Health Service Journal
5 July 2012

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Mid Cheshire FT ‘among lowest performing in north’ on A&E

PERFORMANCE: The trust has been identified by NHS North of England as one of the “lowest performing” hospitals in the North against the national four-hour Accident and Emergency waiting target, according to commissioner board papers.
A few words on self-management

Multilingual peer educators in north west London are helping people in hard to reach communities manage their diabetes, say Sunder Chita and colleagues.
A private lesson in productivity

Could the NHS adopt the best private sector techniques to solve its challenges, ask Hilary Thomas and Jane Hurst.
A quality campaign to reflect quality services

Extending University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Trust’s catchment area for maternity services was identified as a strategic priority for 2012. As a result, the trust wanted to highlight its maternity services as some of the best in the country in order to instil local pride.
A safer approach to hospital pharmacy

Pharmacy teams are a vital safety net to avoiding prescribing errors and maintaining the quality of patient care, write Clive Newman and Alison Brailey
Agenda for Change proposals revealed

Senior staff could be moved out of the Agenda for Change pay framework under proposals devised by NHS Employers, it has emerged.
Analysed: acute demand outpacing supply on the south coast

HSJ Local Briefing is our new in-depth analysis of key issues facing some of the major NHS health economies. This week’s HSJ Local Briefing looks at the Southampton and Portsmouth health economy, which has struggled to control rising demand for acute services.
Assessment clinic offers acute relief in South West Essex

SERVICES: Older people in South West Essex will avoid unnecessary hospital appointments and hospital admissions following the launch of an assessment clinic service at Brentwood Community Hospital.
Barnet and Chase Farm sets £21.7m savings target

FINANCE: The north London hospital trust has set a cost improvement programme target that is 6.4 per cent of its turnover, research by HSJ has revealed.
Bedfordshire gains integrated diabetes service

SERVICES: An integrated diabetes service has been set up in Bedfordshire with a specialist team working in the community and with general practice.
Blood pressure machine gift for hospital

PERFORMANCE: Warwick Hospital has been presented with a cheque for £1,500 to purchase a new blood pressure machine for the Aylesford Unit.
Bristol cluster awards OoH contract

COMMERCIAL: The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire primary care trust cluster has awarded the contract for GP out of hours service to Brisdoc.
Bucks PCT in surplus despite overspends

FINANCE: Buckinghamshire primary care trust finished 2011-12 with a year-end surplus higher than planned, despite over-spending on all its providers.
Bucks PCT misses out on £2m PbR savings

FINANCE: Buckinghamshire commissioners will have to find £2m to plug a gap in its savings plan after providers refused to accept changes to payment by results.
Cambridge and Peterborough plans better staff engagement

WORKFORCE: Disappointing results in some areas of the 2011 staff survey has led to proposals to engage staff better at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust.
Candidates for Plymouth top job 'insufficiently strong'

WORKFORCE: Interviews for a new chief executive for Plymouth Hospitals Trust have been postponed due to an “insufficiently strong” field of candidates.
CCG study threatens mental health reconfiguration

A major reconfiguration of mental health services could take place in south-west London after a report ordered by local clinical commissioning groups recommended the takeover of the area’s main provider, HSJ can reveal.
CCP begins review of Northumbria-North Cumbria merger

STRUCTURE: The NHS Cooperation and Competition Panel has begun its investigation of the proposed takeover of the trust by Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust.
Ciarán Devane: out with the old

A hypothesis for us: if we want to do more, we need to do less.
CMFT opens £6m research unit for musculoskeletal diseases

RESEARCH: The trust launched a new £6m research unit for musculoskeletal diseases on 4 July, alongside the National Institute for Health Research and the University of Manchester.
Cumbria misses RTT waiting target for Q1 2012-13

PERFORMANCE: Cumbria will not meet national referral to treatment waiting times standards for the first three months of 2012-13, due to a “backlog of patients waiting over 18 weeks”, its latest performance report states.
Death rates still climbing at George Eliot

PERFORMANCE: Death rates at George Eliot Hospital are continuing to rise despite attempts from both commissioners and the trust to bring them under control.
Dementia service access criticised

Dementia sufferers need better access to memory specialists, MPs said, after a report revealed that some patients are waiting over a year to be seen.
Exclusive: Hospital trust announces it is seeking merger partner to make FT status

Barnet and Chase Farms Hospitals Trust has announced it is seeking a merger partner to become a foundation trust.
Exclusive: Mike Richards given key commissioning board post

Sir Mike Richards has been appointed to a key clinical leader position in the NHS Commissioning Board, HSJ has learned.
FTs miss CIPs target as demand for services stays high

