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Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 08701 555 455.

1. Shifting the balance of Power
2. Extension of Nurse Prescribing
3. MMR Information campaign
4. Education and support for district and community nurses in the principles and practice of palliative care
5. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
6. NHS Purchasing Card
7. ‘Managing Change in the NHS’
8. 8^th Mary Seacole Leadership Award - Another Winner!
9. Foundation of Nursing Studies News Release
10. Chief Nursing Officer’s Conference
11. Single Assessment Process for Older People

This is the third edition of the new CNO bulletin. 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

Two documents have recently been prepared on Shifting the Balance of Power:

• a discussion document entitled Shifting the Balance of Power: Securing Delivery. www.doh.gov.uk/shiftingthebalance. Comments are welcomed on the content of the document by 7 September

• the Human Resources Framework to support the above which can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/shiftingthebalance/hrguidance

These documents hold significant implications for Health Authority, Regional Office, Community Trust, PCG and PCT staff. It is important that all staff understand the implications of the proposals and the way in which they will help to empower frontline staff.

Changes are taking place in the Department of Health too, designed to better support delivery of The NHS Plan. As a National Director the Chief Nursing Officer has taken on new responsibilities. She will lead a new Directorate focusing on nursing, midwifery and health visiting policy, patient, user and public involvement, mental health policy, services and legislation, policy on health and social care for disabled people and those with long term conditions.

The Medicines Control Agency has recently begun a consultation on proposed amendments to the Prescription Only Medicines Order to extend the range of POMs that may be prescribed by independent nurse prescribers. Consultation papers are being sent to HA and NHS Trust Chief Executives, Medical and Nursing Directors and pharmaceutical advisers as well as PCG/PCT pharmaceutical advisers. The consultation document can also be found on the MCA website www.mca.gov.uk The Consultation will last until 9 October and you are asked to inform those in your HA or Trust who may have an interest. Any comments or queries on the proposals should be sent to Anne Ryan at the MCA - tel: 020 7273 0392, e-mail: anne.ryan@mca.gov.uk

Details of the extension of nurse prescribing can be found on the D H website at www.doh.gov.uk/nurseprescribing

A MMR resource pack has been widely distributed to healthcare professionals who undertake childhood immunisation. Recent media coverage given to a possible link between MMR immunisation and autism has led many parents to question the safety of the vaccine. The pack provides comprehensive background information about MMR and the latest facts about the diseases and the vaccines. It also suggests strategies for dealing with parents’ concerns and for encouraging them to get their children immunised.

The resource pack material can be downloaded from the HPE website www.immunisation.org.uk and includes an order form if you do not have access to the new leaflet, posters and videos. Nurses and health visitors who undertake childhood immunisation are encouraged to register with HPE via their website to receive further information on immunisation.

Further information on MMR can also be found at www.doh.gov.uk/mmr.htm

Proposals from the cancer networks have been approved and announced this week. A press release can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/publications/pointh.html and details of all the initiatives at www.doh.gov.uk/cancer.

A national evaluation of the programme will start in the autumn and will continue for the life of the programme. In addition a national conference will be held in the winter in order for all networks to share expertise and maximise the learning.

Contact details: Sue Hawkett at sue.hawkett@doh.gsi.gov.uk

NICE produces a range of guidance available at www.nice.org.uk. including:

• appraisal guidance on individual interventions (health technologies), based on an assessment of their clinical and cost effectiveness relative to best existing practice;
• clinical guidelines and related audit methodologies giving evidence-based guidance on best practice for particular conditions or patient groups. Within this category are a number of more specialised ‘products’ including referral guidance and clinical protocols.

Ideas for future work programmes for NICE are welcomed. If you have any suggestions for guidance that would support the delivery of quality patient care, you should discuss them with the relevant Royal College or professional organisation and ask them to submit a formal proposal to us. Alternatively, you can submit a proposal directly by contacting:

Appraisal topics - Peter Burgin peter.burgin@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Clinical guidelines - Mark Noterman mark.noterman@doh.gsi.gov.uk

The topic will then be considered for inclusion in the work programme.

Every two months Mary McClarey, the nurse member on the Board of NICE, focuses on the latest publications and discusses the value of implementing the new evidence in practice. Email: Professional.Nurse@emap.com

For further information please contact Judith.Ellis@doh.gsi.gov.uk

NHS Estates has been working with NHS Purchasing and Supplies Authority and NatWest to implement the national rollout of the NHS purchasing card to ward managers. The rollout is being delivered electronically via a website, which provides a 'one-stop' site of comprehensive information, step-by-step guidance on what Trusts need to do to apply for the cards, purchasing guidance and sharing of good ideas for improving the ward environment.

www.purchasingcard.nhs.uk went live on 30 July. The early response has been very enthusiastic, reaffirming the success of the pilot trial. More than 75 trusts logged on to register in the first week. The government has set a target for 50% of ward managers to be using the purchasing cards by March 2002, but it is expected that the uptake will be far greater. Further information from Diane.Solano@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Two publications on managing change in the NHS have been commissioned by the NHS Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) National R & D Programme.

The first, Organisational Change: A review for health care managers, professionals and researchers, is a review of models of change management to help managers, professionals and researchers find their way around the literature and consider the evidence available about different approaches to change.

The second, Making Informed Decisions on Change: Key points for health care managers and professionals, is a booklet, drawing on the review, which aims to encourage managers and professionals to reflect on and share what helps and hinders successful change to improve the quality of services.

Copies of both publications, which are free of charge, are available on request from:

NCCSDO

Tel: 020 7612 7980

Fax: 020 7612 7979

Email: sdo@lshtm.ac.uk

Alternatively, the publications are available to download at: www.sdo.lshtm.ac.uk/whatsnew.htm

Interviews have now taken place for this year’s award. Very soon we will be announcing the 8^th Winner of this prestigious award of £25000, funded by the Department of Health. The award is made to a black and minority ethnic nurse, midwife or health visitor who can show through a project, a piece of work, or area of study how health gain can be achieved for black and minority ethnic communities. A core aim of the award is the development of leadership skills and personal development for the winner. The report Black and Ethnic Nurses, Midwives and Health visitors Leading Change - A Report of the work of the first five winners (2000), can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/maryseacoleaward

Further information can be obtained from nishmael@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Two New Foundation of Nursing Studies Awards to be Won

The Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS) will give two new nursing awards this year in addition to the long-standing FoNS Mallabar Awards for excellence in nursing. Thanks to new and generous sponsorship, the Foundation will present the Richard Tompkins Award for nurse-led care and the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund User Involvement in Care Award in December this year. The awards are of £2000 each. The FoNS Mallabar prize is £5000, and as in previous years these amounts will be shared between prize winners and runners up. All three FoNS awards are open to entries from all nurses, midwives and health visitors working in practice at any level.

The closing date for entries is September 1^st 2001. For an awards application pack visit www.fons.org, email admin@fons.org or ring the Foundation of Nursing Studies on 020 7233 5750

The 2001 CNO conference will be held in Harrogate from 14 - 16 November inclusive. Formal invitations will be issued by the conference organisers shortly after the August Bank Holiday.

Guidance on the single assessment process for older people was issued for consultation on Thursday 16 August 2001. Your comments are sought on the guidance, which can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/sap

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copyright: © | published: July, 2002