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Chief Executive Bulletin
Contents:NHS and Social Care interest
NHS interest
Social care interest
NHS / social care interest1. Investment, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years Priorities and a new planning system for the NHS and social services are set out in a key document published yesterday. Investment, Expansion and Reform sets out what health and social services will need to achieve in key delivery areas and introduces a new system of three year planning and allocations. The change from an annual planning round will provide a more stable basis for the NHS and social services to deliver locally on national priorities in areas such as:
The national targets set out in the document have been streamlined to include only those targets which will be managed at a national level, with a commitment to avoid the introduction of new targets where possible. The planning system has also been simplified so that each local area need only submit a single three-year plan. While the national targets and planning system is designed to be robust and challenging, the combination of streamlining and the move from annual plans to three year ones will allow maximum local flexibility about how targets should be delivered. The new system has been developed by a project board involving NHS trusts, strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and local councils. For further information contact Julie Taylor on 020 7972 5846 julie.taylor@doh.gsi.gov.uk The website address is www.doh.gov.uk/planning2003-2006 2. Keep Warm Keep WellKeep Warm Keep Well is a national campaign to reduce cold-related illnesses and deaths this winter among vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with chronic heart and lung conditions. Keep Warm Keep Well forms part of an integrated NHS and social care communications programme for this winter, combining public information about the use of health services with specific calls to action and advice on self care and prevention. This includes the campaign to encourage flu immunisation among people who are 65 and over, and those at risk from underlying health conditions. The Keep Warm Keep Well Winter Warmth Advice Line Freephone 0800 085 7000, Textphone 0800 085 7857 offers people advice on staying warm and keeping well in winter, and information about the financial help available to them. The free Keep Warm Keep Well Winter Guide (available in several languages) can be ordered from the Advice Line and provides similar information and details of other helpful organisations. Visit www.doh.gov.uk/kwkw for further information.
3. Strategic health authorities children's leads meetingThe Child Health Policy Team at the Department of Health will be holding a meeting for all Directorate of Health and Social Care and strategic health authority children's leads on 6 November 2002 in London. The meeting will run from 10:30 to 15:30. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for children's leads to hear of the latest policy developments within the department regarding children such as the National Service Framework for Children. It will be a forum for the Department of Health to hear about your issues and agree on how to work together effectively in the future. A timetable of the event can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/stha.htm Please bring this event to the attention of your organisation's children's lead. To register and for more information contact Jamilla Rogers-Wright on 020 7972 4716 or jamilla.rogers-wright@doh.gsi.gov.uk 4. New resource for older people's champions There have recently been calls for increased support and explanation of the role of NSF Champions. This follows publication of the National Service Framework for Older People in March 2001 and the development of a local implementation structure, bringing together health and social care organisations and local Older People's Champions into Local Implementation Teams (LITs). A new resource, or 'toolkit' provides champions with information to support them in promoting the interests of older people in terms of developing health and social care services - in line with the requirements of the NSF. Different types of champion have different levels of knowledge about the NHS and social services and, to some extent, different information requirements. The resource provides material which should be helpful for all types of champions - clinical, non-executive NHS, councillor and older people's representatives. There are also plans for other support for champions, for example the Modernisation Agency is planning a leadership programme. The toolkit can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople.htm For further information contact Carl Evans on 020 7972 4134 or carl.evans@doh.gsi.gov.uk 5. Local Exercise Action Pilots - call for expressions of interest Funding of £2.6 million for a new programme of Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP) was announced earlier this year. There will be one pilot in each of nine regions in England, led by PCTs and based in neighbourhood renewal fund areas. Regional directors of public health have now asked directors of public health of PCTs eligible for this funding to submit expressions of interest by 18 October 2002. These expressions will be sifted by a regional team, led by regional directors of public health. The regional teams will then invite up to four PCTs to submit full bids. The closing date for full applications is 20 December 2002. Funding of around £200,000 is available for each of the pilots to test out different community approaches to increasing access to physical activity. LEAP supports delivery of milestones