Threefold ICS variation in GP phone access revealed
Patients trying to reach their GP are almost three times as likely to fail to get through in the worst-performing integrated care systems than the best, according to analysis of new annual figures.
Long waiters increase raises fresh questions over key NHSE target
The number of 65-week elective waits has increased for consecutive months with the figure rising by more than ten per cent to around 56,000 in May, NHS England’s latest statistics show.
Trust faces regulatory action at second maternity department
One of the country’s largest acute trusts has been told to improve services at a second maternity department, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.
The Integrator: The ‘race to the bottom’ in ICS finances
Insider tales and must-read analysis on how integration is reshaping health and care systems, NHS providers, primary care, and commissioning. This week by deputy editor Dave West.
Trust ordered to cut 600 posts
A major acute trust has been ordered to cut 600 whole-time equivalent posts, its chief executive has said.
Redundancy scheme to cut corporate staff by 14%
Multiple hospitals are launching redundancy schemes or plans to freeze recruitment for corporate and non-clinical staff, in a bid to meet their financial expectations in 2024–25.
Revealed: The ICSs ‘diverting’ the most GP referrals through controversial model
There is huge regional variation in the rate at which health systems are preventing patients joining the elective waiting list through “advice and guidance” to GPs, according to analysis by HSJ.
NHSE ‘treads tightrope’ with new cash bailout for deficit ICSs
NHS England is set to give around £650m to some health systems to offset financial deficits and ease cash pressures, HSJ has learned.
Nearly a third of ICSs admit finance plans will be missed
At least 13 integrated care systems have now admitted they will miss the financial plans they signed up for at the start of the year.
‘Regular flooding’ and ‘fire risks’ force part-closure of hospital
Inpatient services are set to be transferred out of a large community hospital due to regular flooding, fire safety risks and broken lifts.
NHS failing to prioritise those in most need, says departing ICB chief
The NHS should better track patients with the greatest clinical need so they can move to the front of the queue for treatment, a former government waiting list tsar has said.
The Integrator: Baby steps again on specialised services
Insider tales and must-read analysis on how integration is reshaping health and care systems, NHS providers, primary care, and commissioning. This week by deputy editor Dave West.
Trust boss accuses private provider of ‘overpromising and underdelivering’
The boss of a large acute trust has accused a private provider of ‘overpromising and underdelivering’ after significant problems emerged with a local arrangement which have piled further pressure on its waiting list.
Exclusive: Government and NHS in talks over £1bn funding gap
Government is in talks with national NHS leaders over how to fill an urgent funding gap of at least £1bn this financial year, HSJ has learned, as new analysis shows all 42 local integrated care systems were behind their own plans less than halfway through 2023-24.
‘We don’t have the bottle’ to hold line on bed numbers, says trust director
A director at a major acute trust said it needs to stop “caving in” to demand pressures by opening extra escalation beds.
Revealed: First ICS digital maturity ratings
HSJ can reveal the first ratings given to every integrated care system for the ‘digital maturity’ of its NHS providers.
Barclay: 'Staff who refuse to give evidence to deaths probe will be fined'
The health secretary has announced a national investigation into the safety of mental health inpatient services, while granting statutory powers to an inquiry into 2,000 deaths at one trust.
‘First’ single EPR across ICS planned
An integrated care system is planning on launching what it believes is the ‘first’ single electronic patient record across acute, mental health and community providers.
‘Archaic’ and risky patient records still used by most GP practices
Most GP practices in England are still using ‘archaic’ Lloyd George paper records despite a commitment to digitise them, HSJ has found.