News Archive Jul - Sep 2008
30/09/08 Third of Darzi Centres to be in temporary buildings
30/09/08 Northern Ireland scraps prescription charges
28/09/08 Patient to sue NHS over top-up drug
26/09/08 OOH provider poised to win Darzi tender
25/09/08 Pharmacy advice 'frequently poor'
24/09/08 Credit crunch thwarts private bids
22/09/08 Clinics to be built 'where they are not needed'
21/09/08 NHS drug bill faces EU threat
19/09/08 NHS failure regime: up to 92 trusts may be culled
19/09/08 DH launches private sector 'dating site'
16/09/08 The rush-hour health check-up
16/09/08 Bradshaw slams anti-private 'dogma'
14/09/08 Private equity takes on primary healthcare
11/09/08 Scotland considers ban on commercial GP firms
11/09/08 New backstop to save NHS hospitals from bankruptcy
10/09/08 Polyclinics 'will contain three nurses to every GP'
09/09/08 Patients should be allowed top-up healthcare, says Lib Dem leader
05/09/08 Warning to Scots on patient top-up payments
03/09/08 PCT calls in fraud team over claims of leak to private firm
04/09/08 London denies polyclinic U-turn
02/09/08 NHS car parking charges abolished
01/09/08 GPs fall at first hurdle in bidding for Darzi polyclinics
31/08/08 'Let NHS patients buy top-up drugs'
30/08/08 Drug companies: Big Pharma besieged from all sides
28/08/08 NHS projected to have record £1.75bn surplus
28/08/08 NHS Trust buys private Nuffield Hospital
25/08/08 Senior doctor accuses Government of destroying NHS
22/08/08 NHS chiefs forced to apologise to patients for sham consultation over surgery closure plans
22/08/08 PCT managers holding secret polyclinic talks with private firms
20/08/08 Contracts boost for Care UK
19/08/08 It's time for the government to admit that the dental contract is rotten
17/08/08 Health chief attacks drug giants over huge profits
15/08/08 Darzi polyclinics just the tip of the iceberg as second wave revealed
14/08/08 PCTs suspect trusts may be allowing top-up payments
11/08/08 NHS drugs body Nice 'bullied, ignored and patronised' patients
10/08/08 Chaos as £13bn NHS computer system falters
08/08/08 Top-up review risks compromising NHS credibility
07/08/08 Kidney cancer drugs judged too costly for 3,000 NHS patients
06/08/08 Blow to flagship NHS policy as 'first polyclinic' is too costly to keep open
05/08/08 Choose and Book fails to offer choice
04/08/08 NHS to spend millions to rebrand as 'NHS'
03/08/08 NHS co-payment ban in disarray
01/08/08 Walk-in centres axed as PCTs prepare for polyclinics
29/07/08 Private hospitals to follow NHS in publishing patient outcomes and death rates
28/07/08 Bradshaw claims competition is extending practice hours
26/07/08 Patientline: NHS bedside phone provider goes into administration
25/07/08 Private firms 'won't run local GP services'
24/07/08 Committee grills Darzi over finances and spin
24/07/08 NHS Choices will need to justify its £80m price tag
22/07/08 Strike risk as 'golden rule' gets a rethink
18/07/08 Virgin being wooed to run 'supersurgery' in Camden
18/07/08 NHS will have to start charging patients
16/07/08 Three-quarters of doctors believe Darzi did not consult profession
15/07/08 Construction industry guru attacks health PFI
12/07/08 SFO inquiry into drugs price fixing collapses
10/07/08 Outsourcing covers a third of services
10/07/08 Topping up NHS cancer care with private drugs divides doctors
10/07/08 Overstretched maternity units put mothers and babies at risk
09/07/08 Scotland rules out private NHS moves
08/07/08 NHS reform like a supermarket war, say doctors
04/07/08 GPs angry at cartel accusation
03/07/08 Small IT is beautiful
03/07/08 Health tourism prescription for galloping costs
Pulse (30 September 2008)
Third of Darzi Centres to be in temporary buildings
Six months before Lord Darzi's new health centres are due to open a third of those responding to Pulse enquiries plan to be based in temporary buildings. The government is giving £800,000 a year to PCTs to fund the centres.
Daily Mail (30 September 2008)
Northern Ireland scraps prescription charges
Northern Ireland's health minster has announced that prescription charges will be abolished by 2010 following similar moves in Wales and Scotland. Only in England will charges remain.
