All David Stout articles – Page 5
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NewsPCTs could struggle to hit MRSA ‘objective’
A significant proportion of primary care trusts may struggle to hit a challenging new “zero tolerance” MRSA target, the NHS Confederation has warned.
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NewsDavid Nicholson tells NHS: improve first, then prove it
NHS chief executive David Nicholson has told primary care trusts to focus on improving commissioning, rather than on gathering evidence about it.
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NewsJob cuts could see up to 5,700 staff go from PCT and SHA management
Up to 5,700 administrators and commissioners could be made redundant by primary care trusts and strategic health authorities next year, the Department of Health has indicated.
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NewsNHS 'not helped' by confused messages on future of PCTs
Confused messages from the Department of Health over the future of community services configuration are “not helping the NHS”, the Primary Care Trust Network has warned.
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NewsNHS North East backs £464m hospital build plan
A strategic health authority has backed a new £464m hospital planned for Teesside.
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NewsPCT commissioners should exploit ‘soft data’
PCTs should use more “soft” data, such as information supplied by mystery shoppers, to assess the quality of services they commission, the Primary Care Trust Network has said.
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NewsGP spending role debated
Practice based commissioning should be replaced by consortia with “real” budgets but comprising clinicians from both primary and secondary care, according to a think tank report.
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NewsAndy Burnham extends preferred provider vow
Non-NHS providers of services will only be contracted as a last resort, the health secretary has assured the general secretary of the TUC.
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NewsPCTs show improvement in annual health check but a slide in excellence
Primary care trusts have improved their overall performance in the 2008-09 annual health check but have slipped back on achieving excellence.
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NewsNHS admin must be slashed by £1.5bn
NHS organisations are preparing to have to shave a third off their running costs if the Conservatives take power next year.
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NewsTwo thirds of PCTs still to agree provider model
Two thirds of primary care trust provider arms have not yet had their future form agreed by their board and strategic health authority, a survey suggests.
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News‘Clunky’ GP contracts raise questions on quality
There are huge variations in what different PCTs pay for the same services, yet there is no detectable correlation between cost and quality or patient satisfaction. Sally Gainsbury looks at why commissioning has not yet addressed these stark contrasts
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NewsRecession means PCTs must make 'hard choices' on spending
Primary care trusts will have to make some tough decisions on how to prioritise spending during the recession, according to NHS Confederation Primary Care Trust Network director David Stout.
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NewsGP contract: 'clunky’ deal holds back quality
Primary care trusts blame the “weak and clunky” GP contract for slow progress on improving quality in primary care and unacceptable variations in cost.
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CommentDavid Stout on the NHS public profile
Some decisions will always be unpopular, so PCTs must improve their reputation by ensuring that all decisions are seen to be transparent, efficient and fair
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NewsAndy Burnham’s preferred bidder pledge questioned
Questions have been raised over the implications for competition and world class commissioning of health secretary Andy Burnham’s statement that the NHS is the “preferred provider” of services.
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HSJ KnowledgeGeneric medications warning from NHS Confederation
Government plans to have branded versions of drugs routinely swapped for generic equivalents must not be allowed to compromise patient safety, the NHS Confederation has warned.
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HSJ KnowledgeHealth overview and scrutiny committees: building better relationships
How can NHS trusts build an open, amiable relationship with local authority health committees? Stuart Shepherd explains
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HSJ KnowledgeNHS performance: GPs in the spotlight
Tight budgets mean PCTs must scrutinise all contractors to ensure they are providing the right value and quality of services - and this includes GPs. Graham Clews looks at the role of the balanced scorecard
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NewsPCT rebranding still has a long way to go
Getting local people to understand the role of primary care trusts has proved difficult, so has the NHS rebranding helped? HSJ polled the public to find out