Decisions that must be made this autumn

This week, we take a look at how the government’s plans to restructure NHS England and Integrated Care Boards are going. We look at the future for ICBs, after years of cuts, mergers and changes in responsibilities, and ask whether this time commissioning can be made to work. Also we compare this government’s NHS reforms to the 2012 Lansley Act, and discuss where the government might have to give ground if it wants to get its Health Bill through an uncooperative House of Lords.With Henry Anderson, Mimi Launder and Dave West. This episode was recorded before it emerged that the government would be dropping its plan to merge HSSIB into the CQC.Send thoughts and ideas to [email protected] can listen to HSJ Health Check on this page, or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all the other popular podcast platforms. HSJ Health CheckPodcast · HSJ · HSJ Health Check: Weekly analysis of the biggest issues in health policy and leadership, from HSJ's expert journalists. The go to place for an independent, informed and immediate ta... 

On this episode we discuss an HSJ investigation that revealed an increasing number of trusts are facing cash shortages that are bubbling over into late payments to suppliers. We discuss why this is a symptom of a problem and what it says about the financial pressures providers are under this year. We also talk about a concerning rise in inpatient deaths at Essex Partnership University Trust, which is already subject to a statutory inquiry into at least 2,000 deaths. This latest development emerged in the same week as the inquiry heard evidence and considers interim recommendations. 

This week we discuss the final report of a major government review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, including its criticism of the quality and cost of assessments done by independent providers.  We talk about what the review found, and what sort of “radical” service change it could lead to, including moving from a “diagnosis-dependent” system and giving primary care a bigger role.

This week we bring you the health highlights from the Labour Party Conference, including an ex-minister who said he would sack half of the NHS managers he has met “in a heartbeat” for not being good enough.We also discuss a worrying story about a trust at the heart of a major maternity inquiry, after a review found multiple recent stillbirths may have been avoided with better care. And on the theme of public inquiries, we cover some interesting comments made by Tom Kark KC, when speaking at HSJ’s Patient Safety Congress, who admitted they are often hugely expensive and time-consuming.

This week we talk about why an integrated care board in the north west is risking the wrath of GPs after consolidating its digital offering, in a move that has also raised concerns about its procurement practices.Also on this episode, the NHS has more than £1.6bn earmarked to get more out of digital systems - but trusts say the programme isn’t delivering.With just a week to hit some significant deadlines, we discuss why the Frontline Productivity Programme is being described by tech leaders as a “shambles”, with the centre being blamed, and what its future could look like.

This week we discuss the final outcome of the Thirlwall Inquiry, which examined the failings surrounding the murder and attempted murder of babies by Lucy Letby.  We cover its fierce criticism of managers, the ways in which it fell short and the response.  Also this week we ask - is this the end of the NHS group? This follows news of the high profile collapse of the Humber Health Partnership last week. 

On this episode the tech bureau join Annabelle to discuss the final report from the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare - a review that had promised to deliver a “new regulatory rulebook”. We cover the key recommendations, including a tougher role for the medicines watchdog, and the big questions that remain. Full story on the review here:https://www.hsj.co.uk/technology-and-innovation/fine-ai-firms-that-harm-patients-demands-tech-commission/8124267.article

NHS is slipping down the government’s list of priorities.We cover the questions that ministers cannot avoid – such as how to tackle funding social care and how far to push the NHS on devolution – as well as the things they should really be decisive about… but probably won’t. 

In a significant intervention this week the national safety watchdog has effectively called for a pause in the rollout of NHS England’s “advice and guidance” policy after linking it to two patient deaths. On this episode we cover what prompted this review, why NHS England has been pushing the use of A&G for the last few years and what it’s future could look like.

On this episode we cover two interesting tech stories. Firstly, new estimates have suggested the federated data platform could have a benefit value of £1.7bn less than a figure given by NHS England a year ago.We talk more about this latest FDP story and what it could mean for the extension of the controversial Palantir contract next year.Also, the national safety watchdog announced last week it has launched in investigation into AI use within the NHS. We ask what prompted this and what it will explore.We also talk more about the news a North Devon maternity unit is closing due to a lack of doctors, and how trusts and the government are approaching this national problem.