| Medical
directors' bulletin
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.
Please send feedback to jeffrey.graham@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Problems accessing information
CONTENTS
Take action
1. Introducing payment by results
2. Doctors in non-consultant career grades
3. Strategic partnership - consultation
4. Improving working lives - Practice Plus consultation
5. A Vision for Pharmacy
6. Charging overseas visitors for treatment
7. NHS continuing care directions
8. Regulation of operating department practitioners
9. Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
Recent news
10. Consultant contract
11. Postgraduate medical education
12. Survey of care in major trauma
13. Single assessment process
14. MOD/NHS partnership initiative
15. Immunisations
16. GPs with a Special Interest
17. Positron emission topography (PET) scanning
18. Accreditation of pathology laboratories
19. NHS Electronic Directory
20. Information Asset Register
21. Department of Health change programme
22. Chairs and non-executive directors' bulletin
23. Your Life magazine for PCTS
24. Prison health
National standards and guidance
25. Humanitarian health toolkit
26. Reducing inspection burdens
27. Tackling bureaucracy
28. Whistleblowing in the NHS
29. Integrated falls services
30. Improvement notice on organizational stress
31. Strengthened regulation for paramedics
32. National programme budget
33. Communication skills - statement of guiding principles
34. Live organ donors - reimbursement of reasonable expenses
35. Establishing patient forums
36. Review of central returns website
37. Screening for infectious diseases in pregnancy
38. Use of names for medicinal substances
Safety notices
39. Medical device alerts
Diary
40. Orthopaedic waiting
41. Meeting the challenge of the Working Time Directive
TAKE ACTION
Introducing payment by results
The document Payment by results consultation: Preparing for 2005 has
now been published.
This identifies the key decisions needed for implementing the next stage
of payment by results and outlines how it will apply to NHS foundation
trusts from April 2004 and all NHS trusts from April 2005. It also includes
further details of the reviews of levies for teaching, (multiprofessional
education and training) and NHS research and development
Closing date for responses is 31 October.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsfinancialreforms/consultation03/
Contact Frances Smethurst at financial-flow@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Doctors in non-consultant career grades
Choice and Opportunity: Modernising Medical Careers for Non-Consultant
Career Grade Doctors contains recommendations to help non-consultant career
grade doctors fulfill their potential.
Consultation runs until 31 October.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/modernisingmedicalcareers/index.htm
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Strategic partnership - consultation
Consultation on a proposed strategic partnership agreement between
the Department of Health, the NHS and the Voluntary and Community Sector
(VCS) has been launched. The draft agreement is aimed at increasing the
role of the VCS in NHS service delivery to improve the patient experience;
involve patients, carers and service users as partners; and offer them
more choice and fairer access to health care.
Consultation runs until 20 November. The document and feedback pro-forma
are at www.doh.gov.uk/makingpartnershipwork/
Contact Charles Perry at charles.perry@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Improving working lives - Practice Plus consultation
This consultation document provides key stakeholders, NHS employers
and staff side representatives the opportunity to comment on the new version
of the National Audit Instrument (NAI) and the plans for the implementation
of Practice Plus from 2004 onwards.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl/
Contact Mary Best at mary.best@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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A Vision for Pharmacy
The vision highlights achievements by pharmacists and others to implement
the programme for pharmacy in Pharmacy in the Future published in September
2000. It also sets out proposals for building on these achievements to
improve services further and to ensure pharmacy is an integral part of
the NHS.
Views are invited on the vision up until 17 October.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacyvision/
Contact Mary Grafton at mary.grafton@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Charging overseas visitors for treatment
The regulations for charging patients not resident in the UK for hospital
treatment have been reviewed and are currently subject to consultation.
Copies of the consultation document are at www.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors/nhschargesconsult.htm
A new interim manual of guidance for overseas patient managers on charges
for any hospital treatment for patients, not resident in the UK, is now
available.
Details at www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/finman.nsf/ManualDownload?OpenView
(in the NHS trusts detailed guidance section, chapter 31).
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NHS continuing care directions
Draft directions explaining strategic health authority and primary
care trust roles and responsibilities for fully-funded NHS continuing
care have been published.
Consultation runs until 10 October.
Directions regarding the requirement to assess for continuing care prior
to issue of a section 2 notice are subject to consultation up until 19
September.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/ccc.htm
Contact william.vineall@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Regulation of operating department practitioners
The UK health departments propose to extend the current system of
regulation of healthcare professionals to operating department practitioners
by bringing them under the Health Professions Council (HPC).
