Mega-merger trust tells NHSE it cannot eliminate year-long waiters by next year
A large East of England trust has told NHS England it cannot eliminate its 52-week waiting list backlog in 2021-22 as it had previously promised.
‘Catastrophic’ threat to cancer performance at England’s third largest hospital trust
Cancer services at a large hospital trust have been at ‘catastrophic’ risk of being overwhelmed, after two of its hospital sites had to suspend life-saving cancer surgeries in the last month due to covid-19.
Maternity unit rated ‘inadequate’ as trust faces scrutiny over horrific stillbirth
An Essex maternity department has been served with further warnings by the Care Quality Commission and again rated “inadequate”.
Providers ‘missed opportunities’ in outbreak which killed 15
An investigation into the outbreak of a bacterial infection that killed 15 people has found there were several “missed opportunities” in their care.
Maternity service ‘inadequate’ after six babies starved of oxygen
Maternity services at an Essex hospital have been rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission, after babies were starved of oxygen and put at risk of permanent brain damage.
Medics threaten to limit services to ‘bare minimum’ without correct PPE
Emergency department doctors at an acute trust have threatened to reduce their services “to the bare minimum” unless they are provided with the correct personal protective equipment.
First ‘digital aspirant’ trusts revealed by NHSX
Twenty-three trusts will share a £28m pot of technology funding as part of the first wave of “digital aspirant” providers, NHSX has announced.
‘Mac the Knife’ to lead STP and five CCGs
A well-known NHS figure will take over as interim accountable officer of five clinical commissioning groups next month, after they were “unable” to recruit someone substantively.
Exclusive: Trusts set to be let off £10bn debt
NHS providers that owe the government a combined £10bn would see the debts converted into a form of investment that does not have to be repaid, under plans being discussed by national leaders.
HSJ’s 10 most read integration and system change stories of 2019
As we come to the closing days of 2019, HSJ reveals its most read stories on integration and system change for the year.
New chair appointed ahead of mega trust merger
A new chair has been appointed ahead of a planned three trust merger in the East of England.
Region ‘working to 40-week target’ for treatment
A group of NHS organisations have said they are “working to referral to treatment time targets of 40 weeks instead of 18 weeks”, in board papers which they are now indicating are misleading.
AI trial delivers “really impressive” reduction in A&E demand
Commissioners in Yorkshire are to roll out a scheme which used artificial intelligence to help cut A&E attendances by a third in one patient group which received health coaching.
Challenged STP drafts in reformer to develop hospital plan
A senior clinician who led the development of plans for a major acute reconfiguration in Essex has been seconded to the Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care Partnership as its “independent medical director”, HSJ has learned.
CCGs seek single exec after letter from regional director
The five mid and south Essex clinical commissioning groups have set out plans for a single accountable officer and executive team by April 2020.
Mega-merger trust unfairly dismissed head of HR
A hospital trust involved in a merger with two other trusts has lost the second employment tribunal claim brought by a redundant senior manager this year.
CCG raises concerns over controversial patient records system
Commissioners have raised concerns about a hospital trust which has failed to report basic waiting time data for almost two years after it went live with a controversial government-subsidised patient records system.
Trust to close specialist children’s service
Children who sustain severe burns in Kent, Surrey and Sussex will be treated in Essex or central London from next month, as a specialist unit has temporarily closed.
Two execs step down as mega-merger trusts rebrand
Two members of the board overseeing the merger of three are stepping down from their leadership positions.
Chair of challenged STP to stand down
The independent chair of the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership will stand down later this year.