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Chief Executive Bulletin
The documents in this bulletin are Crown copyright but may be reproduced by NHS and Council staff without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use - ©2002 Contents:Stop Press - Director General of NHS IT appointedNHS and Social Care interest 1. New from the National Treatment Agency
2. Pooled budgets for young people's substance misuse NHS interest 14. Breast screening programme pocket guide 19.1. Device alert - MDA DA2002(10) Social care interest 20. Launch of the new modern apprenticeship in health
and social care Stop Press - Director General of NHS IT appointed Richard Granger, formerly of Deloitte Consulting, has been appointed Director General of NHS Information Technology (IT). He will be responsible for implementing the NHS information and technology programme - one of the world's largest IT developments. The programme means that patients will benefit from more efficient services, including electronic transfer of test results and information between health professionals, electronic booking and electronic transfer of prescriptions. Mr Granger, who has extensive experience of delivering IT systems and services in the public sector, is currently the lead client service partner for the UK Government at Deloitte Consulting. He will take up his post in late September 2002. TopNHS / social care interest 1. New from the National Treatment Agency The National Treatment Agency, the special health authority responsible for increasing the quality, capacity and availability of treatment for drug misuse has published the following items:
We will be issuing a further summary of DATs plans for expansion and improvement of treatment in September.
Coming soon: Top 2. Pooled budgets for young people's substance misuse Pooling budgets from the Home Office, DfES and Department of Health has been agreed in principle by ministers, and we are inviting drug action teams or children and young people's strategic partnerships/children's trusts to participate in the first stage of implementation, which will take the form of 'pilots'. The invitation letter and prospectus can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/budget-young.htm Top3. Primary school drug education - fostering links with primary care The Department of Health issued drug education funding to local education authorities (LEAs) for local healthy school programmes in 2002 through the DfES standards fund. For details on the purpose of this funding please click here. Local healthy school programme co-ordinators are the banker but are planning how the money is spent in collaboration with partners on the local drug action team (DAT), including the PCT. DH has requested that local programme co-ordinators submit the pro-forma action plan attached to the letter giving details of the funding outlining the activity that the money will be spent on and signed agreement (with DAT and PCT signatures) by mid September. DH is alerting PCTs to this work as local programme co-ordinators will be contacting them to discuss this activity and to seek their signed agreement. PCTs can familiarise themselves with this document and also with the document giving guidance on links with primary healthcare professionals. www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/guide.htm If pooling of budgets for young people's substance misuse goes ahead, this funding will be included in the pooled budget from April 2004. http://www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/budget-young.htm For details of your local healthy schools programme co-ordinator please visit www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk Top4. Policy and practice guidance on direct payments The direct payments policy and practice guidance is being revised in light of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, which paves the way for a variety of changes to the way in which direct payment schemes operate. We are currently seeking views on the content of the draft of the guidance that will need to be introduced to accommodate the change. Comments have been invited directly from a range of organisations and other parties with an interest in this issue. However, copies of the draft guidance have not been sent to individual local authorities. The material is available at www.doh.gov.uk/directpaymentsconsult/index.htm. The consultation closes on 8 November 2002. Please ensure that you send your comments to Sharon Seaton at the address quoted in the document on the website. For further information, please contact Sharon Seaton on 0207 972 4764, or e-mail Sharon.Seaton@doh.gsi.gov.uk Top5. Information that must be provided by dentists for continuing inclusion in a dental list A letter has been issued to all GDS dentists informing them of the requirement to provide a declaration of any criminal convictions, in order that they may continue to be included in a dental list. The requirement for health authorities and primary care trusts to ask for this information came into force on 31 March 2002 and applies to those dentists who are already included in a dental list, as well as those who are applying to be included. The letter (dated August 2002) containing guidance on what must be declared can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/dental/criminalconvictions.pdf For further information contact James Murphy on 020 7972 3983 or e-mail james.murphy@doh.gsi.gov.uk Top6. Revised determination for payments to dentists in consequence of suspension The determination made under regulation 28(B) setting out conditions of entitlement for payments to dentists made in consequence of suspension has been revised and the cap on weekly suspension payments has been removed. A copy of the new determination was issued to dentists with the letter dated August 2002 (http://www.doh.gov.uk/dental/criminalconvictions.pdf) and replaces the one issued with Amendment 89 to the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) in March 2002. The website file containing the full version of Amendment 89 to the SDR has been updated and can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/sdr/index.htm