Health Service Journal
28 July 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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Acutes target community assets worth almost £3bn
Acute trusts – many of them financially troubled – are set to inherit community service assets worth £2.7bn, creating the possibility property will be offloaded to hit short term savings targets, HSJ can reveal. -
Application of liberty safeguards 'inconsistent'
Legislation designed to safeguard people deemed incapable of making decisions is being applied inconsistently across England, figures suggest. -
At least half of University Hospitals of Leicester services make a loss
FINANCE: University Hospitals of Leicester Trust makes a loss on at least half of its services and the remainder do not make enough to cover the losses, an analysis has shown. -
Avon and Wiltshire experiments with new forms of independence
STRUCTURE: Swindon and Wiltshire’s improving access to psychological therapies service (IAPT) is looking to become more independent from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust. -
Cancer tsar calls for radiotherapy investment
Investment is needed in new radiotherapy technology but both commissioners and the public need to be convinced of the benefits, according to the cancer tsar. -
CCP calls in London mega-merger for scrutiny
The Co-operation and Competition Panel today called in the merger of Barts and the London, Whipps Cross and Newham hospitals for further scrutiny. -
CCP review of Basingstoke merger delayed
The Co-pperation and Competition Panel have extended the first phase of their review of Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust’s planned takeover of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare. -
Chesterfield Royal expands opthalmology services
FINANCE: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust is planning to attract business for opthalmology services from neighbouring hospitals. -
Choice plans are 'enforced competition', say GPs
The government’s plans to extend choice in the NHS amount to “enforced competition”, GPs have said, as they call for clarity on changes to the Health Bill. -
City Hospital pulled up for minor concerns on nutrition
PERFORMANCE: The Care Quality Commission found the trust was meeting standards relating to dignity and nutrition, but with minor concerns on nutrition, during a spot check as part of a wider investigation into how older patients are treated. -
Commissioners 'excessively constraining' patient choice
Commissioners are restricting patient choice and choking competition in routine elective care, the Cooperation and Competition Panel has found. -
Concern over 'red risk' providers in East of England
A performance report from NHS East of England this month showed a mixed picture. While referrals are down in the region, activity for both elective and non-elective procedures is nearly 2 per cent higher than last year. -
CQC revisit Great Western Hospitals FT
PERFORMANCE: Great Western Hospitals Foundation Trust received an unannounced visit from Care Quality Commission inspectors at the beginning of July. -
Croydon could be next for London 111 pilot
STRUCTURE: The primary care trust, part of the the south west London cluster, has submitted a business plan to pilot the 111 non-emergecy number in London. -
Cynthia Bower interview: replacing the 'light touch' with a firm grip
Amid heavy political pressure, the Care Quality Commission is preparing to replace its “light touch” style with annual inspections of every provider. So is its chief executive ready to do battle? Cynthia Bower talks to HSJ’s Charlotte Santry. -
Decisions on the organisational form of seven London trusts due in September
STRUCTURE: Seven London acute trusts are due to have decisions made about their future organisational form in September, an NHS London planning document says. -
Delivering effective care: five elements that define a better service
Interviews with service users, carers and health professionals have identified the five elements that define effective care. Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe and colleagues report. -
Derby picks Morrisons in estate sell-off
COMMERCIAL: Derby Hospitals Foundation Trust has selected Morrisons to develop the first phase of a new mixed use scheme planned for the old Derbyshire Royal Infirmary site. -
Devon acutes struggle with some new A&E indicators
PERFORMANCE. Data on acute trusts’ performance against the new A&E indicators published by NHS Devon has revealed a slight underperformance against two of the measures. -
Dispute over Leeds children's heart surgery
PERFORMANCE: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has rejected a charity’s criticism of standards of its children’s heart surgery, as the Care Quality Commission says it will look at the concerns. -
District general hospital selects FT as takeover partner
STRUCTURE: Trafford Healthcare Trust, with a turnover of £96m, has selected a takeover partner from bids submitted by two nearby foundation trusts. -
Durham and Darlington have highest summary care record takeup
PERFORMANCE: County Durham and Darlington PCTs have the best uptake of the summary care record nationally, according to a PCT report. -
Easton warns some QIPP schemes are just 'red-lining' budget cuts
The man responsible for driving the NHS’s £20bn quality, innovation, productivity and prevention savings plan today warned that some schemes being pursued under its banner had “no semblance of quality in them at all”. -
Equality initiative thwarted by 'continued discrimination'
The NHS is denying opportunities to non-white managers despite the millions of pounds that have been spent as part of a programme to tackle under-representation in senior posts, according to the scheme’s lead and members. -
