Health Service Journal
8 December 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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£5.4m bailout for Trafford dependant on ‘accountability agreement’
FINANCE: Trafford Healthcare Trust would need to conclude an “accountability agreement” with its commissioners to secure a further £5.4m tranche of “transitional” funding, its last board meeting was told. -
Academic health science partnerships take shape in London
Lord Darzi’s phoenix-from-the-ashes academic health science partnership Imperial Health Partners has got off to a flying start, but one name was conspicuous by its absence on its list of potential partners. -
Adult hearing and musculoskeletal services to be opened to competition in Lancashire
STRUCTURE: Diagnostics, adult hearing and musculoskeletal services will be opened up to competition from any qualified provider by North Lancashire Teaching PCT in 2012, according to a new “AQP map” published by the Department of Health. -
Alcohol nurse specialist deployed in Hillingdon Hospital A&E
PERFORMANCE: Minutes to a meeting of the west London acute trust said most re-attendances at A&E for under-65s were because of alcohol or mental health issues and that the PCT had commissioned an alcohol nurse specialist to work there. -
Altrincham Hospital rebuild set to be delayed until November 2012
STRUCTURE: The start of work to rebuild the trust’s Altrincham General Hospital is set to be pushed back a year, to November 2012, a revised timeline for the project shows. -
Andy McKeon: does commissioning change anything?
Commissioning has to overcome some stiff challenges if it is to enjoy many more birthdays, says Andy McKeon. -
Book Review: The Terrible Leader
Independent business consultant Jeremy Kourdi reviews Dan White’s The Terrible Leader. -
Burton FT admits 'desire to vary' Agenda for Change
WORKFORCE: There is a “desire to vary Agenda for Change” at Burton Hospitals Foundation Trust, according to its human resources director. -
Burton reports 'significant' risks to finance plan
FINANCE: Burton Hospitals Foundation Trust is reporting “significant risks” to its planned financial out-turn. -
Calls for trusts to source British food for patient meals
Only one trust in 10 is aware of where the food served to patients comes from, an investigation by the Countryside Alliance Foundation has found. -
CCG performance and payment regime allowed to include 'process' measures
Clinical commissioning groups will be given “at least monthly” updates on their performance – on “processes” as well as outcomes – by the NHS Commissioning Board, it has been confirmed. -
Clinical senate role still unclear - DH
The function of clinical senates remains unclear, the NHS medical director has said, nearly six months after they were proposed. -
Commissioners warned to abide by CCP ruling
FINANCE: The chief executive of Hillingdon Hospital Foundation Trust used his report to the board to remind the PCT of the Co-operation and Competition Panel’s judgment on commisioners imposing minimum waiting times, activity caps and “‘inappropriate constraints’ on elective activity.” -
Commissioning board chair praises NHS’s 'spectacular' record during last decade
NHS Commissioning Board chair Malcolm Grant began the first formal meeting of the organisation by praising the “spectacular increase” in public support for the service under the Labour government. -
Councils should expect 'enormous' cost variations on Dilnot proposals
Councils should expect enormous variations in the costs of implementing the Dilnot Commission’s proposals for funding adult social care, MPs were told today. -
Cumbria PCT to open up diagnostics and continence services to competition
STRUCTURE: Diagnostics, adult hearing and continence services will be opened up to competition from any qualified provider by the primary care trust in 2012, according to a new “AQP map” published by the Department of Health. -
Darzi centre's closure goes to consultation
FINANCE: The proposed closure of a Darzi centre in Warrington has gone out to public consultation after the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral PCT cluster board heard that there were concerns it was not value for money. -
David Nicholson seeks NHS 'nature and culture' change to innovate
The NHS chief executive has called for a change in “the nature and culture” of NHS organisations, as well as leadership in the service, to promote innovation. -
DH banned CQC from recruiting inspectors
The Department of Health must share responsibility for the failings of the Care Quality Commission, a report by the National Audit Office has found. -
Diagnostics, adult hearing, and podiatry to be opened to competition across Manchester
STRUCTURE: Podiatry, diagnostics and adult hearing services will be opened up to competition from any qualified provider by the primary care trust NHS Manchester in 2012, according to a new “AQP map” published by the Department of Health. -
Don’t be squeamish: learn to embrace innovation
