External contributors – Page 4
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Comment'How' the NHS changes is just as important as 'what'
The NHS struggles with centralisation and devolution, leading to inefficiencies. Despite rhetoric, a clear theory of change is lacking, hindering progress and perpetuating ineffective cycles of structural reorganisation, writes Nigel Edwards
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CommentPreventing LTC patients going ‘off the radar’
North Central London Health Alliance is testing a new approach to proactively support patients with long-term conditions and address the challenges they face, write Kate Petts and Rachel Lissauer
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CommentI was an NHS leader for 30 years. Only now do I fully understand dementia care
Dame Ruth Carnall calls for greater collaboration between the NHS, local authorities, and care providers to improve outcomes for frail and dementia patients through better integration, long-term planning, and shared resources
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CommentThe NHS must take back control of its data
Robust data infrastructure and language AI could transform the NHS, addressing the challenges of unstructured data and the critical need for ethical, transparent data governance in healthcare, writes Dr Joe Zhang, head of data science at the Artificial Intelligence Centre for Value-Based Healthcare
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CommentThe NHS is still not listening hard enough to families on maternity care
The latest CQC maternity survey reveals troubling gaps in care and communication. As failures to listen and act on women’s worries persist, it’s clear that change is urgently needed to rebuild trust
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CommentWe need hospice wards in hospitals
To free up hospital capacity we must be honest about the sheer volume of people in the last year of life who currently rely on hospitals, writes James Sanderson, chief executive of Sue Ryder, as he unveils a new model of care for palliative patients in hospitals
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CommentAccelerating elective recovery takes a pause
The rate of waiting list reduction has paused far short of the required one million per year.
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CommentForming a ‘group’ should not be the ‘default option’ for trusts
With clarity of purpose, forming a “group” with other trusts can benefit providers – but it should not be a default option just because it can be labelled as reform, says Paul Roberts.
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CommentIntermediate care is failing most patients
Intermediate care holds promise for reducing hospital reliance, but challenges in design, delivery, and investment demand urgent attention to ensure effective care for ageing populations, writes Richard Humphries
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CommentThe NHS has to rewire its decision making
Empowering NHS staff voices through insight pathways can tackle inefficiencies, boost morale, and drive productivity, offering a sustainable solution to the health service’s pressing challenges of reform, resource allocation, and workforce engagement, writes Annie Williamson
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CommentICBs must retain a role in provider oversight
Integrated care systems embrace devolution and collaboration to deliver government reforms, prioritising prevention-focused neighbourhood care and sustainable health outcomes through an updated NHS operating framework, writes Kathy McLean
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CommentThe NHS is drowning in recommendations
Overloaded with duplicative recommendations, the healthcare system must prioritise impactful actions, improve collaboration, and ensure meaningful implementation to enhance patient safety and restore public trust, writes Rosie Benneyworth.
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CommentAmbulance chiefs must have the moral courage to tackle sexual harassment
Employers now face a legal obligation to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. A dedicated national programme, collaboration with academic institutions, and enhanced reporting mechanisms are driving efforts to improve sexual safety and rebuild trust across the workforce
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CommentGeneric weight loss medicines will place new demands on the NHS
Mark Samuels explores how the UK government is leveraging weight loss medications as a strategy to combat obesity and stimulate economic growth, addressing the significant burden on the NHS
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CommentSenior leaders must 'buy in' to supporting staff mental health
With 76 per cent of NHS staff experiencing mental health issues in the past year, NHS Charities Together’s £16m workforce wellbeing programme aims to address the growing crisis
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CommentStop blaming agencies and doctors for NHS staffing problems
Before even completing the much-anticipated “change” consultation on NHS staffing, Wes Streeting’s plan to ban agency workers from certain roles has raised concerns about bias and missed chances for meaningful reform, writes Kate Shoesmith.
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CommentNHS dentistry must be remodelled along GP lines
As the government develops its Dental Rescue Plan, Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, writes what the people want is a GP-style system
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CommentNHS reluctance to work with pharma must be addressed
Effective collaboration between the NHS and life sciences requires trust, accessibility, leadership, and deeper sector integration, writes Anna Charles
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CommentHow to build an effective integrated neighbourhood team
Nigel Edwards suggests that successful integration of health services hinges on prioritising staff engagement, simplifying processes, and fostering local collaboration, rather than top-down policy initiatives
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CommentElective recovery gets underway
The pace will need to be even higher in 2025-26, writes Rob Findlay.