Health Service Journal
7 May 2009
View all stories from this issue.
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Action plan fails to leave a mark on malnutrition rate in NHS hospitals
A “ground breaking” government plan to reduce malnutrition among NHS patients has had little impact on care, an HSJ survey has revealed. -
Alan Johnson launches new rules on patient involvement
Health secretary Alan Johnson has announced a series of policies to help avoid more NHS services falling to the “appalling” standards exposed at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust. -
Alan Johnson seeks to rein in co-operation and competition panel
Health secretary Alan Johnson has said he is concerned investigations by the co-operation and competition panel could slow down trust mergers required by the Department of Health’s failure regime. -
Angela Greatley on health in the criminal justice system
Lord Bradley’s review of mental health and learning disabilities in the criminal justice system was published last month. Fourteen months in the making, the report that emerged did not disappoint. -
Book Review: Snakes in Suits – when psychopaths go to work
Modern leader, or mad manipulator? There could be a psychopath in a power position near you -
Cally Bann on the swine flu outbreak
An acute trust chief executive, “Cally Bann”, casts a jaundiced eye over the swine flu outbreak… -
Can you support us to find out more about what people think about access to GP practices?
NHS Suffolk -
Care Quality Commission completes its management team
The Care Quality Commission has filled the remaining director posts on its senior management team. -
Cauld off
Readers of HSJ.co.uk will be aware that a four week emergency exercise to test Scotland’s resilience against pandemic flu was suspended last week in light of the swine flu outbreak. -
Chief executives appointed at two SHAs
Chief executives have been appointed to West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber strategic health authorities. -
Chief executives of worst rated PCTs to leave posts
The chief executives of the two primary care trusts that achieved the lowest scores in last year’s world class commissioning governance tests are to leave their posts. -
Commerce units will boost NHS market activity
A £20m network of around 20 commercial support units will be set up to boost primary care trusts’ efforts to stimulate the market. -
County wide health trainer workforce
NHS Cambridgeshire -
DH says NHS can save money and improve patient safety
The NHS is in a position to make “significant” efficiency savings without compromising patient safety, according to a senior Department of Health economist. -
Economy class: Get creative with your training budget
As NHS workforce development becomes more quality driven, higher education institutions can expect more rigorous monitoring of provision by education commissioners. For example, key performance indicators will be expected by NHS commissioners of educational provision. -
HSJ Awards 2009: Acute Healthcare Organisation of the Year
Throughout Cambridge University Hospitals foundation trust - the 2008 HSJ Awards acute organisation of the year - there is a strong desire to raise already high standards. -
HSJ Patient Safety Conference 2009
Charlotte Santry speaks to Stephen Ramsden and Donna Forsyth about the importance of patient safety and improvements in reporting standards -
HSJ survey: Hospital managers act on Mid Staffs failures
Around half of hospital managers and other staff believe elements of poor standards found at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust exist at their own organisation, a HSJ straw poll suggests. -
Invitation to Tender Specialist Weight Management Service
NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan - Commissioning Business Service -
Jane Abbott on creating a productive working culture
Healthcare 100 winner Jane Abbott describes the practices that make Benenden Hospital the best place to work in Britain -
Ken Jarrold on the NHS and the credit crunch
These are dangerous times for public servants. The recession is having a devastating impact on the lives and life chances of many employed in the private sector. In contrast, relatively few public servants are losing their jobs. -
Lookey-likey: Mark Britnell and Sean Penn
A film buff at HSJ has spotted the resemblance between NHS director general for commissioning and system management Mark Britnell and Sean Penn in gangster film Carlito’s Way. -
Make over
Perhaps it is the serious nature of the job, or the fear of being singled out, but NHS managers are not known for their wacky or colourful wardrobes. However, Lisa Evans from South Staffordshire primary care trust is the exception to the rule. -
Mark Goldman on clinical leadership's tipping point
Many years ago, I was advised by an eminent professor that if enough people all wanted something to happen at the same time it always happened. As far as the events of men rather than nature are concerned, this has proved to be a truth. -
