Read Jack Serle's latest HSJi Review, which discusses virtual wards and neighbourhood teams.

The 10-Year Health Plan has placed great emphasis on out-of-hospital care supported by remote monitoring technology. This is as expected: the Labour government has made no secret of its desire to create a neighbourhood health service, nor of its interest in technology’s power to improve efficiency and productivity. This review will look at those areas that are already working on their remote monitoring and neighbourhood offering. Read the full article here.

Latest investigations

Nottingham University Hospital Trust

Nottingham University Hospital Trust is at the centre of the largest ever NHS maternity and neonatal scandal. It is the subject of a high-profile independent investigation and a corporate manslaughter inquiry by Nottinghamshire police. The trust’s own maternity and neonatal improvement programme is led by the director of midwifery, with a high level of oversight from the trust CEO and chief nurse. The government has delayed the £2bn “Tomorrow’s NUH” scheme, giving it a potential start date of 2037-39. The National Rehabilitation Centre is due to open this autumn. The trust is rolling out two new electronic patient records this year. A new diagnostic centre is also under construction. Works are progressing to install a £35m elective hub at City Hospital. A £25m community diagnostic centre is being built by Kier and is due to open in the Broadmarsh area of Nottingham during the first half of 2026. The trust has launched a transformation scheme, which has four workstreams: sustainable workforce, digital, care optimisation and corporate optimisation to save money.

Milton Keynes University Hospital Foundation Trust

Milton Keynes University Hospital Foundation Trust’s performance on elective care is the worst in the NHS. MKUH is using private sector providers to work through its elective backlog, which is not sustainable financially. The trust has been given £1m from the Department of Health and Social Care to develop a business case for a £25m surgical hub. A new £25m imaging centre is under construction on the main hospital grounds and is due to open in March 2026. The trust has set a breakeven plan, but achieving that goal will be challenging. The cost improvement programme requires action from every directorate. MKUH plans to build a new centre for the care of women and children on its main site, scheduled for a 2030 opening. The trust is undertaking enabling works to prepare the site for the project. The trust has signed a 20-year £33m contract with Milton Keynes Energy to connect to the local district heat network to enhance energy efficiency.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust chief executive returns to lead trust after six years. The trust is still struggling with cancer performance and diagnostics. The trust is seeking to make the most of the efficiencies promised by its new electronic patient record. GSTT manager and senior clinicians lack cost savings skills. The trust hopes to recover the income lost after the cyber attack. The non-NHS income of the trust is under significant pressure. The trust sold its in-house life sciences consultancy arm Lexica to WSP in June, which marks the end of the trust’s attempts to break into the health and life sciences market in the Middle East.