Chief Executive Bulletin
6 - 12 April 2001
Issue 61
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Chief Executive Bulletin
6 - 12 April 2001 |
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
Main Page |
|
Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS interest 2. Revised Fees and Allowances Payable to General Practitioners (GP) 2001-02 3. Pay for NHS Senior Managers 2001/2002 4. Junior Doctors: Flexible Trainees 5. Retained Organs Commission guidance 6. Drug Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis 7. Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Hepatitis C 8. Department for Education and Employment's Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund 9. NHS Professionals - An Update 10. Greening Government Procurement: Conference and Exhibition - Tuesday 22 May 11. Exercise Referral Systems: a National Quality Assurance Framework 12. A Guide to the General Duty to Promote Racial Equality 13. Recruiting Healthcare Professionals from Spain 14. Safety Notices Issued by the Medical Devices Agency NHS and Social Care interest 15. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(11) Bed Grab Handles: Risk of Head Entrapment NHS interest 1. Advance Letter (MD) 6/01 Terms And Conditions Of Service For Hospital Medical And Dental Staff And Doctors In Public Health Medicine And The Community Health Service : Consultants' Contract - Distinction Awards Advance Letter MD 6/01 issued on 11 April 2001 sets out an amendment to paragraph 1.c of the Terms & Conditions of Service for Hospital Medical and Dental staff and paragraph 1.d of the Terms & Conditions of Service for Doctors in Public Health Medicine and the Community Health Service. The amendment makes reference to the Guide to the NHS Consultants' Distinction Awards Scheme. For further information e-mail enquiry-box@doh.gsi.gov.uk Ref. 23713. Will be mailed to NHS Human Resource Directors w/c 16/4/01. 2. Revised Fees and Allowances Payable to General Practitioners (GP) 2001-02 Please note that the details of the revised rates for fees and allowances payable to GPs in England from 1 April 2001 are available at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/fees.htm 3. Pay for NHS Senior Managers 2001/2002 This letter from Nigel Crisp dated 9 April is posted on the HR Directors Bulletin and Chief Executives Bulletin. It is addressed to Health Authority, NHS Trust and PCT Chief Executives, HR Directors and Chairs. Hard copies will be sent to Chairmen. It sets out the Department of Health's guidance on pay rises for senior managers in 2001/02 and informs about plans to consult on new pay arrangements for senior mangers. Employing authorities should take all practical steps to ensure that overall pay rises, including performance related pay, for senior managers in their organisation in 2001/02 do not exceed 3.7% of their current pay bill for this group. Within this overall resource limit, they have room to vary individual pay rises according to performance. A compliance statement will be required for inclusion in their Annual Report for 2001/02. Further information about pay guidance should be addressed to the appropriate Regional Office. Ref. 23719. Will be mailed to NHS Chairs and Finance Directors w/c 16/4/01. 4. Junior Doctors: Flexible Trainees Steve Barnett, Deputy Director of Human Resources has this week written to Chief Executives and HR Directors in response to their concerns about implementation of the junior doctors' pay deal as it relates to flexible trainees. He points out that the NHS is committed to improving the working lives of all its staff, and this includes offering flexible and less than full time working patterns as an important element in achieving "Improving Working Lives" accreditation. He further notes that all new flexible trainees should be appointed to posts which are New Deal compliant, and that existing flexible trainees should be banded and paid appropriately for their current duties whilst working towards compliance; flexible trainees should not be "propping up" non-compliant working patterns, and the on-call duties they undertake are for the purpose of satisfying their educational requirements. 5. Retained Organs Commission guidance The latest Guidance from the Retained Organs Commission, covering notification of information to relatives, guidance on next of kin, medical records, confidentiality and other issues will be published on the commission's webpage www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans/guidance.htm. It will include model letters for notifying. 6. Drug Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis Health authorities are reminded that existing guidance to the NHS on drug treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) remains in place pending publication of authoritative guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Relevant existing guidance is contained in circulars EL(95)97 and HSC 1999/176 both of which can be accessed from the DH website at www.doh.gov.uk/multiplesclerosisdrugsguidance EL(95)97 was issued in November 1995, in advance of marketing authorisations being granted for beta-interferon drugs for MS. It asked purchasing authorities and providers to develop and implement local arrangements to manage the entry of such drugs into the NHS, in consultation with other key interests; and in particular, to initiate and continue prescribing of beta-interferon through hospitals. Since EL(95)97 was issued, three beta-interferon drugs and glatiramer acetate have been licensed for the relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS). The authorisation for one of them (Betaferon) has also been extended for the secondary-progressive form of MS (SPMS). Pending receipt of guidance from NICE, HSC 1999/176 says that the NHS should use existing arrangements to develop policies on the best evidence available about the clinical and cost effectiveness of these drugs. Queries on this note can be sent to Janet Smith on 0113 254 6601 or e-mail on janet.smith@doh.gsi.gov.uk 7. Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Hepatitis C Please bring this to the attention of hepatology, gastroenterology and infectious disease departments; pathology and pharmacy departments; and those working with drug and alcohol misusers. Clinical guidelines on the management of patients with hepatitis C (HCV), compiled for the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and the RCP, have now been published. Around 200,000 people in England are thought to have HCV, many undiagnosed. Some infected 20-30 years ago are now progressing to serious disease, and are presenting in increasing numbers. The guidelines are available on the GUT website http://gut.bmjjournals.com and will soon be on the BSG website www.bsg.org.uk . They will be available in print as a GUT supplement in June. They include detailed recommendations on testing and diagnosis, counselling and treatment, especially the use of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its appraisal of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy, the main treatment for patients with moderate/severe HCV, in October 2000. The appraisal is available from 11 Strand, London WC2N 5HR Tel: 020 7766 9191 or on the NICE website, www.nice.org.uk 8. Department for Education and Employment's Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund - Deadline for Applications Approaching The Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund, open to all employers, including public, private