Innovation, Health and Wealth, the report prepared by NHS South of England chief executive Sir Ian Carruthers, is a powerful and long overdue document. -
East Berks reconfiguration delayed over high activity levels
STRUCTURE: A reconfiguration consultation in East Berkshire has been extended because activity levels in 2011-12 are significantly higher than expected. -
East Cheshire CCG awards non-obstetric ultrasound tender
FINANCE: The East Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group has completed a tender process for direct access non-obstetric ultrasound, Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral cluster board heard. -
Estate puts maternity services at risk at George Eliot
STRUCTURE: Maternity services at George Eliot Hospital are at risk of closure due to the condition of the building they are based in, and “plumbing issues”. -
Exclusive: CCGs, national board and fellow GPs will tackle 'underperformers' - Lansley
Clinical commissioning groups will tackle GP practice members which are shown to be failing by new outcomes data, but the NHS Commissioning Board will also have the power to intervene, Andrew Lansley has told HSJ. -
Exclusive: Lansley to step up push on variation as second NHS atlas published
Huge regional disparities in the quality of healthcare are due to be revealed by the second NHS Atlas of Variation, and a series of additional government analyses. -
Exclusive: London's paediatric emergency services not 'safe or sustainable'
London has too few paediatric doctors to staff paediatric emergency services to safe levels and “an unsustainable ratio” of trainees to consultants in the departments, an internal document obtained by HSJ reveals. -
Farrar: innovation needs 'management culture' shift
NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar has called for more tolerance of risk taking among NHS leaders to encourage innovation. -
Flory: commissioners' savings plans on course
Commissioners made almost 45 per cent of their planned savings in the first half of 2011-12, but the already weakened finances of NHS trusts deteriorated further in the past three months, David Flory said today. -
FT declines to support local community trust's FT bid after losing tender
STRUCTURE: Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust’s board has said it is unable to support the foundation trust bid of a neighbouring community services trust. -
Gloucestershire fails four hour A&E standard
PERFORMANCE: Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust is failing the four hour accident and emergency target. -
GPs claim CCGs are being 'bullied and coerced' by PCTs
A survey of doctors involved in emerging clinical commissioning groups has found 60 per cent report “being coerced or bullied” in how they set up the organisation, according to a new survey. -
GPs opt for a single CCG for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
STRUCTURE: A single clinical commissioning group has emerged as the “clear preference” for GPs in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, HSJ has learned. -
GSTT and King's sign procurement deal with BMI Healthcare
FINANCE: The two south London foundation trusts, which have a combined turnover of approximately £1.4bn, signed the deal with the private healthcare group at the end of last month. -
Gulf in class: how Qatar is driving excellence by investing in academic research
Standing out among countries in the Middle East, Qatar is investing in an academic health research partnership on the US health science centre model. Simon Lewis reports. -
Heatherwood FT improves on maternity
PERFORMANCE: Maternity services at Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust are improving on a range of performance measures. -
Heatherwood reforecast predicts deficit of up to £18m
FINANCE: Heatherwood and Wexham Park NHS Foundation Trust is predicting a deficit of between £12.8m and £18.3m for 2011-12, after redrawing its financial forecast for the year. -
Hillingdon Hospital FT behind on CIPs but still expecting to hit year-end target.
FINANCE: The latest finance report for the west London acute said the trust was £1.7m off its planned saving of £3.9m. -
How speaking up improves safety and saves lives in the health service
Some keep quiet, even when risks are known. Richard Pound examines how we can get everyone to speak up -
How UK healthcare professionals can help countries needing international development
Healthcare workers are being challenged to take up their most demanding but rewarding career move yet as international development charity VSO urgently needs 100 healthcare professionals to volunteer in some of the world’s poorest countries next year. -
How workforce transformation can help organisations hit QIPP targets
Using a competence based approach to workforce transformation across patient pathways helped improve patient experience in the North West and South West, as well as gains in productivity and quality of care. Robert Sumpter and Tim Lund explain. -
HSJ survey: should trusts have more control over pay?
