A briefing paper argued that privately financed procurement in the National Health Service could be made quicker and less costly; that the emphasis should change from how to procure large scale projects to what to build; and that opportunities for innovation must be protected as PFI procurement is streamlined.
Source: Jon Sussex, Making the Best of the Private Finance Initiative in the NHS, Office of Health Economics (020 7930 9203)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
The National Health Service spent 50 million to buy a blood products firm in the United States of America, in a bid to counter the risk of the human form of Creutzfeldt-Jacob's Disease (CJD) being transmitted by blood transfusions. The firm will supply around 45 per cent of the NHS's blood plasma needs.
Source: Press release 17.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government published details of how the new National Health Service 'foundation trusts' will be run. It said the new trusts will be 'part of the NHS, providing NHS services to NHS patients according to NHS principles, subject to NHS standards, to NHS star ratings and to NHS inspection'. The trusts will be owned and controlled locally, and guaranteed in law freedom from central direction and control. There will also be a limit on the number of private patients the new trusts can treat.
Source: A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts, Department of Health (08701 555455) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 11.12.02, columns 269-284, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Hansard
Date: 2002-Dec
The government announced that funding increases for specialist palliative care services will be allocated by a national partnership group, including representatives from all levels of the National Health Service and a wide range of voluntary sector organisations. The group will assess and approve care plans prepared by local health communities and their voluntary sector partners.
Source: Press release 23.12.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A study evaluated residential rehabilitation services for older people discharged from hospital.
Source: Tessa Trappes-Lomax, Annie Ellis and Mary Fox, Buying Time: An evaluation and cost effectiveness analysis of a joint health/social care residential rehabilitation unit for older people on discharge from hospital, Centre for Evidence Based Social Services/University of Exeter (01392 262865)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
The difference in costs of treatment across the National Health Service reduced considerably between 2001 and 2002, according to new figures on individual treatments, procedures, outpatient appointments, tests, and home-based treatments for a comprehensive range of NHS services in England.
Source: National Schedule of Reference Costs 2002, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Summary | Report (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The National Audit Office reported that the National Health Service is prepared to cope with major incidents such as rail and plane crashes, but that there is still more to do, especially for the newer post-11 September threats.
Source: Facing the Challenge: NHS Emergency Planning in England, HC 36 (Session 2002-03), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
A report said the role of the voluntary sector in Wales can be strengthened within health trusts and primary and intermediary care, particularly in helping to address the health of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, public participation, volunteering, and in developing community health and well being.
Source: Building Strong Bridges: Strengthening partnership working between the voluntary sector and the NHS in Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2080 1118)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book argued for the greatest possible transparency in the way decisions are taken by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Source: Adrian Towse, Clive Pritchard and Nancy Devlin (eds.), Cost Effectiveness Thresholds: Economic and ethical issues, King s Fund (020 7307 2591) and Office of Health Economics
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
The government launched the 'Integrated Care Network', designed to support joint working between local authorities and health service trusts. The Network will 'develop appropriate resources' if existing resources do not meet their needs. The Network will also create a central information resource, provide consultancy, and spread good practice and knowledge.
Source: Press release 24.10.02, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A consultation document set out plans for fundamental changes to the way that funds flow through the National Health Service. The proposals include moves towards a nationally agreed set of prices for particular treatments, and a system of payments to hospitals based on the number of patients choosing to be treated in them.
Source: Reforming NHS Financial Flows: Introducing payment by results, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
Plans were published designed to strengthen and develop leadership and management in the National Health Service. NHS leaders and managers will be expected to work even more closely with clinicians; focus more on working with patients, local communities and staff; and learn new skills. A new code of conduct for NHS managers set out shared values: those who break the code can be dismissed by the NHS and not re-employed within it.
Source: Managing for Excellence in the NHS, Department of Health (08701 555455) | NHS Management Code of Conduct, Department of Health
Links: Management plan (pdf) | Code (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A report emphasised the need for joint working in the National Health Service in Wales, in order to make the best use of existing capacity.
Source: Paul Williams, A Question of Balance: A Review of Capacity in the Health Service in Wales 2002, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111) and NHS in Wales
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A research project examined public views on computerisation of patients health records. It was found that there is a high level of trust that the National Health Service will protect patient confidentiality, but low awareness of how the NHS uses patient information.
Source: Share with Care! People s Views on Consent and Confidentiality of Patient Information, NHS Information Authority (08453 660066) and Consumers Association
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A new book said that the National Health Service lacks the knowledge it needs to deliver better services to the public, because of biases in the research economy; and that although over 4 billion is spent every year on health-related research, the majority of it is driven by commercial imperatives rather than the public interest.
