Website of the Department of Health

Medical training framework

Modernising Medical Careers: The Next Steps, The Future Shape of Foundation, Specialist and General Practice Training Programmes was published by the four UK Health Departments on 15 April 2004.

It sets out the agreed framework for moving forward to reform medical training across the UK. The document can be accessed on the Department of Health website at:

• Modernising medical careers : the next steps

Better winter care for NHS patients

Almost 500,000 patients attended accident and emergency (A&E) this winter and more than 90 per cent were seen and treated in under four hours, compared to 80 per cent the year before.

Since January 2000 there has been a 33 per cent increase in critical care beds.

The NHS also ensured more people were protected against flu with 71 per cent of people aged 65 or over having their free jab.

For more information on the winter report, see the link below.

• Winter and the NHS 2003-4

Tackling cancer

Cancer patients are more likely to survive the disease as a result of the Government's drive to speed up diagnosis and treatment.

The National Audit Office (NAO) recorded that cancer patients are increasingly surviving the disease, thanks to new initiatives launched by the Department of Health over the past decade.

Although the incidence of cancer has risen by nearly a third since 1971, death rates have fallen by 12 per cent.

• Work in progress: A suite of three studies on the delivery of cancer services in the NHS in England (opens new window)
• Tackling cancer in England: saving more lives (opens new window)
• Cancer

Palliative care guidelines published

Guidance has been issued to the NHS on how supportive and palliative care services should be provided for adults with cancer.

It advises those who develop and deliver cancer services on how to make sure that patients, families and carers are well-informed, cared for and supported.

The guidelines have been published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The guidelines are at:

• Published guidelines and cancer service guidance (opens new window)

DVT diagnosis centre

A primary care-led centre for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has achieved a major reduction in demand for secondary care.

Located in the NHS Walk-in Centre at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, the nurse practitioner service was established to deal with up to 100 referrals a month.

Same day referrals from GPs and patients are assessed and diagnosed within a few hours.

• Deep vein thrombosis

Mental health improvements

Real successes in promoting and supporting mental health have been achieved in the last year, says a new report.

Local teams implementing the National Service Framework for Mental Health indicate progress in many areas.

However, some areas require further development according to Treated as People: An overview of mental health services from a social care perspective, 2002-04, published by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI).

• CI (2004)4: Treated as People - An overview of mental health services from a social care perspective 2002 - 2004

Prescribing pharmacists

A group of pharmacists have become the first to qualify as supplementary prescribers.

The pharmacist supplementary prescribers will work in partnership with an independent prescriber and patients with long-term medical conditions to create individual clinical management plans. They will then be able to prescribe drugs within that regime.

Changes to Low Income Scheme entitlement

GPs are being advised to inform patients of a change in entitlement to the NHS Low Income Scheme.

From 6 April 2004 patients who have claimed help, and whose income is up to £3.20 above the cut off for full help, may be able to receive full help, provided they make a new Low Income Scheme claim.

Contact the PSD on 0845 850 116

Biggest increase in medical research

An extra £100 million will be used to fund research into Alzheimer's, stroke, diabetes and mental health.

The boost in funding will bring combined Government spending on medical research to £1.2 billion. The increase in research funding will be used to fund specialist research into these diseases, develop new medicines for children and expand the research network within the National Institute of Mental Health.

• Research and development

Organ retention helpline launched

Responsibility for handling issues relating to organ retention passed to strategic health authorities on 1 April.

At the same time the Department of Health is funding a new national helpline, the National Bereavement Partnership (NatBP) service, for people affected by organ retention.

The new helpline number is 0117 955 4055, replacing the service provided by the Retained Organs Commission

• Bereavement

Pathways to work

More people who are disabled or have long-term health problems are being helped back to employment in the second wave of Pathways to Work pilots.

The service combines financial support from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) with guidance from personal advisors working with NHS condition management programmes (CMPs).

In the pilot zones GPs are encouraged to tell patients receiving incapacity benefit about the programmes, which provide a range of services individually tailored to help people return to work.

• Download Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular (PDF, 18K)

First NHS Foundation Trusts

Ten NHS trusts have been established as the first NHS Foundation Trusts.

Authorised by Bill Moyes, chairman of the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts, they are:

More at:

• Monitor - Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts (opens new window)

Home loans for NHS workers

NHS clinical staff and other public sector workers are to receive home loans of up to £50,000 to help them buy property in high-cost areas.

The Government's Key Worker Living programme is designed to retain the skills needed in key frontline public services like health, education and the police.

Over the next two years £690 million will be made available for workers in the hotspots of London, south east England and eastern England. Loans of up to £50,000 for new or existing properties will be available, with other options being shared ownership and subsidised rentals.

• Key worker living (opens new window)

Overseas visitors regulations

New regulations for charging overseas visitors for NHS treatment have come into force.

The changes are designed to ensure that the NHS is first and foremost for the benefit of those living in the UK.

Guidance on helping the NHS implement the new regulations is being sent to overseas visitors managers and chief executives.

• NHS Trusts - Detailed Guidance - 31. Overseas Visitors (opens new window)

Law changes on illegal working

UK employers are urged to be aware of new regulations governing the employment of illegal workers.

The changes, which were due to take effect from 1 May, apply to section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, the law for employers on preventing illegal working.

Information about what steps employers need to take is available from the Immigration and Naturalisation Directorate at the Home Office.

• Border and Immigration Agency (opens new window)

Leadership and learning

NHSU has launched a new e-bulletin, featuring the latest developments and case studies from staff and learners who have already benefited from NHSU programmes and services.

A School of Leadership, Management and Improvement to train the leaders of the NHS is also being created by a new partnership between the NHSU and NHS Leadership Centre.

Penny Humphris, currently director of the NHS Leadership Centre, will work part time for NHSU as interim director of the school, alongside her current role.

Most of the programmes currently delivered by the leadership centre will transfer to the new school. New programmes designed to improve health and social care will be developed jointly.

Call NHSU on 0800 555 550 or e-mail enquiries@nhsu.org.uk

• NHSU: Transforming learning (opens new window)
• mailto:e-mail enquiries@nhsu.org.uk (opens new window)

Reducing bureaucracy

The Department of Health will shortly introduce new measures to better control and reduce the flow of documents and guidance issued to the NHS and social care staff.

From May, all non-urgent communications will be batched and issued once a month, replacing the existing ad-hoc system. Quotas limiting the volume of communications issued will also be introduced. A number of other Government departments successfully employ similar systems.