Read Jack Serle's latest HSJi Review, which notes that the Department of Health and Social Care is at pains to tell us at every opportunity since the arrival of its new management that the NHS is broken.

Debating whether or not this new departmental leitmotif is true is the health policy wonk equivalent of arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. The health service is unquestionably beset with an array of deep-seated problems. None of them is more self-evident to the public, patients and staff alike than the state of its estates. Read the full article here.

Latest investigations

How the Provider Selection Regime has affected the procurement of health services

The new Provider Selection Regime for NHS-funded health services has been in effect since 1 January 2024, with £51bn in contracts awarded by September. Most contracts involve NHS commissioners extending arrangements with incumbent suppliers for one year or 18 months, mainly using the “direct award process C,” while a minority have been issued via the “urgent” award route. NHS providers have secured most contracts by value but not by volume, with private hospital services winning some worth tens of millions. An independent panel overseeing the PSR has ruled against NHS commissioners in all three cases reviewed.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust

The trust struggles with A&E standards, ranking among the worst nationally. Efforts to address issues include the “North Bristol” model, Arrowe Park ED’s refurbishment, and a transfer of care hub improving discharges. Shared leadership with the community trust may ease pressures long-term, but challenges persist, including Cheshire and Merseyside’s second-largest elective backlog, especially in gynaecology. While an expanded Surgical Centre aims to boost elective capacity, WUTH faces high temporary staff costs, missed financial targets, and an ongoing productivity review.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS

The entire system has entered the national financial recovery programme, with strict spending controls and transformation initiatives launched to address challenges. It has been placed in the highest tier of the national UEC oversight scheme, with plans underway to build new urgent treatment centres and expand SDEC services. Efforts also include developing or procuring a "capacity control centre" and expanding virtual wards. The ICP has outlined “renewed ambitions,” focusing on “hyper-local” integrated neighbourhood teams to drive system-wide improvements.

Datapoints

Last week, the following datapoints were updated:

• Annual Cost Improvement Plan % -FOI of Acute in 2024-2025
• Annual Cost Improvement Plan £-FOI of Acute,Amb in 2024-2025
• Specialised Services Income of Acute,Sp,Com,MH in 2023-2024
• Length of delayed discharges, A&E waiting target, Beds occupied by delayed discharges of Scotland in September
• Annual Report of Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb, Scotland, Wales in 2023-2024