A-Z site
index | Search | Links
| Contact
DH | Help
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Chief Executive Bulletin
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. Learning Disability Development Fund
(LDDF) - revenue NHS interest 9. Patient prospectus Social care interest NHS / Social Care interest 1. 1. Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) - revenue Letters were sent to all health authorities in March (copied to their partner local authorities) about the release of their LDDF allocations. The letter releasing the money referred to it being a non-recurrent allocation. This has led some authorities/PCTs to query whether it should be spent on longer term commitments such as the payment of salaries. Ministers have confirmed that, as with baseline health allocations which are also allocated annually, LDDF revenue can be spent on longer term commitments in support of the priority areas listed at paragraph 10.7 of Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century For further information contact Elaine Cooper at elaine.cooper@doh.gsi.gov.uk 2. Services for people using sign language - consultation A Sign of the Times; Modernising Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf is a consultation document about the development of services for people who use sign language as their main means of communication. The document sets out options about the role of specialist services and how local services might become more responsive to the needs of this population. It uses the National Service Framework for Mental Health as a benchmark against which to consider current and potential service provision. Available on www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/signofthetimes.htm or through NHS Reponseline on 08701 555 455 quoting 27966/A sign of the times. Also available in a British sign language video by contacting Bob McDonald on bob.mcdonald@doh.gsi.gov.uk 3. Fair access to care services - practice guidance Directors of social services, and chief executives of strategic health authorities, PCTs and care trusts, are advised that practice guidance on "Fair Access to Care Services" (FACS) will be published on the Internet at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/facs on 2 August 2002. Policy guidance on FACS was published on 28 May 2002 and deals with the way in which councils set and apply eligibility criteria for adult social care. The practice guidance will assist with implementation. DH contact Titilayo Sylvester email: titilayo.sylvester@doh.gsi.gov.uk 4. Drug prevention project information The Department of Health is carrying out an exercise to identify where the department's drug prevention funding has been used to resource projects which you would consider to be good practice. It will also allow the department to provide ministers with evidence of the positive contribution that this resource has had in the development of drug prevention work. Please forward comments to Angela.Owusu@doh.gov.uk, Drugs@doh.gov.uk or to Department of Health, Substance Misuse Team, 80 Skipton House, London Road, London SE1 6LW Details: www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/dppiletter.htm 5. European working time directive (WTD) WTD conferences The second WTD conference took place on 9 July. Delegates identified nine areas as key to successful implementation of the WTD:
The department will also be having discussions with the BMA, NHS Confederation and royal colleges on how we can work together to disseminate good practice guidance on the above. WTD pilots Trusts have been invited to submit bids to pilot innovative solutions for implementing the WTD for junior doctors. The response to the invitation was overwhelming with a total of 428 bids to consider. From this original list we have identified 18 pilot projects. In all cases we will be carrying out further discussions with the trusts to finalise the project plan. In addition to the trusts listed we shall be having discussions with a number of other trusts and bidders with a view to developing a small number of additional pilots covering areas not included in the bids selected so far. We are looking at ways of disseminating good practice guidance from the pilot sites and will keep you informed of plans. Further information
and enquiries contact: Shain.Clarke@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Details: www.doh.gov.uk/workingtime/index.htm 6. Fast track Protection of Children Act (POCA) check arrangements with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Due to the current delays at the CRB the department arranged for some POCA checks to be fast-tracked for the NHS. Organisations using the fast track services should note that the CRB will need the surname (in capitals) first names, date of birth, gender and any previous or maiden names of the applicant to process the check. The CRB may not be able to produce the check if all this information is not provided. The application would then have to be returned to the registered body resulting in delays. For further information contact Lucy Ashall at lucy.ashall@doh.gsi.gov.uk or on 0113 254 7351 7. First year strategy of the National Institute for Mental Health We are very pleased to share with you the first year strategy of the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) NIMHE is a new organisation, part of the Modernisation Agency at the Department of Health. NIMHE will help to improve the lives of people of all ages who experience mental distress. Working beyond the NHS, we help all those involved in mental health (service users, carers, practitioners and voluntary organisations) to implement change, providing a gateway for learning and development. This strategy was recently launched at our first event, CONNECTIONS 2002, in