Health Service Journal
31 March 2011

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New finance director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw

WORKFORCE: David Pratt has been appointed director of finance, information and procurement at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
£18m assisted living technologies project announced

Ministers have announced an £18m project to test new “assisted living” technologies in five sites across the UK.
£3m surplus at Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Trust

FINANCE: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust has collected a surplus of over £3m so far this financial year.
£5m scheme to help mentally ill offenders announced

A £5m government trial of schemes to divert mentally ill offenders into treatment rather than prison has been welcomed by campaigners.
A new era for IT? A special HSJ supplement

The IT revolution has started. The way information is collected, and the technologies available to utilise it, is transforming previous approaches to healthcare. Now all clinicians have to do is embrace the change, and reap the rewards…
A&E target improving at Plymouth Hospitals Trust after winter blip

PERFORMANCE: Accident and Emergency waiting times at Plymouth Hospitals Trust are improving again after falling to just 91.7 per cent in December.
Action on the ground is proving as fascinating as Westminster tussles

There are two narratives running in parallel on the current NHS reforms. Within Whitehall and Westminster and among the health policy chattering classes debate rages over the exact intention of each clause of the Health Bill.
Advocacy groups requiring HealthWatch role assistance

Around one-third of the patients advocacy groups expected to become Local HealthWatch scrutiny teams need to up their game before taking on their new roles as part of the government’s health reforms, according to a health minister.
Attention in the South East turns to QIPP

The quality, innovation, productivity and prevention drive is preoccupying primary care trust plans in the South and East of England.
Barking and other London trusts fall short of savings targets

FINANCE: The capital’s trusts are likely to miss their savings targets due to slipping cost improvement plans and overperformance in the acute sector, NHS London has said.
Berkshire West PCT still negotiating provider contract

FINANCE: Berkshire West PCT has reported that it is still working to close a £4m financial gap to agree its contract with Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust.
Budget forecast sees Cameron's NHS pledge challenged

Prime minister David Cameron was accused of breaking the coalition’s pledge to increase funding for the National Health Service as soaring inflation threatened to undermine the government’s spending plans.
Calderdale FT may seek non-elected councillors

STRUCTURE: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust may allow co-opted, rather than elected, members onto its membership council.
Cambridge UHFT slips on delayed transfers of care

PERFORMANCE: Cambridge University Hospitals FT’s delayed transfers of care permance has slipped, according to its strategic health authority.
Cambridgeshire PCT staff to be 'aligned' to consortia

WORKFORCE: NHS Cambridgeshire staff will be assigned to emerging consortia and “aligned to their most likely end state” in the new few months, according to the primary care trust’s chief executive.
Care home sector faces bed capacity lottery

Parts of the country will face a massive shortfall in care bed capacity over the next 10 years, an analysis shared with HSJ has warned.
Care reviewed across Coventry and Rugby

PERFORMANCE: A review of care in Coventry and Rugby has praised the area’s trusts but identified concerns over mental health support and falls services.
CCP to assess merger of Sefton GPs with Liverpool Community Health Trust

STRUCTURE: The Cooperation and Competition Panel has accepted the referral of a proposed merger between nine GP practices currently in NHS Sefton’s provider arm and a community health trust.
Changing information into valuable data for the new, local NHS

As the government’s reforms being to take shape, embracing change and utilising information to drive UK healthcare forward is central for general practices, trusts, managers and clinicians. Paul Fitzsimmons explains the role business intelligence must play in enabling organisations to understand the new health economy.
Chief operating officer takes on information role at east Kent PCT

WORKFORCE: The primary care trust’s chief operating officer and lead nurses has taken on an extra role, board papers from March note.
Community services transfer to Blackpool FT held up by regulator

STRUCTURE: The transfer of primary care trust NHS Blackpool’s provider services to a foundation trust has been delayed until at least May, due to “capacity issues” at FT regulator Monitor.
Council care better than private sector - CQC

The quality of private sector care is generally lower than in council-run facilities, the health regulator has warned.
CQC praises choice but warns on speed of improvements

People now have more choice over their care but improvements in quality have stalled in recent years, the Care Quality Commission has said.
Cut public service data opt outs, says incoming 'transparency tsar'

The man slated to be the government’s new “transparency tsar” believes “no-one who uses a public service should be allowed to opt out of sharing their records”.
Departing Whipps Cross chief exec looks forward to merger project role

