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Chief Executive Bulletin
The documents in this bulletin are Crown copyright but may be reproduced by NHS and Council staff without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use - ©2002 Contents:NHS and Social Care interest 1. Plan Rationalisation and Older People Joint Investment
Plans NHS interest 6. Pay for NHS Senior Managers 2002/2003 Social Care interest 22. Community Care Plans NHS / Social Care interest1. Plan Rationalisation and Older People Joint Investment Plans In light of Shifting the Balance of Power and a government wide drive to reduce levels of bureaucracy the number of plans that the NHS will be required to complete will be reduced from 2003/04. Performance Directorate will lead this work for the DH and will provide more information in the near future. Some plan requirements can however be discontinued with immediate effect: the first of these will be older people's and intermediate care joint investment plans. Any local planning of services for older people for 2002/03 that has already taken place will feed in to the new planning arrangements. This does not mean that the NHS and social services will cease to plan or invest jointly – they will. Crucially though, the quality and effectiveness of that planning will now become the responsibility of the StHAs, who will be responsible for ensuring that adequate mechanisms are set in place at a PCT and trust level to ensure effective joint investment and planning. Contact Mike Yates at: mike.yates@doh.gsi.gov.uk 2. Prison Health Newsletter - March 2002 Produced on a quarterly basis by the Prison Health Policy Unit & Task Force, it provides news, updates on the units’ development work programme and innovative work being carried out by staff in the prison healthcare field. An electronic copy of the newsletter is available on the Department of Health Prison Health Policy Unit and Task Force website at: www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/newsletters.htm A hard copy of the document can be obtained by contacting NHS Response Line on 08701 555455. 3. Custodial Healthcare Standards, NVQ and SVQ The Prison Health Task Force and Policy Unit in partnership with the Custodial Care National Training Organisation, have developed a comprehensive set of occupational standards for custodial health care. These will underpin training, development and quality improvements in nursing in prisons and secure environments. They were developed following wide consultation with the statutory nursing bodies, professional organisations, service providers and user representatives and other stakeholders. The Occupational Standards embrace mental health, general nursing and custodial issues and have been recognised at an NVQ level 3 for non registered nursing staff. They also provide a framework for performance management and development for registered nurses and will be developed at higher academic levels for individual members of staff. The occupational standards will be circulated widely during April. For further information contact Lindsay Bates, Director of Nursing, Prison Health Task Force/Policy Unit. Copies of the standards and an accompanying guide Getting Started, can be obtained from the CCNTO on 0191 230 8072, email: admin@ccnto.com and www.ccnto.com 4. Special Grant Report (No93) The Special Grant Report (No93) on the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for 2002/03 has received Parliamentary approval. DTLR will be distributing copies to the relevant local authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs). The Report sets out the amounts to be paid to the 88 authorities concerned and the conditions under which the grant is paid. The grant is provided to enable local authorities, in collaboration with their LSP, to improve services in their most deprived areas, including contributing to the achievement of Government targets to narrow the gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country (these targets include the national targets for life expectancy and teenage pregnancy) and local targets contained in Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies drawn up by the LSP. The grant can be used to support services provided not only by the local authority, but also by organisations that are members of the LSP and by others. Contact Martin Gibbs at: martin.gibbs@doh.gsi.gov.uk 5. Key Performance Indicators for Drug Misuse Services It has been acknowledged for some years that the absence of reliable management information is a significant barrier to the development of appropriate effective and accessible drug treatment services across England. Rectifying this deficit is a key National Treatment Agency priority. As part of our efforts to improve the information available to commissioners, service providers and service users/carers, the NTA has identified four key performance indicators for drug misuse services which we will use to review the provision of services in each Drug Action Team (DAT) area. The indicators have been identified at this stage to comply with the timetable set in the UK Drugs Strategy. For further information please see the full document at www.nta.nhs.uk NHS interest6. Pay for NHS Senior Managers 2002/2003 Nigel Crisp’s letter of 11 April to strategic health authority, NHS trust and PCT chief executives (copied to strategic health authority, NHS trust and PCT HR directors and chairs) sets out the Department of Health's guidance on pay rises for senior managers in 2002/03. This year’s guidance makes a clear distinction between three-star trusts and all other NHS organisations. Each employing authority should apply the guidance locally and be able to account for decisions taken. A compliance statement will be required for inclusion in annual reports for 2002/2003. Further information about the pay guidance should be addressed to the appropriate Directorate of Health and Social Care. 7. New Salary Scales For Maintenance Staff For 2002-03 Agreement has been reached on increases in national salary scales for maintenance staff for 2002/03. Advance Letter MC 1/2002 contains full details of the agreement reached. The letter is available on our COIN web site and will not be issued in hard copy form. Employers should make their own arrangements to print off copies they may require. Employers are asked to make arrangements to implement the new pay scales so that staff receive their increased salaries as quickly as possible. 