Primary Care – Page 292

  • HSJ Knowledge

    Why hospitals are like cashpoints

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    When I first began talking to primary care staff about the Croydon virtual wards project I had to explain to them that patients would only be offered admission if they ranked highly on predictions from a computer.

  • News

    Statutory control on decisions is not enough to allay fears

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    All over the country, primary care trust chief executives are sitting hot and sweaty in their best suits, fighting for their future careers.

  • News

    Noel Plumridge on questioning commissioning

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    As HSJreaders will be aware, the Department of Health is keen to improve standards of commissioning in the NHS.Much has been written in recent months about demand-management techniques (or rationing, as we used to call it) being the route to financial happiness. About the ...

  • Comment

    Data briefing: deficit forecasts, financial reality

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    The recent quarterly financial report from the Department of Health provides some encouraging signs as the NHS gets to grips with previous years' overspends. But the detail looks patchy.

  • Comment

    Healthcheck ratings: tougher test means story must be retold

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    The Healthcare Commission said it would be a tougher test - and so it has proved. In the first national healthcheck ratings only two dozen organisations were rated excellent for service quality, and even fewer for their use of resources. Only half of NHS organisations met all the core standards, ...

  • News

    Sophia Christie on challenging acute trusts

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    'A trust has never pointed out where the tariff gives a generous cross-subsidy to other activity'

  • News

    HSJ Barometer: PCTs Oct 2006

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    There were significant rises in a number of key indicators in the latest Barometer survey of primary care trust chief executives. Faith in the national IT programme has continued to rise, and there has been a big boost in optimism on keeping a grip on elective activity. The only noticeable ...

  • News

    Data briefing: prescribing variations by PCT

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    In 2004-05, prescribing cost nearly £8bn in England - over 681 million items at an average of nearly 13 per GP list patient and £150 per year.

  • Comment

    Simon Stevens on winning hearts and minds

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    'NHS targets have not yet been tough enough (yes you read that right) to alter public perception'

  • Comment

    The age of uncertainty: new Audit Commission chair speaks out

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    New Audit Commission chair Michael O'Higgins has a lot on his plate as he waits for the health regulatory review and oversees the transition to a new inspection era ushered in by the local government white paper

  • Comment

    o/p19/061130

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    'My local supermarket does not call me an inappropriate shopper - ever'

  • Comment

    Patient and public involvement: clear water must flow into the goldfish bowl

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Looking for a place to hide? Try the massed ranks of organisations currently holding the NHS to account. Jessica Crowe suggests clarity lies in resolving what it is accountability structures should be delivering

  • News

    Patients' memory of offer of choice

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    It has been nearly a year since choice at the point of referral to hospital by GP was to be formally offered to all patients. Are the poor now getting the choices that have always been available to the rich (to paraphrase former health secretary John Reid)? And through their ...

  • Comment

    Increased activity may put bright future at risk

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    While health service investment has soared, the pressure on organisations to secure financial control may be driving down productivity. Peter Smith unravels the paradox

  • Comment

    Barometer: PCTs January 2007

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    The latest Barometer survey of primary care trust chief executives showed growing confidence in negotiating power with acute providers, with the indicator score up again to 6.88 out of 10.

  • Comment

    HSJ debate: So you want to be a director?

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    HSJ 'Managers make a difference' Campaign: Whether it's the art of fostering effective relationships with clinicians, non-executives and politicians or demonstrating empathy with staff, what does the next generation of high-quality managers need? HSJ brought together six chief executives to provide some answers

  • Comment

    Kaiser beacons shine light on NHS practice

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    A little like 'golden generation' of English footballers', the phrase Kaiser Permanente has all but disappeared from the health policy lexicon as a byword for innovation.

  • News

    Monitor settles payment by results row

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    A public dispute between the foundation trust and primary care trust in Bournemouth over payments under payment by results has been settled.

  • News

    Ombudsman points to failed leadership over complaints

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Leadership and management failures are evident in many of the complaints against the NHS handled by the parliamentary ombudsman.

  • News

    Health select committee: NHS charges 'a complete mess'

    2007-01-01T00:00:00Z

    NHS charges are in a 'complete mess', the Commons health select committee warned this week.