News
Hospitals ‘needlessly increasing nurse numbers’
A widely used tool for estimating “safe” levels of nursing is leading to unnecessarily inflated staffing and costs in some hospitals, an NHS England director has suggested.
National maternity review branded ‘light touch’
The “rapid national investigation” into maternity care failings launched by Wes Streeting will not formally evaluate the performance of the 12 trusts involved, it has emerged, as families criticised the government’s “light touch” approach.
Millions offered no choice of provider
Millions of patients are being offered no choice of provider when referred for secondary care and tests, contrary to national guidance, according to NHS England information.
Ex-health secretary buys NHS data firm
A former health secretary’s company has bought health data firm Dr Foster, with plans to return to its practice of highlighting poor quality care in the NHS.
Chief execs to quit grouping trusts
The chief executives of two ambulance trusts due to form a group have both said they won’t be applying for the joint post.
‘Advanced FT’ benefits unclear, national director admits
It is “hard to see” how the NHS can provide real benefits for providers with “advanced foundation trust” status, NHS England’s interim chief financial officer has admitted.
Baby’s death linked to EPR disruption
A trust has linked the stillbirth of a baby to the disruption that followed the launch of an electronic patient record.
Resident doctor charged with sexual assaults of 38 patients
A former resident doctor has been charged with sexually assaulting 38 patients who were in his care.
NHSE director vows to ‘turn off’ funding for wasteful IT systems
NHS England will intensify its crackdown on wasteful technology spending next year as part of “radically different” approach to funding, a national director has said.
ICB backtracks on referral crackdown after row with private sector
A deficit-stricken integrated care board has attempted to suspend private sector referrals for some treatments – then paused the move after a row with providers.
Financial ‘game playing’ won’t be tolerated, says NHSE director
A senior NHS England director has warned “game playing” must be stopped for next year’s financial plans.
Teaching trust reprimanded over FOI failings
A large teaching trust has become the latest NHS organisation to be warned by the UK’s information regulator over its failure to respond to Freedom of Information requests on time.
Six-fold variation in staff vaccination rates revealed
Fewer than one in 10 frontline NHS staff have been vaccinated at some trusts, despite public appeals from NHS England ahead of this winter.
Quran desecrated at hospital in ‘Islamophobic hate incident’
A copy of the Quran has been desecrated in the faith room at a major teaching hospital in what its CEO has described as a suspected “Islamophobic hate incident”.
Director excluded for a year by his trust
The British Medical Association has claimed the exclusion of a medical director from his trust role for more than a year reflects a “toxic culture” and “disturbing pattern” when concerns are raised.
Doctors’ strikes are ‘cruel and calculated’, says Mackey
The upcoming planned strikes by resident doctors are “cruel and calculated”, NHS England’s chief executive has said.
‘Corridor care’ approaches 1m cases a year
About 1 million A&E patients have been placed in corridors or similar “temporary” spaces over the past year, information obtained by HSJ reveals.
Trust’s failings will prompt ‘deep reflection’ across system, CEO pledges
Serious failings found within a trust’s breast cancer service will require a period of “deep reflection” across the whole system, an integrated care board chief has said.
ICBs’ role still opaque, CEOs warn
The new role of integrated care boards remains “opaque” and risks encouraging “transactional” relationships, chief executives have warned.
Managers ‘defensive and frustrated’ in response to staff concerns
Staff at an ambulance trust fear their managers will “retaliate” if they report concerns to the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, a board report reveals.
Trusts furthest from financial plan revealed
‘Sexual misconduct and blame culture’ found at hospital
Region’s ‘sub-optimal’ specialist services face overhaul
CEO search paused ‘to enable stability’ at troubled £2bn trust
Resident doctors to strike before Christmas
Trump drug deal to leave NHS with unfunded bill
Provider challenges ICB spending curbs
Private providers given greater incentives to take on complex work
Pathology firm struggling to return tests in time
Trust quits procurement partnership over price hike
NHSE threatens to remove trust’s directors unless its performance improves
CQC admits it falsely claimed not to know about trust maternity concerns
NHS fraud chief steps down
Contract awards go ahead as ICBs plead they are running out of staff
ICB staff told to work in the office
Equal funding rule disparaged as ‘micromanagement’ by government
£860m redundancy fund revealed
Trust fined £200,000 over teenager’s death
Exclusive: EPRs pose ‘persistent’ threat to patient safety
CEO of biggest ICB quits for national role
Government accused of ‘weakening’ spend on service at ‘breaking point’
CEO delays retirement to see through inquiry into killings by patient
Maternity warning system hit by IT fault
Largest mental health trust appoints interim CEO
Trust's divided exec and 'fundamental care' failures revealed
‘Systemic’ failings resulted in avoidable cancer harm
Trust’s victory over HMRC unlocks huge tax rebates
Treasury backs private borrowing to build health centres
NHS budget hopes boosted by changing view on impact of health investment
Hospital chief to become only ICB CEO with minority ethnic background
Exclusive: NHSE ramps up waiting list cleaning drive
Staff offered ‘free parking’ prize for staff survey responses
McKinsey partner joins DHSC top team
Trust’s GP phone service ‘won’t be imposed’
ICB restructure ‘paralysing neighbourhood health’
Two more ICBs to ‘cluster’ to cut costs
Winners of HSJ Awards 2025 revealed
Trust told to open up about ‘maternity scandal’ meeting
Ex-Tory MP to chair trust
Two more deaths raise alarm over mental health in A&E