Latest Health Service News
Five NHS commissioning board directors confirmed
The appointment of five NHS Commissioning Board executive directors has been announced, including Ian Dalton in the key role of chief operating officer.
Private providers attack Monitor failure regime
Private mental health firms are lobbying for deep changes to Monitor’s proposed failure regime, claiming rules putting “patients ahead of creditors” will prevent them from borrowing.
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.
Royal Gollege of GPs joins calls for Health Bill to be scrapped
The UK’s largest medical royal college has called for the prime minister to scrap the Health and Social Care Bill, branding it “damaging, unnecessary and expensive”.
Commissioning board restricted by Health Bill 'turbulence'
The NHS Commissioning Board is working under “strict limits” on what it can do as the government’s Health Bill battles “turbulence” in Parliament, its chair has said.
Government estimates central bail-out of seven trusts will cost £1.5bn
The government has estimated that bailing out hospital trusts with large PFI repayments could cost £1.5bn.
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.
Flory to lead NHS Trust Development Authority
NHS deputy chief executive David Flory is to become the first head of the body charged with creating an all-foundation-trust provider sector.
Imperial suspends reporting on waiting lists
One of England’s largest hospital trusts has taken the rare step of suspending its reporting of three key performance measures as it is “unable” to determine how many patients are waiting for treatment.
'Hinchingbrooke model' still an option for struggling trust
A financially challenged hospital is considering partnering with the private sector, despite government claims that no NHS trusts planned to follow the “Hinchingbrooke model”.
Health Bill amendments target integration and secretary of state's duties
The government has tabled 137 amendments to its Health Bill.
Croydon out-of-hours care failures exposed
PERFORMANCE: Serious care and accountability failures in an out-of-hours GP service have been highlighted in a report from a London primary care trust.
Confed warns Monitor off credit ratings plan
Most NHS providers are “extremely unlikely” to be able to obtain a credit rating, and the proposal is likely to be unacceptably costly to the health service, the NHS Confederation has warned.
Sacked Mid Staffs lawyer awarded £100,000
A lawyer who was sacked by Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust after allegedly trying to cover up failings in a patient’s care has won more than £100,000 at an employment tribunal.
Regulator issues Morecambe Bay urgent warning to increase A&E staffing
PERFORMANCE: The Care Quality Commission has issued a warning to University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay foundation trust that it must improve staffing levels at The Royal Lancaster Infirmary, after an inspection of its accident and emergency department.
NHS managers 'too busy' to address staff health at work
NHS managers do not “buy in” to the health at work drive, the government’s national director for health and work has claimed.
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.
Campaign to increase doctors working in Wales launched
A campaign to encourage more doctors to work in Wales has been launched by Cardiff’s health minister Lesley Griffiths.
Medical royal colleges divide over Health Bill
There is a deepening split in the position taken by the medical royal colleges towards the Health Bill.
North Cumbria selects preferred takeover bid
STRUCTURE: North Cumbria University Hospitals has named Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust as its preferred bidder to take over the trust.
PM responds to HSJ's criticisms of reforms
David Cameron has defended his government’s health reforms at prime minister’s question time from the criticisms set out in HSJ’s joint leader with Nursing Times and the BMJ.
Government urged to slow NHS 111 rollout
GPs and nurses are urging the government to slow the implementation of the new non-emergency NHS telephone number amid fears it could actually increase pressure on services.
CCG performance could be measured against 120 indicators
Clinical commissioning groups could be judged against up to 120 performance measures, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has revealed today.
No big shift in government Health Bill amendments
The government was this week expected to announce a series of changes to its Health Bill, with the intention of staving off opposition when the legislation returns to parliament next week.
LIFT companies seek NHS Property Services links
Companies set up under a public-private partnership scheme are positioning themselves to become key partners to NHS Property Services, the firm formed to manage health service assets.
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.
Health bodies caution against Cabinet Office open data push
A government consultation on more open use of data has found strong support for increased transparency in public services. But health organisations have urged caution due to the potential for leaks of sensitive information.
Fixed NHS prices could become 'increasingly problematic' commission warns
The use of fixed prices to prevent competition driving down care quality could become “increasingly problematic”, a “seminal report” warned this week.
Competition panel highlights GP conflict concern
A primary care trust has been criticised by the Cooperation and Competition Panel for giving GPs leading roles in a decision to close a rival primary care centre.
Letters on PCT and SHA staff transfers sent today
Primary care trust and strategic health authority staff across England are today being sent letters explaining where their function is to be transferred to in the restructured NHS.
Nearly half of GPs dealing with 'burnout'
Close to 50 per cent of doctors suffer from emotional exhaustion related to burnout, according to researchers.
DH warns over severe weather
The Department of Health has warned people to keep an eye on local weather reports as forecasters warn that scattered snow showers and freezing temperatures are on their way to the UK.
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.
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Exclusive: St George's drops out of St Helier merger bid
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'Be clear' bowel cancer campaign launched by government
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Warning as social care funding falls £0.5bn
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Health board fined after patient contracts Legionnaires'
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Chief executive of hospital trust with huge deficit resigns
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PCT staff letters to omit passage on clarity
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Farrar: Commissioning board manager cuts 'pose a danger to patient care'
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Consultant support sought for CCG authorisation process
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Royal colleges will 'continue dialogue' on reform
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More private clinics to treat implant patients for free
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Key risks posed by NHS commissioning reforms revealed
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Exclusive: private acute providers warned over slowing NHS-funded work
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Cuts to commissioning management 'risk quality and savings'
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GMC moves on 'gagging clauses' in pay-off deals
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Unions to hold reform summit with royal colleges
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Government orders nursing regulator review
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Chief midwife brands Lansley's comments 'below the belt'
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CQC is 'fit for job', says permanent secretary
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Private patient income continues to fall
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Fire service to discuss sharing ambulance stations
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Risks facing the commissioning board: in its own words
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Commissioning board 'likely' to enforce standard patient records
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Health secretary formally announces NHS property company
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More CQC inspections risk 'diverting' funds from patient care, MPs to be warned
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Monitor could advise commissioners on reconfiguration to combat financial difficulties
News by sector
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Latest from HSJ Local
SHIP cluster courts KPMG for commissioning support development
STRUCTURE: The Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Portsmouth primary care trust cluster is courting consultants KPMG in a bid to draw up a business case for its commissioning support service.
Southern Health reconfiguration 'paused' after concerns raised
STRUCTURE: A consultation into changes to mental health services in Hampshire has been “paused” after concerns were raised over the closure of one inpatient unit.
Bradford surgeon becomes Yorks and Humber postgraduate dean
WORKFORCE: Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust consultant vascular surgeon David Wilkinson has been appointed postgraduate dean at the Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery.
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SHIP cluster overspends on staff
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Three C difficile cases cost £55,000 under CQUIN system
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Some maternity care shifted from Dudley to ease pressure
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Consultation to decide location of Sandwell's hyper-acute stroke unit
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North Tyneside GP practice hails flu vaccine uptake
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Salisbury and Wiltshire dispute cost of services
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Croydon out-of-hours care failures exposed
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Regulator issues Morecambe Bay urgent warning to increase A&E staffing
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Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals closes birth centre
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Gloucestershire fails to hit Clostridium difficile target
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Gloucestershire misses 95pc target again
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South Devon risks missing C difficile target
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South Devon £2m above surplus target
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Bournemouth and Christchurch exceeds planned surplus
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Gloucs reports £1m deficit
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Bristol revises up surplus prediction
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Bristol just misses out on A&E standard in December
