Latest news with #ICBs
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FRC report highlights key issues in NHS audit market
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has released a report on the NHS audit market, providing insights to aid the government's efforts in reforming the local audit system. The study, initiated in July 2024, responds to the challenges faced by NHS bodies in maintaining auditor relationships. The FRC's investigation into the audit market for NHS providers and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England indicated that, although the market functions more effectively than that of local authorities, there are concerns that could threaten its future resilience. Three primary issues have been identified: limited capacity expansion among audit firms, problematic audit tender processes, and a misalignment of priorities between NHS bodies and audit firms. Audit firms currently serving NHS clients have expressed their capacity to continue but face significant barriers when attempting to scale their services. They have also highlighted difficulties with the tender processes for audits and a lack of early engagement with NHS bodies. This pre-bidding engagement is crucial for understanding the specific needs and expectations of each party. Furthermore, there seems to be a divergence in priorities. NHS bodies often focus on meeting audit deadlines and financial targets, which may come at the expense of the quality of accounts and audits. This misalignment could impact the overall effectiveness of the audit process. The FRC's report suggested a variety of potential remedies, both short-term and medium to long-term, that could be implemented as part of the government's broader local audit system reform programme. These recommendations aim to address the identified issues and bolster the audit market's resilience. FRC executive supervision director Sarah Rapson said: 'While we have not seen the same challenges as have been experienced with local authority financial reporting and audit, it is vital to address the issues in the audit market for NHS bodies to maintain its resilience. 'These findings and their potential remedies will help support the Government's wider reform programme for the local audit system, work which the FRC is also contributing to in our regulatory capacity.' "FRC report highlights key issues in NHS audit market" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS workers in East Midlands 'in the dark' amid job cuts
Hundreds of NHS workers in the East Midlands are facing uncertainty over their jobs because of a planned reorganisation. The government announced in March it wanted Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which have the equivalent of nearly 2,000 full-time posts in the region, to halve their running wants millions of pounds of savings to be achieved by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the changes were part of a transformation plan to "tackle inefficiencies and drive up productivity in the NHS". The five ICBs for the East Midlands co-ordinate more than £25bn of health and social care spending. They are among the 42 ICBs across England facing cuts and their funding covers hospital services, GP contracts and NHS dentistry. 'Real blow' Managers in Partnership, a union that represents managers in the NHS, said care boards looking to make cuts have until the end of May to outline how they propose to reduce spending. The union's chief executive Jon Restell said he expected the impact on jobs to emerge over the summer. He said: "We've urged [the government] to consider not just the scale of the cuts but the timescale - we need a bit more time for ICBs to think about how they do this in a way that is safe and fair."People knew there was some tough decisions ahead but they had some hope the new government was on the right lines."It feels like a real blow in confidence to the future of the service."The announcement was made as part of a package of reforms in March which involved plans to scrap NHS England. It is the organisation's running costs that are under intense scrutiny and earmarked for about 50% cuts, with so-called "programme costs" also being examined for potential savings. Examples of the programmes include support to care homes and infection control advice services to GP practices, dentists and pharmacists The Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire ICBs have combined running costs of more than £73m. A spokesperson for the East Midlands ICBs said it would support staff "as much as possible" throughout the added: "We are supporting our incredibly hardworking and valuable staff as much as possible during this time of uncertainty, so that they can continue to deliver the high-quality services our local communities expect and deserve."Figures obtained by the BBC have revealed there are the equivalent of 573 full-time jobs in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, 451 in Derby and Derbyshire and 286 employed in the ICB serving Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 'Under pressure' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government aims to "cut bureaucracy to invest even further in the front line" to "support hard-working staff and deliver a better service for patients and taxpayers' money".The NHS Confederation, which represents employers in the health service, said it was braced for significant job losses and had lobbied for a voluntary redundancy scheme to be put in place. Sarah Walter, director of the Integrated Care System Network for the confederation, added: "Moving forward at this kind of pace is a challenge. The announcement was made in March, the cost reduction plans are to be delivered by the end of May, and savings by the end of this year – that's a really tall order for leaders across the NHS."We will want to ensure that whilst delivering those cuts and savings we still are also able to ensure we've got enough attention on NHS services and the improvements we want to make for patients."
