Health Service Journal
26 January 2012
View all stories from this issue.
-
Salford Royal forecasts shortfall on health visitors target
WORKFORCE: Salford Royal Foundation Trust is forecasting that it will miss its target of recruiting a further 10 health visitors this year, its commissioner has reported. -
A weak private sector is bad news for the NHS
The future for the private hospital sector is not a pretty one, as our exclusive analysis of Laing and Buisson’s authoritative annual market review reveals, and this conclusion prompts two questions. -
A&E target pressure for Princess Alexandra
PERFORMANCE: Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust may miss the 95 per cent standard for dealing with A&E patients this year, a board meeting was warned. -
AMU causes hike in mixed sex breaches at Mid Staffs
PERFORMANCE: Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust overtook Barts last month to become the trust with the most mixed sex breaches after a visit by NHS West Midlands identified a reporting loophole. -
Ashford and St Peter’s passes latest hurdle in Epsom merger plan
STRUCURE: Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has met the criteria needed to move to the next stage in its bid to take over Epsom hospital. -
Barnsley senior staff leading nutrition and hydration week activities
PERFORMANCE: The chief executive, chief nurse and other senior managers and clinicians at Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust are leading activities to promote nutrition and hydration at the hospital, which had been criticised for standards. -
Basildon and Thurrock chief steps down
The chief executive of much-criticised Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust is to step down. -
Brighton slips on mixed sex performance
PERFORMANCE: Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust’s performance on mixed sex breaches worsened last month slipping back on a major improvement during the one before. -
Buckinghamshire reconfiguration consultation begins
STRUCTURE: Consultation has begun on a proposed reconfiguration programme in Buckinghamshire. -
C difficile target exceeded at Princess Alexandra
PERFORMANCE: Two new c dificile cases in November at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust have taken the total so far this year to 18. -
Cambridge's deficit less than expected
FINANCE: Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust was £6.6m in deficit at the end of September - better than its expected £9.6m deficit at that time, the board of governors heard. -
CCG budget allocations delayed until February
The release of the first set of “shadow budgets” for clinical commissioning groups has been put back to February, HSJ has learnt. -
Chief midwife brands Lansley's comments 'below the belt'
The chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives has hit back at the health secretary over claims that clinicians were opposing the government’s health bill because of concerns about pensions. -
Commissioner contract still unsigned at RUH
FINANCE: Royal United Hospital Bath Trust has still not signed a contract with its lead commissioner for 2011-12, less than three months before the end of the financial year. -
Commissioning board 'likely' to enforce standard patient records
The NHS Commissioning Board is “likely” to mandate new a set of standards for clinical and social care records in a push to increase efficiency, HSJ has been told. -
Commissioning by any other name: will 'clinical' become 'world class'?
Linear progress, zig-zagging or going round in circles? Calum Paton asks whether the Health Bill’s ideal of clinical commissioning can really deliver an improved era of healthcare after the years of false starts and rebadging. -
'Concern' at Nottinghamshire Healthcare's 22 serious incidents
PERFORMANCE: There are 22 serious incidents currently under investigation at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust. -
CQC reports only one minor concern at Colchester
PERFORMANCE: A Care Quality Commission report has found one minor concern around essential standards of care at Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust but otherwise given the trust a clean bill of health. -
Cumbrian cause for concern in the North West
Will Andrew Lansley stick with his habit of using Cumbria as poster child for GP commissioning? -
Cuts to commissioning management 'risk quality and savings'
Managers in Partnership has criticised plans to half the number of staff working on key parts of NHS planning and commissioning. -
Dartford falls back on mixed sex breach progress
PERFORMANCE: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust’s performance on mixed sex breaches worsened last month slipping back on a major improvement during the one before. -
Devon hospital trust chair announces departure
WORKFORCE: The chair of Plymouth Hospitals Trust has announced he is stepping down to spend more time on his work as a military strategist. -
'Don't rush through regulation at the expense of innovation'
The PIP breast implant scandal has raised difficult questions for trusts and clinicians about the faith they place in the reliability of medical devices they use. -
Doubts cast over size of topline public health budgets
Warnings have already been sounded that the £2.2bn funding due to be ringfenced for councils to spend on public health will be insufficient for them to achieve better results than primary care trusts. -
