Issue 9: FT takes over hospital; LA bid to control PCT; compassionate care; ambulances and top-ups
The first Foundation Trust to takeover a failing hospital
Source: HSJ, 12th June 2008
The chief executive of England’s only foundation trust (Mark Goldman of Heart of England) to take over a failing hospital has urged the government to make acquisitions more attractive.
In Issue 7 of the CHN (Firms to run failing NHS trusts) we talked about the possibility of private firms being drafted in to run failing hospitals. In the case of Birmingham’s Good Hope hospital, Tribal, a private firm, has had a go – alas without success. Mark Goodman argues that without a transfer of assets, private firms are going to find such deals unattractive. True. Equally, the rewards for FTs need to be made more attractive. Fair point. Bailing out under-performers is not a charitable enterprise!
Local Authorities audacious bid to take over a PCT
Source: Midhurst and Pentworth Observer, 16th June 2008
West Sussex County Council has decided to bid to take over the functions of the county’s Primary Care Trust.
Interesting…. West Sussex County Council believes that the functions of their local PCT should be brought under democratic control. The general consensus appears to be that this is a direct reaction to the “Fit for Purpose” proposal. And if it’s successful, it will be an intriguing precedent. There seems to be some sense in bringing health and social care together – but we’re not sure this is the best way forward for commissioning. Local authorities typically have plenty of their own issues to deal with.
How compassionate are you?
Source: Department of Health, 18th June 2008
Treating patients with compassion, reducing the number of falls on wards and good hand-washing are some of the indicators that could be used in a groundbreaking move to measure the quality of nursing care in the NHS, Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced.
More monitoring to be done, and as the NHS federation points out, it’s not going to be an easy job.
Ambulance services to help define primary care
Source: Politics.co.uk, 18th June 2008
The Ambulance Service Network today unveils its vision for emergency and urgent care, including the pilot of a new national phone number for urgent care to sit alongside 999 to help patients get the services they need, particularly out of hours.
Emergency responses form a crucial part of the delivery of care – and a lot of what the ASN is saying seems sensible. Choosing the right channel to deliver care, relevant funding schemes and appropriately trained staff are all developments that could improve patient experience.
However, a point of caution; the ANS is proposing yet more upheaval in an environment that seems to be shifting from day-to-day. Until the effect of the larger changes in the NHS are implemented and evaluated, further reforms will be difficult. Whether you are a commissioner, provider (or both!) it’s going to be tricky.
Private top-ups need to be understood
Source: Medical News Today; 19th June 2008
Review of co-payment rules welcome - the challenge must be to preserve basic NHS principles says King’s Fund, UK
The blurring of private and public provision continues apace – this time it is the ability to combine public health delivery from the NHS with private drugs (that wouldn’t readily be available from the NHS) that is under scrutiny.
Top-ups pose a lot of difficult questions – both on the impact on the “NHS for all” principle, and more practically, how they affect budgets, reimbursements etc. Another headache for FDs then.
