News
Government recommends 1pc pay rise for NHS staff
The government has recommended a headline 1 per cent pay increase for NHS staff next year.
Number of CCGs to be cut by a fifth next month
More than a third of proposed “integrated care systems” will still contain more than one clinical commissioning group next year, analysis shows.
Big cities and staff lag on vaccine uptake
Major urban areas are trailing in the vaccine rollout, with health systems covering London, Birmingham and Manchester reporting lower uptake than the rest of England, new NHS data reveals.
NHS managers added to shortage occupation list
NHS managers and directors are among the roles being added to the shortage occupation list, with most healthcare professionals now deemed to be in shortage in the UK.
Daily Insight: Less covid, less cash
The must-read stories and debate in health policy and leadership.
Supply of ultrasound gels suspended after bacteria outbreaks in multiple hospitals
NHS Supply Chain has suspended supplies of some ultrasound gels over concerns they might be connected with outbreaks of bacterial infections in multiple hospitals.
Regulator reveals ‘concerns’ over Babylon’s ‘chatbot’
A regulator has admitted “concerns” over the software Babylon Healthcare uses in one of its digital health solutions and is exploring how to address this.
‘Severe risk’ of doctors cutting hours or retiring early after tax relief frozen
Experts are warning of a ‘severe risk’ doctors may scale back their hours or retire early after the Budget delivered a “kick in the teeth” five-year tax relief freeze.
NHS budget to fall by £9bn next year as covid funding is scaled back
NHS England’s budget for 2021-22 will be cut by £9bn compared to the current year as the Treasury scales back its planned spending on the coronavirus pandemic.
Former NHS chief executive to chair hospital trust
Sir David Nicholson, former NHS England chief executive, has been appointed to chair a second acute trust in the Midlands, it has been announced.
Daily Insight: Storm over Morecambe Bay
The must-read stories and debate in health policy and leadership.
Exclusive: NHS in London asked to plan for ‘possible covid surge later in 2021’
The NHS’s London regional team has told its integrated care systems to draw up plans for ‘another possible [covid-19] surge later in 2021’, HSJ has learned.
Royal College boss accuses major private provider of being ‘extremely uncooperative’ over training
A royal college lead has accused parts of the private sector — naming Spire Healthcare in particular — of being “extremely uncooperative” in facilitating the training of young clinicians.
NHSE targets ‘geographical variation’ in vaccine uptake
Supply of the covid-19 vaccine is expected to leap to double the current rate in a week’s time, NHS England has said, requesting local systems to be ready.
Integrated care systems to be CQC-rated, says Hancock
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said integrated care systems will be rated by the Care Quality Commission.
NHSE overrules trust and orders second review into patient harms
NHS England has ordered an independent review into patient safety and governance concerns at an acute trust which had been resisting calls to take this step, HSJ has learned.
Daily Insight: Backed up to the future
The must-read stories and debate in health policy and leadership.
Trust with ‘suffocating prohibition on speaking plainly’ loses case against senior manager
A tribunal has ruled a senior manager with a ‘blemish-free’ record was unfairly sacked, with the judge raising concerns about the trust’s ‘policing of language’.
NHS starts digital transformation of high-volume specialty
The NHS has taken its first step towards redesigning ophthalmology care pathways, which includes better connecting primary and secondary care, HSJ can reveal.
Concerns raised over link between CQC ratings and ethnicity
The Royal College of GPs has called for an independent review of the link between poor Care Quality Commission inspection ratings and the ethnicity of GP partners.