Dudley rejects 'one hot meal a day' savings plan
FINANCE: The trust has rejected plans to reduce the number of hot meals provided to patients each day from two to one a day despite the £400,000 savings that could have been made. -
E&N Herts behind financial target
FINANCE: East and North Hertfordshire Trust is behind its target for making a surplus this year. At the end of November it was £1m behind its plan of £3.6m surplus. -
E&N Herts plans to become vascular centre
SERVICES: East and North Hertfordshire Trust is hoping to become a designated centre for complex vascular surgery from this September. -
East Lancs PCT banks an extra £10m with SHA
FINANCE: The primary care trust NHS East Lancashire has increased by £10m the sum it will “lodge” with strategic health authority NHS North West on the basis that it will be returned in 2012-13. -
East Sussex improves on mixed sex performance
PERFORMANCE: East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust’s performance on mixed sex breaches improved last month. -
Efficiency savings drive being 'distracted' by reforms
The government’s controversial NHS reforms are a “distraction” from the £20bn savings and long-term care for the elderly challenges, leading healthcare figures have said. -
Emergency demand rises in SHIP area
PERFORMANCE: Non-elective activity in the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth primary care trust cluster area is rising, against the national trend. -
Emergency demand soars in South Warwickshire
PERFORMANCE: Emergency demand has outstripped capacity at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust. -
Emergency patient transport firm wins £130m contract in Nottinghamshire
COMMERCIAL: Following a 10-month competitive tendering process by East Midlands Procurement and Commissioning Transformation (EMPACT), all non-emergency patient transport in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire is set to be operated by Arriva Passenger Services Ltd from summer 2012. -
Exclusive: police investigating fraud claim at foundation trust
A police investigation has been launched into an allegation of fraud at a foundation trust, HSJ can reveal. -
Exclusive: private acute providers warned over slowing NHS-funded work
The UK’s private acute healthcare industry shrank in 2010 for the first time in at least three decades despite continued growth in its NHS-funded business, according to a new report by analysts Laing and Buisson. -
Fears over hundreds of staff employed without security checks
A Scottish health board has demanded an urgent review after it emerged a private contractor failed to perform necessary checks on employees at a hospital. -
Fine hospitals restricting bowel cancer care, charity says
Hospitals that fail to offer bowel cancer patients a full range of appropriate treatments should be fined, a charity has said. -
Fire service to discuss sharing ambulance stations
Fire authority leaders are to discuss a report suggesting that millions of pounds could be saved if fire stations were shared with the ambulance service. -
Five County Durham CCGs become two
STRUCTURE: There are now two emerging clinical commissioning groups within County Durham PCT, down from five previous groups. -
Five GP groups become one CCG in East Lancs
STRUCTURE: Five GP commissioning groups within NHS East Lancashire Teaching PCT have merged to become one emerging clinical commissioning group. -
Forty-seven complain about healthcare in Suffolk's prisons
PERFORMANCE: Prisoners unable to get their teeth fixed were behind some of the 47 complaints in just two months about prison healthcare in Suffolk. -
GMC moves on 'gagging clauses' in pay-off deals
Trusts and clinicians have been prohibited from writing or signing “gagging clauses” that could prevent whistleblowing. -
Government announces £5.2bn public health spend
The government has announced £5.2bn will be spent on public health next year, and published its first Public Health Outcomes Framework. -
Government orders nursing regulator review
The Nursing and Midwifery Council is to undergo a strategic review due to its failure to deal with a long standing backlog of fitness to practise cases, it has been confirmed. -
GPs approach hospital consultants directly because of 'lack of trust'
PERFORMANCE: A strategic health authority report said there was evidence of a “lack of trust” between GPs and trusts in outer north east London, which meant “some GPs were now approaching trust consultants directly as a result”. -
Greater Manchester reduces underuse of private sector contracts
FINANCE: Primary care trusts in the cluster lost £2.6m through underuse of contracted independent sector providers in the first eight months of this year, compared with £4.5m for the same period in 2010-11, its latest finance report shows. -
Guy's and St Thomas' missing 18wk referral to treatment time targets
PERFORMANCE: Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, which is one of the world’s most prestigious teaching organisations and has a turnover of more than £900m, was among four in the capital that missed the 18 week target, new data shows. -
Health committee: NHS could miss savings target from 'salami slicing'
The NHS has been making “short-term” and “salami slicing” spending cuts and will not make required efficiency savings if the current approach continues, the House of Commons health committee has said. -
Health secretary formally announces NHS property company
