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Chief
Executive Bulletin 27 July - 2 August 2001 |
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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS interest 1. Shifting the Balance of Power 2. Action: Integrating Sickness Certification into Hospital Discharge and Outpatient Processes. 3. New Governance Arrangements for NHS Research Ethics Committees and Guidance on NHS Trust Reviews 4. Improving the Flow of Emergency Admissions - Key Questions and Action Steps 5. Free Nursing Care - Survey Of Self Funders - Follow Up 6. Extension of Independent Nurse Prescribing - An Update 7. Influenza Immunisation Programme 2001/2002 - new roles for PCTs 8. Reminder : Controls Assurance Project, Controls Self-Assurance Pilot Opportunities 9. Guidance Issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) NHS and Social Care interest 10. LAC (2001) 20 Young People's Substance Misuse Planning Grant: 2001/02 11. CI (2001) 17 The Children Act Now: Messages from Research Social Care interest 13. Children's Social Services Core Information Requirements Version 2 14. Information for Social Care project NHS interest 1. Shifting the Balance of Power As you may already know two documents have recently been prepared on Shifting the Balance of Power. These are:
These documents herald significant implications for Health Authority, Regional Office, Community Trust, PCG and PCT staff. It is important to ensure that the changes are managed as well as possible and it would be helpful if Chief Executives could manage the cascade of these documents throughout their organisations. It may be appropriate to hold meetings with staff to support them and help them understand the implications of the proposals presented. 2. Action: Integrating Sickness Certification into Hospital Discharge and Outpatient Processes. 31 July 2001 - Neil McKay letter.
Report www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/PublicSector/Index.htm Ref. 24722. Will be mailed to Chairs of Primary Care Groups and Local Medical Committees 6/8/01. 3. New Governance Arrangements for NHS Research Ethics Committees and Guidance on NHS Trust Reviews New Governance arrangements for NHS Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are being published on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/rd1/researchgovernance/corec.htm#ethics. This version replaces the guidance published under cover of HSG(91)5 and HSG(97)23. The new guidance expands on the standards and principles set out for RECs in the recent Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, and clarifies the accountability for establishment and support for RECs. All enquiries should be addressed to the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees tstacey@doh.gsi.gov.uk, who will shortly be in direct contact with HA leads for RECs about implementation timetables and plans. The above guidance provides that ethics committee approval should be considered in parallel with regulatory approval (for medicinal products, by the Medicines Control Agency). Likewise R&D reviews (including registration and costing) undertaken in Trusts, leading to approval to carry out the project, should also be undertaken in parallel with ethical review, and within the same 60-days time period. This should be the same for industry-sponsored and externally funded non-commercial research. Work is in hand on common paperwork to link REC approval and Trust review, which will be made available in due course. 4. Improving the Flow of Emergency Admissions - Key Questions and Action Steps Last winter the National Patients' Access Team, now part of the NHS Modernisation Agency, worked with 16 accident and emergency departments which were experiencing problems coping with emergency admissions. The learning from this work has been written up in a guide called 'Improving the Flow of Emergency Admissions - Key Questions and Action Steps'. The guide gives examples of new ways of working developed by front line staff as their solutions to problems they themselves identified. The document will be available shortly and will be sent to all Chief Executives. For further information, contact Khrishina Patel at the National Patients' Access Team on 0116 222 5100. 5. Free Nursing Care - Survey Of Self Funders - Follow Up Chief Executives will be aware of the survey asking for details of the number of people in nursing homes who are paying for their own care (survey of self funders). This was sent to HA Registration and Inspection Managers for return by 27 July and by 26 July we had received responses from just 25 authorities. All contacts have been telephoned to determine when a response will be made. It is important that completed forms are received as soon as possible so that validation can take place and a report of the results be produced in August. Please can you ensure that a response has been made from your authority. A copy of the original letter and questionnaire is available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/selffundsurvey.htm and can be completed in Excel format. Health Authorities were asked to