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Mapped: Worst areas for GP appointment waits revealed
Patients are facing a 'postcode lottery' for GP appointments with one in 10 people waiting more than a month to be seen in some areas, new research shows. The number of month-long waits hit a record high last year and in almost 95 per cent of areas there was an increase in people waiting 28 days or more. The figures, compiled by the House of Commons Library, demonstrate the uphill battle facing Labour as it ramps up recruitment of family doctors in a bid to cut waiting times and ease pressure on the NHS. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced on Tuesday that an extra 1,503 GPs have been recruited since October, with the health secretary prioritising services closer to patients' homes. But the number of general practitioners per patient has fallen drastically in the past decade, leaving the system under significant strain. Below, The Independent has mapped the regions where most patients are facing waits of a month or more for appointments: The House of Commons Library research showed that 100 out of 106 sub-Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) saw the number of 28-day or longer waits for GP appointments jump in 2024 compared with a year earlier. The starkest rise was in Sunderland, where there was a 51 per cent increase in month-long waits, followed by North East Lincolnshire with a 46 per cent jump and North Cumbria which saw a 38 per cent spike. The research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, found Kent and Medway was the area with the most month-long waits in the country, with 781,000, rising by more than a fifth from 2023's level. Derby and Derbyshire had the second highest number of month-long waits, with 722,000, up 14 per cent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, more than one in 10 patients was forced to wait more than a month to see a GP in areas including Gloucestershire, Chorley and South Ribble, Derby and Derbyshire and Dorset last year. Regionally, the south west had the highest portion of patients waiting 28 days or more for an appointment, with 7.7 per cent. Second worst was the north east and Yorkshire, followed by the east of England and the south east. The Liberal Democrats said the figures revealed a 'reveal a stark postcode lottery that is leaving people in vast swathes of the country without the care they deserve'. They called for patients to have a legal right to see their GP within seven days or 24 hours if in urgent need. The party said this could be done by recruiting 8,000 additional GPs. The party's health and social care spokesman Helen Morgan said: 'Many already in pain are being forced into anxiety-inducing waits that only add to their suffering and leave them at risk of not getting the treatment they need in time.' Ms Morgan attacked the Conservatives over 'broken promises' on the health service, accusing the Tories of 'running our local health services into the ground'. But she said: 'It is now the Labour government not showing nearly enough ambition to break this cycle of misery. 'If we are going to give communities the local health care that they need, we have to go further and faster. 'That means giving patients a legal right to see their GP within a week by ensuring there are 8,000 more GPs. Only then will we be able to rebuild our NHS and get patients the care they deserve.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This data does not show waiting times for GP appointments – it shows the length of time between appointments being booked and taking place. 'This government inherited GP services buckling after years of neglect but we have already taken urgent action to to fix the front door of the NHS. 'By cutting red tape and boosting funding, we have already put an extra 1,503 GPs into general practice to deliver more appointments. The extra investment and reforms we have made will allow patients to book appointments more easily, help bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble.'
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
NHS will become national health and assisted suicide service, says MP
Assisted dying free on the NHS if proposed legislation becomes law is a fundamental change to the principles on which the health service was founded, a leading opponent has said. Conservative MP Danny Kruger said the NHS would, if the Bill being considered at Westminster passes into law, become the 'national health and assisted suicide service' as he accused those behind it of taking a 'red pen to Bevan's legacy'. He was referencing the NHS's chief architect Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan, who as minister for health was given the task of introducing the service under the 1946 National Health Service Act. MPs scrutinising the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Tuesday were considering two new clauses imposing a duty on the Health Secretary in England and giving power to ministers in Wales – where health is devolved – to ensure the provision of voluntary assisted dying services. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, told the committee: 'I'm clear the process must be available as part of the range of services available to patients under the NHS and free at the point of need.' She said it is 'crucial that the option of a voluntary assisted death remains part of a holistic approach to end-of-life care' and added that private provision should also be available. Ms Leadbeater told MPs: 'NHS trusts and ICBs (integrated care boards) may, as they already do, use private providers in some circumstances. 'This provides flexibility, which is important, but chair, what matters is that the safeguards and protections in this Bill will apply no matter where the service is supplied.' She added that the same requirements will apply to all medical practitioners that they 'cannot benefit financially or in any material way from the death of a person and can only receive reasonable remuneration for providing a service'. Mr Kruger suggested a 'linguistic sleight of hand' was being used in the legislation with the phrase 'VAD (voluntary assisted dying) services'. He said it was there 'to avoid having to spell out that section one, subsection one of the NHS Act will now include references to assistance to end the lives of people in England and Wales'. Mr Kruger suggested this was because 'it's a hard thing to do, to take a red pen to Bevan's legacy, to fundamentally change the NHS from one 'designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of England and Wales, dedicated to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness', and to include, to add, into that founding clause of the NHS, the words 'and end the lives of terminally ill people'.' He added: 'So I'll be blunter than the drafters have been. This clause changes the NHS from the National Health Service to the National Health and assisted suicide service.' MPs are considering and voting on various amendments to the Bill, including the establishment of an assisted dying commissioner and expert panels to approve assisted dying applications, to replace the High Court judge element which was scrapped earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Isle of Man's parliament became the first part of the British Isles to pass assisted dying legislation. Its Assisted Dying Bill will be sent for royal assent, having had its final reading by members of the legislative council on Tuesday. The Bill, for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, could formally become law later this year with an assisted dying service potentially in place by 2027.