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has formally announced details of the government-owned firm that will take over ownership and management of much of the NHS estate. -
High HSMR highlighted by SHA at Dartford and Gravesham
PERFORMANCE: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is one of three NHS organisations in the south reporting higher than expected death rates. -
Hinchingbrooke must make an additional £3m savings
FINANCE: Hinchingbrooke Health Care Trust - which is due to be franchised to private provider Circle next month - is having to look for additional savings after a potential shortfall of more than £3m emerged in its original cost improvement programmes. -
Hospital rejects possibility of Army medic assistance
PERFORMANCE: A West Yorkshire hospital looking into the possibility of using Army medics to restore a 24-hour emergency service has now rejected the idea. -
How CCGs can make savings in their prescription budget
Providing GPs with the right support on prescribing can realistically deliver savings for CCGs in their prescription budgets that could make a significant dent in an annual NHS spend of £8bn a year, says Claire Forde. -
How implementing digital dictation encouraged one trust to review its service provision
One trusts move to digital dictation from an outdated process not only improved efficiencies in that area, but also allowed them to review other services in order to drive new process efficiencies throughout the hospital. Gunther Empl explains. -
How proper procurement can lead to multi-million pound efficiency savings
The NHS needs to re-evaluate its procurement policy if it is to chip away at the £20bn efficiency challenge, says Shaun Howlett. -
How to improve patient satisfaction in maternity services
Daily conversations between managers and new mothers about their care are helping improve patient satisfaction and staff morale. Debby Gould and colleagues at University College London explain. -
How to use clinical supervision to increase the use of evidence-based practice
Clinical supervision affords clinicans and planners the time and application opportunity to engage with research and evidence that can inform professional practice in the day-to-day environment, argue Emily Steventon and colleagues. -
HSJ roundtable: education and training
Training in the NHS costs £5bn a year. Alison Moore reports from a lively HSJ roundtable discussion on the government’s plans to reform it. -
Insurance scheme planned for cosmetic surgery patients
An insurance scheme for patients who undergo cosmetic surgery could soon be introduced, following the recent breast implant scandal. -
Ipswich seeks new chair
STRUCTURE: Ipswich Hospital Trust is looking for a new chairman to replace Mike Brookes who stood down at the end of last year. -
Ipswich's deficit nearly £8m more than planned
FINANCE: Ipswich Hospital Trust was £8.3m in deficit at the end of October, against a planned deficit of £0.6m, board reports show. -
Jobs created as Scottish ambulance dispute resolved
The Scottish Government is to create 150 jobs in the Scottish Ambulance Service following the resolution of a long-running dispute over working hours. -
Key risks posed by NHS commissioning reforms revealed
The NHS Commissioning Board has admitted that “key risks” to its success include the haemorrhaging of senior leaders during the reform transition and a shortage of staff to commission specialist and primary care. -
Lansley defends reforms from 'unfair and out-of-date' report
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has defended his reorganisation of the NHS, describing a highly critical report by MPs as “out of date” and “unfair” to the health service. -
Leeds medic is senior responsible officer for Yorkshire and Humber
WORKFORCE: Phil Ayres, deputy medical director at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, has been appointed senior responsible officer for the revalidation process for Yorkshire and the Humber. -
Less than half of DH staff 'proud' to work there
Fewer than half of Department of Health staff are proud to work there, survey results published today reveal. -
London clusters may have to cover Olympic programme shorfall
FINANCE: London primary care trust clusters may have to cover a 2012 Olympic programme cash shorfall. -
Maidstone and Tunbridge improves on mixed sex performance
PERFORMANCE: Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s performance on mixed sex breaches improved last month. -
Manager kept £150k of health funds in personal bank account
WORKFORCE: A senior NHS finance manager has admitted to wrongly harbouring nearly £150,000 of public money in his own bank account. -
Managers encouraged to blow whistle on colleagues in draft plans to regulate NHS leaders
NHS leaders must blow the whistle on colleagues if necessary, understand the “limitations” of their roles and openly explain budget decisions, under draft standards to regulate the profession. -
Media Watch: January gloom continues as colleges are next to oppose bill
‘Blue Monday’ might have been last week but the downbeat mood has continued for many in the media coverage of the health service. -
Medway FT’s high HSMR one of three highlighted by SHA
PERFORMANCE: Medway NHS Foundation Trust is one of three NHS organisations in the south reporting higher than expected death rates. -
Michael White: will Lansley's Healh Bill survive the 'big push'?
