Chief Executive Bulletin
30 March - 5 April 2001
Issue 60
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Chief Executive Bulletin
30 March - 5 April 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. HSC 2001/009 National Booked Admission Programme: Moving to Mainstream 3. Improving Patient Communication 4. Advance letter MD 5/01 Consultant's Contract: Annual Appraisal For Consultants 6. Improving Practice in Seeking Patient Consent 7. Prescription Charges In The UK: Devolution - Don't Get Caught Out 9. Availability of NRT on Prescription 11. NHS Collaboration with External Funders Of Research And Development NHS and Social Care interest 12. CI(2001)5 - Health And Social Care Planning 2001/2002 14. HSC 2001/001: LAC (2001)01 - Intermediate Care - Model Contracts Now Available on The DH Website 15. National Service Framework for Mental Health - Workforce Action team (WAT) 16. The Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide Social Care interest 18. Social Services Performance In 2000-2001 And Changes To PSS Expenditure Returns 19. Numbers Of Preserved Rights Residents By Local Authority Area: Data Now Available
NHS interest
1. HSC 2001/009 National Booked Admission Programme: Moving to Mainstream Action Required - Deadline For Applications - End Of May 2001 This HSC gives early warning of a fourth wave of the National Booked admissions Programme and of the application process for central funding The fourth wave will run from September 2001 until March 2003. Central funding is available for the fourth wave in 2001/02 and 2002/03. Details of this and the timetable for submission of application will be issued in mid April. Early work on the preparation of applications, which will need to be in by around the end of May, is therefore recommended. Ref. 23690. Will be mailed to NHS Chairs w/c 9/4/01.
2. HSC 2001/010 Implementing The NHS Plan - Modern Matrons: Strengthening The Role of Ward Sisters and Introducing Senior Sisters This circular provides guidance about implementing commitments made in the NHS Plan. It sets out the principles to which NHS organisations should attend when:
Matrons will be accountable for a group of wards. They will be easily identifiable to patients, highly visible, accessible and authoritative figures to whom patients and their families can turn for assistance, advice and support and upon whom they can rely to ensure that the fundamentals of care are right. Action is required to ensure matrons are introduced and to ensure that all ward sisters and charge nurses have sufficient authority and receive the support they need to enable them to ensure that the basics of care are right. As part of this process, by April 2002 NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts with wards are required to have identified matrons, each accountable for a group of wards. Ref. 23691. Will be mailed to Health Authority Nurse Directors w/c 9/4/01. 3. Improving Patient Communication Direct patient communication is a key part of the patient experience of the NHS and should be addressed as a component part of the patient journey alongside clinical and other considerations. However the quality of written communication to patients is variable with poor standards needlessly letting the NHS down. Web pages on www.doh.gov.uk/learningzone/letters.htm have been developed to support the NHS to make improvements in written communication through:
4. Advance letter MD 5/01 Consultant's Contract: Annual Appraisal For Consultants issued on 5 April 2001 asks Chief Executives to take immediate action to ensure that documentation (attached at Annex A of AL (MD) 5/01) which supports the implementation of Consultant Appraisal is put into practice. This follows the publication in December 2000 of the agreed system to be implemented (Advance Letter (MD)6/00). The documentation is key in ensuring a consistent approach to appraisal is followed throughout the NHS and to support revalidation for consultants. The information will be available in paper form shortly and is being circulated to Medical Directors and Human Resources Directors and is for immediate action. Available after 1.00 pm 6/4/01 at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html Ref. 23694. Will be mailed to the NHS w/c 9/4/01. 5. National Surveys of NHS Patients Coronary Heart Disease 1999: National Report - Summary of Key Findings The second National Survey of NHS Patients in England was administered as a self-completion postal questionnaire in 1999. The purpose of the survey was to assess the quality of NHS patient care as seen by hospital patients, both in-patients and day patients, who had been treated for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The initial survey findings were published in April 2000, with reports for each NHS Trust issued in December 2000. This report presents the key findings from the survey for all CHD patients in England from a national point of view. The report can be viewed on the DH website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/nhssurveyrs.htm Copies of the report may be obtained w/c 16/4/01 by contacting doh@prolog.uk.com and quoting the reference number. Ref. 23638. 6. Improving Practice in Seeking Patient Consent The Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment has now been published by the Department of Health. It is available from the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/consent and also from Department of Health Stores, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH or on the NHS Response Line 08701 555 455, please quote reference number when ordering. Ref. 23617. Mailed widely to the NHS 2/4/01. Hard copies available. 