The public needs to be more involved in how NHS services are run
The service needs more transparency, honesty and openness, says the NHS Confederation chief executive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/01/public-involved-nhs-services

No, no, no, oh please no, do not let Joe Public meddle - agree we need more transparency, honesty, etc., but no with JP.

Labour's NHS policy: We cannot pursue both ideology and high-quality care

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/04/labour-nhs-policy-andy-burnham

Cancer, heart and stroke specialists face NHS axe
Charities and doctors warn that planned reductions in teams of experts will affect fight against killer diseases

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/oct/04/cancer-heart-stroke-nhs-axe

Tories offer £155m boost to nursing and cancer care

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-offer-155m-boost-to-nursing-and-cancer-care-8200235.html

NHS reforms should give patients more power and control
Greater involvement is a higher priority for patients than being able to choose between treatment providers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/10/nhs-reforms-patients-power-control

NHS quality does not mean central control
National standards are important, however one size does not fit all. NHS trusts can achieve good outcomes from completely different ways of working

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/11/nhs-quality-not-central-control

NHS and US health system 'should share ideas' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19913437

NHS tells doctors: You must treat all foreigners to protect their human rights... but you can still turn away BRITONS

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217011/GPs-treat-foreigners-new-guidelines.html#ixzz29DVgHMUZ

Jeremy Hunt: I'll be guided by science http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20002094

Managing partnerships in healthcare

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/22/managing-partnerships-healthcare-live-roundup

NHS should invest more in women
Female dominated boards should be the norm rather than exception

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/25/nhs-invest-women-boards

Integration: not just a Department of Health buzzword
The Patient from Hell gets the impression that social care has taken on integration big time, but clinicians at all levels still hardly know what the word means

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/29/integration-department-of-health-buzzword

NHS financial failure regime 'made up on the hoof' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20125448

One NHS trust in five is in bad financial trouble – and Department of Health is failing to plan for bankruptcies
Only urgent, radical action will prevent failures, warns Public Accounts Committee

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/one-nhs-trust-in-five-is-in-bad-financial-trouble--and-department-of-health-is-failing-to-plan-for-bankruptcies-8231603.html

Why some NHS trusts are near financial breaking point
The financial problems of South London NHS trust show how quickly trusts can find themselves in trouble, says Mike Farrar

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/oct/31/financial-problems-hospital-trusts

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/home/gp-contract-2013/14/bloodbath-predicted-for-gp-practices-due-to-mpig-phase-out/20000737.article#.UJL-O4ZKCSo
The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee - MPIG

Bloodbath' predicted for GP practices due to MPIG phase out
Smaller and multi-site practices will be hit hardest by the Government’s plans to phase out MPIG, leading to closures and increased privatisation of GP services, predict accountants.

Accountants predict the withdrawal of MPIG from the 63% of GP practices who remain on the payment scheme will lead to a ‘bloodbath’, with practices with a list size of less than 4,000 patients closing for good.

The stark warning comes after the Government revealed it intends to remove MPIG completely over seven years from 2014 in order to make practice funding more ‘equitable’.

The move comes after years of rises in global sum payments designed to shift more practices from their reliance on MPIG, but accountants warn it will disproportionately affect certain practices who are already struggling to make ends meet.

The Government says that 50% of practices will gain income and 50% will lose income from the withdrawal of MPIG, although the extent of the losses ranges from ‘a few pounds to hundreds of thousands’ per practice.

But leading medical accountant Bob Senior, of RSM Tenon accountants, said the proposals will change the landscape of general practice in England, with a gradual disappearance of small and single-hander practices and a shift towards larger practices as practices could stand to lose over £100,000 in correction payments.

He said the practices that stand to lose the most are those who don’t have ‘economies of scale’ and those with split sites who may opt to run just one site going forward to reduce their overheads.

He told Pulse: ‘A lot of small practices who are going to wake up and think “Crikey, if I am going to survive here, I am not going to do it in my current, small surgery.’ So we’re going to see federations, practices running joint services, and those who will go a step further and merge into larger units.

He added: ‘I wouldn’t be astonished if you had a number of single-handers who give up, make their staff redundant and hand their list back and say “I’m done”. Because if you look at the practicalities of running existing practices, if the funding gets cut, it is going to be a bloodbath.’

Dr Mark McCartney, a GPC member and a GP in Pensilva, Cornwall, said his practice had a below average list size and would be hit hard by the changes.

