NHS closures approach challenged
By Nick Triggle
BBC News, health reporter
Questions are being raised about the NHS's ability to push ahead with plans to close services.
Many local councils are using their powers to object and asking the health secretary to intervene.
In the last two years, 23 have referred NHS plans to the government, with ministers fully supporting the health service in only eight of these cases.
It comes as the government publishes a report calling on the NHS to improve its approach to reconfiguration.
Department of Health official Sir Ian Carruthers, who was acting chief executive of the NHS before David Nicholson took up the post in September, has been touring the country in the last few months talking to staff involved in reconfiguration.
His report is expected to call on NHS managers to engage better with doctors and spend more time consulting with local residents.
Up to 60 NHS trusts are in the process of drawing up plans to strip some hospitals of key services, such as A&E and maternity services, and centralising them at super hospitals, while reshaping community services.
The proposals that have been put forward to date have prompted unprecedented opposition, with marches being organised up and down the country.
The dissatisfaction with the way the NHS has approached the issue can also be seen over the number of councils which have used their powers to try to influence decisions.
Where NHS bosses want to make significant changes to services, they need to consult councils.
And if local authorities are unhappy with the way consultations have been carried out or believe the plans are not in the interests of the health service, they can ask Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to intervene.
The BBC has learned that in the last two years, 23 referrals have been made by councils to Ms Hewitt - 16 in the past 12 months alone.
She has fully supported the NHS on eight occasions and five cases have not yet been decided.
In the remaining 10 cases, the heath secretary has asked the health service to rethink its plans, sided with the council's protests or the local NHS has withdrawn the plans.
LETS HOPE THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE LOOK AT THE CONSULTATION
PROPOSALS IN THE BROADEST SENSE AND MEANING.
THE DOCUMENT IS A STITCH UP FOR HINCHINGBROOKE AND I HAVE FOUND THAT
HINCHINGBROOKE ARE ASKING THE BOARD FOR SUPPORT FOR A £29M LOAN TO COVER THE DEBT, IT IS SAD THAT THE LOAN IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE VERY SAME DEPARTMENT WHO PUT THE TRUST INTO IT'S CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION DUE TO UNDERFUNDING AND THEM NOT PAYING BACK TO THE TRUST £11M OVERPAYMENT...............IT SUCKS............AND IF THE TRUST GET SOLD OFF TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN 2008/09 AS IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A LOAN AS THERE WILL BE 23 YEARS YET TO RUN........................
WHEN THE HUNTS POST BIGGED UP THE CONSULTATION THEY DIDN'T TELL THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE LOAN, THE SELL OFF, THE JOB LOSSES AND THE FACT YOU WON'T GET TREATED BECAUSE THE PCT IS CUTTING 38,000 PROCEEDURE AT HINCHINGBROOKE AND NOT FUNDING THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY AS A SUBSTITUTE..................IT'S JUST CUTS................ONE WONDERS IF THE PCT WILL GET A LOAN FOR THEIR £52.4M LOAN TO COVER THEIR DEBT..................YOU BET THEY WILL..........AND IT ALL LOOKS GOOD FOR THE MANAGERS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE HISTORIC DEBT IS WIPED OUT BUT ANOTHER DEBT IS CREATED...............MMMMM DUBIOUS PRACTICE AND MASSAGING THE FIGURES......
Friday, February 23, 2007
Health visitor numbers 'falling'
The number of health visitors in England has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, a trade union says.
Amicus said there had been a 40% cut in training places for those workers and warned many cases of domestic abuse and post-natal depression may be missed.
The government has said health visitors have a key role to play in its policy of bringing healthcare closer to home.
ENOUGH SAID, CUTS IN HOSPITALS WITH NO COMMUNITY PROVISION YET IN PLACE,
LOOKS LIKE AN EMPTY PROMISE TO ME - HINCHINGBROOKE IS TO REDUCE THEIR
ACTIVITY BY 38,500 PROCEEDURES AS OF 07/08 YEAR BUT THE PCT CLAIM THEY ARE
GOING TO PROPOSE TO INVEST ONLY £2.5M IN COMMUNITY CARE, CLEARLY NOT
ENOUGH INVESTMENT AND IT IS NOT EVEN COMMITED TO DO THIS AS IT IS ONLY A
PROPOSAL...........
IN REALITY THERE WILL BE HOSPITAL CUTS, 60 TREATMENTS NOT PAID FOR, 400
JOB CUTS, 38,500 PROCEEDURES NOT DONE................YET THE HOSPITAL AND THE PCT
CLAIM THE HOSPITAL WILL KEEP 99.9% OF SERVICES, THAT MAYBE BUT AT WHAT
LEVEL AND EXCUSE MY MATHS BUT 99.9% OF SERVICES AND A 25% ACTIVITY CUT DON'T RECONCILE.................
The number of health visitors in England has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, a trade union says.
Amicus said there had been a 40% cut in training places for those workers and warned many cases of domestic abuse and post-natal depression may be missed.
The government has said health visitors have a key role to play in its policy of bringing healthcare closer to home.
ENOUGH SAID, CUTS IN HOSPITALS WITH NO COMMUNITY PROVISION YET IN PLACE,
LOOKS LIKE AN EMPTY PROMISE TO ME - HINCHINGBROOKE IS TO REDUCE THEIR
ACTIVITY BY 38,500 PROCEEDURES AS OF 07/08 YEAR BUT THE PCT CLAIM THEY ARE
GOING TO PROPOSE TO INVEST ONLY £2.5M IN COMMUNITY CARE, CLEARLY NOT
ENOUGH INVESTMENT AND IT IS NOT EVEN COMMITED TO DO THIS AS IT IS ONLY A
PROPOSAL...........
IN REALITY THERE WILL BE HOSPITAL CUTS, 60 TREATMENTS NOT PAID FOR, 400
JOB CUTS, 38,500 PROCEEDURES NOT DONE................YET THE HOSPITAL AND THE PCT
CLAIM THE HOSPITAL WILL KEEP 99.9% OF SERVICES, THAT MAYBE BUT AT WHAT
LEVEL AND EXCUSE MY MATHS BUT 99.9% OF SERVICES AND A 25% ACTIVITY CUT DON'T RECONCILE.................
