GP at Hand app tells women its hysteria not a heart attack
Babylon Health’s GP at Hand app has been accused of putting patients at risk, according to an article in the Sunday Times, after it emerged that if a woman entered … Read more
Dominic Cummings accused of conflict of interest over NHS fund
Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s most senior aide, is facing conflict of interest accusations over a consultancy role he undertook for the government-endorsed healthcare startup, Babylon Health, that is in a … Read more
Advinia under financial investigation by CQC
The care home company Advinia is under investigation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following concerns that the company is financially unstable, according to a report in The Guardian. Documents … Read more
CQC investigation leads to home care service shut down
A service run by Curae Home Care has been shut down and an investigation launched into its practices over concerns it was putting clients at risk of harm. The Care Quality … Read more
NHS England instigates rule changes for digital providers
New rules from NHS England to be put in place in April 2020 will mean digital-first GP providers will have to set up a clinic in most localities where they … Read more
Inspectors discover poor standards at 28 private mental health units
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have found 28 mental health units run by private companies to be “inadequate” in the past three years, leading to fears that vulnerable … Read more
£85 m Surrey contract awarded to Virgin Care and NHS partner
Frimley Health Foundation Trust and Virgin Care Services Limited have been awarded a five-year contract for adult community services worth £85 million by North East Hampshire and Farnham and Surrey … Read more
Contract dispute with private provider of autism services
HSJ reports that the private provider of autism services, Midlands Psychology, in Staffordshire has sent emails to parents cancelling new patients’ appointments ahead of its contract expiring on 30 September. … Read more
A further £55bn to be paid out by NHS hospital under PFI schemes
PFI (private finance initiative) is crippling NHS hospital trusts, according to a report from the IPPR thinktank, as they will have to make another £55bn in payments by the time … Read more
Bradford NHS workers plan another strike
West Yorkshire health workers voted to started an indefinite strike from Monday 26 August. The strike is against privatisation of the NHS. On 1 August, 300 Unison union members of … Read more
Bolton protesters against NHS ‘privatisation’
A private provider has recently been awarded NHS contract in Bolton to provide diabetic health services. This has included ‘controversial changes to diabetic screening’ according to Bolton News, causing concerns … Read more
Vertex ‘will make $21bn from treating cystic fibrosis’ from ‘unaffordable’ drug
The US company, Vertex who make cystic fibrosis drugs, is refusing to drop the price of its products, claiming that it has invested billions into research and must charge a … Read more
Private provider awarded large funding sum for digital healthcare app
Private provider, Advanced Digital Innovation, have been awarded £650,000 by Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance) for its digital healthcare system – MyPathway. The system allows patients … Read more
80 jobs ‘at risk’ at West Midlands Ambulance trust as private firm awarded patient contract
More than 80 staff at the West Midlands Ambulance Trust were ‘in tears’ worried about their jobs as the contract was awarded to private provider, E-zec Medical Transport. West Midlands … Read more
Record breaking child waiting lists forces CCG to seek extra providers
There is a backlog of about 1,800 under 18s waiting to be assessed in Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Cases include one person having waited 122 weeks for an assessment … Read more
NHS workers in West Yorkshire strike against the outsourcing of their jobs
NHS workers in West Yorkshire are striking against a plan to transfer porters, cleaners and other support staff to a ‘wholly-owned subsidiary’ called Bradford Healthcare Facilities Management Ltd on 1 … Read more
Fourth practice in Swindon put in special measures after CQC inspection
Four GP surgeries in Swindon run by tBetter Health Partnership have been placed in special measures following CQC inspections. The practices have to make urgent improvements, according to the CQC. … Read more
Centene invests in Babylon’s NHS ‘chatbot’ app
According to Sky News, Centene, one of the US’s largest healthcare companies, is investing millions of pounds in Babylon Healthcare, the company that developed the GP at Hand app now … Read more
Home birth service closes leaving pregnant woman without midwives
The private service One to One Midwives has withdrawn the services it provides to the NHS and is to enter insolvency proceedings. This leaves about 1,700 pregnant women, some due … Read more
Two Priory Group hospitals placed in special measures
The Care Quality Commission has placed two hospitals run by the Priory Group in special measures in a fresh controversy over state-funded private contractors’ treatment of people with mental illness … Read more