Public consultation on a draft Section 60 Order and accompanying documentation
will run until 14 November.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/regsodpconsult/
Contact christine.holmes@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
(CFS/ME)
PCTs and clinical teams are invited to bid for funding from the £8.5
million central budget set up to improve CFS/ME services.
The investment is designed to establish centres of expertise and local
multidisciplinary teams. As well as providing diagnosis and treatment,
the new services will assist with professional training and a clinical
research network.
The deadline for bids is 18 September.
Contact pat.noons@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Or call 0207 972 4200
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RECENT NEWS
Consultant contract
The department will be writing to NHS trusts shortly with information
and advice on preparatory steps on implementing the consultant contract
and how to share this information with consultants.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/consultantframework/
For information on the implementation at www.modern.nhs.uk/consultants/
Contact cciitenquiries@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Postgraduate medical education
Professor Clive Morton has been appointed chair of the newly established
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.
The board is a key part of the drive to improve standards and assure the
quality of postgraduate medical education and training for the modern
NHS.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk
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Survey of care in major trauma
In 2000, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the British
Orthopaedic Association (BOA) published Better Care for the Severely Injured,
which set standards across all relevant specialties for the emergency
management of seriously-injured patients. As a first step towards revising
these standards, the college is undertaking a survey to determine the
extent to which the standards are being applied. A questionnaire has been
sent to the BOA's link orthopaedic surgeon at each acute trust and any
response is at the discretion of the recipient.
Contact Vicky Preston on 020 7869 6034 or e-mail: vpreston@rcseng.ac.uk
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Single assessment process
Accreditation of 'off-the-shelf' assessment tools designed for use at
the overview stage of the single assessment process for older people has
started.
The first results are at www.doh.gov.uk/scg/sap/
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MOD/NHS partnership initiative
In August 2002, a medical team from the University Hospital Birmingham
NHS Trust was deployed to Bosnia to support the Ministry of Defence.
The MOD is now looking to extend the scheme and is looking for trained
medical and nursing specialists including general surgeons, anaesthetists,
theatre nurses, ITU and A&E nurses. It is intended to hold a briefing
session for NHS chief executives in late September and would seek to include
HR, medical and nursing directors in this.
More information at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/modnhspartnership.pdf
(PDF)
If you wish to attend contact Lieutenant Commander Peter Derby on 020
7807 8377 or write to: Lieutenant General K O'Donoghue, Deputy Chief of
the Defence Staff (Health), Ministry of Defence, Defence Medical Services
Department, St Giles' Court, Room 750, 1-13 St Giles' High Street, London,
WC2H 8LD.
Top
Immunisations
A new pneumococcal immunization programme for older people is being introduced.
More information on this and details of this year's influenza immunisation
campaign are at www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/letters/cmo0306.htm
Contact Dr Karen Noakes 020 7972 1528 or e-mail karen.noakes@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
GPs with a Special Interest
The NHS Plan commitment for 1,000 GPs with a Special Interest (GPwSIs)
by 2004 has been met. There are now some 1,250 GPwSIs delivering extended
services such as dermatology, ENT, musculo-skeletal and endoscopy.
Details at www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/intpress.nsf/page/2003-0307?OpenDocument
Top
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning
A framework to guide local commissioning for PET scanning is being
developed by the Department of Health, in consultation with NHS and research
stakeholders.
The framework will set out which tumour groups would benefit from PET
scanning, likely future demand, and the implications for the optimal configuration
and location of PET scanners.
Contact stephen.waring@doh.gsi.gov.uk
or gary.arnold@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
Accreditation of pathology laboratories
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/pathologymodernisation/whatsnew.htm
or contact paul.clegg@doh.gsi.gov.uk
or deirdre.feehan@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
NHS Electronic Directory
A national NHS Electronic Directory, which already contains basic contact
details of nearly 900,000 members of staff, has been introduced as part
of the National Programme for IT. Once completed, it will contain professional
contact details for all staff working within the NHS, in line with the
Department of Health commitment to implement a national directory by 31
March 2004.
The directory is at www.nhs.net
More information at nww.nhsia.nhs.uk/nhsnet/pages/emailmessaging/directory/default.asp
or contact clive.star@nhs.net
For further information contact Christine Holmes on 0113 254 5790 or christine.holmes@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
Information Asset Register
Updating the Information Asset Register continues. Processes are currently
being undertaken to make the website more user friendly and ensure it
provides up-to-date information on collections. The current version of
the register can be accessed at www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/iar.nsf/
Top
Department of Health change programme
The Department of Health has embarked on an 18-month change programme
to provide more effective leadership to the NHS and social care and a
better service to ministers and the public as a leading government department.
