Chief Executive Bulletin
| 6 June
- 12 June 2003, Issue 172 |
Contents:
NHS and social care interest
1. Intermediate care and community equipment - change to
charging regime
NHS interest
2. PMS pilots - amendment to directions
3. Modernising primary care out of hours services - achieving
The NHS Plan target
4. Self-measurement tool to develop key performance indicators
for purchasing and supply
Social care interest
5. Young people's substance misuse services grant
Further items of interest
6. Independent review of coroner services
7. Special Grant Report on the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
8. Developments on ambulance services
NHS and social care interest
1. Intermediate care and community equipment - change
to charging regime
Part II of The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc) Act 2003
came into force on 9 June 2003. New regulations mean that social services
departments can no longer charge for intermediate care services (for up
to six-weeks, after which the old charging regime applies), minor adaptations
costing £1,000 or less, and for community equipment.
This will improve access to services and make integration of these, and
similar NHS services in pooled budgets, easier. Access to integrated services
should support older people to remain living in their own home, and contribute
to effective discharge from hospital.
LAC(2003)14 Changes to Local Authorities Charging Regime for Community
Equipment and Intermediate Care Services and Qualifying services
regulations (intermediate care and community equipment)are at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/delayeddischarge/
under 'legislation'.
Contact: steve.hards@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
NHS interest
2. PMS pilots - amendment to directions
Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts Implementation
of Pilot Schemes (Personal Medical Services) (Amendment) (no. 2) Directions
2003 came into force on 5 June 2003.
- Existing or new PMS pilots - the above amendment gives directions
to PCTs and SHAs on the employment of an independent nurse prescriber
or a supplementary prescriber under a PMS pilot scheme.
- PMS pilots operating within specified PCT repeatable prescribing areas
- the amendment permits these PCTs to include repeatable prescribing
within existing or new PMS pilots.
(Note. repeatable prescribing has already been enabled for GMS in SI
2003/1084, which came into force early May).
The amendment is at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsrepeatdispensing/
SI 2003/1084 is at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031084.htm
For further information on supplementary prescribing contact mike.garley@doh.gsi.gov.uk
For repeatable prescribing/dispensing enquiries email MB-repeat-dispensing@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
3. Modernising primary care out of hours services -
achieving The NHS Plan target
A new dedicated website now exists to support modernisation of primary
care out of hours (OOH) services to deliver The NHS Plan target for single
phone call access through NHS Direct by December 2004.
Published today on this website is information which explains:
- the statutory framework for OOH modernisation
- the responsibilities of SHAs, PCTs and OOH providers
- The NHS Plan target for technical links between providers and
NHS Direct
- the registration process and timetable for establishing a link.
The web address is www.out-of-hours.info/
Click on'"Technical Links' in the top right hand corner for information
on the implementation plan for PCTs and SHAs to achieve The NHS Plan
and PPF targets.
For further information please contact your OOH coordinator or Mark Cockerton
(national technical links implementation manager) at mark.cockerton@out-of-hours.info
Top
4. Self-measurement tool to develop key performance
indicators for purchasing and supply
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, in collaboration with the NHS, has
developed a practical self-measurement tool to be used on a voluntary
basis which will help NHS trusts and PCTs to maximise value for money
from all non-pay expenditure. The Department of Health's director of finance
and investments encourages self-measurement in this area.
The tool is being launched across the NHS during the week commencing
9 June by email to trust board directors with purchasing and supply responsibility.
The agency's performance indicators website is nww.pasa.nhs.uk/performanceindicators/
Further information from matt.edwards@pasa.nhs.uk
Top
Social care interest
5. Young people's substance misuse services grant
Chief executives are invited to comment on the proposed grant terms and
conditions. The grant supports the council as a whole (not only social
services) to participate in the Drug Action Team's young people's substance
misuse planning and to work as part of the Drug Action Team to support
early intervention and prevention programmes.
The draft circular is at www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/polguide.htm
Please send comments by Friday 11 July to Yvonne Johnson on 020 7972
5088 or yvonne.johnson@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
Further items of interest
6. Independent review of coroner services - The
report Death Certification and Investigation in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland, established by the home secretary and led by Tom
Luce, was published on 4 June 2003. The report is at
www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm58/5831/5831.htm
7. Special Grant Report on the Neighbourhood Renewal
Fund - this report specifies the amounts of grant to be paid to the
local authorities in the 88 neighbourhood renewal fund areas and the conditions
under which the grant will be paid during 2003/2004. Available at www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/publicationsdetail.asp?id=434
8. Developments on ambulance services
A letter sent to ambulance services detailing the support being developed
and actions taken in this area by the Department of Health and Modernisation
Agency is available at www.doh.gov.uk/emergencycare/ambulancepolicy.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 - ©2003
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