King's Fund
Exclusive: acutes' deficit and savings performance worsens, DH figures show
Plans to cut deficits in the acute trust sector fell further behind in the third quarter of 2011-12 as hospitals struggled to make up lost ground on challenging savings targets.
Author of seminal NHS funding review Sir Derek Wanless dies
Sir Derek Wanless, the former banker whose seminal 2002 report laid the theoretical foundations for the following decade’s huge increases in NHS funding, has died, a parliamentary group today reported.
Mortality rate indicator reveals seven acute trust outliers
Seven acute trusts have emerged as consistent outliers against the controversial mortality rate measure, with significantly more patient deaths than expected, analysis of the latest data reveals.
Minimum alcohol pricing 'will save lives'
Implementing a minimum alcohol unit price would save more than 1,000 lives each year, a report has claimed.
Acute trusts absent from local wellbeing boards
Emerging health and wellbeing boards believe they will successfully shape local health policies and drive service integration. But many boards still lack input from NHS providers, a survey shared exclusively with HSJ reveals.
NHS savings plans 'short on detail' as trusts plan swathe of cuts
There is a lack of detail about where “efficiency savings” demanded by the government of the health service are being made, analysts have said.
Acute sector faces wave of mergers and reconfigurations
The English NHS hospital sector is facing a wave of mergers, acquisitions and reconfigurations, HSJ’s extensive survey of trust chief executives has revealed.
King's Fund calls for NHS sustainability drive
Trusts should be routinely monitored on their progress towards becoming more environmentally sustainable, as well as their financial sustainability, according to a think tank report.
NHS reform row 'not over', warn healthcare leaders
The high profile row over the government’s NHS reforms will persist despite its Health Bill finally becoming law, healthcare leaders predict.
National NHS surplus rises by £329m
The NHS is on course to finish the year with a surplus of more than £1.5bn - £300m more than originally planned - HSJ can reveal.
Telehealth cost-effectiveness questioned by researchers
UPDATED: The cost effectiveness of a key part of the government’s innovation strategy has been called into question in an official evaluation.
Exclusive: two in three hospital trust savings plans in trouble
More than two thirds of NHS hospital trusts fell behind on their savings plans in the first half of 2011-12 as the sector slipped deeper into the red, HSJ can reveal.
Monitor licensing could stifle innovation - FTN
Monitor’s plans for safeguarding services from closure risk “stifling” innovation and preventing trusts from complying with CQC requirements, the Foundation Trust Network has warned.
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.
Health committee: NHS could miss savings target from 'salami slicing'
The NHS has been making “short-term” and “salami slicing” spending cuts and will not make required efficiency savings if the current approach continues, the House of Commons health committee has said.
Integrated care needs 'ambitious' target to succeed, DH told
Ministers will be in a “difficult position” if they ignore advice to set a national target to drive integrated care, the chief executive of the King’s Fund has warned.
Government unveils extra £150m for home care
The government has announced an extra £150m for patients to receive care at home rather than in hospital.
NHS trust sector in England 'heading towards deficit'
The NHS trust sector could be “heading for deficit” in 2011-12. Health economists made the warning after HSJ research revealed deepening problems among the financially weakest providers.
London NHS strategy has 'no clear lead'
The NHS in London faces a “strategic vacuum” with no clear lead to drive through change, The King’s Fund has said.
New inflation measure boosts 'real terms' increase in NHS funds
Technical changes to the way the Office for National Statistics calculates inflation have pushed up the “real terms” funding increase the NHS will receive over the life of this parliament, the King’s Fund’s chief economist said today.
More on the King's Fund
Putting patients in the centre: the whole person approach to integrated care
Seraphim Rose Patel explains, with a colleague, how a whole person, whole system approach can reduce NHS and social care costs.
Why medical leaders need to be proactive in driving culture change
We need our medical leaders to direct their energy and enthusiasm into better engagement and driving improvement, say Vijaya Nath and John Clark.
Setting out the principles for integrated care
Patient Voices policy director Don Redding outlines some principles that should guide commissioners, regulators and professional groups in integrating health and social care services.
How to get the best outcomes when measuring productivity
Effective use of metrics to drive workforce productivity improvement means carefully defining the inputs and outcomes you need, say Rachael Charlton and colleagues.
Why a framework for NHS managers is crucial to effective services
Far from cutting bureaucracy in the NHS, large scale cuts to management risks the delivery of the many new initiatives the service will be required to fulfil. Ruth Spellman outlines a way forward.
Are commissioners in it for the long haul?
Long-term conditions are likely to take centre stage as GPs get to grips with commissioning - but reforming care for patients with chronic diseases may require changes closer to home, says Alison Moore.
