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.
Troubled ICS diverting 400 electives each week under new model
One of England’s most challenged systems is diverting around 400 patients a week, mostly long waiters, away from its largest trust towards private hospitals and neighbouring NHS providers, after setting up a new “coordination centre”.
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.
ICS explores wide-ranging service reorganisation
An integrated care system is seeking support to explore a wide-ranging reconfiguration programme encompassing all acute and community services, HSJ has learned.
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.
ICB says Home Office communication 'improved'
An integrated care board says the Home Office is now giving it better notice about refugees being housed in its area, meaning their health is no longer at risk due to poor communication.
‘We don’t want to be a DGH’ says smallest trust’s CEO
England’s smallest acute provider could have a bright future providing services for the community as well as delivering regional and national specialist services, its new chief executive has said.
HSJ’s 10 most-read integration stories of 2023
As 2023 turns into 2024, we look at the integration stories which climbed their way up the most-read list this year
ICS resets decision making to accelerate ‘new model of care’
An integrated care system is creating two new provider collaboratives, overhauling its ‘place’ leadership, and promising to create 16 integrated neighbourhood teams.
The Integrator: The only way is reconfiguration
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.
ICB chiefs urged to join campaign to build confidence in £480m data platform
The growing campaign to build support for NHS England’s controversial Federated Data Platform ahead of the announcement of which supplier has secured the £480m operating contract is attempting to win the support of integrated care board chief executives, HSJ has learned.
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.
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.
Trust gets permanent chief after merger plans dropped
A specialist trust which had previously been the subject of takeover talks has appointed a new substantive chief executive.
Revealed: the tenfold regional difference in access to GP records
Fewer than one in 10 GP practices offers patients access to their records in several areas of England, with significant variation across England, six months ahead of a new deadline.
ICS chief given NHSE director role
A successful integrated care system chief executive has been appointed as an NHS England national director on a part-time basis.
‘Territorial’ foundation trusts must be scrapped, says Hewitt review member
Foundation trusts must be scrapped to truly change the culture and behaviours within local systems, says an FT chair who is working on a government-commissioned review of integrated care systems.
New discharge fund risks being ‘political theatre’, warn NHS leaders
The government has ‘a week to 10 days’ to distribute the £200m it is committing to speed up hospital discharge if the initiative is to have a meaningful impact on reducing the 13,000 patients who are medically fit to leave hospital, national healthcare leaders have told HSJ.
Consultant refused to carry out urgent surgery at trust facing criticism from CQC
A consultant surgeon refused to attend hospital to carry out urgent surgery at a trust which later had upper gastrointestinal surgery suspended after an unannounced Care Quality Commission visit.
Revealed: The top-performing ICSs defying deprivation challenges
A cluster of integrated care systems across the North of England has bucked the trend to deliver successful integration schemes and better patient outcomes despite high levels of deprivation, new analysis has found.