Primary Care
News on primary care
Revealed: the CCGs with largest and smallest budgets
HSJ can reveal the clinical commissioning groups set to take on the largest and smallest budgets under the government’s NHS reforms.
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.
South Essex PCT cluster tenders for NHS 111
COMMERCIAL: The NHS South West Essex and South East Essex primary care trust cluster is seeking expresions of interest from providers interested in providing an NHS 111 and out of hours service.
SHIP cluster agrees new GP service at community hospital
STRUCTURE: A GP service will be set up at Fareham Community Hospital in Hampshire as the “most suitable option” for providing primary care services in the area.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SHIP cluster overspends on staff
WORKFORCE: The Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth primary care trust cluster was overspent on staff costs by £385,000 at month nine.
North Tyneside GP practice hails flu vaccine uptake
PERFORMANCE: North Tyneside PCT has highlighted the success of a GP practice which has increased uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine among the eligible population by around 20 percentage points, to achieve the highest figure in the region.
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.
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.
Surrey health and wellbeing board backs bill
STRUCTURE: The joint chairs of the shadow health and wellbeing board for Surrey have supported the government’s NHS reforms in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.
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Campaign to increase doctors working in Wales launched
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Rheumatic diseases specialist forecasts deficit
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Private providers attack Monitor failure regime
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Medical royal colleges divide over Health Bill
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Government urged to slow NHS 111 rollout
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CCG performance could be measured against 120 indicators
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LIFT companies seek NHS Property Services links
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Health bodies caution against Cabinet Office open data push
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Ideas to improve quality and safety in care homes sought
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Competition panel highlights GP conflict concern
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Letters on PCT and SHA staff transfers sent today
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Worcestershire launches service review
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Nearly half of GPs dealing with 'burnout'
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South of England PCTs set to beat surplus target
News by sector
Five integral steps to support commissioning headache services
A framework to support commissioning headache services that champions intermittent care headache clinics led by a GP with a special interest in headache offers important benefits to both patients and commissioners, says Dr David Kernick.
How doctor-patient phone calls can cut unnecessary emergency care attendances
When GPs phone back patients who want to book an appointment, many often accept they do not need to visit the surgery or to go to A&E after all. Harry Longman explains the benefits this level of doctor access offers.
Liberating Ideas: the award-winning projects that could truly liberate the NHS
Which of the Liberating Ideas Award 2011 winners’ projects has the greatest potential to be adopted by the rest of the NHS? Alison Moore watched the final judging session.
Why AQP can drive real benefits in primary and secondary care
Any Qualified Provider has proved to be a controversial policy with those working in the health service, but, argue Dr Walter Serino, Professor Sam Lingam and Richard Banyard, AQP has potential to be far more friend than foe.






