All Health Service Journal articles in December 2020
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsTop teaching hospital suspends most cancer surgery
A large trust in the West Midlands has told patients it is suspending “a high proportion” of non-urgent cancer surgery, HSJ has learned.
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NewsLearning disabilities patients told they may be ‘too frail’ for mechanical ventilation if they get covid-19
People with learning disabilities have been told by GP surgeries they are unlikely to be prioritised for hospital care if they contract covid-19, because they could be too “frail”.
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NewsUPDATED: Trust tells public to stay away after problems with oxygen equipment
A hospital trust has told the public not to attend one of its emergency department because of a “technical issue” with its oxygen equipment.
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NewsGPs given new deadline to identify ‘at risk’ patients
GPs have until Tuesday to ensure the NHS’s central list of patients at high risk and in need of shielding from coronavirus is correct, NHS England has said.
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News‘Yet another failure’ on flagship programme for learning disabilities
New data has revealed “yet another failure” to adequately reduce the number of people with learning disabilities living in “modern day asylums”.
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HSJ LocalTrust contacts 136 women after review finds ‘unnecessary harm’
An acute trust in the Midlands has contacted 136 women who received major treatment from a gynaecology consultant, after initial investigations revealed “unnecessary harm” to several patients.
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NewsFears over vulnerable children after 50pc drop in referrals
Vulnerable children have become “invisible” amid the coronavirus pandemic, leading clinicians have warned, following a dramatic reduction in referrals to child sexual assault services.
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NHS told to slash invoice payments to a week
NHS organisations have been told to pay for goods and services within seven days of receiving them, as regulators attempt to reassure suppliers and bolster their cash flows.
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NewsTrust loses appeal against tribunal which strongly criticised CEO’s evidence
A major teaching trust has lost an appeal against an employment tribunal which had been highly critical of evidence given by its chief executive, in the unfair dismissal of a whistleblowing surgeon.
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NewsDeaths of detained mental health patients double due to covid-19
Deaths of patients detained under the Mental Health Act are running at twice the rate of 2019, with half of the fatalities down to covid-19, new data has revealed.
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NewsNHS England agrees to publish data on learning disability and autism deaths
NHS England and Improvement have agreed to publish data they receive on the coronavirus deaths of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health illness.
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NewsUp to 10,000 people could be waiting more than a year for operations
Up to 10,000 patients may be waiting more than a year for elective treatment as a result of covid-19, official data suggests.
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NewsNHS triggers ‘de-escalation’ clause to allow private providers to restart work
Independent hospitals have been given the green light to start some private and NHS elective work, despite remaining ‘block-booked’ by the NHS in case of a covid surge.
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NewsNHS England sets new covid-19 spending rules
Spending on staff, testing, high-risk patients and aftercare is set to increase across the health service — but covid-19 capital funding will now require national sign off — according to new NHS England spending rules.
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NewsHospital rated ‘inadequate’ following allegations of abuse by staff
Patients in an independent mental health hospital were not being protected from abuse, the Care Quality Commission has found.
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NewsLarge GP network at risk of collapsing over ‘private conversation’ row
A primary care network with 80,000 patients is at risk of collapsing following a dispute over resources.
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NewsCQC investigates its own response to concerns over troubled service
The Care Quality Commission has launched a review into its own regulatory response to a troubled autism service, HSJ has learned.
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NewsDoing away with disjointed care
Devolution is urgently required so that regional clinical teams can respond with agility to the needs of individuals and places, writes Ian Smith.
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NewsPolice investigating death of teenager at acute hospital
Police in Bristol have launched investigations into the circumstances that led to the death of a teenager with autism and learning disabilities, HSJ can confirm.
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NewsReferrals for treatment fell by nearly two thirds during covid
Referrals for treatment have dropped by almost two thirds year-on-year despite efforts made by the NHS to plug the gap during covid, new figures have shown.











