Operose loses North London contract
NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board has decided not to renew Operose’s contract to run the Hanley Primary Care Centre in Islington. The contract, which Operose acquired when it … Read more
‘Systemic abuse’ at children’s hospitals revealed
An investigation by The Independent and Sky News has found that children have been left traumatised by abuse at The Huntercombe Group of hospitals (now Active Care Group). The investigation … Read more
Private Hospital rated ‘inadequate’ after death
Woodbourne Priory Hospital, in Edgbaston, a private hospital providing mental health services, has been rated ‘inadequate’ by a health watchdog following an inspection prompted by a young patient’s preventable death. … Read more
New private partner for diagnostics centre in Somerset
Somerset Foundation Trust has partnered with Alliance Medical for its Taunton Diagnostic Centre. The previous private partner, Rutherford Health, went into liquidation in June 2022. The centre only opened in … Read more
Full list of VIP companies given priority contracts
The Good Law Project has revealed for the first time the full list of VIP Test and Trace firms given priority treatment, following a longstanding Freedom of Information battle with … Read more
Senior Tory MP received donation from Covid testing firm
Tory MP Dr Liam Fox received a £20,000 donation earlier this year from the Covid-19 testing company, SureScreen Diagnostics, that he reportedly contacted the former health secretary over. According to … Read more
NHSE investigates poor care at private providers of mental health care
NHS England has revealed plans to crack down on poor care being provided by mental health service providers. The organisation has told HSJ of a new quality programme that focuses on … Read more
Uncertain future for Babylon Health in the UK
Recent moves by Babylon Health raise more questions on how long the company will remain a partner to the NHS, as it leaves contracts in the UK and looks to … Read more
NHSE awards extra ambulance capacity contract
NHS England has awarded a contract to St John Ambulance for additional ambulance service capacity nationally to help cope with high demand and handover delays, with the capacity available from … Read more
NHS England tenders £9m contract for digital ‘delivery partner’
HSJ reports that a lack of digital ‘skill and resource’ has meant that NHS England is tendering for a £9m contract for an external supplier to establish a ‘centre of … Read more
UK health department played ‘fast and loose’ when awarding Covid contracts to Randox
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said that ministers and government officials played “fast and loose” when awarding £777m in Covid contracts to a healthcare firm that … Read more
Outsourcing of NHS care led to increased deaths says new study
Privatisation of the NHS has been found to correspond to a decline in care quality and “significantly” increased deaths from treatable causes, according to a study from researchers at the … Read more
US corporation Optum to acquire EMIS
Optum, a subsidiary of the US corporation United Health, is to acquire Leeds-based EMIS Group, one of the UK’s largest handlers of NHS data. The deal values EMIS at approximately … Read more
Operose accused of putting profits before patient care
An investigation by BBC’s Panorama, including using an undercover journalist to work as a GP receptionist, has found that Operose, the UK’s biggest chain of GP surgeries, has let less-qualified Patient … Read more
Capita’s primary care contract extended for £94m
NHS England has extended Capita’s primary care support services contract for three more years for £94m. Capita took over the Primary Care Support England contract in September 2015 in a seven-year deal … Read more
Collapse of private company partner in community diagnostics hub
The private cancer diagnostic and treatment company Rutherford Health has been placed into liquidation. Only eight months ago the opening of a new community diagnostics hub (CDH) within a partnership between … Read more
Babylon Health cautious about UK expansion
Babylon Health’s CEO Dr Ali Parsa has said that the company needs to be “very cautious” about expanding its business in the UK as it loses money on every patient. … Read more
Sheffield Trust sues over PFI building failures
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust has launched legal action against Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships and Kajima Construction Europe after the closure of the Sir Robert Hadfield wing at the trust’s Northern … Read more
Two donors who gave Tories £1m between them handed public health jobs
Two businessmen who together donated more than £1m to the Conservative party have been handed prominent public health jobs, igniting a new “cronyism” row. In March, Oluwole Kolade was made … Read more
Push for virtual wards an opportunity for the private sector
The push to expand the number of ‘virtual wards’ across England is set to be another opportunity for independent providers to gain NHS contracts. NHS England wants a rapid expansion … Read more
