Health Service Journal
19 November 2007
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£1.8bn NHS underspend 'manageable', says Nicholson
The NHS chief executive has defended its expected record £1.8bn surplus as 'relatively small' and 'healthy'.The 2 per cent underspend, revealed by HSJ earlier today, was 'relatively manageable', David Nicholson told the Commons health select committee. -
£11m donation for Great Ormond Street
Great Ormond Street Hospital has received a £11m donation from the Barclay Foundation. -
£57.5m earmarked for deep cleaning
Strategic health authorities have together allocated £57.5m to support the government's 'deep clean' drive.In a statement to the House of Commons on 21 November, health secretary Alan Johnson said all NHS hospital trusts should aim to complete their deep cleans by the end of March 2008. -
10,700 deaths blamed on DVT failures
An all-party parliamentary report has found that more than 10,700 hospital patients may have died as a result of trusts' failure to implement key recommendations on deep vein thrombosis published over seven months ago. -
18-week target update
The Department of Health has published an update on the latest developments around the 18-week patient pathway. -
73,000 UK adults are HIV-positive, says Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency has warned of a continuing HIV and sexually transmitted infections epidemic among gay men. -
Advisory board for CHKS
Information analysts CHKS have appointed an advisory board. The board will be chaired by King's Fund chief executive Niall Dickson. -
Circular sets out appropriate blood use
A circular on blood transfusions has been published. It includes information on transfusion safety and effectiveness and avoiding unnecessary use of blood components. -
City workers take fewer sick days, study shows
A survey of 800 office-based workers in the Square Mile has found that City of London workers take off significantly fewer sick days than the national average.However, the results showed that nearly one in six workers still had to use up part of their annual leave to visit their GP. -
Clinical leadership narrowly focused - NHS Alliance report
Focusing the clinical leadership agenda on GPs is not enough, a report by the NHS Alliance says.Clinical Leadership for NHS Commissioning looks at how clinicians from a wide range of professions can help redesign and deliver healthcare services and contribute to the commissioning process. -
Clinicians excluded from PCT decisions
Primary care trusts are flouting Department of Health Guidance intended to boost clinical involvement in commissioning and strategic development, a survey by the NHS Alliance has found. -
Consultant recruitment under review
Scottish health and well-being secretary Nicola Sturgeon has launched a consultation aimed at improving the process for recruiting consultants. -
Consultants' contract offers no productivity gains, say MPs
There have been 'no measurable improvements' in productivity as a result of the 2003 NHS contract for consultants, MPs have concluded. -
DoH leaflet addresses workforce issues
The Department of Health has published a leaflet on workforce issues related to achieving the 18-week waiting time target. -
Huge disparity in managers' pay, Tories claim
The Conservatives have claimed there is a huge disparity in how much primary care trusts are spending on management salaries. -
Medical test introduced for benefits claimants
A new medical test that will score a person's ability to work has been announced by work and pensions secretary Peter Hain. -
NHS priority treatment for veterans
Health secretary Alan Johnson and veterans' minister Derek Twigg have announced major improvements to the support available to armed forces veterans who develop health problems as a result of their military service. -
No to 'dumbed down' doctors
The British Medical Association has rejected Professor Sir John Tooke's proposal for a new grade of NHS doctor below that of consultant. -
Our NHS, Our Future summit goes virtual
Presentations from a clinical summit to be held as part of Lord Darzi's Our NHS, Our Future review on 21 and 22 November are to be available live on the virtual world site Second Life. -
Pandemic flu framework unveiled
Health secretary Alan Johnson has announced plans to buy 350 million surgical masks and 34 million respirators for NHS and social care staff to use in the event of a flu pandemic. -
Papworth transplants given green light
The Healthcare Commission said at 1pm today that Papworth Hospital foundation trust could resume heart transplants after the trust agreed to implement additional measures to protect patients. -
QOF does not lead to good diabetes care
The all-party parliamentary group on diabetes has called for a review of the diabetes care indicators in the quality and outcome framework. -
Royal College of GPs elects chair
The Royal College of GPs has elected a Birmingham GP as its chairman. Professor Steve Field is a GP partner, regional postgraduate dean for NHS West Midlands workforce deanery, an honorary professor at the University of Warwick and an honorary professor of medicine at the University of Birmingham. -
TB and hand hygiene feature in CMO's newsletter
The chief medical officer has sent his latest newsletter to all doctors in England. -
WHO meets to discuss influenza preparedness
Member states of the World Health Organisation meet in Geneva today to discuss influenza viruses and access to vaccines.
