Read Jack Serle's latest HSJi Review, which looks at improving productivity and efficiency through data.

The government and NHS national leaders have placed considerable emphasis on the importance of using data and digital tools to increase productivity and efficiency in trusts.

Recent HSJ Intelligence investigations demonstrate how trusts are leveraging digital innovations to drive substantial operational improvements. Read the full article here.

Latest investigations

Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is at the centre of a major care scandal and is currently under intense regional and national scrutiny, with a two-year statutory inquiry underway. As part of its response, a high-secure hospital has been banned from receiving new patients, and a wide-ranging improvement plan is in progress. The Trust has also set itself a highly challenging efficiency target, aiming to reduce both pay and non-pay costs. Efforts are being made to consolidate its vast estate, including plans to sell its headquarters. The trust is working to improve patient flow and reduce reliance on expensive private beds. It is also leading a regional collaborative responsible for commissioning low and medium-secure services, alongside a second county-wide collaborative focused on enhancing mental health crisis services.

The Welsh NHS: Outlook for 2025-26

A top-level review has recommended strengthening and simplifying the accountability regime for boards and trusts. Outreach teams aim to speed up discharges and prevent avoidable admissions. Major changes are being introduced to ambulance response categories and required handover waiting times. Measures are also underway to reduce outpatient referrals in high-volume specialities and improve the consistency of advice and guidance systems. The use of the independent sector is increasing. There is a renewed focus on recovering the performance of diagnostic services. Investment is being directed toward reducing waiting times for autism and ADHD assessments. Health boards have been instructed to cut costs by 2 per cent. Cuts to agency, corporate, and medicines spend are prioritised. A revised private finance initiative model is being used to fund the cancer centre, and new digital systems are being introduced across mental health, maternity, and prescribing services.

The expected – and unexpected – changes to specialised commissioning

Responsibility for commissioning 70 specialised services has transferred from NHS England to integrated care boards, giving them control over an annual specialised commissioning spend of £14bn. Commissioning is now taking place on a system or regional basis, depending on the nature of the service, with some ICBs granted greater freedom than others. Six different specialised commissioning models have been developed. However, these devolution plans face disruption due to proposals to halve ICB running costs by December 2025 and to consolidate the number of boards from 42 to 27. Additionally, the transfer of NHSE commissioning staff to ICBs has been postponed.

Data

Last week the following data points were updated:

• Main Location of Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb, PP, Wales for Q1 2025-26
• Number Details of Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb for Q1 2025-26
• Telephone Number of Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb, PP, Wales, Scotland for Q1 2025-26
• Name of Wales, Scotland for June
• Drug and alcohol treatment target, 62-day cancer target and 31-day cancer target of Scotland for Q4 2024-25