WORKFORCE: Chief executive Lucy Moore’s last day at the north-east London trust was 25 March, following her appointment as integration director for the merger programme with Barts and the London and Newham University Hospital trusts.
Department in talks over 'Amazon model' procurement system

The Department of Health and NHS Supply Chain are in talks about developing a new procurement system being likened to Amazon.com.
DH guidance on consortia fails to impress in Great Yarmouth

STRUCTURE: Regular Department of Health developments in consortia commissioning plans have not “simplified or clarified” the process in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, the primary care trust has been told.
Dorset cluster publishes joint operating plan

FINANCE: The primary care trust “cluster” including NHS Bournemouth and Poole, and NHS Dorset have published a joint operating plan for 2011-12.
Dorset Community Health Service records two SUIs

PERFORMANCE: Two serious untoward incidents have occurred in services provided by Dorset Community Health Services since the end of January.
Early consortium transfers expected by commissioners

Most commissioning managers and GPs responding to an HSJ survey believe the proposed handover to consortia will happen well ahead of schedule.
East Kent PCT commissions practice to run nurse walk-in service

STRUCTURE: The running of a nurse-led walk-in service will transfer from the local out of hours provider to a GP practice next month, the primary care trust has announced.
East London FT third highest reporter of incidents

PERFORMANCE: The FT has become the third highest reporter of incidents among the capital’s mental health trusts
Epsom and St Helier to invite expressions of interest for merger or acquisition

STRUCTURE: The south London trust announced it is considering a merger in its board papers, when publishing its tripartite agreement.
'Firm action' needed on access targets, DH warns

“Firm action” is needed to tackle sliding performance against access targets, according to the latest quarterly report from the Department of Health.
'Gaps' remain in Mid Essex QIPP plan for next year

FINANCE: The Mid Essex primary care trust has identified issues with it efficiency planning for the 2011-12 financial year.
'Good response' to NHS North Somerset's hospital tender

COMMERCIAL: NHS North Somerset has shortlisted five bidders to develop the new Clevedon Community Hospital.
Government has not done enough to prevent price competition - Confed

The government must set prices across most aspects of health service provision to prevent price competition accelerating under its reforms, the NHS Confederation has warned.
GPs 'don't get' what third sector has to offer

Royal College of GPs chief executive Neil Hunt has admitted most family doctors do not understand the services charities can offer and will need to gain a firmer grasp of the third sector if they are to become effective commissioners.
Great Western Hospitals FT plans £7m cost improvement savings

FINANCE: Great Western Hospitals Foundation Trust plans to make £7.2m of savings during the coming financial year according to its budget for 2011-12.
Great Yarmouth consortium plans future with local clinicians

STRUCTURE: More than 70 clinicians and healthcare professionals met this month to discuss the plans for the future of healthcare in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
Hakin rejects 'disappointing' reform criticisms

Dame Barbara Hakin, a GP of 20 years and the woman charged by the government with developing consortium commissioning, is growing irritated by alleged misinformation about the NHS reforms, as HSJ’s Dave West finds out.
Hakin rules out consortia patient charges

The national lead for the government’s commissioning reforms has ruled out the prospect of consortia reducing the range of NHS services provided or extending charges.
Hampshire chief exec to head up 'SHIP cluster'

WORKFORCE: The chief executive of NHS Hampshire Debbie Fleming has been appointed as chief executive of the new Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth (SHIP) PCT cluster.
Haringey children's services transfer delayed

STRUCTURE: NHS Haringey has reported that a transfer of community services to a new provider will not be completed by 1 April.
Haringey likely to miss cancer target

PERFORMANCE: Haringey primary care trust is not expecting to hit its target for cancer deaths, as data for 2009-10 showed that the mortality rate from the disease was increasing year-on-year.
Hastings and Rother PCT on course to beat planned surplus

FINANCE: The primary care trust’s latest finance report shows that at the end of February it was on course for a surplus of £7.3m, around £2m more than planned.
Health and wellbeing needs to remain a local responsibility

Early formation of health and wellbeing boards can quickly reduce wasted effort and result in clear strategic oversight of health issues - but they need to stay free from too much Whitehall interference, as Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council chief executive Graham Burgess explains.
Health board investigates care home deaths

An investigation has been launched after four elderly residents died in one week at a care home.
Health boards need greater powers, says King's Fund

Health and wellbeing boards should be given more powers to ensure that GP consortia and local authorities work together, the King’s Fund has said.
HEI report demands hospital improvements