He said: ‘We see that as core income. This will slice another significant percentage off funding on top of all the other cuts being imposed on us.’

He added: ‘The danger in this policy is that we will see corporates moving in who are happy to run larger practices, practices moving from GP ownership to corporate ownership. This Government has an ideological belief that corporates will run services better, but they are wrong. Corporates do not have local interests or long term commitment. They are more interested in profits than patients care and the way they are organised they move profits overseas without paying too much tax.’

But Dr Peter Swinyard, chairman of the Family Doctors Association, said the move towards more ‘equitable’ funding would be welcomed by some practices.

He said: ‘There is no justice in the same town for one practice being on about £55 per head and another on £120 per head and expected to offer the same service to patients.’

A DH spokesperson said: ‘NHS Employers and GPC have been discussing these matters and looking at the analysis on a range of options for a number of months. At this time the discussions remain unresolved.

‘Where changes proposed by the Government would take place after 2013/14 they remain subject to discussions offered to GPC on how they might best be taken forward.’

Surgery survival data lauded by Cameron not updated

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9650483/Surgery-survival-data-lauded-by-Cameron-not-updated.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/overhaul-the-role-of-health-assistants-8281305.html

'Overhaul the role of health assistants'


Healthcare assistants should be independently regulated "in the interests of patient safety and care quality", a report suggested today.

The Willis Commission on Nursing Education said the workers who support doctors and nurses in the NHS should be properly supervised with more clearly defined roles. It also said making nursing an all-graduate profession was "not simply desirable, but essential".

NHS patients are receiving an "unacceptable" level of care from a growing army of unqualified healthcare assistants who have taken over nursing roles on wards and in care homes, an independent commission warns.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9654037/NHS-patients-get-unacceptable-care-from-nursing-assistants.html

Innovation: a lesson for the NHS from the developing world
After a trip to Sierra Leone, one doctor reflects on what can be learned from those working in more challenging circumstances

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/06/innovation-nhs-lesson-sierra-leone

GP postcode lottery harming patients, warns thinktank

GP surgeries in London and England's poorest areas offer the lowest-quality NHS care, King's Fund study shows

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/07/health-thinktank-gp-postocde-lottery

All NHS managers should sign up to new standards pledging that care and compassion is the at the heart of their work, in the aftermath of the Mid-Staffs and other scandals, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary has said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9661068/Promise-to-put-care-first-Jeremy-Hunt-tells-NHS-managers.html

GP commissioner survey finds support for increased competition
Almost nine in 10 likely to ban or limit some treatments and 50% likely to make greater use of alternative providers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/08/gp-commissioner-survey-competition

The chief executive of an NHS trust has taken the unusual step of emailing thousands of employees to tell them he was no Dirty Den, after being plagued for months by “hurtful” rumours about his personal life involving colleagues

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9663671/Im-no-Dirty-Den-NHS-chief-plagued-by-rumours-tells-staff.html

More foreign doctors should be hired to drive up standards in NHS hospitals and drive down pay, according to a think tank.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9667025/Hire-foreign-doctors-to-drive-down-pay-urges-think-tank.html

Why I'd ban the word privatisation:
The health sector needs to find ways of working with other organisations - including the private sector. But there is a difference between partnership and privatisation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/12/william-wells-nhs-privatisation

Nurses warn of 'workforce crisis' in NHS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20301766

Sleepwalking into a nursing crisis: NHS plans to axe 60,000 staff will damage patient care, warns union

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2232158/NHS-axe-60-000-staff-budget-cuts-warns-union.html#ixzz2C8tAahXC

Foreigners could be forced to pay for GP appointments under proposals ministers are considering to make sure the NHS does not end up “serving the health needs of the world”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9678716/Health-tourism-clampdown-to-end-world-health-service.html

Hospital food 'sourced from animals reared in poor conditions' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20330229

Consultants warn care hit by poor deals on supplies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20271968

Bridging the gap between local government and the NHS
There are signs local authorities will forge closer relationships with CCGs than they might have done with primary care tusts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/20/local-government-nhs-common-language

Some hospitals pay double the going rate for medical supplies

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9688184/Some-hospitals-pay-double-the-going-rate-for-medical-supplies.html

Warning over urgent care for cancer patients http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20410373

How one CCG is using Facebook to improve communication
Facebook is a great way for doctors to communicate and share files – once potential pitfalls have been considered

