Hmm, that's good to know re QFE.
I currently use the task sequence to apply the updates as I mentioned above then I've added the following to copy the logs to an SCCM share.
http://schadda.blogspot.be/2012/01/sccm-2012-how-to-catch-errors-in-task.html
I've also set up a Status Filter Rule that monitors for 11171 (Success) and 11170 (Failure) message IDs. When found it runs a Powershell script to send a Success or Failure email for the server to an alias. This email is where I'd like to list the patches that have just been applied to that particular server.
Seems overly complicated but it's the best that I've come up so far.