Opinion
Roger Taylor on the NHS safety debate
The public needs all the facts to enable them to fully engage in the debate on healthcare safety
Michael White: NHS policy pronouncements
Is the pace of policy pronouncements speeding up or am I just slowing down? Or is it the imminence of that election and the all too understandable desire of elected politicians to cover all their bases?
Andrew Haldenby on hospital closures and competition
The gloom surrounding the UK’s public finances is darkening as the general election approaches.
Pete Mason on NHS teamwork
Exceptional teamwork doesn’t just happen, it develops. The secret of truly exceptional teams is that they know how to develop in order to achieve outstanding performance and extraordinary results.
Andy McKeon: NHS cash alone won’t end health inequalities
One strategy every six months under Labour has failed to produce results for children under five
Paul Corrigan on suspending NHS incentives
Research from the London School of Economics published in December gave insight into how competition within the NHS is benefiting patients.
Michael White on political spin
It is rarely easy to spot when a policy statement or media report has undue political spin on it. As a hard fought general election approaches it can be near impossible.
Steve Preston on winning at interviews
Do you have a fear of interviews? You are not alone. They can be stressful, intimidating and nerve-wracking.
Jenny Owen on a new solution to health and social care funding
A solution to social care funding must be agreed to get the most benefit from joint working
Noel Plumridge on the rules of payment by results
A rules-based system. That was the aspiration in 2004 when payment by results was introduced to England’s NHS.
Michael White on the Mid Staffs inquiry
An anecdote and a think tank boffin came to mind as I ploughed through the undimmed horrors of Robert Francis QC’s report on the disaster at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust.
Jenny Rogers on NHS staff engagement
Every half decade or so, a new wonder idea comes along in management - for instance, learning organisations, business process re-engineering, total quality management, or - aeons ago - management by objectives.
Mark Britnell on the future of Agenda for Change
Agenda for Change does not need to be scrapped and renegotiated - just applied properly
Mark Goldman on inspiring people
“We must reject the idea - well intentioned but dead wrong - that the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to become ‘more like a business’.
Michael White: NHS reorganisation row
By chance I stumbled on an NHS row which intrigues me. It is the sight of Labour ministers and their Tory shadows and wannabe successors joining forces to denounce disgraceful “scaremongering” about a hospital reorganisation.
Media Watch
Media Watch: maternity pledges
If the forthcoming election really will be all about capturing the female vote, Gordon Brown went out all guns blazing with an online chat on the Netmums website, on Mother’s Day.
Your Humble Servant and Cally Bann
Your Humble Servant: lights, camera, casualty
‘The crying was spot on. As you talked with humility about the demise of Mrs Smith, the tears that began rolling down your cheeks captured the emotion and sincerity of our apology perfectly’
Cally Bann: SHA Winter Olympic Cover Your Back Executive Director Pentathlon
Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is… all learning how to ski and snowboard if our emergency department activity is anything to go by. Throw in the removal of the winter covers from the back-garden trampolines and collective amnesia about putting the safety netting back up and it’s hardly surprising the 98 per cent target took a pounding last week.
