Exclusive: Rise in ‘free births’ raised with government and regulators
National leaders have been alerted to the risks from growing numbers of women choosing to give birth without midwifery or medical input – known as “free birthing” – HSJ can reveal.
Former national director to chair two ICBs
A long-serving hospital leader and former NHS Improvement director will become the first to chair two neighbouring integrated care boards.
Trusts ‘unlock radical ambitions’ with move to same EPR
More than half of the acute trusts in a single region are set to move to the same electronic patient record system, a shift one of their CIOs described as a “serendipitous” opportunity for sharing staff and other resources.
Ex-national director to lead ICS group
The former medical director of NHS Improvement – who now holds several local board roles – is to become chair of the national NHS Integrated Care System network.
Trust leaders raise alarm over ‘mad’ approach to scrutiny of maternity services
The management of fragile maternity services is being hamstrung by a lack of clear standards and direction from government and regulators, trust chairs and chief executives have told HSJ.
Warning notice issued to trust which gave ‘assurances’ care was improving
An acute trust in the East Midlands has been issued with a warning notice and seen its maternity services downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission after ‘assurances’ that improvements had been made proved misleading.
Seven trusts relegated to NHSE’s poorest performers group
Seven trusts have been added to NHS England’s list of providers with the worst elective and cancer problems, putting the number of organisations in the ‘tier 1’ group back into double figures – and five leaving it, HSJ has learned.
Two trusts added to NHSE list of providers at ‘high risk’
Two trusts have been added to NHS England’s list of those identified as needing the most support meeting cancer and elective targets.
Forty trusts are set elective target less ambitious than last year
NHS trusts have been given targets to increase elective activity that range from 103 per cent of pre-pandemic levels to nearly 130 per cent, internal data seen by HSJ reveals.
Recovery Watch: ‘Grey area’ over key A&E target
Recovering services from the covid crisis is the big task for NHS leaders for the foreseeable future. The Recovery Watch newsletter tracks prospects and progress. This week by HSJ emergency care correspondent Matt Discombe
Trust told to pay more than £200k over dementia patient’s death
A hospital trust has been told to pay almost a quarter of a million pounds after pleading guilty to failing to provide safe care to a patient with advanced dementia who fatally injured himself.
Patient Safety Watch: All change for maternity transformation
HSJ is now hosting the Patient Safety Watch newsletter, written by Patient Safety Watch trustee James Titcombe.
Trust lacks ‘grip and control’ over spending
An acute trust facing a worsening financial position has been warned it lacks ‘sufficient grip and control’ on spending.
Revealed: NHS England’s list of trusts with worst elective and cancer problems
Almost a third of acute trusts have been identified by NHS England as being ‘at risk’ of missing key targets for electives and cancer recovery, with some facing ‘periodic calls between ministers and CEOs’, HSJ can reveal.
‘Outstanding’ trust appoints new CEO
A specialist trust has promoted its chief operating officer to be its new chief executive.
Exclusive: ‘Outrageous’ long A&E waits for mental health patients increase 150pc
Mental health patients who arrive at emergency departments in crisis are increasingly facing ‘outrageous’ long waits for an inpatient bed, with some being forced to wait several days.
Trusts failing on waiting list ask told to ‘get act together’
Trusts have been told to ‘get their act together’ on health inequalities, after HSJ research suggested only a small minority have so far published data on disparities in waiting times between different patient groups.
‘Outstanding’ CEO moves to larger acute trust
The chief executive of an ‘outstanding’ specialist hospital has been appointed to lead a large general acute trust in the Midlands.
Trusts spending £1m+ a year on settlement deals with gagging clauses
Trusts are still spending at least £1m a year on settlement agreements with staff containing ‘gagging clauses’, despite a crackdown on these conditions in recent years, HSJ research reveals.