Website of the Department of Health

Debate on constitution shifts to report back stage - PCTs give their views on consultation

The consultation on the draft NHS Constitution closes this week (17 October). PCTs have until 31 October to submit their reports to their SHA chairs. SHAs then have until 14 November to submit their reports to the Department of Health and the Constitutional Advisory Forum. There is no set template for completion of reports. However, as a guide those completing reports can use the consultation questions to structure their responses.

• The National Health Service Constitution

More than half of GPs now offer extended hours - Target reached three months early

Over 50 percent of GP surgeries are now offering extended opening hours. Statistics released by the Department of Health show that in less than six months there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of practices offering more flexible early morning, evening and weekend opening.

This means that GPs have met the Government’s end-of-year target of 50 percent of practices offering extended opening hours, three months early.

• Press release: Over half of GP surgeries now offer extended opening hours (opens new window)
• GP Extended Opening Hours Data 2008 (opens new window)

Policy news

1. Misuse of Drugs Regulation 2001 (Gateway reference number: 10636)

There has been a recent Home Office change to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001: Group Authority for NHS Ambulance Paramedics and Employing NHS Ambulance Trusts. This confirms that a group licence allowing the supply or offer to supply diazepam and/or morphine sulphate injection or oral required for the purpose of immediate and necessary patient treatment, covers NHS ambulance trusts, NHS paramedics and privately employed (including self employed) paramedics.       

Action: Trusts employing paramedics need to be aware of the terms of this change.

• Home Office: Drugs licensing (opens new window)

Consultations and evaluations

2. Supporting children’s services and drug partnerships (Gateway reference number: 10637 & 10638)

The National Treatment Agency has published planning guidance to support children services and drug partnerships in the completion of their 2009/10 young people’s specialist substance misuse needs assessment and treatment plans. 

Action: A deadline of 2 February 2009 has been set for submitting applications to access pooled budgets for these services.

• NTA: Young people's treatment planning (opens new window)

3. Business Continuity Management  (Gateway reference number: 9977)

In June 2008, the Emergency Preparedness Division at the Department of Health published interim guidance for NHS organisations on the implementation of effective Business Continuity Management processes. The consultation period was initially to end last month, and while feedback has so far been encouraging, the consultation has now been extended until November 30 to promote further stakeholder input.

Action: There is still time for NHS bodies to provide their input to the development of the final guidance.

• The NHS Resilience and Business Continuity Management Guidance 2008: interim strategic national guidance for NHS organisations

4. Sure Start Children's Centres (Gateway reference number: 10709)

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has launched a public consultation on proposals to give Sure Start Children's Centres a specific statutory legal basis, as part of the forthcoming Education and Skills Bill.  The proposed new duties reflect current good practice as contained in existing guidance issued from DCSF, rather than creating any new requirements on local authorities or other service providers.  

Action: PCTs are invited to respond to this proposal by the closing date of 6 November.

• DCSF: Legislating for Sure Start Children's Centres (opens new window)

5. Seal of Approval accreditation scheme (Gateway reference number: 10718)

The Department of Health has gone out to tender to find an independent operator for a new national accreditation scheme with a recognisable ‘seal of approval’. The aim is to reassure people that the information they use to make decisions about their health and care is from a reliable source.

Action: Interest in this scheme can be expressed by registering via the e-tendering portal.

• Management of a Scheme to Accredit Health and Social Care Information

Publications

6. Human papillomavirus - immunisation research (Gateway reference number: 10680)

This Department of Health letter is to inform PCTs that it has commissioned some research to better understand attitudes toward the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme and supporting communications campaign.  The fieldwork will take place in various locations across England over the next three months.   

Action: PCTs need to be aware in case the research is in their area and they receive enquires about it from members of the public or parents.

• Human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) - immunisation research

7. Prospectus for Integrated care pilots (Gateway reference number: 10716)

The Department of Health has published the prospectus for the Integrated Care Pilot programme. The prospectus invites innovative applications from prospective integrated care pilot sites. It provides details about the programme, the criteria for selection and an application form.

Action: NHS organisations are encouraged to download and study a copy of the prospectus.

• Integrated care pilot programme - prospectus for potential pilots

8. Identity cards for foreign nationals (Gateway reference number: 10679)

The Government is introducing a new National Identity Scheme from 25 November 2008. The scheme has statutory backing under the Identity Cards (ID) Act 2006.The new identity card confirms identity and immigration status (residence permit) but will not be proof of residence in the UK for the purposes, for instance, of receiving free of charge non-emergency NHS treatment.

Action: The new form of residence permit will begin to replace the vignette in a passport from 25 November this year so health and social care bodies need to become familiar with the scheme, whether acting as employers or providing services to citizens.

