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Contents:

NHS and social care interest

1. Appraisal for non-consultant career grades (NCCGs)
2. Medical Devices Agency hazard notice - MDA HN2002(06): Invacre Ld - Zipper 2 S manual wheelchair - risk of propelling wheels becoming detached in use
3. Medical Devices Agency hazard notice - MDA HN2002(07): All respiratory therapy devices connected to endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes: risk of serious injury due to incorrect assembly
4. New publications and crack cocaine treatment pilots from the National Treatment Agency
5. PCT chief executive vacancy at Prescription Pricing Authority
6. National Social Services conference

NHS interest

7. Terms and conditions for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine
8. Smoking in pregnancy - data set change notice 50/2002
9. NICE appraisal on home versus hospital haemodialysis
10. NICE appraisal on ultrasound locating devices for placing central venous catheters
11. Improving patient information in the NHS
12. Mental Health and Employment in the NHS
13. Internet protocol (IP) policy - clarification
14. Mobile decontamination facilities and personal protective equipment (PPE) for chemical incidents
15. National Shared Services Initiative
16. Establishing the responsible commissioner draft
17. Institute of Healthcare Management Conference
18. National Association of Theatre Nurses Congress

NHS and social care interest

1. Appraisal for non-consultant career grades (NCCGs)

The Department of Health has reached agreement with the BMA on a national appraisal scheme for all NCCGs in the secondary and community sectors. The agreement and the required documentation, based on similar arrangements for consultants, is now available.

The agreement applies to all secondary and community sector doctors except consultants and those in recognised posts in the nationally agreed training grades. These arrangements apply to doctors who are working in a secondary care setting and who will not be appraised under the GP principal scheme. For precise details of groups of doctors covered by this document, please refer to the guidance notes accompanying the appraisal forms. Doctors covered by these arrangements should receive their appraisal by 31 March 2003.

Employers should now consider how they will implement appraisal within the scope of the national agreement. Training for those conducting and participating is essential to support the extension of appraisal to these doctors.

Full text of letter:
www.appraisaluk.info
www.doh.gov.uk/gpappraisal/index.htm

The document reference is AL(MD)05/02

For further information contact John Cowles on 0113 254 5910 or john.cowles@doh.gsi.gov.uk

This hazard notice was issued on 22 October 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts, social services and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. As usual it was faxed to liaison officers of NHS trusts, primary care trusts, social services departments and National Care Standards Commission for action and onward distribution as specified in the notice.

For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail bs@medical-devices.gov.uk

http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk

This hazard notice was issued on 23 October 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts, social services and National Care Standards Commission headquarters. As usual it was faxed to liaison officers of NHS trusts, primary care trusts, social services departments and National Care Standards Commission for action and for onward distribution as specified in the notice.

For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail bs@medical-devices.gov.uk

http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk

The National Treatment Agency has issued a range of new guidance and publications relevant to NHS and social service chief executives. All items are available at www.nta.nhs.uk.

• Portraits of partnership: Annual report 2001/02 - The agency's first annual report illustrates progress made and the partnerships developed over the last year
• Corporate strategy 2002-05 - The agency's principles, approach, objectives and plans for the next three years
• Models of care: part 1 - A summary of the new service framework for drug treatment. Drug action teams will use this as a guide for commissioning services from April 2003. An implementation guide accompanies this document and a series of workshops have been organised to support implementation
• Drug action team (DAT) plans analysis 2002/03 - An overview of drug action teams' plans to fund and develop drug treatment services in 2002/03
• Commissioning drug treatment systems: A resource pack for commissioners - A resource pack for the commissioners of drug treatment to be built up over the coming months. The pack will be of interest to NHS and social care commissioners with responsibility for drug treatment services.
• Helpfinder - Directory of treatment services - Published by DrugScope and funded by the NTA, Helpfinder is available in hard copy and on line at www.drugscope.org.uk/drugbaseii/home.asp

Pilot sites for crack cocaine treatment - sites to pilot new service specifications and a manual on treatment for crack cocaine are also sought.

For further information contact Iris Steen on 020 7972 2274 or iris.steen@nta.gsi.gov.uk

This entry is being run for a second time in the bulletin as last week the address for returning applications was not included. We apologise for any inconvenience.

As a result of Shifting the Balance of Power, the constitution of the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) has been changed. One of the non-executive members must now be a serving PCT chief executive. Applications are now invited for this post.

The PPA's main role is to calculate the payments due to pharmacies and GPs for supplying and administering medicines. The key challenge over the next few years will be to move from paper to electronic prescriptions.

