Recession and the NHS
Nurses cynical about increment freeze offer
More than 80 per cent of nurses believe their trust would fail to honour a proposed deal not to make compulsory redundancies over the next two years if they agreed to forego a pay rise, according to an poll by HSJ’s sister title Nursing Times.
NHS Employers proposes salary increment freeze
NHS Employers – the body that represents the Department of Health in pay negotiations with NHS staff – has proposed to freeze Agenda for Change pay increments for two years in exchange for a “no compulsory redundancy” agreement.
MPs want power to scrutinise DH spending plans in detail
The Department of Health may have to start justifying its detailed spending plans to the Commons health committee, HSJ has learned.
NHS Surrey stops funding for IVF and tattoo removal
IVF treatment for women under 39, cosmetic procedures and other low priority interventions will no longer be funded in Surrey.
Voluntary MARS pay-off plan attracts very few takers
A key government initiative to reduce NHS management costs is heading for failure, HSJ research suggests
Concern over rate of PCT talent drain
MPs and GPs are concerned primary care trusts have already begun losing some of their best managers ahead of their proposed abolition.
DH considers national pay increment freeze
The Department of Health is to examine introducing a national freeze in annual pay increments affecting more than a million NHS staff.
Yorkshire PCT announces 'unpalatable' measures to tackle overspend
A Yorkshire primary care trust has suspended contracts with local GPs for simple procedures and returned them to acute settings, as part of immediate measures to address “serious financial pressures”.
PCT halts funding for over 30 procedures to 'remain sustainable'
A Midlands primary care trust has halted funding for a raft of routine procedures, including cataract removal and hip replacements, in order to remain financially viable over the winter.
Public sector job losses to hit 750,000
The number of public sector jobs to be axed as a result of the spending cuts will be around 750,000 - a quarter of a million more than government estimates, a respected economist has warned.
Treasury raids NHS capital budget to fund social care
£1bn of NHS funding will be transferred to social care by 2014-15 the chancellor said today, starting with £800m next financial year.
Scottish boards told to slash manager posts
Scottish health boards have been told to cut the number of senior managers by a quarter as part of a package of measures aimed at saving the health service £100 million a year.
NHS not safe from cuts, Confed warns
Cut backs in social care will cause “major problems”, the NHS Confederation has warned ahead of the comprehensive spending review.
Essex PCT plans to shed over 220 staff in £5.7m savings bid
NHS South West Essex has set out plans to make 224 staff redundant in order to save £5.7m over the next financial year.
Foundation Trust Network considers Confed split as director suspended
The Foundation Trust Network has drawn up plans to leave the NHS Confederation, prompting opposition within the organisation, HSJ has learned.
PCTs make slow progress with QIPP
Primary care trusts are already falling behind on their quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) plans, analysis by HSJ has found.
Lansley warns Tories to brace for unpopularity
Conservatives must be prepared for increasing unpopularity as the spending cuts begin to affect public services, party activists have been warned.
Foundation trusts seek to halt automatic pay rises
Foundation trusts are drawing up plans to freeze automatic pay increases in a move which could affect up to half a million NHS staff.
Welsh NHS faces savings challenge
Managers in the Welsh NHS have said making £380 million of savings by April next year is the biggest challenge they have faced in two decades.
More on the Recession
Noel Plumridge: increased demand is the answer, not the question
In 2009 the UK spent 9.8 per cent of its GDP on healthcare. The equivalent figure for 2008 was 8.8 per cent. Such a year on year increase shows theimpact of continuing investment in the NHS even as the recession took hold.
Jon Restell: it's time to get behind the defenders of pensions
When you hear the word “pension”, do you bury your head in the sand? If so, I’ve got bad news.
Clinical services should do their bit for efficiency, as well as productivity
Although lower than other public sector departments, the NHS still has massive efficiency savings targets to meet. A good start would be to address value for money in clinical procedures, write Christopher Peters and Stephen Chadwick.
How a leaner integrated approach improved older person services at a reduced cost
Gateshead has taken a joint approach to improving services and reducing costs, with a particular focus on older people’s services and long term conditions. Sue Mundy and Eirian Lewis explain the leaner approach.
Why effective internal communications have never been so important
A combination of strong communication, teamwork and camaraderie framed within trusting relationships will help achieve remarkable results in times of large-scale change and uncertainty, writes University of Nottingham chief executive Peter Homa.
Performance surplus hides the fact many trusts are facing critical finance problems
Trusts with serious financial problems are in danger of being overlooked as a surplus on “aggregate performance” comforts some in the NHS. Nick Bosanquet looks at five ways to avert the hidden crisis.