7. Prescription Charges In The UK: Devolution - Don't Get Caught Out For information: HA Chief Executives and HA Directors of Finance Prescription Charges You may be aware that from 1 April 2001, there are some differences in the prescription charging arrangements between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales the prescription charge remains at £6.00 and young people aged under 25 will be entitled to free prescriptions. In England the charge is £6.10 (as announced in the mailing mid March) and the exemption arrangements are unchanged, ie children under 16 and young people under 19 in full time education are entitled to free prescriptions. The arrangements to apply will be those appropriate to where dispensing takes place. If dispensing takes place in England, English rules will apply even if the prescription was written in Wales or the patient has an address in Wales. The line to take if advice is sought by dispensing contractors is enclosed. This is also on the web site of the Department of Health and the Prescription Pricing Authority. Could you please cascade this information to all staff who deal with dispensing contractors and/or prescription charges. Prescription Charges in The UK: Guide for Dispensing Contractors Devolution - Don't Get Caught Out From 1 April 2001 there are some differences in the arrangements for prescription charges between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales the level of charge remains £6 and everybody under 25 gets free prescriptions. As a pharmacist working in England, you must apply the rules which apply in England, even if you get a prescription written in Wales, or if the patient has an address in Wales. The charge for each item is £6.10 Young people aged 16-25 are only entitled to free prescriptions if they qualify for some reason other than simply their age, eg:
These are the rules the PPA will apply when calculating the payments due to your pharmacy and when checking whether people have claimed free prescriptions when they should not have done. It's simple - always apply the same rules to all prescriptions you are given! www.doh.gov.uk/prescriptioncharges/wales.htm 8. Prescription Charge Exemptions ie. Medical or Maternity Exemptions (FP92) and Prescription Pre-Payment (PPC) Certificates (FP96) A questionnaire and covering letter are attached to collect data about prescription charge exemptions ie. medical or maternity exemption certificates (FP92) and prescription pre-payment (PPC) certificates (FP96) issued for the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. We have collected this data for a number of years but this year, we have changed the questionnaire (redesigned it, cut out one question and simplified another). I would be grateful if you could forward the questionnaire and covering letter to the person(s) responsible for issuing prescription charge exemption certificates ie. medical or maternity exemptions (FP92) and prescription pre-payment (PPC) certificates (FP96) within your Authority or Agency (if applicable). The questionnaire may be e-mailed or posted back to DH. Full details available at: www.doh.gov.uk/prescriptioncharges/exemptions.htm 9. Availability of NRT on Prescription The NHS Plan1 announced the Government's intention to make nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) available on prescription from GPs to complement the new smoking cessation treatment bupropion (Zyban). From 17 April this year GPs will be able to prescribe NRT products2, which have been shown to double the effectiveness of a quit attempt. NRT will continue to be available in pharmacies and will soon be available on general sale in some supermarkets. NICE is expected to provide an appraisal of NRT and Zyban later this year. Information on smoking cessation guidelines and their cost effectiveness can be found at: http://thorax.bmjjournals.com/content/vol53/suppl_5 and updated guidelines can be found at: http://thorax.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/55/12/987 Health Authorities are being asked to confirm that funding arrangements have been made/or are being made to enable GPs to prescribe these smoking cessation aids to clinically suitable patients, as soon as is legally permissible to do so. From 1 May, nurse prescribers are also able to prescribe NRT. Smoking cessation co-ordinators are listed at http://www.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhssmokingcessation. For further information please contact either Dr D Milner Room 429 Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG or Tony Doole Room 428 Wellington House Email at dawn.milner@doh.gsi.gov.uk or tony.doole@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Further details available at: www.doh.gov.uk/nrt/index.htm 10. Education and Support for District and Community Nurses in General Principles and Practice of Palliative Care The NHS Cancer Plan set out a commitment to provide £2m for 2001/02 and provisionally £2m for 2002/3 and £2m for 2003/4 to support education initiatives for district and community nurses in relation to the principles and practice of palliative care. We are wishing to inform you that full details of the process and criteria for submitting proposals have been posted on the Department of Health Cancer website. The address is http://www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/edusup.htm Applications should be with Regional Cancer Co-ordinators by 7 May 2001. In brief we are looking to support flexible educational initiatives which demonstrate partnership between providers of palliative care education (eg specialist palliative care teams) recipients of the education (community nursing staff) and education consortia. Ref. 23692. Will be mailed to NHS Nurse Directors w/c 9/4/01. 11. NHS Collaboration with External Funders Of Research And Development The Department's R&D web site also now carries a "Guide to collaboration between the NHS and other research funders". This defines how external research funders may be eligible for NHS Support for Science funding. Guide http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/rd3/sfsnextstep.htm