Newcastle. Backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, we outlined nine priority programmes for action and eight regional development centres. These will be the vehicles of change for mental health in England. We also launched our web site, www.nimhe.org.uk, which will develop into a key agent for sharing news, setting challenges and establishing what really works well in practise. Please read our strategy, give us your feedback and use NIMHE to help you. The strategy can be downloaded via the NIMHE website or hard copies are available from the NHS Responseline from the 9 August 2002. DH Contact: Lindsey Wright, mhstemp@doh.gsi.gov.uk 8. Thalidomide-impaired People: Quality of Life The Thalidomide Society has produced a report entitled Thalidomide-impaired People: Quality of Life, based on a project funded by the Community Fund to investigate how the health and social care needs of thalidomide-impaired people are changing as they age. The resulting report aims to raise awareness of the views and experiences of thalidomide-impaired people and provide an information resource for health and social care professionals. Copies of the report are available from Vivien Kerr at the Thalidomide Society at 19 Central Avenue, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 5BT, (020) 8868 5309, info@thalsoc.demon.co.uk NHS interest As you are aware, the publication of Delivering the NHS Plan in April 2002 identified PCTs as the lead organisations for producing the first Patient Prospectus. This prospectus (to be called Your Guide to Local Health Services) will be produced in October this year as a short, handy leaflet and will be an important step in providing key information about health services to the local population. The key aims of this leaflet are to:
The Department commissioned research to find out what people wanted to know about the NHS locally and, as a result, we have produced a template to aid PCTs in producing their leaflets. We have also produced some guidance which will help PCTs, including a dedicated Helpline for advice. The template and guidance can be accessed below. In order to help share good practice and develop local networks, please let your strategic health authority comms lead know who in each PCT is taking the lead in producing this leaflet. Template and guidance: www.doh.gov.uk/patientprospectus 10. Making a Difference: Reducing burdens in hospitals On 31 July 2002, Lord Hunt launched a joint DH and Cabinet Office report on reducing burdens in hospitals. The report identifies 40 practical outcomes that will be implemented to free up time for front-line staff to concentrate on delivering care. The ideas have come from front-line staff, and are agreed outcomes rather than recommendations. The outcomes are grouped under twelve categories, in three main areas: The patient journey Interface with primary
care Information flows Patient records and
hospital paperwork Quality Risk management Please ensure that relevant managers and front-line staff are aware of this report, as the successful implementation of the outcomes depends on their co-operation and feedback. Full copies and one-page summaries of the report are available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/reducingburdensinhospitals and http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/PublicSector/reports.htm. For hard copies or queries please contact Vicky Lawrence at the Public Sector Team on 020 7276 2194, or email psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk. 11. The role of healthcare professions within the critical care services The Modernisation Agency has just published this groundbreaking working paper highlighting the role of healthcare professions within critical care services. The Role of Healthcare Professions within Critical Care Services paper, written by the AHP and HCS Advisory Group, is crucial to the modernisation of critical care services. It demonstrates the value of a collective approach of professions working together. Each profession involved has an individual section including background, the role within critical care, examples of improving practice and key issues facing each specific profession. Clear recommendations are provided for the active involvement of AHP and HCS in the modernisation of critical care including communication strategies, representation strategies, workforce development issues, role expansion and blurring of professional boundaries. The AHP and HCS Advisory Group, alongside engaged local AHP and HCS staff within networks, will continue to work to ensure implementation of the recommendations. The professions included within the paper are dietetics, occupational therapy, clinical pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology, diagnostic radiography, speech and language therapy and critical care technology. To access the paper go to www.criticalcare.nhs.uk following the links to working groups or please contact Jill Chapman 0116 222 5119 or jill.chapman@npat.nhs.uk For further information please contact Fran Woodard - Chair of the AHP and HCS Critical Care Advisory Group on fran.woodard@doh.gsi.gov.uk 12. Retained Organs Commission - monthly progress report For the past six months, as part of its performance function, the Retained Organs Commission has asked trusts to complete and return a monthly progress report on organ retention work. Following an internal review, the commission has revised the format of the return. A copy of the new form and a letter to chief executives outlining the new procedure is available on the commission's website at http://www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans The commission's organ retention contacts at relevant trusts are also being notified separately of the change. Any enquiries about the new form should be referred to Rosalind Joseph on 0207 972 2117. 