Sunday Times (28 September 2008)
Patient to sue NHS over top-up drug
A cancer patient is suing the NHS for withdrawing treatment because she paid for another drug not available on the NHS. An inquiry into the ban on "top ups" is expected to report in October.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article4837173.ece
Pulse (26 September 2008)
OOH provider poised to win Darzi tender
Urgent Care 24, a not-for-profit provider of out of hours services, is the preferred bidder for Knowsley PCT's GP-led health centre. Urgent Care 24 would run the centre with the provider arm of Liverpool PCT. Bids from PCT provider arms have been criticised as "a glaring conflict of interest".
BBC Online (25 September 2008)
Pharmacy advice 'frequently poor'
A Which? survey has found that pharmacy staff frequently gave wrong advice to patients and did not alert the pharmacist. The government is keen for some drugs currently available only with a doctor's prescription to be dispensed "over the counter".
See full article at:
http:/ / news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/ hi/ health/ 7633033.stm
Healthcare Republic (24 September 2008)
Credit crunch thwarts private bids
Businesses have warned that the current shortage of financial capital could restrict investment in primary care and make Department of Health policy undeliverable. Virgin Healthcare has already scaled back plans for a chain of health centres.
Times (22 September 2008)
Clinics to be built 'where they are not needed'
Research suggests the government's plans for a new health centre in each PCT could lead to new centres where none are required, and not enough where they are most needed.
Observer (21 September 2008)
NHS drug bill faces EU threat
Nine organisations including the BMA have written to the European Commission asking it to scrap plans to allow drug companies to provide 'promotional' information direct to patients. They fear patients will demand specific drugs and limit doctors' ability to prescribe cheaper options.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/21/pharmaceuticals.nhs
Health Service Journal (19 September 2008)
NHS failure regime: up to 92 trusts may be culled
The Department of Health expects to save £200m a year by culling six hospital trusts annually. The impact assessment used in the new failure regime estimates that 2.1% of NHS and foundation trusts will fail each year. Reconfiguration of services and mergers with other trusts could follow.
Pulse (19 September 2008)
DH launches private sector 'dating site'
New Government website, NHS Supply2Health, has launched for PCT commissioners to advertise their requirements to suppliers, and for suppliers to seek business within the NHS.
Herald (16 September 2008)
The rush-hour health check-up
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has launched a pilot of nurse-led walk-in services at eight pharmacies across Scotland.
Healthcare Republic (15 September 2008)
Bradshaw slams anti-private 'dogma'
Speaking at a CBI conference health minister Ben Bradshaw defended the Government's use of the private sector in the NHS in England and attacked its rejection by the other three countries of the UK as 'dogmatic'.
Observer (14 September 2008)
Private equity takes on primary healthcare
NHS contracts worth around £1.25bn to run health centres are being bid for by private equity firms. The plan for 152 GP-led health centres and 100 GP practices will be backed by £250m a year in government funding for five years.
Health Service Journal (11 September 2008)
Scotland considers ban on commercial GP firms
The Scottish government is planning to amend the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 which allows the possibility of companies running GP surgeries.
Guardian (11 September 2008)
New backstop to save NHS hospitals from bankruptcy
A "failure regime" designed to save NHS hospitals from bankruptcy is to enable the NHS chief executive to appoint a "special adminstrator" to take over failed hospitals, including foundation trusts, and put them under private sector management.
Daily Telegraph (10 September 2008)
Polyclinics 'will contain three nurses to every GP'
GP-led health centres are to be staffed with three GPs and nine nurses, reversing the current doctor/nurse ratio. The plan, revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, has been criticised as "cut-price general practice".
Guardian (9 September 2008)
Patients should be allowed top-up healthcare, says Lib Dem leader
The Liberal Democrats have become the first of the three main parties to say that patients should be allowed to "top up" their care privately without forfeiting their right to further NHS treatment.
Financial Times (5 September 2008)
Warning to Scots on patient top-up payments
Scottish health minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there may be a case for cancer patients topping up their NHS care with drugs not paid for by the health service. A cancer charity has warned that a two-tier system could be the result.
Pulse (3 September 2008)
PCT calls in fraud team over claims of leak to private firm
Swindon PCT has called in NHS counter-fraud investigators over claims that Virgin Healthcare was given a list of services to be transferred from hospitals to primary care before the public was informed.
Health Service Journal (4 September 2008)
London denies polyclinic U-turn
All of the first wave of London's polyclinics will be in a 'federated' model where existing services will work together more closely, rather than Lord Darzi's preferred 'co-located' model where services would be "all in one place". NHS London has said this is not a policy u-turn.
