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Medical
directors bulletin January 2002 Issue 7
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 Headlines Response to the Kennedy inquiry Response to the Kennedy inquiryThe official government response to the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, published last month, accepts the analysis and many of the recommendations of Sir Ian Kennedy. Among many other measures, the report sets out plans to publish from April 2004 the death rates within 30 days of surgery for every cardiac surgeon in England. Work is under way to extend the number and range of specialties which publish comparative performance for both consultants and units. The full report is at www.doh.gov.uk/bristolinquiryresponse/ Consultant data publicationPlans for the future publication of data about NHS consultant teams are now available on the Department of Health's Hospital Episode Statistics website at www.doh.gov.uk/hes The notice is essential reading for all consultants. It describes the data held on the existing three NHS databases and how it will be used. To ensure that analyses by consultant teams are meaningful and fair, consultants are advised to review local protocols for the recording of GMC codes - ensuring that data are accurately coded - and to take particular care with future completions of the medical workforce census. Paper copies of the above document can be ordered through the NHS Response line on 08701 555 455 (email doh@prologistics.co.uk). Tonsil and adenoid surgeryThe reintroduction of re-usable surgical instruments for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery was announced by the Department of Health on 14 December. The decision was taken after an increase in adverse incidents - typically increased bleeding, but including one death. This represented an actual risk to patients, compared with the theoretical risk of vCJD transmission which was the basis for introducing single-use instruments for these procedures. Full details: www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cmo01_19.htm Two related device alerts were issued in December:
Full details at www.medical-devices.gov.uk Diabetes National Service Framework standardsThe Diabetes National Service Framework standards were published on 14 December. The 12 standards cover the prevention, identification and management of diabetes, and surveillance for and management of its complications, including rehabilitation and continuing care. An implementation group will work with the NHS and other interested groups to develop a delivery strategy, to be published in summer 2002. The ten-year implementation programme will start in April 2003. Comments are invited on suggested service models and performance indicators, and on proposals for practice-based registers. Further details: www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/diabetes Post mortem examinationsThe Department of Health is publishing draft documents for consultation, which take forward recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer on post mortem examinations. These are all interim measures, pending a wider review of the law on human tissue. The documents are:
Copies are available at www.doh.gov.uk/tissue Comments are invited by 12 April, to Gemma Pearce, Department of Health, 530B Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, or by email to Post.Mortem.Consent@doh.gsi.gov.uk Any queries to Samantha Fox at the above address (tel 020 7972 5074). Further draft documents, on the import and export of human body parts, and on the review of the law on human tissue, will follow shortly. Retained Organs Commission - updateGuidance on the return of organs, tissue blocks and slides has been updated. The update covers regional and national collections, legal issues, and finds subsequent to returns, together with a date for the next national conference and a range of other issues. See www.nhs.uk/retainedorgans/jan02organretentionupdate.htm 'Action On' programme fundingA further £75 million has been allocated for the 'Action On' programmes for 2002/3 and 2003/4. This will be allocated to Strategic Health Authority populations via Regional Offices on a fair share basis. Trusts have been asked to submit bids by 15 February. Further details: www.doh.gov.uk/actionon/ A national one-day conference, offering guidance on service redesign issues and the development of bids, will take place on Thursday 7 February. To get details, sent an email contact address to info@eventdotorg.co.uk Interim guidance on service redesign within each of the Action On specialties is at www.modernnhs.nhs.uk/patientsaccess/action_on/ Electronic booking systemsA framework for electronic booking of patient appointments has been developed to support the achievement of the NHS Plan targets. It allows local communities the freedom to implement locally-based solutions within a common national framework. See www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanbookingsystems/ Copying clinicians' letters to patientsThe NHS Plan made a commitment to copying clinicians' letters to patients as of right. The