Matthew Winn on community health providers
The Darzi review brings community providers the policies they have long called for but the new austerity means they must prove their worth with cost-effective innovations -
Media Watch: Alan Johnson for prime minister
“How Johnson became the model Labour candidate for the top job,” was The Independent on Sunday’s headline on coverage of the party’s most recent leadership dilemmas. -
Michael White on swine flu and leadership
This column’s established policy is not to panic over either swine flu or Labour leadership flu. Outbreaks of both occur from time to time and are easily spread by modern life, notably by air travel and 24-hour TV news channels. The authorities do their best. -
Mid Staffordshire: improvement must be routine, not just the result of a scandal
In his report into the lessons to be learned from the failures at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust, national primary care director David Colin-Thomé concluded that responsibility lies firmly with the management board and staff. -
Mid Staffs reports: new duties on NHS to prove patient involvement
The government has announced that NHS organisations will have to publish information that proves they are involving patients to prevent a repeat of the failures at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust. -
NHS Confederation warns primary care trusts to tender with caution
Commissioners will need to be robust about which services they put out to tender, the NHS Confederation has warned. -
NHS marketing: a new future
Primed with resilient data and analysis, intelligent marketing has the potential to make a big difference, easing the burden on NHS services and driving positive patient experiences. Ingrid Torjesen explains -
NHS productivity is rising
NHS productivity has improved, with the growth in the quality and volume of treatment now exceeding the increase in NHS funding. -
NHS quality improvement needs patient choice data
One year after the introduction of free choice, early analysis suggests some patients are using their right to choose the hospital at which they are treated. -
Noel Plumridge on expenses and exploitation
It was a cheap Chinese restaurant, just near the bus terminal in a quiet Northern town. Now, I’m partial to Chinese food when away on business, not least because the single male traveller can usually eat a plate of chow mien or special fried rice without feeling awkward and without being tempted by the demon drink. -
Patient experience feedback findings will not be standardised
The Department of Health will not impose standards for “real time” measurement of patients’ experience, despite pressure to use results to help identify failing trusts. -
Patient involvement: advance care planning gives peace of mind
In July the government will publish guidance on advance care planning. Jennifer Taylor finds out how you can give patients approaching the end of life the care they want -
Patrick Geoghegan on achieving quality patient outcomes
Healthcare 100 winner Patrick Geoghegan shares best practice in patient outcomes and explains how frontline staff drive quality -
PCTs may face tests on financial competence
A financial competence test could be reintroduced in next year’s round of world class commissioning competency assessments. -
Rising patient choice fails to improve NHS quality standards
One year after the introduction of free choice, early trends suggest some patients are using choice - but it is not yet driving up standards in hospitals. -
Rose Gibb: The case that puts a stop to big pay-off cheques
Former chief executive Rose Gibb’s failure to secure the large severance sum she believed she was assured of marks a sea change in how the NHS handles pay-offs, reports Alison Moore -
Sex games
Here’s one for you from the seedy world of web analytics. Last week, 10 people (you know who you are) searched Google for “sex game” and landed right on HSJ’s community section. Rest assured, your trusted publication has not launched a raunchy microsite for NHS managers looking for a distraction from foundation trust applications and corporate risk registers. -
SHA chief appointed as national flu director
North East strategic health authority chief executive Ian Dalton has been appointed to the new position of national director for NHS flu resilience. -
Sound advice on workforce development
Healthcare 100 winners Yasmin Ahmed-Little, Deborah Kendall, Omar Najim, Mathew Bluck and Steve Ellis explain their work -
Swine flu prompts patient colour coding guidance
The Royal College of Physicians has published draft guidance for NHS strategic planners and clinicians on dealing with a flu pandemic. -
Ten years on: what devolution has meant for the NHS
In 1999 Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland assumed new powers. After 10 years of devolution Graham Clews examines what it has meant for the UK’s health services -
Time to regulate GPs
Last week I had two conversations which highlighted the need for GPs to be properly regulated.
