All Off Diary articles – Page 8

  • When Derby Hospitals foundation trust made a chaplain available for staff spooked by ghostly sightings, managers strenuously denied claims that they were planning an exorcism.
    Community

    Ghost of a chance

    2009-07-23T00:00:00Z

    When Derby Hospitals foundation trust made a chaplain available for staff spooked by ghostly sightings, managers strenuously denied claims that they were planning an exorcism.

  • Lord Darzi's official leaving date may not be until the recess, but his Richmond House office looked pretty bare as HSJ passed it on the way to a briefing at the DH.
    Community

    Where's Darzi?

    2009-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Lord Darzi’s official leaving date may not be until the recess, but his Richmond House office looked pretty bare as HSJ passed it on the way to a briefing at the DH.

  • East Kent Hospitals University foundation trust took it all in its stride when a 13-year-old hawk turned up to visit patient Karen Pearson. Ms Pearson was missing the bird of prey, Belle, which belongs to her partner Bob Barlow, so a reunion in the hospit
    Community

    Flight of fancy

    2009-07-23T00:00:00Z

    Some NHS trusts get terribly wound up over visiting times, imposing strict restrictions on the numbers and ages of those who can see patients.

  • After being accused of being teetotal on Question Time, health secretary Andy Burnham will have been keen to prove otherwise at the Department of Health's annual drinks reception for journalists last week.
    Community

    Party piece

    2009-07-23T00:00:00Z

    After being accused of being teetotal on Question Time, health secretary Andy Burnham will have been keen to prove otherwise at the Department of Health’s annual drinks reception for journalists last week.

  • David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West was the source of the story that eleven thousand children under 16 are hooked on drink and drugs
    Community

    Spin cycle

    2009-07-16T00:00:00Z

    Political spindoctors are clearly gearing up for a general election, taking every opportunity to seize the initiative.

  • Endgame backstab
    Community

    Sir Bruce Keogh cuts up rough

    2009-07-09T00:00:00Z

    The normally charming NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh told HSJ that medical managers who think they can carry out a couple of operations a week are “just crazy”, and “nobody would regard you as a hard-hitting surgeon”.

  • Endgame queen loo
    Community

    Off diary: another compliment down the toilet

    2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

    At last week’s public accounts committee hearing on healthcare acquired infections, chair Edward Leigh treated NHS chief executive David Nicholson to a rare compliment.

  • STD clinic
    Community

    Off Diary: not itching to reveal their STDS

    2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Journalistic perks are few and far between when you write about the NHS.

  • Camera lens
    Community

    When is good news not good news?

    2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Talk about hiding your light under a bushel. HSJ contacted Camden primary care trust press office this week to ask for a picture of its staff using a swine flu planning tool it invented, which is being recommended nationally by the Department of Health.

  • Worried about crime? Never fear, the NHS Counter Fraud Service has swooped on a criminal network operating at the very heart of the health service.
    Community

    Crime drama

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Worried about crime? Never fear, the NHS Counter Fraud Service has swooped on a criminal network operating at the very heart of the health service.

  • The departure of Department of Health director general for commissioning and system management Mark Britnell has left hearts broken across the NHS, not least at the Care Quality Commission.
    Community

    The Heartbreak Kid

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    The departure of Department of Health director general for commissioning and system management Mark Britnell has left hearts broken across the NHS, not least at the Care Quality Commission.

  • tongue tied
    Community

    Tongue tied

    2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

    Which political dynasty does shiny new health secretary Andy Burnham hail from?

  • Journalists in the press room at Confed overheard the following frantic message through an official's earpiece: "The SHA meeting's EMPTY. Can you get some people from next door to come along? There's plenty of food..."
    Community

    Running on empty

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    It seems the DH’s efforts to promote regional strategies are lost on NHS managers.

  • As the massed ranks of NHS management squeezed on to trains at Milton Keynes going anywhere apart from their destination - Liverpool - NHS Employers deputy director Alastair Henderson squeezed through carriages staring at anyone female.
    Community

    Eye strain

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Travel to the NHS Confederation conference from London was derailed by signalling faults.

  • NHS and Department of Health bosses checking into their NHS Confederation conference accommodation should have taken note of its name - the Hard Day's Night Hotel.
    Community

    Hard knight

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    NHS and Department of Health bosses checking into their NHS Confederation conference accommodation should have taken note of its name - the Hard Day’s Night Hotel.

  • But will the average granny be chomping at the bit to try snail porridge and bacon and egg ice cream, favourites at his world famous restaurant the Fat Duck?
    Community

    Snail porridge

    2009-06-18T00:00:00Z

    Heston Blumenthal is the latest celebrity chef to revamp hospital menus, and is working on more “exciting” meals for older people.

  • Capitalist pigs
    Community

    Capitalist pigs

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Labour may not have met all its manifesto pledges but thanks to swine flu, at least the party has achieved one long held, if unofficial, objective - the closure of Eton College.

  • Did this mean being a foundation chief was a part time job, enquired former GP and Labour MP Howard Stoate? “No,” was the blunt reply. Nor is it one with second home allowances or the ability to close on Wednesdays, he did not add.
    Community

    Stoate's gloat

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Despite bravely picking up the gauntlet from Monitor to ride to the rescue of scandal hit Mid Staffordshire foundation trust, interim chief executive Eric Morton was never going to get an easy ride in front of the Commons health committee last week.

  • Doctors and patients are perplexed by the lack of plain English used in NHS documents, according to delegates at a British Medical Association conference last week.
    Community

    Vexatious verbosity

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Doctors and patients are perplexed by the lack of plain English used in NHS documents, according to delegates at a British Medical Association conference last week.

  • Crystal healing
    Community

    Crystal balls

    2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

    Patients will have leapt for joy now it is easier than ever to find a genuine crystal healer, as opposed to the phony sort.