For further information contact James Murphy on 020 7972 3983 or e-mail james.murphy@doh.gsi.gov.uk Top7. Q2 Primary care access survey The SaFFR now incorporates the primary care access survey. This requires all PCTs to contact their GP practices or PMS pilot providers on a specific day to monitor progress against the key NHS Plan and delivery contract primary care access target and interim milestones. The date for the Q2 survey is Wednesday 18 September. Guidance and proforma for Q2 have recently been distributed direct to PCT Access Survey lead contacts. If your PCT has failed to receive this information then a copy can be found on the SaFF website for your use at http://194.189.27.190/saffs/saffsquart.nsf/Main?Readform As with other SaFFR returns individual PCT chief executives are responsible for the quality of the information returned for their organisations. Either the chief executive or a nominated senior manager eg. a director, must authorise the primary care access survey return. Completed returns should be e-mailed to SaFFR@doh.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 11 October 2002. If you have any queriesplease contact Jason Snowden on 0113 254 6124, or e-mail jason.snowden@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Also, please provide the name, telephone number and e-mail address of the person who leads on the access survey in your PCT to Jason if your PCT failed to receive the proforma and guidance directly this quarter. Top8. National General Practice Week 23 - 29 September 2002 The Department is supporting the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in promoting National General Practice week from 23 to 29 September. You are invited to note the local events taking place in your area and to get involved in the campaign. The aim of the week is to raise public awareness of all aspects of General Practice. It is relevant to every member of the primary care team. It will be an opportunity for GPs and their primary care colleagues, throughout the UK, to promote and celebrate the strengths of family medicine and to build stronger links with the public. During the week, primary care teams all over the country are holding events to promote the work they do. These events will be designed to promote a better understanding of family medicine so that patients can gain a greater awareness of how to make the most of their local practice. A toolkit for promoting general practice during National General Practice Week has been developed by the RCGP and is being supported by the Department of Health. The toolkit includes a public information leaflet, questions and answers, and a newsletter article. It is available at: www.nhs.uk/syndication/camp.asp If you would like more information contact the press office at the RCGP
tel: 020 7344 3136 or e-mail press@rcgp.org.uk 9. NHS counter fraud service - SofS directions to PCTs The NHS counter fraud service (NHS CFS) has issued revised SofS directions to PCTs in England which come into force on 2 September 2002. The revised SofS directions to PCTs clarify the roles and responsibilities of chief executives, directors of finance, and local counter fraud specialists in countering fraud and corruption in the NHS in the context of the restructuring under Shifting the Balance of Power (StBOP). The new directions also reflect the re-branding of the NHS CFS, previously the directorate of counter fraud services (DCFS). Chief executives of PCTs should download a copy of the SofS directions and covering letter from the relevant link below. Directors of finance will receive signed hard copies of both documents in the post shortly. Letter
to CE and DoF on measures to counter fraud and corruption For further information on the SofS directions on countering fraud and corruption in the NHS, please e-mail andrew.masterman@doh.gsi.gov.uk Top10. Hunger from the Inside seminar: 20 September 2002 Attend the launch of Sustain's latest community mapping report: Hunger from the Inside at a practical seminar in London on 20 September 2002. The event will be chaired by Jacqui Webster, head of consumer branch, Food Standards Agency, with contributions from Vivien Prendiville, Morcambe Bay Health Promotion and Sandra Whiles, South Derbyshire District Council. A copy of the project report is included in the seminar fee. For more information on this event please contact Annie Seeley or Victoria Williams on 020 7837 1228 or by e-mail: annie@sustainweb.org, victoria@sustainweb.org Top11. Accreditation of organised providers of out-of-hours services Primary care trusts become responsible for the accreditation of organised providers of out-of-hours services on 1October. A letter from David Carson, leader of the out-of-hours (OOH) implementation team outlines the responsibilities of PCTs and OOH providers, and clarifies action required by PCTs. It includes details on how providers apply to be accredited, the handling of applications, and identification and Training of Assessing PCTs. A copy of the letter, along with the OOH co-ordinators contact details can be found http://www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/accreditation.htm Please do not hesitate to contact your out-of-hours co-ordinator if you have any further queries. Top12. Sustainability in public services 2002 annual conference and exhibition Do you want to learn about how EMAS and other certified environmental management systems can help reduce your organisation's environmental impacts, improve performance and meet sustainability targets? Do you want to hear how corporate social responsibility, social reporting and green procurement are being implemented in the public sector to deliver sustainable development? You can find out more about all these subjects, including the new NHS environmental strategy, at this years annual conference and exhibition on sustainability in public services, organised by Green Government Magazine, on Wednesday 27 November at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in central London. For further details and how to register please contact the delegate information and booking line on 0800 542 9590 or view the conference web site at www.sips2002.com