Department of Health
Exclusive: community trusts dispute asset transfers with PCTs and DH
Plans to transfer NHS properties to community service providers have stalled amid an ongoing dispute between trusts and the Department of Health, and claims of irrational behaviour by commissioners.
Pressure on Lansley grows as Lords scrutinise reforms
Health secretary Andrew Lansley will face yet more pressure over his controversial NHS reforms, with peers resuming their scrutiny of the legislation today.
DH to issue guidance on terms and conditions for public health directors
Government guidance on how directors of public health and their staff should be employed will extend as far as stating their terms and conditions and how they should be managed, according to ministers.
Lords set to debate integration and health secretary's duty
The Health Bill returns to the House of Lords today, with a raft of new amendments lined up including one proposing a “duty of co-operation” for providers of NHS services.
Exclusive: Care Quality Commission to get external assessor
An “external body” is set to be appointed to assess the effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission, HSJ has learnt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PCT staff letters to omit passage on clarity
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
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.
Commissioning board 'likely' to enforce standard patient records
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.
More CQC inspections risk 'diverting' funds from patient care, MPs to be warned
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.
Organ donation target 'will be missed'
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
Fewer than half of Department of Health staff are proud to work there, survey results published today reveal.
CCG budget allocations delayed until February
The release of the first set of “shadow budgets” for clinical commissioning groups has been put back to February, HSJ has learnt.
More on the DH
Why behaviour change marketing can still deliver long-term cost savings
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.
Positive outcome: why the new DH strategy for COPD and asthma promises improvements
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.
Keeping patient information safe when responding to FOI requests
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.
Book Review: 24 Hours to Save the NHS
Experienced NHS director and independent consultant Patrick Keady reviews Nigel Crisp’s new book 24 Hours to Save the NHS.
How pseudonymisation can uphold patient data security
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
A business critical briefing from HSJ’s Payment by Results conference.
