Comment archive – Page 369
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LeaderElected PCT boards - we're not ready
If the Liberal Democrats hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, then we now know what their number one health bargaining chip would be.
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CommentAndrew Jones on the rise of the health consumer
Writing an HSJ opinion column in the last week before the election, should I be defending the policy of Her Majesty’s opposition, claiming interest in my small contribution; should I be defending the interest of the independent sector, which pays my salary; or should I be defending the vested interests ...
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CommentMedia Watch: the Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats may be flavour of the month in the media but their latest effort may not go down well with managers.
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CommentMichael White: on the campaign trail
Always in search of a scoop, I tried to track down a speech about the NHS which I had heard that Gordon Brown made last weekend. It did not seem to have been widely reported, but this was not entirely the media’s fault.
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CommentPete Mason on NHS management coaching
Talent development and retention - furthering the ambitions of your star performers by providing them with the means to widen their skill sets and progress their careers - is a crucial aspect of maintaining an accomplished health sector workforce.
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CommentNorman Lamb on the NHS under the Lib Dems
With the polls tipping in their favour, the Lib Dems are under increasing pressure to spell out what they would do in the case of a hung parliament, or if they were to win outright. The shadow health spokesman says axing SHAs, devolving power to local bodies and focusing on ...
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CommentMark Britnell on keeping the wolf from the NHS door
The annual deficit in public expenditure is 13 per cent of GDP. This cannot continue, but what should the next government do? It will have three main levers: increase revenues; reduce spending commitments; and achieve more for less current spending.
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CommentAlan Maynard: axe must swing on NHS jobs and pay
While politicians are fighting on the campaign trail they will not reveal how they intend to drive up productivity. But once reality is restored the pain will begin
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LeaderNHS pay: will you dare to lead by example?
Will the post-election period bring radical pay reductions and pension reform to the public sector similar to those being experienced in Ireland?
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LeaderFoundation trusts: new approach needed to unblock the pipeline
The financial discipline that comes with foundation status is alone an argument for moving all NHS trusts in that direction. A powerful secondary reason is the greater clarity given to the accountability of board directors.
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CommentCally Bann: NHS manager bashing
Will I be glad when it’s all over… Letting it be known that you’re the chief executive of the local hospital has always had the proclivity to silence the most genteel of dinner parties, or to quell the cacophony at the most boisterous of pubs.
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Comment
Media Watch: volcanic ash and manifesto launches
They did their best but so far no one has found a splash-worthy NHS angle to the dust cloud story.
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CommentMichael White: the election debate
In turbulent times this column’s reputation as a non-panic zone serves it well. Swine flu, Alan Johnson for PM, delinquent volcanoes, we take them all in our stride. So too the Lib Dem election surge since Nick Clegg’s quite good performance in the TV debate.
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CommentSteve Preston on techniques for winning at interviews
Tell me about yourself. This is one of the most frequently asked opening interview questions but for many interviewees it is their nightmare question.
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CommentPaul Corrigan and Bill Moyes on foundation trust autonomy
Five key changes must be fought for if autonomous foundation trusts are to flourish
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CommentNoel Plumridge on the NHS budget
Here’s a summary of the financial plan for the English NHS.
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LeaderNHS medics must face the issue of productivity
Trusts are taking tentative steps into the landmine riddled territory of their consultants’ productivity.
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LeaderAlternative providers: a good idea is a good idea, whoever had it
After three years editing HSJ I am still struck by the NHS’s antediluvian attitudes to the private and voluntary sectors. It does not want this mirror held in front of it.
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CommentMedia Watch: NHS managers' pay
Grim reading for managers returning to work on Monday as virtually all the papers ran with a report on managers’ pay increasing faster than nurses’.
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CommentMichael White: the election campaign
How is the election going so far for you? No, don’t answer that if you would rather not. What with that ritual controversy over the relative merit of rival tax hikes, week 1 was quietly unimpressive, although the NHS surfaced in the campaign at the weekend.