My fight for safeguards in private and NHS hospitals
The story of Ian Paterson the rogue breast cancer surgeon who was allowed free reign to ruin thousands of lives over 17 years is now quite well known. You can … Read more
Majority of the public want the NHS protected in trade deal with the USA
A new poll from the campaign group We Own It has found 75% of people want the NHS to be protected in a trade deal with Donald Trump. Parliament is set … Read more
CQC removes DMC Healthcare provider from five Medway surgeries
The private provider DMC Healthcare has had further enforcement action taken against it by a regulator after consistently failing to deliver a high standard of service to patients at its … Read more
Expensive failures could cost lives
What links a network of rapidly-converted field hospitals, a family run food and beverages company in Antrim, a network of “super-labs”, and Serco? The final name has probably given it … Read more
£1m to set up lab project – but still no business case
Over £1 million has been spent so far on developing a Business Case for centralising pathology services in Lancashire covering four NHS trusts, according to information released under the Freedom … Read more
Homerton Hospital: trust board sticks with outsourcing giant
DESPITE MOUNTING OPPOSITION the Board of Directors at Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust (HUHFT) in Hackney, east London looks set to ink a further five-year contract for ‘soft facility’ management … Read more
NHS diagnostics deal with Rutherford Health
Rutherford Heath has signed a five year Diagnostics Services Agreement with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust worth £19.1 million. Rutherford Health, in partnership with Equitix, will provide at its facility in … Read more
Shifts at private coronavirus mega-lab cancelled, whistleblower reveals
The Independent reports that it has been informed by a whistleblower that dozens of shifts at one of the government’s coronavirus mega-labs have been cancelled and staff paid to stay away because … Read more
Covid-19 testing contracts worth £5bn to private bidders
The Guardian reports that the Department of Health and Social Care is set to create a new national framework for testing which would replace current arrangements, with further details released … Read more
CQC close two surgeries in Gillingham and Stoke and a practice in Hoo
The Care Quality Commission has shut down two surgeries and a practice – with a combined roll of more than 11,000 – after serious concerns were raised. The immediate action … Read more
Failing the test – an investigation by The Independent into privatised Covid-19 testing
An investigation by journalists at The Independent into the testing for Covid-19 and reporting of test results found a number of major flaws in the process due to the setting … Read more
Who stands to gain from the NHS deal with private hospitals?
PAUL EVANS – director of the NHS Support Federation, comments Millions of patients had their treatment put on hold whilst the NHS battled Covid-19, and waited with considerable anxiety not knowing when … Read more
NHS deal with private hospitals blocked by Treasury
A £5 billion deal to extend the use of the private sector to treat NHS patients is being blocked by the Treasury according to reports from inside the NHS. The … Read more
Serco bought out of joint venture by Trusts
HSJ has revealed that King’s College Hospital FT and Guy’s and St Thomas’ FT will pay an undisclosed sum to Serco for its share of Viapath, the firm they co-own. … Read more
One constant in Covid crisis: government contracts out, private sector cashes in
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep pace with the rapid changes and abrupt U-turns in government policy on how to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. The past fortnight has seen … Read more
Trust signs up for Babylon’s triage app, doubling up on 111 service
In mid-May private healthcare company Babylon Health was awarded its third contract by a hospital trust for use of its Ask A&E triage tool. The contract with the Royal Berkshire … Read more
Covid-19 test-and-trace contract for Serco despite £1m fine
The Observer reports that Serco was fined more than £1 million for failures on a government contract a few months ago, but was still awarded a lucrative government contract for … Read more
New coronavirus contract for AI firm that worked with Vote Leave
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has awarded a contract to the artificial intelligence company Faculty, a firm hired to work on the Vote Leave campaign, that may … Read more
Track and trace failings risk safe release from lockdown
The easing of the lockdown and a safe return to school for hundreds of children and their teachers is dependent on an effective test, track and trace programme. Over the … Read more
A “privatised” and “dysfunctional” system led to lack of PPE
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the NHS was unprepared due to its “heavily privatised, convoluted, and fundamentally dysfunctional system” of product supply, in particular of personal protective equipment (PPE), according … Read more
