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Chief Executive Bulletin
4 - 10 January 2002
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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS / Social Care interest 1. NHS Modernisation Board's Annual Report NHS interest 7. "Action On" Programmes - Funding for 2002-03 and 2003-04 Social Care interest 18. Adult Placement Schemes Guidance - Consultation Day - Message from David Ellis NHS/Social Care interest 1. NHS Modernisation Board's Annual Report The NHS Modernisation Board, set up to oversee the implementation of The NHS Plan, published its first annual report today. The report The NHS Plan - A Progress Report examines the progress that has been made in modernising health and social care during the Board's first year. It highlights key achievements that are bringing real benefits to patients but also underlines the challenges that still face the NHS in meeting NHS Plan targets. The full report can be found on www.doh.gov.uk/modernisationboardreport Ref. 26139 Will be mailed to NHS Chief Executives, Chairs and Directors, Local Authority Chief Executives, Chairs and Directors of Social services w/c 14/1/02. The Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has announced plans for a new National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency to streamline the services involved in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The establishment of this new agency is a major recommendation of the first ever infectious diseases strategy which is published today. Other proposed actions include:
Report: www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/idstrategy Ref. 26346. Will be mailed to NHS & Local Authority Chief Executives, Directors of Public Health and Medical Directors w/c 14/1/02 3. Valuing People: A New Strategy for learning disability for the 21st Century - Towards Person Centred Approaches. This guidance from Ian Berry, Head of Disability Policy Branch dated 9 January is posted to a wide range of interests including local councils, social services, health authorities and education and housing networks. It is part of a series of good practice guidance - information on decision making has already been issued and other subjects to be made available later include Health Action Plans and partnership working. The White Paper Valuing People published on 20 March is the first White Paper on learning disability services for thirty years. It takes a cradle to grave and cross Government approach to improving life chances for people with learning disabilities and their families. Proposals are based on the key principles of legal and civil rights, independence, choice and inclusion. The guidance is produced in three parts: a summary version for partnership boards, full version for implementation groups and an accessible version for people with learning disabilities. All versions will be available on the learning disability website on January 11th 4. Building Care Capacity Grant - Second Year Allocation of £200M The Government announced on the 8th of January the allocation of £200m to councils to end unnecessary delayed discharges from hospital by April 2004. This is part of a £300m investment announced by the Government in October 2001. Full details can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/delayeddischarge 5. HAZARD NOTICE - MDA HA2001(06) Inter Care All-in-One Hoist: Risk of Spreader Bar Detachment This Device Alert was issued on 20th of December to NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trust, Health Authorities Chief Executives and Social Services Directors. As usual it was also faxed to Liaison Officers of Trusts, Primary Care and Health Authorities and Social Services for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk www.medical-devices.gov.uk 6. Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Ministerial Roadshows Michael Wills MP, Parliamentary Secretary at the Lord Chancellor's Department is to speak at a series of "roadshows" to be held in February-April. Dates and venues are listed below. The Freedom of Information Act will affect all of us working for public authorities and the roadshows are designed to give an outline of the practical implications for public authorities. If you would like further details, please contact Michael Sayers at the Lord Chancellor's Department on 020 7273 3818 or 020 7273 3602.
NHS interest 7. Action On" Programmes - Funding for 2002-03 and 2003-04 A further £75 million has been allocated for the 'Action On' Programmes for 2002/03 and 2003/04. This will be allocated to Strategic Health Authority populations via Regional Offices on a fair share basis, £40 million will be available in 2002/03 and £35 million will be available in 2003/04. As last year health communities within each area are asked to bid for funding. Individual trusts/health communities should produce plans outlining proposals for investment by 15th February. Allocations are likely to be in the region of £0.5m to £1m. They may be for individual schemes, or for a number of smaller schemes which add to this level. Flexibility will be allowed. Schemes will be assessed on merit, against the objectives above and thus communities which have received Action On capital funding during the current year may submit further bids. ACTION
A National assessment Panel will review and recommend the successful bids from 3-star and other trusts against the agreed criteria in early March - (date to be notified) One-day Conference A national one-day conference, aimed at providing guidance on service redesign issues and the development of bids, will take place on Thursday 7 February - further details will be announced shortly. Useful Websites
Link to Capital Funding Letter 8. Clarification of Timetable: Acute Patients' Survey Chief Executives will be aware via the 'alert' message (7th Jan), that the questionnaire and guidance material for the acute inpatient survey, is now on the DH website, (www.doh.gov.uk/acutesurvey/). Please note that under section 1.4 "basic requirements", the guidance document refers to an overall completion date of April 30th. However, section 1.5 also highlights, a 12 week suggested timetable, which by assuming the minimum expected duration of each survey stage, would enable results to be ready at the end of March. Expert advice to DH, is that the 12 week suggested timetable is feasible (all be it very challenging at such a busy time of year), and will build-in some contingency time, for Trusts and/or contractors to utilise at the survey's conclusion/in case of slippage. Hence, Trusts are advised to adhere wherever possible, to the suggested 12 week schedule. However, the key deadline for acute survey returns will remain April 30th - i.e. that the data must be submitted to the central data unit (as per guidance section 6.4) by this date. 9. Electronic Booking Systems: Outline Business Case The NHS Plan says that 'by the end of 2005, waiting lists for hospital appointments and admission will be abolished and replaced with booking systems giving all patients choice and convenience'. The NHS Cancer Plan says that every cancer patient must receive pre booked care by the end of 2004. The NHS Plan also says there will be electronic booking by 31 December 2005. Electronic booking systems are necessary to support wider the adoption of booking throughout the NHS. Implementing electronic booking systems is being taken forward alongside the 4th wave of the booked admissions programme, Moving to Mainstream. An Outline Business Case (OBC) has developed a framework for electronic booking to support achieving the NHS Plan targets. It allows local communities the freedom to implement locally based solutions within a common national framework. It also builds on the national information and IT infrastructure. Guidance for Chief Executives and others and the Outline Business Case is available on the Department of Health's web site at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanbookingsystems/ 10. Reminder CMO SL/2001 "Doctors on Special Leave Because of Concerns About Their Performance or Conduct" CMO e-mailed letter CMO SL/2001 "Doctors on Special Leave Because of Concerns About Their Performance or Conduct" to all Chief Executives on 14 December 2001 asking them to complete a form with details of any hospital doctors or dentists on special or extended leave by Thursday 20 December. Can you please ensure that the form has been completed (including nil returns) and returned to Godfrey Perera or Angela Hawley on Fax 0113 254 5793 or 0113 254 6125 or 0113 254 5795 by Wednesday 16 January 2002. 