DH spends £2.5m on Google ads
The Department of Health has spent more than £2.5m advertising on Google in the past year, it has emerged.
PCTs told to review management of out of hours care
Primary care trusts have been told to review the way they oversee their arrangements for out of hours GP services to “ensure they are robust and fit for purpose”.
Ministers poised to confirm details for quality accounts
Nearly all trusts and private providers to the NHS will have to publish quality accounts for the first time this year, the government was expected to confirm this week.
More patients pick private care
There has been a significant increase in patients opting for NHS funded treatment in the private sector, latest Department of Health figures on choose and book reveal.
NHS quality accounts: quality is becoming an accountable business
This year will see the first tranche of reports intended to show how trusts are engaging with quality across all their services. Dave West looks at how this could represent a step change in health organisations’ accountability
DH to expand integrated care pilots through 'good will'
The Department of Health is looking to expand its integrated care pilot scheme by “harnessing good will”.
CQC registration ‘fraught with risk’
Plans for charging NHS organisations to register with the Care Quality Commission are “fraught with potential risks” and should be postponed for at least a year, the NHS Confederation is urging.
Bill Moyes calls for DH unit to tackle ‘lethargic’ non-FTs
The outgoing executive chair of Monitor spent his last days in post urging the Department of Health to establish a new body to tackle “lethargic” trusts that have still not applied for foundation status.
Bill Moyes takes pride in rocking the foundations
Monitor executive chair Bill Moyes leaves the foundation trust regulator this week with no regrets about his stormy journey, as he tells Sally Gainsbury in his final interview
SHA fears Londoners will see care squeezed in 2012
NHS London has warned that healthcare in the capital could be “compromised” if the Department of Health does not provide its share of the £40m estimated costs resulting from the 2012 Olympic Games.
DH names older people's and dementia tsars
Professor Alistair Burns and Professor David Oliver have been appointed to new directorships in the Department of Health, it has been announced.
Fears over staff vetting and barring scheme
A registration scheme to protect vulnerable people will force managers to make moral judgements about people’s lifestyles and place a “significant” financial burden on the NHS, HSJ has been told.
Care UK chief hits out at renewal process as ITC contracts expire
The process for renewing contracts for the first independent treatment centres has been described as a “pig’s ear” by the chief executive of the largest independent provider in that sector.
MPs told to ‘free’ PCTs of acute commissioning
Primary care trusts should be “released” from commissioning acute care and left to concentrate on improving primary and community services, MPs have been told.
NHS East of England urged to work better with PCTs
NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has advised East of England strategic health authority to make “demonstrable improvements” in its relationships with primary care trusts.
Elder care pilot slashes hospital admissions
A pilot programme for improving care of older patients has slashed hospital overnight stays and accident and emergency attendances, and produced significant financial savings.
Cancer care plans could cut costs
Primary care trusts could make significant cost savings by adopting a more personalised approach to the follow-up care of cancer patients, national clinical director for cancer Professor Sir Mike Richards has said.
Quality board to adopt 'values' in bid to avoid further rows
The Care Quality Commission, Monitor, Dr Foster Intelligence and others are being asked to follow a set of “values” in the hope of avoiding a repeat of last year’s row over quality reporting.
DH delays student funds shake-up
The Department of Health has decided to delay implementation of proposals to shake up doctor and nurse training funding for at least another year.
Swine flu preparations cost £1bn
The government spent more than £1bn in preparation for a flu pandemic, it has been disclosed.
More on the DH
Why NHS bullying has no benefits
Healthcare managers should never forget that good performance requires morale-boosting not ego-bashing, advises Paul Beal
How to make sexual health promotion a success
Public and patient engagement in genito-urinary and HIV services in Coventry has included a comic turn and simpler branding, reports Lynne Greenwood
How to get better health outcomes in diverse groups
Healthcare of people from BME groups is being improved by committed leaders and by projects monitoring community cohesion as well as equalities. Mark Gould reports
Guide to increasing breastfeeding rates with the Baby Friendly initiative
The Baby Friendly accreditation scheme has the power to reduce costs as well as infant and maternal illnesses
How to plan for cold weather with a swine flu pandemic looming
How can trusts put intensive care plans in place this winter with a swine flu pandemic looming, asks Jennifer Taylor
How to commission for equality and diversity in the NHS
Collecting ethnicity data and engaging with the range of communities will help the NHS address health inequalities and meet its statutory requirements, says Caroline White
