Chief Executive Bulletin
23 - 29 March 2001
Issue 59
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Chief Executive Bulletin
23 - 29 March 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. Local
Modernisation Reviews NHS interest
8. Statement from The NHS Chief Executive On Service and Financial Frameworks Social Care interest 20.
Residential Care Homes And Nursing Homes (RCNH): Permanent Residents Who
Need Help With Health Costs NHS / Social Care interest 1. Local Modernisation Reviews The NHS Plan Implementation Programme said that every local health community would conduct a Modernisation Review during summer 2001. This briefing note provides an outline of the aims, objectives and timetable for the review. Aims The NHS Plan set out a challenging agenda for the NHS and social services. It will not be possible to deliver this ambition by simply doing more of the same. Delivering a service focussed around the needs of patients and people who use social services, in which everyone has access to timely and effective health and social care and in which inequalities in health are tackled will demand new skills, new ways of working, new patterns of service provision and new investment in the infrastructure. The aim of each local Modernisation Review will be to engage staff, patients and the NHS's partners in local government and the private and voluntary sector in reviewing what needs to be done to deliver the Plan locally. The findings from the review will be used to create robust plans describing how the NHS Plan will be implemented. Key elements of the Local Modernisation Reviews Each local Modernisation Review will focus less on what needs to be done, and more on how this is to be achieved in local health communities. This will involve the following action for the NHS:
To do this health communities will need to develop an understanding of the gap between current performance and the long term targets in the NHS Plan and supporting documentation such as the National Cancer Plan and NSFs in order to establish the progress to be made locally over the next 3-5 years. The Spring Monitoring of Social Services will actively involve HAs in the assessment of capacity for implementing the plan at the interface. This process should be linked with and inform the local modernisation reviews. The focus will be on local health systems undertaking a process of discussion and agreement on the way forward, rather than on the completion of numerical returns, although an outline framework for reporting on the conclusions will be developed. Who will be involved These local reviews offer a unique opportunity to involve as wide a range of staff and patients as possible in helping to think through how to deliver the NHS Plan. This must shape the approach to the local reviews. Health Authorities will lead their local Modernisation Reviews with Local Modernisation Boards playing a key role in overseeing the process. However, many of the objectives can only be achieved by bringing together plans and developments across Health Authority boundaries. Health Authorities therefore need to ensure that the review process is consistent across main networks of care provision. They will also need to ensure that all the key partner organisations (including local government, the private and voluntary sector) are fully consulted in the review and that their experience is used to scope the size of the challenge and identify solutions. Regional Offices will co-ordinate and support local reviews across their region. Timetable for the review The timetable for the review is set out below. The key stages are:
For further information For further information please consult our website at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformance/modreview or contact:
2. National Service Framework for Older People HSC 2001/007 : LAC (2001)12 The Department published, on 27th March 2001, the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People. It sets national standards and defines service models to tackle age discrimination and drive up the quality of care of older people in all settings across health and social services. It also specifically addresses those conditions which are particularly significant for older people and which have not been covered in other NSFs - stroke, falls and mental health problems associated with older age. But conditions such as stroke and dementia are not limited to older people, and the standards and service models will apply for all who need them, regardless of age. The NSF is a ten-year programme of improvement supported by local action and national underpinning programmes for implementation. It sets out a series of milestones and performance measures to ensure progress. As set out in the NHS Plan Implementation Programme, the NSF is to be implemented from April 2001. Further details can be found in HSC(2001)007/LAC(2001)012. This circular, as well as the NSF, can be accessed on www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople.htm Executive summary http://www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeopleexec.htm All Chief Executives will receive a printed copy of the NSF in due course. For further copies please contact Prolog on 01623 724524 (Fax) or email on doh@prolog.uk.com quoting relevant reference number(s). For further information please contact Ian Grist, NSF for Older People's Team, Tel: 0207 972 1321, email ian.grist@doh.gsi.gov.uk Ref. NSF 23633, Executive Summary 23636, HSC/LAC 23650. 