HSJ Health Check

NHS Alliance CEO Sir Ciarán Devane and HSJ finance lead Zoe Tidman discuss the consequences of this week's Budget, and why Sir Ciarán believes it's time to discuss changing the NHS's targets. "We think that debate with the public needs to start happening," he told the HSJ Health Check podcast, saying the rules need to better reflect today's needs and service models. We also cover the latest on the NHS operating model and Health Bill, integrated health organisations, and reforms to NHS payment systems.

This week, we take a look at how the government’s plans to restructure NHS England and Integrated Care Boards are going. We look at the future for ICBs, after years of cuts, mergers and changes in responsibilities, and ask whether this time commissioning can be made to work. Also we compare this government’s NHS reforms to the 2012 Lansley Act, and discuss where the government might have to give ground if it wants to get its Health Bill through an uncooperative House of Lords. With Henry Anderson, Mimi Launder and Dave West. This episode was recorded before it emerged that the government would be dropping its plan to merge HSSIB into the CQC. Send thoughts and ideas to annabelle.collins@hsj.co.uk You can listen to HSJ Health Check on this page, or subscribe on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , Amazon Music , and all the other popular podcast platforms . HSJ Health Check Podcast · HSJ · HSJ Health Check: Weekly analysis of the biggest issues in health policy and leadership, from HSJ's expert journalists. The go to place for an independent, informed and immediate ta...

On this episode we discuss an HSJ investigation that revealed an increasing number of trusts are facing cash shortages that are bubbling over into late payments to suppliers. We discuss why this is a symptom of a problem and what it says about the financial pressures providers are under this year. We also talk about a concerning rise in inpatient deaths at Essex Partnership University Trust, which is already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths. This latest development emerged in the same week as the inquiry heard evidence and considers interim recommendations.

This week we discuss the final report of a major government review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, including its criticism of the quality and cost of assessments done by independent providers. We talk about what the review found, and what sort of “radical” service change it could lead to, including moving from a “diagnosis-dependent” system and giving primary care a bigger role.

This week we bring you the health highlights from the Labour Party Conference, including an ex-minister who said he would sack half of the NHS managers he has met “in a heartbeat” for not being good enough. We also discuss a worrying story about a trust at the heart of a major maternity inquiry, after a review found multiple recent stillbirths may have been avoided with better care. And on the theme of public inquiries, we cover some interesting comments made by Tom Kark KC, when speaking at HSJ’s Patient Safety Congress, who admitted they are often hugely expensive and time-consuming.

This week we talk about why an integrated care board in the north west is risking the wrath of GPs after consolidating its digital offering, in a move that has also raised concerns about its procurement practices. Also on this episode, the NHS has more than £1.6bn earmarked to get more out of digital systems - but trusts say the programme isn’t delivering. With just a week to hit some significant deadlines, we discuss why the Frontline Productivity Programme is being described by tech leaders as a “shambles”, with the centre being blamed, and what its future could look like.

This week we discuss the final outcome of the Thirlwall Inquiry, which examined the failings surrounding the murder and attempted murder of babies by Lucy Letby. We cover its fierce criticism of managers, the ways in which it fell short and the response. Also this week we ask - is this the end of the NHS group? This follows news of the high profile collapse of the Humber Health Partnership last week.

On this episode the tech bureau join Annabelle to discuss the final report from the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare - a review that had promised to deliver a “new regulatory rulebook”. We cover the key recommendations, including a tougher role for the medicines watchdog, and the big questions that remain. Full story on the review here: https://www.hsj.co.uk/technology-and-innovation/fine-ai-firms-that-harm-patients-demands-tech-commission/8124267.article

NHS is slipping down the government’s list of priorities. We cover the questions that ministers cannot avoid – such as how to tackle funding social care and how far to push the NHS on devolution – as well as the things they should really be decisive about… but probably won’t.

In a significant intervention this week the national safety watchdog has effectively called for a pause in the rollout of NHS England’s “advice and guidance” policy after linking it to two patient deaths. On this episode we cover what prompted this review, why NHS England has been pushing the use of A&G for the last few years and what it’s future could look like.

On this episode we cover two interesting tech stories. Firstly, new estimates have suggested the federated data platform could have a benefit value of £1.7bn less than a figure given by NHS England a year ago. We talk more about this latest FDP story and what it could mean for the extension of the controversial Palantir contract next year. Also, the national safety watchdog announced last week it has launched in investigation into AI use within the NHS. We ask what prompted this and what it will explore. We also talk more about the news a North Devon maternity unit is closing due to a lack of doctors, and how trusts and the government are approaching this national problem.