HSJ is looking for our readers’ views on Chancellor George Osborne’s review into public sector pay. Take part now. -
Industry will meet start-up costs for telehealth, Nicholson says
Private sector leaders have agreed to “put their hands in their pockets” to fund the initial investment in telehealth, the chief executive of the NHS has told HSJ. -
Lansley sets 60 new performance indicators for hospitals
The health secretary is to tell the NHS that it must improve patient outcomes under tough new goals for hospitals. -
Lewisham Hospital income £1m under plan
FINANCE: The £220m-turnover trust was under plan for income but had also underspent by £546,000 at the end of October. -
Lung cancer services audit reveals little improvement
Much of the progress in lung cancer treatment has stalled, with major variations still evident in remaining service provision, NHS Information Centre data suggests. -
Media Watch: pensions play second fiddle patient privacy
The NHS has been all over the front pages during the past week or so, and not all of it to do with public sector strikes. -
Merseyside PCTs on schedule over savings plans
FINANCE: PCTs in the Merseyside cluster reported a positive picture to the end of September, with savings plans nearly £6m ahead of schedule. -
Michael White: the eternal tension of national vs regional policy
David Cameron’s new plan to open up NHS medical records to high-tech life science researchers is a bit like chancellor George Osborne’s proposal in last week’s autumn statement to boost the regional economies in those parts of Britain that are suffering most in the downturn. -
Ministers seek talks with GP bodies over quality premium
Ministers are to enter fresh talks with GP representatives over the controversial “quality premium” payments for clinical commissioning groups. -
Monitor to review FT assessment process but 'the bar will remain high'
Monitor is to review its assessment process for applicant foundation trusts but has stressed that “the bar will remain high”. -
New Imperial chair is former NHS London chair
WORKFORCE: Sir Richard Sykes, who resigned as chair of NHS London over Andrew Lansley’s scrapping of the Darzi plan for the capital, is to take up the chairmanship of Imperial College Healthcare Trust. -
New NED for Epsom and St Helier
WORKFORCE: The south London/Surrey borders acute trust has appointed Dr Peter Rawlinson as a non-executive director. -
NHS Ashton, Wigan and Leigh consults on new health centre plans
STRUCTURE: The primary care trust is consulting residents on plans to develop a new health and community centre on the site of the current Ashton-in-Makerfield town hall. -
NHS London to sign off Barts merger on Tuesday
STRUCTURE: The strategic health authority NHS London will consider the full business case for the merger of Barts and the London, Whipps Cross and Newham University hospitals at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday. -
NHS pension scheme deficit predicted within three years
The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast the NHS pension scheme will pay out more money than it receives in 2013-14, meaning it will require a £500m Treasury bailout. -
NHS staff turnover figures shows workforce contracted by 2 per cent
The NHS workforce shrank by 2 per cent in the year to August, staff turnover figures analysed by HSJ reveal. -
Nicholson predicts between 14 and 18 academic health science networks
Academic health science networks could be set up in between 14 to 18 health economies in England, the NHS chief executive has said. -
Nicholson: providers and commissioners will be fined for not meeting NICE guidance
Providers and commissioners will face significant financial penalties if they do not implement National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence rules on drugs and best practice. -
Noel Plumridge: this holiday's must-have NHS reads
For the fast approaching season of peace and goodwill, it’s customary for columnists to offer their reading recommendations for the holiday period. -
North of Tyne PCTs provide information dashboard to GPs and CCGs
COMMERCIAL: The North of Tyne PCTs have provided a new health information reporting tool to all their GP practices and emerging clinical commissioning groups. -
North Yorkshire and York PCT welcomes evidence for telehealth
PERFORMANCE: NHS North Yorkshire and York, which has pioneered investment in telehealth, has welcomed national plans to roll out the technology nationwide. -
Overspends on Newcastle Hospital care
FINANCE: The North of Tyne PCTs - Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland - are overspending against planned activity for Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust, but still on target to meet their planned surplus. -