3. Community Equipment Services HSC 2001/008 : LAC (2001)13 Community Equipment Services: These services are important for effective implementation of intermediate care and the NSF for Older People, as well as for disabled adults and children generally. Guidance was issued [date] as HSC/LAC [numbers] with an accompanying Guide to Integrating Community Equipment Services. Together they outline action for NHS organisations and local councils to spend the large amount of new investment announced for these services, and to work towards the NHS Plan targets of 1) increasing by 50% the number of people who benefit from equipment loans and 2) integrating NHS and social services equipment services, both by 2004. The website and guidance is at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/scg/communityequipment.htm Ref. HSC/LAC 23552, Guidance 23551. Copies will be mailed to HA Chairs and directors of Commisioning, NHS Trust Chairs and Directors of Nursing w/c 2/4/01. 4. Supporting People - Policy Into Practice: Reminder This programme is designed to provide quality housing support to vulnerable young people, older people, disabled people, people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, victims of domestic violence, people who have alcohol or drug problems, vulnerable homeless people and ex-offenders. Supporting People requires local authorities (housing and social services), the NHS and other partners to provide these services and outlines how implementation should take place. Funding for these support services will be brought together and placed into a specified grant paid by the Government to be administered by local authorities in partnership with NHS bodies and the probation service from April 2003. Preparation has begun in many areas and DETR alongside DH is urging all local agencies to work together during this important phase. DETR now have a National Implementation Team in place to help with preparation. The support services covered include general counselling, advice, companionship, life skills training and assistance with administrative affairs. This includes warden support in sheltered housing, and funding for home improvement agencies that help older and disabled people to remain in their homes by providing repairs and adaptations services. Policy and Practice is available on www.supporting-people.detr.gov.uk. DETR's K web is also available to keep you in touch - at http://barn.ccta.gov.uk/detr/detr1.nsf. 5. Guidance on the Power to Promote or Improve Economic, Social or Environmental Well-being DETR published guidance on the Power to Promote or Improve Economic, Social or Environmental Well-being on 27 March 2001. This is a new power from Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000. The Well-being power provides Councils with the flexibility to take action to ensure that Community Strategies produce change on the ground. Section 2 builds on the provisions in the Health Act 1999 which provide health authorities and local authorities with a power to work with one another where there is a clear crossover between the services being commissioned and provided by the local authority and NHS bodies. The Well-being provision extends the ability of local authorities to work in partnership with other bodies, in addition to the NHS. Copies of the guidance can be downloaded from the DETR website at http://www.local-regions.detr.gov.uk/wellbeing/index.htm 6. Device Alert and Safety Warnings Device Alert - MDA DA2001(03) - Lifescan PcoketScan ® Blood Glucose Meters. Fracture. This
Device Alert was issued on 23March 2001 to NHS Trust, Health Authority
Chief Executives, Directors of Social Services and as usual, it was also
faxed to Liaison Officers in Trust, Health Authority and Social
Services for immediate action and for onward distribution as specified
in the Notice. Safety Warning - MDA SN 2001(06) - Update on Electromagnetic Compatibility of Medical Devices with Mobile Communications: TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio System) and Outside Media Broadcasts from Hospital Premises. This
Safety Warning was issued on 8 March 2001 to NHS Trust, Health Authority
Chief Executives, Directors of Social Services and as usual, it was also
sent to Liaison Officers in Trust, Health Authority and Social Services
for immediate action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. Safety Warning - MDA SN2001(07) - Anaesthetic Breathing Systems Components: Pre-use checks. This
Safety Warning was issued on 12 March 2001 to NHS Trust and Health Authority
Chief Executives, and as usual, it was also sent to Liaison Officers in
