Department of Health

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

Commissioning board restricted by Health Bill 'turbulence' Subscription Required

3-Feb-2012 | By

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.

David Flory

Flory to lead NHS Trust Development Authority Subscription Required

2-Feb-2012 | By

NHS deputy chief executive David Flory is to become the first head of the body charged with creating an all-foundation-trust provider sector.

Woman in waiting room looking at her watch

Imperial suspends reporting on waiting lists Subscription Required

2-Feb-2012 | By

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.

BMA consultants committee chair Mark Porter

Medical royal colleges divide over Health Bill Subscription Required

1-Feb-2012 | By

There is a deepening split in the position taken by the medical royal colleges towards the Health Bill.

A building made out of twenty-pound notes

LIFT companies seek NHS Property Services links Subscription Required

1-Feb-2012 | By

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.

Houses of Parliament

No big shift in government Health Bill amendments Subscription Required

1-Feb-2012 | By

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.

Snow covered cars on a suburban street

DH warns over severe weather Subscription Required

31-Jan-2012 | By The Press Association

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.

PCT staff letters to omit passage on clarity Subscription Required

27-Jan-2012 | By

Official letters to be sent to primary care trust staff about the future of their jobs this month have undergone a change in wording, with passages discussing an ongoing lack of clarity removed from the text.

CQC is 'fit for job', says permanent secretary

CQC is 'fit for job', says permanent secretary Subscription Required

26-Jan-2012 | By

The Department of Health official tasked with reviewing the Care Quality Commission has said it is “fit for the job” but will take another two years to be fully effective.

Folders and divided tabs for paper files

Commissioning board 'likely' to enforce standard patient records Subscription Required

25-Jan-2012 | By

The NHS Commissioning Board is “likely” to mandate new a set of standards for clinical and social care records in a push to increase efficiency, HSJ has been told.

Inspection kit: magnifying glass, notepad and pen

More CQC inspections risk 'diverting' funds from patient care, MPs to be warned Subscription Required

25-Jan-2012 | By

There is a danger that scarce funds will be diverted from patient care into “more and more inspection” following the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust inquiry, senior figures are set to warn MPs.

Kidney Xray anatomy

Organ donation target 'will be missed' Subscription Required

24-Jan-2012 | By The Press Association

The head of a kidney charity has launched an attack on the government over organ donation, saying it will miss a target to boost donor rates by 50 per cent.

Less than half of DH staff 'proud' to work there

Less than half of DH staff 'proud' to work there Subscription Required

24-Jan-2012 | By

Fewer than half of Department of Health staff are proud to work there, survey results published today reveal.

Money

CCG budget allocations delayed until February Subscription Required

23-Jan-2012 | By

The release of the first set of “shadow budgets” for clinical commissioning groups has been put back to February, HSJ has learnt.

Andrew Lansley

Government announces £5.2bn public health spend Subscription Required

23-Jan-2012 | By

The government has announced £5.2bn will be spent on public health next year, and published its first Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Royal College of Nursing logo

Two royal colleges declare opposition to Health Bill Subscription Required

19-Jan-2012 | By The Press Association

The Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives have declared all out opposition to the government’s Health and Social Care Bill.

National quality director Ian Cumming

Mid Staffs inquiry impacting Commissioning Board risk model Subscription Required

18-Jan-2012 | By

The NHS Commissioning Board’s approach to managing risk is being heavily influenced by anticipated recommendations of the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust public inquiry, HSJ has been told.

EExclusive: Health Bill concessions on 'autonomy' and SoS accountability

Exclusive: Health Bill concessions on 'autonomy' and SoS accountability Subscription Required

17-Jan-2012 | By

The government is offering a series of Health Bill concessions in an attempt to diffuse the row over the health secretary’s responsibility for the NHS.

Exclusive: national company to take over PCT estate Subscription Required

17-Jan-2012 | By

A new national property company is to be set up by the government to manage the primary care trust estate, HSJ understands.

Two new Monitor non-executive directors appointed Subscription Required

16-Jan-2012 | By

The Department of Health this morning announced the appointment of Keith Palmer and Sigurd Reinton to the Monitor board.

Small girl with flu blowing her nose

Why behaviour change marketing can still deliver long-term cost savings Subscription Required

By

The spending freeze on public sector communications amd marketing spending, in place since 2010, has seen fewer public awareness campaigns receive government funding. But this could be counter-productive, argues Mark Blayney Stuart, when evidence suggests there are clear financial benefits to be had.

Lung X Ray

Positive outcome: why the new DH strategy for COPD and asthma promises improvements Subscription Required

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In July the Department of Health published the long awaited Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma. What does this tell us about how things will develop for the future, asks Dame Helena Shovelton.

A computer screen locked with a chain

Keeping patient information safe when responding to FOI requests Subscription Required

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With health organisations legally obliged to provide data to persons requesting information under the Freedom of Information act, one case has helped set out how trusts can deal with these requests on the most sensitive of issues. Eleanor Tunnicliffe and Jessica Major explain.

Nigel Crisp's book 24 hours to save the NHS front cover

Book Review: 24 Hours to Save the NHS Subscription Required

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Experienced NHS director and independent consultant Patrick Keady reviews Nigel Crisp’s new book 24 Hours to Save the NHS.

A hand on computer mouse

How pseudonymisation can uphold patient data security Subscription Required

By

Not only is pseudonymisation essential for protecting patients’ rights when private data is used for secondary purposes, it is also an important legal requirement for all NHS trusts, says Mastek vice president of healthcare Laurence Cook.

Payment by Results - conference sessions Subscription Required

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A business critical briefing from HSJ’s Payment by Results conference.