Details, including the department's new structure and board of directors,
are at
www.doh.gov.uk/about/changeprogramme.htm
www.doh.gov.uk/about/boardofdirectors.htm
Contact Andrew Millward at andrew.millward@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Top
Chairs and non-executive directors' bulletin
Issue 2 of the new Non-Exec Bulletin has just been published, containing
a detailed look at new guidance on governance, Governing the NHS.
The bulletin is at www.doh.gov.uk/nonexecbulletin/
Top
Your Life magazine for primary care
trusts
The Department of Health is supporting a national pilot of Your Life
- an NHS-branded health magazine targeting those in lower income groups.
Building on six successful PCT-led pilots, the department will be funding
the development of national content, enabling PCTs to choose from different
degrees of localisation at a reduced cost.
PCTs are encouraged to join the pilot for the winter edition of Your
Life, which will be produced in partnership with Dr Foster. Evaluation
of the pilot will take place at the end of the year.
Further details and joining form is at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/yourlife.htm
Contact Rhidian Wynn Davies at Dr Foster on 020 7557 4757 or e-mail rhidian.wynndavies@drfoster.co.uk
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Prison health
The summer newsletter is now available at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth/pdf/newsletter12.pdf
(PDF)
A hard copy of the document can be obtained by contacting doh@prolog.uk.com
or telephone 08701 555 455
Top
NATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE
Humanitarian health toolkit
A toolkit to support good practice for NHS staff who carry out voluntary
humanitarian health work abroad has been published.
The toolkit, which has been produced on behalf of the regional directors
of public health and approved by chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson,
is intended to offer support and guidance to the NHS staff who use career
breaks, sabbaticals, study leave and annual leave to work on healthcare
initiatives in developing countries.
A catalogue featuring some examples of NHS staff and the voluntary projects
in which they are involved has also been published. A number of regional
directors of public health will also be visiting Iraq over the next three
months to advise on the rebuilding of its health service.
The DH is encouraging NHS organisations to help keep the directory up
to date by providing information about staff going overseas to work in
developing countries. Information - including names, length of stay, country
of destination and the type of work in which they will be engaged - should
be e-mailed to the mailbox international-recruitment@doh.gsi.gov.uk
The toolkit and catalogue are at
www.doh.gov.uk/internationalhumanitarianandhealthwork/index.htm
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Reducing inspection burdens
A report Making a Difference: Reducing Burdens in Healthcare Inspection
and Monitoring, published by The Cabinet Office and the Department of
Health, outlines 55 actions to reduce or remove unnecessary or bureaucratic
burdens from inspection and monitoring in the NHS. Actions in the report
include changes to the way the department requests data and information
and communicates with the NHS; streamlining staff surveys and workforce
information requirements; and rationalising clinical education and training
arrangements.
More at www.doh.gov.uk/bureaucracy/difference.htm
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Tackling bureaucracy
A new web page, setting out the work the Department of Health is doing
to tackle bureaucracy within the NHS, is now available. Included on the
site is a discussion forum and questionnaire.
Details at nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/bureaucracy/index.htm
Contact mb-bureaucracy@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Whistleblowing in the NHS
The department has issued a new resource pack, which updates the existing
guidance on whistleblowing in the NHS.
The guidance is available from the NHS Responseline by e-mailing doh@prolog.uk.com
or 08701 555 455
Details at www.info.doh.gov.uk/doh/point.nsf/Publications?ReadForm
Contact eileen.calline@doh.gsi.gov.uk
or 0113 254 6131
Top
Integrated falls services
This document supports delivery of the National Service Framework for
Older People's integrated falls services. It will be of primary interest
to falls co-ordinators and those planning and commissioning components
of falls services in PCTs and local authorities.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/olderpeople/news.htm
Top
Improvement notice on organisational stress
Details have appeared in the national press of an improvement notice
served on West Dorset Hospitals NHS Trust for failure to have a policy
or risk assessments on organisational stress.
Guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/healthandsafety/effmgtocchealthindex.htm
Top
Strengthened regulation for paramedics
There has been a change in the law governing the regulation of the twelve
professions regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Since 9
July, it is unlawful for anyone to practice as a paramedic unless he or
she is registered with the HPC.