'Failure to compete' risk at Northants FT
FINANCE: Northampton Healthcare FT faces a “significant risk” of failing to compete to provide services, according to board papers. -
Foundations reap income from transferred services
Foundation trusts have taken on community services with an annual income value estimated at £2.4bn for 2011-12, Monitor figures released to HSJ reveal. -
Future of health service 'under threat' from reform - Boyle
The government’s former heart tsar has again warned that the “best public service in the world” faces an “horrific” threat in the shape of the NHS reforms. -
Getting clinicians to speak up is the real key to fighting poor care
To the list of life’s certainties, Benjamin Franklin might have added the change from strong to light-touch public sector regulation and back again. -
Getting public sector managers working together
A new course in Sheffield has been helping public sector managers to work together for the benefit of the region. -
Gloucestershire Hospitals FT reports on risks to savings plans
FINANCE: Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust is reporting a high risk it will not achieve its £20m savings plan and has yet to fully identify almost a third of the target. -
Government will act as guarantor on PFI
The government will continue to act as a guarantor for private finance initiative schemes, the health secretary has announced. -
GPs back specialist nursing post after pressure from charity
WORKFORCE: A specialist Parkinson’s nurse has been secured for West Sussex after an emerging clinical commissioning group previously advised a primary care trust to put recruitment to the post “on hold”. -
Harrogate FT NEDs freeze their pay
WORKFORCE: The chair and other non-executive directors at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have recommended their remuneration is frozen for the second year running, after comparing with other trusts. -
Health minister calls for pause to 'reckless' reconfiguration of his local trust
Health minister Paul Burstow has said services could be put “at risk” by a hospital merger proposed near his constituency on the Surrey and London border. -
Heart check target surpassed
The target for heart check-ups in Scotland last year was smashed as the NHS screened 75 per cent more people than expected. -
Hepatitis B fears at hospital delay surgery
Non-urgent cardiac surgery at a hospital in Swansea has been postponed after it was revealed that patients who were operated on earlier in the year may have been exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. -
How healthcare providers in America can teach lessons on quality improvement
Despite markedly different systems, some healthcare providers in the US have successfully combined quality improvements with savings to the bottom line. Health Foundation quality improvement fellows Judith Strobl and Tricia Woodhead report from across the pond. -
How resilience training can help staff and managers deal with workplace challenges
Being resilient during difficult situations and events is part of everyday life, but when circumstances begin to overwhelm professional judgement, the right coaching can help individuals manage tough changes. Careers coach Carole Pemberton explains. -
How to get best value from pathology providers
Reform, the economic squeeze and new models are changing the way pathology is delivered. Mark Crichard looks at how trusts can get the best value from their providers. -
Integration to reduce trips 'up the garden path' in Cornwall
STRUCTURE: The first of nine integrated health and social care hubs planned for Cornwall will begin operating next month as part of a four-way partnership between NHS organisations and Cornwall Council. -
Isle of Wight plans single provider body
STRUCTURE: Proposals have been set out for a single provider organisation for the Isle of Wight, covering acute, community, mental health, ambulance and prison healthcare services. -
Issues raised by DH and SHA over Cambridgeshire and Peterborough cluster
STRUCTURE: The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough primary care cluster has been criticised for a lack of “true collaborative working”. -
Kent aims to recruit 218 more health visitors over next five years
WORKFORCE: As part of a nationwide campaign, the NHS in Kent has launched a major recruitment drive to find 218 new health visitors over the next five years. -
Lansley's delay to reconfiguration 'risks patient safety'
A London acute trust chair has said “specious” delays to a reconfiguration have increased risks to patient safety. -
Leeds and Bradford and Airedale form late PCT cluster
STRUCTURE: Leeds PCT and Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, which had been due to remain separate organisations, will now merge into a single cluster. -
Leeds Partnerships FT seeks new name
STRUCTURE: Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a new name after taking on community services. -
Lewisham Healthcare and London Ambulance Service told to prove patient safety assurances as they work toward FT status
WORKFORCE: London Ambulance Service and Lewisham Healthcare Trust have been asked to provide more information on workforce issues by NHS London. -
Liberating innovation in the NHS: award winning ideas, six months on
Last year’s Liberating Ideas Award winners have been working hard on their innovative projects. Emma Dent catches up on their progress and aspirations. -
Liver transplant patients could hit 4,000 by 2020
More than 4,000 people in England may need a liver transplant by 2020 because of hepatitis C, experts have warned. -
London Ambulance Service to submit its foundation trust application in September
STRUCTURE: The capital’s ambulance service plans to apply to NHS London to become a foundation trust in September, according to internal SHA documents. -
