a drive towards better quality health care through enhanced professional regulation, clinical governance and lifelong learning. It has been stated that the successful adoption of programmes of clinical governance is dependent on the right culture prevailing within the NHS. Progress and problems in the implementation of clinical governance to date are discussed.

More GPs are needed, but there are concerns about retaining the existing workforce quite apart from recruiting new doctors. This survey of GP principals in the Northern deanery aged over 45, identified factors potentially encouraging them to take early retirement (before 60) or to work on beyond 60. Over a third of those with retirement plans intended to retire early. Perceived undesirable changes in the NHS and workload were the main factors influencing intentions to retire. Reducing hours and administrative duties, and improving managerial support were factors that may encourage later retirement. Financial incentives in the form of increased pensions were most attractive to those already planning later retirement. A total of 35 per cent scored above threshold for significant psychological distress, and the higher psychological distress the earlier GPs wanted to retire. Interventions encouraging later retirement should be targeted at reducing workload and administration. Interventions to reduce stress could also encourage later retirement.

Audit support staff comprise a new profession in the National Health Service. They have a key role in enhancing the work of audit groups in both primary and secondary care. However, arrangements for their formal training have not yet been established. This study describes how a training needs analysis was undertaken with audit support staff in one health region in England and reports the construction and evaluation of the first course designed explicitly for this group of staff. Well trained audit support staff have an important role in making clinical audit effective. Training should be based on information about their training needs, and opportunities should be provided for their continued professional development.

This paper aims to chart the wide range of food scares reported throughout the EU over the period 1986‐2006 and explores their impact on EU policy.

There is much extant research that solely investigates the occurrences of specific food scares, however; little emphasis is given to the responses of policy makers. This research aims to narrow this gap in the literature by reviewing the major food scares, which have occurred throughout the EU and the subsequent policy responses.

A number of food scares have dominated media reports over the last two decades, but this study reveals the increasing emergence of rare serotypes of foodborne pathogens, as well as a rising trend of EU‐wide contaminant and animal disease‐related food scares. Simultaneously, there is evidence of evolution from a product‐focused food policy to a risk‐based policy, which has developed into a tentative EU consumer‐based food policy. Inevitably, in a market of 25 member‐states the concept of food quality varies between countries and therein justifies the need for responsive policy development, which embraces the single market philosophy.

A typology of EU food scares is advanced and discussed in detail, with comments being made on their impact. In addition, the paper highlights the complexity of a EU consumer, which has led to a need for research into the maximisation of the satisfaction of purchasers by reinsuring their individual “right to choose”.

This paper provides a unique insight into a wide range of European food scares (e.g. microbiological, contaminants, animal disease‐related) and EU policy makers' responses to such food scares.