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/22/ccg-facebook-social-media-doctors

Secret Scottish NHS incident reports released http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20395257

Will the friends and family test transform the NHS?
The test is not another complaints system – it puts the voice and opinion of patients at the heart of the NHS

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/27/friends-family-test-transform-nhs

Healthcare network members survey: what you say on government policy

The government's policies are unaffordable, said one respondent to our members survey. Find out what others said on healthcare policy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/nov/28/government-policy-healthcare-network-members-survey

Full hospitals creating potential danger, analysis says http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20556094

Family doctors will be paid to diagnose dementia and control cholesterol under changes to their contract that will benefit one million patients.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9727201/GPs-told-to-spot-illnesses-instead-of-box-ticking.html

Healthcare should learn from football, say researchers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20732972

How to get ahead in ... NHS inclusion and equality programmes
the first professional development programme for those in the sector has been developed by the NHS Leadership Academy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/dec/19/equality-leadership-nhs-how-to-get-ahead

Happiness key to health: Prince Charles says NHS needs to be more touchy-feely

Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Charles says looking after “mind and spirit” is as important as curing illness
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-charles-says-nhs-needs-1501383

Supporting healthcare staff: live discussion roundup
Highlights from our online live discussion on how managers can support staff during challenging times for the health service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/dec/27/supporting-healthcare-staff-live-discussion-roundup

Half of NHS staff are overweight or obese and should consider surgery in order to set a better example for patients, a report will say.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9771549/NHS-staff-should-consider-weight-loss-surgery-to-set-a-better-example-to-patients.html

Thousands of elderly people are being kept in hospital needlessly after the number of district nurses fell by almost one fifth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9772088/Thousands-of-elderly-needlessly-in-hospital.html

Millions of Britons left bamboozled by doctors' letters and medical jargon, putting their health at risk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2257060/Millions-Britons-failing-understand-doctors-letters-medical-jargon-putting-health-risk.html#ixzz2H98hbkyv

'Progress made' on Scottish hospital rooms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20920584

Health experts reject 'friends and family' test
Prime Minister insists patient survey will go ahead amid growing opposition within NHS

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/health-experts-reject-friends-and-family-test-8440238.html

Seventeen NHS hospitals have dangerously low numbers of nurses

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/heal-our-hospitals/9797839/Seventeen-NHS-hospitals-have-dangerously-low-numbers-of-nurses.html

Jeremy Hunt: attitudes towards dementia need to change
Health secretary says doctors are refusing to carry out tests because they believe it is pointless

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/15/jeremy-hunt-attitudes-dementia

Scandal-ridden NHS trust to be broken up

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/scandalridden-nhs-trust-to-be-broken-up-8454704.html

Trainee nurses should be assessed for compassion and kindness before being taken on to courses, an expert said, as she suggested they pick up bad habits when they go on ward placements

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9808877/Trainee-nurses-should-be-selected-on-compassion-to-avoid-repeat-of-Mid-Staffs-scandal-expert.html

NHS chief: Hospitals are bad for old people's health

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nhs-chief-hospitals-are-bad-for-old-peoples-health-8459198.html

Hospital faces fines because it is 'too popular'

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hospital-faces-fines-because-it-is-too-popular-8461534.html

Trainee surgeons need to breach European restrictions on working hours in order to become good consultants, the president of the Royal College of Surgeons has said, as he revealed his own students break the rules.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9824572/EU-regulations-stopping-doctors-getting-trained-warns-top-surgeon.html

The frightening truth: NHS managers are incentivised to ignore problems

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9848414/The-frightening-truth-NHS-managers-are-incentivised-to-ignore-problems.html

1,200 deaths, a damning report on 'failings at every level' and 290 recommendations for reform. Now families of the Stafford Hospital victims and union chiefs call for the head of the NHS to resign

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274296/Mid-Staffs-report-Families-head-NHS-resign-damning-scandal.html#ixzz2KA3MnbAX

Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough hospital decisions condemned http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21356563

Stafford scandal: Jeremy Hunt calls for police inquiry into NHS

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9858969/Stafford-scandal-Jeremy-Hunt-calls-for-police-inquiry-into-NHS.html

Jeremy Hunt urges police to investigate Mid Staffordshire hospital deaths
Health secretary says it is 'absolutely disgraceful' that no doctors, nurses or managers have been held to account

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/09/jeremy-hunt-mid-staffs-deaths-investigation

