Health Service Journal
27 August 2009
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Ian Dalton's swine flu update - NHS must prepare for autumn surge
In his second weekly update for HSJ and Nursing Times, national director for NHS flu resilience Ian Dalton discusses the expected autumn swine flu surge -
Michael White on NHS consultancy costs
Spare a thought for our ex-junior health minister, Ivan Lewis. -
20 August 2009 swine flu update
This week there has been a further reduction in the rates of flu-like illness and related activity. -
Advice concerning organ donation and H1N1
As the incidence of Swine Flu increases in the population, there is a risk that organ donors may be infected, or have infection suspected. In general, organs from potential donors should be offered. The decision to accept and use an organ for transplantation lies with the implanting surgeon with local microbiological advice (in conjunction with informed consent from the recipient). -
Banks 'using PFIs to boost profits'
A study claims the high interest rates being charged for private finance initiative projects are helping banks restore their profits. -
Bonuses for healthy NHS staff attract lukewarm reception
Calls to incorporate managers’ support for employees’ health and wellbeing in bonuses and promotions have received a lukewarm reception from NHS Employers. -
Book Review: Making Sense of Change Management
Leaf through the many approaches to leading change, suggests Nick Mellors -
Calls for local NHS number campaign
A public awareness campaign will not be used to promote the NHS number programme, the Department of Health has said. -
CQC to get tougher on NHS spending
The Care Quality Commission is to step up its focus on ensuring NHS commissioners get value for money ahead of the predicted public spending squeeze. -
CQC's high death-rate hospital list at risk of ‘scaring’ public
Tables naming trusts with high death rates could be misinterpreted by patients and “scare local populations”, patient champions and data specialists have claimed. -
Czar toppled
End Game hears that swine flu czar Ian Dalton encountered dangerous farmyard animals of a different kind last week, becoming the latest high profile dog walker to become the unfortunate victim of a herd of cows. -
David Cameron urged to clarify mental health plans
Conservative leader David Cameron is being urged to set out his position on mental health services, following its omission from a wide-ranging speech on NHS reform last week. -
DH backs oncology centres call
The Department of Health has asked all hospitals with emergency departments in England to establish acute oncology services following a recommendation from the national chemotherapy advisory group. -
Exploring doctors' role in society
It seems to me that for as long as I have been qualified as a doctor (some 21 years) the profession has been struggling with the various facets of its role in the NHS, and its place in society. -
'Explosion' of swine flu cases expected
Governments must prepare for a swift response to the global spread of swine flu as it is expected to speed up in the next few months, the World Health Organisation has said. -
Fast-tracked research to fight swine flu - DH press release
Fourteen projects costing £2.25m have been fast tracked by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on behalf of the Department of Health for urgent national swine flu research. The priority studies will be launched this week and will provide vital clinical and scientific evidence that will inform the Government’s response to the virus in the coming months. -
FIT FOR WORK SERVICE PROGRAMME DIRECTOR - TENDER OPPORTUNITY
Department of Health -
Get under the skin of nursing’s real costs
The Royal College of Nursing’s briefing on payment by results stresses the need to understand individuals’ contribution to costs and quality, says Jennifer Taylor -
Heart attack care target missed
New figures have revealed that a government target to provide follow-up care for heart attack victims has still not been met after seven years. -
Hospital trusts told to set up acute oncology services
The Department of Health has asked all hospitals with emergency departments to establish acute oncology services. -
How to commission for equality and diversity in the NHS
Collecting ethnicity data and engaging with the range of communities will help the NHS address health inequalities and meet its statutory requirements, says Caroline White -
HSJ Offer - Free cinema tickets to see 500 Days Of Summer
Registered users can get free cinema tickets to see the new film 500 Days of Summer. Sign in now to claim your free tickets. Hurry, tickets are limited -
Inflated mileage claims 'cost NHS millions'
The NHS is overpaying millions of pounds in expenses and mileage claims, a software company claims. -
Integrated care: pride of the community
District nurses embody the high quality workforce envisioned by Darzi, but the sector lacks the commitment to attract new nurses to this 150 year old service, says Daloni Carlisle -
Ken Jarrold on sharing the economic pain
Max du Pre, the American industrialist influenced by Robert Greenleaf’s idea of the “servant leader”, said that servant leadership is, among other things, about bearing not inflicting pain. -
Make NHS board meetings public, foundation trusts told
A primary care trust is risking a potential stand-off with two of its foundation trust providers after telling their boards to meet in public. -
Media Watch: sick leave row
The news that some of the health service’s most poorly paid staff get an “overly generous” deal while on sick leave during the recession was the focus of the media spotlight in some quarters this week. -
Military training for NHS managers will win frontline battles
Monitor has invited senior foundation trust managers to attend a leadership programme at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. -
Monitor sends FT directors to Sandhurst