Do you remember the Battle of the Bulge? No, nor do I. It was the last German counter-offensive on the western front in World War II, a thrust through the Ardennes at Christmas 1944 that hoped to push British and American armies back into the Channel. -
Monitor could advise commissioners on reconfiguration to combat financial difficulties
Monitor is considering changes to its regulatory strategy as it believes some foundation trusts may face financial problems so profound they cannot be fixed by the providers alone. -
Monitor licensing could stifle innovation - FTN
Monitor’s plans for safeguarding services from closure risk “stifling” innovation and preventing trusts from complying with CQC requirements, the Foundation Trust Network has warned. -
More CQC inspections risk 'diverting' funds from patient care, MPs to be warned
There is a danger that scarce funds will be diverted from patient care into “more and more inspection” following the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust inquiry, senior figures are set to warn MPs. -
Morecambe Bay recorded £1.2m deficit in first half of 2011-12
FINANCE: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust had a year-to-date deficit of £1.2m at the end of September, £800,000 worse than its expected position to that point in the year, newly published minutes states. -
National team backs Friarage Hospital paediatric inpatient closure
STRUCTURE: North Yorkshire and York PCT; Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group; and South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust are considering proposals to close inpatient paediatric services, and potentially obstetric maternity services, at Friarage Hospital. -
New chief executive for Ridgeway Partnernship
WORKFORCE: Andrew Hall has taken over as chief executive at the Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust, also known as the Ridgeway Partnership. -
Newham University Hospital £2.2m behind finance plan, report says
FINANCE: Newham University Hospital Trust is £2.2m behind its finance plan for 2011-12, an NHS London finance report said. -
NHS Cornwall suffers 'teething problems'
FINANCE: NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly suffered “teething problems” after it transferred its financial processing and ledger operations to NHS Shared Business Service. -
NHS Hounslow deficit 'creating uncertainty'
FINANCE: NHS Hounslow is £2.7m behind on its surplus plan at month eight, an NHS London report has said. -
Non-execs appointed to single BNSSG cluster board
WORKFORCE: The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire primary care trust cluster has appointed non-executive directors to its single board. -
North East revalidation senior responsible officer appointed
WORKFORCE: Bill Cunliffe, consultant surgeon and NHS North East planned care clinical innovation team lead, has been appointed senior responsible officer for the revalidation process in the North East. -
North Yorkshire and York telehealth units underused
COMMERCIAL: An internal audit report found 2,000 telehealth units bought by NHS North Yorkshire and York have been significantly underused. -
Northern Devon performs best on 18 week RTT target
PERFORMANCE: Northern Devon Healthcare Trust was the only trust in the NHS Devon, Plymouth and Torbay primary care trust cluster to meet the 18 week referral to treatment target for all specialties during October. -
Nottinghamshire starts first phase of out of hours procurement
COMMERCIAL: Engagement with the public has begun on the current out of hours (OOH) services provided by Nottingham Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) in the City and South and Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services (CNCS) in the north of the county. -
NQB asks NHS North West London for 'evidence of good practice'
PERFORMANCE: The Department of Health’s National Quality Board is making its assurance visit to NHS London today, with NHS North West London asked for extra information. -
Organ donation target 'will be missed'
The head of a kidney charity has launched an attack on the government over organ donation, saying it will miss a target to boost donor rates by 50 per cent. -
PCT staff letters to omit passage on clarity
Official letters to be sent to primary care trust staff about the future of their jobs this month have undergone a change in wording, with passages discussing an ongoing lack of clarity removed from the text. -
PCTs challenging over £2m of Leicester activity
FINANCE: Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland cluster is challenging or querying over £3m worth of activity at University Hospitals Leicester Trust. -
Pennine Acute’s finances red-rated by SHA
FINANCE: The trust’s financial position at the end of November was given a ‘red’ risk rating in its strategic health authority’s latest finance report. -
Peterborough and Stamford fails to hit waiting time target
PERFORMANCE: A&E waiting times are causing concern at Peterborough and Stamford Hospital Foundation Trust. -
Poole FT no longer in breach
PERFORMANCE: Monitor has confirmed that Poole Hospital Foundation Trust is no longer in significant breach of its authorisation. -
Princess Alexandra's finances deteriorate
FINANCE: Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust was £1.3m in deficit by the end of November, with a sharp deterioration in its spending against target. -
Private patient income continues to fall
The NHS’s real terms income from treating private patients declined in 2010 for the fifth year, according to market analysts Laing and Buisson. -
Private sector competition 'leaves NHS with more costly patients'
Competition between NHS and private providers has seen the NHS left with the more expensive and complex cases, new research has claimed. -
'Reconfiguration may do more harm than good'
History warns us that reconfiguration is not the panacea it’s cracked up to be, says Andy McKeon. -
Risks facing the commissioning board: in its own words
Key details of the NHS Commissioning Board’s design have been revealed in a new document published today. -
Royal Berkshire chief returns from indefinite annual leave
WORKFORCE: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Ed Donald has returned from a period on leave following what is believed to be an attempt by some board members to oust him. -
Sally Gainsbury: just how much will public health have?
