Chief Executive Bulletin 16 - 22 March 2001 Issue 58

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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS interest 1. Variant CJD 2. Decontamination Programme: Protocol for Local Decontamination 3. Prescription Charges: April 2001 Changes 4. Collecting Ethnic Category Data - Training Materials And Guidance 5. General Ophthalmic Services: Increases In Optical Voucher Values And Tax Credits General Ophthalmic Services: Increases In Optical Voucher Values And Tax Credits 6. Implementing Clinical Governance in the General Dental Services 7. Decision of the NHS Tribunal: 8. Payment of travelling and other allowances to NHS board and committee members 9. Safer Hospital Conference 10. The link between the Requirements for Accreditation (RFA) and Computer Reimbursement 11. Making a difference: reducing GP paperwork NHS and Social Care interest 12. Learning Disability White Paper 13. The Winter Report 14. Safety First: Five-Year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness 15. Registration and Inspection Survey 2000-2001 16. Changes for the 2000-2001 survey Social Care interest 17. LAC(2001)10 Charges For Residential Accommodation - Crag Amendment No 13   NHS interest 1.Variant CJD Letter from Sheila Adam reminding of: the arrangements for supporting the local care of people with CJD; the importance of ensuring that the NHS provides appropriate support to the research in this area carried out in Edinburgh, at the CJD Surveillance Unit, and at the National Prion Clinic, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. The Department of Health has introduced a number of important measures, on the precautionary principle, to minimise the risks of secondary transmission of vCJD. However, the effective diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention requires comprehensive surveillance, and a programme of associated research to develop blood based diagnostic tests (enabling the diagnosis to be conformed or refuted during life) and therapeutics research. As well as continuing to improve the care for people with vCJD, it is vital that the NHS also plays its part in supporting programmes of research. Letter Back to Top 2. Decontamination Programme: Protocol for Local Decontamination Following a recent meeting with Mr. Neil McKay Chief Operating Officer to discuss the Department's strategy for minimising the theoretical risk of transmission of vCJD via surgical instruments, it was agreed that a protocol for local decontamination should be issued for action by the NHS. This protocol applies to all NHS organisations that reprocess surgical instruments and forms part of the short-term strategy to minimise the risk of contamination arising from ineffective decontamination. As you will be aware from the guidance issued by the Department, including the recent roadshows on decontamination, centralisation of instrument reprocessing is the preferred model with local reprocessing the exception rather than the norm. However it is recognised that local reprocessing will remain in the short-term whilst organisations move towards centralisation of reprocessing to improve the quality of decontamination. This protocol has been developed to provide advice and guidance to ensure that decontamination, and in particular manual cleaning, is undertaken in a safe and effective manner where manufacturers instructions contra-indicate automated cleaning of devices or where this is unavoidable or impractical in the short term. The advice and guidance contained within this protocol is drawn from current Department of Health advice with further information available by referring directly to the documents referenced throughout the document. If you require further information regarding the background to this protocol then please contact Wayne Spencer, NHS Engineering & Science Group (Tel. No. 0113 254 7151) in the first instance. Guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/decontaminationguidance Back to Top 3. Prescription Charges: April 2001 Changes This notice announces: Increases in NHS prescription charges from £6.00 to £6.10 per item from 1st April 2001. Changes to the arrangements for refunding PPC fees: from 1st April 2001. An increase of the income limits for free prescriptions and other health costs for recipients of tax credits: from 10th April 2001. An increase in the capital limit for people who claim under the NHS Low Income Scheme who live permanently in residential care and nursing homes: from 9th April 2001. An increase in the capital limit for people who claim under the NHS Low Income Scheme who are aged 60 or over: from 9th April 2001. Full details of the new charge rates and new arrangements are set out on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/prescriptioncharges A hard copy of the full details has been sent direct to Directors of Finance and Pharmaceutical Advisers/Chief Pharmacists. An electronic copy is on the Department's website and accessed via the reference above. A hard copy summary of the details has been sent direct to GP practices, pharmacy and appliance contractors. This is also on the Department's website and accessed via the reference above. Action Health Authorities: 1. Please note the new arrangements described on the Department's website and bring them to the attention of all staff dealing with: prescription charges issue of PPCs and refund of PPC fees Please also make sure that your Walk in Centres are aware of the new prescription charges. NHS Trusts: 2. Please note the new arrangements and bring this notice to the attention of all staff dealing with: prescription charges charges for elastic hosiery, wigs and fabric supports Please make sure that all district and community nurses and midwives are aware of the new charges and changes to the arrangements. Please note that details have been sent direct to Directors of Finance and Pharmaceutical Advisers/Chief Pharmacists. Pharmacy and Prescriptions Branch Contact: Room 147, Richmond House, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS. Telephone 020 7210 5924, FAX 020 7210 4953. Back to Top 4. Collecting Ethnic Category Data - Training Materials And Guidance In October 2000, Data Set Change Notice 21/2000 advised that from April 2001 the Department of Health and the NHS would be using a new set of 16 ethnic categories in line with those developed for the 2001 Population Census by the Office for National Statistics and the Commission for Racial Equality. The introduction