Revealed: all but six of London's non-FT hospital trusts unviable by 2014-15
Only six of London’s 18 non-foundation hospital trusts will be viable in their current form in 2014-15, HSJ can reveal.
CQUIN and CQC quality results don't match, report finds
The results of a financial incentive scheme to improve quality do not match up with other quality measures in hospital care, a study has found.
Death rates higher after weekend admissions, study confirms
Patients admitted to hospital at weekends have a greater chance of dying than those admitted on a week day, a large-scale review of NHS data has reiterated.
Healthcare trust facing deficit considers 'wholesale' outsourcing
The trust predicting the largest deficit in the country is considering a “wholesale approach to outsourcing corporate functions”, HSJ has discovered.
Fears over 'destabilising' C difficile fines to be investigated
The possibility that fines for C difficile infections will have a “destabilising” effect on some hospitals next year is to be investigated by the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Hinchingbrooke plans set out by new owners
The private provider at the first NHS hospital to be taken over by a private sector firm have set out their vision to turn around its fortunes.
Poor outcomes continue for heart failure, audit reveals
Heart failure outcomes remain poor with variations in quality of care across the country and a lack of access to specialist management, according to a major national review.
Exclusive: St George's drops out of St Helier merger bid
Mergers affecting £1bn of NHS services have been thrown into doubt after a key participant pulled out of the running to take over a neighbour.
Health board fined after patient contracts Legionnaires'
A health board has been fined after an “entirely avoidable” chain of events resulted in a hospital patient being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, the Crown Office has said.
More private clinics to treat implant patients for free
Two more private firms have agreed to remove PIP breast implants free of charge.
Exclusive: private acute providers warned over slowing NHS-funded work
The UK’s private acute healthcare industry shrank in 2010 for the first time in at least three decades despite continued growth in its NHS-funded business, according to a new report by analysts Laing and Buisson.
Private patient income continues to fall
The NHS’s real terms income from treating private patients declined in 2010 for the fifth year, according to market analysts Laing and Buisson.
More CQC inspections risk 'diverting' funds from patient care, MPs to be warned
There is a danger that scarce funds will be diverted from patient care into “more and more inspection” following the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust inquiry, senior figures are set to warn MPs.
Monitor licensing could stifle innovation - FTN
Monitor’s plans for safeguarding services from closure risk “stifling” innovation and preventing trusts from complying with CQC requirements, the Foundation Trust Network has warned.
Exclusive: police investigating fraud claim at foundation trust
A police investigation has been launched into an allegation of fraud at a foundation trust, HSJ can reveal.
Organ donation target 'will be missed'
The head of a kidney charity has launched an attack on the government over organ donation, saying it will miss a target to boost donor rates by 50 per cent.
Managers encouraged to blow whistle on colleagues in draft plans to regulate NHS leaders
NHS leaders must blow the whistle on colleagues if necessary, understand the “limitations” of their roles and openly explain budget decisions, under draft standards to regulate the profession.
Trusts facing 'difficult choice' over service provision
NHS trusts face “difficult choices about the services they provide” as they fight to sustain savings programmes of 5 per cent a year, according to a report by Monitor and the Audit Commission.
Medway trialling Dr Foster hospital performance tool
PERFORMANCE: Medway Foundation Trust has been trialling a new online “quick-look” performance management tool launched by healthcare information provider Dr Foster Intelligence.
Hospital mergers have little benefit, study suggests
Waiting times have risen and financial performance has declined at NHS hospitals following mergers, a study has found.
'Reconfiguration may do more harm than good'
History warns us that reconfiguration is not the panacea it’s cracked up to be, says Andy McKeon.
'Don't rush through regulation at the expense of innovation'
The PIP breast implant scandal has raised difficult questions for trusts and clinicians about the faith they place in the reliability of medical devices they use.
'Integrated care should be this decade's number one priority'
Achieving proper integrated care must be taken as seriously in the next 10 years as waiting times have been in the last 10, say King’s Fund chief executive Chris Ham and Nuffield Trust director Jennifer Dixon.
How to deliver a successful and sustainable hospital transformation
How do you deliver long term transformational change at your hospital when the immediate concern is short term cost improvement? McKinsey senior expert Neil Griffiths has some ideas.
Developing a new care pathway to enhance responses to alcohol cases
Alcohol-related emergency care demand needs to be understood and managed if the number of cases is to be reduced, say James Bell and colleagues.
How service line management can inspire improved behaviours throughout NHS organisations
Service line management can empower frontline clinicians to make the changes the NHS needs for future viability. The big challenge is changing the way NHS organisations are managed, says Chris Calkin.
How a COPD care bundle is reducing readmissions
Implementing a COPD care bundle can reduce readmissions and aid patient self-management. But it is only part of the solution, say Trish Winn, Maria Buxton and Mary Noone at the North West London Hospitals Trust.
How a holistic approach to healthcare drives better value
Services are often fragmented across systems and even within organisations, causing waste. True value in healthcare, says Kate Hall, comes from smoothing patient pathways.
A blueprint to improve services for patients with hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a growing problem in London but many sufferers are not getting the care they need. Kosh Agarwal and colleagues present a blueprint for treating the disease.