Trust and Health Authority for immediate action and for onward distribution
as specified in the Notice. http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk 7.Winter Pressures: Message from Prime Minister 19 March 2001 Last week the Department of Health forwarded a personal message from the Prime Minister thanking everyone whose efforts contributed to improved running of health and social care services for the public this winter. The message itself mentioned all staff in health and social care and the covering e-mail was addressed to all organisations. Unfortunately our heading only mentioned NHS staff. This was not the PM's intention nor ours. Thanks to those who spotted the oversight and drew it to our attention. Our apologies to social care staff. NHS interest 8. Statement from The NHS Chief Executive On Service and Financial Frameworks We are now reaching the end of the SAFFs process and have reviewed the overall position. There are still some final adjustments to be made across the country. In order to help with this we have reviewed all our central budgets – reprioritising and rescheduling as appropriate – in order to release a further £115million. This will be used by regional offices to target specific problems. Not all organisations will benefit and some may therefore feel unfairly treated - or that failure to grapple with problems is being rewarded. We have therefore decided to address this by transferring a matching amount of capital from regions which are benefiting disproportionately to those receiving less benefit. We are also releasing £40 million to assist plans for winter next year. This will be distributed pro rata to weighted capitation. Finally, we have also been able to identify a further £50 million of capital to be made available to support IM&T. These additional funds will be managed through regional offices. I am asking them to ensure that agreements are reached by the end of next week so that we can move on from planning to delivering. Finally, may I thank you and your colleagues for the hard work which has gone into this planning. We should now be able to deliver effectively on the first year of targets within the NHS Plan. 9. Advance Letter MD 4/01 Pay And Conditions Of Service Of Hospital Medical And Dental Staff And Doctors In Public Health Medicine And The Community Health Service Issued on 26 March 2001 sets out the increases in salary scales for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service for 2001/2002. This letter also sets out increases to mileage allowances, changes to Temporary Additional Notional Half Days (TANHDs), increases to rates of Intensity Supplements for consultants and increases to London Weighting allowances. For further information e-mail enquiry-box@doh.gsi.gov.uk Advance letterRef. 23641. Copies will be mailed to NHS directors of Finance and HR w/c 2/4/01. 10. Advance Letter (DOS) 1/2001 Terms And Conditions Of Service For Community Dental Officers And Salaried General Dental Practitioners: Pay Scale For Salaried Primary Dental Care Practitioners This Advance Letter:
Both to take effect from 1 April 2001. Ref. 23663. Hard copies will be available w/c 2/4/01. 11. Improving Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Data Quality 2000-01 All Chief Executives and HES data quality nominees in NHS Hospital Trusts and PCT's in England will shortly be receiving documents by post for the sign up process for 2000-01 HES data. The documents will also be available electronically during the week commencing 2nd April 2001 from www.doh.gov.uk/hes by selecting the link "Data Quality and the NHS" from the menu on the left-hand side. The information is expected to form a key input to work on Traffic Lights and the Performance Indicators. Information about the quality of HES data will be an integral part of the process. Chief Executives will be required to confirm which of two categories the data for the Trust lies within by returning the sign up document to the HES Data Quality team at the Department of Health by 25 May 2001 at the latest. Any Trusts that have not completed and returned their forms by that date will be assumed to be content with the quality of their data. Trusts will have until 17:00 on 1 June 2001 to make any necessary changes and submit final 2000-01 data to NWCS. It is therefore vitally important to ensure that the data available at this time is as complete and as representative of activity at the Trust as possible. The Report of the
Independent Review of GP Out-of-Hours Services (Raising Standards for
Patients. New Partnerships in Out-of-Hours Care) was published in
October 2000, along with the Department's response. As part of the Report's
implementation there will be an "exemplar" program supported
by new time-limited funding to allow NHS Direct and out-of-hours providers
to build up experience of developing integrated services and the benefits
of partnership working. The attached paper
sets out the arrangements for the managed process to select exemplar services.
