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Chief
Executive Bulletin 24 - 30 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. Treatment of Patients in the EU 2. Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 3. Implementing The NHS Plan: A "Fully Booked' NHS - 10th October 2001 4. National Reconfiguration of Cleft Lip & Palate Services NHS and Social Care interest 5. Health and Social Care - Community Equipment Services 6. Safety Notices Issued by the Medical Devices Agency NHS interest 1. 1. Treatment of Patients in the EU After considering the implications of the recent judgements in the European Court of Justice about patients seeking treatment in EU countries other than their own, Alan Milburn has made the following statement: "I will be receiving detailed legal advice on the ECJ judgement in the next few weeks. It does seem likely however that the judgement will have an impact in all European countries including the UK. I will be seeking to discuss its implications with other European health ministers. I am also setting up a review of the current E112 system we operate in the UK for patients seeking treatment elsewhere in the EU to ensure that it operates transparently and objectively. In the meantime it is my intention to make clear to health authorities and primary care trusts that they are able to commission services from other European countries as part of their wider efforts to reduce waiting times for NHS treatment. This will not happen overnight. For one thing it may require legislation. It will also take time to put in place robust systems to guarantee patients high standards of care and taxpayers good value for money. The overwhelming majority of NHS patients will continue to be treated by the health service. But in future primary care trusts will have the option of securing treatment for NHS patients in other European countries. Clearly that can only happen where that is what the patient wants and after a full clinical assessment shows that it meets their needs. There will be no question of sending patients abroad against their wishes. Primary care trusts will need to meet the costs of treating NHS patients elsewhere in the EU out of their budgets. The Government's priority is to invest in our country's health service to get waiting times down for NHS treatment. By 2005 the investment and reforms we are putting in place will give NHS patients an average wait of just seven weeks for an operation in English hospitals." On timing, there are some legal issues to sort out. We need to clarify domestic law to ensure it conforms with European law in the light of the ECJ judgements, and lawyers are looking at that urgently. There are important service issues, too, and they need to be considered properly if authorities/PCTs wish to look at the option of purchasing services in Europe. I would expect authorities to be applying the same principles to European providers as they do to private providers in this country to increase capacity locally when needed. These principles, made clear in the NHS Plan, cover issues like patient safety, quality assurance, proper arrangements for after care and for complaints if things go wrong. We will be talking to health managers to bottom this out. I will keep you informed of developments. 2. Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 You will have received earlier this year from colleagues in the Home Office a copy of the consultation paper on the implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act indicating the Government's intention to list public bodies under the terms of the Act. This letter is to confirm that Orders will be laid in early autumn to list NHS Trusts including Primary Care Trusts, Health Authorities and Special Health Authorities. The Orders will have the effect of making you subject to the RR(A)'s General Duty, Policy and Service Specific duties, and Employment Specific duties. The Orders will specify a date on which the specific duties become enforceable. We expect this will be some time in the summer of 2002 and will write confirming the exact date. If you have any further queries please contact Lydia Yee on 020 7210 5285, or by email lydia.yee@doh.gsi.gov.uk or Jonathan Mogford on 020 7210 5682 or by e-mail jonathan.mogford@doh.gsi.gov.uk . 3. Implementing The NHS Plan: A "Fully Booked' NHS - 10th October 2001. The National Booked Admissions Programme is now in its fourth year and every Health Community is taking part in the Moving to Mainstream programme which commences in September 2001. This special one day conference will give Chief Executives critical information about the benefits that can be gained for patients, staff and the organisations taking part. Research has demonstrated that patients prefer booking their appointments and previous projects have reported significant reduction in DNA's and cancellations, releasing valuable capacity to support reduction in waiting times. Take the opportunity to find out what gains can be made through booked admissions in your own organisations. Full details available at: www.doh.gov.uk/bookedadmissions 4. National Reconfiguration of Cleft Lip & Palate Services The NHS has been working on the reconfiguration of cleft services in light of the recommendations set out in the 1998 Clinical Standards Advisory Group (CSAG) report, and on the advice of the Cleft Implementation Group (CIG) led by Dr June Crown. On 29 August, guidance was sent to all Trusts to assist with making appointments at the new cleft lip and palate centres. This guidance is also available through the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/publications/pointh.html. Those involved in the appointments process within the new centres, clinicians affected, and their managers should be made aware of this guidance. Ref. 24982 Covering letter, 24983 Guidance. Mailed to NHS Directors of Public Health, Primary Care, Nursing, Performance management and Commissioning.NHS / Social Care interest 5. Health and Social Care - Community Equipment Services Last month in Nigel Crisp's bulletin he mentioned the key priorities identified by Alan Milburn, which include services for older people and making sure that people are looked after in the right environment and in the right way. Community equipment is integral to many modernisation initiatives and particularly around inappropriate admission and in the facilitation of discharge arrangements within the Older People's Framework. However, it remains key to all age groups and their ability to have an enhanced quality of life. HSC2001\008:LAC(2001)13 and the accompanying Guide to Integrating Community Equipment Services set out milestones to be achieved in relation to the integration of community equipment services. One of these milestones is to confirm, by the middle of August, the amount of new funding made available by the authority and social services and identify other sources of funding available for equipment purchase. As you know, the Government is providing £105m for the NHS to improve community equipment services over the years 2001/02 to 2003/04. £11.7million has been allocated this financial year. Additional money has also been provided to local councils in the Personal Social Services Settlement for 2001/02 to 2003/04, to enable councils to contribute an appropriate share to the expansion of these services. Recent statistical returns and reports from the field clearly indicate that many authorities have yet to identify their new funding for equipment services. May we remind you of the importance of ensuring, in meeting the NHS Plan targets, that the new funding is both identified and used for its intended purpose. Circular HSC 2001/003: LAC(2001)13 Guide to integrating community equipment services and related information SAFETY Notices 6. MDA SN2001(23) Patients with Active/Powered Implants: Risk of Serious Injury from Therapeutic Diathermy Treatment This Safety Notice was issued on 21st August 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 (23) can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(23).htm MDA SN2001(24) Battery Charges with Faulty 13A Plugs, Branded as Sonnenschein, Lomax or Sunrise. This Safety Notice was issued on 24th August to NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts, Health Authorities Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services. 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(24) can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2001(24).htm For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk http://www.medical-devices.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 Home PagePublished by the
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