HSJ Editor
@hsjeditor.bsky.social
I am the editor of HSJ, the No1 source of news on the NHS, and have reported on UK health policy for over 20 years. Subscribe at hsj.co.uk for our unmatched coverage.
How is the government planning to make NHS financial sustainable? By handing over much of the work to patients www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
Using the patient to smash the NHS begging bowl
This government's reform of the NHS is best understood as a drive to reconfigure the economics of the public sector - which is increasingly dominated by healthcare spending. This will give the campaign of change a distinctly different flavour to the recovery mission Labour undertook during the first decade of ...
www.hsj.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
How is the government planning to make NHS financial sustainable? By handing over much of the work to patients www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
BREAKING: Another resignation! This time the NHS's national mental health director who has left "with immediate effect" claiming politcians wanted her out because she resisted their plans to cut funding www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/ex...
Exclusive: NHSE director resigns, claiming politcians wanted ‘change at the top’
Claire Murdoch, NHS England's national mental health director for the last nine years, has today resigned "with immediate effect".
www.hsj.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 5:57 PM
BREAKING: Another resignation! This time the NHS's national mental health director who has left "with immediate effect" claiming politcians wanted her out because she resisted their plans to cut funding www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/ex...
About to head off on holiday by train (like me)? Well then, my son has some useful advice you....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIH25F7tbx0&feature=youtu.be
August 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
About to head off on holiday by train (like me)? Well then, my son has some useful advice you....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIH25F7tbx0&feature=youtu.be
My favourite ever HSJ 1st sentence. "A trust has seconded the chief operating officer from a neighbouring provider as its interim CEO after the incumbent was temporarily transferred to run a 3rd provider following the move of its CEO to a 4th trust, also as an interim." www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/in...
Interim CEO appointment latest in regional chain of secondments
A north-east trust has seconded a chief operating officer from a neighbouring provider as its interim CEO after the incumbent was temporarily transferred to run a third provider following the move of ...
www.hsj.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
My favourite ever HSJ 1st sentence. "A trust has seconded the chief operating officer from a neighbouring provider as its interim CEO after the incumbent was temporarily transferred to run a 3rd provider following the move of its CEO to a 4th trust, also as an interim." www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/in...
BREAKING: I have obtained a full draft copy of the Government's 10 Year Health Plan which is due to be published next week. Read my analysis here: www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
We have seen the government’s 10-Year Health Plan: it is a mess
The latest draft of the government's 10-Year Health Plan is based on weak assertions about funding, and fails to address the practicality of reform, says HSJ editor Alastair McLellan.
www.hsj.co.uk
June 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
BREAKING: I have obtained a full draft copy of the Government's 10 Year Health Plan which is due to be published next week. Read my analysis here: www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
How strong is the resident (junior) doctor's demand for a plus 5 per cent pay rise? Some very useful context here www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
How much should NHS staff be paid?
With the 2025-26 pay review body report imminent, Anita Charlesworth analyses different data comparing NHS pay and its implications for policymakers
www.hsj.co.uk
May 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
How strong is the resident (junior) doctor's demand for a plus 5 per cent pay rise? Some very useful context here www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
23 years to the day since I became @HSJEditor for the first time. Still the most fascinating job in the specialist media.
April 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
23 years to the day since I became @HSJEditor for the first time. Still the most fascinating job in the specialist media.
BREAKING: Elon Musk offers Streeting help on NHS cuts www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
Elon Musk offers Streeting help on NHS cuts
The director of the US Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, is keen to provide advice on how to achieve the widespread cuts to NHS manager numbers announced last month.
www.hsj.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 7:43 AM
BREAKING: Elon Musk offers Streeting help on NHS cuts www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
The Governmnent reforms of the NHS are meant to be a response to the 'Lansley' re-organisation of 2010-12, but they seem to be repeating all the same mistakes of that process (for v similar reasons) www.hsj.co.uk/comment/stre...
Streeting is Lansley reborn
The government's abandonment of its stricture against a top-down reorganisation would be breathtaking if it was not so tragic.
www.hsj.co.uk
March 24, 2025 at 8:15 AM
The Governmnent reforms of the NHS are meant to be a response to the 'Lansley' re-organisation of 2010-12, but they seem to be repeating all the same mistakes of that process (for v similar reasons) www.hsj.co.uk/comment/stre...
About to appear on Times Radio to discuss the abolition of NHS England www.thetimes.com/radio/live
Times Radio | The Times and The Sunday Times
Listen to Times Radio live for the latest breaking news, expert analysis and well-informed discussion covering the biggest stories of the day.
www.thetimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM
About to appear on Times Radio to discuss the abolition of NHS England www.thetimes.com/radio/live
Many commentators banged out their 'what NHS England's abolition means' pieces within hours - I waited until I had talked to most of the senior figures involved - & then wrote this...https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/what-the-abolition-of-nhse-means-for-the-services-leaders/7038864.article
March 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Many commentators banged out their 'what NHS England's abolition means' pieces within hours - I waited until I had talked to most of the senior figures involved - & then wrote this...https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/what-the-abolition-of-nhse-means-for-the-services-leaders/7038864.article
The end of NHS England hsj.co.uk/comment/nhs-... written three weeks before Amanda Prichard's departure, but holding up pretty well.
NHS England reaches a tipping point
The decline of NHS England's power and influence has been a gradual, not sudden, affair. The direction of travel has been clear to most for at least three years, but HSJ contends the shift in the lead...
hsj.co.uk
February 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The end of NHS England hsj.co.uk/comment/nhs-... written three weeks before Amanda Prichard's departure, but holding up pretty well.
