Trust calls in outside help after mortality rate rises
A trust has said it ‘cannot fully explain’ a high mortality rate which has led it to seek support from intelligence firm Dr Foster and a royal college.
Patients left waiting after specialist trust closed outpost centre 20 miles away
Scores of patients have been left waiting more than a year for treatment and hundreds more making lengthy journeys, after a specialist foundation trust closed its outpost treatment centre based in another trust 20 miles away.
Hospital hosts others’ surgeons so cancer ops can go ahead
A specialist trust has freed up 29 theatre sessions a week so cancer surgery from nearby providers can continue during the covid pandemic.
Updated: Hospital declared it may ‘refuse critical care’ as ‘overwhelmed’ by covid
A hospital in the South East today declared a level of critical care alert meaning that it may be forced into ‘refusal or withdrawal of critical care due to resource limitation’ because it has been ‘overwhelmed’ — but later claimed it was an ”administrative error”.
Revealed: the nine hospital trusts where covid patients fill at least half the beds
Nine English NHS trusts now have at least half their adult acute beds occupied by covid-positive patients, with admissions still growing in every case.
Four trusts cancel planned operations as covid pressures mount
All non-urgent elective operations are being postponed for at least two weeks in a health system still seeing significant and growing pressure from coronavirus.
Three trusts in high risk areas no longer getting covid vaccine this week
Several trusts serving areas with high rates of covid will not be getting any vaccine this week, having been removed from a national list of “hub” sites where the first doses are to be given.
Hancock delays decision on controversial reconfiguration for 14 months
The health secretary has yet to make a decision on a contested reconfiguration plan, despite having received official advice on it nearly 14 months ago and the local NHS warning delays would lead to “avoidable death”.
Plans for extra trauma unit mooted to cope with population growth
A new trauma unit could be set up in Kent and Medway because of increasing need for services in south London and north west Kent.
Staff shortage leads to emergency reconfiguration of stroke services
A hospital is to stop providing acute stroke services from the end of this month after all but one of its specialist stroke nurses handed in their notice.
Four trusts pull back from commercial pathology option
Trusts across Kent and Medway have drawn back from changes to pathology services which could have led to greater centralisation and even outsourcing.
Campaigners lose legal battle against major reconfiguration
Campaigners fighting a regional centralisation of stroke services have lost their judicial review.
Review of troubled service still not launched after 16 months
A royal college’s review of quality concerns at a pathology service — first approved in September 2018 — has yet to get underway, HSJ has been told.
Trusts: Lack of time and staff mean safety alerts go unaddressed
Trusts have blamed a lack of time and staff capacity for long delays in implementing national safety alerts, according to a report shared with HSJ.
Controversial stroke plans delayed
A controversial reconfiguration of stroke services in Kent and Medway will be delayed by over a year, regardless of whether an ongoing court case forces NHS organisations to change their current plans.
London Eye: On sovereignty south of the river
Essential insight into England’s biggest health economy, by Ben Clover.
Stroke unit shutting down early after losing staff
A Kent stroke unit is to close seven months earlier than planned, as the loss of staff is putting patient safety at risk.
Exclusive: Nearly 3,300 patients in 'harm review' for merged service
The Royal College of Pathologists has been called in to review a merged pathology service which has had to recall thousands of patients for repeat blood tests.
Revealed: The trusts where A&E has slipped most
Waiting time performance for major emergency admissions at one London trust has deteriorated by 29 percentage points in the last two years, HSJ can reveal.
Regional stroke plans given the green light
Controversial plans to create three hyperacute stroke units in Kent and Medway have been approved, but could still face a judicial review.