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Leafy Cambridge struggles with debt
By Branwen Jeffreys
BBC News, health correspondent
The latest financial report from the NHS in England suggests it is on course to end the year in overall balance.
But some parts of the country will still be left struggling with big deficits.
In Cambridgeshire the primary care trust (PCT) is forecasting an overspend of £52.4 million by April.
Compared to many other parts of England Cambridgeshire is generally healthy and wealthy.
Despite pockets of poverty people live longer than average and suffer less from serious disease.
But these twin blessings of health and wealth are partly to blame for the financial crunch being faced by the NHS here.
Less funding
Poorer areas with more ill health get a bigger share of the total health service budget, so Cambridgeshire starts off with less money than some other counties.
But instead of spending less than poorer areas it has been spending more.
Patients here are more likely to be spent for expensive hospital tests and treatments.
The PCT is now on course for an accumulated deficit of more than £50 million on a budget of around £600 million.
Every aspect of its spending on patients is now being reviewed.
Meanwhile, Durham PCT, which looks after many deprived communities, is trying not to underspend.
Its patients include Tony Blair's constituents in Sedgefield.
Dr Guy Watkins is the chief executive of the Cambridgeshire Local Medical Committee, which represents GPs.
He said: "For every £1 the government spends on healthcare for the people of Durham we get about 70p. But the prices for treatment at set nationally."
So Cambridgeshire is getting a gradually smaller slice of NHS money and is trying to pay off its deficit at the same time.
That means tightly controlling drugs budgets and trying to bring down hospital admissions.
As Dr Watkins puts it, the level of health care provided in Cambridgeshire is "too good".
"We are going to have to level down."
Foot surgery
Oak Tree Health Centre runs a foot surgery unit where around 200 patients a year can be treated.
Scrubbing up for operations, surgeon Andrew Frances Flores expalined they can carry out complex proceedures that a decade ago would have been in hospital.
"Our costs here are roughly two-thirds of a big hospital for exactly the same treatment, because we don't have the same overheads."
To solve its financial problems the PCT will need to make similar savings many times over.
But other measures may be more controversial, like limiting access to new expensive drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
But some GPs see the review of spending as a levelling down to less good care.
Dr Peter Bailey looks after patients in the new town of Cambourne.
This surgery sends a relatively high number ot patients on to hospital - he said his educated patients often come armed with internet print outs and a clear set of expectations.
Complicated message
Dr Bailey said: "Our patients are responding, if you like, to the advertising.
"The NHS is improving, waiting lists are coming down. Of course they're going to
ask for more. Now we're telling them you can't have that - it's a complicated message."
A complicated message indeed. County councillors have a watchdog role for local NHS services.
Geoffrey Heathcock, chairman of the health scrutiny committee, said there was a huge dissonance between the national NHS progress to financial balance and local experience.
He said: "Patients will say it's not in balance in my backyard, at my GP surgery, having to wait a bit longer if I need to go into hospital"
There is little doubt that further hard decisions face the NHS in Cambridgeshire as the PCT tries to live with in its means.
It is one area likely to be struggling with deficits long after the nhs overall has declared itself back in balance.
IN OTHER WORDS ...............CUTS..........CUTS.............CUTS..........AND A SECOND CLASS HEALTH PROVISON WITH 1ST CLASS PAID MANAGERS..............
By Branwen Jeffreys
BBC News, health correspondent
The latest financial report from the NHS in England suggests it is on course to end the year in overall balance.
But some parts of the country will still be left struggling with big deficits.
In Cambridgeshire the primary care trust (PCT) is forecasting an overspend of £52.4 million by April.
Compared to many other parts of England Cambridgeshire is generally healthy and wealthy.
Despite pockets of poverty people live longer than average and suffer less from serious disease.
But these twin blessings of health and wealth are partly to blame for the financial crunch being faced by the NHS here.
Less funding
Poorer areas with more ill health get a bigger share of the total health service budget, so Cambridgeshire starts off with less money than some other counties.
But instead of spending less than poorer areas it has been spending more.
Patients here are more likely to be spent for expensive hospital tests and treatments.
The PCT is now on course for an accumulated deficit of more than £50 million on a budget of around £600 million.
Every aspect of its spending on patients is now being reviewed.
Meanwhile, Durham PCT, which looks after many deprived communities, is trying not to underspend.
Its patients include Tony Blair's constituents in Sedgefield.
Dr Guy Watkins is the chief executive of the Cambridgeshire Local Medical Committee, which represents GPs.
He said: "For every £1 the government spends on healthcare for the people of Durham we get about 70p. But the prices for treatment at set nationally."
So Cambridgeshire is getting a gradually smaller slice of NHS money and is trying to pay off its deficit at the same time.
That means tightly controlling drugs budgets and trying to bring down hospital admissions.
As Dr Watkins puts it, the level of health care provided in Cambridgeshire is "too good".
"We are going to have to level down."
Foot surgery
Oak Tree Health Centre runs a foot surgery unit where around 200 patients a year can be treated.
Scrubbing up for operations, surgeon Andrew Frances Flores expalined they can carry out complex proceedures that a decade ago would have been in hospital.
"Our costs here are roughly two-thirds of a big hospital for exactly the same treatment, because we don't have the same overheads."
To solve its financial problems the PCT will need to make similar savings many times over.
But other measures may be more controversial, like limiting access to new expensive drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
But some GPs see the review of spending as a levelling down to less good care.
Dr Peter Bailey looks after patients in the new town of Cambourne.
This surgery sends a relatively high number ot patients on to hospital - he said his educated patients often come armed with internet print outs and a clear set of expectations.
Complicated message
Dr Bailey said: "Our patients are responding, if you like, to the advertising.
"The NHS is improving, waiting lists are coming down. Of course they're going to
ask for more. Now we're telling them you can't have that - it's a complicated message."
