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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. Medical Devices Agency - safety notices

NHS interest

2. Performance monitoring: access survey and primary care service & financial framework returns (SaFFRs):
3. NHS performance ratings
4. Consultant contract
5. Data quality reviews undertaken by Audit Commission appointed auditors
6. Doctors with performance concerns and the National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA)
7. Extending choice for patients - contacting patients affected by the heart surgery scheme
8. GP dispensing feescale
9. National service frameworks (NSFs): pharmaceutical industry involvement
10. Standardising the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) procurement process
11. Delivering the NHS Plan with IT
12. Appointing an Medical Devices Agency (MDA) liaison officer
13. Medical Devices Agency - safety and hazard notices

Social Care interest

14. Plans rationalisation

NHS/Social Care interest

1. Medical Devices Agency - safety notices

Safety Notice - MDA SN2002(16) Smith & Nephew Homecraft Ltd, Liftmaster 160 and 190 hoists
This safety notice was issued on 21 May 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts, health authorities chief executives, social services directors and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. It was also issued to liaison officers of trusts, primary care, health authorities, social services and National Care Standards Commission headquarters for action and onward distribution as specified in the notice.

Safety Notice - MDA SN2002(18) Scandinavian Mobility, popular plus powered wheelchair - risk of overheating or possible fire in the battery cables and connector plugs
This safety notice was issued on 7 June 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts, health authorities chief executives, social services directors and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. It was also issued to liaison officers of trusts, primary care, health authorities, social services and National Care Standards Commission headquarters for action and 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
http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk

NHS interest

2. Performance monitoring: access survey and primary care service & financial framework returns (SaFFRs):

The guidance and proforma for the Primary Care Service and Financial Framework Returns (SaFFRs) and Access Survey for Q1 2002/3 have now been distributed to all those PCTs for which we were given contact details. All other PCTs should obtain a copy of these documents from the website below.

The SaFFR incorporates the Primary Care Access Survey which requires PCTs to contact their practices on Wednesday 19 June to monitor the national access targets.

This information will be used to monitor progress against a number of the key targets in the 2002-03 SaFFs, and other targets included in the NHS Plan and national service frameworks.

More details about the SaFFR process, along with detailed requirements, can be found at:
http://194.189.27.190/saffs/saffsquart.nsf/Main?ReadForm or by emailing: SaFFR@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Thank you in advance for your help with supplying this information, if you have any queries please contact Jason Snowdon - 0113 254 5451 (jason.snowdon@doh.gsi.gov.uk)

3. NHS performance ratings

We are giving you advance notice that the data and indicator values that are to form the basis of the Performance Ratings to be published in 2002 are to be e-mailed to Chief Executives of NHS Trusts and Primary Care Organisations on Wednesday 19 June. The Performance Ratings will be for organisations existing on 31 March 2002. Each organisation will then have two weeks to confirm the data is correct and to raise key issues and queries.

These data sets will also be copied to your Strategic Health Authorities who will support the ratification process for their respective organisations.

DH contact Alex Joiner at: alex.joiner@doh.gsi.gov.uk

4. Consultant contract

The Secretary of State announced on 12 June that the UK Health Departments, the NHS Confederation and the British Medical Association have agreed a framework for a new consultant contract that will help drive forward major improvements in NHS patient care.

The new framework is designed to provide a more effective system of planning and timetabling consultants' duties and activities within the NHS. Preparation will now begin for introducing the new contract and implementation will begin from 1 April 2003.

The framework achieves the NHS Plan objective to secure a higher quantity of direct clinical care from newly qualified consultants and commitment of their maximum allowable working time to the NHS during their first seven years.

Key elements of the new contract are:

• a core working week of ten 4-hour programmed activities for full-time consultants
• replacement of the current system of 'fixed' and 'flexible' sessions with a system in which all NHS work (except unpredictable emergency work) is timetabled and typically carried out on site with no non-NHS work during this time
• an increased proportion of time devoted to direct clinical care
• a new system of pay progression with a new starting salary of £63,000 followed by a stepped scale of thresholds leading to a maximum salary of £85,250
• all work during the hours of 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 1pm weekends paid at plain time rates and greater scope for employers to programme evening and weekend sessions
• recognition for flexible working patterns in unsocial hours [10 pm - 8 am Monday to Friday, 1pm - 9 am Saturday and Sunday]
• greater recognition for emergency work done as a result of on-call duties and for the disruption of being available on-call
• additional programmed activities paid at normal rates
• a new approach to managing the relationship between private practice and NHS commitments:
  • a new set of contractual rules to ensure that there can be no real or perceived conflicts of interest between NHS and private work
  • exclusive use of up to 48 hours of a consultant's time in the first seven years of a consultant's career and up to 44 hours thereafter (for consultants who wish to undertake private practice).