8. Important Notice: Revised Fees and Allowances payable to GMPs in England 2002 - 03 Please note that the details of the revised rates for fees and allowances payable to GPs in England from 1 April 2002 are now available at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gpfeesapril2002.htm 9. Update on the Consultant Contract Negotiations There has been good progress in negotiations on a new consultant contract, following publication of the Government’s proposals in February 2001 and the CCSC’s proposals in October 2000. The detailed proposals under discussion cover:
The Government’s proposals for the new contract are designed to reward and incentivise consultants making the biggest contribution to service delivery and improving health services. We also intend to introduce a managed and structured system of job planning, that will make better use of consultant time and give proper recognition for the intensity of different working patterns. In the Government’s proposals, the key elements of the new contract will include:
We are committed to a successful conclusion to the negotiations and hope to be in a position to announce further progress shortly. 10. Shifting The Balance Of Power: PCT Governance Arrangements, Remuneration and Allowances – Banding for Primary Care Chairs Ministers have agreed that PCT chairs should be paid on the same basis as Chairs of NHS trusts and health authorities. The level of remuneration falls within one of three bands: Band 1 - £20,420 Details of the banding in which PCTs fall and therefore the remuneration payable to PCT chairs from 1 April 2002 are now available at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/stboppctgovernance.htm 11. NHS Funded Nursing Care in Nursing Homes - This Year's Allocation to the New 28 Health Authorities The above allocation is made under Section 97 of the National Health Service Act 1977 as amended. Allocation letters to the 28 new health authorities will be sent out this week. The allocations can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/freenursingcare/allocations.htm 12. Changes to the Abortion Notification Form HSA4 from 18 April The Abortion (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2002, which come into force on 18 April, introduce a change to the abortion notification form HSA4. This follows a consultation with the NHS, private sector and other organisations in August 2000. Much of the content of the form remains the same, but the key changes are:
500 copies of the form will be sent to each NHS Trust medical director, together with a copy of: a detailed response to the consultation, the new regulations and a guidance note on completing the form. Future supplies of the new form should be ordered from our stores (contact details are on the back of the form) as necessary. All old versions of the form should be destroyed. For further information see www.doh.gov.uk/hsa4/index.htm or e-mail HSA4@doh.gsi.gov.uk We would be grateful if you could alert others in your organisation who may be affected. Ref. Guidance 27589, HAS form 27570. Mailed to NHS Chief Executives and Medical Directors of NHS Trusts. 13. Prescription Form Update – April 2002 For the attention of HA / PCT pharmaceutical advisors. 14. Retained Organs Commission: Information Leaflets
The Commission has sent chief executives copies of each of these three information leaflets for parents and relatives, to ensure that the organ retention team are aware of these leaflets and offer them to families as appropriate. To order further copies of the above or the earlier leaflet on Tissue Blocks and Slides please fax your order to Calvin Down at the Commission on 0207 972 2017 stating the number required of each title and to whom they should be sent. These leaflets are also available on the Retained Organs Commission’s website www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans//index.htm Email: retained-organs-commission@doh.gsi.gov.uk
15. Priority Treatment for War Pensioners In 1997 the Department issued HSG(97)31, which advised the NHS that priority should be provided to people who receive a war pension for examination or treatment that relates to the condition for which they are receiving the pension, unless there is another case that requires clinical priority. This includes all service personnel and civilians who receive pensions for wartime injuries, but does not include treatment for unrelated conditions. The Prime Minister has established a War Veterans Affairs Task Force that looks at the particular needs of vulnerable veterans. The veterans’ organisations involved with the Task Force have raised concerns that not all trusts are complying with this guidance. NHS trusts should comply with this guidance, and you are asked to remind relevant staff of the arrangements for the priority treatment of war pensioners. Further information can be received from Paul Woods, e-mail:Paul.Woods@doh.gsi.gov.uk 16. Health Authority (and Primary Care Trust) Dental Lists Guidance has now been published on the National Health