Policy
Health policy news
Lord Owen: Lords have failed to alter the Health Bill
The House of Lords has failed to make significant changes to the Health Bill, the influential crossbencher Lord Owen has said, calling on the prime minister to scrap the legislation before it becomes law.
Government risks going backwards on integration, warn MPs
Financial pressures and the government’s reforms risk the level of integration between health and social care actually diminishing, despite ministers restating their commitment to the policy, according to MPs.
Training plans for major government project leaders
Whitehall officials will undergo training programmes before being allowed to run major public projects like the new high-speed rail link or the NHS IT project, ministers have said.
Reform cuts costing 6,000 nursing posts, Labour warns
Money earmarked for the costs of reorganising the NHS could pay to prevent the loss of 6,000 nursing jobs, Labour claims.
Royal College 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.
Health Bill amendments target integration and secretary of state's duties
The government has tabled 137 amendments to its Health Bill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Warning as social care funding falls £0.5bn
Spending on older people’s social care in England has fallen by half a billion pounds, according to a new report.
Royal colleges will 'continue dialogue' on reform
The government looks to have avoided a major rebellion from the influential royal colleges over its plans to overhaul the NHS.
Key risks posed by NHS commissioning reforms revealed
The NHS Commissioning Board has admitted that “key risks” to its success include the haemorrhaging of senior leaders during the reform transition and a shortage of staff to commission specialist and primary care.
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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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Health secretary formally announces NHS property company
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Lansley defends reforms from 'unfair and out-of-date' report
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Government announces £5.2bn public health spend
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Efficiency savings drive being 'distracted' by reforms
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Exclusive: DH letters to staff admit 'no clarity' on jobs
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Managers to fly in to run straggling CCGs' budgets
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Forty-one commissioning support services are proposed
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Trusts facing 'difficult choice' over service provision
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Two royal colleges declare opposition to Health Bill
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Competitive tendering will be ‘as important’ as any qualified provider
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Salaries of 10 NHS Commissioning Board directors total £1.7m
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Mid Staffs inquiry impacting Commissioning Board risk model
News by sector
How to create a long-term strategy for better workforce planning
The Department of Health’s strategic vision for the NHS presents several workforce planning challenges for the service to tackle. Dulani Mendis suggests strategy tips for creating a culture of long-term improvement.
Managing medicines: avoiding ethical and legal difficulties
Substituting expensive medicines for less costly alternatives might be a measure earmarked for cutting costs, but financial and legal issues surround this approach and need careful adherence, warns Peter Feldschreiber.
On dodgy ground: much needed NHS estate works are being held up by the Health Bill's progress
The paused Health Bill has held up much needed improvement to facilities around the country, and while the plans intend to help patients more effectively in the long term, the welfare of communities is suffering now, argues Assura Group managing director for property Andrew Darke.
The legal issues facing the transition to consortia commissioning
The transition towards GP led consortia and commissioning will require firm and clear guidance on legal and policy issues. Fiona Boyse, associate at Mills & Reeve LLP, offers a legal insight into the changes facing commissioning.
Payment by Results - conference sessions
A business critical briefing from HSJ’s Payment by Results conference.
Fundamentals of the NHS - conference sessions
A business critical briefing from HSJ’s Fundamentals of the NHS conference.