A complicated message indeed. County councillors have a watchdog role for local NHS services.
Geoffrey Heathcock, chairman of the health scrutiny committee, said there was a huge dissonance between the national NHS progress to financial balance and local experience.
He said: "Patients will say it's not in balance in my backyard, at my GP surgery, having to wait a bit longer if I need to go into hospital"
There is little doubt that further hard decisions face the NHS in Cambridgeshire as the PCT tries to live with in its means.
It is one area likely to be struggling with deficits long after the nhs overall has declared itself back in balance.
IN OTHER WORDS ...............CUTS..........CUTS.............CUTS..........AND A SECOND CLASS HEALTH PROVISON WITH 1ST CLASS PAID MANAGERS..............
Many NHS trusts face growing debt
NHS trusts in England are creeping deeper into debt, forecasts show.
Over one in three hospitals and primary care trusts, which pay for local services, are not expecting to balance their books this financial year.
But NHS bosses said overall the health service will break even - as promised by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
Health chiefs have built a contingency fund by making savings from training and public health budgets, and holding back money due to the NHS this year.
The NHS budget grew by £5.4 billion to £75 billion in 2006-07.
But nearly £2 billion of this has not been passed on to trusts as expected.
Some £698 million was used to pay off deficits from previous years.
Regional health bosses have also top-sliced £1.1 billion of the extra money PCTs were expecting in a bid to off-set the deficits.
Added to this is the £450 million contingency fund.
These measures, coupled with those trusts expecting surpluses, will mean the NHS will finish £13 million in surplus overall, according the the three-quarter year forecasts.
Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Secretary, said: "The government has held back what was intended to be growth money for the NHS of around £100 million and training budgets have been cut by about £350-400 million.
"But we have deficits in trusts across the country. It will probably be about the same situation as last year, with a deficit of around £1.3 billion."
However, Mr Lansley said using money from other parts of the NHS did not address the financial problems being seen in hospitals and primary care trusts.
"We have to ensure that those organistions in difficulties are being turned around, because otherwise we're just storing up problems for next year or the year after that."
Norman Lamb, for the Liberal Democrats, said a lot trusts were being forced to take very tough measures to get their finances back on track.
"The impact on patient care around the country could be very damaging."
IF THE HOSPITALS ARE BEING FORCED TO PERFORM 18 WEEK TURNAROUNDS AND
4HR WAITS IN A&E, YOU NEED TO PAY THEM..........NOT CUT THE SERVICES TO SURVIVE..............
NHS trusts in England are creeping deeper into debt, forecasts show.
Over one in three hospitals and primary care trusts, which pay for local services, are not expecting to balance their books this financial year.
But NHS bosses said overall the health service will break even - as promised by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
Health chiefs have built a contingency fund by making savings from training and public health budgets, and holding back money due to the NHS this year.
The NHS budget grew by £5.4 billion to £75 billion in 2006-07.
But nearly £2 billion of this has not been passed on to trusts as expected.
Some £698 million was used to pay off deficits from previous years.
Regional health bosses have also top-sliced £1.1 billion of the extra money PCTs were expecting in a bid to off-set the deficits.
Added to this is the £450 million contingency fund.
These measures, coupled with those trusts expecting surpluses, will mean the NHS will finish £13 million in surplus overall, according the the three-quarter year forecasts.
Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Secretary, said: "The government has held back what was intended to be growth money for the NHS of around £100 million and training budgets have been cut by about £350-400 million.
"But we have deficits in trusts across the country. It will probably be about the same situation as last year, with a deficit of around £1.3 billion."
However, Mr Lansley said using money from other parts of the NHS did not address the financial problems being seen in hospitals and primary care trusts.
"We have to ensure that those organistions in difficulties are being turned around, because otherwise we're just storing up problems for next year or the year after that."
Norman Lamb, for the Liberal Democrats, said a lot trusts were being forced to take very tough measures to get their finances back on track.
"The impact on patient care around the country could be very damaging."
IF THE HOSPITALS ARE BEING FORCED TO PERFORM 18 WEEK TURNAROUNDS AND
4HR WAITS IN A&E, YOU NEED TO PAY THEM..........NOT CUT THE SERVICES TO SURVIVE..............
NHS deficits progress report due
The government is due to announce what progress the NHS in England has made towards balancing its books by the end of the financial year.
It will use Strategic Health Authority data for April to December to predict what the NHS's financial position will be on 31 March.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has pledged the NHS as a whole will end the year without debt.
But half-yearly figures suggested a £94m shortfall in NHS funds.
That compares with a predicted £18m surplus three months in to the financial year.
Belt-tightening
Hospitals and primary care trusts, which are local health bodies in charge of community services such as GPs, accumulate the biggest debts.
But their financial problems are likely to be offset by funds from strategic health authorities' training and public health budgets.
HERE WE GO AGAIN..........ROBBING TRAINING AND OTHER BUDGETS TO PAY FOR DEBT, SAME OLD NHS TACTIC...............AND IT WILL SAVE PATRICIA HEWITT'S FACE AFTER SHE DECLAREDTHE NHS WILL BALANCE THE BOOKS, NOT SO MS HEWITT JUST ANOTHER EXERCISE IN MASSAGING THE FIGURES................GET REAL AND LET THE PEOPLE RUN THE NHS.................
The government is due to announce what progress the NHS in England has made towards balancing its books by the end of the financial year.
It will use Strategic Health Authority data for April to December to predict what the NHS's financial position will be on 31 March.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has pledged the NHS as a whole will end the year without debt.
But half-yearly figures suggested a £94m shortfall in NHS funds.
That compares with a predicted £18m surplus three months in to the financial year.
Belt-tightening
Hospitals and primary care trusts, which are local health bodies in charge of community services such as GPs, accumulate the biggest debts.
But their financial problems are likely to be offset by funds from strategic health authorities' training and public health budgets.