Manager impact on clinical outcomes to be measured
The NHS Confederation and the King’s Fund are developing indicators to measure the difference managers make to clinical outcomes, amid growing criticism of health secretary Andrew Lansley’s demand for cuts in health service “administration”. -
Marked change in pathology provision expected
The way pathology services are commissioned by NHS organisations is likely to change significantly in the current climate, according to a report on HSJ.co.uk. -
Maternity units 'struggling' with rising birth rates
Rising birth rates are causing maternity units to struggle with the demand, according to a new report. -
Media Watch: AQP rears its head to revive the privatisation debate
“The day they signalled the death warrant for the health service” chimed the headline on a piece by Max Pemberton, a member of the burgeoning doctors-who-are-also-journalists club, in the the Daily Telegraph this week. -
Mental health patient suicides halve in volume
Suicide among NHS inpatients in England with mental health problems has more than halved in 11 years, figures show. -
Michael White: see you later, innovator
Oh dear. The British Medical Association is promising health ministers a long hot summer over the Health Bill, instead of a few calm weeks for leisurely reflection; this is in the misplaced hope that the medics can force its withdrawal before the bill goes to the obstreperous Lords. -
Ministers call for overhaul on European doctor regulation
A group of MPs has renewed calls for the government and medical regulators to speed up efforts to resolve potential problems posed by doctors and nurses who qualify elsewhere in Europe and earn the right to work in the UK without having their language or medical skills tested. -
New chair at Rotherham Foundation Trust
WORKFORCE: A new chair has been appointed to The Rotherham Foundation Trust. -
New DH structure revealed
The Department of Health is to be slimmed down from 14 directorates in a restructure that will see the scrapping of its workforce and research and development directorates, and seven others, HSJ can reveal. -
NHS Direct launches 90-day consultation
NHS Direct has launched a 90-day consultation with frontline staff on increasing out of hours working. -
NHS managers to pay hundreds more a year towards pensions
NHS managers will have to pay hundreds of pounds more towards their pensions from next year under government figures revealed today. -
NHS to raise funds selling off excess land
NHS managers are being asked to raise funds for the health service by identifying surplus land that could be sold, the government announced today. -
Noel Plumridge: the price of reputation
How would you feel about a health insurer that took your premium payments and then turned down your claim, not on the basis of an alleged pre-existing condition, or something in the contractual small print, but simply because it considered your illness a low priority? -
Northwick Park passes CQC check with minor concerns
PERFORMANCE: The Care Quality Commission found the trust was meeting standards relating to dignity and nutrition, but with minor concerns in both, during a spot check as part of a wider investigation into how older patients are treated. -
Nutrition concerns at University Hospitals Bristol
PERFORMANCE: The Care Quality Commission has raised moderate concerns about nutritional standards at the University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust. -
Optimum value: transforming healthcare delivery from volume driven to value driven
The way healthcare is currently delivered is financially unsustainable, and a shift in strategy from achieving optimum volume to achieving optimum return is required for healthcare organisations to be truly successful, according to Andrew Lentin and colleagues from consultancy Kurt Salmon. -
Outer north east London submits proposal to pilot 111 scheme
STRUCTURE: The primary care trust cluster, which consists of Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering PCTs, has submitted a business plan to pilot the 111 non-emergency number in London. -
'Outstanding issues' in Peterborough and Stamford FT's contract
FINANCE: Peterborough and Stamford Foundation Trust still has issues around payment by results to work out in its contract with the local primary care trust for the current financial year. -
Oxford Radcliffe consults on GP paediatric advice service
STRUCTURE: Paediatricians at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust have consulted with GPs on proposals for an advice service for them. -
Oxford Radcliffe productivity CIP savings at risk
FINANCE: Half of Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals’ workforce productivity savings for 2011-12 have been given a red risk rating. -
Pennine Acute categorised as “high risk plus” in NHS North West foundation trust pipeline report
STRUCTURE: The trust is one of four categorised as “high risk plus” in NHS North West’s latest update on the progress towards foundation trust status of the non-FTs in its patch. -
Pension contributions increase angers unions
The government’s controversial plans to reform public sector pensions have been attacked by a senior union leader, warning that talks aimed at averting strikes were now in “jeopardy”. -
Perfect placement: getting patients out of hospital and onto their preferred pathway
The biggest problem facing West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust is giving patients who no longer requiring hospital treatment the support and care they do need in the next stage of their pathway efficiently and cost effectively. Chief executive Jan Filochowski looks at the issue. -
Poor reporting on quality 'letting down' NHS - Sir Bruce
