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Bulletin
for allied health professionals December 2001 Issue 5
Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline on 08701 555 455. IntroductionWelcome to the fifth edition of the AHP bulletin. This bulletin is intended for Senior Allied Health Professionals - Senior Rehabilitation Managers, Directors of Therapy, Heads of Departments in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Prosthetics, Orthotics, Chiropody/Podiatry, Orthoptists, Radiography, Arts Therapy and Paramedics. If you are a Chief Executive, please forward it to the relevant people. We would like to be able to send future bulletins direct to you. Please send your full contact details - including your name, organisation, full postal address (including postcode), phone and fax numbers and e-mail address - to DH-Test-Emails@doh.gsi.gov.uk Please also see: Chief Executive Bulletin at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin.htm HR Bulletin www.doh.gov.uk/hrbulletin.htm Primary Care Bulletin www.doh.gov.uk/gpbulletin.htm Contents:
Health and Social Care interest Social Care interest NHS interest Human Resource issues General issues The Government laid legislation before Parliament on 15 November to create new regulatory bodies for nurses, midwives and allied professions. This is the first step in making a modern healthcare regulatory framework a reality. Following careful and widespread consultation, a new regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), will take over from the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) and the four National Boards. The Health Professions Council (HPC) will replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) and its 12 boards. The legislation will widen the scope and powers of these regulatory bodies to better assure fitness to practise and deal with issues of unsuitability. They will significantly increase the involvement of lay people, especially members of the public and patient organisations, so that patients' interests are paramount. They will create smaller, more dynamic Councils that can decide on strategic policy quickly and respond to public concerns more efficiently. These smaller Councils will still cover the full range of professional interests by drawing on a structure of statutory and other committees and panels which will ensure proper input from professions, educationalists and employers, as well as lay people. The Councils will be UK-wide and will be designed to take on board the different operational needs of health and social care in the four countries of the UK. The
legislation in is the form of Orders made under section 60 of the Health
Act 1999. Copies are available on our website at: www.doh.gov.uk/nursingandmidwiferyorder and www.doh.gov.uk/healthprofessionsorder Health and Social Care interest
The delivery of first-class public services that are accessible to everyone is a top priority for the Government. Our public service reform agenda is driven by two key principles: the user comes first; and power to front-line providers to reflect this. These aims are supported by a new report by the Women and Equality Unit, 'Better Services - Better Working Lives'. This looks at what women want from their health and education services - whether they work in the services or use them. The report shows that Government and front-line providers are already delivering much of what women value, with more than 30 examples of flexible and responsive services provided in our schools and health centres. It also contains a series of Government commitments to promote further action, and recommendations for local action. To download a copy of the report, visit the WEU's website at www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk. For a hard copy, write to DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire, NG15 0DJ; call 0845 60 222 60 or email dfes@prolog.uk and quote ref. WEU/PS1
Since the introduction of provisions for free care in nursing homes in England, the Department of Health has become aware of concerns about the provision of:
According to the National Association of Equipment Providers (NAEP), many services have reported a rise in demand for the above products because of the assessments for free nursing care. Further information is available at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/freenursingcare.
The Office of Science and Technology has launched a new interactive website for researchers based in industry, universities, hospitals and other research organisations - www.researchersforum.gov.uk The purpose of the forum is to allow researchers from all walks of life to take part in online discussions on a research topic of their choice. For example, they could:
To some extent, the site is experimental but reflects the Government's drive for greater use of e-business. For more information about the site contact Tim Watts, Office of Science and Technology, by email: forumadministrator@dti.gsi.gov.uk Social Care Interest
On 31 October the Department of Health published its Domiciliary Care, National Minimum Standards, Regulations, Consultation Document. The document outlines the Department's proposals, which - for the first time - will introduce regulations and national minimum standards into this sector. The consultation period ends on 31 January 2002, with implementation of the final arrangements due in July 2002. The document is available on the Department of Health website by visiting www.doh.gov.uk/domiciliarycare Ref. LASSL 25826, Consultation Document: Domiciliary Care Standards 25825. It will be mailed to Local Authority Chief Executives, Directors of Social Services, NHS Trust Chief Executives and Health Authority Directors of Public Health, Primary Care and Nursing.
This letter sets out the main aspects of the 2002-03 local Government finance settlement that are relevant to the funding provided for social services. The figures for Personal Social Services (PSS) Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs), grant allocations where available and other details for each council appear in the attached annexes. LASSL
(2001)13 NHS interest
A National Primary Care Trust (PCT) Development Programme and Team has been established under the leadership of Dr Barbara Hakin, Chief Executive, Bradford South and West PCT. The National Primary Care Trust Development Programme (NPCTDP) will lead a programme of organisational and personal development that supports PCTs, and ultimately Care Trusts, to:
The NPCTDP will build on existing PCT development programmes and focus on four key work streams, as outlined below. Development programme
PCTs working together
Support to PCTs
Communications
If you have any questions on the work programme or would like further information on the role of the Development Teams, please contact the Project Manager, Nick Hall, via e-mail on npctdp@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively you can visit our website: http://www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/pctdp.htm
The NHS Cancer Plan sets out a comprehensive national strategy for cancer. It has four broad aims:
This report sets out the progress that has been made over the past year. Link to report http://www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/makingprogress.htm
The NHS Beacons Learning Handbook Volume IV profiles up-to-date information on 154 Beacon organisations across a variety of themes. It also includes information on the Health and Social Care Award winners and other best practice schemes. For a free copy, visit www.nhs.uk/Beacons or email nhsbeacons@statusmeetings.co.uk Human Resource issues
The NHS Plan introduced the Improving Working Lives (IWL) Standard for NHS employers, Trusts and existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Health Authorities. It set targets for these bodies to achieve the IWL Standard in three stages by demonstrating how they are improving the working lives of their staff. Pledge - Stage 2 had a target date of April 2001 for Trusts and Health Authorities. PCGs moving to PCT status in 2000-01 have until April 2002 to achieve this stage. Trusts, Health Authorities and PCTs set up between 2000 and 2002 have a target date of April 2003 to achieve Practice - Stage 2. Once the organisation has improved working lives for all staff, Practice Plus Stage is awarded. Trusts are currently working with their regional Improving Working Lives Leads to agree a time during 2002-03 that the assessment and accreditation process for achieving IWL can be rolled out. Emerging organisations will have revised target dates. Workforce Development Confederations and Strategic Health Authorities will be required to achieve Pledge by September 2002. PCTs coming on stream between April 2002 and October 2002 will have a variable timetable to achieve Pledge within six months of establishment and, 12 months later, Practice. All newly emerging organisations should therefore be at Practice Stage by April 2004. For further information please contact your regional IWL Lead. Contact details are available on the IWL website, www.doh.gov.uk/iwl. General issues
If you are interested in keeping abreast of developments across the NHS, these two publications will be of interest: NHS Magazine - Published 10 times a year by the Department of Health, this magazine contains analysis and discussions of health care and health management issues. It aims to engage people at the forefront of local change and modernisation. The magazine is free of charge to anyone in the NHS or social care. If you would like to be on the regular mailing list, e-mail your name and address to neil.cussons@doh.gsi.gov.uk NHS Plan News -
This quarterly staff newspaper keeps health and social care staff
informed about how services for
Please help us make these bulletins as helpful to you as possible by telling us what you think of them and how they might be improved. For example:
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