Protection

A public health service for England will be created and the responsibility for public health devolved from Westminster to local authorities if government plans are approved.

The UK's largest ICOBS adviser has applauded the FSA's plan requiring advisers to review protection sales methods.

Mike Farrell, head of sales and marketing at Royal Liver Assurance, has joined LV= as head of protection sales.

The FSA has ordered firms selling pure protection and PPI plans to review their sales policies and compliance procedures after finding "disappointing" oral disclosure practices by some firms.

The reporting of medical events in NHS hospitals is seriously affecting the ability to make informed decisions about where to receive treatment, medical analysts have found.

Support for an unbiased protection training academy is growing following the announcement that 17 industrywide companies have signed up to the first phase of the initiative.

Circle healthcare has become the first private company to take control of an NHS hospital.

Engage Mutual has acquired Provincial Hospital Services Association (PHSA), a not for profit specialist in health cash plans and private medical insurance.

John Ritchie reviews the trends in employee benefits and looks ahead to its future growth.

Insurers LV=, Zurich, Friends Provident and Fortis are among this year's Gold Standard Award winners.