Foundation trust chairs, chief executives and medical directors are being encouraged to attend an army-style leadership course at Sandhurst to help ride out the recession. -
Moosa Patel on strong NHS boards
Woeful shortcomings in the boardroom was one of the reasons for the global recession - but there is no excuse for NHS boards to make the same mistakes -
NHS compensation costs rise to £807m
Figures show there has been a rise in the number of compensation claims for clinical negligence by the NHS. -
NHS IT's local future
The Department of Health has quietly turned away from central control of IT. But what will replace it? And what will happen if there is a change of government? Dave West reports -
NHS manager warned over pornographic emails
A senior blood transfusion specialist who was given a warning for sending pornographic emails to colleagues said he did it to “fit in” with other staff members. -
NHS maternity services 'suffering from lack of board engagement'
Senior midwives and obstetricians are concerned about a lack of board engagement with maternity services, a King’s Fund report said this week. -
NHS muscular dystrophy care 'inadequate'
MPs and peers have accused the NHS of failing people with muscle-wasting disorders such as muscular dystrophy. -
NHS row fails to dent Tory support
Labour has failed to capitalise on the NHS row that has sparked squabbles among the Conservative Party over the summer. -
NHS Scotland hits cancer targets
A larger number of Scotland-based patients than ever before are being treated within two months of cancer diagnosis, it has been revealed. -
NHS Scotland hits waiting time target
Patients in Scotland are waiting less than 12 weeks for an outpatient appointment after being referred by a GP or dentist, research shows. -
NHS sickness study 'should not be used to beat staff'
Unison has rejected a study that suggests the annual sickness levels among NHS staff is having a negative impact on patient care. -
'Organic' reduction in PCTs under Tories
The number of primary care trusts in England could be significantly reduced under Conservative health plans, HSJ has learnt. -
Out of hours care must be reviewed, says Royal College of GPs chair
The use of overseas doctors to cover out of hours and weekend care must be reviewed due to potential safety issues, according to GP leaders. -
Pandemic flu: planning and responding to primary care capacity challenges
New guidance has been published for PCTs on how to deliver primary care services whilst potentially short staffed and how to cope with increased patient demand during the pandemic and the anticipated seasonal flu. -
Patient records: jokes about doctors’ bad handwriting are no longer funny
The Audit Commission has found that 8 per cent of the bills sent by trusts to commissioners last year were for the wrong treatment. -
PCTs urged to review governance guidance
The Appointments Commission has urged primary care trusts to review its new guidance on governance arrangements for provider committees. -
Poor NHS records spark fears over patient safety
The Audit Commission has raised concerns about the state of patient records after routine checks found a large percentage contained unreliable, or no, information. -
Right care, right place, right time
Are you getting the flow of patients out of hospital right? Do you have the right level of care in the community? Find out how to do it at HSJ’s free online masterclass. -
Scotland 'falling behind' England on healthcare
The Scottish Labour Party has attacked the Scottish National Party for “allowing” standards of healthcare to fall behind those in England. -
SEPT are in the process of bidding for the acquisition of another NHS organisation.
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) -
Stephen Eames on dementia strategy
I was startled when our nursing director pointed out that at any one time there could be up to 400 patients with dementia occupying beds in our hospitals. -
Swine flu antiviral guidance issued
Otherwise healthy people who contract the H1N1 “swine flu” virus do not need to be treated with antivirals if their symptoms are uncomplicated, the World Health Organisation has said. -
Swine flu pandemic: PCTs must prepare to pay extra GP costs
Primary care trusts must be prepared to pick up the tab for extra GP services during an escalation of the swine flu pandemic, the Department of Health has warned. -
Swine flu research projects launched
The Department of Health is funding urgent research projects worth £2.3m to inform the response to swine flu. -
Swine Flu: Authorisation of the supply of antivirals
Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, has today written out jointly with the Royal College of GPs and the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee to all GPs to confirm the revised procedure for authorising the supply of antivirals from antiviral collection points. -
The Trust is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified organisations for the provision of both an interactive e-learning programme focussed on supporting families and carers...
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Tories 'back pedalling' on NHS - Unison
Anyone who thinks the Tories are the party of the NHS is “living on another planet”, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis has claimed. -
Tories back private healthcare plans
A poll has revealed that two-thirds of Conservative MPs support tax relief on private health insurance, reigniting controversy over the party’s commitment to the NHS. -
Welsh health board in court over patient suicide
A Welsh health board is set to face charges for breaking patient safety guidelines in the wake of a patient’s suicide in 2004. -
Your Humble Servant on the future of NHS technology
‘Just imagine, you’ll log in to check out the rash in your groin, and “Amazon recommends” will also tell you how other people rated their experience with rashes’
