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Medical directors' bulletin: November 2002, Issue 16 Welcome to the latest e-bulletin for medical directors. It aims to provide a practical summary of NHS developments with access points for further information. Please tell us of any improvements you’d like to see by emailing jeffrey.graham@doh.gsi.gov.uk Contents(* indicates items which have not appeared in other NHS bulletins) Clinical information:
Consultation exercises:
General reports and information:
Events: Post-event summaries:
Conscious sedation in termination of pregnancy The report sets out recommendations for abortion service providers who wish to offer, or are already offering, conscious sedation as an alternative to a local or general anaesthetic for early surgical abortion, to those women who meet the criteria. The report can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/sexualhealthandhiv. A copy is being sent to those NHS hospitals that perform terminations, but further hard copies can be ordered on 08701 555455. For further information contact Kay Ellis, tel 020 7972 6172, e-mail kay.ellis@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Testing of tissue donors for HTLV virus Deputy chief medical officer Dr Pat Troop wrote to all medical directors following the recommendation made by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissue for Transplantation. While the risk has not been formally assessed, it is clear that all organ transplants and most tissue transplants are capable of transmitting HTLV. Further advice is being sought on:
In the meantime, any stored tissue which has not been tested should, if issued, be clearly labelled as not tested for HTLV. Further details on the committee's recent guidance is at www.doh.gov.uk/msbt/index.htm. Safe administration of intrathecal therapy The guidance was issued on 6 November 2001. The Government set a target to reduce the number of patients dying or being paralysed by maladministered spinal injections to zero by the end of 2001. For further information, contact Cheryl Cavanagh, tel 020 7972 1312, email cheryl.cavanagh@doh.gsi.gov.uk. National alcohol harm reduction strategy The consultation exercise by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office will inform work on a national alcohol harm reduction strategy, due to be implemented by 2004. The consultation document is at www.doh.gov.uk/alcohol/alcoholstrategy.htm. The consultation exercise will run until 15 January 2003. For further details, contact Judith Hind, tel 020 7972 5221, email judith.hind@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Patient and public involvement For further information visit www.doh.gov.uk/cppihconsultation/index.htm or contact Anna McDevitt, tel 020 7210 5553, email anna.mcdevitt@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Patient confidentiality The plans propose new ways for staff to work, as well as new tools, processes and technology to support them in sharing patient information. The consultation will run to 31 January 2003. Organisations and individuals can take part online, through workshops, and through the post. Full details are at www.nhsia.nhs.uk/confidentiality. Or call 08453 660066 for a pre-printed or CD-ROM consultation pack. Local authority scrutiny of health services Details are at www.doh.gov.uk/oscregconsultation/index.htm. The consultation period ends on 18 November. For further information, contact Brenda Cook, tel 020 7210 5995, email brenda.cook@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Simpler priorities and planning system Investment, Expansion and Reform sets out what health and social services will need to achieve in key delivery areas, and introduces a new system of three-year planning and allocations. This will provide a more stable basis for local delivery in national priority areas. The national targets have been streamlined to include only those targets which will be managed at a national level - with a commitment to avoid the introduction of new targets where possible. The planning system has also been simplified so that each area need only submit a single three-year plan. The document is at www.doh.gov.uk/planning2003-2006. For further information, contact Julie Taylor, tel 020 7972 5846, email julie.taylor@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Prison health transferred to the Department of Health Primary care trusts will be responsible for commissioning and providing health services to prisoners. Funding will be transferred in April 2003 from the Home Office to the Department of Health, which plans to allocate an extra £46 million a year by 2005/6. Background information is at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/events.htm. For further information, contact Savas Hadjipavlou, tel 020 7972 4580, or Simon Reeve, tel 020 7972 4369. Email and directory for the NHS The contract has been awarded to EDS, and the first phase of implementation has begun. The service is being tested in two sites: The Queen Elizabeth Hosptial Trust in Woolwich and a consortium of primary care trusts in the West Midlands. Further information is at nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/nhsnet/pages/emailmessaging/nhsmail/ or from Catherine Keenan, email catherine.keenan@nhsia.nhs.uk. Safeguarding children The report identified much good practice. However, it found that arrangements to safeguard children were weakened by several factors. For example, some services, including GPs and mental health services, were not sufficiently integrated into local arrangements. The report is at www.doh.gov.uk/ssi/childrensafeguardsjoint.htm. For further information, email matthew.dieppe@doh.gsi.gov.uk. National joint registry for hip and knee implants From April 2003, NHS trusts and private healthcare providers will submit data to the registry for all total hip and knee replacement operations. For further information on the registry, contact Paul Woods, email paul.woods@doh.gsi.gov.uk, tel 020 7972 4811. Stopping violence against NHS staff Managers' guidance The guidance is at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance, or is available from the NHS Responseline on 08701 555455. Tackling violence towards GPs and their staff The zero tolerance website at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance now includes examples of best practice in tackling violence in general practice, including local initiatives on provision of secure facilities for treating violent or abusive patients. For further information, contact Meena Paterson, email meena.paterson@doh.gsi.gov.uk, tel 0113 254 5758, or Eileen Calline, email eileen.calline@doh.gsi.gov.uk, tel 0113 254 6131. Criminal Records Bureau certificates for GPs At present, however, certificates should not be requested. The necessary regulations will not be made until the Criminal Records Bureau is able to perform the checks without the delays currently being experienced. Full guidance is at www.doh.gov.uk/pclists/new.htm. For further information, contact Jenny Smith, tel 0113 254 5825, email jenny.smith@doh.gsi.gov.uk.
