Health Service Journal
3 May 2012

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Analysed: the viability of acute services in the Thames Valley area

HSJ Local Briefing is our new in-depth analysis of the key issues facing the NHS’s major health economies. This week: the long term viability of acute services in the Thames Valley area.
Bristol board approves new cancer centre

STRUCTURE: The board of University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust have approved plans for a £16m expansion of the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre.
CCG eyes joint commissioning with local council

STRUCTURE: GPs in part of the South West are exploring opportunities for integrated commissioning with their local council.
CCGs to manage and reward GP performance

GP practices look set to be handed an extensive role in performance managing each other – including through the award of bonuses – under proposals being drawn up by the NHS Commissioning Board.
Civil service pensions provider becomes first Whitehall mutual

The first mutualised company to be spun off from Whitehall will be launched today, with former Labour cabinet minister John Hutton its chairman.
Commissioning Board guidance to resolve CCG boundary disputes

Guidance from the NHS Commissioning Board has set out new principles for “firming up” clinical commissioning group boundaries, and an elaborate formula for resolving disputed areas.
Concerns over staffing plans as Unite strike looms

NHS Employers has criticised Unite for not providing reliable information to providers ahead of its planned strike action on 10 May.
Cornwall ordered to pay £70,000 CHC costs

FINANCE: NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly has been found liable for almost £70,000 of Continuing Healthcare Funding for care of a patient dating back to 2006.
Devon cluster meets 6 week target

PERFORMANCE: The Devon, Plymouth and Torbay cluster met the six week target for diagnostic tests for the first time in 2011-12 during February.
DH reveals swift year-of-care tariff plans

The Department of Health has revealed details of its plans to “quickly but carefully” introduce year-of-care tariffs in a bid to cut hospital admissions and encourage community based treatment.
Don't be daunted by the duty of candour

Although the duty of candour aims to ensure events surrounding patient harm are discussed openly, compliance need not be daunting, says Peter Walsh.
East Kent maternity shake-up goes ahead

STUCTURE: Maternity services in east Kent are to be reconfigured, with two units to close to births, it has been announced.
Embrace Dilnot funding plans, party leaders urged

The Local Government Authority has launched a bid to forge a cross-party consensus around implementing the findings of the Dilnot Commission into funding social care.
Exclusive: Circle deal means Hinchingbrooke needs over £70m to clear debts

The deal struck between Hinchingbrooke Health Care Trust and its private sector operator means the trust needs surpluses of at least £70m over the next decade to pay off its £40m debts.
Exclusive: NHS Commissioning Board to redesign local structure

The NHS Commissioning Board is planning to redesigning its structure of local offices, and is considering having fewer branches than the 50 which had previously been expected.
Ex-social services director becomes new James Paget chair

The former director of social services at Norfolk County Council has been appointed chair of the James Paget University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Eye surgery error at Sandwell

PERFORMANCE: A patient had the wrong lens fitted during eye surgery at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
First ever fine handed to NHS for data breach

A Welsh health board has become the first NHS organisation to be fined following a serious breach of the Data Protection Act.
Franchise deal could deter NHS bidder from hospital partnership

An NHS contender to partner with George Eliot Hospital Trust has said it may have to withdraw its bid, following signals that the trust might opt for a Hinchingbrooke-style franchise deal.
Harmoni wins Suffolk 111 contract

COMMERCIAL: Harmoni has been named as preferred bidder for the NHS 111 service in Suffolk.
Health charities can help rescue the innovation drive

The challenging QIPP targets NHS is aiming to achieve can be helped by the voluntary sector, argues Marie Curie Cancer Care chief executive Thomas Hughes-hallet.
Hospitals 'failing to deliver' appropriate end-of-life care to dementia patients

RESEARCH: Many patients with dementia who die in hospital still fail to receive sufficiently structured end of life care, a study in the North West has suggested.
How to collaborate on joint strategic needs assessments

Wakefield District have pioneered a new collaborative model for building an enhanced Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. Liz Blenkinsop explains.
How to identify - and manage - conflicts of interest