Top13. Distinction/clinical excellence awards As you may know there has been some uncertainty about the timing of the introduction of the new clinical excellence awards scheme (CEAS) to replace the current distinction awards scheme. The move to the new scheme is very much an incremental process but it will not formally commence until the 2004 round. The existing scheme will run for one more year starting in October 2002. The one important change given the abolition of regional offices is that administrative support to the regional awards committees has been centralised under ACDA within the public health and clinical quality directorate. This change takes place immediately and means that all nominations and reviews for the next round will need to be sent to Siobhan Guascone in Skipton House: Area 531B, 5 Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH Please take every opportunity to make this change known locally and particularly to colleagues who are responsible for submitting nominations. For more information, please contact Siobhan Guascone on 020 7973 2508 or e-mail Siobhan.Guascone@doh.gsi.gov.uk TopNHS interest 14. Breast screening programme pocket guide The NHS breast screening programme has produced a Pocket Guide to Breast Screening. Primarily aimed at people working in the programme, it will also be of interest to anyone requiring an overview of breast screening. A pdf of the guide will be available to download from the NHS cancer screening programmes website www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk from 2 September. Paper copies can be obtained by contacting the NHS Responseline: 08701 555 455, Fax: 01623 724 524, e-mail orders: doh@prolog.uk.com For further information please contact Carol Gabbitas on 0114 271 1060. Top15. Paediatric intensive care (PIC) - additional recurrent funding Funding to implement all aspects of the strategy described in the document Paediatric intensive care : A framework for the future (1997) has been increased to £25m. The increase in funding is required to ensure sufficient paediatric intensive care capacity throughout the year. The need to address high dependency care provision for children (often a precursor to, or step down stage from intensive care) has been raised by the professions and within the service. Guidance on all aspects of HD care is now available. Because this is a specialist service, often covering more than one StHA, commissioning will benefit from arrangements that succeed the present regional specialised commissioning groups (RSCGs). New guidance on addressing the provision of high dependency care for
children can be found at: 16. The NHS as an Innovative Organisation: A Framework and Guidance on the Management of Intellectual Property in the NHS This document:
To support the exploitation of intellectual property generally, a series of NHS technology transfer organisations or 'hubs' is being created. Hard copies will be sent to NHS trust and PCT finance directors. Further copies can be obtained from Prolog (reference 29030) and at www.innovations.nhs.uk. Specific queries should be addressed to Dr Tony Bates, NHS IP adviser, e-mail Tony.Bates@ubht.swest.nhs.uk Top Further to the note in Chief Executives' Bulletin of 18 July re the
company Operations Abroad the Department of Health has now completed a
corporate diligence process concerning the company. As a result of that
process the Department of Health has advised the NHS lead commissioners
for overseas treatment that they should not invite Operations Abroad to
tender for contracts to treat NHS patients overseas. 18. Invitation to fraud awareness presentations The NHS Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS) was established in September 1998, with the remit to counter all fraud and corruption wherever it exists throughout the NHS. The NHS CFS primary aim is to identify and then concentrate on minimising all fraud and corruption in the NHS. A key part of the business process agreed by ministers has been the development of a real anti-fraud culture in the NHS. To this end, NHS CFS is holding a series of fraud awareness presentations across England aimed at the primary care trusts (PCTs). Please see attachments/link www.doh.gov.uk/dcfs/venuesanddates.pdf NHS CFS ask chief executives of the PCTs to extend the invitation to these events to their PCT's respective director of finance, deputy director of finance, local counter fraud specialists, executive and non-executive directors, finance staff, human resources staff and anyone else who he/she considers appropriate. A list of dates and venues and reply pro-forma confirming attendance is attached www.doh.gov.uk/dcfs/fraudawareness.htm. Contact, Dean Francis, NHS Counter Fraud Service, tel 020 7972 2465, fax 020 7972 2551 or e-mail dean.francis@cfos.nhs.uk Top19. Medical Devices Agency (http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk)
For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers
e-mail us at: Top Social care interest 20. Launch of the new modern apprenticeship in health and social care Skills for Health and the Training Organisation for Personal Social Services (TOPSS) have carried out an extensive review of the modern apprenticeship frameworks with a wide range of stakeholders. The revised framework has been approved and will be available from 2 September 2002. For more information see the attached file www.doh.gov.uk/apprenticehsc.htm and for further information visit the Learning and Skills Council website: www.lsc.gov For further information contact Siobhan Quinn on 0113 254 6409 or e-mail siobhan.quinn@doh.gsi.gov.uk Top21. Form PI Grant 1 This is to advise local councils that they should complete and send Form PI Grant 1 certified by the chief finance officer to the auditor appointed by the Audit Commission by 30 September 2002. The certified form should then be sent to Mrs Helen Woodhead at the Department of Health, area 216, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE18UG by 31 December 2002. A copy of Form PI Grant 1 can be accessed on www.doh.gov.uk/scg/independencegrant
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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