All articles by Alastair McLellan
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NewsLeaders lukewarm about key provider reforms
Leading trust chief executives are split on the desirability of becoming advanced foundation trusts, an HSJ roundtable has heard.
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NewsTop CEOs fear politicians with ‘a different ideology’
The imminent re-establishment of direct political control over the NHS could see it diverted from delivering “what’s right for the population as a whole”, leading trust CEOs have warned.
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LeaderNo one cares about the NHS anymore… and that’s OK
Kemi Badenoch recently addressed a private meeting attended by senior parliamentarians. She was asked what the Conservatives’ health policy was and replied, ‘not to have one’
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LeaderHow do you solve a problem like East Kent?
In 2021, HSJ wrote 48 news stories mentioning East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust.
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LeaderThe stubborn insanity of NHS finances
“No one tells the truth about their financial position” – so a respected chief executive of a trust with an income north of £1bn informed HSJ last week.
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NewsNHS in ‘tight’ spot ahead of winter says NHSE CEO
The NHS England CEO has told HSJ the NHS is in a “tight” spot on emergency care ahead of winter, after performance took a major hit during the summer.
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NewsMackey: Government should not take NHS recovery for granted
Performance and financial improvement remain “finely balanced” New ministers want focus on results for population groups, over provider models Treasury still “churning [us] up in pointless process” rather than giving the NHS “space” The Andy Burnham government must be careful not to assume recent improvements in NHS care ...
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LeaderEmbarrassing Thirlwall is wrong about NHS management
The Thirlwall inquiry may be of some use to the families involved, but its summary findings and recommendations are patronising, confusing and in some cases plain ignorant, says HSJ editor Alastair McLellan.
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LeaderHospital groups are falling out of fashion
Just under a year ago, HSJ reported that nearly two in five trusts shared a chair and/or chief executive – and that this represented significant growth over the previous 12 months.
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NewsNew ‘mass casualty’ orders for trusts after terror threat rises
Acute trusts designated to help deal with a “mass casualty incident” will be given just six hours to clear 10 per cent of their beds in readiness to receive the injured.
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LeaderWe must abandon the myth that inquiries work
“I don’t think people do get closure [from inquiries]… It’s a myth, and I don’t think that we should dangle the prospect of it as something that we can achieve.” Dr Bill Kirkup speaking on last week’s HSJ podcast
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NewsMore changes to DHSC ministerial team announced
An MP who called for a debate on “the revolving door of failed NHS managers” has been appointed a health minister.
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NewsNew health secretary appointed
Yvette Cooper has been appointed secretary of state for health and social care by incoming prime minister Andy Burnham.
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LeaderWhat a Burnham premiership will mean for the NHS
HSJ has spent the past few weeks talking to those in and around the “Burnham camp” in an effort to answer this question. Some consistent and significant themes have emerged.
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NewsNHS CEO might not report to health secretary
The new NHS chief executive may soon report to a senior civil servant rather than the health secretary, HSJ understands.
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LeaderStuck in the politician’s waiting room
Once again, the NHS is waiting. Waiting to see if there will be a new prime minister, waiting to see if they will appoint a new health secretary, waiting to see who that health secretary will appoint as Sir Jim Mackey’s successor. Waiting to see if the new leadership will ...
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LeaderWhen is a cover-up not a cover-up?
The answer to the question posed in our headline is apparently: “When the decision to keep something quiet is based on clinical advice.”
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NewsNHS churned through 48 ministers in 11 years
Forty-eight people have served as ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care in the 11 years since the 2015 general election, with an average tenure of just 487 days, according to analysis by HSJ.
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NewsMackey’s heir named number one trust CEO
The top two trust chief executives in the 12th edition of HSJ’s annual ranking of the most respected provider CEOs have taken very different routes to the summit.
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LeaderWaiting for the great leap forward
2026-27 is intended to be the year the NHS’s performance curve bends, but the reforms that are needed to deliver are stuck in the planning phase, says Alastair McLellan