NHS England rejects four-way merger and insists on one CCG for 2.7m people
NHS England has rejected plans to merge four clinical commissioning groups in north Merseyside – insisting the merger must also include the five other CCGs in the wider health system, HSJ has learned.
North by North West: Struggling to adapt
Essential insight into NHS matters in the North West of England, with a particular focus on the devolution project in Greater Manchester. Contact me in confidence here.
NHS legal threat scuppers private firm’s £25m deal
A procurement process which named a private provider as the preferred bidder for contracts worth £25m has been abandoned, after NHS trusts threatened legal action.
Long-serving CEO switches to teaching hospital
A long-serving chief executive in the north west has been appointed to run a teaching hospital and health economy in Yorkshire, HSJ has learned.
FTs discuss potential merger
Two providers in the north west have begun talks about merging, amid wider plans to improve integration across services.
The award winning campaign reducing A&E attendance
Mid-Mersey A&E Delivery Board, Widnes Vikings, Renova Developments, and Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership won the 2018 HSJ Award for primary care innovation for their awareness campaign Beat the Scrum. Claire Read reports
Exclusive: CCG inefficiencies 'blocking' access to IVF
Commissioning inefficiencies are said to be “blocking” patients’ access to IVF, as new data reveals some areas are spending at least twice as much as others on a single cycle of fertility treatment.
CCGs reveal large backlogs of death reviews
NHS England has been urged to dramatically increase its funding for reviews of learning disability deaths, as clinical commissioning groups have revealed large backlogs with their investigations
Quarter of CCGs fall below psychosis spend benchmark
Nearly a quarter of clinical commissioning groups are spending less than the estimated sum needed to provide proper care to seriously ill mental health patients, according to a new analysis by HSJ.
Government ranks areas on health and social care joint working
A league table rating performance on patient flow between the boundaries of health and social care has been published, as the Care Quality Commission announces it will continue local area reviews ahead of possible inspections of council commissioning.
North by North West: Virgin deal exposes council rifts
Essential insight into NHS matters in the North West of England, with a particular focus on the devolution project in Greater Manchester. Contact me in confidence here
Leaked STP document reveals A&E downgrade plans
The sustainability and transformation plan for Cheshire and Mersey includes the downgrade of at least one accident and emergency department, along with a major consolidation of elective care, according to a document obtained by HSJ.
Newcastle upon Tyne trust scoops three HSJ Awards
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust has scooped three prizes at the HSJ Awards 2015.
Revealed: Second commissioning support tender winner
The second tender for commissioning support services awarded via NHS England’s procurement framework has gone to Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit.
Regional health powers included in Liverpool devolution bid
The Liverpool City Region has declared it wants to explore taking greater control of health functions, including creating a ‘local leadership role’ for ‘performance oversight’.
Special report: Estates are the NHS's firm foundation
Estates management must be seen as an important function
CCGs must buy external support services, NHS England says
NHS England has told clinical commissioning groups in the north to jointly go to market to procure vital support services.
Trust told to improve mental health services
PERFORMANCE: Commissioners have told 5 Boroughs Partnership Foundation Trust to boost its performance in for improving access to psychological therapies services
Trust forced to place mentally unwell children out of area
MENTAL HEALTH: Some young people with mental health problems have been placed in inpatient units out of the 5 Boroughs Partnership Foundation Trust’s remit because of lack of space in its own child and adolescent mental health services.
Trust revises infection control after suspected Ebola case
PERFORMANCE: Warrington and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust has bolstered its infection control policies following the treatment of a suspected Ebola patient.