February 2012
Paying for quality? Assessing the effectiveness of quality payments in London
Submitted by Mike Birtwistle on 02-02-2012
There is a consensus that, if the NHS is serious about quality, then it should be prepared to pay for it. But the question is how? Block contracts establish little incentive to improve quality, volume or efficiency. The tariff – designed to reward providers for ‘results’ – is actually all about activity.
The Arab Spring, social media and lessons for future revolutionaries
Submitted by Mark Pack on 02-02-2012
“The longer you can look back, the further you can look forward”. So said Winston Churchill, explaining the practical application of history to forecasting.
Financial Services in the Cloud: A match made in computing heaven?
Submitted by Robert Roessler on 03-02-2012
Talkin' 'bout a generation can be daunting. There’s Generation X and Y which kind of makes sense, but then Z is I or @ or Me. The iPhone 4S is the 5th generation of the device which means that generation 6 will be the iPhone5.
It’s the time of year again – bonus round is here again
Submitted by Christian Pickel on 03-02-2012
There are certain times every year, where the headlines in the National press are dominated with bonus payouts, usually paired with a public uproar on the value of the pay packets.
The 2012 Oscars (for sustainability)
Submitted by Ryan Lewis on 03-02-2012
Oscar season is upon us and all eyes fall upon Hollywood to see who will collect the little golden statues. This year’s Oscars looks set to be as formulaic as previous years with the usual culprits nominated. I have no shame in admitting that I am a sucker for the Oscars and have frequently stayed up to the early hours of the morning to watch the ceremony.
How close are we to social care reform?
Submitted by Richard Sloggett on 08-02-2012
Another day, another damning report from MPs about the state of social care services in England. In truth today’s report from the Health Select Committee provides little that is new. It has been known for a long time that social care services are beset by variation, integration with the health service is limited, services are inefficient and are not delivering the best outcomes for users.
Social media guidelines: a reputational hazard?
Submitted by Tom Gillingham on 09-02-2012
While I was at school, I remember two pupils being hauled in front of the headmaster for smoking in their uniform. The fact they were over the then legal age, outside of school grounds and after school hours made no difference, they were sentenced to a few long Friday afternoons in detention.
Cameron’s awkward squad
Submitted by Alastair Hill on 10-02-2012
David Cameron’s modernisation drive has certainly not been universally well received amongst his party. In particular, many longer-serving backbench right-wingers clearly remain unenthusiastic about the more centrist Cameroon approach. However, perhaps more concerning for Cameron, there is now an increasingly vocal group of 2010 intake MPs who now also seem willing to openly question Government policy.
The week in words: bubbles and strife
Submitted by James Morgan on 10-02-2012
Facebook IPO: Bubbly moment? Maybe just bubble...
This week’s blog entry is a summation of the week’s top stories more than anything else. So consider yourself lucky: you’ve been spared my usual long-winded battery of a rant (for at least another seven days at least).
NHS reform: what’s the risk (register)?
Submitted by Mike Birtwistle on 14-02-2012
The controversy over the Government’s proposals for NHS reform refuses to die down. I have long argued that the issues underpinning the debate are ideological and no amount of amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill will be sufficient to appease those who are philosophically opposed to large elements of the Bill. Put simply, if you fundamentally don’t believe in competition in healthcare, then nothing less than abandoning competition in the NHS wi