11. Update on Extending Independent Nurse Prescribing The first nurse prescribing courses for the extension of nurse prescribing started on 7 January. Further courses will begin in February and March and continue throughout the year, so there is still time for employing organisations to nominate nurses and midwives for this centrally-funded training. Full details of the extension of nurse prescribing, and the list of Prescription Only Medicines which these nurses and midwives will be able to prescribe, can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/nurseprescribing. For information on local HEIs offering this preparation, and to discuss nominations, contact the Nurse Prescribing Lead at your Regional Office. 12. Retained Organs Commission January 2002 Update An update to the guidance on the return of organs, tissue blocks and slides issued on 31 July 2001 is on the Retained Organs Commission website www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans/jan02organretentionupdate.htm for action by trust chief executives and organ retention leads. The guidance provides an update on the regional and national collections, legal issues, finds subsequent to returns, together with the date for the next national conference and a range of other issues. 13. Donor Information Consultation Document : Providing Information About Gamete or Embryo Donors A 6 month consultation is currently under way on the information that should be given to people born as a result of assisted conception treatment using donated eggs, sperm or gametes. Since 1991, when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority was established, nearly 18,000 babies have been born as a result of such treatment. The consultation paper seeks views on whether non-identifying information on existing donors should be provided to offspring on request, and for future donors, whether non-identifying or identifying information should be provided. The consultation lasts until 1 July 2002 and the consultation document has been sent to all registered clinics providing treament with donated gametes. It is also available on www.doh.gov.uk/gametedonors 14.NHS Workforce Vacancy Survey 2002 The NHS Workforce Vacancy survey will be carried out again in 2002, with data collected as at 31st March. Three-month vacancies (whole-time equivalent) and staff in post figures (headcount and whole-time equivalent) will be collected. Vacancy survey questionnaires will be sent out in mid-March to human resources contacts within Trusts and PCTs. These contacts will be notified of the forthcoming survey by letter in early January. This letter will ask that the contact details be confirmed as correct and for notification of any foreseeable problems regarding the return of data, for example trust mergers. The letter will also give details of data being collected. Queries regarding the vacancy survey should be emailed to: mailto:madeleine.watson@doh.gsi.gov.uk 15. Health And Safety Executive (HSE) Inspections of NHS Trusts 2000/2001 Chris Taylor from Health and Safety Commission has issued a letter to all NHS Trust Chief Executives reporting on recent health and safety inspections in NHS Trusts. Full text of letter available at: www.doh.gov.uk/healthandsafety/inspections.htm 16. Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery Follow-up Action - Information Required by Medical Devices Agency from Acute Trusts Information regarding action taken on Hazard Notice MDA HN 2001(04) (Single use electrosurgical (diathermy) forceps for tonsil and adenoid surgery) is required urgently for Ministers. A reminder will shortly be faxed to NHS Trust Liaison Officers who have not responded to the original request for information made by MDA on 6 December 2001. Please ensure that your Liaison Officer has faxed back the information required to MDA on 020 7972 8124 or 8113 or 8010. Thanks to the 56% of Trusts that have already responded. 17. DEVICE ALERT - MDA DA2001(10) Single-use Devices for Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery This Device Alert was issued on 20th of December to NHS Trusts and Health Authorities Chief Executives. As usual it was also faxed to Liaison Officers of Trusts and Health Authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(34) Matechana Miniclave Model 21Le Vacuum Benchtop Steam Sterilizer This Safety Notice was issued on 27th December to NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Health Authorities Chief Executives. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts, Primary Care and Health Authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(35) Bed Rails (Cotsides) - Risk of Entrapment and Asphyxiation Supplement to HN2000(10) This Safety Notice was issued on 31st December to NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts, Health Authorities Chief Executives and Social Services Directors. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts, Primary Care, Health Authorities and Social Services for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk www.medical-devices.gov.uk Social Care Interest 18. Adult Placement Schemes Guidance - Consultation Day - Message from David Ellis This is to invite you to send a representative to a Consultation Day on the draft Adult Placement Schemes Guidance which was sent to you at the beginning of January. We are holding two Consultation Days to enable staff with responsibility for running Adult Placement Schemes in local authorities to come together to discuss the proposed guidance and any issues that arise from it. I will want to use the material from the events as part of the consultation response. I have organised two meetings both 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. One in London at the Partnership House, Room C, 157 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XA (next to Wellington House) on the Monday 25 February 2002. The second in Leeds at The Department of Health, Room 2E01/03 Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE on Friday 1 March. I would appreciate it if you could make it possible for the relevant person in your authority to attend the event that is easiest for them to attend. Please r.s.v.p. to Maureen Neilson at the above address or on email The documents in this bulletin are Crown copyright but may be reproduced by NHS and Local Authority staff without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use - ©2001 Back to Chief Executive's Bulletin Home Page
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