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Chief Executive Bulletin
1 - 7 February 2002
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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455. Contents: NHS and Social Care interest 1. NHS Performance Indicators: National
Figures February 2002 NHS interest 6. GP Appraisal – Letter from Nigel Crisp Social Care interest NHS / Social Care interest 1. NHS Performance Indicators: National Figures February 2002 NHS performance indicators were published at national level on Friday 1 February 2002. The publication is available on the DH website at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformanceindicators/hlpi2002 The publication shows the national figures for the indicators, and, where possible, comparison with previous performance against the indicator. We will be publishing the detailed breakdown on the indicators at acute NHS trust and health authority level in due course. Ref. 26641. Mailed to NHS Finance, Medical and Nurse Directors. Hard copies available. 2. Delayed Discharges - Change Agent Team A letter from the Chief Inspector of Social Services and the Director of NHS Modernisation Agency, introducing the work of the Health and Social Care Change Agent Team on delayed discharges, announces a series of regional roadshows by Richard Humphries, Director of the Change Agent Team. It invites expressions of interest by 22 February from all directors of social services and chief executives of strategic health authorities, to take part in the first phase of the team’s work programme. 3. The Health Service Ombudsman for Wales: Information Leaflet The office of the Health Service Ombudsman for Wales has revised its information leaflet. The leaflet gives details of which areas are within the ombudsman’s jurisdiction, how to put in a complaint and how investigations might proceed, and includes a form to aid complainants in putting their case in writing. The leaflet gives all contact details and explains the process clearly in both English and Welsh. The new version of the leaflet can be ordered by calling 020 7217 4942, faxing 020 7217 4940 or e-mailing OHSC.Enquiries@ombudsman.gsi.gov.uk It is also available in Welsh Braille and on audio cassette in Welsh, although these versions are provided in response to a request from an individual only and not as file copies. In addition, the bilingual leaflet will be posted on the WHSC website - www.ombudsman.org.uk – in portable document format (PDF) for downloading. 4. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2002(03) Nebulisation Therapy: Risk of Incorrect Connections This safety notice was issued on 30 January 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts, health authorities, chief executives and social services directors. As usual it was also issued to liaison officers of trusts, primary care, health authorities and social services for action and for onward distribution as specified in the notice.
For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk
http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk 5. AMENDMENT: Guidance for General Practitioners – Medical Examinations and Medical Recommendations under the Mental Health Act 1983 Notice of the publication of the above guidance was given in Issue 74: 6 - 12 July edition of this bulletin. It has since come to light that the last sentence of the paragraph headed Payment and claiming fees is inaccurate. It should read: ‘With effect from 1 July 2001, the fees are £62.05 for Section 12 approved doctors, and £47.20 for other registered medical practitioners excluding travel expenses.’ The Department apologises for any confusion this may have caused. NHS interest 6. GP Appraisal – Letter from Nigel Crisp As you know primary care development
is a key Government priority. I am writing to highlight a new role here
for PCTs in supporting appraisal for GPs from 2002/03. It is particularly
important that PCTs invest in this development during 2002/03. Detailed consultation with the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA on the introduction of GP appraisal is now nearing a conclusion. It is essential that you make appropriate provision for supporting appraisal in 2002/03. This was set out clearly within the Health Authority Allocations circular. This will need to be done in consultation with your LMC. This is particularly relevant to the SaFF process that you are currently undertaking. The type of provision that
will be required is based on the expectations of the scheme set out at
Annex 1. Letter: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gpappraisal/index.htm 7. HSC 2002/004 Cost Effective Supply of Disease-Modifying Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis on the NHS On Monday 4 February ministers announced agreement on a scheme allowing specified disease-modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis to be prescribed on the NHS. Details of the scheme are set out in HSC 2002/004 dated 4 February 2002. The scheme starts on 6 May 2002, but there are funding implications from the date of the HSC. The guidance, which includes a statutory direction, should be brought to the attention of finance, commissioning and clinical staff dealing with neurological services. Ref. 26681. Mailed to Regional Office and Health Authority Directors of Finance. 8. International Recruitment of Consultants and General Practitioners for the NHS in England The National Health Service (NHS) Plan was published in July 2000 and envisaged reform of the health care services by:
To achieve these targets it was recognised that there needed to be a rapid expansion of the clinical workforce. The Plan promised that by March 2004 the number of consultants working in the NHS would be increased by 7,500 over the number in post at the end of September 1999, and the number of general practitioners increased by 2,000. The target has since been rolled
forward to deliver 10,000 more doctors (consultants and GPs) by 2005 over
the September 2000 baseline. Full details http://www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment/guidancehtml/index.htm Ref. 26592. Mailed to Health Authority NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trust Chief Executives and Medical Directors. Produced by the Prison Health Policy Unit & Task Force, a joint Department of Health & Prison Service Unit, the handbook sets out the role of the units, their developmental work programme and contact details for staff. It also contains a range of general information and a glossary of key prison service and NHS terms. An electronic copy of the handbook is available on the Department of Health Prison Health Policy Unit and Task Force website at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/handbook.pdf Ref. 23929 10. Prison Health Newsletter (December 2001) Produced on a quarterly basis by the Prison Health Policy Unit & Task Force, the newsletter provides news, updates on the units’ development work programme and innovative work being carried out by staff in the prison healthcare field. An electronic copy of the newsletter is available on the Department of Health Prison Health Policy Unit and Task Force website at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/newsletters.htm Ref. 25447. Hard copies available. 11. Prison Health Policy Unit & Task Force Annual Report The first annual report of the joint Department of Health & Prison Service Units. The Policy Unit and Task Force formally came into being on in April 2000. Their objective for prison health care is to give prisoners access to the same quality and range of health care that the general public receives from the NHS. An electronic copy of the annual report is available on the Department of Health Prison Health Policy Unit & Task Force website at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/annualreport.pdf Ref. 25906. Hard copies available. 