Latest figures from Monitor show that the foundation trust sector missed its cost improvement plan target last year, particularly struggling to make pay savings amid high demand for hospital services.
GP commissioners detail plan for monitoring CWP serious incident response

PERFORMANCE: Wirral GP Commissioning Consortium has put in place arrangements for monitoring the trust’s response to a serious untoward incident in which a patient murdered his sister’s boyfriend.
Hants GP out of hours services to be linked to NHS 111

COMMERCIAL: Out of hours GP services in southern Hampshire have been re-tendered, and as a result are likely to be connected to the NHS 111 service.
HealthWatch board will have appointed local members

Up to a third of HealthWatch England’s committee members look set to be appointed from local branches of the new public scrutiny body.
Hillingdon Hospital faces 'challenges' on savings as activity continues to rise

FINANCE: The west London hospital trust “continues to face challenges in delivering the cost improvement programme (CIPs) and there was a significant variance against plan in April”, its board was told in May.
Hospitals 'see rise in ambulance attendances' since trialling NHS 111

PERFORMANCE: A report to Hillingdon Hospitals Foundation Trust board said the organisation had seen a seven per cent increase in the number of ambulance attendances since the NHS 111 non-emergency phone number was trialled in the borough.
Imperial aims to claw its way out of deficit in 2012-13

FINANCE: The central London acute trust is looking to recover from their deficit position of £10.5m in 2011-12 over the course of this financial year.
Imperial College Healthcare Trust ends month 1 in deficit

FINANCE: The central London hospital tryst had a deficit in month one of £1.7m, against a plan of £238k.
Jim Birrell appointed interim CEO at Leicester

WORKFORCE: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust has appointed Jim Birrell as interim chief executive following the departure of Malcolm Lowe-Lauri.
John Deffenbaugh: why the NHS and local government jigsaw can fit together this time

There have been many attempts to bring the NHS and local government closer together.
Kingston Hospital aiming for £2.1m surplus and CIP of £10.9m

FINANCE: The south west London hospital trust is aiming for a significant cost improvement programme this year, with £900k of it left over from 2011-12.
Kingston Hospital sees large increases in year-on-year activity

PERFORMANCE: The south west London acute trust saw large year-on-year rises in elective care, A&E and births, a report to the board revealed.
Leicester hospitals opens new ward to meet targets

PERFORMANCE: University Hospitals of Leicester has opened a dedicated ward for fractured neck of femur patients, after commissioners issued the trust with a contract query for failing to meet targets.
Lewisham Healthcare Trust published safety thermometer results

PERFORMANCE: The results for the south east London acute trust include a ward-by-ward breakdown of what percentage of patients were given a VTE (Venous Thromboembolism) assessment.
Management of AF 'needs revising'

A potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder is not being properly managed in the UK, according to a new report.
Maritime unit gains cancer charity kitemark

PERFORMANCE: The Macmillan Cancer Care Unit at Medway Foundation Trust’s Maritime Hospital has received national recognition for the quality of care it offers.
Matt Walsh becomes full time accountable officer for Calderdale CCG

WORKFORCE: Matt Walsh, formerly NHS Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield medical director, has become the transitional accountable officer of Calderdale CCG on a full time basis.
Media Watch: Lansley's failure regime process

Last week was a big one for hospital news in the national papers, with a trust finding itself declared “bankrupt” for the first time.
Michael White: learn from past errors with PFI

I never established quite why Gordon Brown stopped offering me more than the occasional grunt by way of conversation six or seven years ago.
Mid Staffs draws up formal partnership with neighbour

STRUCTURE: A memorandum of understanding between the troubled Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust and its larger neighbour the University Hospital of North Staffordshire is set to be approved by both hospital boards this week.
Mike Farrar: steps to success for commissioning board mandate

Six keys to creating the right conditions for success
Minor injuries service moves to Ipswich Hospital

SERVICES: A minor injuries service is to move into Ipswich Hospital at the start of July.
Morecambe Bay forecasts £30m deficit for 2012-13

FINANCE: The trust is expecting to incur a deficit of around £30m in 2012-13, its latest finance report shows.
Mortality rate for mental illness is three times the population average

People who suffer with a serious mental illness have a mortality rate three times as high as those in the general population, according to new research.
New BMA chair elected as future strike decision is put off

A decision on future strike action by the BMA has been deferred until next month as newly elected chair Dr Mark Porter will seek an urgent meeting with the Health Secretary.
New integrated provider on cards for London

Two councils and a community trust in London are to consider plans to integrate provision of health and social care services.
New interim chief executive for troubled teaching hospital

An interim chief executive started work today at University Hospitals of Leicester Trust.
New NEDs for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership

WORKFORCE: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership has appointed two new non executive directors.
New role for Chesterfield Royal director

