'Alarming' figures show thousands still waiting too long for wheelchairs
Thousands of disabled children who need a wheelchair are still being forced to wait more than four months from the time of their referral to the equipment being delivered, an exclusive HSJ analysis of official data has revealed.
CCG and council to create £105m joint executive board
A clinical commissioning group and local authority will set up a joint board with executive powers in a bid further integrate health and social care commissioning.
Exclusive: STP told its capital demand 'highly unlikely' to be met
The leaders of one sustainability and transformation plan have been told by NHS England and NHS Improvement it is “highly unlikely” they will get the capital they have asked for to execute it.
Long-serving hospital chief to stand down
Mary Edwards, the chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust for more than a decade, has announced she will stand down at the end of the year.
Deep South: Smart's verdict on Southern Health
Weekly updates and essential insight into the NHS in the South West, by Will Hazell
Southern Health admits 'unlawful acts' in relation to Sparrowhawk death
Southern Health Foundation Trust has formally accepted responsibility for the death of Connor Sparrowhawk, and accepted it made “unlawful acts and ommissions” in relation to the teenager’s death.
Problems at Southern Health 'not a one off'
Failures by Southern Health Foundation Trust to investigate and learn from the deaths of people with learning disabilities are probably replicated in “lots of hospitals” across the country, an NHS England official has said.
Exclusive: GP groups cover most of England but ‘lack ambition and priorities’
Four fifths of clinical commissioning groups have at least one large scale GP provider group in their area, according to information collected by HSJ.
Mental health trust drops foundation trust bid
STRUCTURE: Solent Trust has dropped its bid to be a foundation trust.
CCG efficiency targets rise sharply as financial squeeze spreads
Clinical commissioning groups’ efficiency targets have risen by over a quarter this year in a sign that the financial strain on the health service is moving beyond the provider sector.
New review backs long standing vascular centralisation proposal
STRUCTURE: Vascular services in south Hampshire should be concentrated in a specialist centre at University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust, an expert review has concluded.
Neglect contributed to death at Southern Health, inquest finds
Neglect contributed to the death of a teenager who drowned in the bath while in the care of Southern Health Foundation Trust, an inquest has found.
Stop-start vascular services shake-up creaks back into action
STRUCTURE: A long running and controversial process to reconfigure vascular services in south Hampshire has resumed this week with the dispatch of a specialist team to assess services in Southampton and Portsmouth.
Southampton fears extra pressure over neighbour’s maternity reconfiguration
STRUCTURE: University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust has expressed concerns that service changes at a neighbouring trust will put more pressure on its maternity services.
GP appointed as clinical chair of Southampton City CCG
WORKFORCE: A GP with 25 years’ experience has started as the new clinical chair of Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group.
Solent to sue Hampshire council over tender award
COMMERCIAL: Solent Trust is set to sue Hampshire County Council after the local authority awarded a £41.3m contract for adult substance misuse services to another provider, HSJ has been told.
Southampton trust agrees plan to tackle poor waiting times
PERFORMANCE: University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust has agreed a plan improve its accident and emergency waiting time performance, amid commissioner concerns.
Integration Summit: Accountability must start with genuine co-production
Commissioners need to build trust among their partners
High bed occupancy a barrier to trust’s deficit reduction
PERFORMANCE: A Trust has expressed “serious concern” at its own financial position after it reported a £2.6m deficit at the end of April, £1.5m worse than planned.
Optum scoops £150m contract in Thames Valley and Wessex
COMMERCIAL: Private provider Optum has won a three-year contract to carry out acute commissioning services for 18 Wessex and the Thames Valley clinical commissioning groups.