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Live consultations
Current consultations from the Department of Health in closing date order (latest closing date first).
Consultation on a National Framework For Assessing Children and young people’s Continuing care
Closing date: 31 December 2008
Consultation document on proposals for a National Framework for assessing children and young people’s continuing care. The Framework is intended to assist Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)to apply a consistent and transparent approach to assessing the healthcare needs of children and young people and to work jointly with local authorities ( LAs) to provide services in the light of those needs. This Framework will apply in respect of children and young people under the age of 18 years.
Consultation on public, patients', and other interested parties' views on additional uses of patient data
Closing date: 12 December 2008
NHS Connecting for Health are gathering people’s views to help them make important decisions about the ways the NHS can use information it collects about patients. Such patient data is mainly used to provide care and treatment but can also have additional uses such as research, auditing the quality and safety of care, management planning, etc. This consultation is focusing on additional uses.
Consultation on a regime for unsustainable NHS providers
Closing date: 3 December 2008
'Developing the NHS performance regime', published 4 June 2008, announced the Government's intention to "establish a failure regime for state-owned providers that reflects the Government's obligations to ensure service continuity and protect public assets." This consultation document sets out our proposals for such a regime and seeks views on them by 3 December.
The NHS Resilience and Business Continuity Management Guidance 2008: interim strategic national guidance for NHS organisations
Closing date: 30 September 2008 (The closing date for this consultation has been extended to 30 November 2008)
This consultation calls for comment of this set of general principles to guide all NHS organisations in developing Business Continuity Management (BCM) processes.
Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths, delivering the future - proposals for legislative change
Closing date: 20 November 2008
The Pharmacy White Paper (Pharmacy in England: Building on Strengths – delivering the future) was published on 3 April 2008. This consultation document fulfils the White Paper commitment to publish fuller information on a number of proposals for structural change and consult on them. The document discusses a number of changes and levers which the Department believes are needed in both the medium and longer-term to transform delivery and to align pharmaceutical services within the wider reform programme.
Consultation on direct payments regulations
Closing date: 11 November 2008
Direct payments are crucial to achieving the Government's aim to increase independence, choice and control for service users and their carers through allowing them the opportunity to arrange their own personalised care. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 extends the availability of direct payments to those people who lack the capacity to consent to their receipt. In addition, the government is also reviewing the current exclusions to receiving direct payments for those people who are subject to various provisions of mental health legislation in light of the modernisation of mental health law brought about by the Mental Health Act 2007. The Government is now consulting on regulations relating to these two changes.
The General Optical Council (Constitution) Order 2008 - A paper for consultation
Closing date: 7 November 2008
This paper sets out a proposed constitution for the GOC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office of council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office.
The General Osteopathic Council (Constitution) Order 2008 - A paper for consultation.
Closing date: 7 November 2008
This paper sets out a proposed constitution for the GOsC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office of council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office.
Responsible officers and their duties relating to the medical profession
Closing date: 24 October 2008
The White Paper "Trust, assurance and safety", set out an ambitious programme for the reform of professional regulation including the creation of responsible officers. These will be senior doctors with personal responsibility for evaluating the conduct and performance of doctors and making recommendations on their fitness to practise as part of revalidation.
Changes to arrangements for regulating NHS bodies in relation to healthcare associated infections for 2009/10: a consultation for the NHS
Closing date: 20 October 2008
From April 2009, the Care Quality Commission will take over responsibility for health and social care regulation. It will continue to monitor compliance on HCAI by the NHS, but will be able to use additional enforcement powers and take prompt action where patients are at risk.
This document launches a ten-week consultation with the NHS on proposals for how the Care Quality Commission will carry out these functions in 2009/10 and improve services for patients across England.
A consultation on the NHS Constitution
Closing date: 17 October 2008
The proposed NHS Constitution is about safeguarding its core principles and values for the next generation, whilst setting a clear direction for the future. It reaffirms rights to NHS services, free of charge and with equal access for all, and it enshrines patient rights to choice and to NICE-approved drugs recommended by clinicians.
Safe, Sensible, Social – Consultation on further action
Closing date: 14 October 2008
Safe.Sensible.Social (June 2007) outlined national and local action to achieve long-term reductions in alcohol-related ill health and crime. Government committed to carrying out three reviews of industry practice and then to consult on whether there is a need for further regulation of alcohol retailing.
Removing or suspending chairs and non-executives of health bodies: consultation on introducing new powers of suspension (July 2008)
Closing date: 9 October 2008
Consultation document on proposals to introduce powers of suspension and a single approach to the removal of chairs and non-executives of Strategic Health Authorities and other health bodies.
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