HERE WE GO AGAIN..........ROBBING TRAINING AND OTHER BUDGETS TO PAY FOR DEBT, SAME OLD NHS TACTIC...............AND IT WILL SAVE PATRICIA HEWITT'S FACE AFTER SHE DECLAREDTHE NHS WILL BALANCE THE BOOKS, NOT SO MS HEWITT JUST ANOTHER EXERCISE IN MASSAGING THE FIGURES................GET REAL AND LET THE PEOPLE RUN THE NHS.................
THE CONSULTATION
I HAVE SEEN THIS PAPER EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT RELEASED UNTIL TODAY, HOWEVER IT IS A STOP GAP MEASURE TO PACIFY THE LOCALS BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT ONE THING.....MONEY.
IF THIS GETS THE NOD FROM THE PEOPLE AND PCT THEN HINCHINGBROOKE WILL CEASE AS A TRUST IN IT'S OWN RIGHT FROM 2008 AND IN REALITY WILL BE AS I
HAVE FEARED A SHELL OF A BUILDING THAT PROVIDES SPACE FOR DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PRACTICE THEIR AREAS OF TREATMENT..............TRAVESTY AND THOSE WHO FEEL IT SHOULD GO THAT WAY SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT BY
LOCAL POLITITIANS AND THE PEOPLE
THE PAPER ALSO SAYS THAT THERE IS TO BE A SHOFT TO COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND £2.5M IS PROPOSED, YES ONLY PROPOSED TO BE INVIESTED TO ACHEIVE THIS, WHERE WILL THE PCT MAGIC THIS MONEY FROM WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY £52.4M IN DEBT?
LAST WORDS FOR THE DOCUMENT...............WHITEWASH, SHORT TERM AND
NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
I HAVE SEEN THIS PAPER EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT RELEASED UNTIL TODAY, HOWEVER IT IS A STOP GAP MEASURE TO PACIFY THE LOCALS BUT IT IS ALL ABOUT ONE THING.....MONEY.
IF THIS GETS THE NOD FROM THE PEOPLE AND PCT THEN HINCHINGBROOKE WILL CEASE AS A TRUST IN IT'S OWN RIGHT FROM 2008 AND IN REALITY WILL BE AS I
HAVE FEARED A SHELL OF A BUILDING THAT PROVIDES SPACE FOR DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PRACTICE THEIR AREAS OF TREATMENT..............TRAVESTY AND THOSE WHO FEEL IT SHOULD GO THAT WAY SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT BY
LOCAL POLITITIANS AND THE PEOPLE
THE PAPER ALSO SAYS THAT THERE IS TO BE A SHOFT TO COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND £2.5M IS PROPOSED, YES ONLY PROPOSED TO BE INVIESTED TO ACHEIVE THIS, WHERE WILL THE PCT MAGIC THIS MONEY FROM WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY £52.4M IN DEBT?
LAST WORDS FOR THE DOCUMENT...............WHITEWASH, SHORT TERM AND
NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
NHS 'pays too much to drug firms'
By Robert Peston
Business Editor, BBC New
The NHS is paying drug companies hundreds of millions of pounds too much for branded medicines, according to the Office of Fair Trading.
Since September 2005, the competition watchdog has been investigating the system by which
the Department of Health buys £7bn of branded medicines.
It has concluded the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) should be overhauled, the BBC has learned.
The OFT has found the scheme does not allow the NHS to get the best prices.
The OFT will present its conclusions to the Department of Health and the prime minister on Tuesday.
Because they are likely to affect the share prices of the UK's leading drug companies, they will be released to the Stock Exchange at 0700 GMT.
Cap on profits
The Department of Health does not have to accept the OFT's recommendations, but it is highly unlikely to reject them, given that hundreds of millions of pounds of public money are at stake.
However there is likely to be a blazing row with the major drug companies, who frequently complain that the NHS does not spend enough on their products.
THIS IS NOT UNKNOWN BUT PERHAPS SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT TO SAVE THE NHS CASH, ONE WONDERS HOW MANY OTHER COMPANIES THINK THE NHS IS AN OPEN CHEQUE BOOK...........?....................PERHAPS DHL WHO ARE TAKING ON NHS LOGISTICS HAVE THAT THOUGHT TO BOOST THEIR PROFITS................THIS SHOULD BE A SHOT ACCROSS THE BOW TO PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO WISH TO PROFIT AT THE COST OF THE NHS
By Robert Peston
Business Editor, BBC New
The NHS is paying drug companies hundreds of millions of pounds too much for branded medicines, according to the Office of Fair Trading.
Since September 2005, the competition watchdog has been investigating the system by which
the Department of Health buys £7bn of branded medicines.
It has concluded the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) should be overhauled, the BBC has learned.
The OFT has found the scheme does not allow the NHS to get the best prices.
The OFT will present its conclusions to the Department of Health and the prime minister on Tuesday.
Because they are likely to affect the share prices of the UK's leading drug companies, they will be released to the Stock Exchange at 0700 GMT.
Cap on profits
The Department of Health does not have to accept the OFT's recommendations, but it is highly unlikely to reject them, given that hundreds of millions of pounds of public money are at stake.
However there is likely to be a blazing row with the major drug companies, who frequently complain that the NHS does not spend enough on their products.
THIS IS NOT UNKNOWN BUT PERHAPS SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT TO SAVE THE NHS CASH, ONE WONDERS HOW MANY OTHER COMPANIES THINK THE NHS IS AN OPEN CHEQUE BOOK...........?....................PERHAPS DHL WHO ARE TAKING ON NHS LOGISTICS HAVE THAT THOUGHT TO BOOST THEIR PROFITS................THIS SHOULD BE A SHOT ACCROSS THE BOW TO PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO WISH TO PROFIT AT THE COST OF THE NHS
Monday, February 19, 2007
Hinchingbrooke review
I have seen the slides which is the agreed way forward for Hinchingbrooke, it makes for a different level of thinking than October 2006 and it still poses a threat to the Hospital beyond 2008, so we must campaign on to stop the local Foundations robbing services, however there is good news for Matenity as it looks like more work is to be channeled towards Hinchingbrooke due to capacity and cost problems at Addenbrookes.............one in the eye eh!