Mid Staffs NHS scandal shows compassion is the quality that should inform all healthcare
Senior managers' reluctance to take the blame for the deaths at Stafford hospital indicates a sickness in the system

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/10/mid-staffs-nhs-compassion-healthcare

NHS chief 'stopped from speaking on patient safety' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21444058

A third of England’s hospitals have been completely full at some point this year, official figures have revealed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9875009/Dozens-of-hospitals-too-full-to-take-new-patients.html

Why one NHS trust is experimenting with social media
To extend its audience Leeds and York partnership NHS foundation trust ditch auto-tweets for Pinterest and YouTube

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/feb/19/nhs-trust-experimenting-social-media

'The Philippines must be half-empty... you're all here running the NHS': Moment gaffe-prone Philip cracks another tasteless joke as he meets nurse

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281771/The-Philippines-half--youre-running-NHS-Gaffe-prone-Duke-Edinburgh-cracks-nurse-joke-hospital-ceremony.html#ixzz2LTrZcFxL

'Hidden waiting lists' used in Scottish NHS

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/9618376/Hidden-waiting-lists-used-in-Scottish-NHS.html

NHS boss 'steps aside' over fears high death rates were masked

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/put-patients-first/9898427/NHS-boss-steps-aside-over-fears-high-death-rates-were-masked.html

Scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS trust 'to be put into administration'
Regulator making move 'in order to safeguard services for local patients'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scandalhit-mid-staffordshire-nhs-trust-to-be-put-into-administration-8514576.html

Too many 'middle-of-the-road' hospitals simply aim to meet minimum standards, Health Secretary to warn

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2289795/Too-middle-road-hospitals-simply-aim-meet-minimum-standards-come-Health-Secretary-warn.html#ixzz2MydLFkQv

The NHS should not underestimate the value of volunteers
Volunteers are helping to deliver care in hospitals and in the community, but the health service does not always make the most of their knowledge and expertise

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/mar/14/nhs-underestimate-value-volunteers

'Big stick' approach to NHS might backfire, Jeremy Hunt warned

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9928226/Big-stick-approach-to-NHS-might-backfire-Jeremy-Hunt-warned.html

Doctors put lower value on lives of the disabled, study finds

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9940870/Doctors-put-lower-value-on-lives-of-the-disabled-study-finds.html

Ex-Cumbria health boss Tony Halsall still on full salary http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21871285

Immigrants who should not be entitled to free healthcare have “clogged up” hospitals across the country, forcing British people to wait longer for treatment, Jeremy Hunt has claimed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9952929/Jeremy-Hunt-Immigrants-are-clogging-up-UK-hospitals.html

Bruce Keogh: time to end open season on the NHS
Health service's medical director says media assault has left staff feeling beleaguered and ashamed of their colleagues

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/29/bruce-keogh-nhs-open-season

NHS satisfaction 'stabilising after record fall' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22007487

Hospitals must downsize or close, doctors warn

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9977933/Hospitals-must-downsize-or-close-doctors-warn.html

Community care is no panacea for the NHS

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/09/community-care-no-panacea-nhs

Who will hold NHS contractors like Serco to account?
MPs have given Serco a roasting for 'lying and cheating', but the company is yet to suffer a penalty

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/23/who-will-hold-nhs-contractors-to-account

The NHS handles complaints about patient care 'insensitively and without compassion'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2316672/The-NHS-handles-complaints-patient-care-insensitively-compassion.html#ixzz2RtJXtCyb

Chris Grayling MP's fears for Epsom and St Helier hospitals http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22364878

Craig Alexander: NHS boss on £250,000 a year fired after colleague discovered he had been jailed for armed robbery

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/craig-alexander-nhs-boss-on-250000-a-year-fired-after-colleague-discovered-he-had-been-jailed-for-armed-robbery-8639815.html

NHS boss aims to 'liberate' service from politics http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22792603

NHS chief, Sir David Nicholson: We need to close hospitals

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-chief-sir-david-nicholson-we-need-to-close-hospitals-8648462.html

Regulator launches first investigation into NHS competition rules

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/regulator-launches-first-investigation-into-nhs-competition-rules-8646229.html

Early deaths: Regional variations 'shocking' - Hunt http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22844227

University Hospital of South Manchester Trust publishes consultant data

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-22878990

Government has let a culture of poor health care flourish
There are individuals who should be held to account for failings in the NHS, but ultimately MPs must take responsibility

