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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. Preserved rights grant 2002/3: reports to Department of Health
2. Criminal Records Bureau
3. National Clinical Audit Support Programme - advice
4. National comparative clinical audit for lung cancer
5. Terms and conditions of service for hospital medical and dental staff (England and Wales) and public health doctors
6. Launch of National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England
7. Responsibility for charges - dental, optical, travelling expenses, wigs, fabric supports
8. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs): How to buy a PPC from October 2002
9. Recruitment for the independent advisory group on sexual health and HIV
10. Mental Health Act 1983 - R v Manchester City Council ex parte Stennett and two other actions

NHS interest

11. Management of surplus property by NHS trusts in England - requirement for trust estates development strategies
12. Good practice guidelines for renal dialysis/transplantation units: prevention and control of blood-borne virus infection
13. Dealing with harassment by NHS service users
14. Copyright licence for the NHS
15. Taking blood specimens from those involved in road traffic accidents to test for levels of alcohol or drugs
16. NHS international nurses advice line
17. Governance in the NHS National Conference 2002
18. Reminder to complete and return the Survey of Independent Sector Usage
19. NHS International Fellowship Scheme

Social care interest

20. Codes of practice for social care workers and employers

NHS / social care interest

1. Preserved rights grant 2002/3: reports to Department of Health

The Preserved Rights Grant 2002/3 Determination was published on 20 August.

Annex B of the determination sets out the conditions for payment of the grant. Local authorities are required to submit information about their preserved rights caseload to the Department of Health by 11 October 2002 (paragraph 4 of Annex B). This information should reflect the position on 30 September 2002. It will be used to inform decisions about the allocation of resources for preserved rights in 2003/4.

A copy of the determination can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/determinationprg0203.pdf

The information should be sent to Philip Hughes, Department of Health, Directorate for Children, Older People and Social Care Services, Room 211, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG. Tel: 020-7972 4667, e-mail: philip.hughes@doh.gov.gsi.uk

This entry is included in the bulletin a second time because last week the incorrect phone number was published. We apologise for this inconvenience - the correct details follow below.

Many trusts are experiencing difficulties because of the widely publicised delays in processing applications for disclosures by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The Department is in negotiation with the Home Office/CRB over measures to improve or alleviate the situation. Meanwhile guidance has been prepared to assist trusts in dealing with these problems and may be accessed here: www.doh.gov.uk/crb/index.htm

If there are particular problems in dealing with the CRB, please contact Karen Lea on 0113 254 7351 or Gordon Fleck on 0113 254 6575. Email addresses are mailto:karen.lea@doh.gsi.gov.uk and mailto:gordon.fleck@doh.gsi.gov.uk Gordon or Karen may be able to help with particularly urgent cases or other problems that cannot be resolved locally.

Advice is now available setting out the actions required to deliver the National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP). This information is aimed at chief executives, clinical governance, NSF and IM&T leads.

The programme was announced as part of the Government's response to the Kennedy Report (see Paragraphs 8.16 to 8.25). Participation in the cancer and CHD parts of the programme is identified as a priority for the NHS in the Priorities and Planning Framework for 2002/03.

NCASP addresses the need for comparative data in key clinical areas - cancer, mental health, coronary heart disease, older people's services and diabetes. It will significantly improve clinical governance carried out by local services. This relatively limited pragmatic programme is broadly consistent with the implementation of Information for Health.

It is being developed through a collaboration between the Department of Health, the clinical professions and the NHS Information Authority and has the full support of the national clinical directors and the director of clinical governance. NCASP will become part of the CHI programme as CHI takes over responsibility for national clinical audit development.

The national programme provides a toolkit for local use. National funding for the toolkit is provided from the Information for Health budget and local funding for implementation was earmarked in the 2002/03 LIS Toolkit to supplement existing IM&T and clinical governance funds. The additional £100m to support revascularisation and the patient choice scheme this year also included resources to support this programme.

The advice can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/ncasp/index.htm

For further information contact Anne Fletcher on 0113 2546037 or anne.fletcher@doh.gsi.gov.uk

The National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP) is developing the national comparative clinical audit for lung cancer. This work was commissioned by the Department of Health and is managed by the NHS Information Authority.

A project document containing background information to the programme as well as the draft lung questions and dataset was issued for consultation on 10 September. It was sent to cancer network lead clinicians, cancer network lung cancer lead clinicians, cancer network managers, cancer network information leads, cancer service collaborative lung cancer leads and StHA chief information officers.