See full article at:
http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/2008/09/london_denies_polyclinic_uturn.html
BBC Online (2 September 2008)
NHS car parking charges abolished
The Scottish health secretary has announced that hospital car parking charges will be scrapped from the end of this year. NHS boards will get a one-off £1.4m against lost annual revenue of £5.5m. Charges at three PFI car parks will not be scrapped, as this would be prohibitively expensive under existing contracts.
See full article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7593400.stm
Pulse (1 September 2008)
GPs fall at first hurdle in bidding for Darzi polyclinics
GP consortiums are being stopped by PCTs from tendering for contracts for the new GP led health centres. While government minsters have maintained that GPs will be well positioned to tender, revelations in a Pulse survey indicate that fears of private providers being favoured may be realised.
Observer (31 August 2008)
'Let NHS patients buy top-up drugs'
The NHS Confederation, representing hospital trusts, has told the review of NHS rules barring patients from paying for treatment not available on the NHS, that the policy is unsustainable and limited 'top-ups' should be allowed.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/31/nhs.treatment
Guardian (30 August 2008)
Drug companies: Big Pharma besieged from all sides
With 'blockbuster' therapies harder to discover, the pharmaceutical industry faces existing patents expiring and fewer new drugs in the pipeline. A concentration on niche drugs for particular conditions is predicted, and the industry has been accused of overpricing new medicines.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/aug/30/pharmaceuticals.medicalresearch
Daily Telegraph (28 August 2008)
NHS projected to have record £1.75bn surplus
Calls are being made for a projected £1.75bn NHS surplus, which opposition MPs say has been achieved through cuts, to be spent on patient care.
Hull Daily Mail (28 August 2008)
NHS Trust buys private Nuffield Hospital
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has bought the privately owned Hull Nuffield Hospital for an undisclosed sum, and plans to spend £1m to bring it up to national standards.
Daily Telegraph (25 August 2008)
Senior doctor accuses Government of destroying NHS
Paul Goddard, former president of the Royal Society of Medicine, has accused the government of losing sight of of the basic principles of the NHS and has criticised NICE for putting finances first.
Pulse (22 August 2008)
NHS chiefs forced to apologise to patients for sham consultation over surgery closure plans
Hampshire PCT has apologised to patients after informing them that their GP surgery was to close. Patients formed a protest group and the PCT has now backtracked and promised a series of public meetings.
Pulse (22 August 2008)
PCT managers holding secret polyclinic talks with private firms
A Freedom of Information request has revealed that Camden PCT has been holding "informal" talks with private healthcare companies about a proposed polyclinic, without any written minutes.
Financial Times (20 August 2008)
Contracts boost for Care UK
Care UK has performed better than expected, with new contracts with local authorities being awarded to a smaller pool of providers. The company is also in the running to build new health centres and GP practices under the Darzi plans.
Daily Mirror (19 August 2008)
It's time for the government to admit that the dental contract is rotten
While dentists used to be able to give NHS care to children of private patients, this is now deemed a special contract which has to be authorised by the PCT. With most dentists no longer taking new NHS patients, 25% of five-year-olds now have rotten or missing teeth.
Observer (17 August 2008)
Health chief attacks drug giants over huge profits
Head of NICE, Sir Michael Rawlins, has responded to criticism of the watchdog for refusing to approve new kidney cancer drugs by accusing the pharmaceutical industry of operating "perverse incentives" which increase drug prices.
See full article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/17/pharmaceuticals.nhs
Pulse (15 August 2008)
Darzi polyclinics just the tip of the iceberg as second wave revealed
Freedom of Information data obtained from PCTs have revealed that nearly 25% are planning polyclinics beyond those proposed in the Darzi review. Many practices will move into polyclinics, with existing surgeries closing.
Health Service Journal (14 August 2008)
PCTs suspect trusts may be allowing top-up payments
A survey by HSJ found that few PCTs have received requests from patients for them to "top up" their care beyond what the NHS will provide. But Freedom of Information releases have shown a number of acute trusts who have allowed top ups contrary to Department of Health guidance.
Daily Telegraph (11 August 2008)
NHS drugs body Nice 'bullied, ignored and patronised' patients
Patients consulted by health watchdog NICE have complained of a "flawed and irrational" consultation process. Drugs capable of prolonging the lives of kidney cancer patients by up to two years have not been approved by NICE on grounds of not being cost effective.
