NHSE commends ICBs for ‘strong leadership’
The quality of leadership at 13 integrated care boards has been praised by NHS England in its latest formal assessment of their performance.
Revealed: 14 ICBs cutting spend on the third sector
Nearly half of all integrated care boards are due to cut their spending on voluntary, community and social enterprise services this financial year, HSJ analysis suggests.
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”.
Revealed: All but three ICSs fall behind financial plans
A total of 39 of the 42 integrated care systems have fallen behind their financial plans, new figures reveal.
Four more ICSs told to hire consultants to review finance plans
Four more integrated care systems have been told to bring in management consultants to review their savings plans by NHS England.
ICB names third chair in eight months
An integrated care board has appointed its third temporary chair since April, blaming the general election for the high turnover.
Emergency prescribing and ‘shared care’ withdrawn by GPs
Emergency prescribing and monitoring of patients with severe mental health conditions are among services being cancelled by GP practices as part of “collective action”.
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.
CEO expresses ‘extreme concern’ about trust performance
An acute trust chief executive has warned that his organisation will struggle to “provide high-quality, timely, and financially affordable care” over the winter.
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.
'Unmatched recovery' as trust exits highest NHSE intervention
A major trust has declared its recovery from one of the biggest elective backlogs in the NHS as unrivalled nationally, as it became the first to leave NHS England’s “tier 1” group for emergency care, elective and cancer care.
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.
Ex-M&S boss to chair new £2.4bn hospital group
A newly formed “hospital group” has appointed a former Marks and Spencer director as its chair.
Recovery Watch: The ICBs on the slide against the main elective target
Recovering services from the covid crisis is a big task for NHS leaders for the foreseeable future. The Recovery Watch newsletter tracks prospects and progress. This week by HSJ bureau chief and performance lead James Illman.
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.
ICB chair steps down due to health reasons
An integrated care board chair has announced he will step down this spring after an extended period of ill health.
Core bed numbers fall in seven systems, despite NHSE plan
The number of ‘core’ acute beds has fallen in seven health systems since the summer, according to official sitrep data.
Hospital chief on long-term absence after ‘group’ move
The hospital chief executive which last month moved to shared leadership with a neighouring trust is on long-term absence, and may not be returning to the role, HSJ understands.
ICB withdraws offer of ‘festive shopping day’ for staff
Staff at a Midlands integrated care board were offered an extra day holiday in December to go “festive shopping”, but the plan was then cancelled because of “escalating pressures”.