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Medical
directors bulletin December 2001 Issue 6
Welcome to the latest edition of the bulletin for Medical Directors. It provides a practical summary of the latest developments in the implementation of the NHS Plan and in your area of work in the NHS - keeping you up to date as well as providing access points for further information. Please help us make these bulletins as helpful to you as possible by telling us what you think of the bulletins and how they might be improved, for example:
Please send feedback to Jeffrey.Graham@doh.gsi.gov.uk Contents this month:Framework for lifelong learning in the NHS
Framework for lifelong learning in the NHSA framework has been devised to ensure that NHS staff are developed and supported through lifelong learning. Aimed at everyone involved - NHS organisations, managers, staff and education providers - 'Working Together, Learning Together' sets out the characteristics of an effective learning organisation, and emphasises that staff need to share responsibility for developing themselves. See www.doh.gov.uk/lifelonglearning Flexible careers scheme for doctorsThe Flexible Careers Scheme is a new initiative, part-developed by the BMA, to improve the working lives of doctors. It will help doctors at every level to work flexibly, while maintaining their careers, when they need to take time out from the NHS. The scheme allows them to satisfy practice criteria for appraisal and revalidation, and to keep in contact with the profession. It is open to all doctors and will be centrally administered by NHS Professionals. See www.doh.gov.uk/iwl/doctorsguide.pdf, or contact Gwen Mulvany on 0113 254 6571. International recruitmentThe Department of Health is looking to identify consultants with experience of working abroad, who could help in international recruitment. The global recruitment campaign has already generated positive interest, and the department is working closely with Spain, Germany and India to recruit at consultant level. The aim is to recruit 1,000 doctors from abroad, in order to help meet the target of increasing the number of NHS doctors by 10,000 by 2005. For further information on opportunities to work with the department in this field, contact Jenny Watson on 0113 254 6172 or Jane Pawson on 0113 254 5490. Hospital episode statisticsThe Department of Health is seeking hospital episode data for the first three quarters of this year (April to December) by January 25 2002. This is to enable data to be added from the previous quarter (Jan-March 2001), so that the calendar-year results can be published as part of the performance indicators in early summer.Anyone with queries about this exercise can contact Steve Price on 020 7972 5683 (stephen.price@doh.gsi.gov.uk), or Kate Liffen on 020 8771 5470 (kate.liffen@doh.gsi.gov.uk). Acute Trust patient surveysThe Acute Trust-based patient survey programme begins at the end of this year. Most Trusts are likely to start the survey in early January; the process will take around 12 weeks. Results will be reported in time to inform the national performance ratings and performance indicators.A detailed guidance pack has been sent to all Acute Trusts. A basic survey, including all the mandatory questions and other guidance, is at www.pickereurope.org/nhstrustsurveys/guidance Involving patientsPlans for a new system of patient and public involvement in healthcare were published last month. This follows a 'listening exercise' involving public, patients and NHS staff.Key elements include:
See www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients Haemophilia service specificationThe Haemophilia Alliance has produced a model service specification that sets clear standards of care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders. While not endorsed as government policy, it has been welcomed by ministers and will be a valuable resource for NHS commissioners of haemophilia services.See www.haemophiliaalliance.org.uk Information leaflets for breast and cervical screening programmesNew leaflets have been produced which aim to promote informed choice in the use of NHS breast and cervical screening programmes. This follows the NHS Cancer Plan's commitment to enable people who are invited to participate in screening programmes to understand the potential benefit and harm involved.Instructions on the use of the leaflets can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/screeningleaflets.htm Diathermy for tonsil or adenoid surgeryOn December 4, the use of diathermy was suspended for tonsil or adenoid surgery.Adverse incidents associated with this surgery have fallen since the issue of a hazard notice in October, which addressed problems with single-use electrosurgical diathermy forceps. However, there have been continued reports, including one recent fatality. In the interests of patient safety, surgeons have been instructed to cease diathermy until a solution is found. See www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cmo01_17.htm Hepatitis A vaccinesThe hepatitis A vaccines 'VAQTA Paediatric' and VAQTA Adult' marketed by Aventis Pasteur MSD are being recalled because of decreased potency in some syringes. The Department of Health has issued advice to help ensure that patients who have received these vaccines since their launch in 1997 and 1998 respectively have adequate protection against hepatitis A, where they are at continuing risk.See www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cmo01_16.htm Safety noticeSafety Notice MDA SN2001 (27), Programmable Hydrocephalus Shunts: Risk of Reprogramming during Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedures, was issued on November 2. See www.medical-devices.gov.ukMuslim pilgrimage to MeccaThe Chief Medical Officer has launched a campaign to encourage Muslims planning to travel to the Hajj to protect themselves against the risk of contracting a virulent strain of meningitis. Please cascade these details to relevant health professionals in your Trust.Publicity materials promoting the new quadrivalent vaccine are available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Somali, Turkish and Urdu. They can be ordered by faxing 01623 724524, emailing doh@prolog.uk.com or by writing to the Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH. Further health advice is at www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice/hajj.htm, and travel advice for Saudi Arabia on www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp?SC Powerpoint presentation on clinical governance Dr Ken Brown, medical director, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, has prepared a Powerpoint presentation based on the chapter by Aidan Halligan and others in 'Clinical Governance and the NHS Reforms'. Dr Brown offers it to colleagues, and hopes they find it helpful. Click here for the Presentation Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2001 This report identifies selected health issues, aiming to provide a new perspective to some familiar topics and a reminder of their importance and how commitment must be sustained if problems are to be overcome. Some will be a new trend in a disease or health problem which may have serious consequences if it is not addressed. Some will clearly highlight areas where change is supposed to have happened and it has not. Other topics will try to capture a development or an idea which needs fresh thinking or a novel approach if it is to improve people’s health or the quality of care received by patients. This Annual Report is a mixture of all these things but there is a common theme. Each of the topics is one where a great deal of action is already taking place. However, they are all areas of the population’s health where change and improvement are difficult to achieve without widespread and sustained commitment. Areas covered include health inequalities, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, E.Coli O157 and epilepsy. www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/annualreport2001 Ref 24585
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