Dozens of hospitals, most of them run by the independent sector, have been criticised by the NHS medical director after failing to report information against a key quality priority. -
Princess Alexandra savings shouldn't lead to 'slashing' workforce - DH
FINANCE: The Department of Health has warned that workforce numbers should not be “slashed” and quality should not be compromised due to the scale of Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust’s savings plan. -
Private hospital spend varies widely, study shows
Significant variations exist in the proportion of work primary care trusts commission from independent sector providers, a study shared with HSJ reveals. -
Public sector pension plans condemned by Lansley
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has privately attacked the government’s public sector pension shake-up, it was revealed today. -
Reconfiguration pressures mounting in London
A report is sat on Andrew Lansley’s desk offering recommendations about the future of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield. -
Reform transition cost now £1.49bn, according to DH figure
A new figure from the Department of Health estimates the cost of its reform “transition programme” at £1.49bn. -
Royal Free to submit its foundation trust application in August
STRUCTURE: A document produced by NHS London rating its monthly progress against different organisational milestones said the north London acute planned to apply to the strategic health authority in August. -
Royal Liverpool could become foundation trust by 1 November
STRUCTURE: Foundation trust regulator Monitor was due to begin assessment of Royal Liverpool’s FT application at the end of June, NHS North West board papers show. -
Sandwell General Hospital fails CQC spot checks
PERFORMANCE: The Care Quality Commission found the trust was not meeting standards relating to dignity and nutrition during a spot check as part of a wider investigation into how older patients are treated. -
Savings plans' impact on quality worries managers
More than half of senior NHS managers fear savings plans will have a negative impact on quality, an HSJ survey has found. -
SHA backs formal arbitration on Suffolk mental health contract
NHS East of England has “endorsed” the move to formal arbitration for Suffolk Mental Health Trust’s contract dispute with NHS Suffolk over a talking therapies service. -
'Significant clinical risk' at St George's after doctors' letters are left unsent
PERFORMANCE: A report to the board said a serious incident investigation had been started after 5,000 letters went unprocessed. -
Solent misses surplus target as out of hours service struggles
FINANCE: Solent NHS Trust broke even over the first two months of 2011-12 but has not met its surplus target after overspending on its out of hours service. -
South East London cluster promises 'robust list validation' process for GP practices
PERFORMANCE: A report to the cluster’s board said the list validation would include “a one-off programme and an ongoing rolling programme”. -
South London A&E performance running at winter peak levels in May and June
PERFORMANCE: The south east London cluster reported A&E performance as “extremely poor” at all of its main providers except Lewisham Hospital. -
St Helens and Knowsley due to submit foundation trust pipeline agreement by end of July
STRUCTURE: The trust has agreed to submit a formal document detailing how it will reach foundation trust status to the Department of Health by the end of July. -
Suffolk community services to be more independent
STRUCTURE: Suffolk Community Healthcare will “revise” its governance arrangements after a review found it needed to be more separate from the primary care trust. -
Sussex aims to recruit 150 extra health visitors
WORKFORCE: As part of the national health visitor strategy, the NHS in Sussex has launched a recruitment drive for new health visitors. -
Talks commence on Sandwell and West Birmingham's new hospital
FINANCE: Talks between the Treasury and Department of Health have commenced on a proposed new hospital, to be built with £370m of private finance initiative funds. -
Tees, Esk and Wear MH buys £4.3m data system
COMMERCIAL: Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation Trust has awarded a £4.3m contract to Advanced Business Solutions to provide an “Integrated Information Centre”, including data warehousing and business intelligence analytics. -
The conditions that boost the independent sector
Since it’s inception in 1948, the NHS has enjoyed a virtual monopoly on healthcare provision in the UK, writes BDO adviser Rupert Dunbar-Rees. -
Trust cleared by judge to stop patient's life support
The High Court has given a health trust permission to lawfully withdraw life-sustaining treatment from a woman in a permanent vegetative state. -
Video conferencing technology improves access in South West
COMMERCIAL: Clinicians at Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital can now assess a baby’s heartbeat from more than 170 miles away after the trust installed video conferencing equipment by Radvision. -
Weston and Bristol acutes to merge pathology services
STRUCTURE: Three south west acute trusts are working together to develop a hub and spoke system for their pathology services. -
Wye Valley C difficile allowance increased after outbreak
PERFORMANCE: Wye Valley Trust has had its C difficile trajectory for 2011-12 increased from 21 to 38 cases for following an outbreak. -
Wye Valley warns it could run out of cash
FINANCE: Wye Valley Trust could run out of cash this August if its revenue performance does not improve. -
York FT acquisition of Scarborough 'could be complete by April 2012'
STRUCTURE: York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust may complete an acquisition of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Trust by April 2012, it has suggested.