Patient data 'assurances' needed for private sector data sharing - Burnham
Government plans to give NHS patients’ details to private firms developing new drugs must give “assurance” that privacy safeguards will be in place. -
PCTs take easy option on AQP
Primary care trusts have been accused of being “unimaginative” in the services they have chosen to open up to competition through the any qualified provider policy. -
Penalties for providers and commissioners failing to innovate
Providers and commissioners face significant financial penalties if they fail to innovate in six “high impact” areas or follow National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on drugs and best practice. -
Pension talks set to continue on Friday
The government and health unions are set to hold their latest round of talks today over changes to pensions in the wake of yesterday’s strike. -
Podiatry and adult hearing services to be opened to competition in Merseyside
STRUCTURE: Podiatry, musculoskeletal and adult hearing services will be opened up to competition from any qualified provider by NHS Liverpool in 2012, according to a new “AQP map” published by the Department of Health. -
Privacy concerns over Cameron NHS data sharing plan
The prime minister David Cameron will today signal controversial moves to boost the economy by sharing NHS data with private healthcare companies. -
Psychological therapies and diagnostics to be opened to any qualified provider in Cheshire
STRUCTURE: Psychological therapies, diagnostics and continence services will be opened up to competition from any qualified provider by NHS Central and Eastern Cheshire in 2012, according to a new “AQP map” published by the Department of Health. -
Reform plans risk fragmenting child health services, NHS Confederation says
The government’s NHS reforms risk fragmenting care for the most vulnerable children, a study published today says. -
Results business? The view from the HSJ Payments by Results conference 2011
Derek Miller reports on the HSJ Payment By Results conference 2011, where a conflict emerged between the official message on PbR and what is actually happening on the ground between cash strapped PCTs and providers. -
Royal Berkshire beats finance target thanks to unexpected income
FINANCE: The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust beat its deficit target for quarter one of 2011-12 thanks to £1.4m more income than expected. -
Royal Berkshire chief 'on leave'
WORKFORCE: Edward Donald’s future as the chief executive of the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is in doubt after it emerged that he has taken indefinite annual leave. -
Royal Berkshire deficit £1m worse than planned
FINANCE: The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust reported a worsening financial position at the end of September, despite making savings on capital expenditure. -
Royal Berkshire nurses lose recruitment bonuses
WORKFORCE: The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is to remove its “recruitment and retention premium” for nurses. -
Salisbury appoints new chief executive
WORKFORCE: Salisbury Foundation Trust has appointed a new chief executive. -
Service delays arose despite 'good natured' strike
The NHS managed to keep many services running throughout last Wednesday’s national strike but ambulance services were significantly affected in some areas. -
Sheffield Hospitals research suggests stroke treatment breakthrough
PERFORMANCE: Researchers at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust have published a report demonstrating a potentially major breakthrough in stroke treatment. -
Sir David Nicholson back at the top of HSJ100
NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has returned to the top of HSJ100 – which ranks the people with greatest influence on health policy and the NHS – for the third time. -
South Central SHA data breaches affect over 1,800 staff
PERFORMANCE: Serious data breaches have been reported in the South Central region involving personal details of more than 1,800 staff. -
South London and Maudsley using reserve to cover operational deficit
FINANCE: The mental health trust reported earnings of £12.4m to the November meeting of the board, £1.1m below plan. -
South Tees develops own post-surgery flow IT system
COMMERCIAL: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has adopted a new computer system to improve patient flow following surgery. -
South West shouts about its success as handover looms
No one could accuse NHS South West’s 133-page handover document, published last week, of being anything less than exhaustive. -
Southern Cross care homes transfer ends
