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Chief
Executive Bulletin 26 October - 1 November 2001 |
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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS and Social Care interest 1. Health Service Commissioner - "Completed Investigations" Report - April To July 2001 NHS Interest 4. Advance Letter (GC) 1/2001: 2002 Spring Bank Holiday
and Special Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday Social Care interest 11. Social Work Recruitment NHS / Social Care interest 1. Health Service Commissioner - "Completed Investigations" Report - April To July 2001 The Health Service Commissioner published today (1 November) his "Investigations Completed" report covering the period April to July 2001. The report (in two volumes) is available on the Commissioner's website (www.ombudsman.org.uk). These reports are an invaluable source of information for the NHS both for improving services and as a training resource. Chief Executives urged to consider carefully how they might best be used within their organisation. The Commissioner has raised in the Foreword two key themes emerging from his investigations - care provided in accident and emergency departments (including support and supervision of junior clinical staff), and investigating and handling complaints. Conveners in particular will find the cases highlighted in the section on complaints handling useful in flagging up potential problem areas and Chief Executives should ensure that all Conveners and complaints managers are made aware of the Commissioner's report. For further information contact: Adrian Landon, Complaints and Clinical Negligence Policy Team. Tel: 0113 254 5679 E-mail: adrian.landon@doh.gsi.gov.uk 2. NHS Reform - Shifting the Balance of Power Letter to PCT/PCG Chief Executives regarding the role of Mental Health NSF Local Implementation Teams, (LITs) in the planning and implementation architecture for delivery of modern mental health services. Kathy Doran, (Head of Primary Care) and Antony Sheehan and John Mahoney, (Joint Heads of Mental Health) write jointly to PCT and PCG Chief Executives on the future role of Mental Health NSF Local Implementation Teams. LITs are to remain a key feature of the planning and implementation structures required to deliver a modern MH service under the arrangements to be established following 'Shifting the Balance of Power'. PCT's and other NHS and Social Care stakeholders should preserve and enhance the capacity of LITs to deliver a coordinated approach to modernisation of services. Organisations should also work with LITs to ensure the populations they cover are acceptable to PCT and Local Authority interests. 3. DEVICE ALERT - MDA DA2001(07) Recall of Baxter A and AF Series Dialysers. This Device Alert was issued on the 24th of October to NHS Trust, Health Authority, Primary Care Trusts Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services. As usual, it was also faxed to Trust and Health Authority Liaison Officers for immediate action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. Electronic version of the DA 2001 (07) can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk NHS interest 4. Advance Letter (GC) 1/2001: 2002 Spring Bank Holiday and Special
Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday This letter notifies employers of an agreement of the General Whitley Council regarding the arrangements for the 2002 Spring Bank Holiday and Special Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday. 5. Intermediate Care - £66 Million Capital Investment As part of the additional funding for intermediate care announced in the NHS Plan (July 2000), new capital investment of around £66 million is available over the next two years (£33m in 2002-03 and in 2003-04) to support the development of intermediate care and, particularly, a growth in bed numbers. A letter will shortly be issued inviting Regional Offices to submit a prioritised list of bids for this capital funding for intermediate care. Full details, including the timetable, will be provided in the letter, but it is anticipated that NHS Trusts or PCGs/PCTs will be asked to submit bids to their respective regional offices by early to mid December. A targeted approach will be adopted in the allocation of funds. The ability of any project to deliver significant increases in capacity within the specified timescale will be a key criterion. It will also be important to integrate any development proposal within a whole system approach that local partners are signed up to, and to ensure that maximum benefit both for patients and for overall system capacity will be achieved from the investment. It is expected that Regional offices will be notified of the outcome of their bids by the end of January 2002. Departmental contact Gareth H Jones at: gareth.h.jones@doh.gsi.gov.uk 6. GP Out of Hours - PCT
3 Year Planning Guidance In October 2000 the Department published the report "Raising Standards for Patients. New Partnerships in Out of Hours Care". The Government accepted the report in full and welcomed the vision set out in the report to offer people fast and convenient care, delivered to a consistently high standard. The review reflects the NHS Plan target that:
The development of 3 Year Implementation Plans by PCTs will act as the main mechanism by which PCTs will implement the review model of service and standards. They will be supported by the implementation fund and further changes currently being discussed with the profession relating to regulation and finance. Planning guidance has been developed by the out-of-hours implementation team which:
PCTs will need to:
The guidance can be found at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/implementoohplanguid.htm 7. Specialised Services Provided By English NHS Trusts for Residents of Scotland From 1 April 2002, National Services Division, Common Services Agency, NHS Scotland will take responsibility for negotiating Service Agreements with NHS Trusts in England for specialised service provided for residents of Scotland. In some cases such activity may previously have been included in the OATs adjustment. NHS Trusts which have provided specialised services for Scotland residents within the last 3 years should write to NSD with details of the activity and costs of specialised treatments provided by 20 November 2001. NSD will then contact NHS Trusts to agree Service Agreements for 2002/03. For specialised services provided in Scotland for residents of England (eg. Hyperbaric treatment) it is expected that English commissioners will directly fund such activity in year with the provider concerned. National Services Division Director of NSD: Deirdre Evans.