I wait with baited breath the Local Delivery Plan for the PCT...............due out today 19th February yes the same day as Hinchingbrooke's and the same day Tony Blair says we should only wait 18 weeks for treatment..................mmmmm.............stinks if you ask me
I have seen the slides which is the agreed way forward for Hinchingbrooke, it makes for a different level of thinking than October 2006 and it still poses a threat to the Hospital beyond 2008, so we must campaign on to stop the local Foundations robbing services, however there is good news for Matenity as it looks like more work is to be channeled towards Hinchingbrooke due to capacity and cost problems at Addenbrookes.............one in the eye eh!
I wait with baited breath the Local Delivery Plan for the PCT...............due out today 19th February yes the same day as Hinchingbrooke's and the same day Tony Blair says we should only wait 18 weeks for treatment..................mmmmm.............stinks if you ask me
The Consultation
The PCT public Consultation is upon us but it will be met with very mixed opinions no doubt. When the SHA implied that Hinchingbrooke Hospital could close or be downgraded, who would have thought we would be where we are now?
The Governments reconfiguration plans for the NHS suggested that there were 77 Trusts on their hit list and one was Hinchingbrooke, now because of that I chose to start a petition and following another idea I organised a well supported March through Huntingdon and onto the hospital , which gained great coverage, both locally and nationally.
Ultimately 55,000 plus signed the petition so how can a government who have preached the mantra of Patient Choice and a Patient led format, ignore the choice of those who marched and signed the petition to keep Hinchingbrooke open, fully funded and functional?
We need to consider whether the hospital closure or downgrading is for the reasons of quality and safety or merely cost and this is an area that is causing most problems for the Government and the SHA, for even though the aim is to transfer more Care into the Community, hospital attendances are rising year on year.
This is because of certain factors, one being that patients find it more difficult to access their G.P out of hours so choose to visit their local A&E where they can be seen within 4 hours.
Some G.P's are gaining special interests to reduce the hospital outpatient referrals and perform procedures in the primary care setting and with their new skills are uncovering more illnesses that require hospital visits.
Also there is an ageing population that is consuming bucket loads of blood pressure tablets and satins and they have other incurable conditions such as arthritis and dementia that also require expert care.
With Cambridgeshire being so rural and having heavily congested roads and a very poor public transport infrastructure then why should we consider downsizing, downgrading, losing services or closing this asset to the community?
One factor we should all be wary of in the next few years will be the proposed and, what will become financially burdened, PFI hospital in Peterborough, as they will be looking to cannibalise services from the likes of Hinchingbrooke to survive.
We might win a kind of reprieve this time but for how long, the fight will and needs to go on to help maintain a fully functional and accessible NHS for us all from primary care upwards and ALL sections of the NHS need to work TOGETHER, not fight for each others business as the government want them to do.
The Primary and Secondary Health care sectors need to form very close ties and cement long term agreements to enable quality healthcare for Cambridgeshire and its people
The PCT public Consultation is upon us but it will be met with very mixed opinions no doubt. When the SHA implied that Hinchingbrooke Hospital could close or be downgraded, who would have thought we would be where we are now?
The Governments reconfiguration plans for the NHS suggested that there were 77 Trusts on their hit list and one was Hinchingbrooke, now because of that I chose to start a petition and following another idea I organised a well supported March through Huntingdon and onto the hospital , which gained great coverage, both locally and nationally.
Ultimately 55,000 plus signed the petition so how can a government who have preached the mantra of Patient Choice and a Patient led format, ignore the choice of those who marched and signed the petition to keep Hinchingbrooke open, fully funded and functional?
We need to consider whether the hospital closure or downgrading is for the reasons of quality and safety or merely cost and this is an area that is causing most problems for the Government and the SHA, for even though the aim is to transfer more Care into the Community, hospital attendances are rising year on year.
This is because of certain factors, one being that patients find it more difficult to access their G.P out of hours so choose to visit their local A&E where they can be seen within 4 hours.
Some G.P's are gaining special interests to reduce the hospital outpatient referrals and perform procedures in the primary care setting and with their new skills are uncovering more illnesses that require hospital visits.
Also there is an ageing population that is consuming bucket loads of blood pressure tablets and satins and they have other incurable conditions such as arthritis and dementia that also require expert care.
With Cambridgeshire being so rural and having heavily congested roads and a very poor public transport infrastructure then why should we consider downsizing, downgrading, losing services or closing this asset to the community?
One factor we should all be wary of in the next few years will be the proposed and, what will become financially burdened, PFI hospital in Peterborough, as they will be looking to cannibalise services from the likes of Hinchingbrooke to survive.
We might win a kind of reprieve this time but for how long, the fight will and needs to go on to help maintain a fully functional and accessible NHS for us all from primary care upwards and ALL sections of the NHS need to work TOGETHER, not fight for each others business as the government want them to do.
The Primary and Secondary Health care sectors need to form very close ties and cement long term agreements to enable quality healthcare for Cambridgeshire and its people
PM outlining '24/7 surgery' plans
"Round-the-clock" surgery could be introduced in England to help cut NHS waiting times to a maximum of 18 weeks, Tony Blair is to say.
He will suggest the idea of keeping operating theatres open "out of hours" during a visit to a London hospital.
The government wants the 18-week limit between GP referral and treatment to be met by the end of 2008 - 13 trusts are committing to hit it a year early.
The Tories said the target would distort priorities in the NHS.
'National campaign'
Next month a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.
Hospital bosses will also be encouraged to send more patients abroad and make greater use of the private sector.
Mr Blair hopes that with an extra push the average wait from referral by GP to treatment could be cut to seven or eight weeks.
Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb said in some areas it was primary care trusts (PCTs) not hospitals that needed attention.
"It makes sense to maximise the use of theatre space to treat patients as quickly as possible," he said.
"But the reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital, extending waiting times rather than reducing them."
The Conservatives said the waiting-time target would distort priorities in the health service and divert resources from where they are most needed.
