Friday, 7 November 2014
KGH bed fall led to Desborough man’s death
KGH bed fall led to Desborough man’s death A man who suffered a head injury when he fell out of his bed at Kettering General Hospital died two weeks later, an inquest was told. Northamptonshire Telegraph
The financial sustainability of NHS bodies
The financial sustainability of NHS bodies The financial position of the NHS has worsened since 2012-13, with growing financial stress in NHS trusts and foundation trusts. According to the National Audit Office, these trends are not sustainable.
At the end of June 2014, NHS trusts were forecasting a net deficit for the current financial year of £404 million and foundation trusts a net deficit of £108 million. This compares with initial plans of a net deficit of £425 million for NHS trusts and £20 million for foundation trusts.
Trusts in surplus in 2013-14 were likely to have a lower surplus than in the previous financial year. The number of trusts and foundation trusts with a surplus also fell from 222 in 2012-13 to 182 in 2013-14.
Today’s report notes that financial risk is increasing in NHS trusts and foundation trusts, and those in severe financial difficulty continue to rely on in-year cash support from the Department of Health. In 2013-14, over £0.5 billion extra money was issued to 21 NHS trusts and 10 foundation trusts to ensure that organisations in difficulty have the cash they need to pay staff and creditors.
NHS England underspent by £279 million compared with its original plan but, within this net total, it overspent £377 million on specialised services. The overspend was partly owing to over-ambitious planning assumptions. NHS England offset this pressure through use of its reserves.Forty-nine clinical commissioning groups performed less well than originally planned: 12 of these had forecast a surplus but ended the year in deficit. The local auditor of clinical commissioning groups referred 19 bodies in deficit to the Secretary of State for spending more than their authorised resource limit.
To discourage unnecessary emergency admissions, trusts receive 30% of the full tariff payment for admissions above the level experienced during 2008-09. However, this arrangement has not contained demand. Increasing demands for emergency admissions will also reduce the resources commissioners have to invest in alternative primary or community care services.
Some NHS bodies have not made large enough cost savings, or contained the increasing demand for services within their available funding, whilst meeting quality and access targets. There remains considerable uncertainty about the impact of initiatives such as the Better Care Fund, which the Department and NHS England expect will reduce demand for acute hospital services. The NAO will look again at the planning process for commissioners and providers in 2015 to determine how well regulatory bodies are checking consistency between different parts of the health and social care system. National Audit Office
At the end of June 2014, NHS trusts were forecasting a net deficit for the current financial year of £404 million and foundation trusts a net deficit of £108 million. This compares with initial plans of a net deficit of £425 million for NHS trusts and £20 million for foundation trusts.
Trusts in surplus in 2013-14 were likely to have a lower surplus than in the previous financial year. The number of trusts and foundation trusts with a surplus also fell from 222 in 2012-13 to 182 in 2013-14.
Today’s report notes that financial risk is increasing in NHS trusts and foundation trusts, and those in severe financial difficulty continue to rely on in-year cash support from the Department of Health. In 2013-14, over £0.5 billion extra money was issued to 21 NHS trusts and 10 foundation trusts to ensure that organisations in difficulty have the cash they need to pay staff and creditors.
NHS England underspent by £279 million compared with its original plan but, within this net total, it overspent £377 million on specialised services. The overspend was partly owing to over-ambitious planning assumptions. NHS England offset this pressure through use of its reserves.Forty-nine clinical commissioning groups performed less well than originally planned: 12 of these had forecast a surplus but ended the year in deficit. The local auditor of clinical commissioning groups referred 19 bodies in deficit to the Secretary of State for spending more than their authorised resource limit.
To discourage unnecessary emergency admissions, trusts receive 30% of the full tariff payment for admissions above the level experienced during 2008-09. However, this arrangement has not contained demand. Increasing demands for emergency admissions will also reduce the resources commissioners have to invest in alternative primary or community care services.