Reposted by HSJ Editor
Fundamental problem in patient safety, @england.nhs.uk, is that we often don’t know where the biggest risks lie until too late. Writes @jeremyhuntmp.bsky.social @hsjeditor.bsky.social
Fundamental problem = inadequate action in terms of Infection Prevention and Control.
www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
Fundamental problem = inadequate action in terms of Infection Prevention and Control.
www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
Patient safety must be at the heart of the 10-year plan
The NHS faces a critical moment in reform, with patient safety as a key priority. Improving safety could save thousands of lives, reduce costs, and reshape care delivery, writes Jeremy Hunt
www.hsj.co.uk
February 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Fundamental problem in patient safety, @england.nhs.uk, is that we often don’t know where the biggest risks lie until too late. Writes @jeremyhuntmp.bsky.social @hsjeditor.bsky.social
Fundamental problem = inadequate action in terms of Infection Prevention and Control.
www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
Fundamental problem = inadequate action in terms of Infection Prevention and Control.
www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
This year's NHS financial planning round is going to be a bloody affair. Listen to @BenClover and I discuss it on our weekly podcast www.hsj.co.uk/hsj-health-c...
HSJ Podcast: Why this year's planning round is going to be bloody
This week, the HSJ team look at money and what is coming for what is expected to be the toughest financial year for the NHS in a generation.
www.hsj.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 8:57 AM
This year's NHS financial planning round is going to be a bloody affair. Listen to @BenClover and I discuss it on our weekly podcast www.hsj.co.uk/hsj-health-c...
LOTS of big NHS stories breaking today - so don't touch that dial!
February 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
LOTS of big NHS stories breaking today - so don't touch that dial!
BREAKING and Exclusive: NHS England chair named www.hsj.co.uk/integrated-c...
Exclusive: NHS England chair named
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed its preferred candidate to be the new chair of NHS England.
www.hsj.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM
BREAKING and Exclusive: NHS England chair named www.hsj.co.uk/integrated-c...
NHS still not prepared for ‘mass casualty incidents’ liked the Manchester Arena attack hsj.co.uk/quality-and-... Great reporting by
@AliJaneMoore
@AliJaneMoore
Ambulance services underprepared for ‘mass casualty incidents’
Ambulance services would still struggle to respond effectively to a mass-casualty event like the Manchester Arena bombing, HSJ has learned, as nearly all have been denied the funding needed to bolster...
hsj.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 8:07 AM
NHS still not prepared for ‘mass casualty incidents’ liked the Manchester Arena attack hsj.co.uk/quality-and-... Great reporting by
@AliJaneMoore
@AliJaneMoore
Reposted by HSJ Editor
BREAKING The former CEO of Countess of Chester Hospital was wrongly forced out of her job in 2022-23, because she raised whistleblowing complaints about bullying behaviour by its chair - who is still in post - an employment tribunal ruled yesterday.
February 14, 2025 at 7:28 AM
BREAKING The former CEO of Countess of Chester Hospital was wrongly forced out of her job in 2022-23, because she raised whistleblowing complaints about bullying behaviour by its chair - who is still in post - an employment tribunal ruled yesterday.
Of all the many media orgs that follow up @HSJnews stories, there's only one who consistently fails to credit us - and that's @BBCNews www.hsj.co.uk/acute-care/e... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Exclusive: Hospital asks patients in corridors to ‘lobby MPs’ for funding
A hospital's leadership have put up posters in its corridors asking patients to lobby local MPs - who include Wes Streeting - for funding to expand its under-pressure A&E.
www.hsj.co.uk
January 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Of all the many media orgs that follow up @HSJnews stories, there's only one who consistently fails to credit us - and that's @BBCNews www.hsj.co.uk/acute-care/e... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why are NHS discharge letters so maddening?! My 85 year old mum comes home after hospitalisation due to a seizure. Letter says referral to specialist and community services. But no idea of timing, and no way of asking questions of either referring clinician or those receiving it
January 16, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Why are NHS discharge letters so maddening?! My 85 year old mum comes home after hospitalisation due to a seizure. Letter says referral to specialist and community services. But no idea of timing, and no way of asking questions of either referring clinician or those receiving it
Some light at the end of the tunnel? Latest report from UK Health Security Agency states: "Flu activity showed a mixed picture with some indicators suggesting that activity may have reached a peak, though activity remains at high levels."
January 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Some light at the end of the tunnel? Latest report from UK Health Security Agency states: "Flu activity showed a mixed picture with some indicators suggesting that activity may have reached a peak, though activity remains at high levels."
Actually quite a lot of interesting stuff in the government's elective care plan! (V little of it mentioned by PM). Watch this space.
January 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Actually quite a lot of interesting stuff in the government's elective care plan! (V little of it mentioned by PM). Watch this space.
Asked about child protection, the PM says 'last thing we need is another report, we just need to get on with what's already been recommended many times.' Pity that wasn't his answer on social care.
January 6, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Asked about child protection, the PM says 'last thing we need is another report, we just need to get on with what's already been recommended many times.' Pity that wasn't his answer on social care.
Asked for proof of his commitment to NHS reform, Stamer cites giving resident (junior) doctors a 22.3% pay rise (!?)
January 6, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Asked for proof of his commitment to NHS reform, Stamer cites giving resident (junior) doctors a 22.3% pay rise (!?)
Media lot more interested in the PM's views on Musk (than NHS reform). The danger of extensive briefing over the weekend.
January 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Media lot more interested in the PM's views on Musk (than NHS reform). The danger of extensive briefing over the weekend.