13. Postgraduate medical education and training board Following consultation on proposals for a new Medical Education Standards Board between December 2001 and March 2002, the Government has issued a 'Statement on Policy'. The proposed board has been re-named the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). It will have a medical majority, but patient and NHS representation at board level will ensure that patients' interests are addressed, and that NHS postgraduate medical training needs are met. The board will have the flexibility to draw in expertise from a range of stakeholders, including the royal colleges and postgraduate deans who will be involved in the postgraduate medical education and training process. The PMETB will replace the existing competent authorities for postgraduate medical education and training, the Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in General Practice and the Specialist Training Authority. A copy of the policy statement can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk/pmetpolicy.htm DH contact Matthew Fagg email matthew.fagg@doh.gsi.gov.uk 14. Influenza immunisation programme 2002-03 A letter dated 25 July was sent to directors of finance at strategic health authorities with reference numbers for resource and cash limit adjustments to their budgets for monies to run the influenza immunisation programme for 2002-03. The letter instructed that the monies should be devolved to the PCTs, weighted according to the population of people aged 65 years and over. PCTs should use the additional funding to ensure that all people aged 65 years and over are contacted and offered immunisation, to ensure that uptake is monitored, and to ensure that all PCTs try to achieve the best uptake among their target population. The national average target uptake among people aged 65 years and over is 70 per cent. These monies are not for use for the immunisation of NHS staff. Funding of local NHS staff influenza programmes remains the responsibility of NHS employers. 15. The main (provisional) results of the sight tests volume and workforce survey. It is estimated that in 2001-02:
DH Contact Allan Cox email: allan.cox@doh.gsi.gov.uk Details 16. Improving the use of clinical databases High quality clinical databases offer opportunities to carry out clinical audit, the planning and management of services, provide individual clinicians with accurate estimates of the outcome of their care and do evaluative research. A website has been established (Directory of Clinical Databases - DoCDat at www.lshtm.ac.uk/docdat) where visitors can ascertain what databases exist and be provided with an independent assessment as to their scope and quality. Searchers can find databases on the basis of a medical condition, a health care intervention and a geographical area. The information provided on the coverage and accuracy of the identified databases enables an assessment to be made as to their suitability. The website only provides an overview of each clinical database. To delve deeper it is necessary for the user to obtain more from the database custodian, whose contact details are provided. The aim of DoCDat is to enable greater access and use of clinical databases, and to improve their quality. The website is supported by the Nuffield Trust and the Department of Health. Contact details: 17. Gluten free foods - local options for supply The Department of Health/Cabinet Office report Making a Difference: Reducing Burdens on General Practitioners - second report (published on 25 June) noted that GPs feel burdened by requests to prescribe gluten free foods. While repeat dispensing schemes and/or supplementary prescribing by pharmacists should lessen this burden in due course, PCTs may wish to consider taking local action, having sought the advice of their local GPs on whether alternative supply options are necessary and/or appropriate. Further advice on the alternatives to prescribing of gluten free foods can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/glutenfree DH contact is Kevin Guinness at kevin.guinness@doh.gsi.gov.uk 18. NHS Performance Fund 2002-03 The final £85 million of the NHS Performance Fund for 2002-03 has now been allocated to strategic health authorities. Revised instructions for trusts on how to use their share is available at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformance/perffund The website provides details of the fair shares allocation for each NHS trust and PCT/G and outlines how the money might be spent. For further information contact Alex Joiner at alex.joiner@doh.gsi.gov.uk 19. Repeat survey of independent sector usage This is a note to draw your attention to the survey of NHS use of the independent sector which is currently being conducted to gather information about the second half of the financial year 2001-02. The survey can be downloaded at www.doh.gov.uk/independentsurvey Returns should be sent electronically to Sheikh Rahman by the 30 September. Further details are available from the website. If you have trouble accessing the website please contact Sheikh Rahman on 020 7972 5534. Chief executives of strategic health authorities, NHS hospital trusts and PCTs are asked to ensure that their organisations submit returns by the deadline above. 20. Delayed transfers of care from hospital The consultation on the government's proposals to reimburse the NHS for delayed transfers of care from hospital, as announced in the chief executive's bulletin No. 125, is now available on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/delayeddischarge/consult.htm. Comments are invited to the joint unit mailbox - mb-hsd-scju@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Ministers pledged in the NHS Cancer Plan that the NHS will invest an extra £50 million in specialist palliative care services by 2004. It is increasingly clear that we are not on track to deliver this commitment. At the All Party Parliament Hospice Group, health minister Hazel Blears reaffirmed the £50m commitment. She and the secretary of state have asked the national cancer director to work with strategic health authorities, cancer networks and with the voluntary sector, through the National Council for Hospices and Specialist Palliative Care Services, to develop a mechanism to guarantee the £50m reaches front line services by 2004. We will work with strategic health authorities, cancer networks and the voluntary sector through national council to develop a mechanism for delivering the £50m by 2004 and to secure longer-term investment. In developing this we will need to bear in mind:
