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.
Private providers attack Monitor failure regime
Private mental health firms are lobbying for deep changes to Monitor’s proposed failure regime, claiming rules putting “patients ahead of creditors” will prevent them from borrowing.
Royal Gollege 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.
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.
Health Bill amendments target integration and secretary of state's duties
The government has tabled 137 amendments to its Health Bill.
Campaign to increase doctors working in Wales launched
A campaign to encourage more doctors to work in Wales has been launched by Cardiff’s health minister Lesley Griffiths.
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.
Government urged to slow NHS 111 rollout
GPs and nurses are urging the government to slow the implementation of the new non-emergency NHS telephone number amid fears it could actually increase pressure on services.
CCG performance could be measured against 120 indicators
Clinical commissioning groups could be judged against up to 120 performance measures, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has revealed today.
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.
Health bodies caution against Cabinet Office open data push
A government consultation on more open use of data has found strong support for increased transparency in public services. But health organisations have urged caution due to the potential for leaks of sensitive information.
PCTs make a good shot at prioritisation
With GP consortia on course to take over commissioning, a report seen by HSJ shows PCTs have been preparing the ground well by getting to grips with the fundamentals of local priority setting. Dave West explains
NHS Confed is still ‘looking out’ for all its members
After a ‘torrid’ first three months as chair of the NHS Confederation, Sir Keith Pearson believes the organisation can continue to be an umbrella for purchaser and provider interests, he tells Charlotte Santry
World class commissioning values are a legacy for the long haul
Latest world class commissioning scores show PCTs rising to new challenges in needs assessment and service design. With this responsibility transferring to GP consortia the lessons in the high quality ‘competencies’ must survive, says David Stout
Commissioning by any other name: will 'clinical' become 'world class'?
Linear progress, zig-zagging or going round in circles? Calum Paton asks whether the Health Bill’s ideal of clinical commissioning can really deliver an improved era of healthcare after the years of false starts and rebadging.
'Local healthcare cannot be delivered by giant commissioning bodies'
The key to healthcare delivery models lies within natural communities – not in bloated commissioning organisations, says Charles Alessi.
Devloping new structures for improved service delivery
Now is a golden opportunity to start developing guidelines and principles to inform better healthcare delivery, says Paul Zollinger-Read
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.
Improving cardiac care for clinicians while reducing cost to the NHS
Can you improve patient cardiac care and working practice for GP clinicians while reducing the cost of cardiac care to the NHS? Dr Jonathan Lieberman explains how a telemedical ECG service has achieved this at his surgery in Manchester.
Out of the darkness: how quality assessment can improve out of hours care
Quality assessment helps remove disparity between out of hours and daytime care, improving performance and patients’ experience of their local health services, say Urgent Health UK medical director Simon Abrams and chair Mark Reynolds.
Going green for public health: transforming cities to help health and wellbeing
Liverpool’s green infrastructure strategy is proving that environmental provision such as open spaces will support wellbeing, and could have many lessons for other cities to learn from across the UK. Dr Paula Grey explains.
Safeguarding: protecting the almost adult
PCTs must review their processes around safeguarding - particularly for patients in their late teens - say Stephen Cox and John Holden
Musculoskeletal services: accessing physio need not be a pain in the neck
A dedicated phone line can help patients to self-manage or to see a physiotherapist sooner, says Alison Moore