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/23/mps-must-take-responsibility-for-nhs

Surgeon data: 'Historic' move for NHS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23079571

NHS funding gap costs hospitals £500m, survey finds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23127924

The NHS at 65: chaos, queues and mounting costs
What national healthcare in Britain looks like in 10 years' time depends more on the future of politics than on economics

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/05/nhs-65-chaos-queues-mounting-costs

When will Jeremy Hunt stop skating and fall through the NHS ice?
The health secretary has positioned himself as the patients' champion and dodged the hole at the core of the health service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/jul/11/jeremy-hunt-nhs-policies

NHS chief executive: muddling along will result in more Staffords
Sir David Nicholson says service needs significant shakeup alongside £30bn in savings over next eight years

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/11/nhs-chief-staffords

13,000 died needlessly at 14 worst NHS trusts

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/heal-our-hospitals/10178296/13000-died-needlessly-at-14-worst-NHS-trusts.html

Hospital trusts to have high death rates exposed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23315869

How the NHS can build partnerships with other organisations
Successful partnerships can offer benefits to both the public and private sectors

http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/jul/18/nhs-build-partnerships-commercial-third-sector-organisations

NHS chief, David Nicholson: 'I've never been ashamed of anything I've done'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/19/nhs-chief-david-nicholson-never-ashamed

The NHS volunteer army

There are 3 million volunteers in the health and social care sector, who play an indispensable role in sustaining the system

http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/2013/jul/25/nhs-volunteer-army

Mid-Staffs future plans to be revealed by administrators

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/midstaffs-future-plans-to-be-revealed-by-administrators-8738792.html

You'll always make mistakes... it's about correcting it before it becomes really big'

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/aug/07/failure-nhs-jan-filochowski

NHS could keel over in 2016

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/07/chris-hopson-nhs-keel-over-2016

Increase in missed Scottish hospital appointments http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23646939

NHS hospital waiting lists reach five-year high of 2.9m people

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/15/nhs-hospital-waiting-lists

NHS trusts are not getting the most out of their MRI scanners

Bruce Keogh is calling for the NHS to provide more services at weekends. He should start by extending the operating hours for expensive equipment such as MRI scanners

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/aug/22/seven-day-nhs-mri-scanners

Kidney checks on hospital patients 'would save lives' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23850838

Should we change our attitude towards 'never events'?
Rather than categorising some adverse incidents as 'never events', we should ensure we learn from all medical errors

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/sep/03/attitude-never-events-change

Hospital unable to admit even casualty patients for two days
Royal London forced into 'one in, one out' measures as bed shortage adds to fears 'winter crisis' has started

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/13/hospital-unable-admit-patients-casualty

Doctors spend more than twice as much time on paperwork than patients... and almost a THIRD do not see a future for NHS
More than one in four said they were 'very concerned' about NHS
Attending management meetings and doing administration takes up around 17 hours a week - while just seven hours spent on patients
44% believe the standard of patient care will drop in the next five years


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2431296/Doctors-spend-twice-time-paperwork-patients--THIRD-future-NHS.html#ixzz2fzbT65BU

Patient safety in Wales 'at risk' over alerts, warns charity http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24325313

Sir David Nicholson, the outgoing head of NHS England, has suggested staff involved in patient care scandals should be allowed to learn from their mistakes instead of being suspended.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10357351/Sir-David-Nicholson-World-does-not-fall-in-every-time-mistake-made-on-NHS.html

Hospitals set to lose £2bn a year from budgets from April 2015
Money to be used to fulfil ministerial pledges to promote closer integration of health and social care services

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/11/hospitals-lose-2bn-budgets-2015

Bribing patients is bad medicine

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10389401/Bribing-patients-is-bad-medicine.html

How NHS trusts are banded by risk factor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24657453

Now Kings Lynn hospital is placed in special measures over 'unsafe staff levels'
Chief executive and chairman replaced with 'hit squad' of high-performing health service officials

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/now-kings-lynn-hospital-is-placed-in-special-measures-over-unsafe-staff-levels-8904788.html

Watchdog criticises 'avoidable' hospital admissions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24749434

Britain’s reliance on foreign health staff blamed for crisis in poor countries
Migration of workers is so great that ‘its impact cancels out the benefits of international aid’

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/britains-reliance-on-foreign-health-staff-blamed-for-crisis-in-poor-countries-8919980.html