Significant improvements must be made to cleaning at Stirling Royal Infirmary to avoid placing patients and staff in danger, a report has found.
Hereford Hospitals Trust forms first integrated health and social services provider

STRUCTURE: Hereford Hospitals Trust has received the go-ahead from health secretary Andrew Lansley to become the first organisation in England to provide integrated health and social services previously provided separately by the local authority, acute trust and primary care trust.
Hertfordshire patients more likely to be in mixed sex wards

PERFORMANCE: NHS Hertfordshire has the highest rate of mixed sex accomodation breaches in the NHS East of England area.
Hertfordshire PCT's £27m LIFT plan laid before SHA board

COMMERCIAL: The primary care trust’s plans for a £27m hospital development have been put before the NHS East of England board.
Hip replacement patient length of stay falls 25 per cent in five years

Length of stay for hip replacement patients has fallen by 25 per cent during the past five years but variations between trusts remain, according to information company Dr Foster Intelligence.
Homerton permitted to use Olympic logo

COMMERICAL: The Homerton, as the designated hospital for the 2012 London Olympics, has been given permission to use the sporting event’s famous five-ringed logo.
Hospitals must help mental health tribunals run smoothly

Hospital managers must ensure staff know it is inappropriate to recommend lawyers to mental health patients who are appealing against detention under the Mental Health Act, the Care Quality Commission has urged.
How e-learning helps empower clinicians to drive down infections

With managers facing up to the challenges posed by reform, alongside the “do more, better, for less” mantra of the quality, innovation, productivity and prevention agenda, the NHS is eager to find ways to further focus clinicians on the need to drive through improvements in patient care and outcomes.
How 'Together We Stand' transformed the local delivery of mental health services

In 1995, following years of disjointed organisation and inequality in delivery, Together We Stand laid out a strategy to improve mental health services for children, young people and families. Adopting the strategy’s key principles transformed the York, Selby and Ealingwold CAMHS, as Barry Wright and Greg Richardson explain.
Imperial faces 15 per cent CIP target

FINANCE: Imperial has said its Cost Improvement Programme target for 2011-12 will be 15 per cent of controllable costs.
Improving patient flow across the cardiology pathway

The elective pathway for cardiology encompasses a wide range of patient transactions and, as with any multi-component patient journey, opportunities for human error, inefficiency and system failure can arise at any point. But lean principles and a clear IMPaCT programme can achieve and sustain cardiology pathway improvements, say Anne Mawson and Lucy Reynolds.
'Infected blood' compensation extended nationwide

People in Northern Ireland who contracted hepatitis C from contaminated blood through the NHS will receive extra compensation.
Inflation figures suggest £857m NHS cut next year

Inflation forecasts in yesterday’s budget show Department of Health funding will drop by £857m in real terms next year compared with planned 2010-11spending set out in October.
Islington practices still referring 'low priority' procedures

FINANCE: The primary care trust’s finance papers have highlighted four practices still referring ‘low priority’ procedures.
Jobs to go at NHS Bath and North East Somerset

WORKFORCE: NHS Bath and North East Somerset plans to shed about 100 posts when it transfers its provider arm to a social enterprise.
Lancashire Care suspend work on new hospital

STRUCTURE: The foundation has suspended design work on its planned development of a new mental health inpatient hospital at Whyndyke Farm while commissioners carry out a review of mental health provision across the county.
Lansley outlines 'right to provide' social enterprise drive

NHS staff across the health service are to be given the right to set up their own organisations to provide and manage care for patients, health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.
Lansley: reform criticisms 'not valid'

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has hit back at critics of his health reforms, saying some concerns were “not valid” and opposition from unions was “not necessarily representative” of the health professions.
Leading GP groups risk creation of 'sink estate' consortia

GPs are forming commissioning groups that do not cover a defined geographic area, sometimes excluding lower performing practices.
Leeds Hospitals hoping for hyper acute stroke unit

STRUCTURE: Leeds General Infirmary, part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, is planning to open a hyper acute stroke unit.
Liverpool to recruit an additional 50 health visitors

WORKFORCE: The commissioner is working with Liverpool Community Health Trust to recruit an additional 50 health visitors over the next three years, as part of a national drive to increase health visitors.
London clusters struggle to fill finance posts

STRUCTURE: Chairs have been appointed to all primary care trust clusters in London, but a number of vacancies remain unfilled, particularly in finance posts.
London trusts' savings to fall short despite cost-cutting success

