Region targets prescription cuts under ‘enormous financial pressure’
All but one of a region’s integrated care boards have stopped prescribing gluten-free products to save money, with a charity saying the move will exacerbate inequalities and risk “debilitating symptoms”.
‘Aggressive marketing’ fuels surge in patients seeking private referrals from GPs
Growing numbers of patients are requesting NHS-funded referrals to private providers “operating outside of agreed guidelines”, fuelled by long waiting lists and “aggressive direct marketing tactics”, GPs have warned.
Former NHSE director to chair three trusts
The chair of an integrated care board in the south west is set to step down and take on a similar role at two trusts in a neighbouring system.
Hospital porters to strike over ‘diabolical’ treatment by trust
Hospital porters at an acute trust are set to strike over what a union has called “diabolical” treatment.
System lacks ‘critical self-reflection’, says NHSE
NHS England has accused an integrated care system of lacking “critical self-reflection” about the severity of its problems.
Trust in row with BMA over ‘regional rate card’
A large hospital trust’s attempt to reduce its medical rates for extra shifts to bring them in line with other trusts in the region has sparked a row with the British Medical Association
Three ICSs responsible for a quarter of very long diagnostic waits
Just three integrated care systems were responsible for nearly one in four 13-week waits for key diagnostic tests in recent months, HSJ analysis of official data has found.
‘Project Fusion’ trust merger to go ahead after delays
The boards of two community and mental health trusts in the south have approved a merger and formation of a ‘new’ trust following months of delays.
Revealed: Three-fold variation in emergency response time by ICS
A threefold variation in ambulance response for serious, urgent conditions has been revealed in new figures.
Trust nears annual deficit in three months
A hospital trust has almost reached its planned year-end deficit, within just three months of the financial year.
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.
Exclusive: NHSE begins to claw back funding from ICSs to pay off historic debts
Three-quarters of integrated care systems face funding cuts of up to £20m as a result of NHS England’s insistence they start paying back overspends from previous years, HSJ analysis has discovered.
‘Massive’ cybersecurity risk in NHS supply chain, trust and ICB leader warns
The NHS supply chain contains “absolutely massive” cybersecurity risks which have not “really been talked about”, an integrated care board and trust chair has warned.
Trust merger delayed for second time
The creation of a new community and mental health trust has been delayed for a second time, HSJ understands.
CEO interview: Alex Whitfield, chief executive, Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust
This is the latest in a series of interviews with provider chief executives, which are available exclusively to HSJ Insight subscribers.
NHSE director joins trust as ‘chief officer’
An NHS England national director has been hired to lead a major hospital grappling with severe financial problems.
North by North West: The threat of regime change
Essential insight into NHS matters in the North West of England. Contact me in confidence here.
Revealed: The systems with a third of dental budget unspent
Nearly a third of local dental budgets are going unspent in some areas of the country, according to data obtained 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.
NHSE acts as performance deteriorates in five systems
Five integrated care systems face escalations in central scrutiny and support following “deterioration” against key urgent and emergency care targets.