12. Improving Working Lives - NHS Pensions Online The NHS Plan launched the Improving Working Lives (IWL) Standard which commits NHS employers to: create well-managed flexible working environments; support recruitment and retention in the NHS; enable staff to better balance their work and home commitments; leading directly to better patient care. The achievement of the IWL Standard includes a kite marking process requiring NHS employers to provide evidence that they are implementing a core of good HR policies. Flexible retirement, including pensions promotion, is one of these core requirements. The achievement of the IWL Standard is an integral part of the National ‘Star’ performance rating process, and existing NHS trusts including PCTs established during 2000/01 will need to meet this standard by April 2003. To support NHS employers in promoting both the NHS pensions scheme and flexing retirement, the Department launched two flexing retirement guides; one for managers and one for staff. The NHS pensions scheme is a huge asset in the wider HR agenda, supporting both recruitment and retention, as well as workforce planning and the Department is working closely with colleagues in the NHSPA to deliver practical support for HR managers to promote the NHS pension scheme more proactively. Pensions On-line A new service, known as Pensions Online, is being made available, free of charge, on the NHSPA website, initially for trusts and health authorities but eventually available to all NHS employers. A web-based application, Pensions Online is a significant step into the e-business arena and will enable organisations to have ‘24/7’ access to the pensions records of almost all of their staff. Pensions Online will also provide modelling tools to make a variety of pensions projections, for example to give individual members of staff information to enable them to make a choice around their flexing retirement options, as well as providing employers with tools to support workforce planning. In this type of venture security is of paramount importance so there is a registration process and minimum PC system requirements that need to be met to access it. Full details about Pensions Online and how to register are contained in a letter that NHS Pensions Agency chief executive, Alec Cowan is sending to the CEO, HR and finance directors of trusts and health authorities this week. Look out for your copy. Pensions Promotion Workshops Together with the NHS Pensions Agency, the Department of Health will be rolling out across the NHS a number of workshops aiming to give practical support to both HR managers and pensions managers on the benefits of the NHS pensions scheme, in support of good HR. The aim of the workshops will be to raise awareness and share best practice around the following areas:
Further information about the NHS Pension Online service and contact details are given in the Pensions Agency letter. Copies of the IWL Flexing Retirement Guides can be obtained from the NHS response line and as a PDF File on the Improving Working Lives website at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl For further information about the Improving Working Lives initiative contact your regional IWL lead, whose details can also be obtained from the IWL website. 13. Local Pharmacy Budgets 2002/2003 - Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Services Letter notifying health authorities of their 2002-2003 indicative local pharmacy budgets for domiciliary oxygen therapy services. These allocations do not form part of authorities' revenue resource limits. The indicative allocations for oxygen services are the same as for this year. The allocations for oxygen hardware have been increased by 3% over this year's allocations. The allocations for 2002-2003 are shown for the 28 new health authorities. The names of the new health authorities together with their allocations and the names of corresponding current health authorities are shown in the annex to the letter. As stated in the letter, current health authorities that are to be divided within two or more new health authorities should discuss and decide among themselves the division of their allocations between their new health authorities. Chief executives are asked to draw this letter to the attention of pharmaceutical advisers and to other colleagues involved in the management of these budgets. Letter: www.doh.gov.uk/lpb.htm 14. Regional Travel Plan Seminars The priority in the NHS Plan is to have a health service fit for the 21st century, a health service designed around the patient. Good transport policy and planning is integral to meeting this goal, to help ensure that patients and staff have safe access to NHS sites. This commitment is emphasised in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and the Controls Assurance Standard, both of which set milestones for action. To support these goals, the Department of Health is working with Sustrans, the leading charity working on sustainable transport issues, to host four regional travel plan seminars for NHS trusts. The events are being held at NHS trusts with a successful record of travel plan implementation on the following dates: Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter 28th February 2002 Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge 14th March 2002 Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham 25th March 2002 John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford 28th March 2002 Travel plans measure and evaluate travel demand, and provide sustainable and cost-efficient solutions, giving people more choice in how they travel. These solutions include making walking and cycling an easier travel option, leading to important health benefits. These seminars provide best practice case examples, from neighbouring trusts which have developed and implemented travel plans, and from national experts. The broad ranging programme will both assist trusts in the early stages of travel planning and provide guidance to those more advanced. This is an important regional event, which will help the NHS lead the way in healthy transport practice. If you would like further information, please ring Sustrans on 0117 926 8893 or email nhstravelplanseminars@sustrans.org.uk 15. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2002(04) Zoll M Series Advisory Defibrillator & AED Defibrillator This safety notice was issued on 4 February 2002 to NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities chief executives. As usual it was also issued to liaison officers of trusts, primary care and health authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the notice.
For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us at: bs@medical-devices.gov.uk
http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk Social Care Interest 16. LASSL (2002)3 Care Standards Act: Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Residential Family Centres This circular encloses a consultation document which contains the proposed Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Residential Family Centres to be used by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) when it takes responsibility for registration and inspection of these centres in July 2002. It also contains a partial regulatory impact assessment, which discusses the benefits and costs of implementing these new regulations and standards. Consultation document http://www.doh.gov.uk/ncsc/familycentres.htm Ref. LASSL 26591, Consultation Document 26590. Mailed to Chief Executives of Local Authorities and Directors of Social Services. 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 Back to Chief Executive's Bulletin Home Page
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