in the National Service Frameworks and NHS Plan commitments on physical activity and obesity and contributes to the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. The programme also contributes to broader policies on sport, leisure, transport, education, the environment, countryside access and sustainability. For further information contact Alison Simmonds on 020 7972 1366 or alison.simmonds@doh.gsi.gov.uk 6. Launch of the national women's mental health strategy: Women's mental health: Into the mainstream The development of a women's strategy forms part of the Government's commitment to address inequalities in the delivery of mental health services. The aim of the consultation document is to provide information, to generate discussion and to outline a strategic direction to mainstream women's mental health care needs. To provide equity of service to all, gender differences in women and men need to be equally recognised and addressed across planning, commissioning, service organisation and delivery, research and evaluation. Women's Mental Health: Into the Mainstream focuses on gender differences that are relevant to women but many of the principles outlined are relevant to all age groups and to men too. The public consultation, October to December 2002, provides an opportunity for the Department of Health to listen to the views of all stakeholders across health and social care. Written comments are invited and a number of listening events will be held around the country. It is essential that all staff are informed that the consultation document is available and have prompt access to it. The document can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/women.htm. Copies of the full length version and/or summary can be obtained from: Department of Health, P.O. Box 777, London SE1 6XH, tel 08701 555455, e-mail doh@prolog.uk.com. For further information contact Kathy Billington on 020 7972 4514 or kathy.billington@doh.gsi.gov.uk 7. Funding for intermediate care capital schemesOn 1 October Jacqui Smith announced the allocation of £62 million for new intermediate care capital development schemes. This funding (£66 million in total over the two years 2002/03 and 2003/04) is part of the extra investment for intermediate care and related services announced in The NHS Plan. It will pay for 103 schemes providing an additional 1,688 intermediate care beds across the country. The allocation of the remaining £4m will be announced shortly. For further details contact Sue Row on 020 7972 3938 or sue.row@doh.gsi.gov.uk 8. Human rights act 1998 - free study guide and seminars A revised study guide to explain the Human Rights Act 1998 is now available from the Lord Chancellor's Department. The department is also hosting a series of free local seminars about the act which are open to anyone who needs to know more about the legislation. A recent bulletin from district audit reports that fewer than half the public authorities (including health authorities) it surveyed in England had a clear approach to the act. A key issue was raising awareness among front-line staff. Another was the absence of a corporate approach. The bulletin warns that failure to take such an approach can have serious consequences. Proven breaches could lead to the award of damages, civil remedies and copycat claims. The act impacts on the work of many front-line services including social services, planning, housing and education. Copies of the guide are available free-of-charge to all types of organisation. Venues for the half-day roadshows are:
Attendance is free and open to any organisation. For more information visit www.humanrights.gov.uk/guidlist.htm or call 020 7210 2670 Staff briefing on the act will be available on the NHS Syndication Service this Friday at www.nhs.uk/syndication. The NHS Litigation Authority will soon launch their Human Rights Information Service. Enquiries can be sent to their website - www.nhsla.com. For further information contact Gill Russell on 020 7972 4146 or gill.russell@doh.gsi.gov.uk 9. Launch of the Integrated Care Network To help improve services through integration of local authorities and the NHS, the Department of Health is joining with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (and non-government partners) to provide support. This support will be through the Integrated Care Network, which will co-ordinate existing initiatives and develop new ones as appropriate. The network will create a central information resource, develop action learning sets, provide consultancy, spread good practice and knowledge and arrange national information meetings. Health minister Jacqui Smith will launch the network at a day conference in London on 24 October 2002. Other speakers with experience of integration between health and local government will be confirmed shortly. This event is aimed at councillors, NHS board members, chief (and other senior) local authority and NHS officers and professional executive committee members. If you wish to attend the conference (which is free) please send an email to mbicn@doh.gsi.gov.uk giving your name, post title, organisation, email address and phone number. For further information contact Shane Giles or Ken Brown on 0113 254 3804. 10. Meeting PCT child protection responsibilities: NatPaCT seminars Sound child protection systems and services demand robust management and focused, supportive and sensitive leadership. NatPaCT, the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme, is organising nine child protection seminars to provide time and space for lead directors with responsibility for child protection to explore their responsibilities and understanding of the PCT role in this demanding field. Who should attend ?
