Exclusive: Government and NHS in talks over £1bn funding gap
Government is in talks with national NHS leaders over how to fill an urgent funding gap of at least £1bn this financial year, HSJ has learned, as new analysis shows all 42 local integrated care systems were behind their own plans less than halfway through 2023-24.
ICB drops procurement legally challenged by supplier
An integrated care board has dropped its procurement of a digital system after a health technology supplier launched a legal challenge accusing the ICB of breaking purchasing rules.
‘New approach’ to GP contract will ‘increase resilience’, says ICB
An integrated care board is set to replace a company which has been running a GP practice on a short-term deal, with a long-term contract held by a local primary care network, under a ‘new approach’ it says will ‘increase resilience, capacity and value for money’.
Managers wrongly dismissed doctor with PTSD, tribunal rules
A trust breached its own internal illness policy when managers sacked a doctor who had PTSD and had been drunk at work, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Revealed: First ICS digital maturity ratings
HSJ can reveal the first ratings given to every integrated care system for the ‘digital maturity’ of its NHS providers.
ICSs most ‘off target’ on recovery named by NHS England
Seven integrated care systems and one ambulance trust have been placed in ‘intensive support’ because of their performance against urgent and emergency care metrics.
Revealed: the tenfold regional difference in access to GP records
Fewer than one in 10 GP practices offers patients access to their records in several areas of England, with significant variation across England, six months ahead of a new deadline.
Hospital manager took bribes from suppliers
A hospital manager in Hertfordshire has been convicted after accepting bribes for his trust to procure medical equipment from particular companies.
Revealed: two out of five ICSs lack a digital strategy
Over 40 per cent of integrated care systems are yet to establish digital strategies, HSJ research has discovered.
‘Insufficient leadership’ as maternity unit drops two ratings to ‘inadequate’
A maternity service has been served a warning notice by the Care Quality Commission and downgraded from “good” to “inadequate”.
‘Commercial barriers’ stop ICS buying private hospital
A health system has dropped a bid to buy a private hospital in its area, saying there were ‘commercial barriers’ to the deal.
Retiring CEO: Other industries would think how we chair boards is mad
The outgoing CEO of an acute trust has called for better support for healthcare leaders, particularly when it comes to the relationship between chiefs and chairs, as she prepares to retire.
Revealed: The top-performing ICSs defying deprivation challenges
A cluster of integrated care systems across the North of England has bucked the trend to deliver successful integration schemes and better patient outcomes despite high levels of deprivation, new analysis has found.
Government criticises trust over chief executive appointment
An East of England trust has breached government rules by announcing its new chief executive too early — putting him in what was described as an ‘untenable’ position.
Revealed: The areas with the strongest and weakest primary care
Official workforce statistics reveal huge variation in primary care staffing across different health systems – with London and the South East appearing to be particularly underserved and the South West relatively well resourced.
Former NHSE director confirmed as trust chief executive
A former NHS England director has been confirmed as permanent chief executive at an East of England trust.
Trust appoints former Department of Health leader as CEO
A former Department of Health leader is set to take the helm at an East of England trust.
Children’s services rated ‘inadequate’ as trust remains ‘outstanding’
The children’s inpatient unit at an ‘outstanding’ mental health trust has been downgraded to ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission, amid a surge in demand for its services.
‘Calm and determined’ CEO to retire
The chief executive who brought leadership stability to an historically troubled acute trust in the East of England has announced her retirement.
Trusts complain of ‘frustrating’ delays to new hospitals programme
Two trusts have highlighted their frustration with the ‘delays and uncertainty’ over the government’s New Hospital Programme after being forced to slow down their projects amid funding concerns.