Sky News
16-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
NHS 'addicted to overspending' and government 'genuinely sorry' for quango job losses, says Streeting
Wes Streeting said the NHS is "addicted to overspending", as he confirmed he is seeking cuts within Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The health secretary told Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that ICBs - which are responsible for planning local health services - have been tasked with finding 50% savings to boost efficiency. It's part of the government's plans to slash bureaucracy in the health service - which Mr Streeting acknowledged on Sunday would cause anxiety among administrators facing job losses. He said he was "genuinely sorry" for people worried about the future, but efficiency savings would divert money to the frontline of the NHS. Confirming that Jim Mackey, head of the soon-to-be abolished NHS England, had written to ICBs asking them to halve their running costs, Mr Streeting said: "Financial plans to us would have involved an overspend between £5bn and £6bn before the new financial year is even begun. "And I'm afraid this speaks to the culture that I identified before the general election, where the NHS is addicted to overspending, is addicted to running operating deficits with the assumption that someone will come along to bail them out, which local councils would never be able to do." Reports of the cuts have sparked concerns among health leaders. Matthew Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation, said it will require "major changes" and make the task of delivering "long term transformation of the NHS much harder". Mr Streeting denied the cut was effectively a form of austerity, saying the government is going after a culture of "waste and inefficiency" which "isn't just frustrating patients and taxpayers" but staff working for the NHS too. "They can see layer upon layer upon layer of bureaucracy and accountability," he said. "That's not the fault of the people working in the system. They are also victims of it. "And that's why we're going hard at achieving those savings in order to redeploy money into frontline services, which benefit patients." The government also announced this week it would be scrapping NHS England, the world's biggest quango, saying there is too much duplication with the work that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) does. Scrapping NHS England 'beginning not the end' Mr Streeting has since indicated he will look to scrap other health-related bodies, writing in The Sunday Telegraph that axing NHS England is "the beginning, not the end". Asked what other organisations could be for the chopping board, Mr Streeting said he did not want to "get ahead" of a review by Dr Penny Dash into the operational effectiveness of NHS regulators. "What I will do is look at how we can reduce the number of regulators, reduce the number of regulations wherever possible... and try to reduce the amount of money we are spending," he said. The cabinet minister defended the language being used to describe the plans, after he described the NHS as being "bloated" by bureaucracy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it "flabby". Streeting 'genuinely sorry' about job losses Mr Streeting stressed he was "talking about the system, not the people who work in it" - adding that he was "genuinely sorry" about the job losses that will come down the line. 1:25 The government has not yet said how many jobs it expects to axe under the reforms. Mr Streeting acknowledged lots of people will be anxious about their futures, adding: "I'm genuinely sorry about that, because I don't want them to be in that position. But I've got to make the changes." The government's plans have generally received support from opposition parties, though there have been calls for more details. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said reorganisation reforms introduced by the Tories in 2013 were "well-intentioned but didn't work" and she agrees "in principle" with what Labour has put forward. However she said the changes aren't a "silver bullet" and could result in further costs and disruption so "we'll need to see a very clear plan from the government for how that won't affect waiting lists further". Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats said the government must "take the same sense of urgency shown here to social care, and complete their review by the end of the year rather than continuing to kick the can down the road".
