Service design – Page 167

  • Comment

    The figures are standardised, but the care certainly is not

    2007-04-26T09:54:51Z

    Research published by Dr Foster this week shows unequivocally that addressing the problem of variation in quality is one of the biggest priorities facing the service this year (see news, page 7).

  • News

    Open or shut case as service shake-ups hinge on SNP result

    2007-04-26T00:00:35Z

    An SNP victory in next week's Scottish elections would take a hatchet to a host of Labour's NHS reforms north of the border, writes Jennifer Trueland

  • HSJ Knowledge

    David Lee on tough communications

    2007-04-23T11:47:11Z

    . 'Until you start getting complaints that the same message has been repeated too often, you probably aren't getting through to the masses' ...

  • News

    Government pledges £30m for safer women's mental health wards

    2007-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Up to £30m in funding has been awarded to improve safety in adult inpatient mental health wards, particularly for women service users, following the safety issues highlighted in the National Patient Safety Agency report With Safety in Mind.National director for mental health, Louis Appleby, said in a letter to mental ...

  • News

    Toolkit for better hip and knee replacements

    2007-04-20T00:00:00Z

    A toolkit for orthopaedic teams to improve efficiency in primary hip and knee replacements has been launched by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.It identifies the six key characteristics of high performing organisations and includes audit tools for managers and teams to improve patient care.Read the report here

  • News

    Hospital patients to get VTE risk assessments

    2007-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Every patient should be assessed for potentially fatal blood clots on admission to hospital, chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson announced as he launched a working party report on venous thromboembolism (VTE).A national risk assessment tool is being developed for clinicians to detect the complications of VTE, which include deep ...

  • News

    NHS staff risk losing pay and pensions, says union

    2007-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Tens of thousands of NHS staff could lose out on pay and pensions if they are transferred to privately-run social enterprises, Amicus has warned.A report from the union said social enterprises are outside the NHS and Agenda for Change pay conditions would not necessarily apply.Read the report here

  • Comment

    It's up to executive teams to champion productive wards

    2007-04-19T00:00:56Z

    Do ward staff need the encouragement and support of their executive team to get on and make changes to improve everyday processes?

  • News

    BMA recommends GPs get PBC guarantees from primary care trusts

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Advice to GPs to demand assurances in writing from primary care trusts over possible savings from practice-based commissioning could see doctors and PCT managers reach an impasse.

  • News

    Move a fifth of surgery to specialists, says Darzi

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    A fifth of all planned surgery should be concentrated at specialist hospitals, according to a report by Professor Sir Ara Darzi, the national adviser on surgery.

  • News

    New consultant contract 'not value for money'

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The new hospital consultant contract is not delivering expected value for money, according to a National Audit Office report.

  • News

    NHS University: 'embarrassing' failure to deliver value for money, says government review

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The NHS University, the internal training and education body which cost £72m and was scrapped after less than two years, delivered 'too little too late', according to a scathing report that the government tried to suppress.

  • News

    Top-level shake-up continues at DoH

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The reorganisation of top-level management in the Department of Health is to be continued following the departure of Bill McCarthy, its director of policy and strategy.

  • News

    MPs urgently demand a new IT strategy

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    A Commons scrutiny committee has said 'urgent' action is needed to rescue the national IT programme.

  • News

    RCN will back closures - as long as patients benefit

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The Royal College of Nursing will give its support to hospital closures but only if they are in the best interests of patient care, its new general secretary has said.

  • News

    NHS Employers call for revamp of overseas staff rules

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    All healthcare occupations should be wiped off a list of roles the Home Office says can be filled quickly by people from overseas, according to NHS Employers.

  • News

    Error data shows concern over coding

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Comparative analysis of patient safety using a set of US indicators has heightened concerns about the quality of NHS trust coding, according to a Dr Foster Intelligence study.

  • News

    How crude tariffs are getting under the skin of specialists

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Dermatologists and rheumatologists have claimed their specialties are under threat of bankruptcy and patient care at risk as the payment by results tariffs do not cover costs. Is a move into community care services really a better option, asks Daloni Carlisle

  • Comment

    Time to draw a line under Granger era

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The national programme for IT is reeling from its most damning verdict yet - this week's report from the Commons public accounts committee that condemns uncertainty over the schedule of implementation and value for money (see news, page 9).

  • Comment

    Emma Dent

    2007-04-19T00:00:00Z

    'Are managers walking round with clipboards counting smiles and small talk exchanges?'