It is becoming clear that while trusts in London have succeeded in cutting costs during 2010-11, savings will fall significantly short of what was planned, meaning surplus targets will not be met.
McKinsey appointed to work on Ealing and North West London merger

STRUCTURE: The west London acute trust has approved a plan to work on a strategic outline case to look at a merger with North West London Hospitals Trust and the consultancy McKinsey is due to present it to the April board.
Media Watch: flu vaccine orders get in early

Just as everyone was reaching for their sunglasses, the Guardian reported how GPs had already been told to start ordering flu vaccine stocks for next winter.
Medway to fund 24-hour mental health helpline

COMMERCIAL: Primary care trust commissioners in Medway have announced that from 1 April, support from the helpline Mental Health Matters will be available round the clock.
Mental health social enterprise launched in North East Lincolnshire

STRUCTURE: North East Lincolnshire mental health services will officially become NAViGO Health and Social Care Community Interest Company on 1 April.
Michael White: 'Nicholson's challenge' matters more than Osborne's Budget

At the TUC’s big anti-cuts rally in Hyde Park a young NHS physiotherapist spoke with a passion and sincerity which characterised the day’s main event, if not the hooligan fringe rioting in nearby Piccadilly.
Mid Staffs understaffing problems 'concealed' from board

A report highlighting major understaffing at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust was withheld from the board by the chief executive until foundation status was gained, the public inquiry heard this week.
Monitor delays threaten to hold up provider split at West Essex PCT

STRUCTURE: Delays in foundation trust regulator Monitor’s assessment could hold up of West Essex PCT’s provider arm divestment.
MPs to hear criticism of MS care

Multiple sclerosis patients could be driven to suicide by a lack of access to treatment, a campaigner will tell MPs today.
NHS Barking and Dagenham best in sector for viability of QIPP plans

FINANCE: The east London primary care trust’s £6.1m quality, innovation, productivity and prevention plan (QIPP), submitted in January, has been fully risk-assessed as the best of the four outer north east London PCTs.
NHS Bath and North East Somerset reveals £6m savings plan

FINANCE: NHS Bath and North East Somerset community services plans to save £6.7m in the delivery of services over the next five years.
NHS Bury lifts IVF ban, despite continued overspending

FINANCE: A financially challenged primary care trust has lifted the bar it placed on IVF services, despite continuing to overspend at a rate of £600,000 a month.
NHS Camden staff question "top-heavy" PCT cluster

WORKFORCE: In replies to a consultation, staff at the north London primary care trust questioned whether the new north central London PCT cluster would be “top heavy with a high number of senior posts”.
NHS East Sussex Downs £2m behind on surplus plan

FINANCE: The primary care trust is £2m behind on its year-end forecast surplus of 3.6m.
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent consolidates its estate

STRUCTURE: The primary care trust has carried out a headquarters accommodation review and, as a result, is re-locating some of its staff.
NHS Enfield predicts deficit next year

FINANCE: NHS Enfield is forecasting a deficit of more than £20m for 2011-12 – but this depends on a £30m efficiency savings programme heavily reliant on tighter contracts with acute trusts.
NHS Hillingdon to miss surplus target

FINANCE: NHS Hillingdon is £4.9m behind its financial plan for 2010-11, reporting a deficit of £1.2m in February.
NHS IT contractor for sale

A healthcare software firm heavily involved in the government’s £12.7bn plan to update the NHS’s IT infrastructure has issued a “come and get us” plea to potential buyers.
NHS London predicts five trusts will end year in deficit

FINANCE: Five acutes and one primary care trust in London are expected to finish the financial year in deficit, according to strategic health authority board papers.
NHS Medway set to launch carbon reduction plan

PERFORMANCE: The primary care trust has submitted a carbon management plan to its board which will cost £620,000 over the next five years.
NHS missing out on high-cost equipment savings

The NHS is missing the chance to save money on expensive equipment by failing to collaborate on purchasing and maintenance, a National Audit Office investigation has found.
NHS North Lancashire director warns reforms could 'fragment' public health workforce

WORKFORCE: The primary care trust’s board will tomorrow be asked to back a document warning that government plans could “fragment” the public health workforce and put the public at “serious risk” in epidemic situations.
NHS North Somerset to splash out on community wards

