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Issue 3: 18 February to 24 February 2000 Through Chief Executive Bulletin we have been attempting to manage and reduce the volume of mail sent to you personally. The Department of Health is now reviewing all its communications with NHS and Social Services audiences which will mean some changes not only in what we send you but how we send it. From now on the main changes are: - the number of circulars (HSCs, LACs, LASSLs) will be greatly reduced and used only for urgent and high priority messages. You will be notified of publication of these on the internet directly by e-mail*; - we will try to distribute material for information and good practice directly to the most appropriate people in your organisation by the most appropriate means and this is the first weekly Bulletin by e-mail to let you know what has been issued.*In the short term we will continue to send hard copy versions to those without access to e-mail but we intend to move quickly to electronic systems. If you have an e-mail address but have only received a paper copy of this bulletin, send an e-mail to: email-addresses@doh.gsi.gov.uk to be added to the electronic distribution list. The Chief Executive Bulletin is sent to NHS and Council Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services. This marks the beginning of a change towards electronic format becoming the principle form of communication. As we make changes over the coming weeks we hope it will not only reduce the amount of material we send out but that it will improve your and your colleagues' access to information when you want it. If you have any difficulties or would like to comment on these plans please let Philip Jepson know by e-mail to pjepson@doh.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to Communications Directorate, Department of Health, Room 3N34A, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE or fax them to 0113 254 5800 Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. NHS/Social Care interest 18 February 2000 Investigating the Health Impact of Emissions to Air from Local Industry The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants has issued a set of draft guidelines for consultation on investigating the health impact of emissions to air from local industry. These are aimed at helping health authorities' public health departments, local authorities' environmental health officers and Environment Agency staff investigate the possible effects on health. Effective Care Co-ordination in Mental Health Services: Modernising the Care Programme Approach The Care Programme Approach (CPA) which was introduced in 1991 to provide a framework for the care of mentally ill people has been reviewed and revised. There are a number of key changes, which are designed to ensure that care co-ordination is strengthened; that greater national consistency is achieved; that bureaucracy is reduced; and that the CPA properly focuses on the needs of service users. These changes are detailed in the policy booklet Effective Care Co-ordination in Mental Health Services: Modernising the Care Programme Approach. The booklet is available from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455 or on the Mental Health national Service Framework page of the DoH website. Health and Local Authorities and partner agencies should introduce these changes by 1 April 2001. NHS interest The Health Authorities Act 1995 (Rectification of Transitional Arrangements) Order 2000 This Order is to correct deficiencies in an Order made in 1996. The most obvious deficiency was that no successor Health Authority was designated to replace Bromley Family Health Service Authority on 1st April 1996. This Order is retrospective and applies only to England. The Order comes into force on 21st February 2000. ADVANCE LETTER (NM) 1/2000: NURSES AND MIDWIVES PAY FOR 2000/2001 21 February 2000 SUMMARY Following the Government's announcement about increases in pay for staff covered by the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, agreement has been reached in the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council on revised salaries for nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS on national terms and conditions. These salaries will be payable from 1 April 2000. Employers must ensure that the new pay scales are implemented quickly to allow staff to receive their increased salaries in April. Senior Nurses and Senior Midwives are not covered by this agreement. 21 February 2000 SUMMARY Following the Government's announcement about increases in pay for staff covered by the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, agreement has been reached in the Professions Allied to Medicine and Related Grades of Staff (PTA) Council on revised salaries for therapy staff employed in the NHS on national terms and conditions. These salaries will be payable from 1 April 2000. Employers must ensure that the new pay scales are implemented quickly to allow staff to receive their increased salaries in April. Prenatal Genetic Testing - Report for Consultation This report covers all aspects of prenatal genetic testing in the NHS including service organisation and structure, access to services, provision of testing, information and consent, quality assessment and research. Comments are sought from the NHS and other interested bodies as to the report and its recommendations. The report has been prepared by the Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing and is issued by the Human Genetics Commission. The document is available on the DH Genetics webpage at http://www.doh.gov.uk/genetics.htm. Comments and requests for copies of the report should be sent to Genetics Science Policy, PH4A, Room 425, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE11 8UG or by email to genetics-policy@doh.gsi.gov.uk Increase in Prescription Charges and Other Charges from 1 April 2000 Regulations will shortly be laid before Parliament to increase the prescription charge to £6.00 per item for prescriptions dispensed on or after 1 April 2000. Pre-payment certificates will increase to £31.40 for four months and £86.20 for twelve months. The new PPC fees apply to all applications for PPCs which are received on or after 1 April 2000, regardless of when the PPC is to start. The old fees apply to applications received before 1 April 2000, regardless of when the PPC starts. A letter with similar information has been prepared for pharmacists and appliance contractors and placed in Department of Health stores: reference MISC (2000)14. Would Health Authorities please order the required number of copies and distribute them to your pharmacists and appliance contractors. Charges for wigs and fabric supports have also been increased and are as listed in leaflet HC12. Would Trusts please note that tights supplied through the hospital service are free of charge to patients who are entitled to free prescriptions or who hold a pre-payment certificate. More Information The detailed arrangements are as described in: HSC1998/016 and HSC 1999/199 A full list of NHS charges and pre-payment certificate prices are in leaflet HC12 http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/hc12.htm with information for patients is in leaflet HC11 http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/hc11.htm. Leaflets HC11 and HC12 may be ordered from the Department of Health by fax on 01623 724524 or E-mail doh@prologistics.co.uk. Increase in the NHS sight test fee and optical voucher values Letter MISC (2000)15 informs opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners of increases of:
A Determination of the sight test fee and Directions for the increases in optical voucher values on behalf of the Secretary of State are annexed to the letter. Health Authorities and Trusts are asked to:
note that copies of the NHS (Optical Charges and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1998 will be sent to Authorities and Trusts in due course. * Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH, fax 01623 724 524, email doh@prologistics.co.uk |
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