WHERE IS THE FUNDING FOR THIS.................WHEN PCT'S ARE TRYING TO REDUCE HOSPITAL ACTIVITY DUE TO THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THEN HOW CAN THE 18 WEEK TARGET BE MET?
"Round-the-clock" surgery could be introduced in England to help cut NHS waiting times to a maximum of 18 weeks, Tony Blair is to say.
He will suggest the idea of keeping operating theatres open "out of hours" during a visit to a London hospital.
The government wants the 18-week limit between GP referral and treatment to be met by the end of 2008 - 13 trusts are committing to hit it a year early.
The Tories said the target would distort priorities in the NHS.
'National campaign'
Next month a nationwide campaign will aim "to focus the activities of all NHS staff" on cutting waiting times.
Hospital bosses will also be encouraged to send more patients abroad and make greater use of the private sector.
Mr Blair hopes that with an extra push the average wait from referral by GP to treatment could be cut to seven or eight weeks.
Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb said in some areas it was primary care trusts (PCTs) not hospitals that needed attention.
"It makes sense to maximise the use of theatre space to treat patients as quickly as possible," he said.
"But the reality is that in many parts of the country PCTs deep in deficit are slowing down patient referrals to hospital, extending waiting times rather than reducing them."
The Conservatives said the waiting-time target would distort priorities in the health service and divert resources from where they are most needed.
WHERE IS THE FUNDING FOR THIS.................WHEN PCT'S ARE TRYING TO REDUCE HOSPITAL ACTIVITY DUE TO THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THEN HOW CAN THE 18 WEEK TARGET BE MET?
Thursday, February 15, 2007
UK firm chosen to run GP services
A UK-based company has been chosen to run a primary care centre in north Derbyshire, health officials announced.
ChilversMcCrea Healthcare was chosen as the preferred bidder to take over GP services at Creswell and Langwith by Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust.
The original decision to award the contact to US-based United Health Europe was made in early 2006.
However, a judicial review ruled in August that the consultation process was "flawed".
The Appeal Court ruled that Derbyshire County PCT should take a fresh look at its tender process.
DANGER DANGER.................................THESE PEOPLE WON'T BE TRYING TO BALANCE BOOKS THEY WILL ONLY BE INTERESTED IN CREATING MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RIP OFF THE NHS...........................
A UK-based company has been chosen to run a primary care centre in north Derbyshire, health officials announced.
ChilversMcCrea Healthcare was chosen as the preferred bidder to take over GP services at Creswell and Langwith by Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust.
The original decision to award the contact to US-based United Health Europe was made in early 2006.
However, a judicial review ruled in August that the consultation process was "flawed".
The Appeal Court ruled that Derbyshire County PCT should take a fresh look at its tender process.
DANGER DANGER.................................THESE PEOPLE WON'T BE TRYING TO BALANCE BOOKS THEY WILL ONLY BE INTERESTED IN CREATING MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RIP OFF THE NHS...........................
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Nurses see red to cut drug errors
Staff at a Scottish hospital are testing out a simple idea to reduce the number of mistakes made when making up patients' drugs.
Nurses in charge of the drugs round at Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow wear red tabards when dispensing drugs.
Staff and patients on two wards at the hospital are told not to speak to them when they have got the garments on.
Nurses said the idea stopped constant interruptions and has proved a success with staff.
MAYBE THIS IDEA COULD BE USED HERE AND EXTENDED TO OTHER AREAS TO REDUCE ERRORS?
WHERE DISTURBING AN OPERATIVE WHILE THEY ARE CARRYING OUT A PROCESS COULD CAUSE AN ERROR AND POSSIBLITY OF DEATH, NEEDS A LOOK AT BY RISK MANAGERS...........GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO FOR A CHANGE.....
Staff at a Scottish hospital are testing out a simple idea to reduce the number of mistakes made when making up patients' drugs.
Nurses in charge of the drugs round at Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow wear red tabards when dispensing drugs.
Staff and patients on two wards at the hospital are told not to speak to them when they have got the garments on.
Nurses said the idea stopped constant interruptions and has proved a success with staff.
MAYBE THIS IDEA COULD BE USED HERE AND EXTENDED TO OTHER AREAS TO REDUCE ERRORS?
WHERE DISTURBING AN OPERATIVE WHILE THEY ARE CARRYING OUT A PROCESS COULD CAUSE AN ERROR AND POSSIBLITY OF DEATH, NEEDS A LOOK AT BY RISK MANAGERS...........GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO FOR A CHANGE.....
Patients left without medication
A number of patients in Cornwall were left without urgent medication when pharmacists were unable to contact the out-of-hours doctors' service.
Prescriptions which should have been faxed to chemists failed to arrive and pharmacists could
not contact Serco's Kernow Urgent Care by phone.
Cornwall Primary Care Trust (PCT) has apologised for the difficulties over the Christmas
and New Year period.
It said Serco now has a dedicated hotline for health professionals.
Contract review
It has revised the expected numbers of calls at certain times and is increasing staffing and phone lines.
Patients' watchdogs and a paramedics' union have called for the county's out-of-hours doctor service to be run by the local ambulance trust, following a barrage of complaints about the service provided by Serco.
Last week, the PCT said the company's contract would be reviewed in April, despite it having two more years to run.
Serco took over Cornwall's out-of-hours service in April 2006, replacing the GP co-operative KernowDoc.
THE DANGERS OF PRIVATISING THE SERVICE SIDE OF THE NHS, PROFIT IS THE ONLY GOAL............
A number of patients in Cornwall were left without urgent medication when pharmacists were unable to contact the out-of-hours doctors' service.
Prescriptions which should have been faxed to chemists failed to arrive and pharmacists could
not contact Serco's Kernow Urgent Care by phone.
Cornwall Primary Care Trust (PCT) has apologised for the difficulties over the Christmas
and New Year period.
It said Serco now has a dedicated hotline for health professionals.
Contract review
It has revised the expected numbers of calls at certain times and is increasing staffing and phone lines.
