Issue 4: Darzi reform threats; hygiene spot checks; NHS buys private; £12bn IT overhaul
Darzi reforms under threat in London
Source: HSJ; 24th April 2008
Poor leadership in NHS organisations is threatening to jeopardise Lord Darzi’s vision to transform the capital’s healthcare. NHS London board papers state it is “likely” there will be “insufficient leadership capacity and capability in primary care trusts and allied NHS organisations” to deliver the now junior health minister’s plans.
Lord Darzi’s reform plans for London are being watched closely. The workability of his plans in London is being viewed as a good indicator of what will follow for the rest of the country in June 2008.
Healthcare watchdog launches biggest ever inspection programme in acute NHS trusts to check infection control
Source: Healthcare Commission; 24th April 2008
The Healthcare Commission will inspect all 172 acute trusts annually as part of a drive to reduce death and illness from healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); improve the experience of patients in hospital; and increase public confidence in the NHS. The programme was established at the request of the Secretary of State for Health.
Acute trusts - watch out for surprise spot checks by the ‘hygiene police’.
NHS Trust buys private hospital wing
Source: Laing & Buisson; 29/04/2008
East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust has acquired a 22-bed private hospital from East Kent Medical Services Ltd for an undisclosed sum. The Trust said it had purchased the private Spencer Wing, located in the grounds of its Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, to preserve services for local patients.
Private patient units bring welcome revenue for acute trusts. And where the facility helps an NHS trust to add to its treatment capacity and keep waiting list targets in check, all the better.
Health IT is too big for one boss; the NHS needs two at £200,000 each
Source: The Times; 24th April 2008
Wanted: experienced captains of industry, civil servants or executives to face “an unparalleled challenge in terms of scale and complexity”. The Department of Health has invited applications for director of the £12.4 billion overhaul of National Health Service computer systems, formerly the highest-paid job in Whitehall. The previous head of the project, Richard Granger, earned £270,000 to £285,000 a year - roughly 50 per cent more than the Prime Minister.
£285k is a small price to pay to get NHS IT in shape. It’s been a monster consumer of public funds and there’s a suspicion that much of it has been squandered. There’s been at least £5bn spent so far. But the true figure? We’ve lost count, but it’s a lot.
Some trusts appear to be better with their IT than others. Mark Ferrar, Connecting for Health’s director of infrastructure speaking at Healthcare Computing 2008 said “the gap between the best and the worst NHS trusts on the effectiveness of their IT infrastructure and operations is growing, with the poorest performers failing to keep up with best practice”. Read more here
