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Contents:

NHS and social care interest
1. Community health councils

NHS interest
2. PCT drug prevention funding 2003/2004
3. National programme for IT in the NHS
4. Endoscopy training centres
5. New bulletin for chairs and non-executive directors
6. National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) patient safety video

Social care interest
7. Residential Allowance consultation document

Further items of interest
8. Amendment 90 of the Statement of Dental Remuneration
9. The 2003/2004 Preserved Rights Special Grant Report
10. Appliance contractors
11. The prison health development network
12. Developments on ambulance services
13. The radiography skills mix report
14. GMC symposia
15. Futurebuilders investment fund
16. NHSIA organisation healthcheck
17. Public health alert
18. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents
19. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/015
20. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/016

NHS and social care interest

1. Community health councils
It was announced in parliament that the Government now intends to extend the life of community health councils until 1 December 2003 rather than 1 September 2003 as was previously intended.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients/index.htm

Contact: Eileen Exeter on 0113 254 6096 or David Mowat on 020 7210 5995

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NHS interest

2. PCT drug prevention funding 2003/2004
The letter Primary Care Trusts Drug Prevention Funding 2003/2004 notifies PCTs of an addition to their 2003-2004 revenue resource limit. The funding is intended to help PCTs contribute to the cross-government drive to reduce drug misuse as detailed in the Updated Drug Strategy 2002.

In particular it is intended to help you work with other local agencies to reduce the frequent use of any illicit drug amongst young people, especially the most vulnerable young people.

The letter is at www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/polguide.htm

Contact: Yvonne Johnson on 0207 972 5088 or email yvonne.johnson@doh.gsi.gov.uk

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3. National programme for IT in the NHS
The national programme for IT in the NHS is a £2.3 billion programme to modernise the applications and systems that support the delivery of patient care.

We are moving to the award of national contracts that will have a major impact upon the way IT is rolled out across the NHS. There has been significant progress with programme management, procurement and specification for the national programme.

Details at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/programme/ceoupdate.pdf

Contact: Stan Lajca at stan.lajca@doh.gsi.gov.uk

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4. Endoscopy training centres
NHS trusts are invited to tender to be a regional endoscopy training centre with core funding for 2003/2004-2005/2006.

National and regional centres are being established by the North East London Workforce Development Confederation, (NELWDC), which supports the cancer care group workforce team. The aim is to expand the workforce and improve the quality and quantity of endoscopic procedures, before bowel cancer screening is introduced. Regional centres will be established by August 2003 and will work with Modernisation Agency sponsored SHA clinical leads for endoscopy.

Proformas should be returned to the NELWDC by noon 30 June 2003.
Details at www.nelwdc.nhs.uk/endoscopy/

Contact: susanne.haselgrove@which.net

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5. New bulletin for chairs and non-executive directors
A new bulletin for chairs and non-executive directors of NHS trusts, PCTs and strategic health authorities is launched in June. Produced by the NHS Appointments Commission, which oversees the appointment of non-executive members, Non-Exec Bulletin joins a group of Department of Health publications for key groups including nurses, GPs and allied health professionals.

The new bulletin will be published every two months, providing the latest news from the Appointments Commission and updates on changing health policy and practice. It also contains details of country-wide training and mentoring programmes for non-executive directors.

The bulletin is at www.doh.gov.uk/nonexecbulletin/index.htm

Contact: Roger Moore at rm.bulletin@apcomm.nhs.uk

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6. National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) patient safety video
The NPSA is launching a new patient safety induction video, the first of a series of tools being developed to promote safer healthcare in the NHS.

The video provides a practical introduction to patient safety and an insight into how each staff member responsible for delivering care can contribute to a safer environment. The video is intended for use in staff induction programmes to raise awareness of patient safety issues.

Details at www.npsa.nhs.uk/news/allNews.asp

Contact: Stella Zeggeon on 020 7927 9561

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Social care interest

7. Residential Allowance consultation document
The 2003/2004 Residential Allowance consultation document including the local authority circular and the Special Grant Report will be available later in June 2003.

These will be at www.doh.gov.uk/residentialallowance/

There will be a six weeks consultation period during which time councils should send any comments to Ade Adekaiyaoja at Adebayo.Adekaiyaoja@doh.gsi.gov.uk

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Further items of interest

8. Amendment 90 of the Statement of Dental Remuneration came into force on 1 June 2003. Details at www.doh.gov.uk/sdr/

9. The 2003/2004 Preserved Rights Special Grant Report and final grant allocations are at www.doh.gov.uk/preservedrights/index.htm

10. Appliance contractors - A consultation document on the arrangements for paying appliance contractors is at www.doh.gov.uk/appliancecontractors/ Deadline for comments is 31 August 2003.

11. The prison health development network has been established. Details and a full membership list is at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/development-network.pdf

12. Developments on ambulance services
An update on developments within the Department and the Modernisation Agency relating to ambulance services is at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/ambulance-services.htm

13. The radiography skills mix report sets out the background, process and outcomes of the testing of a four-tier model for the delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic radiography services. Details at www.doh.gov.uk/radiography/skillsmix-june03.htm

14. GMC symposia - The GMC is to hold symposia on the introduction of licences to practise and revalidation for doctors during June 2003. This is a future star ratings issue for PCT chief executives.
Details at www.revalidationuk.info/ or contact tessa.nicholson@avenuehkm.com

15. Futurebuilders investment fund - A consultation document on the proposals for the use of the fund for the voluntary and community sector is at the website of HM Treasury

The deadline for comments is 21 July 2003.

16. NHSIA organisation healthcheck - A new on-line high level efficiency and performance toolkit for all NHS organisations. Register at www.nhsia.nhs.uk/phsmi/ohc/

17. Public health alert - The chief medical officer has issued a public health alert on the implications of the increase in ciprofloxacin resistant gonorrhoea.

Alert details on the Public Health Link website.

18. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents: safe working and the prevention of infection' .
The latest guidance is at www.doh.gov.uk/cjd/tseguidance/

19. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/015 - All medical electrical equipment. This alert was issued on 15 May 2003 to NHS trusts for action. Details at http://devices.mhra.gov.uk

20. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/016 - Medical gas regulators and flowmeters. This alert was issued on 29 May 2003 to NHS trusts for action. Details at http://devices.mhra.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 - ©2003

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copyright: © | Last updated: 5 June 2003