Patients' watchdogs and a paramedics' union have called for the county's out-of-hours doctor service to be run by the local ambulance trust, following a barrage of complaints about the service provided by Serco.
Last week, the PCT said the company's contract would be reviewed in April, despite it having two more years to run.
Serco took over Cornwall's out-of-hours service in April 2006, replacing the GP co-operative KernowDoc.
THE DANGERS OF PRIVATISING THE SERVICE SIDE OF THE NHS, PROFIT IS THE ONLY GOAL............
Monday, February 12, 2007
Hospital warning over pen orders
Workers at a hospital in Norfolk are being told to stop ordering stationery to help save money.
A newsletter for Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, told staff new pens and pencil orders could only be considered as a last resort.
The hospital said the stationery order restrictions would be in place until at least the end of the financial year.
A spokesman for the hospital said that managers must save about £580,000 a month to meet financial targets.
Savings needed
But last month the hospital, which is about £11m in debt, missed its target by £50,000.
According to the hospital spokesman, the deficit was caused by a drop in the number of operations and people requiring emergency treatment, meaning the hospital would receive less funding from the Government.
The spokesman said: "Over the course of the year we have to save £7m. "As we missed our target last month we have to make some economies as you would do with the normal housekeeping."
He added: "Some people might say it's an act of desperation, but it is just good housekeeping. We have got to make savings."
HOW MANY MANAGERS TO GET RID OF WOULD SAVE THE HOSPITAL ££580,000 PER MONTH?,
THIS IS THE HINCHINGBROOKE HOSPITAL'S INTERIM CHIEF'S PREVIOUS HOSPITAL THAT SHE "FIXED", MAYBE I OUGHT TO ORDER SOME MORE PENS FROM MY FUNDRAISING READY FOR HINCHINGBROOKE?
Workers at a hospital in Norfolk are being told to stop ordering stationery to help save money.
A newsletter for Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, told staff new pens and pencil orders could only be considered as a last resort.
The hospital said the stationery order restrictions would be in place until at least the end of the financial year.
A spokesman for the hospital said that managers must save about £580,000 a month to meet financial targets.
Savings needed
But last month the hospital, which is about £11m in debt, missed its target by £50,000.
According to the hospital spokesman, the deficit was caused by a drop in the number of operations and people requiring emergency treatment, meaning the hospital would receive less funding from the Government.
The spokesman said: "Over the course of the year we have to save £7m. "As we missed our target last month we have to make some economies as you would do with the normal housekeeping."
He added: "Some people might say it's an act of desperation, but it is just good housekeeping. We have got to make savings."
HOW MANY MANAGERS TO GET RID OF WOULD SAVE THE HOSPITAL ££580,000 PER MONTH?,
THIS IS THE HINCHINGBROOKE HOSPITAL'S INTERIM CHIEF'S PREVIOUS HOSPITAL THAT SHE "FIXED", MAYBE I OUGHT TO ORDER SOME MORE PENS FROM MY FUNDRAISING READY FOR HINCHINGBROOKE?
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Cancer 'to become bigger burden'
diagnosis will put an increasing strain on health care systems across Europe, experts warn.
An Annals of Oncology study estimates there were 3.2 million new cases of cancer in Europe in 2006 - up from 2.9 million in 2004.
Lead researcher Professor Peter Boyle said the key factor was the increasing average age of the population.
He said urgent action, such as measures to improve diet, increase exercise and cut obesity and smoking, was needed.
Professor Boyle, who is director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, also called for widespread screening for breast and colorectal cancer.
AND THEY ARE STRIPPING HINCHINBROOKE OF CANCER SERVICES, ONLY KEEPING "LOW" LEVEL TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.....................HOW DARE THEY AND ALL FOR THE SAKE OF CASH, NEVER MIND PATIENTS LIVES, JUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASH....................
diagnosis will put an increasing strain on health care systems across Europe, experts warn.
An Annals of Oncology study estimates there were 3.2 million new cases of cancer in Europe in 2006 - up from 2.9 million in 2004.
Lead researcher Professor Peter Boyle said the key factor was the increasing average age of the population.
He said urgent action, such as measures to improve diet, increase exercise and cut obesity and smoking, was needed.
Professor Boyle, who is director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, also called for widespread screening for breast and colorectal cancer.
AND THEY ARE STRIPPING HINCHINBROOKE OF CANCER SERVICES, ONLY KEEPING "LOW" LEVEL TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.....................HOW DARE THEY AND ALL FOR THE SAKE OF CASH, NEVER MIND PATIENTS LIVES, JUST BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CASH....................
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Big shake-up for maternity care
Some English hospitals should be stripped of doctor-led maternity care and specialist children's services, a government advisor says.
Dr Sheila Shribman, the children and maternity tsar, calls for regional super-centres instead.
Hospitals that lose maternity units may get midwife-led services and more support for home births will be provided to give women greater choice.
Dr Shribman said the move would improve care, not damage it as critics say.
Some have argued that hospital cuts are being driven by NHS deficits - the health service finished last year over £500 million in the red.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PATIENT CHOICE?
IF WOMEN HAD TO GO TO THE ROSIE IN CAMBRIDGE THEN THEY WOULD GIVE
BIRTH ON ROUTE...................
NOT A PLAUSABLE PLAN, SHORT SIGHTED AND DONE FOR CASH REASONS ONLY
Some English hospitals should be stripped of doctor-led maternity care and specialist children's services, a government advisor says.
Dr Sheila Shribman, the children and maternity tsar, calls for regional super-centres instead.
Hospitals that lose maternity units may get midwife-led services and more support for home births will be provided to give women greater choice.
Dr Shribman said the move would improve care, not damage it as critics say.
Some have argued that hospital cuts are being driven by NHS deficits - the health service finished last year over £500 million in the red.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PATIENT CHOICE?
IF WOMEN HAD TO GO TO THE ROSIE IN CAMBRIDGE THEN THEY WOULD GIVE
BIRTH ON ROUTE...................
