Health and care sector latest developments
Cap on elective care funding to be scrapped
NHS England is scrapping plans to cap how much trusts can earn from elective work in 2025/26. Sir Jim Mackey confirmed in a letter sent to health service leaders today that the cap would be replaced by a ‘much more flexible approach to planning elective activity’.
The cap was originally proposed by government and NHS England’s former leadership to control costs, but NHS and private providers branded the policy ‘unworkable’.
The letter also set out how Sir Mackey wants trusts to approach cutting their corporate costs, including corporate nursing roles across providers and integrated care boards. He emphasised systems collaborating and introducing a benchmarking analysis to ensure optimal deployment of the corporate nursing workforce.
Don’t call NHS England ‘the biggest quango in the world’, says new chair
Dr Penny Dash ‘called out’ the language used over NHS England’s abolition, including terms used by the Prime Minister and health and social care secretary. In her first all-staff call yesterday, she said it was “unhelpful” that words such as ‘bureaucrats’ and the phrase ‘the world’s biggest quango’ had repeatedly been used in the announcement.
Dr Dash did not directly criticise ministers, but it comes after health secretary Wes Streeting said in the Commons: “Today, we are abolishing the biggest quango in the world.”
Dr Dash also responded to staff concerns that the Department of Health and Social Care staff would be protected over NHS England peers in the restructure bringing the two organisations together. She said it was not the case there would be different treatment, and said she wouldn’t stand for it.
Prime Minister’s Questions
In parliament today, the Prime Minister took MPs’ questions on a range of issues, including health and social care.
MP Ian Roome (North Devon, Lib Dem) asked if the government would meet with him and the North Devon district hospital trust to keep operating theatres open beyond 2027 to meet capacity. The Prime Minister responded said the previous NHP was not deliverable and the government will continue to provide support for the trust.
MP Luke Murphy (Basingstoke, Labour) said the previous government broke the front door to the NHS, and asked the Prime Minister to reassure him Labour's plan for investment and reform means people will be able to see GPs when they need one. The Prime Minister responded that unnecessary targets will be scrapped, online bookings will be introduced to reduce 8am scramble and there has been an £889 million investment to reinforce the front door. This week they also announced a new community pharmacy investment to free up GP time.
Provider’s board clear out sparks ‘real shock’
One of the NHS’s largest private hospital providers, Circle, has cleared out its board. It received £278 million from work for NHS patients, around a quarter of its total turnover.
The major restructure of Circle is being carried out by its Abu Dhabi-based owners, Pure Health. It wanted to “refocus the business and align [its] growth with Pure Health’s global network”. The firm terminated chief executive Paolo Pieri’s contract last month and chief financial officer Henry Davies and general counsel Shane Cobb have also been terminated.
HSJ understands the recent board departures mean five of the seven people on the company’s corporate board have been in post for four months or less.
NICE approves Hodgkin lymphoma treatment
NICE has approved a new treatment for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin, when combined with other routine therapies, was shown to delay disease progression, prolonging survival compared to standard use of chemotherapy.
Director of medicines evaluation at NICE, Helen Knight, said, "Today's recommendation represents a significant milestone for people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma."