The department has issued guidance explaining what this means for employers
of paramedics. An updated version of HSC 2000/006 will be available shortly.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/hrinthenhs/strengthenedregulationforparamedics.htm
Contact christine.holmes@doh.gsi.gov.uk
or 0113 254 5790
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National programme budget
The department last year initiated this project with the aim to provide
information which can be used to give a greater understanding of where
the money invested in the NHS is spent.
Details of the project's terms of reference and project board membership
are at www.doh.gov.uk/natprogbudget/index.htm
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Communications skills - statement of guiding principles
A statement of guiding principles for the commissioning and provision
of communication skills in pre-registration and undergraduate education
for health care professionals is at www.doh.gov.uk/hrinthenhs/learning/section1b/communicationskills.htm
Top
Live organ donors - reimbursement of reasonable expenses
Updated advice on the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by
live organ donors has been agreed with the Inland Revenue. Details at
www.doh.gov.uk/transplantframework/livingdonorexpenses.htm
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Establishing patient forums
The legislation establishing patients' forums for NHS trusts and PCTs
started on 1 September, with all forums in place by the 1 December. Details
at www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients/consultations.htm
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Review of central returns website
The ROCR website (www.doh.gov.uk/stats/rocr)
has recently been updated to give full guidance on all aspects of the
ROCR process. This includes information relating to all currently approved
collections. This list is updated about every two weeks. There are also
details of the ROCR reference numbers that are allocated to all newly
approved collections. Any collection that does not have this unique number
is likely to be unauthorised and can be legitimately ignored.
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Screening for infectious diseases in pregnancy
Standards to support the UK antenatal screening programme have been
published. These generic and disease-specific standards cover screening
for rubella antibody, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B, the four infections
currently included in the UK antenatal-screening programme.
They are at www.doh.gov.uk/antenatalscreening
Contact Linda.Lazarus@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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Use of names for medicinal substances
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is proposing
to replace British Approved Names (BANs) with recommended International
Non-Proprietary Names (rINNs) for all medicinal substances where BANs
are currently used, with the exception of adrenaline and noradrenaline.
This decision will bring the UK into line with European law.
Because use of the rINN has not been strictly applied in the UK it is
possible to find the same substance on the UK market with two different
names. This inconsistency could possibly contribute to medication errors
and it is therefore necessary to regularise the current naming situation
in order to protect public health by reducing this risk.
Specific guidance for healthcare professionals will be available later
in the autumn. Further information is available at www.mhra.gov.uk
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SAFETY NOTICES
Medical device alerts
MDA/2003/018 - expanding haemostatic agents and expanding tissue sealants
MDA/2003/019 - re-usable stainless steel vaginal specula
MDA/2003/020 - central venous catheters, including dialysis catheters,
dilators and guidewires
MDA/2003/021 - injectable polymeric cements used in percutaneous vertebroplasty,
balloon kyphoplasty and pedicle screw augmentation
MDA/2003/022 - allied healthcare products manual resuscitator/self inflating
resuscitation bag
MDA/2003/023 - Datex-ohmeda quick CAL calibration gas regulator
MDA/2003/024 - Philips monitors containing the EASITM 12-lead ECG algorithm
MDA/2003/025 - All Baxter Healthcare Ltd Viaflo intravenous solution containers
MDA/2003/026 - BioMerieux VIDAS® chlamydia CHL assay
More at www.mhra.gov.uk
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DIARY
Orthopaedic waiting
A solutions-focused event is planned for orthopaedic waiting list
pressures and choice using overseas teams and treatment options.
Details at www.doh.gov.uk/cebulletin/orthopaedicflyer.pdf
(PDF)
Meeting the challenge of the Working Time Directive
By 1 August 2004, all trusts will need to meet the requirements of the
Working Time Directive for doctors in training. This legislation is designed
to protect doctors in training from excessive working hours and improve
the quality of service to patients. Plans to achieve compliance provide
an opportunity to:
- consider new ways of working across all professional groups
- re-appraise approaches to service delivery to improve efficiency and
effectiveness
- focus on how high quality medical education and training can be delivered.
A conference, to be held on 10 October in London, is being organised
by the NHS Modernisation Agency and supported by the Department of Health,
It aims to share with senior NHS managers some of the examples of good
practice that are emerging across the country and stimulate further thought
on this opportunity for change.
Speakers include health minister John Hutton, Alastair Henderson from
NHS Confederation and Judy Hargadon from the Modernisation Agency.
Further information and registration forms at www.modern.nhs.uk/scripts/default.asp?site_id=50
More on WTD Pilots at www.doh.gov.uk/workingtime
For advice on specific WTD issues e-mail WTD@doh.gsi.gov.uk
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