of the revised codes provides an opportunity to address the broader issues around the collection, quality and use of race information, particularly in light of the increased need for ethnic monitoring information following the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Such information is also vital to addressing health inequalities and improvements in public health and commissioning functions. The Department has produced a guidance document and training materials which deal with issues directly related to the introduction of revised ethnic codes from April 2001 as well as tackling some of the wider issues that prevent the collection of good quality ethnic information. The guidance document is aimed at all NHS staff involved in the collection and use of ethnic category data, including: Personnel and Human Resources managers Key frontline staff (eg receptionists, admission clerks) and their managers Clinical, nursing, paramedical and auxiliary staff Analytical or information staff Senior managers. The training material is designed to be used by local trainers who have the flexibility to "pick and mix" the material to best suit local circumstances. Chief Executives are asked: to ensure that HR and IM&T managers are aware of the guidance and training materials and to support the introduction of the new codes locally and ensure that staff are aware of the importance of ethnic monitoring information to the NHS. Documents available at www.doh.gov.uk/ethnicity2001guidance Back to Top 5. General Ophthalmic Services: Increases In Optical Voucher Values And Tax Credits General Ophthalmic Services: Increases In Optical Voucher Values And Tax Credits The letter below informs health authorities, NHS Trusts, opticians and ophthalmic medical practitioners of increases of, on average 2.5%, in optical voucher values from I April 2001, and an increase in the limit at which patients receiving tax credits may receive NHS sight tests and optical vouchers from £70 to £71 from 10 April 2001. A Direction on behalf of the Secretary of State is annexed to the letter. Health Authorities and Trusts are asked to: order from the Department of Health stores at the address below * the number of copies of the letter they require and send a copy to all optometrists, OMPs and opticians who are on their GOS lists bring the letter to the attention of clinicians, optometrists, finance officers and all other staff concerned with the Hospital Eye Service pay suppliers the increased fees for all vouchers used to order spectacles from 1 April note that copies of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Amendments Regulations and the National Health Service(General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2001 will be sent to Authorities and Trusts in due course. The letter is available at www.doh.gov.uk/ophthalmicservices Copies may be obtained from Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH Fax: 01623 724 524. Email doh@prologistics.co.uk Please direct any enquiries to Jerry Read, Room 325 Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS. Tel: 020 7210 5743. Fax: 020 7210 5774. Email jerry.read@doh.gsi.gov.uk Back to Top 6. Implementing Clinical Governance in the General Dental Services Issue 49 of the Chief Executive's bulletin contained information about the new Terms of Service requirement for dentists to undertake 15 hours and clinical audit/peer review during each three year period from April this year. By 31 March 2004 all dentists who provide general dental services will have to have fulfilled this requirement. The system of Lead Health Authorities, which ran during the voluntary clinical audit and peer review scheme, is being maintained for three years. Health Authorities who wish to take advantage of the expertise of the Lead Health Authorities should make arrangements to provide financial support for the extra work involved. All Health Authorities should prepare to take over administrative responsibility for clinical audit and peer review by April 2004 at the latest. The Chief Dental Officer has written, enclosing guidance on the Clinical Audit and Peer Review scheme, to all dentists providing general dental services. Chief Dental Officer's letter and the guidance. Ref. 23468 Back to Top 7. Decision of the NHS Tribunal: Please note that a decision of the NHS Tribunal can be found on the NHS Web at: nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/nhstribunal.htm Back to Top 8. Payment of travelling and other allowances to NHS board and committee members Health authority complaints and discipline managers should be aware that from 8 January the maximum daily deputising expenses/financial loss allowances for committee members and professional advisers rose to £260. Further details including new and revised rates of allowances payable and comprehensive guidance on expenses payments. can be found in "Payment of travelling and other allowances to NHS board and committee members" at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/travel_allowances.htm Back to Top 9. Safer Hospital Conference You will remember that Lord Hunt wrote to you a few weeks ago to alert you to the Safer Hospital Conference to be held at the Conference Forum in London on the 4 April 2001. For those of you who have not yet responded, may I now encourage you either to attend or to ensure that your Trust is represented at this national event jointly organised by the Medical Devices Agency, NHS Estates, and NHS Purchasing & Supply Agency. This conference is for all those accountable or responsible for risk and safety strategy and management in the NHS. Lord Hunt will deliver the keynote speech. By way of an update to the earlier programme, Kings Fund Chief Executive Rabbi Julia Neuberger will be speaking on the consumer perspective and Niall Dickson, BBC Social Affairs Editor will host Question Time at the end of the afternoon session. Throughout the event there will be opportunities to network with experts from the three Agencies and with the conference speakers. Further details can be obtained from Catherine Moore by email on cmoore@camarguepr.com or by telephone on 01242 577277. See also http://www.nhsestates.gov.uk/update/index.html Back to Top 10. The link between the Requirements for Accreditation (RFA) and Computer Reimbursement Action: Health Authorities - Chief Executive and Director of Finance RFA99 Version 1.1 (General Medical Practice Computer Systems Requirements for Accreditation - RFA99 Version 1.1) was published on 