and voluntary sectors, offers a pot of money available to help employers develop flexible working practices that will support their employees in achieving a better balance between work and their life outside work. Applications for funding should be submitted by 18 May 2001. For more information and a copy of the application pack, visit the DfEE's web-site on www.dfee.gov.uk/work-lifebalance/ 9. NHS Professionals - An Update Following HSC 2001/02, which set out the characteristics and time-scale for roll-out for NHS Professionals, progress is being made to develop NHS Professionals across the 15 Phase One pilot sites. Further guidance is being drafted to provide support for NHS organisations in completing the actions set out in the HSC and in the implementation of NHS Professionals. The guidance will outline the criteria that will identify the NHS Professionals approach and detail the employment policy and practice that will underpin the service. Case studies will be included to illustrate examples of good practice. Nationally branded Publicity materials, including posters, will be available late April/early May for those trusts using the services of NHS Professionals. A National Conference is being held on 17 July at Regents College Conference Centre, Regents Park, London, to inform delegates of latest developments both nationally and regionally and to seek contributions from the service to further development. Watch out for a further announcement and booking form in May's editions of the Bulletin. Work to develop a National Agency Contract is being brought under the umbrella of NHS Professionals. The purpose of this work is to secure agreements with temporary staffing providers that will ensure quality standards are met, inequities in pay rates and commissions are tackled and providers with whom contracts are established are performance-managed. A sub-group of the NHS Professionals National Project Management Board is being established to progress the work, with representation from regional offices and the NHS. 10. Greening Government Procurement: Conference and Exhibition - Tuesday 22 May The ICC, Birmingham The event will focus comprehensively on the key issues facing public service policy-makers and practitioners when incorporating environment and sustainability issues into the procurement process. All public bodies are under a duty to ensure that expenditure is fully environmentally appraised. For all enquiries and registration please contact Jeremy or Jan on 0800 542 9590 or visit www.govnet.co.uk/ggp 11. Exercise Referral Systems: a National Quality Assurance Framework Exercise Referral Systems: a National Quality Assurance Framework offers guidance to primary care and fitness professionals, who work together to offer tailored exercise and physical activity schemes to patients whose health would benefit from increased exercise. Exercise Referral schemes have grown in popularity in recent years, with around 300 schemes running across the country, often referring patients from the GP's surgery to a nearby leisure facility. The document aims to improve the quality of existing schemes, and help the development of new ones. Under the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease, all NHS bodies, working closely with Local Authorities, need to have agreed and be contributing to local programmes of effective policies on increasing physical activity and reducing overweight and obesity by April 2001. The framework also sets a goal of ensuring that all cardiac patients are offered exercise programmes, supervised by properly trained people as part of cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Referral schemes can form an important element in the delivery of local action plans to increase physical activity participation. The Guidance is available free from the Department of Health. Either write to PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH, fax 01623 724 524 or email doh@prolog.co.uk The document can also be downloaded from www.doh.gov.uk/exercisereferrals The Department of Health is planning two seminars to discuss the implications of the new framework. If you would like to receive further information telephone 01772 767722 or email exercisereferral@glasgows.co.uk to add your details to the mailing list 12. A Guide to the General Duty to Promote Racial Equality You will be aware that the first parts of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act came into force on 2nd April. The key provisions that are now operational are the outlawing of discrimination in all functions of public sector bodies and the general statutory duty to promote race equality. The Commission for Racial Equality has produced a guide to the general duty to promote racial equality. Although the CRE notes that this is not an authoritative statement of the law, they have identified (in part 3 of the guidance) a useful series of questions to help public authorities identify measures they may need to be taking. The guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/race_equality . Action: Chief Executives are reminded that they were asked by the Chief Operating Officer, Neil McKay, to prepare for a board level review of their arrangements for identifying and addressing the needs of black and minority ethnic groups. They are asked to ensure that this happens. 13. Recruiting Healthcare Professionals from Spain The Department of Health and the Ministerio de Sanidad in Madrid have formalised an agreement whereby the NHS is able to recruit Spanish doctors and nurses directly through a government to government arrangement. It is not necessary for NHS employers to contract with commercial recruitment agencies in order to source healthcare professionals from Spain. The letter provides further details. Ref. 23718. 14. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(08) Tissue Necrosis Caused by Pulse Oximeter Probes This Safety Notice was issued on 28 March 2001 to NHS Trust and Health Authority. An electronic version of the Safety Notice can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(08).htm SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(09) ACCUVAC Rescue Aspirator (Portable Suction Pump): Possibility of Inadequate Suction This Safety Notice was issued on 30 March 2001 to NHS Trust and Health Authority. An electronic version of the Safety Notice can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(09).htm SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(10) Flamingo Wallstent Oesophageal Stent - Change in Instructions For Use This Safety Notice was issued on 5 April 2001 to NHS Trust and Health Authority. An electronic version of the Safety Notice can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(10).htm For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on: NHS / Social Care interest 15. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2001(11) Bed Grab Handles: Risk of Head Entrapment This Safety Notice was issued on 6 April 2001 to NHS Trust, Primary Care Trust and Health Authority Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services Departments. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts and Health Authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice An electronic version of the Safety Notice can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(11).htm For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on: 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 |
 |
Information | |
Help | |
Feedback |  |
Search |
|
|