Chief Executive Bulletin

A-Z site index | Search | Links | Contact DH | Help

Department of Health




	DH Home




	You are here: Publications > Bulletins > Chief Executive Bulletin


	Chief Executive Bulletin home page

	Previous issues

	Change email details

	Problems accessing information

	Feedback

Chief Executive Bulletin

31 October - 6 November 2003, Issue 193

Contents:

NHS and social care interest
1. Working time directive regulations (WTD) to career grade doctors
2. Applications for the new Clinical Excellence Awards
3. NHS Live programme - weblink now working
4. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/038

NHS interest
5. Tritace clarification
6. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/035
7. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/036
8. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/037
9. Hazard notice issued by NHS Estates

Social care interest
10. National standards for providing social care services in high security hospitals
11. Preserved rights, carers grant and residential allowance audit certificates 2002-2003

Further items of interest
12. The Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF)
13. Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) annual report 2001-2002
14. Healthy Economies Healthy People conference
15. Guidance on establishing the responsible commissioner
16. Closure of X.400 messaging service
17. NAO conference - A Safer Place to Work
18. Confidentiality - NHS Code of Practice
19. Information Governance Toolkit
20. Potassium chloride safety controls
21. Hospital eye services and social services departments - change to registering patients as blind or partially sighted
22. Synopsis of planning & performance management system
23. AHPs and practitioners with special interests
24. International recruitment: Delivering the international workforce for London conference
25. Second Annual Report (April 2002 - March 2003) of the Retained Organs Commission
26. Launch of Department of Health's Chaplaincy Guidance Document - Meeting the Spiritual and Religious Needs of Patients and Staff
27. Agenda for Change (Gateway reference 2223)
28. Postgraduate Medical Education & Training Board requires a lay member
29. Genetics - bids invited for initiatives to bring the benefits of genetics into mainstream clinical areas

NHS and social care interest

1. Working time directive regulations (WTD) to career grade doctors (Gateway reference 2203)
Unless employees have signed a voluntary waiver, career grade doctors should not work for more than 48 hours a week over a 26 week reference period. Although career grade doctors are exempted from those regulations which relate to night working, daily rest, weekly rest and breaks at work, compensatory rest will accrue for hours worked during rest breaks. Employers should work with doctors locally to assess working hours and to be certain that the regulations are not being breached. More details are in (Advance Letter (Medical and dental)) 6/98 at www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/coin4.nsf/Circulars?ReadForm

2. Applications for the new Clinical Excellence Awards (Gateway reference 2128)
Please note that completed applications must be e-mailed to the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) Secretariat by 31 January 2004. In addition to the main guidance, ACCEA has published guidance for the setting up and operation of local awards committees. Please note that the requirements and arrangements have been altered this year. All ACCEA guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/accea/

Top

3. NHS Live programme - weblink now working (Gateway reference 2170)
Last week's bulletin included a weblink to information about the NHS Live programme. Unfortunately the link was not working last week as additional information needed to be added to the website at the last minute. This work is now complete and the weblink is available. We apologise for any confusion and the original note follows below:

The NHS Live programme was launched at the Chief Executive's 'Leaders in Health & Social Care' Conference in September. It is a long-term programme of learning, development and communication created to engage staff in making the NHS a more patient-friendly service. It begins in earnest in January 2004. To signal your interest, return the self-nomination form by 21st November. CEOs and Directors of Social Services who have already nominated themselves will need to submit this linked form with a named champion. Further information and another opportunity to participate is available at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/nhslive.htm

4. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/038 (Gateway reference 2222)
Sunrise Breezy SL manual wheelchair with 16" (40 cm) seat canvas depth and 24" (60 cm) rear wheels.

This medical device alert was issued on 29 October 2003 to NHS trusts and social services for action and update. Further information at www.mhra.gov.uk

NHS interest

5. Tritace clarification (Gateway reference 2217)
In response to NHS queries regarding concerns about Aventis's recent decision to stop supplying Tritace capsules and supply only Tritace tablets, the following clarification is provided. Given these concerns, Aventis has now agreed to make its best efforts to provide the capsules until mid-January 2004. This is to be achieved by repackaging other presentations of the capsules and/or importation. Subject to global supply difficulties, this means that Tritace should be available as capsules and tablets until mid-January and as tablets thereafter. The generic alternative to Tritace, ramipril, will be available as both capsules and tablets from mid-January.

6. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/035 (Gateway reference 2219)
Medtronic SynchroMed implantable drug pump.

This medical device alert was issued on 22 October 2003 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information at www.mhra.gov.uk

7. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/036 (Gateway reference 2220)
Blood pressure and vital signs patient monitors - DINAMAP PRO 100-400 series and PRO 1000
This medical device alert was issued on 23 October 2003 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information at www.mhra.gov.uk

8. Medical device alert - MDA/2003/037 (Gateway reference 2221)
Electrosurgical (diathermy) accessories.

This medical device alert was issued on 27 October 2003 to NHS trusts for update. Further information at www.mhra.gov.uk

9. Hazard notice issued by NHS Estates (Gateway reference 2206)
Heated lotion cabinet (Pre circa 1985)

Risk - asbestos related disease (if prolonged or repeated exposure). Hazard notice - NHSE SN (2003) 06 issued 03 November 2003.

For further information contact NHS Estates or the Centre of Healthcare Engineering, e-mail: nhsestates@doh.gsi.gov.uk and more at www.nhsestates.gov.uk under 'Healthcare Engineering'.

Social care interest

10. National standards for providing social care services in high security hospitals (Gateway reference 2202)
In April 2003 chief inspector Denise Platt wrote to seek the views of chief executives on completing the implementation of the national standards for the provision of social care services in the high security hospitals. The respondents to the consultation generally supported the proposal that the remaining standards should be implemented by 2005.

The action that will need to be taken to ensure that all the standards are implemented by 31 March 2005 is explained in CI 2003/12, National Standards for the provision of social care services in hospitals at www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html Contact: timothy.bishop@doh.gsi.gov.uk tel: 020 7972 2961

11. Preserved rights, carers grant and residential allowance audit certificates 2002-2003 (Gateway reference 2228)
All local authorities were required in the Grant Determination to complete the unaudited version of their audit certificates and return them to the Department of Health by 30 September 2003. Not all local authorities have met this deadline. Those councils that have missed the deadline need to ensure the information is sent to us by Friday 28 November. The audited certificates should be returned by 31 December 2003. Contacts: Pardeep Dhesi on 020 7972 4764, pardeep.dhesi@doh.gsi.gov.uk or Gail Elkington on 020 7972 4723, gail.elkington@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Further items of interest

There are considerably more items in this section than usual. This is because it has been a particularly busy week - the bulletin should return to its more concise length next week.

12. The Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) (Gateway reference 2120)
It was announced by Lord Warner on 27 October that HITF will operate for one year. It will produce a joint Government /industry report on steps to develop and stimulate the growth and performance of the UK health care. More at www.doh.gov.uk/hitf

13. Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) annual report 2001-2002 (Gateway reference 2210)
Participation in the SHOT scheme forms part of the action plan for better blood transfusion outlined in HSC 2002/009. The report makes recommendations aimed at improving practice in blood transfusion. It is available in hard copy from Marie Jones on 0161 251 4208 or marie.jones@nbs.nhs.uk or can be found at www.shotuk.org

14. Healthy Economies Healthy People conference (Gateway reference 2195)
The conference will debate how the NHS and RDAs can work together to achieve their goals - 25 November 2003. www.lda.gov.uk/mediaoffice/ldaevents/content/23_940.asp

15. Guidance on establishing the responsible commissioner (Gateway reference 2114)
This document is to support PCTs interpreting and applying the legislative framework which establishes responsibility for commissioning secondary care health services for patients. It is at www.doh.gov.uk/responsiblecommissioner/

16. Closure of X.400 messaging service (Gateway reference 2204)
This service is closing on 7 November 2003. All organisations must ensure that messaging has migrated off this service by this date. Organisations that cannot migrate should contact the NHSIA helpdesk on 01392 251289. Further information at: http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/nhsnet/pages/default.asp