The one-day events - one in each Government office region - take place in November, December and January. For an outline programme and to register your interest visit http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/news/index.php?article_request=156 For further information contact John Callaghan on 0113 254 3802 or john.d.callaghan@doh.gsi.gov.uk 11. Guidance on tackling health inequalities through local public service agreements (LPSAs)Tackling health inequalities is a Government priority and a key strand in the modernisation programme to develop responsive, effective, public services. To help move this important agenda forward, the Department of Health is looking to give LPSAs a stronger health inequalities focus, as local health inequalities targets with measurable outcomes can provide a "driver" for change at local level. The Department of Health has produced guidance for local authorities, particularly those authorities within or near the bottom fifth for life expectancy, who wish to adopt an LPSA target on health inequalities. The guidance, which includes local authority rankings for life expectancy and examples of LPSA health inequalities targets that have already been agreed, can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/lpsa/guidance-tackling-health-inequalities.htm This guidance should be held in conjunction with the new Health and Social Care Priorities and Planning Framework as LPSAs provide a key tool for reflecting joint activity between NHS organisations and local authorities. For more information contact Michelle Wiseman on 020 7972 3739 or michelle.wiseman@doh.gsi.gov.uk The following statistics are available on the Department of Health website:
NHS interest 13. Secretary of State Directions from 1 October 2002 Two sets of Secretary of State Directions have been issued as a result of the change of name of English Health Authorities from 1 October 2002. They concern the interpretation of references to Health Authorities in existing Secretary of State Directions relating to England. The Health Authority (Construction of References) Directions 2002, made on 27 September, provide that, any reference to Health Authority (however expressed) in any Directions made by the Secretary of State in force on 1 October 2002 shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be read for areas in England as a reference to a Strategic Health Authority. The full text of these Directions can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreformact/sthaconstruction.htm However, wide exceptions are made in The Health Authority (Construction of References - Various Exceptions for Primary Care Trusts) Directions 2002, made on 30 September. These Directions provide that, notwithstanding the provisions of the first directions, above, that in specified Directions any such reference to a Health Authority in relation to any time on or after 1 October 2002 is to be read as a reference to a Primary Care Trust. For Pilot Schemes the reference is to be read as a reference to the commissioning body, whether StHA or PCT. The full text of these Directions can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreformact/pctconstruction.htm For further information/ advice on these Directions contact:
For further information and advice on these Directions contact Bob Travers on 0113 254 5852 or bob.travers@doh.gsi.gov.uk 14. PCT (Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Directions 2002 New Primary Care Trust (Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Directions have been introduced in England from 1 October 2002. These revoke The Primary Care Trust (Functions) Directions 2000 dated 31 March 2000. These Directions set out the functions of PCT Executive Committees, the restrictions on the exercise of functions by Executive Committees and set out requirements on the adoption of standing financial instructions. The full text of The Primary Care Trust (Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Directions 2002 is contained on the Department's website and can be accessed at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreformact/pctprocedure.htm For further information/ advice on these Directions please contact Bob Travers on 0113 254 5852 or bob.travers@doh.gsi.gov.uk 15. Guidance on planning for major incidents - update As identified in the Chief Executive's Bulletin on 12 September, the Emergency Planning and Co-ordination Unit (EPCU) has produced a new chapter, "the Primary Care Trust," to update the 1998 NHS Guidance on Planning for Major Incidents. This replaces chapters 3 and 7 which dealt with the emergency planning roles and responsibilities of health authorities and primary care/community health services. A guide to the key NHS and DH organisational roles and responsibilities in dealing with major incidents is now available at the same website - http://www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/index.htm. The style and approach of these documents are in keeping with the new planning framework. For further information contact Dr Bruce Court on 020 7972 3795 or bruce.court@doh.gsi.gov.uk 16. Changes to SITREP dataset and hold on A&E changes Changes to the SITREP dataset will come into effect from next week (as announced in the Chief Executives Bulletin: 16-22 August, Issue 131), with the exception of the changes to measuring times in A&E. Until further notice, the old (2001/02) SITREP definitions continue to apply to measuring:
Please do not use the 2002/03 definitions on these 3 data items. Following feedback from the service an expert group is reviewing the guidance on measuring time in A&E, which we expect to finalise during October. A further announcement will be made through the Chief Executive Bulletin and via the STEIS (Strategic Executive Information System) website. Further details, including
