Berkhamsted
Citizens
Association
Citizens
Association
Yet more from the Telegraph letters of 13th Dec 2005:
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, London SW1 wrote:
Sir - NHS staff have not been ordered to freeze spending programmes. What we have promised we will deliver. Patients do not lack power; services are not insensitive to consumer demand or rationed by waiting times - patients have more power than ever before. This month I announced the lowest waiting times since records began.
We have introduced "payment by results" so hospitals are paid for the work they do. As the money follows the patient, poor performance will be obvious and hospitals will have a real incentive to improve. From January, NHS patients will have the right to choose from four hospitals and the ability to vote with their feet. This, combined with an 18-week maximum wait for treatment by 2008, will see NHS patients with unprecedented control over their own healthcare.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, London SW1 wrote:
Sir -
We have introduced "payment by results" so hospitals are paid for the work they do. As the money follows the patient, poor performance will be obvious and hospitals will have a real incentive to improve. From January, NHS patients will have the right to choose from four hospitals and the ability to vote with their feet. This, combined with an 18-
Looking for a good read over Christmas?
This makes good thinking material!
IN IT UP TO THEIR NECKS
From the Gazette web site
Wednesday, January 18:
Senior health chiefs yesterday admitted they are wrestling with a debt which has ballooned to £100m and throws into doubt the ambitious plans of Investing In Your Health.
The announcement, by chairman of Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority Ian White, makes the promised rebuilding of Watford General Hospital and the siting of a new hospital at Hatfield all the more distant.
Mr White was speaking at a board meeting specially convened to discuss the massive debt, now acknowledged as the largest in the country.
"It's absolutely critical that we get back into a position of financial strength if we are to finally deliver the objectives of Investing In Your Health," he said.
Investing In Your Health is the controversial plan to concentrate emergency care in Beds and Herts at fewer hospitals, offset by rebuilding Watford General Hospital and a new hospital in Hatfield, where a site has yet to be acquired.
Senior health chiefs yesterday admitted they are wrestling with a debt which has ballooned to £100m and throws into doubt the ambitious plans of Investing In Your Health.
The announcement, by chairman of Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority Ian White, makes the promised rebuilding of Watford General Hospital and the siting of a new hospital at Hatfield all the more distant.
Mr White was speaking at a board meeting specially convened to discuss the massive debt, now acknowledged as the largest in the country.
"It's absolutely critical that we get back into a position of financial strength if we are to finally deliver the objectives of Investing In Your Health," he said.
Investing In Your Health is the controversial plan to concentrate emergency care in Beds and Herts at fewer hospitals, offset by rebuilding Watford General Hospital and a new hospital in Hatfield, where a site has yet to be acquired.
REPORT ON HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2006
There was a briefing meeting from 2 to 4pm on 2nd Feb and the meeting proper was 10am to 4pm. There was full discussion and the few members of the public were able to make their views heard.
Beds & Herts Strategic Health Authority Presentation
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Beds & Herts in 2004-
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Beds & Herts has more GPS 67 per 100k HCHS age & need weighted. England average 59
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SHA third lowest income per head £1040 top is SE London at £1365
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After audit 2004-
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Work started late ie into May because of the election campaign.
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SHA area has saved £60m this year.
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SHA brought in turnaround teams before the Govt. announced them
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Govt have this week made £65m available which has to be paid back & so start the year with a bigger problem
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Have to break even next year. This was not what had been agreed by Govt.
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SHA will take six and a half percent of the total budget to redistribute
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All capital projects are being looked at as they mustn’t worsen the revenue position.
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SHA don’t know what investment will be available for Investing in Your Health. IIYH will spend less on patient care
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John de Braux, the Chief Executive said he was depressed and three and a half percent saving was “heroic”
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West Herts Position
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Total deficit £28.5m
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Revised projected in year deficit £18.5m
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Management costs above average
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Ward staffing below average costs – raises points about patient quality
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PWC working with Trust
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Personnel changes – New Chair, new Deputy Chief Executive (the Deputy from Bedford Hospital), new medical director, seconded new human resources manager and non-
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The feasibility study re moving services to Watford has been completed. Issues re how emergency care services would function and access to Watford. It will go to April meeting of Board.
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Some of changes in services flagged up in papers circulated eg cuts in physiotherapy are not to be implemented
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The gas supply has broken down and is not being repaired instead steamplicity has been brought in. Also there was an admission that electricity supply at Watford is at a maximum.
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All other Trusts spoke and answered questions.
It was agreed to write to Patricia Hewitt to ask for a meeting to discuss the problems. They acknowledged the progress being made to reach financial balance. The problems were acknowledged to be systemic, that IIYH was needed but with the size of the problem it may not be achievable. She was to be asked to look at the funding The O&S Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia formula and to ensure that primary care developments were put in place before reconfiguration and that it should only be done with new hospitals being built .
It was agreed to write to Patricia Hewitt to ask for a meeting to discuss the problems. They acknowledged the progress being made to reach financial balance. The problems were acknowledged to be systemic, that IIYH was needed but with the size of the problem it may not be achievable. She was to be asked to look at the funding The O&S Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia formula and to ensure that primary care developments were put in place before reconfiguration and that it should only be done with new hospitals being built .