Walk-in centre closures 'may worsen A&E crisis' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24852768

NHS winter crisis as 40 per cent rise in cancelled operations
Alarming signs of an NHS winter crisis emerged tonight with official figures showing a 42 per cent rise in cancelled operations and a 23 per cent increase in elderly people stuck in hospital

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10453428/NHS-winter-crisis-as-40-per-cent-rise-in-cancelled-operations.html

Patient safety: NHS middle managers can bridge gap between ward and board
The NHS doesn't always encourage sharing information across the tiers – but it is essential to improving patient safety

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/nov/21/nhs-middle-management-information-sharing-ward-board

Jeremy Hunt personally calls hospital bosses over A&E times
Health secretary takes medical chiefs to task over targets for time patients should be seen within

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/22/jeremy-hunt-hospital-personal-calls-times

Grandmother, 82, is served with eviction notice in HOSPITAL where she's been a patient for nine months... and she has to leave by today

Joan Parker suffered a brain injury during a fall at her home in February
Former sheltered housing officer has been in hospital ever since
Was declared medically fit in June but couldn't leave as her house unsuitable
Family say local council has failed to provide suitable accommodation for her
Hospital last week served 'eviction' notice saying she had a week to leave
Says it can't afford to keep her and staying may be detrimental for her health
The seven days is up today and she STILL doesn't have a home
Local council says it has already provided three housing options


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2515038/Grandmother-82-served-eviction-notice-HOSPITAL-shes-patient-months--leave-today.html#ixzz2m22lCmVG

Reactor closure puts medical scans at risk as shortage of radioactive material could jeopardise patients’ health

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/reactor-closure-puts-medical-scans-at-risk-as-shortage-of-radioactive-material-could-jeopardise-patients-health-8959698.html

What difference do volunteers make in hospitals?
Acute trusts in England are mobilising 13m hours of voluntary effort annually but more can be done to encourage volunteers

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2013/dec/02/volunteers-hospitals-make-difference

The real NHS 'crisis' this winter is the constant threat of unrealistic cuts
Hospitals are overwhelmed this winter, that is true, but they are being run down to make room for private healthcare

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/12/nhs-crisis-winter-threat-cuts

National Health SHAMBLES: Three damning reports describe mothers abandoned during labour, serious hospital blunders every day and how patients have lost faith in their GPs

Public confidence in the NHS at record low following run of inquiries
A quarter of new mothers say they were abandoned by their midwives
Some NHS consulting rooms were found to be infested with maggots
Police probe into cover-up claims on cancer treatment waiting times
Blunder doctors carried out heart surgery on the wrong patient
Another man had laser surgery on his right eye rather than his left


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2522878/National-Health-SHAMBLES-Three-damning-reports-mothers-abandoned-labour-hospital-blunders-day-patients-lost-faith-GPs.html#ixzz2nM5WVZiO

NHS chief admits to dismay at Jeremy Hunt's meddling
NHS England chairman Sir Malcolm Grant reveals frustration at health secretary's attempts to micro-manage service

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/21/nhs-service-jeremy-hunt-malcolm-grant

I can only operate on Scottish patients because the NHS in England refuses to pay,' says leading hand transplant surgeon

Professor Simon Kay performed the first hand transplant last year
His team at Leeds General Infirmary have now approved two more ops
But a row has broken out over who will fund the operations
NHS England says the local funding board should pay and vice versa
Situation means a Scottish patient will be next to benefit from Leeds surgery


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2529973/I-operate-Scottish-patients-NHS-England-refuses-pay-says-leading-hand-transplant-surgeon.html#ixzz2olSjQJMv

UK has fewer doctors per person than Bulgaria and Estonia
The UK has fewer working doctors per head of population than almost all other EU countries, according to EC statistics

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10550335/UK-has-fewer-doctors-per-person-than-Bulgaria-and-Estonia.html

Seek treatment faster to stay out of hospital, patients told
NHS launches £3m advertising campaign to persuade patients to seek advice or treatment as soon as symptoms appear

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/18/seek-treatment-faster-nhs-campaign

We must stop searching for heroes and villains in the NHS
The NHS blame culture fuels negative media reports and demotivates staff – our style of leadership must be more positive

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/jan/20/nhs-blame-culture-negative-media-coverage

NHS accused of covering up high death rates at string of hospitals

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10649901/NHS-accused-of-covering-up-high-death-rates-at-string-of-hospitals.html