Identifying, disclosing and managing conflicts of interest will help prevent the risk of issues coming back to haunt you, advise Jonathan Hayden and Ben Troke.
Improved complaints response at Northampton General

PERFORMANCE: Northampton General Hospital Trust has improved its response to complaints from patients, according to a new report.
Innovation through technology - an HSJ supplement

The efficiency challenge means NHS organisations are having to find new ways of working. One area ripe for innovation is technology, and this valuable HSJ supplement looks at how trusts can utilise innovation in technology to full effect.
Institute of Mental Health opens new £7m centre

RESEARCH: The Institute of Mental Health is to officially open its new £7m building in Nottingham on Friday, 25 May 2012.
Ipswich's chief executive heads for SHA cluster

WORKFORCE: Ipswich Hospital Trust’s chief executive has announced his departure.
Just 35 CCGs to be tested in first wave of authorisation

The 35 emerging clinical commissioning groups which will be the first to go through the authorisation process have been announced by the NHS Commissioning Board.
Learn from New Zealand on IT spend, NHS told

The NHS has been urged to learn from New Zealand when it comes to using IT in healthcare innovation.
Lowest ever infection rate at Leicester Hospitals

PERFORMANCE: University Hospital of Leicester Trust has recorded its lowest ever number of healthcare associated infections.
Mapping variation to prioritise areas needing improved outcome, quality and productivity

An “atlas” of unwarranted variation in healthcare for children is informing commissioners and empowering parents, writes Ronny Cheung.
Media Watch: 'carb up' to cope with surgery trauma, advises Keogh

The traditional “nil-by-mouth” approach to preparing patients for surgery may be on the way out, with NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh among those suggesting patients may fare better if they “eat and drink like marathon runners” before going under the knife, reported the Times.
Mental health unit commended for design

STRUCTURE: Lincolnshire Partnership FT’s new mental health rehabilitation centre has been “highly commended” in regional awards for design.
Michael White: power is there to be taken by the bold

The term “assumed liberty” has been rattling around in my head since HSJ highlighted it in reporting Andrew Lansley’s latest explanatory letter to NHS Commissioning Board chair and university apparatchik Malcolm Grant, and his handsomely unfashionable moustache.
Mid Staffs appoints new finance lead

WORKFORCE: Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a new finance director to try and help bring the trust’s finances under control.
Morecambe Bay to cut up to 230 posts in savings drive

WORKFORCE: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust has begun a staff consultation on plans to cut its workforce by up to 230 whole time equivalents in a drive to make savings of £30m by the end of 2013-14.
Mortality rate indicator reveals seven acute trust outliers

Seven acute trusts have emerged as consistent outliers against the controversial mortality rate measure, with significantly more patient deaths than expected, analysis of the latest data reveals.
New day surgery unit at Lincoln County Hospital

STRUCTURE: Lincoln County Hospital expects to double the amount of day surgery it handles with the launch of a new unit.
New patient body praised in Staffordshire

STRUCTURE: A Midlands county council has been praised for creating an independent body to bring together patient advocacy and health service information into a single body.
NHS Wandsworth tenders weight management services

COMMERCIAL: The south west London primary care trust is advertising for a partner to provide weight managment services in schools and to adults.
NICE guidance on cost-saving drug not sought by DH

The Department of Health failed to act on expert advice to commission an appraisal of a drug which could lead to savings of £100m for the NHS, it has emerged.
Noel Plumridge: the reinvestment riddle

Responses to Andrew Lansley’s speech last week, in which he suggested age is the “principal determinant of health need” and that clinical commissioning group funds should flow accordingly, have been predictable. Predictable and largely inconsequential.
Nutrition champions 'tackling patient malnutrition'

RESEARCH: Nutrition link nurses are being used in Yorkshire to help introduce guidelines at ward level to tackle malnutrition among patients.
One in 20 GP prescriptions contains an error

Around one in 20 prescriptions written by family doctors contains an error, according to a newly published study.
PCT public health staff move to council offices

WORKFORCE: NHS Surrey staff have moved to Surrey County Council a year before the authority officially takes responsibility for public health.
PCTs failing to implement continence guidance