Source: Anthony Harrison and Bill New, Public Interest, Private Decisions: Health-related research in the UK, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A document was published setting out key targets for health and social services in England, and introducing a new system of three-year planning and allocations. National targets were streamlined to include only those managed at national level, with a commitment to avoid introducing new targets where possible. The planning system was also simplified so that each local area need only submit a single three-year plan.
Source: Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The next 3 years - priorities and planning framework 2003-06, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 2.1
Date: 2002-Oct
A survey found a 'healthy picture of a varied and generally well-balanced' cancer research base in the United Kingdom; and that 60 per cent of the cancer research funded by the major research bodies is generic and applicable to all cancer sites.
Source: Strategic Analysis 2002: An overview of cancer research in the UK directly funded by the NCRI partner organisations, National Cancer Research Institute (020 7670 5247)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A new annual compendium of healthcare statistics charted trends in spending on health, provision of healthcare services, and life expectancy and mortality. The author reportedly warned that the government is in danger of wasting billions of pounds by increasing spending on the National Health Service too quickly.
Source: Peter Yuen, Compendium of Health Statistics (14th edition), Office of Health Economics (020 7930 9203) | The Guardian, 26.9.02
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Sep
The government announced that funding responsibility for prison health services in England will transfer to the Department of Health from April 2003. Primary Care Trusts will become responsible for health services to prisoners in their areas.
Source: Press release 25.9.02, Home Office (020 7273 4000)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Sep
The Welsh Assembly government began consultation on a ten-year plan to overcome deficiencies in the system of palliative care, and bring all services to a uniformly high standard.
Source: A Strategic Direction for Palliative Care Services in Wales, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Consultation Document (pdf) (Welsh) | Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
The merger of NHS trusts has a negative effect on the delivery of services, causes delays to service improvements, and fails to deliver promised cash savings, a study found.
Source: Naomi Fulop et al., 'Process and impact of mergers of NHS trusts: multicentre case study and management cost analysis', British Medical Journal 3.8.02
Links: Article
Date: 2002-Aug
A report made recommendations for improving the care of acutely ill in-patients.
Source: The Interface between Acute General Medicine and Critical Care, Royal College of Physicians (020 7935 1174)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Aug
Researchers evaluated a pilot scheme to enable patients to receive health treatment in other European Union countries.
Source: Karin Lowson, Peter West, Stephen Chaplin and Jacqueline O'Reilly, Evaluation of Treating Patients Overseas: Final Report, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Aug
The government began consultation on plans for a system to help reduce the delayed discharge of older people from hospital: social services departments would have to make a standard payment if they delayed discharge.
Source: Implementing Reimbursement around Discharge from Hospital, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | DH press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 5.1
Date: 2002-Jul
Details were published of the criteria National Health Service hospitals in England would need to meet in order to become semi-autonomous 'Foundation Trusts'. The criteria included high standards of clinical care, commitment by doctors and staff, high quality leadership, and responsiveness to patients.
Source: NHS Foundation Trusts: Eligibility Criteria and Timetable, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Criteria (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 2.3
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MPs expressed concern that the proposed 'Wales Centre for Health' should have its intended independence more plainly established in legislation. (The Centre would be a multi-disciplinary body bringing together the best public health surveillance and advice to support decision-making.)
Source: Draft National Health Service (Wales) Bill, Third Report (Session 2001-02), HC 959, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
A book on the political history of the National Health Service said Labour has gone further than the Conservatives in privatising healthcare.
Source: C. Webster, The National Health Service - A Political History, Oxford University Press (01536 741171)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Jun
The government published a prospectus setting out its plans for attracting additional healthcare capacity from abroad. Doctors' representatives called for reassurances that direct investment in the National Health Service would not be undermined.
Source: Growing Capacity: A New Role for External Healthcare Providers in England Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 25.6.02, British Medical Association (020 7387 4499)
Links: Prospectus (pdf) | BMA press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 2.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
A committee of MPs said it remains to be demonstrated whether greater use of independent sector capacity poses no threat to public sector resources.
Source: The Role of the Private Sector in the National Health Service, First Report (Session 2001-02), HC 308-I, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 2.2)
Date: 2002-May
The government announced that the National Health Service would meet support service costs for hospice patients.
Source: Press release 10 May 2002, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-May
A survey of local authorities and National Health Service trusts found they had done too little to incorporate the Human Rights Act into their work.
Source: The Human Rights Act: A Bulletin for Public Bodies, District Audit/Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Link removed
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 4.3)
Date: 2002-May
The Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England announced a 'strategic alliance' recognising the interdependence of teaching, research and patient care.
Source: Statement of Strategic Alliance for Health and Social Care, Department of Health (08701 555455) and Higher Education Funding Council for England
Links: Statement (pdf)
Date: 2002-May
The National Health Service should invest more in local communities to promote health and sustainable development, a report said.
Source: A. Coote (ed.), Claiming the Health Dividend: Unlocking the Benefits of National Health Service Spending, King's Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-May