obtain data from local nursing homes for return to the Department by 27 July. If your authority has not received a copy of the questionnaire, please contact tracie.kilbey@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Some frequently asked questions about free nursing care have now been placed on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/freenursingcarefaq.htm and further information will be added to this over the coming months. Additional questions can be sent to mb-hsd-scju@doh.gsi.gov.uk. 6. Extension of Independent Nurse Prescribing - An Update The Department's Press Release of 4 May 2001 set out the Government's plans for the extension of prescribing responsibilities to more nurses. The purpose of this note is to draw your attention to a note on the DH nurse prescribing website:www.doh.gov.uk/nurseprescribing, which provides an up-date on developments in nurse prescribing, and gives early warning of action needed in the NHS over the coming months. Your notice is drawn in particular to paragraph 10 of the note, in which NHS organisations are asked to consider which nurses would be most suitable for early consideration for nurse prescribing training from early 2002 onwards. 7. Influenza Immunisation Programme 2001/2002 - new roles for PCTs A joint letter from the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer was published on 16 July 2001 (PL/CMO/2001/4). It contains further advice and information for everyone involved in this year's influenza immunisation programme. Main points are:
Ed Davis at DH will be the programme co-ordinator again this year. He can be contacted on 0207 972 1644, or by e-mail at: ed.davis@doh.gsi.gov.uk. The full document can be found on the web site: www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cmo0104.htm Ref. 24443. Mailed to NHS Chief Executives, Medical and Nurse Directors. 8. Controls Assurance Reminders: 1) Controls Assurance Self-Assessment Data Returns This is a final reminder to NHS organisations that the Controls Assurance self-assessment spreadsheet should have been completed and returned to the Controls Assurance Support Unit (casu@casu.keele.ac.uk) by Tuesday 31 July 2001. Organisations who have yet to return their data should do so directly to CASU by noon on 3 August 2001. If organisations are unable to meet this deadline they should contact their Regional Office representative immediately. For further information you should refer to HSC 2001/005 available on COIN The spreadsheet is available on www.doh.gov.uk/riskman.htm or (nhsweb) nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/riskman.htm and follow link to "Controls Assurance Standards".For other related queries on the data returns contact the Controls Assurance Support Unit on 01782 583503. 2) Controls Self-Assurance Pilot Opportunities Applications to become a Controls Self Assurance pilot site need to be completed and returned to Department of Health's Controls Assurance Team by close of play Friday 10 August 2001. The intention to run pilot projects was announced at the May 2001 'Governance In the NHS - Moving Toward Convergence' conference. For further information and to download an application pack please refer to the Controls Assurance website via www.doh.gov.uk/riskman.htm or (nhsweb) nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/riskman.htm and follow link to "Events". Queries on this opportunity should be directed to Lorraine Thomas at Department of Health (see below) or to the Controls Assurance Support Unit on 01782 583503. Lorraine I Thomas, Controls Assurance Team: Tel: 0113 254 5255, Fax: 0113 254 5565 Email : lorraine.thomas@doh.gsi.gov.uk 9. Guidance Issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) On the 26 July NICE issued guidance to the NHS on the appropriate use of drugs called Cox II inhibitors for the treatment of Arthritis. Where appropriate Chief Executives should ensure that NICE guidance informs local decisions on the provision of services in this area. Full details http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=18033 In addition NICE is consulting on the way forward for the four National Confidential Enquiries (Maternal Deaths, Stillbirths & Deaths in Infancy, Perioperative Deaths and Suicide & Homicide by People with Mental Illness). Your views on the proposed arrangements for the investigation of deaths in specific circumstances should be forwarded to NICE. Full details can be obtained from http://www.nice.org.uk/Docref.asp?d=18183 NHS / Social Care interest 10. LAC (2001) 20 Young People's Substance Misuse Planning Grant: 2001/02 This circular sets out arrangements for a new grant to support the implementation of an integrated local plan for young people's substance misuse services. This work is part of the Drugs Strategy 'Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain.' The circular covers: Background for the new grant: Young People's Substance Misuse Plan; grant allocations and payment arrangements; and grant conditions and audit requirements. Ref No. 24692. Mailed to Drug Action Team Co-ordinators. 