Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2005): National Health Service - Funding

Budget cuts leave new nurses without NHS jobs

T. Judd

Independent, November 10th 2005, p.13

While a thousand nursing jobs are expected to be cut, up to 85% of recent nursing graduates already remain unemployed in certain areas.

Care trusts must prove ability to cope

N.Timmins

Financial Times, November 11th 2005, p.6

While "financial correction" attempts to find £500m savings to balance the NHS England books, primary care trusts will be required to make a surplus by 2007-08 and prove themselves to be "going concerns" according to NHS chief executive Nigel Crisp.

Cold, hard cash

N. Plumridge

Health Service Journal, vol.115, Nov.3rd 2005, p.17

The prevalence of deep-seated financial deficits in NHS organisations appears to be rising due primarily to pay inflation. With the new market system now operational in England, we may be about to find out what happens when NHS organisations become insolvent.

Cracking coders

D. Carlisle

Health Service Journal, vol.115, Nov.3rd 2005, Supplement, p.10-11

The Audit Commission has said that weaknesses in the recruitment, training and leadership of clinical coders are a threat to the success of the payment by results system. Hospitals are struggling to recruit people to the job because of low pay and lack of career structure. Anecdotal evidence suggests coders are under pressure to misuse codes to get more income for their trusts.

The third sector: far from third rate

D. Martin

Health Service Journal, vol.115, Nov.24th 2005, p.14-15

Charities are keen to compete for NHS business on an equal footing with private companies. They are calling for longer contracts and payments which cover their full costs, including back office functions.