Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015

"Our review paints a picture of a highly centralised and politicised system where providers pursue mergers at the instigation of national bodies, often in pursuit of foundation trust status or in response to financial or clinical failure. Hard-pressed NHS leaders appear to be betting the farm on mergers for severely challenged providers, typically after a range of alternative strategies have been attempted.

This is despite the paucity of evidence that mergers offer lasting solutions for challenged hospitals. Our review has highlighted the length of time, costs and risks involved in mergers. Others have shown that mergers are unlikely to deliver the intended benefits."

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015
B Collins
The King's Fund
September 2015

Read more here.

Building the foundations for improvement

"The report draws out some key lessons from the trusts’ improvement journeys which will be useful for organisations that are considering building improvement capability at scale. It also provides a useful checklist of points for organisations to consider before planning, designing and delivering an improvement capability building programme."

Building the foundations for improvement: How five UK trusts built quality improvement capability at scale within their organisations
B Jones, T Woodhead
February 2015

Read more here.

A guide to special measures

"This guide, developed jointly by CQC, Monitor and NHS TDA, describes how the special measures programme works for NHS trusts and foundation trusts. It explains:

• why trusts are placed in special measures
• what will happen to trusts during special measures
• the roles and responsibilities of key organisations involved
• when and how trusts will exit special measures."

A guide to special measures
Monitor, Care Quality Commission, Trust Development Authority
Updated February 2015

Read more here.

2012-13 update on indicators of financial sustainability in the NHS

"This update focuses on the financial sustainability of the NHS trusts and foundation trusts that provide community, secondary and tertiary health services, and on the primary care trusts that commissioned those services up to the end of 2012-13."

2012-13 update on indicators of financial sustainability in the NHS
National Audit Office, Department of Health
July 2013

Read more here.

Improving patient flow

"The Health Foundation created the Flow Cost Quality improvement programme to focus on the relationship between patient flow, costs and outcomes in two NHS hospital trusts: South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust."

Improving patient flow: learning report
The Health Foundation
April 2013

Read more here.

Case studies available here.

Managing NHS hospital consultants

"This report examines the extent to which the expected benefits of the 2003 consultants’ contract have been realised and whether consultants are managed effectively and consistently across NHS trusts."

Managing NHS hospital consultants
National Audit Office, Department of Health
February 2013

Read more here.

Clinicians in management: does it make a difference

"Those NHS hospital trusts with larger proportions of doctors on their boards are also those which are most likely to achieve quality ratings of four, lower morbidity rates (according to Dr Foster) and higher levels of patient satisfaction."

Clinicians in management: does it make a difference
G Veronesi, I Kirkpatrick, F Vallascas
Centre for Innovation in Health Management
Leeds University Business School
May 2012

Read more here.

Delivering sustainable cost improvement programmes

This report is aimed at acute, ambulance, mental health and specialist NHS trusts and foundation trusts, and summaries how successful organisations approach the delivery of cost improvement programmes.

Delivering sustainable cost improvement programmes
Audit Commission
January 2012

Read more here.