Andrew Jones, director of facilities at the Chesterfield Royal Hospitals Foundation Trust, has been appointed president of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals.
New vision unveiled for Stamford and Rutland

SERVICES: A new vision for the future of Stamford and Rutland Hospital has been unveiled at the board of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Foundation Trust.
NHS may need to reduce range of free health services after 2015, IFS warns

The most comprehensive analysis yet published of the prospects for health funding after 2015 has warned that politicians may need to increase taxes or “reconsider” the range of free services the NHS provides.
NHS North of England raises questions over East Cheshire FT bid

STRUCTURE: The regional director of NHS North of England has warned of risks connected to the “long-term requirements” of the trust’s local population, in relation to its bid for foundation status.
NHS pays out £1.2bn in litigation claims

The NHS has paid out a record £1.2bn in litigation claims in one year in England, it has emerged.
NHSCB 'mandate' sets out CCG autonomy and 18 weeks demands

The government will use its first NHS “mandate” to emphasise the autonomy of clinical commissioning groups and highlight patients’ right to be treated within 18 weeks, as well as requiring improvements in health outcomes.
Noel Plumridge: twice the harm

Last week’s announcement that an administrator is to be appointed at South London Healthcare Trust, with all that follows under the National Health Service Act 2006, brings two immediate harmful effects. It’s sad indeed that both appear to have been encouraged and even praised.
Norfolk and Norwich joins Stonewall scheme

SERVICES: The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust has joined Stonewall’s Health Champions programme, receiving free advice and expertise on health services from the gay equality charity.
Norfolk Community Health bids to become FT on 1 August

STRUCTURE: Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust’s bid to become a foundation trust will go the Department of Health on August 1 - one month later than planned.
Norfolk Community Health makes surplus

FINANCE: Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust made a surplus of £234,000 in May - £101,000 ahead of plan and reflecting savings from vacant posts.
Norfolk Community Health reaches MRSA limit

PERFORMANCE: Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust reached its contractual limit for MRSA cases in the first month of the financial year.
North Essex's PCTs exceed planned surpluses

FINANCE: All three PCTs in the North Essex cluster exceeded their planned surpluses in the last financial year.
North Kirklees transitional accountable officer named

WORKFORCE: North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group has named Chris Dowse as its transitional accountable officer.
Northern Devon nurse gets national policy role

WORKFORCE: A senior nurse from Northern Devon Healthcare Trust has been elected onto the national committee of the Community Hospitals Association.
NW London agrees £500m block contract with Imperial

FINANCE: NHS North West London has agreed more than half of Imperial’s income would be provided in a block contract rather than under payment by results.
NW London launches consultation on major service reconfiguration

STRUCTURE: NHS North West London has launched a consultation into a major shake-up of services across its eight boroughs.
OUH misses out on CQUIN cash

PERFORMANCE: Oxford University Hospital Trust missed out on £470,000 of commissioning for quality and innovation cash because it fell short of its venous thromboembolism target.
Oxfordshire PCT misses QIPP savings due to DTOCs

FINANCE: Oxfordshire primary care trust is predicting a £1.48m shortfall in efficiency savings due to delayed transfers of care.
Palliative care to reopen at Nottingham

STRUCTURE: A refurbished palliative care unit will open at Nottingham City Hospital on 3 July.
Pennine Acute misses three RTT waiting targets in April

PERFORMANCE: The trust failed to meet three of the five national targets for referral-to-treatment waiting times in April, its latest performance report shows.
Peterborough and Stamford plans for a £54m deficit

FINANCE: Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Foundation Trust expects to make a loss of £54.3m in 2012-13.
Plan launched to integrate health and social care data

Health and social care data sets are to be joined up for the first time to aid integrated commissioning under the NHS Commissioning Board’s final information operating model.
Private MH hospitals facing tighter margins

Reduced profits in NHS may starve some private mental health hospitals of investment.
Properties of a prosperous estate

NHS Property Services will take charge of a huge portfolio - and the opportunity to revitalise the way it is managed and maintained, says Graham Dupree.
Reconfiguration looms at £26m deficit trust

FINANCE: Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust has announced it plans to record a £26m deficit for 2012-13 and confirmed it is considering the reconfiguration of services, with the business case set to be completed in October.
Revealed: DH warnings to pipeline laggards

Delays and failure revealed in warning letters sent after trusts fall behind in attempts to achieve foundation trust status.
Review concludes NMC is failing 'at every level'

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has problems “at every level”, according to a highly critical report into the regulator published today.
Review of Leicestershire hospitals planned

STRUCTURE: West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group is undertaking a review of community hospitals and the services they provide.
Royal Cornwall reports performance against safety thermometer

