Health Policy Insight
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Editor's Blog

Editor’s blog Friday 15 April 2011: Rising to The Gordon Challenge with an alternative proposal

Publish Date/Time: 
04/15/2011 - 16:41

Many readers of Health Policy Insight will know the very clever Dr Shane Gordon - a big wheel in the emerging world of commissioning.

Shane and I were having a banter over on Twitter (I'm HPIAndyCowper, say hi if you are there), and Shane suggested that I either "argue change in #nhs is not required (=myopia or dementia?) or for convincing alternative (what?)".

Editor’s blog Thursday 14 April 2011: Health Policy Intelligence 3 'The limits of satire meet Dadaist policy' out now

Publish Date/Time: 
04/15/2011 - 15:29

Health Policy Intelligence is our new, weekly subscription-based analysis service.

The third issue, 'The limits of satire meet Dadaist policy - Andrew ‘Transport’ Lansley apologises to the nation for its stupid failure to grasp his genius', is now out.

Health Policy Intelligence will not be available as free content. Subscription costs £8 a month / £69 a year for an individual. Increasing discounts are available to organisations wanting to subscribe for groups of more than 5 and 10 individuals.

Editor’s blog Thursday 14 April 2011: NHS CE Sir David Nicholson's latest letter to NHS on 'managing the transition'

Publish Date/Time: 
04/14/2011 - 11:38

Just read Comrade Sir David's latest letter to the troops, which is actually very good in tone. We've slightly forgotten what good in tone feels like, so here is its text in full.

From the Office of Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE
Chief Executive of the NHS in England

TO:
All Chief Executives in NHS Trusts in England
All Chief Executives in NHS Foundation Trusts in England
All Chief Executives in Primary Care Trusts in England
All Chief Executives in Strategic Health Authorities in England

CC:
All Chairs of NHS organisations in England

Editor’s blog Wednsday 13 April 2011: Liberating or liquidating the NHS? The War Of The Health Policy Pamphlets

Publish Date/Time: 
04/13/2011 - 14:19

It's The War Of The Health Policy Pamphlets. Seconds out! Let's get ready to RUMBLE!

Labour lead off with a haymaker called Undermining The NHS: the hidden reality of David Cameron's health reforms.

Its title tells you the name of the game: associate That Nice Mr Cameron personally with the Health And Social Care Bill. Presumably its first draft subtitle was 'Cremating Mr Cameron'?

Editor’s blog Wednsday 13 April 2011: Relying on the confidence of nurses

Publish Date/Time: 
04/13/2011 - 08:08

Today, the Royal College Of Nursing Annual Congress will debate a motion of no confidence in Secretary Of State For The Time Being Andrew Lansley.

He will not address the conference, choosing instead to listen to a carefully-screened 'respectful' group of nurses.

In A Streetcar Named Desire, tragic anti-heroine Blanche DuBois memorably exited to the line "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers".

Editor’s blog Tuesday 12 April 2011: Questions about the Downfall of Andrew 'Transport' Lansley

Publish Date/Time: 
04/12/2011 - 13:14

I have seen a vote of confidence in Sectretary Of State For The Time Being Andrew Lansley's political future.

The Kings Fund, think-tank par excellence, is advertising his presence on 18 May at their NHS leadership summit.

They obviously don't foresee his Downfall, unlike the makers of this brilliant viral spoof taken from the movie Downfall. "I could do transport".

Truly, he is viral-prone.

Editor’s blog Monday 11 May 2011: Mike Farrar new CE of NHS Confederation

Publish Date/Time: 
04/11/2011 - 16:05

NHS North West chief executive Mike Farrar has been appointed as the next chief executive of the NHS Confederation. He will replace acting CE Nigel Edwards later this summer.

It's a good choice. Mike is a smart person who can explain the NHS's shifting landscape clearly and comprehensibly. He's a personable and intelligent man, who will see that the Confederation's job in future is very much not what it was in the past.

There are to be less managers (who will be called "bureaucrats" more often by politicians); and the FT Network wants to go it alone.

Editor’s blog Monday 11 April 2011: The respect agenda of Mr Lansley

Publish Date/Time: 
04/11/2011 - 13:23

Rumour reaches us from the RCN Congress that Secretary Of State For The Time Being Andrew Lansley will only meet 60 nurses who must be "respectful".

Yes, this is part of the 'listening exercise' during the pause.

Words almost fail me, although a few four-letter ones spring to mind.

Atomised respect and traditional respect

Editor's blog Monday 11 April 2011: Simon Burns makes his bid to be next Health Secretary

Publish Date/Time: 
04/11/2011 - 12:09

Following Our Saviour And Liberator Andrew Lansley's now-infamous 'empty bookcase' appearance on BBC Newsnight, entertaining and special Health Minister Simon Burns has sought to broaden his 'Dale Winton On Valium' appeal to a bibliophile demographic, with this 'look how many books I've got on my bookcase' appearance on BBC News this morning.

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