Playing nice with trade unions won’t fix public services September 5, 2024 With trade unions promising further strike action despite generous pay settlements, Labour have found themselves in a bind of their own making, say Matthew Lesh Throughout the election campaign, Keir Starmer repeatedly pledged to end strikes by engaging in constructive dialogue with the unions. This always sounded like a pretty hollow promise. How could simply talking to [...]
Spending without productivity improvements won’t lead to better public services September 4, 2024 Restoring the differentials in public and private sector pay to those which prevailed in 2010 without quid pro quo increases in productivity is simply stirring up trouble for the future, says Paul Ormerod The decision by the government to stuff money into the bank accounts of the train drivers and junior doctors has been widely [...]
Admissions to private hospitals hit record amid NHS crisis September 3, 2024 The number of admissions to private hospitals reached a record high in the first quarter of 2024 as the NHS crisis has pushed more Brits away from the service. There were 238,000 admissions to private hospitals in the first quarter, up six per cent on 2023 and the highest number on record, according to data [...]
Are young people losing faith in the NHS? September 2, 2024 When it comes to private healthcare, young people are revealing a welcome preference for choice One of the most revealing moments in Labour’s policy-lite election campaign was when Keir Starmer insisted he would never use private healthcare for himself or a family member. For the Labour leader, the NHS is a matter of identity upon [...]
NHS supplier Kainos lowers full year revenue forecast after ‘tough’ trading September 2, 2024 London-listed software provider Kainos has downgraded its revenue forecast for 2025 after a subdued start to the year and more aggressive pricing among its partners. Management said it expected adjusted pre-tax profit to perform in line with the current analyst consensus of £79.1m for the year ending 31 March 2025. Due to a “tougher trading environment [...]
Bupa launches ‘Netflix style’ private GP subscription service August 29, 2024 British health insurance provider Bupa has launched a new subscription-based GP service as the healthcare industry increasingly shifts towards on-demand services. For under £20 a month, subscribers gain access to same-day GP appointments, prescription deliveries and round-the-clock support through a dedicated ‘healthline’. The launch comes on the back of a Bupa survey highlighting the growing [...]
Enough with the hysteria, NHS pay rises make us all richer August 22, 2024 NHS pay rises have sparked apocalyptic headlines, but a better public sector makes us all richer, writes Sam Fowles.
Could data save the NHS? August 14, 2024 If we want a better future for the NHS, we need a collective commitment to ethical, transparent and innovative data practices, says Sir Nigel Shadbolt
Bonus cap: Bankers and nurses both work hard, but you shouldn’t compare their pay August 13, 2024 As UK banks start scrapping the bonus cap, Emma Revell argues why this is a good thing – and what the NHS could learn from it People hate bankers almost as much as they love the NHS. So unsurprisingly, the return of big bonuses to City pay packets is not without controversy. In what may [...]
‘Further to go’: Junior doctors to vote on 22 per cent pay rise August 12, 2024 Junior doctors are set to vote on a proposed 22 per cent pay rise despite admitting there is “further to go” to achieve pay restoration.