It invites Regional Offices, Health Authorities, PCT/Gs, out-of-hours
service providers and NHS Direct to identify proposals for recruitment
of out-of-hours service providers to the exemplar programme. Outline proposals
should sent to the NHS Executive by Friday 18th May
2001. The OOH Report, Departmental Response and Exemplar Paper can all be found at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/index.htm 13. Prescription Charges: April 2001 Changes This notices announces: An amendment to the PRESCRIPION CHARGES: APRIL 2001 CHANGES in the Chief Executives' mailing of 16 March 2001 (issue 58). There was an error in the original document which has now been corrected and is available at www.doh.gov.uk/prescriptioncharges Please bring the following to the attention of all staff who deal with the refunds of Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs). Paragraph 12 of the letter to Chief Executives and paragraph 9 of the letter to HA Directors of Finance and Trust Chief Executives has been amended. Please replace with the following: "Examples of calculating the refund on death of a PPC holder:
Dies before 1st July - full refund as now Dies before 1st August - August and September unexpired = 2/4 fee refunded Dies before 1st September - September unexpired = ¼ fee refunded Dies 1st September to 30th September - less than a month unexpired = no refund Dies before 1st July - full refund as now Dies before 1st August - August to May unexpired = 10/12 fee refunded Dies before 1st September - September to May unexpired = 9/12 fee refunded, Dies before 1st May - May unexpired = 1/12 refund Dies 1st May to 31st May - less than a month unexpired = no refund. In all the above, if the patient had entered hospital and remained there until death, the date of entering hospital would be the date from which to calculate the number of unexpired months." Contact: Room 147, Richmond House, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS Telephone: 020 7210 5924, FAX 020 7210 4953. 14. NHS Direct to replace the Health Information Service from 1st April 2001 From 1st April 2001, NHS Direct (telephone 0845 4647) will replace the Health Information Service (telephone 0800 665544). From this date, all callers to the Health Information Service in England and Wales will be advised to call NHS Direct via a BT message. NHS Direct will continue to provide the same service currently provided by the Health Information Service. Launched nearly 3 years ago, NHS Direct is now a nation-wide service providing confidential healthcare advice and information 24 hours a day. For the price of a local call, NHS Direct enables callers to speak directly to experienced nurses and professional health information advisers about their health problems or for more specific information about any health concerns. NHS Direct has access to an extensive library of up to date resources and a team of experienced information professionals to answer the most difficult health queries. More information about NHS Direct can be found at: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk 15. 'Moving Toward Convergence' Governance in the NHS (Controls Assurance and Clinical Governance) National conference 2001 Health Service Circular HSC 2001/005 issued 22 February 2001 set out the controls assurance requirements for NHS organisations for 2000/2001and introduced the Controls Assurance Support Unit based at Keele University. To provide organisations with an opportunity to build on their 2000/2001 controls assurance work, understand the proposals for the 2001/2002 requirements and consider the implications of the next phase of the converging governance agenda, the next Governance in the NHS National Conference has been scheduled to take place: Thursday 17 May 2001 at Wembley Conference Centre from 10:30 -16:30 hours The keynote address will be given by the Minister of State for Health, John Denham MP, with presentations including
Primarily aimed at NHS Chief Executives and Designated Leads for Controls Assurance, the event is equally relevant to all professionals with responsibility for, or an interest in, controls assurance and clinical governance issues. Full programme and registration details are available on the Controls Assurance website at http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/rm5.nsf/AdminDocs/Events?OpenDocument On line conference booking via Controls Assurance Support Unit - www.casu.org.uk/conference For further information on this event please contact Lorraine Thomas - Lorraine.thomas@doh.gsi.gov.uk / telephone 0113 254 5255. For general information see the Controls Assurance Website - www.doh.gov.uk/riskman.htm 16. Nerve Agent Antidotes: Storage and Distribution From 1 April 2001 P2S (pralidoxime mesylate) is an antidote to poisoning by organophosphate nerve agents. The risk of these highly toxic agents being