The consultation period ends on the 2 October. The document is available at http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/phsmi/pages/ncasp.asp?om=m1and responses to the consultation can be sent to LUCADA@nhsia.nhs.uk

For further information contact Jill Anderson on 0207 972 4816 or visit www.nhsia.nhs.uk/phsmi

The National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP) is intended to support individual clinicians, clinical teams, health care organisations, the Department of Health, NICE, CHI and the public in monitoring clinical performance against agreed standards and indicators. The Government is committed to introducing national comparative clinical audit with cancer as one of the areas being fast-tracked.

The terms and conditions of service for hospital medical and dental staff (England and Wales) and public health doctors have been merged and will take effect from 23 September.

The terms and conditions and advance letter 4/02, outline the main changes

For further information contact enquiry-box@doh.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0113 2545710.

England's first ever National Suicide Prevention Strategy was launched on 16 September by health minister Jacqui Smith. The strategy has been developed under the direction of the national director for mental health Professor Louis Appleby. It will ensure that steps are being taken to meet the target of reducing the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by 2010 as laid out in Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation. It follows a three-month consultation period during which over 300 comments were received.

The factors associated with suicide are many and varied. A coherent, co-ordinated strategy will therefore need the collaboration of a wide range of organisations and individuals. It is intended to be an evolving strategy which will develop in light of progress made and emerging evidence. Implementation of the strategy will be taken forward by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) as one of its core programmes of work.

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy can be found on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/suicideprevention.htm and on the NIMHE website www.nimhe.org.uk

Copies can also be ordered from Department of Health Publications, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH.

For further information contact Keith Foster on 0113 2543817 or keith.foster@doh.gsi.gov.uk

• Dental charges - A revised scheme for dealing with claims for refunds of patients' dental charges is being introduced from 1 October. Previously HAs paid refunds of dental charges but this procedure will not be taken over by PCTs. Refunds of dental charges will be paid by the Dental Practice Board (DPB).
• Replacement dental appliances - Where a dentist replaces a dental appliance they may make a charge for that replacement. If paying the charge would result in hardship the DPB will consider whether or not that charge should be reduced or waived. This was previously done by HAs but responsibility will not transfer to PCTs.
• Other charges - PCTs will become responsible for paying refunds for sight tests and glasses. Hospitals will continue to pay refunds for travelling expenses , wigs and fabric supports.

Further information can be found on http://www.doh.gov.uk/dental/chargesrefund.htm

For further information contact Geraldine Scruton on 0207 9723984 or geraldine.m.scruton@doh.gsi.gov.uk

8. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs): How to buy a PPC from October 2002

People who have to pay for more than five prescriptions in four months or 14 items in 12 months may find it cheaper to buy a prescription charge pre-payment certificate (PPC). A new poster is now available for display in libraries and other internal or external local authority information points.

The poster can be viewed at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/hc20poster.pdf

Posters are available free of charge from:
Department of Health, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH,
Fax: 01623 724 524,
The NHS Responseline: 08701 555 455.

For further information on prescription charges contact Veena Kavia on 0207 210 5925 or veena.kavia@doh.gsi.gov.uk

An independent advisory group is being set up to take forward the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy Implementation Action Plan which was published in June this year. The group will monitor progress and advise government on implementation, including any further action necessary to achieve the strategy's aims. The group will meet quarterly and will publish independent report progress every year, including a summary of national and local progress.

Twenty-five members from a wide range of backgrounds are being sought to join the group. You may therefore wish to draw this to the attention of staff working in sexual health and HIV. A primary care trust chief executive or senior officer is also required with the following competencies:

• commitment to developing sexual health services as part of the modernisation agenda
• experience and interest in the development of sexual health/HIV services across the range of providers
• experience of service user involvement in planning or community participation
• understanding of the need to develop services in line with strategic aims.

A senior social services manager is also being sought with expertise in supporting people living with HIV with the following competancies:

• experience of working in local government and expert knowledge of the workings of local government across different disciplines
• understanding and operational experience of working with young people and vulnerable groups.

For an application form, information pack and job description contact CAPITA RAS on 01325 745170. The deadline for applications is 9 October 2002.

10. Mental Health Act 1983 - R v Manchester City Council ex parte Stennett and two other actions

The House of Lords judgment in the case of R v Manchester City Council ex parte Stennett and two other actions has confirmed Department of Health guidance that Mental Health Act 1983 s117 aftercare should not be charged for. Those authorities that have made such a charge will no doubt now wish to address that issue and will each wish to seek their own advice as to the extent of their liability.

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11. Management of surplus property by NHS trusts in England - requirement for trust estates development strategies

The estates strategy proforma and estates strategy checklist available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsestates/index.htm should be completed and returned to NHS Estates by Friday 11 October 2002.