Stafford Hospital: Hunt to decide whether to dissolve NHS Trust http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-26349205

Scandal-hit Mid-Staffs NHS Trust to be broken up after hundreds died as a result of appalling care

Health Seceretary Jeremy Hunt agrees to dissolve the troubled trust
Between 400 and 1,200 people died needlessly as a result of poor care
Many health services to be transferred to neighbouring hospitals
Stafford hospital will keep A&E and might have midwife-led maternity unit


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2568351/Scandal-hit-Mid-Staffs-NHS-Trust-broken-hundreds-died-result-appalling-care.html#ixzz2uW9VdC6y

Pay decisions announced for NHS staff

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2014/mar/13/pay-decisions-announced-for-nhs-staff-and-other-public-sector-workers-politics-live-blog

Employee engagement must be a priority for NHS trusts
Healthcare professionals consider the reputation of a trust when looking for a new role, and avoid those with a poor track record in staff engagement

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/mar/19/employee-engagement-priority-nhs

NHS urged to halve serious mistakes and save 6,000 lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26739490

Welsh NHS has worst waiting times in UK for life-saving diagnostic tests
Official figures show 42% of patients in Wales wait six weeks to be seen compared with just 1.8% in England

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/10/welsh-nhs-waiting-times-uk-tests-patients-wales

The NHS is overlooking charities
The health service is not ready to listen to charities on the role they can play in improving health and social care integration

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/apr/11/charities-overlooked-nhs-health-care-integration

Foreign doctors should face tougher exams, study says http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27076216

Legal challenge over NHS spending http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27239242

Just 8% of NHS trust non-exec board members are healthcare professionals, study finds

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/just-8-of-nhs-trust-nonexec-board-members-are-healthcare-professionals-study-finds-9313330.html

It no longer makes sense to ask who's in charge of public services
Making the right decisions for public services requires leaders to work together across organisational boundaries

http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/may/09/leaders-public-services-question-simplistic

Hospitals criticised for discharging vulnerable patients at night

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hospitals-criticised-for-discharging-vulnerable-patients-at-night-9413099.html

If the NHS were an airline 'planes would fall out of the sky all the time' says Mid Staffs inquiry chairman

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/if-the-nhs-were-an-airline-planes-would-fall-out-of-the-sky-all-the-time-says-mid-staffs-inquiry-chairman-9436811.html

NHS misses cancer waiting times target for the first time

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-misses-cancer-waiting-times-target-for-the-first-time-9463313.html

Elderly patients are being failed by NHS, says new boss http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27700025

Poor tracheostomy care warning http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27812482

NHS is the world's best healthcare system, report says
Study by Washington-based foundation says healthcare provision in the US is the worst in the world

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/17/nhs-health

NHS watchdog under fire for lack of frontline experience
Damning report reveals that just 21 of 337 staff working for NHS regulator Monitor have ever worked for the health service

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10944321/NHS-watchdog-under-fire-for-lack-of-frontline-experience.html

Revealed: How rip off car parks are making hospitals millions

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2683772/Revealed-How-rip-car-parks-making-hospitals-millions.html#ixzz36rffQWJR

The NHS must improve care for patients suffering from 'multimorbidity', says study

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-nhs-must-improve-care-for-patients-suffering-from-multimorbidity-says-study-9605315.html

Hundreds die each year in NHS due to faulty machines: report
Hundreds of people die and thousands are injured in the NHS as a result of faulty medical equipment, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ has warned, saying the NHS must take urgent action

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10988112/Hundreds-die-each-year-in-NHS-due-to-faulty-machines-report.html

General practice is not the only alternative to hospital care
Community pharmacies and other providers should work together to identify where collaboration can deliver better care

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/jul/31/general-practice-alternative-hospital-care

Medicines shortages force family doctors to prescribe second-choice alternatives putting patients at risk, GPs warn

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/medicines-shortages-force-family-doctors-to-prescribe-secondchoice-alternatives-putting-patients-at-risk-gps-warn-9641272.html

Ageism in the NHS may mean elderly trauma patients suffer worse care: doctors
The elderly who suffer broken bones in falls and accidents are not getting specialist care because of ageism in the NHS, doctors have warned

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11113843/Ageism-in-the-NHS-may-mean-elderly-trauma-patients-suffer-worse-care-doctors.html

Mother in High Court challenge against NHS ombudsman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30279915