STRUCTURE: The board of NHS North Somerset has been asked to agree £1.14m of funding to roll out seven “community wards”.
NHS Professionals chief announces departure

NHS Professionals chief executive Neil Lloyd has announced he is stepping down at the end of April.
NHS Richmond agrees year-end settlements with two key providers

FINANCE: The south west London primary care trust has agreed a year-end settlement plan with Kingston and West Middlesex University Hospitals and is “finalising” a similar deal with St George’s.
NHS Stockport forecasts £7m shortfall on turnaround savings plan

FINANCE: The primary care trust has reported that its turnaround plan to deliver £17.4m of cash releasing efficiency savings this year will fall short by £7m.
NHS Stockport seeks new home for provider arm after deal falls through

STRUCTURE: The primary care trust will miss the 31 March deadline to offload its provider services, after a deal with Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Community Healthcare Trust fell through.
NHS Surrey still facing £20m year-end shortfall

FINANCE: The primary care trust has failed to improve its financial position and is still forecasting a £20m deficit for the end of the financial year.
NHS West Kent handed £1bn budget for next year

FINANCE: The primary care trust has been allocated a budget of £1,029m for 2011-12, board papers report.
NHS West Sussex surplus hopes pinned on settling provider contract disputes

FINANCE: The primary care trust is reporting a deficit of £4.8m but still aims to finish the financial year with a surplus of £725,000.
NHS West Sussex to joint commission with council next year

WORKFORCE: The primary care trust’s board has been asked to approve the creation of a joint commissioning unit with West Sussex County Council.
NHS Worcestershire's TCS plans set back by appointment delays

STRUCTURE: The organisation taking over NHS Worcestershire’s community services will not be established by 1 April due to delays in finding a permanent chief executive and chair.
Norovirus restricts capacity at Norfolk and Norwich UHFT

PERFORMANCE: Norfolk and Norwich UHFT has had to restrict bed capacity due to a norovirus outbreak, according to the local primary care trust.
North Essex Partnership FT begins work on child mental health unit

COMMERCIAL: Work has begun on a £9.6m specialist children’s mental health unit has begun at North Essex Partnership FT.
Northumbria FT takes on community and social care services

STRUCTURE: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will take on community services from North Tyneside PCT and Northumberland Care Trust, and adult social care for Northumberland, from 1 April.
Nurse appointed chief of Plymouth's new community provider

WORKFORCE: A former nursing director has been appointed chief executive designate of Plymouth Community Healthcare, the proposed social enterprise which will take on community and mental health services from NHS Plymouth
Nursing Times collaborates with NICE on e-learning

HSJ’s sister title Nursing Times has collaborated with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to launch a free online learning unit on managing diabetic foot problems.
Paramedic concerns raised by Bird inquest coroner

Concerns about ambulance staff being held back from casualty scenes have been raised by the coroner who held inquests into the deaths of Derrick Bird and the 12 people he shot dead in Cumbria last year.
Paramedics must be safe at major incidents

Paramedics must not be put at risk if the way decisions are made on attending patients at dangerous emergency incidents are altered, ambulance staff have warned.
Party pledges to scrap ambulance trusts

Plaid has renewed a pledge to dissolve the Welsh Ambulance Trust and transfer its responsibilities to local health boards (LHBs) - despite saying it would not “fragment” the health service in Wales.
PCT Network responds to choice complaints

Commissioners accused of breaking competition rules were either abiding by guidance or justified by an obligation to “maximise benefits to patients and taxpayers”, according to the Primary Care Trust Network.
PCT review finds good quality at Royal Berkshire FT

PERFORMANCE: A primary care trust’s review of quality at the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust has found that it is performing well compared to other trusts in the area.
Peer warns of upper house opposition to Health Bill

Government concessions over the Health Bill may be insufficient to dispel “profound disquiet” over the legislation in the House of Lords, which could significantly delay its passage, a senior peer has warned.
Pennine Acute closes Rochdale A&E

STRUCTURE: Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust will close the Rochdale Infirmary A&E, and open an urgent care centre in replacement, on 4 April.
Plymouth pathfinder pledges to work with local PCT and providers

STRUCTURE: The chair of a pathfinder commissioning consortium has pledged to work with Plymouth Teaching PCT and Plymouth Hospitals Trust.
Plymouth Teaching PCT delays opening of new building after failing to organise CQC registration

STRUCTURE: A building Plymouth Teaching PCT plans to use for children and adolescent mental health services will not open on time as it has not been registered with Care Quality Commission.
Portsmouth feeling heat over lack of FT application

