Introduction

This is the second edition of the new CNO bulletin. Many thanks to all those who contributed to the first edition. We look forward to receiving feedback and contributions for future editions - please contact Beverley.Akwara@doh.gsi.gov.uk as before.

For further information please also see:

chief executive bulletin at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin

HR bulletin www.doh.gov.uk/hrbulletin and

primary care bulletin www.doh.gov.uk/gpbulletin

Shifting the balance of power

An intensive programme has been launched to hand more power to frontline NHS staff.

The last few years have seen a new framework of standards set for the service, through such initiatives as National Service Frameworks and the clinical governance system. Within that framework, the government is now keen to see local services and staff freed up to innovate. It recognises that where staff are in control, they have come up with the goods. Alan Milburn's speech to the British Association of Medical Managers set out some of the key points.

• Nurses are doing a great job under real pressure.

• The priority is to make sure that investment in nursing continues and expands.

• By 2004, the number of health authorities will reduce by two-thirds to around 30.

• PCTs will control 75% of the NHS budget by 2004.

• More freedom for local organisations - the new grading system for NHS trusts and PCTs will bring increased autonomy for the best performers.

• Five hundred nurses will take up senior sister and charge nurse positions by next April, with 2,000 in post by 2004. They will be responsible for driving up standards of care, with influence over budgets averaging £2 million per trust.

• 32,000 clinical leaders are benefiting from leadership investment.

• Nurses, midwives and health visitors are being given greater say at local level and within primary care trusts.

• Nurses, midwives and health visitors are being supported to work in new ways, as set out in the Chief Nursing Officer's '10 key roles for nurses' (www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplan/npch9htm).

• Teams working across service boundaries — from primary, secondary and social care — have been proven to get results in improving the patient experience and this kind of working will be supported.

• Every member of NHS staff will have the opportunity to contribute to a local modernisation review this summer.

Reference Guide to Consent

The Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment, a new guide to obtaining the consent of patients and their relatives, has been published at http://www.doh.gov.uk/consent

It can also be obtained from the NHS Response Line on 08701 555 455.

A 12 key point summary of the guide has been sent to all nurses, midwives and HVs via a UKCC mailing, and can also be consulted at http://www.doh.gov.uk/consent/twelvekeypts.htm

The Guide — and the summary — provides a comprehensive overview of how English law deals with the issue of consent.

New issues for consideration by SNMAC

The Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee (SNMAC) advises the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales on matters relating to those services which are referred to them by the Secretary of State or which they feel they should offer advice on (other than NHS management and terms and conditions of service). Further information about SNMAC, including its membership, is on its web site at http://www.doh.gov.uk/snmac.htm

In future SNMAC will concentrate more on its independent advisory function. A list of relevant issues will be produced from which SNMAC will select a small number on which to provide advice.

If you have suggestions for subjects for SNMAC please send these to the Secretary to SNMAC, Ann Towner at ann.towner@gsi.doh,gov.uk. These should be ready for direct inclusion in a summary paper to be presented to SNMAC, setting out (in no more than about a half of an A4 page per subject) -

• suggested draft terms of reference for SNMAC

• summary of work already done, or in progress in related fields

• reasons for believing that a gap remains, and needs to be addressed

• reasons for believing that it is SNMAC which could most appropriately offer advice on the issue, rather than any other potentially relevant body.

Clean Hospitals

The last nine months have seen a concerted effort by NHS trusts to improve the hospital environment. Three hundred volunteers, many of them nurses, visited hospitals across the country and scored them on a traffic light system. Between the first visit in autumn last year, and the second in the early part of this year, real improvements have been made. Over 90% of all hospitals are now in the "yellow" and "green" categories, and there is a commitment that there will be no red hospitals by Autumn 2001.

Further information, including scores for all hospitals, is available on www.cleanhospitals.com

Better Hospital Food

On 8 May, NHS Chief Executive Nigel Crisp launched the new NHS Menu at a celebration lunch at Barts Hospital. NHS caterers, dietitians and nurses have worked hard to produce the new menu, which has been spearheaded by Loyd Grossman and seven top chefs.

Trusts must now introduce the new service, which includes new dishes, an improved menu design and a 24-hour food service for all patients.

Further information is available from www.betterhospitalfood.com

Funding Boost for Maternity Units

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has announced a new £100 million fund for maternity units in England, to ensure that pregnant women and their families have access to improved maternity service facilities. Service users will be key players in any decision taken on how this money is spent, and further information about bidding for the money will be available soon. In addition, there will be

• an extra 500 midwives working in the NHS by the end of 2002

• an extra 2000 midwives on the wards within the next five years

• a one off payment of £1500 for midwives returning to the NHS

• a one off payment of £1000 for nurses returning to the NHS

• £100 million to improve maternity services enviornment

World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation has chosen mental health as one of its key priority areas for this biennium. Mental Health is also the theme chosen for this year's World Health Report. Additionally, mental health will be the focus for World Health Day 2001.

To recognise the work of nurses and midwives in the area of mental health, and to make a positive contribution to the World Health Report, the WHO Nursing & Midwifery Programme is developing a Portfolio of Innovative Practice in Nursing and Midwifery in Mental Health.

Seven examples were submitted for consideration by WHO from a significant number of projects sent in. The response nationally has been most encouraging, and although only seven out of the 20 or more sent in were ultimately submitted to WHO, there is an opportunity to set up our own national 'portfolio' of innovations in mental health nursing practice.

For further information please contact: lis.jones@doh.gsi.gov.uk or carol.bavington@doh.gsi.uk or malcolm.rae@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Northern and Yorkshire Region Nurse Prescribing Web Site

The nurse prescribing web site is now available on the NYx site at www.nyx.org.uk/prescribing/main.html

The aim of the site is to improve access to information and share good practice on Nurse Prescribing and Patient Group Directions across the Northern and Yorkshire region.

Contact Wendy Morrison, Deputy Director of Nursing on 0191 3011300 or at wendy.morrison@doh.gsi.gov.uk or Margaret Kennedy, Nurse Prescribing Facilitator on 0191 3011329 or at margaret.kennedy@doh.gsi.gov.uk for more details.

Awards - celebrating innovation

Various award ceremonies are coming up in the next few months. Do encourage your nursing, midwifery and health visiting innovators to apply for them. They all recognise, reward and celebrate good practice in a variety of fields, and the awards events themselves are always memorable occasions.

• Nursing Standard awards

Applications are available from http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk or from the magazine. Call Zena Latcham on 0208 423 1066. Please note this year there will be a special award for nursing in prisons. Closing date is the 15 June.

• The Prince of Wales Awards for Healthcare in London

These awards are run by the King's Fund. For more information and a closing date, see http://www.kingsfund.org.uk, call 0207 307 2495, or email z.khan@kingsfund.org.uk.

• Queen's Nursing Institute awards

The Queen's Nursing Institute Innovation and Creative Practice awards are for projects run by community nurses. Closing date is the last Friday 27 July. For more information telephone Lynsey Hayes or Mary Hopper at the QNI on

0207 490 4227, or e mail mail@qni.org.uk

• Excellence and innovation in dementia care

The Award for Excellence and Innovation in Dementia Care Nursing is a joint award made by the Alzheimer's Society and The Queen's Nursing Institute. The closing date for applications is 27 July 2001. For further information contact:

The QNI Practice Development Facilitator
The Queen's Nursing Institute
3 Albemarle Way
Clerkenwell
London EC1V 4RQ

Tel: 0207 490 4227
Fax 0207 490 1269
Email qni1@aol.com