NHS / Social Care interest 12. CI(2001)5 - Health And Social Care Planning 2001/2002 This CI Letter issued jointly from the Chief Inspector Social Services and NHS Chief Operating Officer, highlights the changes to the definition of a delayed transfer of care from April 2001, and the requirement to collect additional information on the causes of such delays, and the length of delay. It also provides some information on supply side commissioning. Ref. 23689. Hard copies available w/c 9/4/01. 13. The Government's response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drug's report Reducing Drug Related Deaths On the 30th March 2001, the Government published its response to the recommendations set out in the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' report Reducing Drug Related Deaths. This response sets out the significant steps the Government has already taken to tackle the problem. As part of the anti-drugs strategy, the Government will produce an action plan to reduce drug misuse related deaths by 20% by 2004. The action plan should be published in the summer. Copies of the Government's response are available by writing to Kathryn Stelfox at Room 440, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, or emailing kstelfox@doh.gov.uk 14. HSC 2001/001: LAC (2001)01 - Intermediate Care - Model Contracts Now Available on The DH Website The Department issued initial guidance on intermediate care on 19 January 2001 (HSC 2001/001: LAC (2001)01) The guidance states (paragraph 25) that model contracts were being developed for intermediate care which would serve as a basis for local contracts with independent providers. These are now available on the Department's website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/intermediatecare/index.htm. 15. National Service Framework for Mental Health - Workforce Action team (WAT) You will wish to note the fourth WAT Newsletter giving more details about the work of the WAT has now been placed on the NSF website at: www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/index.htm 16. The Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide The Implementation Guide supports the delivery of adult mental health policy locally. It aims to achieve the correct balance between clarity over what is to be done and local flexibility over how it is to be achieved - it is a guide not a prescription. Whilst certain service models are specified there is also emphasis placed on tailoring services to meet local needs. http://www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/implementationguide.htm 17. Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care: Baseline Assessments for NHS Organisations Issue 55 of this Bulletin drew your attention to the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care and the action required. This action includes a baseline assessment by each research active NHS organisation. A letter dated 2 April 2001 from the Director of Research and Development, Professor Sir John Pattison, setting out the details of the assessment has been placed on the Department's R&D web site at www.doh.gov.uk/research. To access this document please click on the "Research Governance" heading in the list under "NHS R&D". An electronic version of the assessment form will be placed on the same web site by 17 April 2001. All research active NHS organisations must complete the assessment form for return to their regional contact listed in the Director's letter of 2 April. Completed forms must be sent to the regional contacts no later than 31 May 2001. NHS organisations which are not research active have been asked to complete and return a separate slip stating this. Health Authority chief executives should ensure that primary care practitioners are aware of this exercise.
Social Care Interest 18. Social Services Performance In 2000-2001 And Changes To PSS Expenditure Returns The Key Statistics return for 2000-2001, which collects data for many of the performance indicators in the Personal Social Services (PSS) Performance Assessment Framework (PAF), was sent to Key Statistics contacts in councils in England with social services responsibilities on 21 March for completion and return by 31 May. For further information contact Kevin Wrake on 020 7972 5599 (E-mail kevin.wrake@doh.gsi.gov.uk). The Department of Health (DH), the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and local authority representatives have reached agreement on significant changes to Accounting for Social Services and to rationalise the collection of PSS data on expenditure and unit costs. The changes have implications for the PSS Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) indicators that involve expenditure. The changes take effect for the collections of data for 2000-2001 which are now getting underway. Directors of Social Services Departments will wish to ensure appropriate handling of the new arrangements within their council. Further information is given in a letter to Directors which is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/paf2001/letter21300.htm and which Kevin Wrake sent to Key Statistics contacts on 4 April with the new DH/CIPFA expenditure return PSS EX1 in spreadsheet form for completion and return by 31 July. Finance Departments, as well as Social Services Departments will need to be involved in the completion of this return. CIPFA are sending copies of the letter to Finance Directors and Chief Executives. Councils which fail to provide the information in time will receive a poor performance banding in the DH PAF publication." 19. Numbers Of Preserved Rights Residents By Local Authority Area: Data Now Available Information about the number of people with preserved rights in each local authority area - based on Department of Social Security income support data - is now available at: www.doh.gov.uk/scg/incom-sup.htm Subject to the passage through Parliament of the necessary legislation - Clauses 57-59 of the Health and Social Care Bill - the Government intends to wind up the preserved rights scheme from April 2002. Responsibility for the assessment and care management of everyone with preserved rights will pass to local councils. Detailed guidance about how to prepare for and to discharge their new responsibilities will be issued to local councils later in the year. In the meantime, in order to assist councils in their early planning and preparations for the change we are making available the numbers of preserved rights residents in each local authority area.
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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