revised definitions and guidance, are available at 17. Refurbishment of psychiatric wards - additional capital funding for 2002/03 Additional capital of £10m is available to spend in this financial year on improving the environment of psychiatric acute inpatient care wards. (Approximately £25m has already been allocated). NHS mental health trusts and primary care trusts, which provide mental health acute inpatient care, are invited to urgently consider projects in consultation with their local acute care forum (ACF). Proposals should be sent to SHA mental health leads who will oversee the distribution of the total £371,000. As the money must be spent in this financial year, this needs to be progressed as quickly as possible. SHAs are asked to notify the Department of Health of agreed proposals by 28 October. For further information contact Elizabeth Gass on 020 7972 4493 or elizabeth.gass@doh.gsi.gov.uk 18. Governance in the NHS National Conference 2002 The next Governance in the NHS National Conference will take place on 4-5 November 2002 at ICC, Birmingham. The event will provide an opportunity to build on 2001/02 internal control and clinical governance reporting, understand the proposals for 2002/03 statements on internal control and consider the next phase of the converging governance agenda. The second day will feature up to 12 interactive workshops. Speakers are drawn from a wide variety of organisations from within and outside the healthcare sector and presentations will be made by both an NHS trust and a PCT. The keynote address is by Lord Hunt of King's Heath, under secretary of state for health. While aimed at NHS boards, this event is equally relevant to all professionals with responsibility for, or an interest in, corporate and clinical governance, internal control, controls assurance and risk management issues. Day two will be of particular relevance to those tasked with implementation of the governance agenda in their organisations. Programme and registration details available here For hard copies and further information contact conference administration on 0113 254 6300/0113 254 5816 or CAP@doh.gsi.gov.uk (website: www.doh.gov.uk/riskman.htm ) 19. Performance monitoring: 2002/03 quarter 2 Service & Financial Framework Return (SaFFR) The Service and Financial Framework Return (SaFFR, formerly known as Common Information Core or CIC) is used to monitor progress against a number of the key targets in the 2002/03 SaFFs and other targets included in the NHS Plan and national service frameworks. From 2002/03 PCTs and NHS trusts are responsible for completing and returning SaFFRs. Between quarter 1 and quarter 2, the Department has undertaken a rationalisation exercise on SaFFR data lines. The outcome of this is that a number of SaFFR lines for collection have been removed from the quarter 2 requirements. This reduces the immediate burden on the NHS and is part of an ongoing rationalisation exercise. Lines that have been dropped at quarter 2 could be reinstated at future quarters. Action: Chief executives of PCTs and NHS trusts are asked to ensure quarter 2 2002/03 SaFFR forms are returned to the Department of Health by 18 October 2002. More details about the SaFFR process, including forms and guidance, can be found at http://194.101.216.154/steis/saffview.nsf/returnsbyorganisationweb?OpenView, by emailing: SaFFR@doh.gsi.gov.uk or by calling the SaFFR information line on 0113 254 6777. 20. Occupational health services for GPs and their staff A letter regarding occupational health services for GPs and their staff can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/publications/pointh.html. It is from the Department of Health's director of human resources Andrew Foster to all PCT and strategic health authority chief executives. The main aim of the letter is to enlist your assistance in ensuring the NHS meets the NHS Plan commitment to provide GPs and their staff with access to occupational health and safety services. It is important to ensure that funding has been made available and services commissioned to meet the occupational health needs of GPs and their staff in your area by 31 December this year. For further information contact Julian Topping on 0113 254 5756 or julian.topping@doh.gsi.gov.uk 21. National Audit Office survey on major incident planning The National Audit Office (NAO) wrote to acute trusts and ambulance trusts on 30 September to ask them to complete a survey on major incident planning. The aim is to ensure that their report reflects the latest position, which has developed considerably since the previous NAO work in February/March this year. To meet their publication timetable, they need the information returned by Monday 7 October. Chief executives should take the opportunity to assure themselves that they are satisfied with quality of the returns that are sent in their name. For further information contact Tony Moyle on 0113 254 5384 or tony.moyle@doh.gsi.gov.uk 22. GP flu remuneration 2002/03 The Department of Health has brought forward last year's agreement with the General Practitioners Committee on influenza remuneration for another year. Under this agreement GPs receive a B rate item of service fee for every patient aged 65 and over who was immunised against influenza, as well as the personal administration fee for each dose of vaccine. It is hoped that GPs will strive to improve uptake in all the risk groups and seek to adopt the best practice of setting up risk registers to facilitate this. PCTs are reminded that there is nothing to prevent them agreeing local incentives for GPs to immunise at-risk patients under the age of 65, using local development schemes or by local variation to PMS contracts. PCTs will be given a budget to supplement PMS contracts to ensure that PMS GPs are rewarded for immunising the over-65s in line with the level of achievement of individual pilots. Further details on this winter's flu campaign can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/flu. For further information contact Mark Smith on mark.smith@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 6385. 23. Tackling violence towards GPs and their staff PCTs should have assessed the risk of violence to GPs and their staff and put appropriate action plans in place for tackling violence by 31 October 2002. A reminder was sent in a letter on 3 October to all PCT chief executives from the Department of Health's deputy director of human resources David Amos. Local plans should include arrangements for providing secure facilities for treating violent or abusive patients. PCTs should notify local GPs of these arrangements by 31 January 2003.
