Healthcare Roundup

Seven days in the NHS and health IT

Johnson crisis engulfs Department of Health and Social Care

After an unprecedented two days of ministerial resignations and letters of no confidence in the prime minister, Boris Johnson agreed to resign as Conservative Party leader on Thursday morning – although he insisted he would remain PM until the autumn (BBC News live blog). The turmoil started in the Department of Health and Social Care on Wednesday evening, when health and social care secretary Sajid Javid resigned (resignation speech, on The Guardian website). He was replaced by Number 10 chief of staff Steve Barclay (incoming statement on the DHSC website), to the horror of NHS managers, according to a blistering editorial in the Health Service Journal.

At least one additional member of the DHSC ministerial team resigned: Edward Argar, who led on NHS operational performance, workforce, finance and legislation. NHS bodies were horrified by the effective collapse of the government, although Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, issued a statement after Javid’s departure but before Barclay’s appointment arguing that a change of DHSC leadership could “present an opportunity for more realism about the immediate challenges facing the NHS” and for levelling with the public. HSJ reported this week that with Covid-19 cases rising and pressure on A&E unceasing, the NHS is struggling to meet its targets for elective activity.

Health news: Integrated care systems investigated, primary care networks in trouble

The Commons health and social care committee has launched an inquiry into the NHS’ flagship integrated care system reforms and whether they will deliver on their promise of joined-up care and improved wellbeing. Its call for evidence will be open until 5 August. Meanwhile, another big reform idea looks to be in trouble. The British Medical Association’s annual representative meeting told the BMA to instruct GP practices to pull out of primary care networks by 2023 (GP Online, registration required). PCNs are supposed to give primary care the scale to improve efficiency and offer new services to patients, but GPs dislike their managerial approach and points-based funding model.

Two Cheshire trusts pick Meditech

Two Cheshire trusts are to work together to implement the Meditech electronic patient record system. East Cheshire NHS Trust and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust plan to use Meditech Expanse to replace their current mix of legacy and paper-based digital records and hope to go live in 2024. Digitalhealth.net reported that the trusts’ chief executives, Ged Murphy and Russ Favager, are looking to modernise services, deliver a more flexible response to their aging populations, and share information with partners to support co-ordinated, patient-centred care. Meditech Expanse is used by a UK HIMSS Stage 7 organisation, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Health IT news: NHS74 marked with cancer drones pilot; new Adoption Fund opens; Wales searches for digital solutions; Scotland awards LIMS contract to Citadel Health

NHS England marked the 74^th anniversary of the NHS with the announcement of a cancer drone pilot. The trial will see drones used to fly chemotherapy treatment from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, cutting delivery times and fuel consumption. Local newspaper the Southern Daily Echo reported that drones are also being used to survey NHS buildings in Portsmouth and Southampton. Solent NHS Estates and Facilities is flying drones to map heat escape from buildings used by Solent NHS Trust. The data will be used to address net zero targets.

NHS England has opened a new round of its Adoption Fund to help integrated care systems to introduce or scale digital innovations to support people at home. The Health Tech Newspaper reports (with link) that ICSs can bid for up to £200,000 a year for gastroenterology, musculoskeletal and respiratory care projects. The HTN has also reported that Health Technology Wales has started a digital open topic call to find new technology solutions for the big challenges facing the health and care system in Wales. While in Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland has awarded a £40 million national laboratory information system contract to Citadel Health.

Health tech comms for tough, competitive times

Highland Marketing Blog

The NHS is emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic with limited resources to meet the huge pressure it is under. That’s focusing attention on national targets and upping the stakes for health tech companies with digital solutions to help deliver on them.

At times like this, effective sales, marketing and PR campaigns are essential. Highland Marketing co-founders Mark and Susan Venables have some pointers to offer.