Please e-mail returns to dennis.bastow@doh.gsi.gov.uk (0113 254 7106) or lynda.archer@doh.gsi.gov.uk (0113 254 7180). Hard copies can be forwarded to Head of performance and estates analysis, 1 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6AE.

On 21 March 2002, the National Audit Office published a report followed by a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing in which concern was expressed at the number of trusts that do not have an estate strategy. The PAC was advised that by 31 December 2002 all trusts would have a board-approved estate strategy that had regard to Developing an Estate Strategy published by NHS Estates in December 1999 (available at http://www.nhsestates.gov.uk/home.asp )

All chief executives of NHS trusts and primary care trusts should ensure that their trust has an approved estate strategy by 31 December 2002.

The estates strategy proforma and estates strategy checklist are the means by which the current position with regard to trust estates strategies will be monitored up to 31 December 2002. Please note that the September 2002 return is an interim return which will be repeated nearer to the December 2002 deadline.

For further information contact your relevant NHS Estates Divisional Manager:
North - andrew.collingwood@doh.gsi.gov.uk
South - pamela.chapman@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Eastern & Midlands - david.whiteley@doh.gsi.gov.uk
London - terry.murphy@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Good Practice Guidelines for Renal Dialysis/Transplantation Units: Prevention and Control of Blood-borne Virus Infection was published on 13 September.

The guidelines are based on the recommendations of a working group set up for the Department of Health by the Public Health Laboratory Service. They replace those issued in 1972 by the Rosenheim Advisory Group on preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in renal dialysis and renal transplantation units. Since then, new blood-borne viruses (BBVs) including HIV and hepatitis C have been identified. The new guidelines describe the precautions that should be taken by renal units to prevent the transmission of BBVs generally.

The guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/renalguide/index.htm

Hard copies are available from Department of Health PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH. Tel 08701 555 455. Fax: 01623 724524 (Quote ref:29117)

For further information contact Ruth Hickson on 0207 9726506 or ruth.hickson@doh.gsi.gov.uk

A campaign to tackle harassment of NHS staff by service users was launched by John Hutton on 5 September. As part of the zero tolerance campaign, all NHS HR directors have been issued with copies of campaign posters and the new guidance, Dealing With Harassment by NHS Service Users - A guide for NHS Managers, to support NHS managers and staff in dealing with all forms of harassment.

The new guidance applies to all grades and levels of staff working in the NHS. It explains to managers and staff how to recognise harassment and the steps that can be taken to prevent and address it in the NHS workplace.

The guidance and posters are available at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance or from doh@prolog.uk.com (Quote job 29014).

For further information contact:
Meena Paterson at meena.paterson@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 5758
Eileen Calline at eileen.calline@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 6131

The NHS has agreed a three-year copyright licence with the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA). The central licence allows NHS organisations in England to photocopy a wide range of books, magazines and journals.

The licence, which covers all NHS organisations including trusts, health authorities and GPs allows 15 copies to be made for any purpose and 25 copies for a single meeting of a designated committee. The licence also allows copying of one chapter of a book and any number of articles from a theme issue journal. It includes the photocopying of photographs and illustrations.

If you need to make more copies you will need clearance from the CLA's Rapid Clearance Service (CLARCS) which will invoice your organisation directly.

Further information, including a list of excluded works, is available from the Copyright Licencing Agency web site www.cla.co.uk and the Information Policy Unit web site www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/nhsla/index.htm or from
Veronica Fraser on 0113 2546047 or veronica.fraser@doh.gsi.gov.uk

The Police Reform Act 2002 contains new powers for taking blood specimens from those involved in road traffic accidents, who are unable to consent, to test for levels of alcohol or drugs. The new powers come in to force on 1 October 2002. NHS trusts should ensure that medical staff who may be responsible for the care of those involved in road traffic accidents, in particular accident & emergency staff, are aware of the new provisions. Guidance from the Department of Health is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/consent/praguidance/index.htm

For further information contact Hugh Whittall on 020 7972 1435 or hugh.whittall@doh.gsi.gov.uk

A telephone advice line has been set up to provide advice and assistance to internationally recruited nurses who may have been exploited by unscrupulous recruitment agencies or who find they are unable to enter a supervised practice programme. The number is 08458 505888 and will be available during office hours.