Primary care trusts are neglecting to assess need and implement national guidance when it comes to continence services, according to a national audit.
Pearson to head Health Education England

NHS Confederation chair Sir Keith Pearson is to head up the new body being set up to oversee the education of health professionals, it has been announced.
Princess Alexandra Hospital seeks help on length of stay

COMMERCIAL: The Essex district general hospital has tendered for consultants to improve its performance on length of stay.
Private hospital operators begin merger talks

The private King Edward VII’s Hospital in London is considering merging with independent healthcare provider Nuffield Health, it was announced today.
Private sector avoiding 'shambolic' NHS 111 procurement

Concerns about the “rushed” and “shambolic” procurement process for the 111 non-emergency phone service are deterring private sector providers, HSJ has learned.
Project to tailor dementia care launched by Western Sussex

PERFORMANCE: Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has launched a project intended to improve care for dementia patients.
Public health transition chief wins new job in Wales

The woman leading public health’s transition from the health service to local government is quitting the English NHS after securing a major new job in Wales.
Quarter of Lincoln patients breach A&E target

PERFORMANCE: More than 1,400 patients had to wait longer than four hours in A&E at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust in March.
Readers' letters – 3 May 2012

Why revalidation should inform doctors’ professional development, and NHS 111 rollout fears
Reducing emergency admissions in children and young people

Dr Ronny Cheung goes through the full list of indicators for child health, plus a case study on children’s epilepsy admissions in children.
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt trust beats CIP plan

FINANCE: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust beat its cost improvement plan for 2011-12 after receiving more income than expected.
Royal Cornwall pursues AQP opportunity

COMMERCIAL: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust plans to make a submission to become a qualified provider of imaging services in Cornwall when the primary care trust opens them up under the any qualified provider policy.
Sheffield FT plans £6.7m surplus for 2012-13

FINANCE: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is planning for a £6.7m surplus in 2012-13.
Sherwood FT extends pathology hours

STRUCTURE: Sherwood Hospitals FT has extended out-of-hours working at its pathology service in a bid to speed up diagnoses and treatment for patients.
Shrewsbury and Telford reduces delayed transfers

PERFORMANCE: Delayed transfers of care are falling at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.
Shrewsbury trust beats breakeven target

FINANCE: Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust recorded a £58,000 surplus in 2011-12, just beating its breakeven target for the year.
Sir John Oldham will not take up a role on NHS Commissioning Board

The GP lead on the quality, innovation, productivity and prevention programme has announced he will not be seeking a position on the NHS Commissioning Board.
Social care bill delay sparks backlash

Health and social care organisations have warned the government not to kick the issue of social care funding “into the long grass”, following the absence of a full bill on the issue from today’s Queen’s Speech.
Special clinic to give cancer results gains national recognition

PERFORMANCE: A special “results clinic” at Kettering General Hospital has been hailed as example of national good practice in how to look after people when they first learn they have cancer.
Specialist discharge sister for end-of-life patients 'a success'

RESEARCH: A scheme piloting the introduction of an end-of-life discharge sister has proved successful for “many patients”, according to UK researchers.
Steve Shrubb leaving NHS Confederation to lead trust

Steve Shrubb is leaving his role as director of the NHS Confederation’s mental health network to take on “one of the biggest mental health jobs in the country”.
Stroke recovery care 'failing' patients

A lack of post-hospital care means stroke survivors are not making the best recovery possible, according to a new report.
Sue Slipman: there must be a line between management and regulation

The trouble with troubleshooters supporting foundation trusts is that they could end up imposing direct management on the organisation, writes Sue Slipman.
Surplus for Black Country PCTs

FINANCE: The Black Country Cluster of PCTs looks set to report a year-end surplus of £22.3m.
Sussex faces increasing depression and budget pressures

FINANCE: Sussex is facing a worse hike in depression than other parts of the country, according to latest figures, at a time when Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust is also under pressure to make significant savings.
Sussex Partnership lauds research programme