Observer (10 August 2008)
Chaos as £13bn NHS computer system falters
The Connecting for Health NHS records sytem has had a serious effect on patient health, minutes of NHS trust boards have shown. The absence of vital patient data and a failure to flag up possible child abuse cases are among the shortcomings identified.
See full article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/10/nhs.computersystem
Health Service Journal (8 August 2008)
Top-up review risks compromising NHS credibility
The government review of "top-up" payments for non-NHS treatments, currently banned, is dividing public health professionals, some of whom have said they will not be able to respond by the 22 August deadline.
Guardian (7 August 2008)
Kidney cancer drugs judged too costly for 3,000 NHS patients
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has said four cancer drugs may delay progression by up to six months but might not be cost effective. The drugs should therefore not be available on the NHS unless already prescribed. The draft guidance is subject to appeal.
See full article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/07/nhs.health
This is London (6 August 2008)
Blow to flagship NHS policy as 'first polyclinic' is too costly to keep open
A pioneer health centre in Finsbury Park dating from 1938 is to be closed because it is too costly, just as the capital's health service prepares to build 150 polyclinics or "super-surgeries".
eHealth Insider (5 August 2008)
Choose and Book fails to offer choice
A study by health academics has found that Choose and Book failed to offer a choice of date or time of appointment, or a choice of four hospitals. Connecting for Health has said the study did not reflect current experience.
Daily Telegraph (4 August 2008)
NHS to spend millions to rebrand as 'NHS'
Primary care trusts are to be renamed "NHS", eg NHS Buckinghamshire. The expected cost of new signage and stationery is £2m, although a government spokesman said that changes would only happen once existing stocks were exhausted and the rebrand was economically viable.
Sunday Times (3 August 2008)
NHS co-payment ban in disarray
Figures obtained under freedom of information show that a number of NHS trusts are allowing patients to pay for medicines not available in the NHS while still receiving NHS treatment. The practice runs contrary to NHS rules.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4449529.ece
Pulse (1 August 2008)
Walk-in centres axed as PCTs prepare for polyclinics
Despite government guarantees that new GP-led health centres would not replace existing services but only be additional to them, an investigation has found that at least 10 trusts are planning to close or merge walk-in centres.
Financial Times (29 July 2008)
Private hospitals to follow NHS in publishing patient outcomes and death rates
For the first time private hospitals will have to publish data about health outcomes which can be compared directly with NHS statistics. In a separate move the DoH'sdirector-general of commissioning has reassured private providers about their role in supplying public services.
Healthcare Republic (28 July 2008)
Bradshaw claims competition is extending practice hours
Health minister Ben Bradshaw says new health centres with extended opening hours will force neighbouring practices to open later, while figures obtained by GP suggest that practices which have extended hours are benefiting from greater PCT flexibility and increased funding.
Guardian (26 July 2008)
Patientline: NHS bedside phone provider goes into administration
Patientline, the private supplier of NHS bedside telecoms and entertainment services, has gone into administration. Its premium call rate of 49p a minute for incoming calls drew widespread critcism.
See full article at:
http:/ / www.guardian.co.uk/ society/ 2008/ jul/ 26/ nhs.health
Chester Chronicle (25 July 2008)
Private firms 'won't run local GP services'
While private companies will be asked to provide the buildings for new integrated health centres, Western Cheshire PCT has said the private sector will not be invited to tender for GP services.
Health Service Journal (24 July 2008)
Committee grills Darzi over finances and spin
In a health select committee hearing Lord Darzi last week confirmed that changes under his next stage review would be funded from the existing £110bn NHS budget. Asked how the success of the reform plan would be measured he said ongoing progress would be tracked in an annual report.
Full article:
Lord Darzi was quizzed by MPs last week over whether his vision was not merely "warm words" and how it would be costed. The health minister confirmed to the health select committee that changes under the next stage review would be funded out of the £110bn NHS budget. "It is costed within the system... some proposals in the enabling report are also costed as part of that package," he said. The previous week the minister had said a "dedicated pot of money" would support the announcements in the review. Lord Darzi said the Department of Health would seek to compare achievements with similar countries. Lord Darzi said there were structures to ensure implementation, adding primary care trusts would be held to account over producing strategic plans. MPs also asked questions about patient choice and quality incentives and asked the minister to explain the difference between a polyclinic and GP-led health centre. Pressed on how he would measure the success of the reform plan, Lord Darzi said the Department of Health would seek to compare achievements with similar countries and look for year on year progress that will be tracked in an annual report. Conservative MP Peter Bone challenged Lord Darzi and NHS chief executive David Nicholson over the NHS constitution, asking whether it was "purely New Labour spin" and suggested it had "no real practical benefit whatsoever".
http:/ / www.hsj.co.uk/ news/ 2008/ 07/ select_ committee.html
Guardian (24 July 2008)
NHS Choices will need to justify its £80m price tag
A new contract, for £80m, has been signed with Capita to create the NHS Choices website, publishing patient comments, official data on survival rates, a medical encyclopedia and guide to the NHS. The new "supersite" will consolidate the content of some existing sites.
