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.
STP could miss planned deficit by more than £35m
The Kent and Medway health economy is likely to end the year with a net deficit of at least £113m, nearly £36m worse than previously forecast.
Regional pathology services shake-up revealed
Pathology services in Kent and Medway could be delivered with a private sector partner or outsourced under options being considered by the area’s four acute trusts.
Plans to relocate stroke services could face judicial review
Controversial plans to halve the number of hospitals admitting stroke patients in Kent and Medway could face judicial review after mounting concerns from councillors about the proposals.
Trust to miss financial plan for fourth straight year
An acute trust in Kent has admitted it will miss its financial plan for the fourth year in a row.
NHS warned of 'crippling' PFI charges over the next decade
The NHS has been warned of “crippling” finance charges from its PFI contracts over the next decade, when aggregate repayments on the deals will reach their peak.
Blood test recall for thousands of patients
Nearly 2,500 patients have been recalled for extra tests after problems with a merged pathology service between Medway Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham Trust.
Plans to close three acute stroke units revealed
Proposals to replace six stroke units with three new hyper acute stroke facilities across Kent and Medway have been revealed.
Trust waiting list soars after review
A specialist trust has seen its waiting list rise by a third – and uncovered an additional 115 52 week waiters – after a review revealed its reported figures were incomplete.
Community trust director to lead acute hospital
The chief operating officer of a community trust has taken up her first chief executive post at a small district general hospital.
County to develop “single service” pathology joint venture
Acute trusts across Kent have agreed to create a joint venture to deliver a single pathology service for the county, despite years of work, developing two services in the county.
HSIB to roll out maternity investigations across England by March 2019
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will not achieve national coverage of maternity incidents until March next year, it has told HSJ.
Decision over Carillion Hospital 'in autumn' as costs soar
A government decision on the future of a privately financed major acute hospital that was hit by Carillion’s collapse is not expected until autumn.
GPs warn trust paperless switch could 'compromise patient care'
Patient care could be “compromised” by trusts’ plans to implement paperless referrals, GPs in the south east have warned.
Trusts yet to agree permanent deals for former Carillion services
Permanent deals are yet to be agreed by NHS trusts whose facilities management services were hit by the collapse of Carillion, HSJ can reveal.
Chief executive confirmed for trust with severely challenged A&E
Susan Acott has been appointed as the permanent chief executive of East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust after nearly six months as interim leader.