Emily Townsend

Health Service Journal • 17th December 2024

Exclusive: Hundreds of mothers diverted while in labour

By Emily Townsend2024-12-17T05:10:00Nearly 1,000 women were diverted to other NHS trusts or units while in labour within a six-month period this year, HSJ can reveal. By Emily Townsend2024-12-17T05:10:00 Nearly 1,000 women were diverted to other NHS trusts or units while in labour within a six-month period this year, HSJ can reveal.

Health Service Journal • 4th December 2024

Trust paid ex-CEO £180k after departure

By Emily Townsend2024-12-04T06:46:00The former CEO of a major hospital trust was paid around £180,000 for working on an “external programme” for five months after he stepped down, it has emerged. By Emily Townsend2024-12-04T06:46:00 The former CEO of a major hospital trust was paid around £180,000 for working on an “external programme” for five months after he stepped down, it has emerged.

Health Service Journal • 2nd December 2024

Third of women denied help in labour, CQC survey reveals

By Emily Townsend2024-11-29T07:05:00The trusts where maternity experience has improved the most and deteriorated the furthest have been revealed by the Care Quality Commission. By Emily Townsend2024-11-29T07:05:00 The trusts where maternity experience has improved the most and deteriorated the furthest have been revealed by the Care Quality Commission.

Health Service Journal • 25th November 2024

‘Deeply flawed’ watchdog fails to act in 182 cases

By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T06:20:00Bereaved parents have described maternity investigations carried out by a watchdog as “deeply flawed” after it failed to make recommendations to trusts in 182 cases of deaths and harm. By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T06:20:00 Bereaved parents have described maternity investigations carried out by a watchdog as “deeply flawed” after it failed to make recommendations to trusts in 182 cases of deaths and harm.

Health Service Journal • 24th November 2024

ICS warned its deficit could surge past £200m

By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T11:00:00One of the country’s most financially challenged systems faces a £242m deficit, nearly three times as high as its target, an external report has said. By Emily Townsend2024-11-25T11:00:00 One of the country’s most financially challenged systems faces a £242m deficit, nearly three times as high as its target, an external report has said.

Health Service Journal • 24th November 2024

Managers face legal penalties for failing to deal with safety concerns

By Emily Townsend2024-11-24T16:37:00NHS managers would be made “legally accountable for responding to concerns about patient safety” under new government proposals. By Emily Townsend2024-11-24T16:37:00 NHS managers would be made “legally accountable for responding to concerns about patient safety” under new government proposals.

Health Service Journal • 19th November 2024

C difficile rates hit 13-year high

By Emily Townsend2024-11-19T06:15:00C difficile cases rose to their highest level in more than a decade, official data published this month shows. By Emily Townsend2024-11-19T06:15:00 C difficile cases rose to their highest level in more than a decade, official data published this month shows.

Health Service Journal • 8th November 2024

Doctors to refuse overtime in major dispute with hospital trust

By Emily Townsend2024-11-08T11:29:00Doctors at a major teaching trust are to refuse overtime and extra shifts from next week, HSJ has learned, amid escalating tensions with executives over a decision to stop paying premium rates for locum shifts. By Emily Townsend2024-11-08T11:29:00 Doctors at a major teaching trust are to refuse overtime and extra shifts from next week, HSJ has learned, amid escalating tensions with executives over a decision to stop paying premium rates for locum shifts.

Health Service Journal • 6th November 2024

Revealed: Trusts paying the biggest premiums for safety errors

By Emily Townsend and Dorjee Wangmo2024-11-06T12:00:00The trusts paying the highest negligence premiums as a proportion of their income have been revealed, with experts warning the “sheer costs involved in managing accidents that could be avoided” neared £3bn last year. By Emily Townsend and Dorjee Wangmo2024-11-06T12:00:00 The trusts paying the highest negligence premiums as a proportion of their income have been revealed, with experts warning the “sheer costs involved in managing accidents t...

Health Service Journal • 5th November 2024

‘Tension’ and ‘poor behaviours’ uncovered on trust’s board

By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair. By Emily Townsend2024-11-05T12:50:00 The board of a mental health trust grappling with serious culture and safety concerns is “not functioning well”, an NHS England investigation has found, amid the early departure of its chair.