STRUCTURE: A south coast trust tied to a £256m private finance initiative is being put under pressure to agree a timetable for achieving foundation status, despite being forced to drop an earlier bid.
Practice nurse and sessional GP proposed for NHS Islington shadow consortia board

STRUCUTRE: The north London primary care trust GP consortium shadow board willl see 11 voting members, seven of them GPs.
Private sector incident data sharing deal stalls

A long-awaited deal to feed private providers’ safety incidents into a national database has been delayed since last July by plans to abolish the National Patient Safety Agency.
Reshaping service delivery to put humanity at the heart of public services

Last month’s ombudsman report didn’t just highlight the gap between the NHS’s values and the reality for older people; it suggested that the health service needs to reshape ways of working that start putting patients back at the heart of care, argues thinkpublic’s design project lead Ella Britton.
Rethink public health data cuts - watchdog

A watchdog has called for a government rethink after discovering the NHS is set to axe the collection of key data on smoking, drinking and other health issues to cut costs.
Rethinking clinical services: avoiding the hidden costs of saving and efficiency strategies

Savings strategies can have hidden costs, without due attention given to the potential risks and conditions needed to ensure they can work. Andy McKeon and Nigel Edwards begin a two part series on rethinking clinical services.
Risk rating stays steady at 2gether Foundation Trust

PERFORMANCE: The 2gether Foundation Trust has retained its level one rating with the NHS Litigation Authority despite taking on extra services.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust aims for £4m surplus in 2011-12

FINANCE: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is aiming to make savings of £19m during the coming financial year in order to achieve a surplus of £4.4m.
Royal Cornwall loses funding for three doctors

WORKFORCE: The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has lost three doctors as a result of a reduction in the medical and dental education levy (MADEL).
Royal Wolverhampton's stretch targets queried by Monitor

PERFORMANCE: Monitor has queried whether the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust’s stretch targets were realistic, after it decided to retain the goal to treat 95 per cent of A&E patients within four hours.
Salford plans new tactic to curb use of high-cost antipsychotics at Greater Manchester West FT

FINANCE: NHS Salford is seeking the support of two other commissioners to instruct the mental health trust to switch to prescribing cheaper antipsychotic drugs.
Sally Gainsbury: welcome, belatedly, to austerity

Worried how your organisation will cope with the coming real terms cut in its spending power? Well, don’t be. By the time you read this, it will already have survived its first year of it.
Sandwell chief executive appointed to top Midlands cluster role

WORKFORCE: The current chief executive of NHS Sandwell has been appointed to the top job in the Black Country primary care trust cluster.
SHA singles out Hinchingbrooke over delayed transfers of care

PERFORMANCE: Hinchingbrooke continues to be ranked worst in the East of England for delayed transfers of care 35 occupied bed days due to delays per 100 admissions.
Sheffield FT dealing with deficit

FINANCE: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust was recording a significant £7.9m deficit at the end of November - the most recent month for which HSJ has information on the foundation.
Sheffield Hospitals misses 98 per cent aspiration on A&E

PERFORMANCE: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust met the national accident and emergency waiting target over the December and January period, but fell short of its own aspiration to maintain 98 per cent of patients seen within four hours.
Sheffield PCT back on track to break even

FINANCE: Sheffield PCT is on course to record a small end of year surplus, having made significant savings in recent months.
Shropshire County sets date for community trust FT bid

STRUCTURE: Shropshire County PCT has set a provisional date for its community trust to apply for foundation status.
South London Healthcare Trust predicted to hit A&E target for year, despite shaky start

PERFORMANCE: The multi-site south London trust is predicted to hit the target of 95 per cent of A&E attendances seen within four hours for 2010-11, a report from the capital’s strategic health authority has said.
South Tees Hospitals FT reviews car parking charges

COMMERCIAL: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has reduced the fee for long stay parking but increased the rate for short stays.
South West Essex PCT has shed 200 staff since last year

WORKFORCE: NHS South West Essex has reported that it will have 200 fewer staff for the 2011-12 financial year.
South West Essex PCT pins hopes on £8m contingency release

FINANCE: The South West Essex primary care trust will need £8m of contingency funds to break even this year.
South West Essex to fall short on turnaround schemes

FINANCE: South West Essex PCT is forecasting that it will fall £11.6m short of its turnaround plan for the current financial year.
Southampton shocked at potential loss of children's heart surgery

