Health Service Journal
For NHS news, NHS jobs and NHS management resources. Click here for full access to the site.
‘Preferred provider’ policy unravels
Health secretary Andy Burnham’s “preferred provider” policy is unravelling in the face of Cabinet concerns and the danger of breaching European procurement law.
NHS managers demand power to fire GPs
Managers are calling for the power to “fire” GPs and to get rid of small practices to make the huge spending cuts needed in coming years.
Staff vetting scheme fears are discouraging referrals
Managers are not referring staff to a controversial vetting scheme amid widespread concern over its “interfering” approach.
Confed calls for action on tough political choices
Time is running out to make urgent changes to NHS policy that will require difficult political decisions, the NHS Confederation is warning.
UKIP would scrap PCTs and make managers ‘happier’
The UK Independence Party would save £2bn-£3bn by scrapping primary care trusts and strategic health authorities and having services run as franchises, its deputy leader has told HSJ.
A&E wait is not being gamed, new data suggests
The proportion of patients admitted from accident and emergency units without first being assessed or treated has more than halved since the four hour target was introduced.
First patient reported outcomes due in April
The first results from the NHS’s landmark collection of patient reported outcome measures are expected to be published next month despite earlier concerns about whether enough patients had responded.
£21bn spent on health inequalities has had little impact
There is little to show for the £21bn in annual NHS spending allocated to reduce health in-equalities, the Audit Commission has concluded.
Out of hours GP contracts need greater transparency
A network of small out of hours providers has criticised primary care trusts for “trading off” contracts to other providers without retendering.
Plans made for deauthorising failing FTs
A process for deauthorising failing foundation trusts is set be put in place during the summer after a “proper” consultation process led by Monitor.
Andrew Lansley backs Burnley crusade
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has backed calls for accident and emergency status to be restored to the emergency service at Burnley General Hospital in Lancashire.
Kidney profiles published
Kidney Disease Primary Care Trust Profiles, developed by NHS Kidney Care and the East Midlands Public Health Observatory, have been published to help commissioners assess local kidney care need and current service levels.
NHS non-executive appointments: think outside the tick box
A truly representative NHS needs more diversity among trusts’ non executive directors, reports Daloni Carlisle
NICE completes the commissioning cycle
Embedding clinical guidance into the full commissioning cycle offers support at all levels, from planning to procurement to public involvement, says Jennifer Taylor
NICE guidance: support for commissioners
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence supports commissioners in both preparing for and implementing its guidance, explains Jennifer Taylor
Why NHS volunteering is all round value
Aintree is one of many trusts that both benefit from and give advantages to volunteers, reports Alison Moore
Discharge notes: how to save time and reduce errors
The problem of delays in GPs receiving patients’ discharge details is being resolved across Cheshire through a shared electronic communications system
At last – your chance to write a manifesto
Have you ever felt so frustrated with the political parties’ health policies that you wished you could write your own? Now your chance has come.
Leadership
Upcoming HSJ Masterclass: Making best use of allied health professionals
Allied health professionals are a key part of the NHS workforce - but are you using yours to best effect? Register for HSJ’s free online masterclass to find out more.
The water tower speech
On 9th March 1961 Enoch Powell, the Minister of Health, addressed the annual conference of the National Association of Mental Health.
Conference Briefings
Essential briefings from HSJ's conferences, for subscribers only
Achieving Savings and Efficiencies in the NHS
A business critical briefing from HSJ’s Achieving Savings and Efficiencies in the NHS conference