Some NHS bodies have not made large enough cost savings, or contained the increasing demand for services within their available funding, whilst meeting quality and access targets. There remains considerable uncertainty about the impact of initiatives such as the Better Care Fund, which the Department and NHS England expect will reduce demand for acute hospital services. The NAO will look again at the planning process for commissioners and providers in 2015 to determine how well regulatory bodies are checking consistency between different parts of the health and social care system. National Audit Office
See also:
- Doubling of NHS trusts which can't balance books The Daily Telegraph
- NHS heading into the red - NAO E-Health Insider
- Financial pressures putting NHS trusts at risk, says spending watchdog The Guardian
- One in three NHS hospitals needed Government bailout funds last year The Independent
What is preventing progress? Time to move from talk to action on reducing preventable illness
What is preventing progress? Time to move from talk to action on reducing preventable illness This report highlights how in England tackling common risk factors such as smoking, inactivity, unhealthy diet and alcohol would drastically reduce the number of people affected by common diseases such as heart disease, cancer, lung disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma and stroke, while helping to prevent or delay the onset of conditions like dementia. It outlines nine key calls to action through which political leaders and key decision-makers can ensure disease prevention is placed at the top of the agenda. Richmond Group of Charities
Savile hospital abuse inquiry widens
Savile hospital abuse inquiry widens The number of hospitals investigating allegations of abuse by Jimmy Savile is extended to 41. BBC News
See also:
See also:
- Statement to Parliament: Update on Savile investigations relating to the NHS Department of Health
- Jimmy Savile inquiry extends to 41 hospitals The Guardian
- Jimmy Savile NHS investigations widened to include 41 hospitals The Independent
Pharma industry gets high on profits
Pharma industry gets high on profits Imagine an industry that generates higher profit margins than any other and is no stranger to multi-billion dollar fines for malpractice.
Throw in widespread accusations of collusion and over-charging, and banking no doubt springs to mind.
In fact, the industry described above is responsible for the development of medicines to save lives and alleviate suffering, not the generation of profit for its own sake. BBC News
Throw in widespread accusations of collusion and over-charging, and banking no doubt springs to mind.
In fact, the industry described above is responsible for the development of medicines to save lives and alleviate suffering, not the generation of profit for its own sake. BBC News
GPs sign open letter urging immediate withdrawal of 'unethical' dementia DES
GPs sign open letter urging immediate withdrawal of 'unethical' dementia DES An open letter co-signed by over 50 leading doctors, including 35 GPs, has demanded that the 'unethical' dementia enhanced service be 'withdrawn without delay'. GP Online
See also:
See also:
The real reason doctors are being instructed in the ethics of waste
The real reason doctors are being instructed in the ethics of waste Medical staff are used to their resources being endlessly eroded no wonder they resist change that seems to put money before patients.
All waste is immoral, but some waste is more immoral than other waste, and sometimes what looks like waste isnt actually waste at all. Wasting food is really bad (the perfect solution, although not available to everyone, is to keep pigs). Recycling the dress bought in a moment of self-delusion via the charity shop is not a perfect solution, but it is less bad than wasting food. Using disposable instruments in hospital instead of relying on sterilising machines looks wasteful but actually saves money by not giving patients avoidable infections.
Waste in the NHS is a favourite moan of its critics who mostly think it is too big to prosper. But that doesnt mean its not a problem how could it not be in an organisation with a budget of £100bn a year. One wrong decision is going to ramify with appalling waste across the country. So although it seems a superfluous edict, it was good to hear the Academy of Medical Royal Collegesdeclare that doctors have an ethical duty not to waste. Continue reading... The Guardian
All waste is immoral, but some waste is more immoral than other waste, and sometimes what looks like waste isnt actually waste at all. Wasting food is really bad (the perfect solution, although not available to everyone, is to keep pigs). Recycling the dress bought in a moment of self-delusion via the charity shop is not a perfect solution, but it is less bad than wasting food. Using disposable instruments in hospital instead of relying on sterilising machines looks wasteful but actually saves money by not giving patients avoidable infections.
Waste in the NHS is a favourite moan of its critics who mostly think it is too big to prosper. But that doesnt mean its not a problem how could it not be in an organisation with a budget of £100bn a year. One wrong decision is going to ramify with appalling waste across the country. So although it seems a superfluous edict, it was good to hear the Academy of Medical Royal Collegesdeclare that doctors have an ethical duty not to waste. Continue reading... The Guardian
Ebola expert warns of tragedy in British hospitals due to safety failings
Ebola expert warns of tragedy in British hospitals due to safety failings A leading global expert on the Ebola virus has warned there will be “tragedy” in a British hospital – because safety procedures are not being followed strictly enough to prevent medical staff from becoming infected. The Independent
See also:
See also:
- UN lacks resources to defeat Ebola OnMedica
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