Major trust’s ‘outstanding’ rating suspended after well-led review
An ‘outstanding’ hospital trust has had its Care Quality Commission rating suspended, in a rare step by the regulator, due to ‘significant discrepancies’ between the current assessment and findings at a recent inspection.
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.
Former policeman to chair ‘outstanding’ trust
A former police officer has been announced as the new chair of a major mental health trust.
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.
Revealed: the ICSs that refused to set breakeven plans
More than half the integrated care systems in the north of England have refused to agree a balanced financial plan, HSJ has learned.
Region trapped in ‘vicious circle’ as NHS ‘incentivises poor performance’, says ICS chief
People in the North East of England are being trapped in a ‘vicious circle of ill health’ due to national funding structures which ‘incentivise’ poorly performing areas, according to the chief executive of the largest commissioning board.
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.
Revealed: The integrated care partnerships with no public meetings or minutes
Six integrated care systems have not held any public meetings of their ‘partnership’ boards – and nine have not published any ICP meetings or papers – nearly a year after they were set up.
More prosecutions launched over patient deaths at trust
A scandal-hit mental health trust is facing further prosecutions over alleged care failings relating to the deaths of two inpatients, HSJ can reveal.
Acute trust appoints new CEO
An acute trust in the North East has appointed a new chief executive.
Building firm agrees £100m settlement for hospital ‘defects’
A construction firm has agreed to pay around £100m to an NHS trust after structural defects were found at one of its hospitals, HSJ understands.
Vulnerable patients injured by 'inadequate' service
A troubled trust’s inpatient wards for people with a learning disability or autism have been rated “inadequate”, with staff criticised for resorting to restraint too readily which sometimes injured patients.
Lawyers warned trust that staff could ‘pick and choose’ documents for coroners
An ambulance trust accused of withholding key evidence from coroners was previously warned its staff needed training to ‘understand the real risk of committing criminal offences’ in relation to inquests into patient deaths.
‘Life threatening’ risk to clinically vulnerable after firms disconnect energy supply, warns NHS chief
A senior NHS leader has warned of a “life-threatening” situation in which clinically vulnerable people are being admitted to hospital after having their energy supplies disconnected.
CQC criticises outstanding-rated trust for ‘unsafe’ staffing
An ‘outstanding’ rated mental health trust has been criticised by the Care Quality Commission for ‘unsafe’ levels of staffing and inadequate monitoring of vulnerable patients.
CQC prosecutes troubled provider over death of teenage girl
A struggling mental health trust is being prosecuted over accusations it failed to protect a teenager at a children’s inpatient unit.
Mental health trusts fear an ICS funding squeeze
HSJ’s fortnightly briefing covering safety, quality, performance and finances in the mental health sector — contact me in confidence.
Four in five ICSs a long way from IT ‘convergence’
Four out of five integrated care systems are a long way off achieving the ‘convergence’ of electronic patient record systems sought by NHS England, HSJ analysis reveals.
CEO describes anger at ‘disrespectful’ staff
The chief executive of a mental health trust grappling with care quality failures has described his anger at ‘disrespectful’ staff who have ‘now had to leave the organisation’.
Bullying among top surgeons sparks two national investigations
‘Horrifying and upsetting’ reports of bullying in prestigious heart units are being probed by national officials and professional leaders, HSJ can reveal.