Leaked memo. . .GPs excel in purchasing. . .Private sector expansion . . .Double whammy for women . . .RHA contracts torn up

Published: 14/02/2002, Volume II2, No. 5792 Page 8

An NHS Management Executive memo, leaked to shadow health secretary Robin Cook, reveals government concern about adverse publicity arising from service cuts in units with deficits. It lists such units in every region as 'hot'or 'tepid' spots according to the likelihood of them generating 'noise'.Mr Cook commented: 'We have here a dozen civil servants caught in the act of covering up for ministers. I do look forward to an interesting conversation on taking office.'

GPs make potentially better purchasers of healthcare than health authorities, according to the first comprehensive independent study of GP fundholding, by the King's Fund.The Association of Fundholding Practices seized on the findings to declare: 'HAs are superfluous now.'

Private healthcare will expand this year with the opening of seven hospitals and 222 more beds from existing providers, says the Independent Healthcare Association.Many hospitals reorganised beds last year to take account of increasing demands for day surgery.

The Department of Health's Opportunity 2000 campaign to promote more women managers has suffered a double blow after two key HAs - Liverpool and Riverside - headhunted male chief executives without advertising the posts.Health minister Virginia Bottomley has said she expects all senior management posts to be advertised.

Contracts with five regional HAs, exempting them from treating patients waiting more than two years by 31 March, have been torn up by the NHS Management Executive.The contracts would have meant 2,200 patients were excluded from a pledge in the Patient's Charter .NHS chief executive Duncan Nichol said: 'No RHA will overshoot its target.'