• UK Border Agency: Checking identity cards for foreign nationals (opens new window)

9. Subspecialty training in paediatric emergency medicine (Gateway reference number: 10695)

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has published this report to assist in understanding the role of consultants with subspecialty training in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM). The report shows how these consultants can improve the interfaces between emergency paediatric care, short stay inpatient care, outreach community care, child protection, and paediatric critical care.

Action: Those trusts planning for service reconfiguration will be interested in this report so see under Publications via:

• RCPCH: Emergency Care (opens new window)

10. Emissions from compact fluorescent lights (Gateway reference number: 10696)

New research by the Health Protection Agency (HPA ) has shown that some energy saving compact fluorescent lights can emit ultraviolet radiation at levels that, under certain conditions of use, can result in exposures higher than guideline levels. As a result, the agency is recommending some precautionary measures for the use of certain types of these light bulbs.

Action: NHS trusts should be aware of the HPA recommendations on these precautions.

• HPA: Emissions from compact fluorescent lights (opens new window)

11. New data added to Data Quality Dashboard (Gateway reference number: 10710)

The data quality dashboard for NHS information departments to identify areas for improvement in the quality of data submitted to the Secondary Uses Service (SUS), has been updated with new data April to June 2008. It presents a dashboard of all Commissioning Dataset (CDS) data flows for admitted patient care, outpatient and A&E, including those fields that are linked to construct Referral to Treatment periods for 18 week reporting.

Action: You can download these dashboards on a quarterly basis but they are only available to NHS Intranet users who have registered on the NHS Connecting for Health website via:

• Data Quality Dashboard - available to NHS web users only (opens new window)

12. Guidance for use of the NHS identity in dental practices (Gateway reference number: 10661)

This new guidance has been produced for PCTs and providers of NHS dentistry. This is part of a wider strategy to introduce the NHS identity at all levels of primary care in order to increase visibility of, and to improve access to, the full range of NHS services.

Action: Primary care organisations can use this guidance to increase visibility and improve access.

• Guidance for use of the NHS identity in dental practices

13. NHS IMAS guidance (Gateway reference number: 10714)

NHS Interim Management and Support (NHS IMAS) has been set up to support NHS organisations that ask for short or medium term help. It pulls together the expertise that exists throughout the NHS and coordinates it to focus on specific assignments or problems.

Action: This is an ideal opportunity to develop future leadership potential in the health service by undertaking assignments. Information is available only via the NHS web at:

• NHS IMAS - available to NHS web users only (opens new window)

14. Processing personal injury compensation claims (Gateway reference number: 10707)

NHS organisations that are subject to a claim against their public or employer liability insurance can save time and costs by using the FREE weblink service for the processing of these claims. 

Action: Chief executives and finance directors should ensure that claims handlers who deal with personal injury compensation claims, know about this free service. This is a secure web service available via the DWP web site at:

• DWP: Compensation Recovery Unit e-service (opens new window)

15. General Ophthalmic Services (Gateway reference number: 10524)

This letter informs the NHS of a new entitlement to NHS-funded sight tests and optical vouchers for those in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance from 27 October 2008 and of changes to the GOS forms.

Action: PCT chief executives need to be aware of changes to the forms.

• General Ophthalmic Services: income-related employment and support allowance and changes to GOS forms

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

16. Urgent and emergency care (Gateway reference number: 10658)

The Department of Health and the Healthcare Commission are hosting three regional conferences. Following the Healthcare Commission’s review of urgent and emergency care services, the conferences will give PCTs an opportunity to discuss the results of the review, to hear about the urgent care commissioning vision and to learn from others. 

Action: Trusts and commissioners can register at:

• Urgent and Emergency Care: integrated, accessible and convenient 21 October 2008, London (opens new window)
• Urgent and Emergency Care: integrated, accessible and convenient 23 October 2008, Birmingham (opens new window)
• Urgent and Emergency Care: integrated, accessible and convenient  November 2008, Manchester (opens new window)

17. A statutory basis for the Compact (Gateway reference number: 10713)

The Department of Health is running Learning Events on the future of the Compact and the role of the Commission for the Compact. The dates are  6 November,10.30am - 1.30pm, Prospero House, 241 Borough High Street, London SE1 1GA, and 7 November, 1.30pm - 4.30pm, The Old School Board - Board Room, Leeds Metropolitan University, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3HE.

Action: PCT chief executives who want to attend this event or nominate a relevant member of their staff should email:

• vcsmail@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)
• The Compact Debate (opens new window)

18. Cancer Reform Strategy conference (Gateway reference number: 10464)

The first conference of the Cancer Reform Strategy’s National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) will take place on 21 November in London. This conference will provide information and support for NHS staff working on cancer awareness and early detection initiatives locally.

Action: You can register to attend via the link with the user name: LAUNCH and password: REGISTER (please use capital letters for the user name and password). 

• EventproUK: On-line Event Registration (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

No news this week