Members of the PPA board are appointed by the secretary of state for a period of up to three years. The board meets for 1-2 days a month at either the Newcastle headquarters or one of the divisional offices.

An application form and copy of the person specification and job description are available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/ppavacancy.htm

Completed application forms should be returned to: John Roberts, Department of Health, Pharmacy and, Prescriptions Branch, Room 147, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London. SWIA 2NS.

More information about the PPA is also available at www.ppa.nhs.uk.

To discuss the position further contact PPA chief executive Nick Scholte or PPA chair Anne Galbraith on 0191 203 5208.

The closing date is the 8th November 2002.

For more information contact Gina Jones on 020 7210 5953 or Bernice Smith on 020 7210 5712.

At the National Social Services Conference in Cardiff, health secretary Alan Milburn emphasised the need to tear down the traditional service boundaries. He explained that old style, public service monoliths cannot meet modern challenges.

To read a summary of his speech visit www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/nss-con-card-int-over.htm

NHS interest

7. Terms and conditions for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine

The terms and conditions for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine were merged from 23 September. A revised version, including the appendices, can be found on the Department of Health website. These should be used in conjunction with advance letter 4/02 which outlines the main changes to the terms and conditions.

The advance letter, AL(MD) 4/02, and the terms and conditions can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/al0204.htm

Any queries which cannot be resolved locally should be directed to the Department of Health NHS Pay Branch on 0113 254 5710 or e-mail Enquiry-Box@doh.gsi.gov.uk

On 10 October, the Department of Health published a data set change notice (DSCN) requiring hospital trusts to collect data on the smoking behaviour of pregnant women in their care.

This DSCN is available at http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk/dscn/pages/dscn2002.asp

The Priorities and Planning Framework 2003 - 2006 (PPF) has recently been published and is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/planning2003-2006/index.htm. It sets out the national priorities and targets which organisations need to build into their local plans over the next three years. A key target for PCTs in the 'Reducing Health Inequalities' section is to "Deliver a one percentage point reduction per year in the proportion of women continuing to smoke throughout pregnancy".

Information on smoking and pregnancy is currently collected through the Services and Financial Framework (SaFF). However, to date the information submitted has been of variable quality. Although the effective date of the DSCN is 1 April 2003, it is strongly recommended that the changes are implemented as soon as possible to allow robust monitoring of the PPF target.

For further information contact Patsy Bailey at patsy.bailey@doh.gsi.gov.uk

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has carried out an appraisal of home versus hospital haemodialysis.

NICE published its guidance on 4 October 2002. It has advised the Department of Health that the NHS will not be able to provide the equipment and infrastructure to support the expansion of home haemodialysis that is envisaged within three months of the publication of the guidance.

The Department has considered this advice and has decided to issue a direction to exempt this appraisal from the direction issued on 11 December 2001 concerning the availability of funding for treatments recommended by NICE within three months of the publication of the guidance. The text of the directions can be viewed at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/nice-ha-amending-directions-Oct02.PDF

It is envisaged that when considering your approach to the implementation of NICE's guidance on home versus hospital haemodialysis, you will wish to be informed by the forthcoming Renal National Service Framework (NSF). We also anticipate that regional specialised commissioning groups or their successors will work with local hospital providers to develop implementation timetables for the guidance laid out in this NICE appraisal together with and in line with the forthcoming Renal NSF Delivery Strategy milestones.

For further information contact Dr Nick Clarke on 0113 254 5205.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has carried out an appraisal of ultrasound locating devices for placing central venous catheters.

NICE published its guidance on 4 October 2002. It has advised the Department of Health that the NHS will not be able to provide the equipment and the training of sufficient healthcare practitioners from a range of disciplines required for this treatment to be available within three months of the publication of the guidance.

The Department has considered this advice and has decided to extend the implementation time period to 12 months. It has issued an amending direction to the direction issued on 11 December 2001. The text of the directions can be viewed at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/nice-ha-amending-directions-Oct02.PDF

For further information contact Dr Nick Clarke on 0113 254 5205.

Information is an important part of the patient journey. The NHS Plan commitment to putting patients at the centre of care lays some firm foundations for giving patients more power, protection and choices. The Kennedy Report into the Bristol Inquiry also emphasises the need for a greater partnership between patients and professionals and making consent more patient-centred.

The Department of Health recognises the efforts organisations are making to improve patient information and has developed a toolkit to help you. The toolkit includes guidance for written patient information and a series of templates to accompany the guidance. It has been put together with the Patient Information Forum, a national group representing people working in the field of patient information in the NHS and voluntary sector, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Plain English Campaign.

