Health News Blog

Wes considers using private sector...So?
Streeting says he'll use the private sector to cut waiting times, but what is the evidence? In its research  the Health Federation says "...ISPs’ [independent sector providers] ability to increase capacity was limited. Care was often just displaced from NHS hospitals to private hospitals, rather than increasing the overall volume of care." And The Lancet says "...our research raises doubts about whether the current extent of private sector use is optimal for the quality of care and ... further increases in for-profit provision would be a mistake."

PFI firm: "We'll close down if fines imposed"
A private finance initiative company has warned it may go bust if a hospital imposes any more fines after “severe” fire safety defects were found at its community hospital run by the firm.

How "efficiency savings" impacted the NHS
Here's a bit of history but it's worth a look. So called efficiency savings meant cuts, cuts and more cuts!

NHS data: Overseas patients fear privacy invasion
A new data category called Overseas Visitor Charging would be created in national NHS records under government proposals. Doctors of the World, which runs clinics for undocumented migrants said: “Major data-sharing arrangements like this one make it very difficult for us to reassure patients that hospitals are safe places."

Breaching care homes are privately run
Over recent decades there has been a growth of private for-profit provision; yet public and third-sector providers consistently outperform for-profit providers on quality measures by industry regulators. Public and third-sector adult care homes and children's homes show higher regulatory inspections ratings.

"Offer GPs a contract like consultants"
A trust chief executive has said GPs should be brought into the NHS by offering them a contract similar to hospital consultants who are employed by their hospital trust. Currently a GP surgery is a stand-alone entity with one of three types of contract.

What are Labour's "unthinkable" NHS reforms?
This article suggests some, for example changing GP employment as above, raising prescription charges, it even says "using the private sector" but it admits it doesn't have the capacity (which is correct so why suggest it?) None of these will make much difference ....Or we could even fund our health service to the extent that similar european countries do!

Royal Colleges:"review needed into PAs"
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has called on Streeting to commission a review into the role of medical associate professionals (MAPs) in GP practices as well as secondary and community care, in order to establish an evidence base. Concern has arisen about safety issues - a patient has died when wrongly diagnosed by a PA, and supervision - do they really free up a doctor’s time?

What Darzi didn't say
Yes, the Health and Care Act 2022 repealed Section 75 (compulsory tendering of clinical services) of the hated Lansley Act; but it did not remotely eliminate the role of markets. Reports by the Centre for Health and the Public Interest and the Keep Our NHS Public show how the private sector has penetrated the NHS from service provision through to commissioning. Further, Darzi ignores other important issues.

Trust selects CEO's wife's firm for contract
To run its Urgent Care Centre a hospital trust has selected a company whose chair is the wife of the trust's CEO. Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust has selected a GP-led co-operative company, FedBucks, as its preferred provider to run urgent care and out-of-hours services.

Racism leads to health inequality
A review conducted by the UCL Institute of Health Equity led by Prof Sir Michael Marmot, found that people who are repeatedly exposed to structural racism during their daily lives experience worse physical and mental health as a direct consequence.

Nurses reject pay offer
The pay of an experienced nurse fell by 25% in real terms under the Conservative governments between 2010 and 2024. It's no surprising that the government's 5.5% offer was rejected. Royal College of Nursing  general secretary Prof Nicola Ranger said nursing staff were determined to “stand up for themselves, their patients and the NHS”.

The short-comings of Darzi
A campaigner agrees to Darzi's analysis of the causes of the NHS crisis, but exposes the poverty of his recommendations. "AI and apps won’t prevent asthma for a child living in damp and mouldy private rented accommodation".

Medics have concerns on new MAP roles
Senior consultants and professors on medicine sign a letter to the Health Select Committee on the subject of the safety and supervision of (MAPs) Medical Associate Professions.

Health and its relationship with economic growth
Better health is Britain’s greatest, untapped resource for happiness, economic growth and national prosperity. Tackling Britain’s growing ill-health crisis holds the key to increasing growth.