'Advanced' health economy to share finance officer
An “advanced” health economy has appointed a joint chief finance officer to work across its three commissioners.
Essentials to achieve the four-hour A&E target
Claire Read outlines some approaches that support trusts in tackling the four hour accident and emergency target
Tackling the accident and emergency challenge
Break down the accident and emergency challenge into manageable chunks and then deal with them one at a time, says Jonathan Patrick
Tackling the four hour A&E target with a whole system approach
In May 2018 the care of 98.4 per cent of patients arriving at the A&E department of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital Foundation Trust was completed within four hours. Claire Read explores the factors driving this success
CCGs appoint new chief officer
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Groups have appointed a new joint accountable officer, a key appointment as it bids to move towards an integrated care system model.
Exclusive: Stroke patient who died waited 19 hours for ambulance, leak reveals
A 91-year-old stroke patient who waited nearly 19 hours for an ambulance in the East of England was among 22 cases investigated by an external review which found no one died “as a direct consequence” of long delays, HSJ has learned.
Commissioners look again at trust's 'fragile' services
NHS England and local commissioners want to look again at “fragile” clinical services run by Bedford Hospital Trust – less than a year after the provider committed to retaining its emergency and obstetrics departments.
Exclusive: Ambulance delays review ‘doesn’t tally with frontline experience’, say whistleblowers
An “independent” review which said nobody died because of long ambulance delays in the East of England this winter “simply does not tally with the experiences of frontline staff”, senior whistleblowers have told HSJ.
'Significant ambulance delays' caused severe harm but no deaths, review says
Nobody died as “a direct consequence” of significant ambulance delays across the East of England, an external review has concluded.
Trusts in separate health economies consider 'stronger collaboration'
Two hospital trusts in separate health economies are looking at the benefits of a “stronger working relationship and collaboration”.
Leading health system will not become 'full' ICS this year
A leading health system will not become a “fully operational” integrated care system this year as hoped, instead remaining in “shadow” form.
Trusts' A&E performance goes sub 50 per cent as NHS hits new low
NHS performance against the four hour accident and emergency target hit its lowest level in 15 years in March, with two trusts sinking below 50 per cent.
Trust merger plans 'likely' delayed by a year
The acquisition of a hospital trust by its high performing neighbour is now “likely” delayed for a whole year.
A&E performance hits all time low after 'most pressured month ever'
Performance against the four hour accident and emergency target dipped again in February to 85 per cent – its worst since records began – according to official data published this morning.
In full: Pathology network proposals
HSJ approached the 29 pathology networks proposed by NHS Improvement to ask if local trusts had signed up. In most cases the proposed “hub” trust was able to answer on behalf of its network.
Top trust’s acquisition delayed over national funding
The acquisition of a hospital trust by its high performing neighbour has been delayed by ongoing discussions about its bid for national funding.
ACS commissioning group re-enters special measures after seven months
A large clinical commissioning group – which is part of a proposed accountable care system – has been put back in financial special measures, less than a year after coming out of the regime.
Analysed: National A&E performance equals worst ever month
Accident and emergency performance against the four hour target in December fell to 85 per cent, equalling the worst month on record – with one trust only achieving 40 per cent at its major “type one” site.
Struggling teaching hospital buddied with best performing A&E
University Hospitals of Leicester Trust has been buddied with Luton and Dunstable University Hospital Foundation Trust as it looks to “rapidly redesign” its emergency care service.
Trusts plan 'ambitious' merger in under six months
Two Bedfordshire hospital trusts intend to merge by April – a timeframe that both organisations admit is “ambitious”.