In order to promote stability in the transitional period, the new contract will be accompanied by a pay deal of 10 per cent over the three years from April 2003.

Further briefings on the consultant contract agreement and next steps to be taken will be given at the HR in the NHS Conference in July. The full text of the framework is available at www.doh.gov.uk/consultantscontract.

Enquiries may be directed to HRD NHS Pay by email to: enquiry-box@doh.gsi.gov.uk or telephone (0113) 254 5710.

5.Data quality reviews undertaken by Audit Commission appointed auditors

Data quality reviews are currently been carried out by the Audit Commission. A letter is attached from the Confidentiality Issues Section, explaining the powers of the auditors appointed under the Audit Commission Act 1998 regarding access to patient information. This letter is available on the following website: www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/confiden/audit/auditcom.pdf

DH contact Raj Kaur at: rajbant.kaur@doh.gsi.gov.uk

6. Doctors with performance concerns and the National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA)

Sir Liam Donaldson has written to primary care organisations to remind you to consider asking the NCAA for advice when you have serious concerns about the performance of a doctor which might lead to their suspension or removal from the list. The NCAA provides advice to health authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs) about local handling of cases and managing those whose performance gives cause for concern. They also carry out performance assessments where necessary. The letter is available on the Chief Medical Officer's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/letters/ncaa.htm

The NCAA can be contacted on 020 7273 0850. Their website is www.ncaa.nhs.uk. Departmental policy contact for the NCAA is Tim Lund on 0113 2545046 or mail to tim.lund@doh.gsi.gov.uk.

7. Extending choice for patients - contacting patients affected by the heart surgery scheme

Bulletin 107 contained details of the pilot scheme for extending choice to heart surgery patients. At the regional roadshows, cardiac networks have asked for model letters and a patient leaflets to send to patients. These have now been posted on the CHD Choice website: www.doh.gov.uk/extendingheartchoice. They are available both as a PDF and as a Word document so they can be tailored to local circumstances. Printed versions of the leaflet, with a pocket for including local materials, will be sent to Cardiac Centres shortly.

There has been discussion at the roadshows about how best to handle the introduction of the scheme which begins on 1 July. There was general agreement on the importance of contacting all eligible patients before 1 July to let them know what is planned and when they can expect to hear from their Patient Care Adviser (PCA). The letter and leaflet are designed to help cardiac centres make these arrangements. At a national level, communications will recognise that it will take a little time for PCAs to make contact with all patients, but will assume that they have at least received initial information about the scheme by 1 July.

DH contact: Alice Holmes at alice.holmes@doh.gsi.gov.uk

8. GP dispensing feescale

Please note that the new dispensing feescales for GPs, applicable from 1 May 2002, can be found on the internet: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/feesgpdispensing0203.htm

If you have any questions about the feescale contact Katy Lindfield at katy.lindfield@doh.gsi.gov.uk or on 0113 25 46337

9. National service frameworks (NSFs): pharmaceutical industry involvement

A note setting out how the pharmaceutical industry can be involved in the development and implementation of NSFs is at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/pharmaceutical.htm

DH contact liz.baldock@doh.gsi.gov.uk

10. Standardising the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) procurement process

As part of the ongoing programme of improving the PFI procurement process, standard documentation and additional guidance is launched today on the dedicated Department of Health PFI website. This consists of:

• standard Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
• standard Preliminary Invitation to Negotiate (PITN)
• standard Payment Mechanism (SPM)
• standard Output Specifications
• guidance on handling IM&T within PFI build schemes

The standard documentation builds on best practice and experience, and will save time and money for both the NHS and the private sector. The documents should be read in conjunction with the earlier guidance on improving PFI procurement (March 2002) also available on the website.