8. Patient and public Involvement Update Plans to further reform patient and public involvement published last month in the discussion document, "Involving Patients and the Public in Healthcare" (www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients). Comments and feedback were invited by 12 October. A series of regional listening events generated further feedback and we are currently analysing over 1,000 written responses. Legislation will be needed for some of the reforms and we hope to introduce this soon. The legislation will include the abolition of Community Health Councils. However, until legislation is passed, CHCs will continue to discharge their full range of functions, including the statutory right of consultation on major service change etc. We need to be supportive of CHCs during this time, and where possible adopt an inclusive approach to any piloting or developmental work in this area. Patient Involvement: The roll-out of Patient Advocacy and Liaison Services (PALS) is progressing well, with over 100 up and running already, many of which have CHC involvement. By April 2002, every NHS trust and PCT will be expected to have developed a PALS service. Guidance will be issued to trusts in January to support this. An additional £10m is available within the overall HCHS main allocations for PALS in 2002/03. Public Involvement: Local Authorities are beginning to pilot the new health overview and scrutiny function. Local Authorities will be seeking active CHC involvement to help them gain a more in-depth understanding and knowledge of health issues to undertake this major new role effectively. Work has begun on a policy document for consultation later in the year, following which guidance and regulations will be issued next spring. A toolkit is being prepared to assist NHS bodies to better meet their statutory duty to involve and consult public. Complaints and Clinical Negligence: The consultation on the review of the NHS Complaints procedure in the listening document, "Reforming the NHS Complaints Procedure: a Listening Document" (www.doh.gov.uk/nhscomplaintsreform). The consultation ended on 12 October and we are now analysing the responses. We also expect to publish a White paper in the New Year on proposed reforms to the system for dealing with clinical negligence claims following consideration of the issues raised by the Chief Medical Officer's Advisory Group. We shall keep you updated on the outcomes. Work is also progressing to establish models for the statutory provision of independent support, to assist people through the complaints procedure. Again, we shall keep you updated on this. Contacts: Patient involvement:
9. National Clinical Assessment
Authority - Update The NCAA was established on 1 April 2001 to provide a service to the NHS in managing poorly performing doctors. The NCAA will take referrals from doctors' employers - NHS Health Authorities, Hospital Trusts, Primary Care Groups and Trusts. The Authority has completed its first six month Establishment Phase. The Authority has established its headquarters' team and function; devised and consulted on draft operational guidelines and assessment protocols with the NHS, the medical profession and other relevant parties; provided expert advice and guidance to referring Trusts and Authorities. The NCAA has now entered its Prototype Assessment Phase. The authority will continue to take referrals from NHS doctors' employers and provide expert advice and guidance. During the Prototype Phase the NCAA will identify 20 referred cases to undergo a comprehensive assessment procedure to be underway before 31 March 2002. More information of when and how to refer cases to the NCAA and details about how the referral and assessments processes will operate are available from the Authority's web site http://www.ncaa.nhs.uk Mail to ncaa@ncaa.nhs.uk 10. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA
SN2001(26) Maintenance of Medical Devices: Minimisation of Cross Contamination
This Safety Notice was issued on 11th of September to NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Health Authorities Chief Executives. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts and Health Authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. Electronic version of the SN 2001 (26) can be found at: http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk/ For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk Social Care Interest The Secretary of State for Health launched the social work recruitment campaign on 19 October 2001, at the national social services conference. The aim is to get 5000 more people to apply for social work training and to boost local recruitment into social care posts. The campaign has got off to a flying start - by last Monday we had already received nearly 5000 calls to the help line (0845 604 6404) and over 3700 visitors to the website www.socialworkcareers.co.uk 12. Residential Care -
Housing, Care and Support Schemes and Supporting People The Care Standards Act 2000 specifies which establishments must be registered as residential care homes from April 2002. The Supporting People Grant will bring together existing funding streams for housing-related support from April 2003. The Department began consultation today on draft guidance, which describes registration requirements for care homes in broad terms, distinguishing these from supported housing. The draft guidance may be found at the Department's website on www.doh.gov.uk/housingcareconsultation. The consultation runs from 31 October 2001 to 31 January 2002. The draft guidance stresses the need to consult local registration and inspection officers and, after April 2002, the National Care Standards Commission, before changing registered care homes to supported housing schemes. 13. CI(2001)22 First Annual Report of the Adoption and Permanence
Taskforce I am pleased to announce the first annual report of the Adoption and Permanence Taskforce. It sets out both the range of work undertaken since October 2000 and the future programme. This has been a successful year for the Taskforce and the eight councils who took part, but more importantly it has been a success for the children who are waiting for new families since they will reap the rewards. Ref. 25550. Mailed to Directors of Social Services and Chief Executives of Local Authorities with PSS Responsibilities. Further copies available from:Kelly Groves Room 131 Wellington House 133/155 Waterloo Road London SE1 8UG. Back to Top 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 - ©2001 Back to Chief Executive's Bulletin Home PagePublished by the
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