The line expects to handle three main types of caller:

• People who wish to find out about careers in the NHS or the route to supervised training programmes. These calls will be directed through to the NHS Careers dedicated team who are already experienced in dealing with these calls. Some callers may be put in touch with their nearest Workforce Development Confederation who are best placed to handle their case.
• Nurses already working in the NHS who have a complaint about their terms of service. The line is not intended for this group and they will be advised to contact their union or the HR department in the NHS organisation for which they work.
• Overseas nurses who have been charged a fee by a recruitment agency, who are in private care homes and find they are not able to access a proper supervised training programme or who consider they are being abused. In these cases the call handler will take down details which will be passed to the international recruitment team in Quarry House who will involve the appropriate Workforce Development Confederation or the National Care Standards Commission.

The telephone line is one part of a programme of work being carried out by a stakeholder group to identify and tackle the loopholes and system failures which can result in the exploitation of vulnerable nurses recruited from overseas.

For further information contact Liz Kidd on 0113 254 5844.

17. Governance in the NHS National Conference 2002

The next Governance in the NHS National Conference will take place from Monday 4 - Tuesday 5 November 2002 at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham.

It will provide organisations with an opportunity to build on their 2001/02 controls assurance work, understand the proposals for the 2002/2003 requirements and consider the implications of the next phase of the converging governance agenda. The second day will feature up to 12 interactive workshops.

Speakers are drawn from a wide variety of organisations including The Department of Health, Clinical Governance Support Team, The Review Board (Accounting Standards), Institute of Internal Auditors US & Canada, PDK Control Consulting International, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Luton Primary Care Trust. Keynote: Lord Hunt of King's Heath (tbc)

While aimed at NHS board members (executive and non-executive/officer) this event is equally relevant to all professionals with responsibility for, or an interest in, governance, internal control and risk management issues. Day two will be of particular relevance to those tasked with implementing various aspects of the governance agenda in their organisations.

Programme and registration details are available on the Controls Assurance website - www.doh.gov.uk/riskman.htm

You can book online at www.casu.org.uk/conference

For further information contact Lorraine Thomas on lorraine.thomas@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 5255.

This is a reminder to all StHAs, NHS hospital trusts and PCTs that the deadline for submitting returns for the Survey of Independent sector Usage is 30 September.

The survey can be downloaded from http://www.doh.gov.uk/independentsurvey/index.htm

Please send returns to sheikh.rahman@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Further details are available on the website. If you have trouble accessing the site, contact Sheikh Rahman on 020 7972 553

The Department of Health is beginning the second round of the NHS International Fellowship Scheme with adverts appearing from mid September and during October 2002. The adverts will appear in the Lancet and the BMJ as well as in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

150 international fellowships are offered in clinical practice working as a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia, imaging, clinical oncology, psychiatry, histopathology and thoracic surgery.

The directorates of health and social care have been asked to work with strategic health authorities and workforce development confederations to identify suitable vacancies in these specialties. If any trusts have suitable vacancies, they should contact the DHSC lead as soon as possible. The leads are:

North
Jeff Moore - mailto:jeff.moore@doh.gsi.gov.uk, 0192 570 4124
Helen Jackson - hjackson@mri1.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk 0161 276 5660

London
Sandra Hatton - sandra.hatton@doh.gsi.gov.uk 020 7725 5534
Liz Lowe - liz.lowe@doh.gsi.gov.uk 020 7725 5565

Midlands and East
Jane Marshall - jane.marshall@doh.gsi.gov.uk 0114 282 0371

South
Anne Rainsberry - anne.rainsberry@doh.gsi.gov.uk 020 7725 2797

There will be a meeting on 5 November in central London for all trusts interested in taking part in the next round of the scheme.

Further details can be found at www.nhs.uk/fellowships and www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment or contact Claire Davies on claire.davies@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 5889.

If you receive any enquiries from potential candidates about the scheme, please direct them to our recruitment specialists on 00 44 191 223 5678 (24 hours) or nhsinternationalfellowship@tmp.com
for an information pack.

Candidates can apply on line at www.nhs.uk/fellowships

Social care interest

20. Codes of practice for social care workers and employers

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) is launching codes of practice for social care workers and employers in England on 23 September.

Developed jointly with the care and social services councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the codes will underpin the registration and regulation of 1.2 million social care workers by the GSCC.

They spell out the standards people can expect of social care workers and their employers. Signing up to the code will be a requirement for workers wanting to join the social care register when it launches in 2003. Qualified social workers will be in the first wave of workers joining the register. The GSCC is now finalising arrangements for distributing copies of the code to local authorities and other agencies.

For more information visit www.gscc.org.uk or email info@gscc.org.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 - ©2002

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copyright: © | Last updated: 8 October, 2002