Department of Health set up a working group on the issue, which is expected to produce guidelines by the summer of 2002. NHS organisations will then be encouraged to undertake pilot projects, with full implementation expected by April 2004. Further details from Sue Sharples at the Department of Health, Room 1N13, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UE or Sue.Sharples@doh.gsi.gov.uk Regulation of hyperbaric oxygen therapyFrom 1 April 2002, the National Care Standards Commission will be responsible for regulating private and voluntary providers of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Following consultation, it has been agreed that the NCSC will not regulate chambers used primarily for occupational purposes - at oil rigs, for example. If NHS providers intend to commission local occupational chambers for emergency treatment, they should negotiate any necessary improvements through normal contractual means. Occupational health smart card projectA timetable has been set for rolling out the 'smart card' scheme for storing the occupational health details of junior medical staff. Technology is scheduled to be installed within Trusts' human resources/medical staffing and occupational health units on the following basis: 2001/2: London, Kent/Surrey/Sussex 2002/3: South West, Wessex, Mersey, Northern, North West, Yorkshire 2003/4: Sheffield/Nottingham/Leicester, Oxford, Eastern, West Midlands Further information from Barbara Levy on barbara.levy@doh.gsi.gov.uk NHS Modernisation Board's annual reportThe NHS Modernisation Board, set up to oversee the implementation of the NHS Plan, has published its first annual report on progress. See www.doh.gov.uk/modernisationboardreport Chief Medical Officer's annual reportHealth inequalities, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, E.Coli and epilepsy are among the areas covered in the Chief Medical Officer's annual report. See www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/annualreport2001 Infectious diseases strategyThe Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has announced plans for a new National Infection Control and Health Protection Agency, to streamline the services involved in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. The proposal is a major recommendation of the first-ever infectious diseases strategy. See www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/idstrategy/index.htm Chronic Fatigue SyndromeThe independent working group set up to promote better understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) published its report on 11 January. It will help to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for patients with CFS/ME. The report is at www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/publications.htm Providing information about gamete or embryo donorsA consultation is currently under way on the information that should be given to people born as a result of assisted conception treatment using donated eggs, sperm or gametes. The consultation lasts until 1 July 2002. The consultation document is at www.doh.gov.uk/gametedonors Action plan to prevent drug-related deathsA government action plan aims to tackle accidental overdose involving illegal drugs, which killed 1,568 people in England and Wales in 1999. A leaflet, setting out the planned activities, is available at www.doh.gov.uk/drugs/drdapleaflet.htm or from the Drugs Misuse Team, Room 580D Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH, tel 020 7972 6000. Weather and healthRegional-level forecasts of workload are now being provided to all Trusts on a pilot basis, through a partnership between the Met Office's Health Forecast Unit and the Department of Health. Next winter the forecast will be supplied nationwide and to postcode level. The information is updated regularly on a secure website: nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/capacityplanning/forecast.htm Withholding treatment from violent patientsAll NHS Trusts must consider the need to develop a local policy on withholding treatment from violent and abusive patients. A policy framework is available at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance or from the NHS Responseline on 08701 555455. Further information from Meena Paterson (meena.paterson@doh.gsi.gov.uk, tel 0113 254 5758) or Eileen Calline (eileen.calline@doh.gsi.gov.uk, tel 0113 254 6131). Occupational health in the NHSNew guidance sets out the range of occupational health and safety services which should be available to NHS staff. See www.doh.gov.uk/healthandsafety/effmgtocchealthindex.htm Further guidelines have been produced to help NHS managers in reaching the new target for reducing ill-health retirements in the public sector. See www.doh.gov.uk/healthandsafety/managingillhealthindex.htm Decontamination of surgical instrumentsA national survey to assess decontamination practices in hospital sterile services departments found that 109 hospitals did not initially meet acceptable standards. After working with hospitals to implement urgent action plans, the Department of Health is now confident that decontamination in all 249 