The letter also reported on the main strands of work being taken forward by the working group on tackling violence in general practice. The zero tolerance website at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance will be updated on 7 October to include examples of best practice in tackling violence in general practice, including local initiatives on the provision of secure facilities for the treatment of violent or abusive patients. For further information contact Meena Paterson on meena.paterson@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 5758 or Eileen Calline on eileen.calline@doh.gsi.gov.uk or 0113 254 6131. 24. e-Health and the Deptartment of Health - The Wider Picture This e-health conference will give a broader view of current e-health issues and provides an opportunity to learn about some of the important new initiatives being undertaken in healthcare. It will be run by the Medical Devices Agency on 11 November 2002 in London. A number of DH individuals involved with e-Health will provide a wide and varied insight into the use of this new technology. The programme aims to address how clinicians will need to change the way they practice medicine. Professionals from all aspects of healthcare are welcome to attend. For further information including the application form visit www.medical-devices.gov.uk 25. Pharmacy workforce in the new NHS - making the best use of staff to deliver the NHS pharmacy programme Pharmacy in the Future, the Government's programme for pharmacy within the NHS Plan represents considerable change and modernisation in pharmacy services to achieve better use of medicines and improved patient care. Developing the roles of pharmacists and their staff is central to the success of this strategy. A discussion paper sets out the Department of Health's views on the changes that are needed to make the best use of the pharmacy workforce to deliver these aims. It provides an opportunity for comment on the way forward, but does not represent settled policy and may be subject to change. Any proposals for change will be consulted on separately in due course. Changes to the regulatory framework for pharmacy will require parliamentary approval. The discussion paper can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacy/workforcediscussion. Comments are welcome and should be sent by 31 December 2002 to Diana Kenworthy at diana.kenworthy@doh.gsi.gov.uk or Medicines, Pharmacy and Industry Group, Room 160, Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London. SW1A 2NS Pharmacy in the Future can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacyfuture 26. E-Commerce in action conference A national conference to consider the benefits of e-Commerce will be held by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on Monday 9 December 2002. Speakers from around the globe will be presenting their experiences of e-trading. Delegates should gain an understanding of the commercial advantages that flow from this method of trading as well as learning about the practical steps to deliver an e-commerce solution. The keynote address will be given by health minister Lord Hunt of King's Heath. The conference is aimed at trust board leads for supplies, trust chief executives, finance directors and supplies managers and will be held at Leeds United Football Club.
For further information visit www.leedsteachinghospitals.com/supplies where a booking form can be downloaded, or email e-commerce@leedsth.nhs.uk
NHS director of human resources Andrew Foster, head of NHS recruitment Liz Eddy and the Modernisation Agency's director of new ways of working Judy Hargadon, all spoke at the conference on 25 September. Andrew Foster spoke about how the Government is working towards achieving the goal of building a world class workforce in the NHS. Liz Eddy looked at changing the public perception of a career in the NHS and Judy Hargadon focused on the importance of the team and the 'hidden heroes' of the NHS. To read the conference summary visit www.doh.gov.uk/conferences
The National Day Surgery Summit was aimed at surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and service managers and invited them to look at day surgery rates and ways to improve them within their trusts. Held on 24 September, it marked the start of the National Day Surgery Programme, developed by the NHS Modernisation Agency to take forward improvements in day surgery rates. The summit also complemented the launch of the Department of Health's Day Surgery - An Operational Guide published under the Day Surgery Strategy, launched in January 2002. To read a summary of health minister John Hutton's speech visit www.doh.gov.uk/conferences 28. The Government's response to the health committee's second report of session 2001-02 on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence This document is available on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/nice/govresp.htm 29. NHS management costs website The aim of this site is to set out the new policy around management costs effective in 2002/03. It outlines key policy changes, new freedoms, management costs within the local health economy and management costs definitions. The site can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/managementcosts This review, which covers the period April to June 2002, reports aspects of NHS performance which are monitored on a quarterly basis. It covers a range of aspects of access and quality including: levels of patient activity, waiting times and numbers waiting, measures of patient experience standards such as cancelled operations, emergency admissions through A&E departments and delayed discharges for elderly patients. The review can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsquarterlyreview For further information contact Andrew Morgan on 0113 254 5549. Social care interest 31. Upstart! magazine Upstart! highlights news and evidence of best practice within Sure Start programmes, featuring methods that programmes can draw upon, and acts as a focal point for the Sure Start community. It is aimed at all those involved in Sure Start, including those working directly with families in Sure Start programmes, partner organisations and those involved in an administrative capacity. Upstart! is published every two months by the Sure Start Unit and edited by The National Early Years Network. Copies can be obtained from DfES Publications, Tel: 0845 602 2260 Fax: 0845 603 3360 E-mail: dfes@prolog.uk.com 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 - ©2002
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