A-Z site index | Search | Links | Contact DH | Help

Contents:

NHS and social care interest

1. Departmental report 2003 - 2004
2. The Department of Health is changing

NHS Interest

3. Choice of Hospitals: Guidance on offering patients choice of where they are treated
4. Earned autonomy freedoms
5. Publication of the 2002 survey results
6. New regulations and directions
7. Exploitation of NHS intellectual property
8. Integrated service for the provision of domiciliary oxygen

Social care interest

9. Preserved rights audit certificates 2002 - 2003

Further items of interest

10. Local authority directions issued
11. Device bulletin MHRA DB2003 (05)

NHS and social care interest

1. Departmental report 2003 - 2004
The thirteenth annual Departmental Report for the Department of Health was published on 11 July 2003. The report sets out the aims and objectives of the department and details the main activities which support them.

It covers different business areas for which the department is responsible: public health, the NHS, social care and departmental management, as well as the resources committed to each, the results that are being achieved and the priorities for the future.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/dohreport/

Contact: Jonathan Hey at jonathan.hey@doh.gsi.gov.uk or Karl Payne at karl.payne@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

2. The Department of Health is changing
As you may be aware, the Department of Health has embarked on a major change programme, designed to provide more effective leadership to the NHS and social care.

The Department's purpose to support the government of the day to improve the health and well being of the population remains, but how we undertake this role will be very different in the future.

Details including the Department's new structure, board of directors and a timetable for change are at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/change.htm

Contact: Andrew Millward at andrew.millward@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

NHS interest

3. Choice of Hospitals: Guidance on offering patients choice of where they are treated
In a speech to the New Health Network on 16 July 2003, health secretary John Reid outlined the importance of offering patients greater choice within the NHS.

The Choice of Hospitals guidance document sets out the next steps for offering patients greater choice over where they are treated.

From summer 2004 patients waiting more than 6 months for elective surgery will be offered the choice of moving to another hospital for faster treatment. By December 2005 patients should be offered 4-5 choices at the point of GP referral.

SHAs are asked to prepare implementation plans as part of their LDP process by September 2003, (see choice guidance for further details).

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/choice/

Contact: Jonathan Marron at jonathan.marron@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

4. Earned autonomy freedoms
Following the performance ratings announcements on 16 July 2003, the Department of Health has published the earned autonomy freedoms.

These are available to three, and in some cases two-star acute, specialist, primary care, mental health, and ambulance NHS trusts. These freedoms are a package of rewards for NHS organisations who are performing well. The freedoms include an additional capital bonus of between £250k and £1 million for all three star trusts, depending on turnover.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/performanceratings/2003/ (and then click on the link Performance Ratings 2002-2003 background information).

Contact: David Stocks at david.stocks@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

5. Publication of the 2002 survey results
The national overview reports of the 2002 inpatient and GP surveys, was published by the Department of Health on 16 July 2003. Detailed results have already been released on a SHA basis, to enable benchmarking and to ensure that they are used to support local service development plans.

These results are also used to monitor delivery of the public service agreement target to, 'enhance accountability to patients and the public and secure sustained national improvements in patient experience.'

Publication of this year's survey results, via the Commission for Health Improvement, is scheduled for 30 July 2003.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/public/nhssurvey.htm

Contact: Richard Bond at richard.bond@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

6. New regulations and directions
The following regulations and directions will come into force on 18 July 2003.

• Statutory instrument 2003 No. 1616
  The PCT (membership, procedure and administration arrangements) amendment (England) regulations 2003
  
  
• Statutory instrument 2003 No. 1617
  The SHA (consultation on changes) regulations 2003
  
  
• The PCT executive committees (membership) directions 2003

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/pcts.htm

Contact: Anne Shaw on 0113 2545020 or email anne.shaw@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

7. Exploitation of NHS intellectual property
The Office of Science and Technology has published guidelines for application to the second round of the Public sector research establishments fund. £15million is available to create and enhance capacity in intellectual property management.

NHS trusts bid successfully in the first round to set up a network of 'innovation hubs'. The new funding gives the opportunity to consolidate and add to the network. Plans are in hand for new bids with the lead NHS trusts, which are due by 31 October 2003. Chief executives of NHS trusts and PCTs are encouraged to support these bids as they are developed.

Details at www.ost.gov.uk/enterprise/knowledge/index.htm

Contact: Tony Bates at tony.bates@north-bristol.swest.nhs.uk or tony.bates@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0117 9595387.

Top

8. Integrated service for the provision of domiciliary oxygen
With the planned introduction of the revised service for the provision of domiciliary oxygen, PCT chief executives are asked to review the number and provision of oxygen 'sets' in their locality.

Oxygen sets are integral to the delivery of oxygen gas from cylinders to patients. These are currently provided by community pharmacists and are loaned to patients for the duration of their need for oxygen therapy.

The purchase of additional oxygen sets should be limited to what is absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of the current service.

Details at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/MedicinesPharmacyAndIndustry
/Prescriptions/PrescriptionsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4049409&chk=Z6zZix

Contact: Peter Dunlevy at peter.dunlevy@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

Social care interest

9. Preserved rights audit certificates 2002 - 2003
When completing line two of form number PR02/03 with regard to the Preserved rights grant for 2002-2003, councils must record the net cost to them of providing for those ex-preserved rights clients for which they have financial responsibility. That is, the cost of care for an individual minus any client contribution and any third party top-ups.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/preservedrights/index.htm

Contact: Pardeep Dhesi at pardeep.dhesi@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Top

Further items of interest

10. Local authority directions issued - The Department of Health has issued directions requiring local authorities to form a joint overview and scrutiny committee to consider any proposal for a substantial development or variation in services. Details at www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients/guidance.htm

Top

11. Device bulletin MHRA DB2003 (05) - Management of medical devices prior to repair, service or investigation. The bulletin updates the information previously provided in HSG (93) 26 and MDA SN9516. Details at www.mhra.gov.uk

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

Top

copyright: © | Last updated: 27 July 2004