Health Sector News
5th May 2012 – Clinical Commissioning Groups – HR Guide
The much awaited HR guide for clinical commissioning groups has now been published. Healthcare HR Solutions is supporting a range of healthcare organisations with various HR services. We would be delighted to talk to your organisation about the detail of the HR guide. To download a copy, please click here.
5 December 2011 – Cameron wants companies to have access to some NHS records
The BBC reports that the Science Minister David Willetts has said he wants to see closer collaboration between the NHS and private medical companies, to help speed up the availability of new treatments.
29 November 2011 – Operating framework seeks to strike the right risk balance
NHS providers will be able to earn a further 1% of contract value in 2012/13 if they meet five quality standards, the Department of Health announced.
29 November 2011 – DH reinforces mandatory basis for PBR system
The Department of Health has underlined that payment by results provides ‘one system and one set of rules’ and that these rules are mandatory.
28 October 2011 – ‘Social value’ trumps price in public services, EU says
The BBC reports that the European Parliament has said that price “should no longer be the determining factor” when awarding contracts, and the economic, social and environmental benefits of a bid should also be considered.
18 October 2011 – NHS ombudsman in England criticises complaint handling
The BBC reports that the NHS in England is still failing to deal with complaints properly, with poor communication a major problem, the Health Service Ombudsman says.
10 October 2011 – NHS shake-up: The sticking points
The NHS reforms in England have been one of the most controversial aspects of government policy. In the spring, ministers even had to halt the progress of the Health Bill underpinning the changes because of widespread opposition from MPs, doctors and unions.
7 October 2011 – NHS cuts: Managers urge government honesty
It has been reported by the BBC that health service managers have called on the government to be more honest about the financial challenges facing the NHS in England.
27 September 2011 – Hospital saves fortune just by swapping rubber gloves
The BBC reports that the government hopes smarter procurement can help the NHS in England to save more than £15bn over the next three years – and some hospitals are already proving it can be done.
22 September 2011 – NHS to overhaul £11bn IT project
The BBC reports that the government is to announce that the board running an £11bn IT project for the NHS is to be scrapped, allowing hospitals to choose their own computer systems.
22 September 2011 – Nurses’ leader calls for proper healthcare assistants training
The BBC reports that the NHS is becoming too reliant on untrained healthcare assistants, says a nurses’ leader.
21 September 2011 – Commissioning groups ‘concerned’ about size and budgets
The BBC reports that a survey of the groups due to take over commissioning NHS care is highlighting fears about their size and budgets.
16 September 2011 – GMC says more support needed for overseas doctors in UK
The General Medical Council says some overseas doctors come to the NHS with “little or no preparation” for working in the UK.
26 August 2011 – Slow ambulance turnarounds cost NHS more than £10m
The BBC reports that more than £10m has been lost to the NHS in Wales in the last three years because ambulances are not transferring patients to hospitals quickly enough.
20 July 2011 – NHS competition extended to community care
The BBC reports on the ‘greater choice’ in treatments that will increase competition – ‘the final step in the privatisation of the NHS’ says Dr Jacky Davis of the Keep Our NHS Public campaign.
19 July 2011 – NHS services to be opened up to competition
The Guardian reports on the government’s plan to ‘open up more than £1bn of NHS services to competition from private companies and charities’.
15 July 2011 – More patients waiting too long for NHS treatment
The Guardian reports that ‘the number of patients not being treated within recommended NHS waiting times has soared by a third since the coalition came to power’.
14 July 2011 – NHS: Shakeup of public health body delayed until after Olympics
The Guardian reports that ‘the abolition of the NHS’s main public body has been delayed nearly a year’ to avoid upheaval around the Olympics.
6 July 2011 – NHS reforms and the search for local solutions
The Guardian’s Ingrid Torjesen explores ‘one of the few health reforms proposed by the government that has been widely welcomed’.
6 July 2011 – Will GPs rise to the challenge?
The Guardian’s Jo Stephenson observes that ‘Family doctors who dislike bureaucracy may be pushed to the centre of complex management systems’.