The care homes formerly run by Southern Cross have all been transferred to new operators, the government has announced. -
'Specialised commissioning gives the NHS Commissioning Board a chance to deliver'
The NHS Commissioning Board will have control over specialised commissioning from April 2013. It is a very real opportunity to bring about dramatic improvements in clinical quality, and speed up the adoption of innovation across the NHS, says John Murray. -
St George's £4.1m behind finance plan
FINANCE: The south London acute, which has a £556m-turnover, is aiming for a year-end surplus of £7.9m, but was recording a £3.6m deficit at the end of October. -
St Helens and Knowsley Trust struggling to clear patient backlog
PERFORMANCE: St Helens and Knowsley Trust is struggling to clear a backlog of patients who have missed the 18 week referral to treatment target, the Merseyside cluster board heard. -
Stafford Hospital shuts overnight A&E services
WORKFORCE: The planned closure of Stafford Hospital’s accident and emergency department between 10pm and 8am has begun. -
'Successful localism needs everyone working together'
The principle in devolving power from the centre into the hands of communities is a worthy one, but it should not obstruct those already well-run and successful regional programmes, says Stephen Eames. -
Surplus of £9m forecast by Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral cluster
FINANCE: The Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral PCT cluster is forecasting a surplus of £9m for the year with QIPP savings on target at £24m in the first five months of the year, the board heard. -
Taunton gets £12m loan for rebuild
FINANCE: Taunton and Somerset Foundation Trust has received a £12m loan from the NHS financing facility to enable the building of five new wards. -
The future challenges facing pathology - an online Q&A
Burning questions such as what will drive collaboration between trusts to make savings for pathology drew HSJ readers to link up with an expert panel. Alison Moore reports from the online Q&A, sponsored by Roche Diagnostics. -
The quest for best practice: discovering and implementing new ideas in the NHS
Putting good ideas into practice in the NHS has been made easier by adapting the format of a successful TV programme. Alison Moore ventures into the dragons’ den to find out how. -
Tobacco programme staff contemplate future as social enterprise
WORKFORCE: Tobacco programme staff in the North West are using ‘the right to request’ in an attempt to become a social enterprise, Merseyside cluster board heard. -
Training and education transition warning as guidance delayed
The influence of smaller trusts and the independent scrutiny of NHS education and training could be undermined by government reforms, HSJ has learned. -
United Lincs spent £120,000 on legal fees in chief exec case
A trust spent £120,000 on legal fees in the run up to an employment tribunal hearing with its former chief executive - only to agree an “amicable resolution”. -
Whistleblowers ignored and warned off speaking up, RCN survey finds
Instances of whistleblowing on poor NHS care are being ignored in almost 50 per cent of cases, a survey of over 3,000 nurses suggests. -
Why it is vital trusts learn lessons from coroners' reports
When a patient dies, the Coroners Rules 1984 allows coroners to produce a report that has the single purpose of preventing future deaths, if it is deemed the risk of death will continue to exist. Joanna Trewin has some advice on how trusts can avoid these - and what to do if they don’t. -
Wirral University Teaching Hospital breaching 18-week target
PERFORMANCE: The 18 week referral to treatment target is continuing to be breached in the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral PCT cluster with particular problems at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust. -
Worcestershire has to start again with FT application
STRUCTURE: Monitor has rejected a request from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust for a second extension to its foundation trust application. -
Worcestershire wins Staffordshire prison contract
COMMERCIAL: Worcestershire Health and Care Trust has been awarded a contract to provide offender healthcare services at a new prison in Staffordshire. -
Wye Valley seeks SHA support for 'precarious' finances
FINANCE: Wye Valley Trust has warned its cashflow position remains “precarious” and it may not be able to pay its bills on time. -
Wye Valley wins learning disability service
STRUCTURE: Wye Valley Trust will take over provision of health services for Herefordshire residents with learning disabilities from 2gether Foundation Trust.