“I had no idea this happened. Were we informed? I am very concerned about duty of candour here… Why weren’t the victims informed immediately?” This was NHS England’s response after learning of the records breach at University Hospitals of Liverpool Foundation Trust, revealed in emails obtained by HSJ this week. On this episode we talk more about what happened next, including the independent investigation ordered and Sir Jim Mackey’s warning to trusts. Also this week we discuss a story that speaks to the ongoing concerns about culture within ambulances trusts.

This week we’re talking about the latest on neighbourhood health, and what Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s push for social care reform means for the NHS. As ministers launch a major review of adult social care, we ask whether the shift could boost the neighbourhood health agenda, or set it back. Will it reshape NHS and council funding, and could it deliver the NHS savings Mr Burnham says must be considered before any tax rises? We also talk more about neighbourhood health contracts and their slow progress since they were announced in last year’s 10 year plan for health, and why some in primary care are calling for an even longer pause.

This week we discuss why a £300,000 exit payment to a former ICB CEO has proved so controversial, and how NHS England has tried to justify the move. We also look at what the row reveals about the wider pressure ICBs are under, as they face deep cuts and continued uncertainty over their future role. This includes the questionable use of public money in wider ICB restructures, which are in many cases forced to pay for redundancies they may one day regret. And with devolution to mayoral strategic authorities, how do ICBs and ‘places’ fit into the new world?

Now the dust has settled on two major maternity reviews, HSJ Health Check is joined by Dr Bill Kirkup to discuss what happens next. Dr Kirkup has been investigating maternity scandals for over a decade, including Morecambe Bay and East Kent. We discuss how the sector has responded to the tranche of recommendations, whether a public inquiry is needed, and how leaders should respond when things go wrong in their organisations. He also touched on more contentious issues, warning that the current clinical negligence system is set up to be “adversarial”, and how the NHS needs to avoid “othering” maternity services.

Many breathed a sigh of relief when the resident doctors accepted the latest government pay offer, putting an end to years of strikes. However, just a week later, consultants voted for industrial action. We discuss the demands of the British Medical Association’s consultants committee and how the government could avert another set of damaging strike action. We also talk more about the first complaints made about clinicians’ use of AI, as revealed in HSJ this week, and how the national AI regulation review could change how it is used in the NHS.

This week Dave West and Henry Anderson are joined by health economist Anita Charlesworth, who is co-chairing a commission into NHS productivity for the Health Foundation. We discuss the workforce “boom and bust”, why the covid-19 pandemic cost the NHS £20bn in lost care and how the health service can recover at a time when public spending is under pressure.

NHS maternity services are again in the spotlight after an independent review revealed serious, systemic failings at Nottingham University Hospitals. The report by Donna Ockenden criticised NHS executives for refusing to speak to the review - leading the government to threaten prison time for staff who do not cooperate. Will this make a difference for future investigations? And, amid growing calls for a public inquiry into the state of maternity care across the country, we ask what this would mean for the NHS. With Henry Anderson and Emily Townsend. Send thoughts and ideas to annabelle.collins@hsj.co.uk

Sparks are flying over how the centre of the NHS will be run once NHS England is wound up next year. HSJ Health Check discusses the options, why they matter, as well as our exclusive interview with the minister leading the changes through Parliament. Karin Smyth argued government had sought to “minimise” the powers it is taking as a result of abolishing NHS England. She also spoke about the other big aim of the bill - paving the way for a single patient record. With Annabelle Collins, Alastair McLellan and Dave West. Linked articles: ⁠ We have ‘minimised’ Health Bill power grab, says minister⁠ Trusts ‘should recruit more managers locally’

We talk staff, racism, the funding squeeze, and trust groups, on the HSJ Health Check live from the NHS Confederation conference in Manchester. NHS Alliance CEO Ciarán Devane, who took up post two months ago, and University Hospital Tees CEO Stacey Hunter, join HSJ deputy editor Dave West. Guests discuss the challenges of growing racism against staff, including how it can mean some minority ethnic staff don't want to work in particular parts of the country. We also cover wider pressure on staff, as funding is squeezed and services restructure to cut costs. And we talk about the dilemmas of the wave of trusts sharing leaders, one of whom is Stacey as CEO of two Tees foundation trusts.