See full article at:
http:/ / www.guardian.co.uk/ technology/ 2008/ jul/ 24/ politics.it
Telegraph (22 July 2008)
Strike risk as 'golden rule' gets a rethink
As the Chancellor considers relaxing the Treasury's borrowing rules, public sector unions and the concilation service Acas have indicated that the government's limit of 2% pay increases may come under further strain.
Evening Standard (18 July 2008)
Virgin being wooed to run 'supersurgery' in Camden
Following United Health's takeover of three GP surgeries in Camden in April, new documents reveal that Virgin Healthcare met Camden PCT in January to discuss plans for a new polyclinic. Talks were taking place before public consultation into Lord Darzi's reforms had completed.
Mirror (18 July 2008)
NHS will have to start charging patients
Former Health Minister Charles Clarke says in a new research paper that while NHS 'core services' should remain free, charges should be introduced for some other medicines and services.
OnMedica (16 July 2008)
Three-quarters of doctors believe Darzi did not consult profession
Of 478 doctors polled, fewer than 10% agreed that Lord Darzi's health report will lead to improved services, and 77% did not think the proposals were based on consultations with doctors.
Public Private Finance (15 July 2008)
Construction industry guru attacks health PFI
On the 10th anniversary of the Egan report on the construction industry, Sir John Egan has slammed the process around private finance initiative projects which "settles trusts with costs they can't afford".
http:/ / www.publicprivatefinance.com/ Document.aspx ?ID=1254058
Independent (12 July 2008)
SFO inquiry into drugs price fixing collapses
A crown court judge in Southwark has dismissed a case against drug companies accused of fraud. The Serious Fraud Office investigation accused the companies for price fixing and has cost £40m.
Financial Times (10 July 2008)
Outsourcing covers a third of services
A government-commissioned study by economist DeAnne Julius has said that a third of public services is now outsourced to private and voluntary sectors, with health being the largest part of the public services industry. Dave Prentis of Unison attacked the report for its closeness to the industry.
Guardian (10 July 2008)
Topping up NHS cancer care with private drugs divides doctors
The annual BMA conference has voted to support the proposal that a patient be treated by the NHS even when he has paid for additional treatment from another provider, but it narrowly rejected a call for the government to allow top-ups immediately. Delegates said co-payments would lead to a two tier NHS.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/10/nhs.health1
Times (10 July 2008)
Overstretched maternity units put mothers and babies at risk
A review by the Healthcare Commission has said that there are"significant weaknesses" in maternity services in England. Poor standards of care, inadequate safety training and staffing issues are among the report's findings. The Royal College of Midwives says 5,000 new posts are needed.
Financial Times (9 July 2008)
Scotland rules out private NHS moves
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon won a standing ovation from doctors for her opposition to the privatisation of GP services, with legislation promised to prevent health bords from signing contracts with private companies.
Guardian (8 July 2008)
NHS reform like a supermarket war, say doctors
The British Medical Association's annual conference has attacked the government's market reforms of the NHS, and praised the collaborative approach of the Scottish and Welsh administrations.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/08/nhs.health
Financial Times (4 July 2008)
GPs angry at cartel accusation
The launch of a range of measures to advance patient choice was used by health minister Ben Bradshaw to accuse GPs of operating "gentlemen's agreements" not to poach each other's patients.
Click here for full article
Guardian (3 July 2008)
Small IT is beautiful
IT industry insider Nic Birtles, chairman of an IT specialist business, has blamed the debacle of the Medical Training Application Service (MTAS) on the government's preference for big companies rather than smaller specialist ones with expertise in implementing projects.
Financial Times (3 July 2008)
Health tourism prescription for galloping costs
A draft European directive would allow patients to go abroad for treatment without their doctors' prior approval. In a concession to London, nations will be able to argue that they cannot afford certain treatments.
