Palantir given key role in handling patient data by NHS England
The Guardian has revealed that the NHS is to hand a key role in handling patient data and share of a £480m contract to the US spy technology firm Palantir. … Read more
Private sector research explains lack of self-pay boom
More evidence is emerging on the failure of the private hospital sector to make the expected gains from the chronic crisis of the NHS and its lengthening waiting lists. Far … Read more
Decisions over outsourcing in the NHS
Competitive tendering for contracts in the NHS is set to reduce significantly once the new framework for the procurement of health services – the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) – launches in January … Read more
Soaring private healthcare use piling pressure on NHS GPs
A survey by Pulse has found that soaring use of private healthcare for tests and treatments is piling pressure on overstretched GP surgeries, with family doctors warning that standard NHS care … Read more
Experts think use of private hospitals being ‘hard wired’ into NHS elective care
HSJ reports that experts have warned that the drive to cut NHS waiting lists is becoming ‘disproportionately reliant’ on the private sector, as new data suggests rapid growth in the … Read more
Time for solutions on social care workforce
A 15 year workforce strategy is to be developed for social care by Skills for Care, the workforce development body, in an effort to address the ongoing crisis in the workforce. The … Read more
Trust boss accuses Omnes of ‘overpromising and underdelivering’
Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust recently discovered at least 1,000 cases were being returned to the trust from independent provider Omnes Healthcare following “complications” with a pathway for ear, … Read more
Analysis: NHS shoulders the burden, despite government steering towards private sector
In the face of rising waiting lists government policy has aimed to increase the role of the independent sector in tackling these record delays, but as a Lowdown analysis of … Read more
APMS contract retendered following concerns about overuse of PAs
An ICB has decided to re-tender an APMS contract currently run by Operose Health, following concerns around overuse of non-GP staff. North Central London ICB will not renew the contract … Read more
Self-pay numbers flatline amid doubts about greater use of private sector
The latest (September) figures from the private sector’s own official source, the Private Healthcare Information Network, confirm yet again how limited has been the growth in private hospitals’ inpatient caseload – despite … Read more
Spire criticised for relying on NHS ambulance service to transfer patients
A coroner has warned that a private hospital is relying on NHS ambulances to transport patients despite “being fully aware” of the pressures on the ambulance service and resulting delays. The warning … Read more
Former NHS tech chief joins firm bidding for £480m NHS data contract
Matthew Gould, the former head of NHS digital policy has been appointed to the advisory board of Quantexa, a leading UK data technology company. Matthew Gould was originally hired to head … Read more
Private mental health provider fined record £1.5m over patient death
Cygnet Healthcare, a private provider of mental health services, has been ordered to pay more than £1.5m – the largest fine issued for such a case – after pleading guilty … Read more
Tory donor profited from £135m of NHS contracts
One of the Conservatives’ biggest ever donors has profited from £135m of contracts with the Department of Health and Social Care in under four years. Frank Hester, a healthcare tech … Read more
Two Babylon Health divisions sold to eMed
Babylon Health’s administrators have confirmed that two of the company’s divisions have been sold to US digital health business eMed, after an earlier bid to merge the group with Swiss … Read more
Spy tech firm won £27m government deal after introduction from ex-MI6 boss
openDemocracy reports that the former head of MI6 introduced Palantir to a top government official in the Cabinet Office a year before the US spy tech firm won a £27m … Read more
Private sector still struggling to produce promised “boom”
A continuing barrage of misinformation on the supposed boom in private medical treatment as a result of the soaring NHS waiting lists has continued into the summer ‘silly season’ for … Read more
Centene sells off Circle: will its GP practices be next to go?
Centene, a major US health insurer, has just agreed to sell off its largest British acquisition, Circle Healthcare, which owned the UK’s biggest chain of private hospitals. The US corporation’s … Read more
Private firm linked to No 10 adviser handed NHS waiting lists contract
The Guardian reports that Rishi Sunak is facing questions over a possible conflict of interest after it emerged that a private healthcare firm handed a government contract to reduce regional … Read more
Leaked emails suggest spy tech firm Palantir was shoo-in for NHS data deal
OpenDemocracy reports that emails it has seen show that US spy-tech firm Palantir was a shoo-in for a multi-million-pound NHS contract months before the deal was signed. The email exchange … Read more