17. NAO conference - A Safer Place to Work (Gateway reference 2205)
The conference will discuss implications of NAO reports on managing health and safety and protecting NHS staff from violence and aggression - 24 and 25 November. More at www.healthcare-events.co.uk or contact karen.taylor@nao.gsi.gov.uk

18. Confidentiality - NHS Code of Practice (Gateway reference 1656)
Guidance entitled Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice has been published by the Department of Health. It applies to all staff who process patient information and has been endorsed by the Information Commissioner, GMC, BMA and MRC. It is available at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/confiden/protect/ or can be ordered from Department of Health, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH; 08701 555 455

19. Information Governance Toolkit (Gateway reference 2161)
The code of practice above is a key component of a new information governance toolkit. This provides web-based guidance and assessment tools for all information governance areas. The toolkit is at http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/infogov/igt

20. Potassium chloride safety controls (Gateway reference 2230)
The National Patient Safety Agency is reviewing the safety controls in place for potassium chloride concentrate following its alert in 2002, and has written to all hospital chief pharmacists requesting a response. Details at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/potassiumchloride.htm

21. Hospital eye services and social services departments - change to registering patients as blind or partially sighted (Gateway reference 2115)
The form for certifying patients as blind or partially sighted is changing and a self-referral letter to social services has been introduced to reduce delays. Full information is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/sensoryimpairment/index.htm
Contact for enquiries janet.goodwin@doh.gsi.gov.uk

22. Synopsis of planning & performance management system (Gateway reference 2229.)
A synopsis of planning and performance management system post Shifting the Balance of Power is available at www.doh.gov.uk/planning2003-2006/ppmssynopsis.pdf This will help managers in the NHS see how parts of the new system are intended to fit together, and how we plan further development over the next few years.

23. AHPs and practitioners with special interests (Gateway references 2141 and 2158 respectively)
New guidance for PCTs and NHS trusts has been launched on developing the roles of AHPs with special interests in primary care. Also launched was an introduction to the work of practitioners with special interests (PwSI). For enquiries on PwSIs contact gareth.james@doh.gsi.gov.uk 0113 254 5258. Both documents are at www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gp-specialinterests/

24. International recruitment: Delivering the international workforce for London conference (Gateway reference 2233)
This conference is being held on 12 November and aims to raise awareness and share best practice with regards to international recruitment. Further information and booking form at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/iwlconference.htm

25. Second Annual Report (April 2002 - March 2003) of the Retained Organs Commission (Gateway reference 2234)
The report can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans/annualreport2.pdf Contact: Janet Lewis communications & media manager, Retained Organs Commission, Tel: 020 7972 2282 or email: janet.lewis@doh.gsi.gov.uk

26. Launch of Department of Health's Chaplaincy Guidance Document - Meeting the Spiritual and Religious Needs of Patients and Staff (Gateway reference 2236)
All trusts are receiving a hard copy version of the document via communication leads. It can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/chaplain or hard copy from the Health Literature Line on 08701 555 455.

27. Agenda for Change (Gateway reference 2223)
Twelve 'Early Implementer' sites are introducing the new NHS pay system. Learning from the sites will be available soon on the Modernisation Agency website www.modern.nhs.uk/agendaforchange Agenda for Change Q&A is also available at www.doh.gov.uk/agendaforchange Queries should be addressed to NHS trust / PCT human resources departments.

28. Postgraduate Medical Education & Training Board requires a lay member (Gateway reference 2218)
The NHS Appointments Commission is seeking a serving NHS trust chief executive to be a lay member of the new board. The Secretary of State for Health will appoint from a short-list prepared by the Appointments Commission. Members should be available for at least three days per month. The term of office for this post will be three years. Further information at www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk/pmetadvert.htm

29. Genetics - bids invited for initiatives to bring the benefits of genetics into mainstream clinical areas (Gateway reference 2136)
The genetics white paper, announced to up to 4million start-up funding for initiatives to kick-start integration of genetic knowledge and technologies into other services. The bidding proforma is at www.doh.gov.uk/genetics/servicedev.htm Bids are to be co-ordinated by specialised commissioning groups, for submission to Department of Health by 25 February 2004.

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

Top

copyright: © | Last updated: 6 November 2003