The guidance includes local authority rankings for life expectancy and examples of health inequalities targets already agreed at local level. It is at www.doh.gov.uk/lpsa/guidance-tackling-health-inequalities.htm. For further information, contact Michelle Wiseman, tel 020 7972 3739, email michelle.wiseman@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Emergency care collaborative Run by the NHS Modernisation Agency, the collaborative is a national programme for reducing delays and improving the patient and carer experience. It will focus on the whole system of emergency care and will help all accident and emergency departments to meet the NHS Plan target - a maximum of four hours from a patient's arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. For further information, see www.modern.nhs.uk/emergency or contact Ben Gowland, tel 020 7972 1138, email ben.gowland@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Research into practice summary reports NHS leadership qualities framework A 360-degree assessment tool has been derived from the framework. This can be used to support development for individuals and organisations. The Leadership Centre is working to support roll-out and good practice, initially at early implementation sites. The framework is available at www.nhsleadershipqualities.nhs.uk. Report on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis Pending decisions on this, Action for ME, a leading voluntary organisation active in this field, has produced a useful eight-page summary of the issues, Guidance on the management of CFS/ME. The guidance is online at www.afme.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from Action for ME, PO Box 1302, Well, Somerset BA5 1YE, tel: 01749 670799, email admin@afme.org.uk. Keep Warm, Keep Well A freephone advice line (0800 085 7000) offers advice on staying warm and keeping well in winter, and information about the financial help available. A free guide, available in several languages, can be ordered from the advice line. Further information is at www.doh.gov.uk/kwkw. New resource for older people's champions The resource is designed to provide champions in local implementation teams with the information they need to support them in promoting the interests of older people, in line with the national service framework for older people. The toolkit is at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople.htm. For further information, contact Carl Evans, tel 020 7972 4134, email carl.evans@doh.gsi.gov.uk. National Institute for Clinical Excellence NHS quarterly review The review is at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsquarterlyreview. For further information, contact Andrew Morgan, tel 0113 254 5549. Single assessment process for older people For further information, contact Titilayo Sylvester, tel 020 7972 4117, email titilayo.Sylvester@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Cancer services collaborative annual progress report Consultant contract: clarification A clarification document agreed between the Department of Health, the NHS Confederation and the BMA has been published to help inform discussions at local level between employers and consultants about preparations for the new contract. See www.doh.gov.uk/consultantscontract/index.htm. For further information, contact Pat Saunders, tel 0113 2545706, email patricia.saunders@doh.gsi.gov.uk. Interesting articles in NHS Magazine
You can find the features at www.nhs.uk/nhsmagazine National women's mental health strategy The events will take place during November and December in London, Manchester, Bristol, Torquay and Birmingham. Full details at www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/women.htm. Electronic booking event The new director general of NHS IT, Richard Granger, will be the main speaker. Patients, clinicians and managers involved in electronic booking will contribute. The event will be held at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Places are limited. To book, contact Anna Liddell, email anna.liddell@npat.nhs.uk, fax 0116 222 5143. See & Treat events A number of national workshops have been organised around the country that will provide an opportunity to find out more about See & Treat and to hear the first-hand experiences of those who have implemented it. The events are open to all A&E departments in England and have been specifically designed for A&E consultants, senior nurses and operational managers. The dates are:
A facilitator has also recently been appointed to help organisations who are facing challenges with the four hour wait target to implement this system of care. Guidance on See & Treat has just been published by the Modernisation Agency supported by the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine and the RCN A&E Nursing Association. The guidance is available as a CD and leaflet both of which can be ordered from Sonia Lee on 0207 972 1139 or sonia.lee@doh.gsi.gov.uk Further details and a reply slip to attend the events can be found at www.modern.nhs.uk/emergency. National day surgery summit A summary of the speeches is at www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/day-surg-spch-sep02.htm. Models of emergency care conference Dr Short, a Nottingham GP, focused on designing models based on avoiding the need for hospital admission. To read the speech summaries see www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/mod-emerg-care-con.htm. Building a world-class workforce A summary of the conference is at www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/build-world-class-work-sep02.htm. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy annual scientific
congress A summary of her speech is at www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/csp-sci-overview.htm. Implementing the national service framework for older
people A summary of a presentation made on one of the recent visits, to Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, is at www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/nsfolderpeopletour.htm. Safety alerts
Full details are available at www.medical-devices.gov.uk. The Medicines Control Agency has issued alerts over the following drugs:
Full details are available at www.mca.gov.uk.
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