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Chief Executive Bulletin
21 December 2001 - 3 January 2002
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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS / Social Care interest 1. Supporting People - LGA and DTLR conference - 6 February 2001 - London NHS interest 2. Mainstreaming IT Social Care interest NHS/Social Care interest 1. Supporting People - LGA and DTLR conference - 6 February 2001 - London Supporting people represents a major transfer of responsibilities and resources from central to local government. Supporting People, from April 2003, will enable local government, with their partners in the NHS and the Probation Service, to address strategically the housing related support needs of vulnerable people. Supporting People will have a significant contribution to make to a host of other strategies locally, not least in health and social care. A major conference will take place on Wednesday 6 February 2001 to illustrate how the success of Supporting People is contingent on the commitment of Members, Chief Executives of local authorities, the Probation Service and health, housing and support organisations. For further details and the conference booking form please see www.lga.gov.uk/Documents/Event/bksupport.pdf The statements below amplify the points made by the Secretary of State for Health and the NHS Chief Executive at the "Transforming the Quality and Delivery of Care through IT" event held jointly with Microsoft on 6 December 2001
More information can be found in the 'What's New' section of the Information Policy Unit web site at http://www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/index.htm 3. IM&T Guidance for Primary Care Organisations The first of a set of guidance being prepared by the Primary Care Information Modernisation team is now available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/whatnew/index.htm and also at http://www.pcimb.nhs.uk 4. NHS Workforce Vacancy Survey 2002 The NHS Workforce Vacancy survey will be carried out again in 2002, with data collected as at 31st March. Three-month vacancies (whole-time equivalent) and staff in post figures (headcount and whole-time equivalent) will be collected. Vacancy survey questionnaires will be sent out in mid-March to human resources contacts within Trusts and PCTs. These contacts will be notified of the forthcoming survey by letter in early January. This letter will ask that the contact details be confirmed as correct and for notification of any foreseeable problems regarding the return of data, for example trust mergers. The letter will also give details of data being collected. Queries regarding the vacancy survey should be emailed to: madeleine.watson@doh.gsi.gov.uk 5. Copying Clinicians' Letters to Patients Update Policy Drivers The NHS Plan made a commitment to copying clinicians' letters to patients as of right. Your Guide to the NHS also states that, in future, this will happen routinely. The Health and Social Care Act 2001, at paragraph 60(2) provides the legal underpinning for keeping patients better informed. Timetable The Department of Health set up a Working Group in July 2001 to advise officials on how best to take forward this policy initiative. The expectation is that the Working Group will produce guidelines by the summer of 2002. Once the guidelines are available, NHS organisations will be encouraged to undertake pilot projects to test the concepts involved in this policy initiative. Full implementation of the initiative will be expected by April 2004. Working Group The Working Group is chaired by Barbara Meredith, Policy and Communications Manager, Age Concern London. Its membership includes patients, doctors, nurses, hospital information/records staff, representatives from patient groups, information scientists researchers, etc. Further information can be obtained from Sue Sharples, secretary to the Working Group at the following address: Department of Health, Room 1N13, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE or her email Sue.Sharples@doh.gsi.gov.uk Social Care Interest On 5 December, Jacqui Smith, Minister for Health, made the keynote address at the national adoption conference - ‘Delivering the National Adoption Standards for England’. The Minister announced:
and launched:
The day provided an opportunity to discuss what needs to be done to implement the Standards and to share practical ideas how to make the Standards a reality. There was also a range of exhibits to disseminate projects funded by the Department through Section 64 grants. Further information can be found on www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/improvingpractice/ On 21st December, Jacqui Smith made a further announcement of a new Department of Health Public Service Agreement target on adoption timescales for children needing new families. This is for 95% of looked after children to be placed for adoption within 12 months of the decision that adoption is in the child’s best interest by 2004-05. For a copy of the circular:
http://www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/lac200133.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 Back to Chief Executive's Bulletin Home Page
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