RESEARCH: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has highlighted that results of its research studies are fed straight back into local services.
TCS procurement could trouble Torbay's FT ambitions

STRUCTURE: The primary care trust cluster responsible for commissioning services from Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care Trust has warned there is a “likely” and “severe” risk the organisation could struggle to achieve foundation trust status.
Temporary staff use down as trusts cut £300m from staffing spend

Financial pressures in the NHS have led to a reduction in the use of temporary staff and a sharp drop in spending on consultancy, new data shows.
Terence Stephenson appointed Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chair

Terence Stephenson has been appointed the chair elect of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
The fairness debate will put health back on the front pages

An unlikely combination of Rupert Murdoch, Cornish pasties, duff advice on fuel storage, double dip recessions and queues at airport immigration desks has conspired to push health further down the news bulletins over the past month.
'The reforms could be the coalition's poll tax'

We will know by 2015 whether the public’s NHS experiences mean Andrew Lansley has pulled off this massive gamble, says Ipsos MORI’s chief executive Ben Page.
Three million awarded to Sheffield Hospitals for research

RESEARCH: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to receive £3.1m for research from the Department of Health.
Three non-execs resign in protest at chair's appointment

WORKFORCE: Three non-executive directors at Plymouth Hospitals Trust have resigned and clinicians are threatening to write to the health secretary in protest at the appointment of a chair with no NHS experience.
Tighten GP practice rules to counter 'health tourism', group urges

GPs have too much freedom to register ill foreigners who may not be entitled to expensive British healthcare, campaigners have said.
Trust in merger negotiations secures bail out funding

FINANCE: Talks are under way regarding a potential merger for Heatherwood and Wexham Park Foundation Trust, which has also secured bail-out funding for 2012-13.
Trusts reveal further delays to the FT pipeline

Four more trusts have confirmed delays in their dates for submitting applications to become foundation trusts, HSJ has discovered.
Unemployment is bad for your health - now and in the future

Public health work at one primary care trust has shown how unemployment could have massive impact on a generation’s life expectancy, and why it’s important they get back to work. John Middleton reports.
Unison members split on NHS pensions

A ballot of Unison members on the government’s NHS pension reform plan has failed to deliver a clear verdict, the union has announced.
University Hospitals Bristol ahead of plan on surplus

FINANCE: University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust achieved a surplus almost 50 per cent ahead of plan for 2011-12.
University Hospitals Bristol maternity services at risk

WORKFORCE: University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust has warned there is a high risk low staffing levels in maternity could increase the risk of harm to mothers and babies.
Value-based pricing 'will not improve' cancer drug access

Government proposals to introduce a value-based pricing system for new drugs will not significantly improve patient access to treatments, experts have warned.
Waiting list target missed at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt FT

PERFORMANCE: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust is well behind its waiting list targets.
Warning of 'deep unease' about safeguarding fragmentation

Safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable children could become “more confusing, fragmented and possibly riskier” under government reforms, the NHS Confederation has warned.
Warwickshire nurses create 'diabetes listener' service

RESEARCH: A new service has been started by nurses in the West Midlands for diabetes patients with mental health problems associated with their condition.
Why collaboration is the new tool of effective peer leadership

The end of job security for senior NHS staff is giving rise to a new era in which the “peer leader” collaborates to tackle tough problems. Robin Douglas and Jane Keep explain.
Why research and development is a key component of trust outcomes

An ambitious research and development programme could prove invaluable when it comes to improving commissioning and health outcomes in your trust, says Angela Knight Jackson.
Will clinical leadership be the panacea for all health service woes?

Be careful what you wish for, warns Dr Shikha Pitalia, as clinicians are burdened with expectation that their new decision making powers can right all the wrongs in the NHS.
Working time directive comes under attack

Patients’ lives are at risk because of European limits on junior doctors’ hours, MPs have said.
Yeovil stroke patients in Nintendo Wii trial

RESEARCH: Stroke patients at Yeovil District Hospital Foundation Trust are taking part in two trials aimed at improving recovery.

Alastair McLellan

Health Service Journal3 May 2012

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Health Service Journal
3 May 2012