Stephen Halpern

Shallow and soggy and uneven

The gap between policy and its implementation is heading for a serious crisis. Hardly a week passes without a major signal emerging that the NHS remains without proper central managerial direction.

Lammy hits the NHS with double whammy

The plan to recover the costs of treating personal injury cases received little attention in the national media. The timing of the announcement at the end of the week of September 11th was not the only element of defensiveness in this shallow, ill-thought-out scheme.

Putting the race cards in the rest of the pack

Racism has long been a perplexing subject for the NHS. There are complex and sometimes paradoxical dynamics which characterise the whole issue of race and health in the UK.

The growing divide between rhetoric and reality

Primary care trusts (PCTs) could become dysfunctional organisations which fail to make best use of their resources, according to a NHS Alliance policy document on PCTs and health improvement.

New beginnings for old

One of the most difficult things is to detect profound social change when it is actually happening.

Shadow Health Secretary announces slim and shadowy policy

One of the best guarantees of good government is good opposition. The announcement by Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox of the Conservative Partys new health policy falls far short of offering any serious alternative to government policy.

Minus points of NHS Plus

Last month saw the launch of the latest Health Service profit centre. The occupational health service, NHS Plus, has become the newest jewel in the NHS enterprise crown.

Shifting the shibboleths, shuffling the pack

In spite of all the protestations, Mr Milburn has been unable to resist the temptation to carry out the mandatory restructuring of the English NHS as laid out in Shifting the Balance of Power. It is a temptation that few of his predecessors we re likewise unable to resist.

Treasury review to anticipate the next generation of health care needs

As there appears to be no obvious purpose in the Treasury Review of long-term health trends, one can only conjecture as to why the former chief executive of NatWest Bank, Derek Wanless has been asked to reinvent the wheel.

Bristol bombshells will change the landscape for management

Among the mass of recommendations emanating from the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, there are some which could transform the careers of health service managers.