6 July 2011 – NHS reforms: how to move forward with sure, safe steps
Malcolm Lowe-Lauri, the chief executive of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, ‘explains how his trust is creating £20bn savings within the NHS’.
6 July 2011 – This NHS U-turn was a fake
The Guardian’s Jacqueline Davis questions ‘a public relations smokescreen’ that has left ‘the core principles of the bill in place’.
28 June 2011 – Doctors reject revised NHS plans
The BBC’s health correspondent Nick Triggle reports that British Medical Association delegates voted 59% in favour for ‘the bill underpinning the changes to be withdrawn.’
21 June 2011 – MPs to reconsider changes to NHS reforms in detail
The BBC reports that ‘MPs voted by a majority of 73 to “recommit” parts of the Health and Social Care bill’.
17 June 2011 – Failing hospitals should close says nurses’ union leader
The Telegraph reports on comments made by The Royal College of Nursing’s Chief Executive Peter Cater – ‘shut underperforming hospitals which are a drain on the system’.
15 June 2011 – How reforms could help patients
The BBC’s health correspondent Nick Triggle demonstrates ‘the potential of the NHS to provide more effective and revolutionary care.’
14 June 2011 – How will NHS look after coalition changes
The BBC explores the reform changes suggested by a panel of experts – David Cameron told the Daily Mail that “some of the details were wrong”.
13 June 2011 – Review recommends big changes to NHS shake up
The BBC reports that ‘Plans to reform the NHS in England have left staff, patients and the public with deep seated concerns.’
7 June 2011 – NHS reforms: David Cameron unveils key changes
The Guardian details the alterations revealed by the Prime Minister – although Cameron ‘insisted real reforms would still be introduced.’
1 June 2011 – GP consortiums ‘may not be accountable’ for £60bn NHS spend
‘Because of weaknesses in the coalition’s reforms’ – The Guardian reports the concerns of health thinktank the King’s Fund.
23 May 2011 – Lansley hints at changes to role of key NHS regulator
The Telegraph reports the Health Secretary intends to ensure ‘Monitor promotes the interests of patients rather than full-blown competition between providers.’
20 May 2011 – ‘Radical change needed’ in NHS
The BBC interviews Sir Mark Walport, the director of The Wellcome Trust – ‘Britain’s largest medical research backer’.
18 May 2011 – NHS changes: Points of contention
The BBC explores the points of contention in the NHS reforms to be implemented in 2013, that ‘90% of GPs have signed up to’ already.
18 May 2011 – Q&A: The NHS shake-up
The BBC assesses the structure and provide answers about the changes, ‘designed to encourage greater involvement from the private sector and voluntary groups.’
18 April 2011 – Patients denied key treatments due to NHS cost-cutting
The Guardian details the open letter from the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations – ‘Increasing rationing of operations is forcing patients to endure pain’.
17 March 2011 – NHS reforms leave health ministers under attack from all sides
The Telegraph reports: ‘Ministers have already lost the support of the Lib Dems, the BMA and the former health secretary Alan Milburn.
16 March 2011 – NHS reforms: what will happen and why
The Guardian questions the ‘radical restructuring of the health service’.
15 March 2011 – NHS shake-up: The basics
The BBC outlines the changes the government are proposing to make to the NHS, changes that ‘will cost 1.4bn to introduce’.
23 February 2011 – NHS to lose 50,000 jobs, including doctors and nurses
The Guardian reveals drastic job losses – with 320 doctors, dental staff, nurses, midwives and health visitors lost from just one hospital.
19 January 2011 – NHS reforms: government unveils radical pro-market shakeup
The Guardian reports on ‘plans to cull 24,000 management staff and let NHS hospitals, private firms and GPs compete for patients.
17 January 2011 – NHS bans on operations gamble with patients’ health
The Guardian states that the President of Royal College of Surgeons ‘accused NHS primary care trusts of pursuing a “dangerous” course by refusing treatment to patients.’