This work will take place over the summer. DH contact Sue Hawkett email: sue.hawkett@doh.gsi.gov.uk 22. Invitation for repeat dispensing pathfinder sites Details of the proposed arrangements for repeat dispensing and the intention to start the scheme in around 30 pathfinder sites this Autumn have previously been released. (CE bulletin 14-20 June Issue 122) PCTs are invited to apply now to be in the first wave of Pathfinder Sites. Background on repeat dispensing and the application form can be found at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsrepeatdispensing Completed applications will need to be submitted to the Department of Health by noon Wednesday 11 September 2002. For further details contact Susan Grieve at susan.grieve@doh.gsi.gov.uk Further briefing and frequently asked questions on the consultant contract will be sent to all chief executives, medical directors and HR directors later this week, copies are also available at www.doh.gov.uk/consultantscontract. You can also email: enquiry-box@doh.gsi.gov.uk or telephone(0113 254 5710). 24. Device bulletin - MDA DB2002(05) - decontamination of endoscopes This device bulletin was issued in July 2002 to the NHS via liaison officers of NHS trusts for action and for onward distribution as specified in the bulletin. This device bulletin is available on our website at http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk Copies of this device bulletin are free to health and social care providers and may be obtained on written request from Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH Fax: 01623 724 524
25. Patient information leaflets Information about a package of measures designed to support compliance with the law on the provision of leaflets supplied with medicines from both hospital and community pharmacies is available on the DH website at www.doh.gov.uk/dispensedmedecines and the MCA web-site at www.mca.gov.uk For more information contact peter.dunlevy@doh.gsi.gov.uk or jeremy.mean@mca.gsi.gov.uk 26. National Patient Safety Agency issue of patient safety alert (PSA 01) - action to prevent accidental overdose with intravenous potassium The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued its first patient safety alert on 23 July 2002. The topic of the alert is preventing accidental overdose of intravenous potassium in hospitals by:
Hard copy is available from the NPSA website http://www.npsa.org.uk/ and NHS Responseline. A version of the alert for patients and the public has been sent to patient organisations such as PALS and CHCs. Future alerts will be distributed via DH electronic bulletins to NHS chief executives, medical directors, nursing directors and directors of public health. Social care interest 27. CI Letter (2002)9 - The roles and responsibilities of directors of social services This CI letter restates the statutory roles and responsibilities of directors of social services. It takes account of recent changes in local council governance and the substantial changes in how local services are organised and delivered. There must be a single, designated director of social services accountable for the quality of all social work and social care services of the council. It also sets out what the Social Services Inspectorate will expect to find in place during the conduct of inspections and wider performance assessment work to ensure the quality of social services. For further information contact derek.gardiner@doh.gsi.gov.uk or carolyn.denne@doh.gsi.gov.uk Earlier this month the Department of Health director of communications Sian Jarvis spoke at the conference for nhs chief executives and directors of social services at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London. Sian highlighted some of the findings that have emerged from research conducted about the NHS. The research examined in detail how patients and the public regard the services in their area, and also their perception of the service nationally. It showed that regular users of services had a much more positive view of the NHS, particularly locally, than those people who had not come into contact with NHS services recently. At the time Sian apologised for making her presentation so focused on the NHS. She asked if any social services departments or local authorities had carried out any comparable consumer research to contact her. I am writing to follow up that request. We are keen to make future presentations relevant for the whole audience, so any research you may have carried out would be of great interest. In particular, we would be grateful for any research you have carried out on consumer satisfaction that you are keen to share. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss this work further. Nick Court (deputy director - Communications Development) Telephone: 020 7210 5951, Email: nick.court@doh.gsi.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 - ©2002
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You
are here: 