STRUCTURE: Management at Southampton University Hospitals were shocked to find they were at risk of being stopped from carrying out paediatric cardiac surgery in England despite excellent clinical ratings, according to board papers.
Southern Cross insists lease issues can be fixed

The chief executive of troubled care-home provider Southern Cross has insisted the company’s future can be secured through negotiations with landlords over the coming weeks.
St George's behind income and expenditure plan agreed with SHA

FINANCE: The south west London trust is £2.4m behind the total agreed with NHS London.
St Helens and Knowsley has £4.2m hole in savings plan despite calling in PwC

FINANCE: The trust still does not know where £4.2m of the savings it needs to make next year will come from, despite hiring PricewaterhouseCoopers to “review cost reduction and productivity opportunities for 2011-12”.
Staffing service hopes pensions proposals will attract private sector

NHS Professionals is in a stronger position to secure private sector investment thanks to moves to scrap pensions safeguards for staff outsourced from the NHS, the service’s departing chief executive has said.
Stoke on Trent chief appointed to top Midlands cluster role

WORKFORCE: The chief executive of NHS Stoke on Trent has been appointed to the top position in the Staffordshire primary care trust cluster.
Sussex Partnership gains council approval for service change

STRUCTURE: Sussex Partnership has welcomed a decision by the East Sussex health overview and scrutiny committee to approve significant changes in mental health services in the county.
Tameside FT overperforming by £3.6m on PCT contract

FINANCE: The foundation was over-performing on its NHS Tameside and Glossop contract by £3.6m at the end of December, the primary care trust’s latest finance report shows.
The £80bn man: GPs get ready to hold the NHS budget

HSJ’s special supplement on GP commissioning looks at the challenges facing commissioners in the new NHS.
The Whittington records £700,000 deficit in February

FINANCE: The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust has recorded an in-month deficit of more than £700,000, due mainly to an under-performance on clinical income and increasing staff costs.
Torbay Care Trust commissioning staff to transfer to NHS Devon

WORKFORCE: Commissioning staff from Torbay Care Trust will be transferred to NHS Devon until the NHS Commissioning board is in place and GPs take over local commissioning.
Tough at the top: the challenges facing management teams in the new NHS

Unprecedented challenges for the senior NHS management team make “cohesion” today’s watchword, says Hay Group director in public sector practice Phil Kenmore.
Transparency tsar could spark a revolution

When Andrew Lansley became health secretary he gave a series of presentations which all began by stressing how the new government would increase patients’ control by giving them more choice and information.
UH South Manchester forecast to over-perform on Stockport contract

FINANCE: NHS Stockport is forecasting that its £21.6m contract with the foundation trust will be overspent by more than 10 per cent this year.
Unite to parade coffin over 'death' of NHS

A coffin will be paraded outside Parliament today to symbolise the “death” of the NHS as part of a union protest against the government’s health reforms.
Uniting health and social care to give dementia patients improved services

Projections that the number of people with dementia could double in 30 years will worry a health service that is already failing to adequately support patients with dementia. But making important changes to unite health and social care services could dramatically improve the quality of dementia care, writes Institute of Public Policy Research researcher Alice Sachrajda.
West Sussex chief exec joins DH to oversee reforms

WORKFORCE: NHS West Sussex chief executive John Wilderspin has been appointed national transition director at the Department of Health, where he will lead the introduction of health and wellbeing boards.
Win a free place at the GP Forum

Next week sees the launch of the General Practice Forum in London. GPs and commissioners who subscribe to HSJ can apply for one of 10 free places at the event.
Worcestershire Acute debates community services 'financial package'

STRUCTURE: The proposed transfer of services from NHS Worcestershire to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust is proving “problematic” due to negotiations over the financial package.
Worcestershire Acute set to receive £7.3m of transitional support

FINANCE: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust is set to receive £7.3m of transitional support from NHS Worcestershire.
Worcestershire Partnership 'significantly worse' than other trusts on delayed transfers

PERFORMANCE: Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership Trust has admitted it is “significantly worse” on delayed transfers than other trusts in the national performance framework.
Worcestershire PCT boss gets top Midlands cluster job

WORKFORCE: Worcestershire’s chief executive has been appointed to the top role at the West Mercia primary care trust cluster.

Alastair McLellan

Health Service Journal31 March 2011

Health Service Journal
31 March 2011