NOT A PLAUSABLE PLAN, SHORT SIGHTED AND DONE FOR CASH REASONS ONLY
A&E wait figures 'being fiddled'
The four-hour A&E target is being "fiddled" by "dubious management tactics", academics say.
City University's Cass Business School said to meet the target the NHS needed to treat patients twice as quickly.
They said this was not achievable after using mathematical modelling and suggested hospitals were manipulating the figures.
But the government said it was "nonsense" to suggest the target was not being met
Since 2004, 98% of patients in A&E should be seen within four hours. Latest figures show this is being achieved.
Researchers analysed data from 170,000 patients and used "queuing theory", a recognised model to predict people flow used by supermarkets and traffic monitoring systems.
The academics were then able to show how quickly hospitals could treat and discharge people to meet the target.
They found that patients would need to be seen and cleared from A&E wards within an hour.
Before the target kicked in, patients were seen in just under two hours.The researchers said this level of improvement was not achievable, although they did not doubt that waiting times had reduced.
Instead, they suggested hospitals were using tactics to stop the clock.
They said there was a peak of patients being discharged at the four-hour mark, and suggested hospitals may be discharging them and then readmitting them straight away.
The academics also said hospitals were moving patients to clinical decision units, a kind of half-way house between A&E and the rest of the hospital.
The current A&E target is simply not achievable without the employment of dubious management tactics.
The government needs to revisit its targets and stop forcing hospitals into a position where they look for ways to creatively report back, rather than actually reducing waiting times for real people.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD HOW THESE FIGURES ARE FIDDLED, THE REAL WAY TO ACHIEVE
EXCELLENCE IN A&E IS THE HINCHINGBROOKE MODEL, THE BIG TRUSTS SHOULD
SEE HOW THEY DO IT RATHER THAN HAVING PATIENTS WAITING IN AMBULANCES OUTSIDE OR PATIENTS WAITING WITH AMBULANCE STAFF UNTIL THEY ARE "DELIVERED", UNTIL THEY ARE HANDED OVER THE 4 HOUR WAITING TIME DOES NOT BEGIN, THE MAIN ISSUES HERE IS THAT THE WATING TIMES ARE FRAUD AND THE AMBULANCES ARE THEREFORE NOT AVALIABLE FOR EMERGENCY USE - SHAME ON YOU, SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELD TO ACCOUNT OVER THIS............
The four-hour A&E target is being "fiddled" by "dubious management tactics", academics say.
City University's Cass Business School said to meet the target the NHS needed to treat patients twice as quickly.
They said this was not achievable after using mathematical modelling and suggested hospitals were manipulating the figures.
But the government said it was "nonsense" to suggest the target was not being met
Since 2004, 98% of patients in A&E should be seen within four hours. Latest figures show this is being achieved.
Researchers analysed data from 170,000 patients and used "queuing theory", a recognised model to predict people flow used by supermarkets and traffic monitoring systems.
The academics were then able to show how quickly hospitals could treat and discharge people to meet the target.
They found that patients would need to be seen and cleared from A&E wards within an hour.
Before the target kicked in, patients were seen in just under two hours.The researchers said this level of improvement was not achievable, although they did not doubt that waiting times had reduced.
Instead, they suggested hospitals were using tactics to stop the clock.
They said there was a peak of patients being discharged at the four-hour mark, and suggested hospitals may be discharging them and then readmitting them straight away.
The academics also said hospitals were moving patients to clinical decision units, a kind of half-way house between A&E and the rest of the hospital.
The current A&E target is simply not achievable without the employment of dubious management tactics.
The government needs to revisit its targets and stop forcing hospitals into a position where they look for ways to creatively report back, rather than actually reducing waiting times for real people.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD HOW THESE FIGURES ARE FIDDLED, THE REAL WAY TO ACHIEVE
EXCELLENCE IN A&E IS THE HINCHINGBROOKE MODEL, THE BIG TRUSTS SHOULD
SEE HOW THEY DO IT RATHER THAN HAVING PATIENTS WAITING IN AMBULANCES OUTSIDE OR PATIENTS WAITING WITH AMBULANCE STAFF UNTIL THEY ARE "DELIVERED", UNTIL THEY ARE HANDED OVER THE 4 HOUR WAITING TIME DOES NOT BEGIN, THE MAIN ISSUES HERE IS THAT THE WATING TIMES ARE FRAUD AND THE AMBULANCES ARE THEREFORE NOT AVALIABLE FOR EMERGENCY USE - SHAME ON YOU, SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELD TO ACCOUNT OVER THIS............
Friday, February 02, 2007
PCT CONSULTATION
Well the PCT consultation document is almost here, well the DRAFT is ,
the final is out on the 19th February, however.
It seems as if the PCT want to put the draft out, see what the reaction is and
modify the document and release it as a "Final"
There have been reports in one of the local weekly newspapers that the Hospital is saved etc.
That is not yet the case, it is an piece of irresonsible reporting and lulls the public into a false state
by giving them a view that everything is okay, when in reality it isn't
We were going to March on the 17th February 07 and we knew that the DRAFT was out on the 7th February 07 and would be able to still march with the subject & focus on what was contained
in the DRAFT, but now the FINAL is out on the 19th February 07, I feel we ought to wait until
we see the final document before Marching again.
Keep looking here for more as it happens...................
Well the PCT consultation document is almost here, well the DRAFT is ,
the final is out on the 19th February, however.
It seems as if the PCT want to put the draft out, see what the reaction is and
modify the document and release it as a "Final"
There have been reports in one of the local weekly newspapers that the Hospital is saved etc.
That is not yet the case, it is an piece of irresonsible reporting and lulls the public into a false state
by giving them a view that everything is okay, when in reality it isn't
We were going to March on the 17th February 07 and we knew that the DRAFT was out on the 7th February 07 and would be able to still march with the subject & focus on what was contained
in the DRAFT, but now the FINAL is out on the 19th February 07, I feel we ought to wait until
we see the final document before Marching again.
Keep looking here for more as it happens...................
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