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News in brief
Tailor-made ambulance services
Patients with non-urgent conditions may be treated at home or through a wider choice of health services.
Strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and ambulance services now have the flexibility to work together to develop more responsive and appropriate local services.
Performance requirements for ambulances dealing with non-urgent 999 Category C calls are currently set and monitored at a national level.
From 1 October, local NHS organisations have been given the responsibility for managing and monitoring how local services respond to calls from patients with minor injuries.
This will help ensure patients get a fast responsive service that meets their needs and that efficient use is made of the skills of ambulance technicians, emergency care practitioners and paramedics, in particular, whose skills and training should not be wasted.
More information at:
Agenda for Change guidance
A staff booklet on the new modernised pay system for NHS staff, Agenda for Change: What will it mean for you? A guide for staff, was published earlier this month.
The booklet provides an overview of the new system with sections summarising the new pay structure and the harmonised conditions for working hours. Other areas covered include overtime, annual leave and the special phased arrangements for staff transferring from the old system to the new.
Copies have been sent to HR directors for distribution to all NHS staff covered by Agenda for Change.
The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (NHS KSF) and the Development Review Process, and The NHS Job Evaluation Handbook - Second Edition were also published on 11 October and are available via the link below.
The final draft of the Agenda for Change Proposed Agreement also remains available on the website.
The NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook will be published as soon as possible.
More information at:
Mental health checklist updated
An updated version of the mental health emergency care checklist is now available.
The checklist is one of many resources designed to help trusts achieve the four-hour accident and emergency target and deliver patient-centred emergency care services.
It offers practical support and guidance to help those working in emergency departments, mental health and ambulance trusts to improve the care of patients with mental health problems needing emergency care.
As well as some new examples of positive practice in assessment, the updated version includes a benchmarking tool and details of a 28-day analytical diagnostic tool to help local managers analyse existing services and processes.
The checklist can be found at:
HPC launches consultation
AHPs are among thousands of staff being consulted by the Health Professions Council (HPC) on its plans to change procedures covering registration and continuing professional development (CPD).
More than 4,500 health professionals have signed up for a series of HPC roadshows being held across the country until the end of November.
If it wishes, the HPC can require new registrants to undertake CPD if they are to remain on the register. It has already agreed in principle that CPD will be linked to renewing registration but is asking members for their views on this, standards for CPD and guidance for registrants.
More information at:
MS Awards
The South Devon Physiotherapy Service and Teignbridge branch of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society have won a national award for excellence in partnerships.
The MS Society's Partnership Award recognises health and social care providers who demonstrate joint working with people with MS.
Newton Abbot Hospital's superintendent physiotherapist Rhoda Allison said: 'We are delighted that our service has been recognised in this way. The response from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, MS specialist nurses, health and social services and care home staff who all work together to provide this service has been hugely positive.'
The service was developed 18 months ago after a review found that changes were needed to improve the care and support provided to patients. This coincided with the MS Society's plans to develop more exercise programmes in the community and the partnership was forged.
The service now provides outpatient and community exercise programmes, patient self-referral for physiotherapy, patient information and joint training for health professionals.
For more information e-mail Rhoda at:
Gastro-intestinal radiographers
A conference for gastro-intestinal (GI) radiographers will help to develop their roles both clinically and educationally.
The third annual Gastro-Intestinal Radiographers Special Interest Group (GIRSIG) Conference covered the diversity of roles for GI radiographers, the four-tier system and the impact of Agenda for Change.
It also aimed to develop their interest in research and publishing, as well as highlighting ways in which they can become advanced practitioners.
GIRSIG consists of regional groups that aim to give all GI radiographers a strong voice.
Over the past few years, national committee members have pressed for the development of new advanced and consultant practitioner roles and helped to push GI radiography into the mainstream of these discussions.
The first GI consultant radiographer - Robert Law at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol - was appointed last December.
Now there are several GI consultant radiographer posts with strategic health authorities either awaiting approval or being developed.
More information at:
Leadership guide
The NHS Leadership Centre has released the Good Practice Guide - a free step-by-step handbook to help you implement the Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) and develop the leadership skills of your staff.
Recognising that effective leadership is important at all levels within the NHS, the LQF sets a standard for outstanding leadership and can be used as an ongoing assessment tool to help staff improve services.
It is based on the practical experiences of LQF pilot sites.
The guide can be found at:
New physiotherapy course
Training opportunities for physiotherapists and occupational therapists (OTs) have been improved in an NHS and social services partnership.
Acute and primary care trusts in Lincolnshire have joined forces with the county council to provide a degree course for therapists from next January.
Grantham and District Hospital, part of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, will act as an outreach centre for Sheffield Hallam University, with satellite units covering the rest of the county.
The course will combine work placement and academic training across a wide variety of disciplines and aims to develop the skills of existing staff. It also seeks to boost recruitment and retention and improve access to services for people in Lincolnshire.
The accelerated course follows a normal working year rather than academic terms and also gives OTs and physiotherapists the chance to become practitioner lecturers.
More information at:
New departmental partnership
A new unit has been established to take forward joint working between the Department of Health and the Home Office on issues such as improving health services for prisoners.
The two departments have worked very closely since 2000 and the creation of the National Offender Management Service will broaden the scope of this relationship.
More information at:
In the next issue...
In the November edition of AHP Bulletin we will be focusing on the Mental Health Capacity Bill.
If you have anything to say on this topic or would like to highlight other issues for possible discussion in future editions, please write to AHP Branch, Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG or email:
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