The toolkit is available at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsidentity/toolkit-patientinfo.htm and is called Toolkit for producing patient information. Hard copies can be obtained from the NHS Responseline on 0870 155 5455 quoting reference number 29682.

For further information contact Lorna Demming on 020 7972 5250 or lorna.demming@doh.gsi.gov.uk

New guidance Mental Health and Employment in the NHS, aimed at reducing the numbers of applicants and staff who are refused training or employment because of current or past mental health problems, was published this month.

This guidance has been approved by both MIND and the Disability Rights Commission.

It abolishes the 'two-year rule' that has become a barrier to employment and clarifies the process to be used if there are doubts about an applicant's mental suitability.

This guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/healthyworkplaces/index.htm or from the NHS Responseline on 08701 555455.

For further information contact Emma Jones on 0113 254 5896 or emma.jones@doh.gsi.gov.uk

The current NHS policy on IP addressing became active in February 2002. The policy involves moving NHS IP addresses to the '10.' range. Carrying out the policy may involve substantial work for some trusts, but it is vital so that future initiatives can take place.

The policy was agreed after consultation with the service. It was not an easy decision to make due to the potential disruption for trusts. However, it was agreed to be the most viable long-term option for the NHS as a whole.

Implementation of the new policy will enable:

• centrally funded bandwidth upgrades
• large user groups to access NHSnet such as opticians, pharmacies and dentists
• new types of virtual private network (VPN) and dialup technology
• increased security, and better inter-operability between organisations.

Failure to implement the new policy will result in:

• the inability to deploy new technology such as VPN's.
• an inability to improve network performance and scalability, resulting in poorer performance.

Guidance on how to implement the policy can be found at http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/nhsnet/pages/connecting/ipaddresses

For further information contact the NHS Information Authority helpdesk on 01392 251 289.

The Department of Health has written to chief executives of NHS ambulance and acute trusts to remind them that orders for this equipment should be made as soon as possible.

Full text of letter

For further information contact Peter Szekely on 020 7972 3784 or peter.szekely@doh.gsi.gov.uk

• Re-planning exercise
  Over the past few weeks, the Shared Financial Services project has been reviewed, in particular scrutinising progress, scope, budget and timeframes. The project will still continue as planned and is making good progress. However some changes have been made to the timescales. Details of the re-planning exercise and new timescales can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/sharedservices/shared_financial/latest_position.htm



• New Appointments
  A new project manager, Alan Wain, joined the Shared Financial Services project in July. Director of operational development Graham Hewitt is on long-term sick leave. Two managing directors have been appointed to lead the Shared Service Centres: Steve Coxon in the South West and David Thorpe in West Yorkshire. Maurice Thomson and John Yarnold continue as project directors, planning and delivering the migration of trusts into the new Shared Service Centres.



• ·Shared Service Centres
  The South West project team are now co-located with the new Shared Service centre staff in Whitefriars in Bristol and the building has been fitted out. The lease has been signed on Capitol Park in Morley on the outskirts of Leeds for the West Yorkshire Shared Service centre. The project team will move into Capitol Park at the end of November.
  
  For further information contact Fiona Barr on 0113 254 7712 or sscomms@doh.gsi.gov.uk

This document sets out revised guidelines to establish the responsible commissioner for an individual's care within the NHS and replaces former guidance entitled Establishing District of Residence which dates from 1993.

This new guidance states that patients registered with a GP in one PCT area may reside in a neighbouring area or elsewhere but remain the responsibility of the PCT with whom their GP of registration is associated. Its issue will serve to establish that the NHS can and should no longer base arrangements for funding an individual's health care provision in accordance with the former guidance.

The guidance can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/responsiblecommissioner/index.htm

NHS chief executive Nigel Crisp launched Managing for excellence in the NHS and Code of Conduct for NHS managers at the conference.

NHS University chief executive Professor Bob Fryer set out the aims of the new university and also detailed work already achieved.

To read summaries of the speeches visit www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/ihmconf.htm

Kerry Basnett, redesign facilitator at the NHS Modernisation Agency and Johanna Reilly, programme manager at the NHS Modernisation Agency addressed delegates at the National Association of Theatre Nurses Annual Congress.

Kerry discussed the work and learning of the agency's national theatre project and shared with delegates the outcomes of this project on patient care, resources, theatre utilisation and staffing. Johanna, former project manager for the theatre project in Manchester, now programme manager for the north, shared her experience of being involved in the project.

To read summaries of the speeches visit www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/nattheatrenurses.htm

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copyright: © | Last updated: 24 October, 2002