20th February 2001 and accreditation testing will be routinely available for suppliers from May 2001. Consequently all references to RFA4 which specify a link to computer reimbursement decisions within paragraph 3 of FHSL (97)47 should now be read as though the term RFA4 was replaced by RFA99 Version 1.1. For further details please look at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/computing/letter2.htm Back to Top 11. Making a difference: reducing GP paperwork The purpose of this project was to deliver specific, tangible outcomes that would reduce the existing amount of unnecessary paperwork that GPs have to contend with. The Cabinet Office Public Sector Team and the Department of Health worked in partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders, including practising GPs, to identify the areas where immediate action could be taken and facilitate change. As the aim of the project was to deliver outcomes, it is best summarised by setting out precisely what has been achieved. More detail, including the savings associated with each individual outcome, is available in the body of the report. http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/PublicSector/ReducingGPPapSmall.pdf Back to Top NHS / Social Care interest 12. Learning Disability White Paper The White Paper `Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century' was published on 20 March 2001. It is the first White Paper on learning disability for thirty years and sets out an ambitious and challenging programme of action for improving services. The proposals are based on four key principles: civil rights, independence, choice and inclusion. Valuing People takes a life-long approach, beginning with an integrated approach to services for disabled children and their families and then providing new opportunities for a full and purposeful adult life. It has cross-Government backing and its proposals are intended to result in improvements in education, social services, health, employment, housing and support for people with learning disabilities and their families and carers. www.doh.gov.uk/learningdisabilities/strategy.htm Back to Top 13. The Winter Report The Winter Report was published on Monday 19 March and details how the NHS, local councils and their partner organisations have met the challenges of winter. It looks at the effectiveness of the preparations set out in the Winter Plan and reports on performance. The report is available on both the DH and NHS websites. The address is as follows: www.doh.gov.uk/winter/report.htm and www.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/winter/report.htm Ref. 23524. Mailed to NHS and Local Authority Chairs. Back to Top 14. Safety First: Five-Year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness The main aims of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness are: to collect detailed clinical data on people who die by suicide or commit homicide and who have been in contact with mental health services to make recommendations on clinical practice and policy that will reduce the risk of suicide and homicide by people under mental health care The report provides a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding suicides and homicides committed by people with mental illness, making recommendations based on its key findings. www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/safetyfirst Back to Top 15. Registration and Inspection Survey 2000-2001 Information officers in Registration and Inspection Units have been issued with the Registration and Inspection Survey form for 2000-2001. This is an annual survey of the staffing and workload of local authority and health authority registration and inspection units for the year to 31 March 2001. A summary report of the results of the survey for 1999-2000 was circulated at the end of last year and can be found at the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/regandinspect2.htm. Back to Top 16. Changes for the 2000-2001 survey A few items have been dropped from the forms this year so they are slightly shorter than last time. The amendments are set out on the first page of this year's return. Formal agreement to the return has been obtained under Department's Review of Central Requirements (ROCR) procedures for the Health Authority version of the form and Technical Working Group for the Social Services version. Returning the form The completed for should be returned by 31 May, 2001 to: Laurent Ortmans, Department of Health Room 452C Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH. Any questions on the content of the survey should be referred to Laurent Ortmans, preferably by e-mail (this helps us to keep track of who has asked what, the timeliness of our response and what it was). Email laurent.ortmans@doh.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0207 972 5600. Back to Top Social Care Interest 17. LAC(2001)10 Charges For Residential Accommodation - Crag Amendment No 13 National Assistance (Sums For Personal Requirements) England Regulations 2001 National Assistance Act (Assessment Of Resources) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001 This circular: Announces the revised Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) of £16.05 that comes into force on 9 April 2001. It applies to everyone in residential care or nursing homes receiving help from local authorities, under Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, to meet costs Revises capital limits from £10,000 (lower) and £16,000 (upper) to £11,500 (lower) and £18,500 (upper) to come into force on 9 April 2001. Introduces a new three-months property disregard on permanent entry to residential and nursing care. This will come into force from 9 April 2001. Make amendments to the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG). These concern: a) Increases the higher earnings disregard from £15 to £20 per week. This will come into force from 9 April 2001 b) Clarification of mandatory property disregards at 7.003 c) Income support capital limit changes d) Updating of DSS benefit rates in annex A of CRAG e) Correction of annex F of CRAG concerning hospital downrating Clarifies existing guidance around the treatment of carers The Annex contains fuller details. A fully revised copy of CRAG is set out in the Appendix to the Annex. Circular and revised copy of CRAG 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 Page

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This page last updated 22 March 2001