Health Service Journal • 1st November 2024

Trust accused of imposing ‘badly disguised pay cut’ on doctors

By Emily Townsend2024-11-01T16:50:00University Hospitals Birmingham has become locked in a row with the British Medical Association over its plans to stop paying premium rates for bank staff. By Emily Townsend2024-11-01T16:50:00 University Hospitals Birmingham has become locked in a row with the British Medical Association over its plans to stop paying premium rates for bank staff.

Health Service Journal • 28th October 2024

Maternity scandal trust's CQC rating raised after CEO plea

By Emily Townsend2024-10-28T05:00:00A trust that was the centre of one of the NHS’s biggest maternity care scandals has successfully challenged the Care Quality Commission’s rating of its service, HSJ has discovered. By Emily Townsend2024-10-28T05:00:00 A trust that was the centre of one of the NHS’s biggest maternity care scandals has successfully challenged the Care Quality Commission’s rating of its service, HSJ has discovered.

Health Service Journal • 25th October 2024

CQC examining possible 'criminal offence' by trust

By Emily Townsend2024-10-25T10:20:00The Care Quality Commission is considering bringing a criminal prosecution against an NHS trust over the death of a 13-year-old girl from sepsis. By Emily Townsend2024-10-25T10:20:00 The Care Quality Commission is considering bringing a criminal prosecution against an NHS trust over the death of a 13-year-old girl from sepsis.

Health Service Journal • 25th October 2024

'Generation of children’ at risk from failing services

By Emily Townsend2024-10-25T06:37:00A new report concludes that health services are “failing” children as young people face average waits of a year for an autism diagnosis. By Emily Townsend2024-10-25T06:37:00 A new report concludes that health services are “failing” children as young people face average waits of a year for an autism diagnosis.

Health Service Journal • 24th October 2024

Safety watchdog urges Streeting to expand her role

By Emily Townsend2024-10-24T05:00:00The patient safety commissioner is urging the health and social care secretary to remove “constraints” limiting her role amid a government review of national watchdogs. By Emily Townsend2024-10-24T05:00:00 The patient safety commissioner is urging the health and social care secretary to remove “constraints” limiting her role amid a government review of national watchdogs.

Health Service Journal • 14th October 2024

‘Dangerous’ people should not be admitted to specialist beds, warns CEO

By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely available specialist beds, a chief executive has said. By Emily Townsend2024-10-14T11:40:00 Police should work with mental health services to ensure people who pose a danger to society — and show no signs of being mentally unwell — are not inappropriately admitted to rarely avai...

Health Service Journal • 27th September 2024

‘Aggressive’ ministers legitimising bullying in trusts, Letby inquiry told

By Emily Townsend2024-09-27T05:04:00Bullying, aggressive behaviour, and other forms of inappropriate pressure from ministers and the leaders of central bodies can significantly contribute to the development of an unhealthy workplace culture in local NHS organisations, an expert witness has warned the inquiry into Lucy Letby’s crimes. By Emily Townsend2024-09-27T05:04:00 Bullying, aggressive behaviour, and other forms of inappropriate pressure from ministers and the leaders of central bodies ca...

Health Service Journal • 26th September 2024

Exclusive: Provider leader favourite to become CQC chief executive

By Emily Townsend2024-09-26T04:46:00NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley is the frontrunner to become the next chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, HSJ  understands. By Emily Townsend2024-09-26T04:46:00 NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley is the frontrunner to become the next chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, HSJ  understands.

Health Service Journal • 24th September 2024

Safety alert over 25 serious incidents linked to common drug

By Emily Townsend2024-09-24T14:51:00Maternity services have been issued with a national patient safety alert over inappropriate use of a common labour-inducing drug following a review of 25 serious incidents. By Emily Townsend2024-09-24T14:51:00 Maternity services have been issued with a national patient safety alert over inappropriate use of a common labour-inducing drug following a review of 25 serious incidents.

Health Service Journal • 17th September 2024

Cutting hospital staff won’t help productivity, says ICB chief

By Emily Townsend2024-09-17T06:37:00The leader of an integrated care board has dismissed a “narrative” that the NHS can become more productive by cutting hospital staff numbers. By Emily Townsend2024-09-17T06:37:00 The leader of an integrated care board has dismissed a “narrative” that the NHS can become more productive by cutting hospital staff numbers.