All Policy articles – Page 9
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NewsMinisters ‘breaking promises on contract reform’
Unions have accused the government of letting them down on commitments to reform primary care contracts, six months after Labour won the general election.
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Expert BriefingReform Watch: What the new elective plan means
With the launch of Labour’s plan for elective care, Recovery Watch becomes Reform Watch. This newsletter will track the new government’s plans to “re-imagine” the NHS.
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CommentNational priorities must not crowd out local initiatives
Wes Streeting seeks to drive NHS performance by shifting from top-down management to empowering staff and local teams. Sir Chris Ham explores what more will be required to support the hard work of delivering the 10-year health plan
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NewsTrusts given deadline to roll out new NHS app features
The majority of patients awaiting elective treatment will be able to view and manage their appointment through the NHS app by spring 2026, according to new targets set by the government.
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NewsEvery trust given individual elective waiting time target
Every trust must improve its performance against the 18 week elective care target by a minimum of five percentage points by March next year, a new government plan has revealed.
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NewsGPs to be paid to seek consultant opinion before referring
New payments for GPs to incentivise a significant reduction in referrals are among a range of measures being announced by the prime minister in a “radical” new plan to slash the elective waiting list.
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NewsTen-year plan development ‘lacking diversity’
Government must “move quickly” to address a lack of diversity in responses to its 10-year plan consultation, an adviser on the work has warned.
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NewsNext year's elective target revealed
NHS England is set to commit to treating 65 per cent of elective patients within 18 weeks by next March, as a staging post to meeting the 92 per cent constitutional target by 2029, under plans to be unveiled next week.
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NewsStreeting seeks ‘unfiltered’ reform ideas from DHSC staff
The health and social care secretary has asked his department’s civil servants to submit innovative policy ideas, saying he will read them all and they will not be filtered by line managers.
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NewsNo big increase in waiting list work next year, says NHSE
The NHS will carry out a similar level of elective activity next year as it has this year, despite government ambitions to significantly reduce waiting times, under plans agreed with ministers.
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HSJ PartnersAdvancing COPD care through expert insights on policy reform
As a consultant respiratory physician, I see firsthand the serious impact that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has. For my patients, COPD is a daily battle that affects all areas of their lives.
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NewsPlanning guidance delayed to 2025
Wes Streeting has pledged to keep the “investment standard” which protects spending on mental healthcare, but has revealed 2025-26 planning rules will not be confirmed until next year.
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NewsCouncil reorganisation may lead to ICS boundary changes
Government wants health organisation boundaries to “align” with devolved regional authorities in the long term, it says in a white paper published today.
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CommentWe need hospice wards in hospitals
To free up hospital capacity we must be honest about the sheer volume of people in the last year of life who currently rely on hospitals, writes James Sanderson, chief executive of Sue Ryder, as he unveils a new model of care for palliative patients in hospitals
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CommentIntermediate care is failing most patients
Intermediate care holds promise for reducing hospital reliance, but challenges in design, delivery, and investment demand urgent attention to ensure effective care for ageing populations, writes Richard Humphries
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NewsCost and safety concerns hamper crisis care
Most integrated care boards report a lack of funding is hampering the NHS’s efforts to better respond to mental health crisis incidents, rather than requiring a police response.
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Expert BriefingFollowing the Money: How to shift money out of hospitals
HSJ’s expert briefing on NHS finances, savings and efforts to get back in the black. By finance correspondent Henry Anderson.
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NewsTrust ‘support and admin staff’ targeted for cuts in 2025-26 by NHSE
NHS England will hold discussions with every trust about the potential for cutting of its non-clinical workforce early next year.
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NewsExclusive: Government steps back from pledge to hit A&E target
The government has refused to reaffirm its pledge to return the NHS to hitting the four-hour A&E standard by the end of this parliament after a spokesman admitted to HSJ “we cannot do everything at once”.
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NewsStarmer rejects the need for trade-offs to hit elective care target
Making the recovery of elective care a priority does not give the NHS “permission” to allow “everything else [to] suffer”, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned.