So local authorities, it appears, won’t be getting much of a public health fund after all. -
SHA draws attention to high Isle of Wight death rate
PERFORMANCE: The Isle of Wight primary care trust is one of three NHS organisations in the south reporting higher than expected death rates. -
Sharp rise in NHS Bolton overspend on hospital services
FINANCE: NHS Bolton’s overspend on general hospital services rose by more than £2m in December to £3.4m, its latest finance report shows. -
Software saves on NHS Wiltshire prescribing costs
FINANCE: A software package that advises GPs when chepaer alternative drugs are available had saved NHS Wiltshire £708,000 as of the end of October. -
Solid foundations: how to lead successfully in the new foundation landscape
Life after authorisation will present new and unusual challenges for many foundation trust executives. Phil Kenmore and Simon Bird have four tips to help them with their survival - and look toward a successful future. -
Somerset CCG passes assurance visit
STRUCTURE: Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group has been risk rated green following an assurance visit. -
South Warwickshire beats surplus target
FINANCE: South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust reported a surplus of more than double its target amount at the end of 2011. -
South Warwickshire FT concerned over demand management
FINANCE: The chief executive of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has criticised a draft local “system plan” for assuming providers will deliver services for below tariff prices. -
South Warwickshire FT proposes to take over George Eliot
STRUCTURE: South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has proposed taking over neighbouring George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. -
Southampton and Hampshire release contingencies to keep up with QIPP target
FINANCE: Southampton and Hampshire primary care trusts have had to use contingency funding to offset overperformance on acute contracts. -
Southend FT has 'little room for manoeuvre' on finances
FINANCE: A warning that 2012-13 could be a difficult year for PCT and hospital finances was given to Southend University Hospital Foundation Trust’s board. -
Southern Health appoints new chair
WORKFORCE: Governors at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have appointed Simon Waugh as the organisation’s new chair. -
St George's £4.5m deficit at month eight
FINANCE: St George’s Healthcare Trust was predicting a deficit of £5,000 by this point in the financial year but the south London acute trust has overshot by more than £4m. -
St Helens and Knowsley finances red-rated by SHA
FINANCE: The trust’s financial position at the end of November was given a ‘red’ risk rating in its strategic health authority’s latest finance report. -
Surrey and Kent CCGs 'non viable'
STRUCTURE: Two clinical commissioning groups in the South East Coast region have declared themselves non-viable. -
Surrey and Sussex improves on mixed sex performance
PERFORMANCE: Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust’s performance on mixed sex breaches improved slightly last month. -
The curious case of evolution in the West Midlands
It’s evolution, but not as Darwin would know it. -
The rise of the patient leader
Patient leaders have a valuable role to play in tackling the problems facing health and social care at a national and local level, but we need to improve the development of and access to learning opportunities in order to grow this pool of talent properly, says David Gilbert. -
Three Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale emerging CCGs become one
STRUCTURE: Three GP groups within Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT have merged to form a single CCG, NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG. -
Trafford takeover will give Central Manchester FT 22pc market share
STRUCTURE: Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust’s proposed takeover of Trafford Healthcare Trust would give it a market share of more than a fifth of all admissions in Greater Manchester, it has told the NHS’s competition watchdog. -
Trust seeks to save £0.5m by ending staff premium payments
WORKFORCE: Unions have threatened to challenge a south coast acute trust over plans to withdraw staff “recruitment and retention” payments worth around £0.5m a year. -
Two Bolton emerging CCGs become one
STRUCTURE: All GP practices in Bolton are now part of a single emerging clinical commissioning group, Bolton Health Consortium. -
Two London mental health trust bosses announce departure
WORKFORCE: Two of London’s three non-foundation trust mental health organisations have announced the departure of their chief executives. -
Two more hospital trusts placed in significant breach by Monitor
Two more foundations trusts have been placed in significant breach of their terms of authorisation, taking the total to 15 of the 78 acute trusts regulated by Monitor. -
Unions to hold reform summit with royal colleges
Health unions and royal colleges will hold a summit tonight to discuss the government’s controversial reforms of the NHS. -
West Herts must improve operational efficiency
FINANCE: West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust will need to improve operational efficiency if it is to have the money to support strategic change, the board heard. -
Western Sussex Hospitals appoints chair
WORKFORCE: Mike Viggers has been appointed chair of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. -
Why it's vital to improve patient access to information
In an age of instant access to news and data, on the go and 24 hours a day, patient access to healthcare information and decisions remains unreliable and poorly connected. An independent council in Northern Ireland is trying to change this, as Maeve Hully explains.