11. CI (2001) 17 The Children Act Now: Messages from Research An overview of research on the Children Act 1989 is being published on 3 August 2001. The findings of 24 studies have been brought together in this volume. They highlight the nature of children's needs and the help that families value. They reveal the complexity of deciding when and how to intervene to protect and promote children's wellbeing. They emphasise that effective intervention depends on interagency working and partnerships between local council services, health, the family justice system and the voluntary sector. Report -www.doh.gov.uk/scg/childrenactnow.htm CI Letter click here Published by The Stationery Office and available from: The Stationery Office (mail, telephone and fax orders only) PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN. ISBN 0 11 322263 7. General enquiries/Telephone orders 0870 600 5522. Fax orders 0870 600 5533 www.thestationeryoffice.com Ref. CI Letter 24726. Both documents will be mailed to members of the Children's Taskforce, Local Authority Chief Executives, Directors of Social Services, Chief Executives of health Authorities, Chief Executives of NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts, voluntary organisations in the child care field, and other government departments w/c 6/8/01. 12. Mental Health National Service Framework (and the NHS Plan): Workforce Planning, Education and Training, Underpinning Programme: Adult Mental Health Services: Workforce Action Team Final Report You will wish to note that the Final Report of the Workforce Action Team is now available. It is in 3 parts, the Executive Summary (some 10 pages), the Main Report (some 176 pages) and the Special Report which contains the full report from the Primary Care Key Area Group. (some 42 pages). The Executive Summary and the Main Report are available in both hard copy from the NHS Response Line 08701-555-455 and on the NSF web site at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/mentalhealth.htm. The Special Report is ONLY available on the web. Ref. Main Report 24712, Summary 24713. Social Care Interest 13. Children's Social Services Core Information Requirements Version 2 Services by councils with social services responsibility. The Process Model is designed to be accessible to social services managers. The Data Model is more technical and designed primarily for IT systems experts. The Executive Summary is the best way into this material. It is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/qualityprotects/info/publications/coreinformationreq.htm Version 2 has been produced following the consultation on version 1. All the suggestions were considered and most have been taken on board. The Executive Summary explains how version 2 differs from version 1. Minor changes to the document will be made as required and these will be identified as version 2.1, 2.2 etc. In this way we hope soon to introduce a version with some flow diagrams that were requested but we were unable to incorporate within our deadline. We anticipate issuing version 3 in 2002. This will incorporate the information potential of the Integrated Children's System and reflect new regulatory requirements stemming from the implementation of the Care Standards Act. We are undertaking a dissemination strategy designed to draw the attention of key interested parties to this material. You can help in this strategy by passing on this information through your contacts. There is no formal consultation on version 2 but as a "living document" we anticipate the need for comment, suggestion and change. To facilitate this we have opened up a mailbox at this address: qpmi@doh.gsi.gov.uk For those of you that cannot access the documents easily through the website, limited numbers of hard copies can be obtained via the mailbox. 14. Information for Social Care project - Local Information Plans (LIPs) Completed LIPs are due to be submitted to the Department of Health by 1 October 2001. As a follow-up to the guidance issued in June, a sample has been produced for an imaginary local authority, Wetherdale. It has been stylised as if it is being sent internally for completion, and poses the sort of questions and requirements which may be helpful for other local authorities to use in drawing up their LIPs. Authorities may also be interested to see a good example of a more comprehensive Information Strategy, that for Bradford. This is for background information only, and not to be used as the basis for a LIP. The detailed guidance on LIPs issued in June and the recent additional guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/infsoc/ifscguidance.htm
Detailed information about the six recently announced Demonstrator projects is now available at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/infsoc/ifscdemonstrator.htm
The new database for the second Children in Need census has been sent out to local authorities. The census will be taking place in September/October 2001 and further information is can be found on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/cin2001.htm 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
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