Service (General Dental Service) Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 2001. These regulations amend the National Health Service (General Dental Service) Regulations 1992, which regulate the terms under which dentists provide general dental services under the National Health Service Act 1977. They make provision relating to the inclusion of dentists in dental lists and their removal or suspension from those lists. The guidance is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/pclists/dentalguidance.pdf Any queries on the guidance should be directed to Peter Martin at: Peter.Martin@doh.gsi.gov.uk 17. Final Stage of Implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act I am writing to alert you to the final stage of implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and to stress the importance of action to deliver these obligations for effective implementation of Shifting the Balance of Power priorities. On 31 May 2002 the Specific Duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act come into force. You are reminded that the general duty (in force since April 2001) is a positive duty requiring public authorities to:
NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring that your organisation has published and made available to the public its RES by 31 May 2002. The Race Equality Scheme must state how your organisation intends to meet its obligations and intends to become compliant with the legislation within three years. In particular the Scheme should state:
Summary of action NHS Boards are responsible for ensuring that their organisations are:
Contact Alison Beedie at: alison.beedie@doh.gsi.gov.uk 18. Conference on International Recruitment and Co-operation – 1 May This conference will be taking place at the Shaw Park Plaza on the 1 May 2002.
The purpose of the day is to update managers, recruiters, educators and other stakeholders on developments in international recruitment and co-operation and to share good practice. It looks at agreements with individual countries, including recent initiatives in medical recruitment and successful strategies for integrating healthcare professionals into the workforce.
Delegates will receive practical advice on how to develop a co-ordinated approach to the challenge of successful international recruitment and will benefit from the opportunity to learn about the experiences of those who have been undertaking recruitment on behalf of the Department of Health and the NHS.
Further details can be found at 19. Information Technology for the new Health Authorities – correction A workshop is being held on Wednesday 17 April for those who will be responsible for the set up and provision of IT in the new health authorities. Central funding is being provided for NHSnet links of, initially, £256,000 and a set of recommended e-mail and web addresses has been prepared. For further information, visit www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/stbop/itha.htm or contact damian@doh.gsi.gov.uk (not as previously given). 20. GP Appraisal Workshops - correction The information was included in CE Bulletin 111 (item 11). However the programme of workshops published on the website was incorrect at the time. To view the programme with the correct workshop visit www.medman.co.uk or telephone on 01225 333711. 21. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2002(13) Patient Monitors: Spacelabs Medical ECG Products Model Numbers: 90342, 90344, 90346, 90348, 90470, 90478, 90496 This Safety Notice was issued on 2nd April 2002 to NHS Trusts, Chief Executives and National Care Standards Commission Headquarters. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts and National Care Standards Commission Headquarters 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: Social Care InterestGuidance on Joint Investment Plans (JIPs) states that local councils no longer need to issue a Community Care Plan (CCP). The Department intends to disapply the relevant parts of section 46 of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 to remove the legal obligation to produce a plan, but it has not been possible to achieve this by April 2002. We understand that this may place some councils in situations where, following advice from Government, they have not published a CCP this year, in expectation of the removal of this responsibility from April. These councils would then be liable to a challenge for breaching their statutory duty. To avoid such a scenario the Department of Health has introduced a direction to disapply the paragraph in the original direction that requires councils to submit a plan each year. The direction, plus background information on the change, is available at /www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/communitycareplans/index.htm On 8 April 2002 Ministers awarded Beacon status to Essex County Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council and Medway Council for their adoption services. The award was made after a stringent evaluation of their services and the councils’ general performance.
The Beacon councils will now share their experiences, practices and the lessons they have learnt with other councils and voluntary adoption agencies. This is done through a national programme of activities co-ordinated and supported by the IDeA. The first activity will be a one-day showcase event in Manchester on 18 June 2002 which will allow the three councils to demonstrate why they are worthy of Beacon status.
More information may be found on the Department of Health’s
adoption website – www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/improvingpractice/beacons.htm 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 - ©2002
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