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
Serco shares emails of contact tracers
Serco has apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 contact tracers. The company has been employed by the government to recruit staff as contact tracers for cases … Read more
NHS procurement chiefs drafted in to help Deloitte’s efforts for PPE
HSJ reports that 14 trust procurement chiefs have been brought in to help the central team trying to source personal protective equipment. The heads of procurement at 14 trusts and … Read more
HSJ reports test data from commercial labs not being reported
HSJ reports that the internal NHS email containing information on how many residents and staff have tested positive is no longer reporting test results from commercial laboratories. This lack of … Read more
Privatisation during the pandemic
Out of sight of public scrutiny, dozens of private companies have been awarded contracts to carry out work for the NHS, much of which could have been carried out by … Read more
Randox Labs advised by Owen Paterson won £133m virus testing contract unopposed
Randox Laboratories which employs the prominent Conservative politician Owen Paterson as a paid consultant has been awarded a £133 million contract under the new fast-track procurement rules that mean no other companies … Read more
NHS duties moved to private sector by UK government
The Guardian reports that doctors, campaign groups, academics and MPs have raised concerns that the government is using the coronavirus pandemic to transfer key public health duties from the NHS and other … Read more
NHS sees revolution in digital GP healthcare
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the use of digital health solutions in the NHS. On 5 March, NHS England sent all GP practices a letter advising that patients be assessed online or via … Read more
Why bypass NHS labs for mass testing? Concerns over new super-labs
Staff in NHS laboratories are increasingly alarmed at the implications of the government’s turn to create a new network of “super-labs” to process what is supposed to be a rising number of … Read more
11 suppliers chosen to provide video consultations for primary care
Digital Health reports that eleven suppliers have been selected to provide video consultations for primary care in an effort to reduce the number of face-to-face consultations in primary care. The … Read more
NHS IVF clinic at risk of closure
The department of reproductive medicine at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, the UK’s oldest NHS fertility clinic, is at risk of closure and another centre has been put out for privatisation, as IVF … Read more
Boots and LIVI expand partnership
Boots UK and digital healthcare provider LIVI have formed a new long-term partnership to enable patients to remotely access a Boots pharmacist via LIVI’s app. Patients will be able to … Read more
Multimillion pound contract taken in-house by NHS property company
HSJ reports that the NHS’ property company (NHSPS) has taken the maintenance of many community hospitals and GP surgeries in-house, after years of the services being delivered by a private … Read more