The standard output specifications hare applicable to in-house and outsourced provision of support services, as well as to PFI schemes.

The IM&T guidance will help trusts ensure that new and refurbished facilities have the appropriate and operational, IM&T support and services.

Action
The guidance must be observed by all build PFI schemes that have not yet issued their OJEC notices. The standard documents should also be applicable to many IM&T PFI schemes, though their use is not mandatory there. For schemes wishing to follow a 3-1 procurement model, the standard PITN should be used as a template for their more detailed ITN document. There is no requirement to use the standard output specifications for non-PFI service provision, though they should be treated as best practice.

The documents should be issued without amendment or addition. They supersede the relevant sections in the PFI guidance manual Public Private Partnerships in the National Health Service: The Private Finance Initiative.

Availability
The standard documents and the IM&T in build guidance are available on www.doh.gov.uk/pfi. The standard output specifications will also be available though the NHS Estates website www.nhsestates.gov.uk

Any queries on the documentation and guidance should be directed via the website or to
Peter Cockett, Private Finance and Investment Branch, Department of Health, Room 3W54
Quarry House, Leeds LS2 7UE

11. Delivering the NHS Plan with IT

A national programme for IT was announced yesterday which will significantly affect how the NHS implements IT and at what pace. It is important that NHS chief executives are aware of and involved in the better management and implementation of IT at a local level. There are also existing targets around connecting clinicians and staff to NHSnet and the electronic transfer of test results and reports to meet by April 2003.

The key elements of the national programme are:

• clearer central leadership and direction for IT
• four major national deliverables - the core IT infrastructure, electronic records, electronic prescribing and electronic appointment booking
• national standards and specifications for IT
• a new procurement strategy for compliant systems and services.

For further information please go to www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/deliveringit

DH contact Stan Lajca at: stan.lajca@doh.gsi.gov.uk

12. Appointing an Medical Devices Agency (MDA) liaison officer

The MDA issues vital patient safety warnings in the form of hazard notices, device alerts and safety notices.

It has established a network of liaison officers in all NHS trusts and social services departments in England who are responsible for promptly cascading safety warnings to the right people. As hazard notices and device alerts contain information for immediate action, these are faxed directly to the liaison officers.

Historically PCT's have found it beneficial to appoint a liaison officer in each trust. With the number of PCT's increasing, we believe this is the right time to ask them if they would like to nominate a liaison officer. We believe this approach would help both you and the MDA.

If new PCT's wish to nominate a liaison officer then please email the following contact details: name, postal address, telephone and fax number of the liaison officer amd name of PCT. We will then forward by post a liaison officer information pack.

Please email the information to: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk

The fax number is particularly important so the MDA can send hazard notices and device alerts directly to you.

MDA contact Mike Peel michael.peel@doh.gsi.gov.uk

13. Medical Devices Agency - safety and hazard notices

Safety Notice - MDA SN2002(17) mnanagement of loaned medical devices, equipment or accessories from manufacturers or other hospitals
This safety notice was issued on 6 June 2002 to NHS trusts, chief executives and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. It was also issued to liaison officers of trusts and National Care Standards Commission headquarters for action and onward distribution as specified in the notice.

Hazard notice - MDA HN2002(03) intersurgical breathing systems, LOT numbers 3021471 to 3022477: risk of inhalation of manufacturing debris
This hazard notice was issued on 28 May 2002 to NHS trusts and health authorities chief executives and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. It was also faxed 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:
bs@medical-devices.gov.uk
www.medical-devices.gov.uk

Social Care Interest

14. Plans rationalisation

Last week's Chief Executive's bulletin (issue 120, 31 May - 6 June 2002) stated the Children's Services Grant (Quality Protects) Management Action Plans would be required both this year and next year. In fact, we can now announce that the requirement for councils to prepare "QP MAPs" will be removed from 2003/04. Instead, councils will be expected to demonstrate their progress in implementing Quality Protects through the position statement.

Therefore, from 2003/04 of the 9 plans associated with special and specific grants, only 2 will continue to be required: the Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation Support Grant and the Young People's Substance Misuse Planning Grant.

Further information about social services plans reduction is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/scg/pssperform/plans or contact Rob Moore on rob.moore@doh.gsi.gov.uk telephone: 020 7972 4792.

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copyright: © | Last updated: 13 June, 2002