All articles by Steve Ford – Page 27
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NewsNHS planners told to be more green
Managers need to “think beyond the inside of the building” when planning the design and location of services, according to the government’s adviser on architecture and design.
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News
Essex PCT shortlists FTs to take over community services
A primary care trust in Essex has shortlisted four foundation trusts to take over its provider arm in the first such service transfer of its type.
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NewsData security lapses prompt pledges from PCTs
Two primary care trusts have been rapped for data security breakdowns, bringing the total number of NHS organisations in trouble over such lapses to three already this month.
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CommentMedia Watch: private patients, statins and scurvy
Although the row over the sacking of government drugs adviser David Nutt continued to dominate the headlines, many health correspondents sought their fixes elsewhere this week.
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NewsZitron: scrap PCTs and cut bureaucracy
The chair of a London primary care trust has proposed scrapping PCTs. He said giving their commissioning role to local authorities would be an “excellent” way of reducing bureaucracy and bringing health services closer to the public.
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NewsCQC will face ‘tricky decisions’ on failing services
The Care Quality Commission has some “tricky decisions” ahead on using its powers to shut down failing services, its chair has admitted.
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NewsTories pledge marginal pricing under PbR tariff
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley has promised the payment by results tariff would allow “marginal pricing” under a Conservative government.
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NewsNHS efficiency tsar: recession is a chance for change
The financial squeeze could finally force the NHS to restructure itself around community services, according to national director for improvement and efficiency Jim Easton.
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NewsTory plan could give GPs interest bonanza
GP practices could earn thousands of pounds a year in interest payments under Conservative plans to turn practice based commissioning budgets into “hard cash”.
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NewsAndy Burnham extends preferred provider vow
Non-NHS providers of services will only be contracted as a last resort, the health secretary has assured the general secretary of the TUC.
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NewsWorking time directive reprieve granted to more acute rotas
The European working time directive scrutiny panel has recommended a further 73 acute medical rotas be granted derogation from compliance with the 48 hour week, bringing the total to 273.
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CommentMedia Watch: working time menace
The apparent failure of the second swine flu surge to turn into a plague of biblical proportions - touch wood - has left the media searching for a new killer.
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NewsPCTs show improvement in annual health check but a slide in excellence
Primary care trusts have improved their overall performance in the 2008-09 annual health check but have slipped back on achieving excellence.
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NewsGP commissioning shows little sign of life - David Colin-Thomé
The government’s primary care tsar has admitted that efforts to “resuscitate” the “corpse” of practice based commissioning have had little effect.
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CommentMedia Watch: party conference season
Unsurprisingly with the party conference season in full swing, there is plenty of NHS politics in the papers this week.
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NewsTwo thirds of PCTs still to agree provider model
Two thirds of primary care trust provider arms have not yet had their future form agreed by their board and strategic health authority, a survey suggests.
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NewsPressure to follow NICE guidelines 'will increase'
The public spending squeeze means primary care trusts are likely to come under greater scrutiny over their following of recommendations in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines and technology appraisals.
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NewsPeer review NHS management consultants' work - King's Fund
Government-commissioned reports from management consultants should be peer reviewed to ensure they deliver value for money, according to King’s Fund chief economist Professor John Appleby.
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NewsAndy Burnham promises to protect primary care budgets
Health secretary Andy Burnham has promised to do “everything he can” to protect primary care budgets from public sector spending cuts.
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NewsSurgery productivity tool could save trusts £1.6m a year
Trusts could save over £1.5m a year by implementing a programme that encourages operating theatre staff to work more productively.