Website of the Department of Health

Financial allocations will be issued with the operating framework - Due to be published in October

We will issue PCT allocations alongside the Operating Framework, as part of the wider planning framework for the NHS for 2009/10 and 2010/11. The Next Stage Review confirmed that we will be publishing next year's Operating Framework, earlier than usual - in October.

PCTs have freedom to adopt NHS Local name - Stronger recognition as local health leaders

The Secretary of State's speech to the NHS Confederation conference last month and the Next Stage Review signalled that PCTs have the freedom to re-name to NHS Local. This means that they can choose to adopt the NHS prefix before their place name, so for example, Blackpool PCT would become known as NHS Blackpool. This will allow PCTs to position themselves as the local leaders of the NHS and front-line commissioners of patient care, and is a key element of the World Class Commissioning competencies.

Access the guidance for implementation and order new NHS logotypes:

• NHS Identity (opens new window)

Policy news

1. Supply2Health (Gateway reference: 10051)

Mark Britnell, Director General of Commissioning and System Management, has written to all PCT chief executives regarding NHS Supply2Health, the PCT procurement portal for advertising services in health and social care (set out in the NHS Operating Framework 08/09).

Action: PCTs need to nominate two Supply2Health leads by Friday 1 August  - they are required to use Supply2Health from 1 October 2008.

• Roll out and training events for NHS Supply2Health procurement portal

2. Regulation of maxillofacial prosthetists (Gateway reference number: 10226)

This note is to alert maxillofacial prosthetists (MPTs) and their employers to the need for MPTs to register as dental technicians with the General Dental Council (GDC) by 30 July 2008. After that date there will be no further opportunity to register through the grandparenting arrangements.

Action: Maxillofacial prosthetists must be regulated by the General Dental Council.

For further enquiries please contact:

• CSO.Mailbox@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)
• Statement from Department of Health: The regulation of maxillofacial prosthetists

Consultations and evaluations

3. Technology Implementation Projects (Gateway reference number: 10000)

The deadline for the NHS Technology Adoption Centre's call for expressions of interest from trusts and PCTs to host 'Technology Implementation Projects' is approaching.These projects involve trusts working with the centre to implement innovative but proven healthcare technologies in their organisations.  Grants will be available to participating trusts and PCTs.

Action: Please submit expressions of interest to host projects via email using the attached link, by 5.00 pm on 25 July 2008.

• Technology Implementation Projects (opens new window)

4. Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) (Gateway reference number: 10072)

The collection of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for four elective procedures has been mandated from April 2009 under the Standard NHS Contract for Acute Services. In order for information to support its implementation to reach interested and relevant NHS staff, they are invited to register their interest.

Action: Trusts and relevant members with an interest in the PROMs implementation can declare an interest at:

• Patient Reported Outcome Measures (opens new window)

5. National Care of the Dying Audit – Hospitals (Gateway reference number: 10248)

A second round of the National Care of the Dying Audit – Hospitals (NCDAH) is being undertaken following the first round in 2006/2007 involving 118 hospitals from 94 acute hospital trusts.  Co-ordinated by Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool and the Royal College of Physicians, and supported by the DH, this will make a significant contribution in response to the national End of Life Care strategy.

Action: Chief executives can help build on the success of the first round by encouraging colleagues to take part this time.

• National Care of the Dying Audit - Hospitals (opens new window)

Publications

6. End of Life Care strategy (Gateway reference number: 9840)

This has been published to support the provision of high quality, co-ordinated care, and ensure choice and access to responsive services for all adults at the end of life, in all settings. It provides support to enable commissioners and providers to further develop their end of life care services.

Action: This strategy has important implications for the development of local end of life care services.

• End of Life Care Strategy - promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life

7. Joint chief inspectors’ report on safeguarding children (Gateway reference number: 10203)

This report is the third of the joint chief inspectors’ review of arrangements to safeguard children. The report draws on a wealth of evidence from other targeted and mainstream inspections.

Action: PCT and local authority chief executives, as well as directors of children’s social services, are asked to take the recommendations on board and implement them where they can.

• Safeguarding children: 2008 report (opens new window)

8. First year of the Family Nurse Partnership (Gateway reference number: 10239)

An independent evaluation of the first year of the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) was published on 7 July, and shows promising early findings and useful learnings. The DH and  the Department for Children Schools and Families have been jointly piloting the FNP in ten areas since April 2007, and a further 20 test sites were announced in March this year.

Action: This report will be of great interest to trusts and local authorities. 

• DCSF: Family Nurse Partnerships (opens new window)

9. Equal Pay claims (Gateway reference number: 10238)

NHS chief executives are reminded that the strategy relating to equal pay claims is that they should not be settled until legal principles are clarified. In the meantime, they should ensure that their employment records are up to date and historically accurate.

Action: Trusts should support compliance with the strategy and let the NHS Litigation Authority know as and when they have any equal pay claims.

• NHS Employers: equal pay (opens new window)

10. 2008 Charges for Residential Accommodation Guide (Gateway reference number 10158)

The Department is in the last stages of updating Charges for Residential Accomodation Guide (CRAG). All that remains is to update the guidance on personal injury compensation. To assist people in the meantime, we are publishing the latest draft of the 2008 CRAG.

Action: Local authorities can now consult the guidance on how to apply the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 when charging residents for their care in a residential home.

• Charging for residential accommodation guide (CRAG) 2008 - draft

11. Informed Gender Practice (Gateway reference number: 9953)

Guidance on this topic has been produced by a group comprising the National Institute for Mental Health in England/Care Services Improvement Partnership’s Gender Equality and Women’s Mental Health Programme, and the Acute Care Programme, in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing. This document explains why and in what way women’s needs are different to men’s and how this affects their experience on the acute ward.

Action: This guidance offers practical guidance to multidisciplinary teams on best practice in relation to the care and support of women as acute inpatients.

• NMHDU: Gender (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

No news this week

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

12. Reducing dosing errors with opiod medicines (Gateway reference number: 10157)

The main recommendation is that every member of the team has a responsibility to check that the intended dose is safe for the individual patient. Knowledge of previous opioid dose is essential for the safe use of these products.

Action: Trusts need to be aware that this has been issued to their organisation. 

• Reducing dosing errors with opioid medicines (opens new window)

13. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/050 (Gateway reference number: 10250)

Device: Harrier Heavy Duty (HD) battery powered wheelchair manufactured by Invacare.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 8 July 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/050 (opens new window)