NHS South West
European integrated care models weighed up by struggling hospital
A struggling district general hospital in South West England is considering adopting Europe’s most innovative models of integrated care to ensure future sustainability, HSJ can reveal.
Ambulance services strive to avoid A&E
Two of England’s ambulance services have reduced the proportion of patients they convey to accident and emergency departments by more than 7 per cent since April, new figures from the Department of Health show.
Strike fears build as union anger grows over public sector cuts
Rising fears of highly disruptive industrial action by NHS workers this autumn are revealed in documents seen by HSJ.
DH to review FT application process to avoid 'embarrassment'
The Department of Health is overhauling the process for checking whether a trust is ready to apply for foundation status to avoid “embarrassing” the health secretary, HSJ has discovered.
Seven trusts and two primary care trusts finished 2010-11 in deficit, DH says
Two primary care trusts and seven trusts finished the year in deficit, according to figures released by the Department of Health.
'Biased' surgeons blamed for unnecessary recall
Surgeons who held a biased view of independent treatment centres caused the unnecessary recall of more than 600 patients, a new report claims.
Royal Cornwall reveals chief exec dismissal costs
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust spent nearly £380,000 on a legal battle with its former chief executive, it admitted this week.
Exclusive: government admits PFI deals mean 22 trusts will struggle to meet foundation status target
The Department of Health has named 22 hospitals with private finance deals that are “an obstacle to them achieving FT status by April 2014”.
Circle refers two PCTs to Cooperation and Competition Panel
An independent hospital group has referred two primary care trusts to the Co-operation and Competition Panel over claims of unfair procurement policy, including sub-tariff pricing.
Ambulance workers call off strike at last minute
Staff at Great Western Ambulance Service Trust called off industrial action at the eleventh hour last week after agreeing to more talks with the trust.
SHA did not have 'hidden agenda'
South West Strategic Health Authority has been cleared of having any improper influence over the dismissal of a hospital chief executive.
Management posts shed without full consultation
Warnings are being issued about the lack of consultation over job cuts as posts are shed in an accelerated bid to meet the Department of Health’s 46 per cent management savings target.
NHS Partners in row over ‘cosy’ deal
The carve-up of primary care trust provider arms has seen mental health and acute trusts pick up the greatest amount of work while the private sector will secure the least.
PCTs differ widely over antibiotics prescription
There are wide disparities in antibacterial drugs prescribing by primary care trust area, figures shared exclusively with HSJ reveal.
Private companies gear up to take stake in stalled community hospitals
A private firm is planning to step in to fund 28 stalled community hospital projects, HSJ has learned.
SHAs contrast sharply on community proposals
The Transforming Community Services programme is taking primary care in different directions at opposite ends of the country, research by HSJ shows.
Regional variations in NHS productivity revealed
Dramatic variations in NHS productivity have been revealed by a report commissioned by the Department of Health and obtained exclusively by HSJ.
Transforming Community Services: PCTs step closer to deciding fate of provider arms
Primary care trusts are edging closer to determining the future of their provider arms.
Ex Cornwall chief exec wins £1.2m compensation
The former chief executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been awarded £1.2m in compensation for unfair dismissal over whistleblowing.
Investigation reveals PCTs hardest hit by savings
An HSJ investigation has revealed the clearest national picture to date of the primary care trusts being hit hardest by NHS management savings.
One year on: Darzi's long and winding road
Only 12 months into Lord Darzi’s 10-15 year vision, it is no surprise that little real progress has been seen. But the forthcoming public spending squeeze could be a large and unexpected obstacle in the road to improved quality, safety and innovation.
Improving stroke care: fast thinking
Despite being one of the country's biggest killers and the largest cause of disability, stroke only recently gained a national strategy. Now the drive for faster intervention is giving it a much needed boost. Jennifer Taylor reports
Foundation trust failure: who's for the chop?
As the original deadline passes, 80-odd trusts are lagging in the race to achieve foundation status. Sally Gainsbury ponders the fate of those that fail to hit the mark
NHS board leadership and the patient safety campaign
In the time it takes you to read this, one or more incidents may have harmed or even killed patients being cared for in your hospital. NHS boards should signal their commitment to addressing the problem by joining the Patient Safety First campaign
Plymouth health bodies enhance telecommunication systems
Over the past few years, Plymouth Healthcare Community has been building a state of the art communications infrastructure to support the delivery of healthcare services.