released is low, but as it has happened overseas DoH have planned against this unlikely event and improved the method of storage and supply of P2S using existing arrangements for supplying blood. Full details have already given to hospital pharmacies, blood banks, A & E departments and Health Emergency planning Advisers. The National Poisons Information Service 24-hour phone line (0870 600 6266) holds detailed information on the administration of P2S in these circumstances. Following a nerve agent attack, substantial quantities may be required by A&E departments receiving casualties at short notice. These are held by the National Blood Service. Supplies can be obtained in the same way as urgent supplies of blood. P2S is also used to treat poisoning by organophosphate pesticides, which is likely only to affect one or two patients at a time. The small amount of stock needed to treat it are available from Designated Holding Centres. These arrangements are unchanged. 17. Electronic Booking Systems - Strategic Outline Case The Strategic Outline Case for Electronic Booking has been completed and agreed by Ministers. An electronic version of the Strategic Outline Case can be found on the Department's website. A range of strategic options have been identified which will be carried forward in an Outline Business Case. Work on the Outline Business Case will begin shortly. Guidance to the NHS about next steps including procurement advice is also on the Department's website. The address for the website where both documents can be found is: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanbookingsystems/ 18. Decontamination Update 28th March 2001 As part of the programme of reviewing decontamination practices described in HSC 2000/032 By 31 March 2001: Chief Executives of NHS Trusts should:
Chief Executives of Health Authorities should:
Chief Executives of Primary Care Trusts should:
NHS Estates have produced an update available on their website www.nhsestates.gov.uk outlining information required for return to the Department and Regional Offices. Please ensure that this note is brought to the attention of your senior manager with responsibility for decontamination. 19. Local Pharmacy Budgets 2001/02 - Domiciliary Oxygen Services Letter notifying Health Authorities of their 2001/02 indicative local pharmacy budgets for domiciliary oxygen services. The indicative allocations are largely the same as this year and do not form part of authorities' revenue resource limits. Chief Executives are asked to draw this letter to the attention of Pharmaceutical +ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+eagues involved in the management of these budgets. Social Care Interest 20. Residential Care Homes And Nursing Homes (RCNH): Permanent Residents Who Need Help With Health Costs Please bring the information below to the attention of Directors of Social Services and their residential care officers and cascade it to owners/managers of residential care and nursing homes as soon as possible. From 9 April 2000, the capital limits to be used in calculating income related help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme for permanent residents will be the same as those already notified by Social Care Group for the means-test for residential accommodation, ie £11,500 and £18,500. Residents who are:
Capital limits from 9 April for non-permanent residents are the same as for income support, ie £3,000 and £8,000 for those under 60, and £6,000 and £12,000 for those aged 60 and over. Home owners/managers are asked to let their residents know about the new limits and to hold a supply of claim forms. Forms HC1 and HC1(RC) (and explanatory booklet HC11) are free from doh@prolog.uk.com, FAX: 01623 724524; or write to Department of Health Publications, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH. Contact details for information (but not for claim forms): Pharmacy and Prescriptions Branch, Room 147 Richmond House; telephone 0207 210 5924. Teenagers to Work was launched on 21st March 2001, by John Hutton, Minister of State for Health and Denis Platt, Chief inspector, SSI and we hope that by now you: Have received a Guidance Pack? Have you notified Esther if you want a central government placement in the May half term (28th May - 1st June). This would be with (subject to the General Election): Civil Servants What are you doing with the Pack? What are your plans for the Easter and Summer placements? Good news stories/examples of good practice, please feedback to Esther Austin-Buah. If you have not received a pack to-date, please contact Esther Austin-Buah on 02 07 972 4415 or email on esther.austin-buah@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 - ©2001 Back to Chief Executive's Bulletin Ho+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+ÿ+P> |
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