PERFORMANCE: Patient safety thermometer data collected by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust shows 92 per cent of patients treated at the trust during the first three months of 2012-13 were harm free.
Royal Cornwall struggles with A&E performance

PERFORMANCE: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust failed the accident and emergency four hour standard during the first two months of 2012-13.
Ruth Carnall: take the shakes out of the shake-ups

Revamping NHS organisations will always be intense but these lessons from London can help to make things easier.
Smoking service in Norfolk goes out to tender

SERVICES: The smoking cessation service in much of Norfolk is to go out to tender later this year.
Solent and Southampton trusts explore joint working

STRUCTURE: Acute and community providers in Southampton are exploring new joint working arrangements in a bid to cut demand for emergency services, HSJ can reveal.
South Essex PCT cluster has £130k surplus

FINANCE: The South Essex PCT cluster had a surplus of £130,000 at the end of the first month of the new financial year and is forecasting a full year surplus of £0.85m.
South west CSS managing director appointed

WORKFORCE: NHS Somerset’s former director of commissioning Jan Hull has been appointed managing director of the Best West Commissioning Support Service.
South West London anticipates losing £2.4m after QIPP negotiations

FINANCE: South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust has calculated it will lose £2.4m when commissioners disinvest by £7.9m.
South West London mental health trust awaits report on CCG concerns

PERFORMANCE: A report to the board of South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust said the trust was awaiting a “definitive statement” from the clinical commissioning groups on what concerns they would like to see addressed before giving their support to the trust’s foundation trust application.
Spend on new drugs expected to drop

The drugs industry expects the NHS to cut its real terms spend on new medicines over the next three years - but it is warning that the slow adoption of new drugs could create avoidable costs.
Staff sickness exceeds target at Norfolk Community Health

WORKFORCE: The staff sickness rate for May was 6.2 per cent at Norfolk Community Health and Care Trust.
Successful CSSs to be given a 'licence to operate'

Commissioning Support Services that pass the NHS Commissioning Board’s assurance process will be awarded a “licence to operate” setting out the rules under which they will conduct business.
Suffolk completes hospital refurbishment

SERVICES: A major refurbishment of an existing hospital to creates a health and care centre is complete. Hartismere Health and Care building in Eye will reopen on Saturday (June 30).
Tameside deficit above plan in first month of 2012-13

FINANCE: The foundation trust reported a deficit of £177,000 for April 2012, against a plan of £151,000 for the month, its latest published finance report shows.
Taunton and Somerset partners with local college

WORKFORCE: Taunton and Somerset Foundation Trust is supporting the training of 30 new assistant practitioners in partnership with a local college.
Tribute paid to former North Staffordshire PCT chair

WORKFORCE: Tributes have been paid to former North Staffordshire PCT chairman George Wiskin, who died suddenly last week.
Trust challenged over IT procurement process

One of England’s most prestigious hospital trusts has been accused of conducting a £20m IT tender having already picked the winner.
UCLH chief fears CCGs could bring more fragmentation

One of England’s most respected hospital chiefs has said he fears clinical commissioning groups could lead to care becoming increasingly fragmented – and that rationalisation of acute services is “happening behind the scenes” without their input.
Wakefield CCG names interim chief finance officer

WORKFORCE: Jim Hayburn has been appointed as interim chief finance officer for Wakefield CCG.
Warwickshire CCGs merge

STRUCTURE: Two clinical commissioning groups have merged to form a single organisation in north Warwickshire following advice from the NHS Commissioning Board.
Warwickshire hospitals struggle on ambulance handover

PERFORMANCE: Acute providers in Warwickshire are struggling against targets for emergency admissions and ambulance handovers.
Welsh youngsters 'not offered health funds'

Health officials in Wales have been accused of letting young people who have cerebral palsy “suffer unnecessarily” by failing to offer funds for surgery which could help with mobility.
Western Sussex FT bid given go-ahead by health secretary

STRUCTURE: The health secretary has given his backing to Western Sussex Hospitals Trust’s application for foundation status.
Why patient leaders are the new kids on the block

In the first of a series of articles, David Gilbert and Mark Doughty look at the roles patient leaders can play and the challenges they face.
Why so many vacancies? Time to stop the NHS talent drain

A range of problems and events all broadly linked to the quality and, particularly, availability of leadership are rapidly converging.
Work begins on Stevenage's £19.3m A&E

SERVICES: Work is underway on the new £19.3m emergency department at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.
Yeovil finished year ahead of plan on surplus

FINANCE: Yeovil District Hospital Foundation Trust finished the year with a surplus of £993,000, £718,000 more than planned.
Yorkshire trusts finalise merger

York Hospitals Foundation Trust officially acquired the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust on Sunday.

Alastair McLellan

Health Service Journal5 July 2012

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Health Service Journal
5 July 2012