in brief

An investigation is underway into why power supplies failed at the flagship, private finance initiative-built Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for the second time in two months.The power cut happened last Tuesday shortly after chancellor Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah left the hospital with their baby, who was born there.Standby generators came on, but network problems meant that some power did not come on for half an hour after a nearby lightning strike.

A healthcare industries taskforce has been formed to encourage joint working between the government and UK firms producing healthcare products. Jointly chaired by junior health minister Lord Warner and Smith and Nephew chief executive Sir Christopher O'Donnell, the task force will operate for one year.

The government is to release£7.2m for liquidbased cytology after the National Institute for Clinical Excellence called for it to be used as the 'primary means of processing samples in the cervical screening programme in England and Wales'.NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon said evidence suggested that liquid-based cytology may result in samples that are of better quality and easier to read.

www. nice. org. uk

Primary care trusts have a new 'contractors' companion' to help them in their role as commissioners and contractors of services from trusts.The NHS Contractors'Companion has been produced by the Department of Health and includes general advice on NHS contracting and a model contract for use by PCTs.

www. natpact. nhs. uk

Health Protection Agency figures show that five NHS staff have been infected with HIV following needle-stick injuries while treating infected patients.Four of the five have now died.The Commons public accounts committee is investigating the costs to the NHS of needle-stick injuries.