The Better Care Fund has not achieved the expected value for money, in terms of savings, outcomes for patients or hospital activity. “Integrating the health and social care sectors is a significant challenge in normal times, let alone times when both sectors are under such severe pressure. So far, benefits have fallen far short of […]

HSJ, 9 FEBRUARY, 2017 BY JAMES ILLMAN STPs to be given right to “recommend” member trusts and commissioners reorganise STPs should act if “veto power or inertia is getting in the way of the bigger strategic change agenda”, Simon Stevens says NHS England chief also says new forward view update plan is not “not a […]

Officials are scrambling to define the narrative on the latest wave of misery How the ‘humanitarian’ crisis in the NHS is paving the way for private health insurance

The number of elderly waiting on trolleys for 12 hours has tripled Don’t blame the elderly: only one in five A&E patients are pensioners, says former Health Secretary

http://www.fitforfuture.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/0064-PH-STP-DRM-Public.pdf  

‘A third of hospital trusts in England issued alerts warning they needed urgent action to cope with the pressure of patient numbers last month.’ Click here for BBC News article

There is a “humanitarian crisis” in NHS hospitals in England, the British Red Cross has said. Click here for BBC News article

King’s Fund says rising workload and squeezed revenue means NHS England needs to focus on preventative medicine Click here for the Guardian article

Hospitals in England told to put operations on hold to free up beds

Junior doctors in the UK fear they are missing out on crucial training because of increasing workloads, a report by the General Medical Council suggests. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38162855