hospitals with central sterile services is acceptable or better. The survey report and further guidance on decontamination can be found at www.decontamination.nhsestates.gov.uk National Pulmonary Hypertension Services NetworkFour centres have been designated to provide services as part of a national Pulmonary Hypertension Services Network for England and Wales. The centres are in London, Newcastle, Sheffield and Cambridge. The network offers treatment to patients with primary pulmonary hypertension; hypertension complicating other diseases, such as systemic sclerosis, HIV or cirrhosis; chronic thromboembolic disease; and pulmonary hypertension complicating cardiac disease. Further details: www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/pulmonaryhypertension.htm Chlamydia screeningApplications are sought by 30 January for initial participants in the new chlamydia screening programme, which was announced last year in the government's first-ever sexual health and HIV strategy. Details at www.doh.gov.uk/chlamydscreen.htm For queries, contact Sally Wellsteed at sally.wellsteed@doh.gsi.gov.uk Handling complaintsThe 200/1 report on the handling of written complaints under NHS complaints procedures has been published. It is available on www.doh.gov.uk/nhscomplaints Definition of specialised servicesActivities that should be regarded as specialised for commissioning purposes are identified in the National Specialised Services Definition Set (1st Edition). It can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/specialisedservicesdefinitions Comments and suggested improvements can be sent to specialised.services.defines@doh.gsi.gov.uk Progress on the NHS Cancer PlanProgress made on the NHS Cancer Plan over the past year is set out in a new report at www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/makingprogress.htm Medical Education Standards BoardAs set out in the NHS Plan, the Medical Education Standards Board will supervise postgraduate education and training, and issue certificates showing that individuals have reached the standard required. A consultation document on this new body is available at www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk/pdfs/postgradconsultdec01.pdf Tackling cancelled operationsThe NHS Modernisation Agency's Theatre Project has produced interim guidance to help NHS Trusts reduce cancelled operations. Tackling Cancelled Operations includes a diagnostic tool to enable Trusts to analyse which specialties cancel the most operations, and the main reasons for cancellations. It contains practical actions to tackle the problem. Copies are available by emailing Jacqueline.Lloyd@npat.nhs.uk Prevalence of HIV and hepatitisThe latest annual report of the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme sets out the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis infections in the UK in 2000. See www.doh.gov.uk/hivhepatitis/report2000.htm Printed copies are available from Department of Health, PO Box 777, London SE1 6LH; fax 01623 724524; email doh@prologistics.co.uk or call the NHS Responseline on 08701 555455. Consultation on screening standards for infectious diseases in pregnancyAll professionals involved in antenatal screening are invited to comment on new standards developed by the Antenatal Subgroup of the UK National Screening Committee, in consultation with expert groups. The draft standards are available at www.nsc.nhs.uk/antenatal_screen/antenatal_screen_ind.htm Comments should be sent by 31 January 2002 to Helen Janecek, Project Manager, UK National Screening Committee - Antenatal Subgroup, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RG or emailed to hjanecek@rcog.org.uk Better services - better working livesThe delivery of first class public services that are accessible to everyone is a top priority for the Government. A new report by the Women and Equality Unit, 'Better Services - Better Working Lives', contributes to that agenda by looking at what women want from their health and education services, whether they work in the services or use them. It shows that Government and front-line providers are already delivering much of what women value, with details of over 30 examples of flexible and responsive services that are being provided in our schools and health centres. It also contains a series of Government commitments for promoting further action, and recommendations for local action. To download a copy of the report, visit the WEU's website at www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk For a hard copy, write to DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire, NG15 0DJ; call 0845 60 222 60 or email dfes@prolog.uk, and quote ref. WEU/PS1 GMC erasure circularThe latest erasure circular, which details doctors who have been erased from the medical register by the GMC up to 2 November 2001, has been posted at www.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/gmc.htm Safety alertsRecent safety and hazard notices and device alerts issued by the Medical Devices Agency include:
For further information see www.medical-devices.gov.uk
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