All Commissioning articles – Page 231
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News'Organic' reduction in PCTs under Tories
The number of primary care trusts in England could be significantly reduced under Conservative health plans, HSJ has learnt.
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News
CQC to get tougher on NHS spending
The Care Quality Commission is to step up its focus on ensuring NHS commissioners get value for money ahead of the predicted public spending squeeze.
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LeaderPatient records: jokes about doctors’ bad handwriting are no longer funny
The Audit Commission has found that 8 per cent of the bills sent by trusts to commissioners last year were for the wrong treatment.
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HSJ KnowledgeHow to commission for equality and diversity in the NHS
Collecting ethnicity data and engaging with the range of communities will help the NHS address health inequalities and meet its statutory requirements, says Caroline White
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NewsOut of hours care must be reviewed, says Royal College of GPs chair
The use of overseas doctors to cover out of hours and weekend care must be reviewed due to potential safety issues, according to GP leaders.
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HSJ Knowledge
Prescribing efficiency
GPs in the NHS are the gate keepers of an annual prescription spend of £8.3b in 2007/08. The paradigm is that GPs decide who should receive medication and more importantly, which type of medication is the most appropriate for a patient.
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NewsNHS management stars need a leg-up to rise to the top
There is no shortage of ambitious senior managers in the NHS, so why is it so difficult to fill top posts? Charlotte Santry studied regional talent and leadership plans for clues
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NewsClinical coding improves but third of trusts still overcharging
Hospital trusts have improved their clinical coding, but a third are still overcharging commissioners by as much as 6 per cent, the latest audit results show.
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NewsNHS chiefs told saving planet will save them money
NHS managers have been told to “set an example” by tackling climate change - and save their organisations money at the same time.
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News
£10m deficit trust board will focus on patient safety
Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals foundation trust has stepped up board-level patient safety checks while implementing around 100 cost-improvement initiatives.
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HSJ KnowledgeNHS performance: GPs in the spotlight
Tight budgets mean PCTs must scrutinise all contractors to ensure they are providing the right value and quality of services - and this includes GPs. Graham Clews looks at the role of the balanced scorecard
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CommentJo Webber on NHS care scandals
At the heart of the care scandal in Mid Staffordshire foundation trust and the Baby Peter case is the need for a strong culture of questioning and scrutiny
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NewsFoundation trusts plan to bolster earnings through slow pay growth
Foundation trusts believe they can grow their annual earnings until 2012 by keeping pay bills down.
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NewsQuality and outcomes framework: GP incentives harm care quality
The quality of care provided by GPs has decreased for some conditions where they do not receive performance related pay, a study has found.
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NewsDH data shows no link between NHS spending and patient outcomes
There is no clear relationship between primary care trust spending on killer diseases and outcomes for patients, the latest data from the Department of Health suggests.
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NewsDH scraps deadline for PCT provider arm strategies
The Department of Health has scrapped its centrally set deadline for primary care trusts to create provider arm strategies. It comes amid fears of PCTs obsessed by organisational structure making poor decisions.
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NewsAmbulance services: urgent attention for non-emergency care
Complex forces at work in urgent care mean too many costly ambulance trips are being taken by non-emergency patients. Dave West analyses the figures and looks at the explanations
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NewsMatching best PCT performers could cut NHS costs by 20pc
The NHS could make savings of up to 20 per cent if all primary care trusts spent as efficiently as the best, analysis by HSJ reveals.
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News‘Unprecedented’ review by PCT finds progress after Mid Staffs scandal
South Staffordshire primary care trust has published what it calls an “unprecedented” review of care at Mid Staffordshire foundation trust, after installing its own staff to check on standards.
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NewsCall to extend clinical outcome data on choose and book
The Department of Health’s GP czar David Colin-Thomé has called for clinical outcome data to be included in the NHS’s electronic booking system choose and book.