Website of the Department of Health

Payment by Results

Details of new financial payments designed to reward efficient NHS trusts in the future have been published.

A National Tariff has now been released which sets out fixed charges for 48 standard procedures, such as a heart bypass.

The move is being made to standardise costs across the NHS, subject to regional cost of living variations, but will allow trusts operating at costs lower than the tariff to reinvest surpluses into improved patient care.

The current system of annual block sums will be replaced by the tariff which will underpin a new system called Payment by Results, in which the funding for services will follow the patient.

This is integral to Government plans to provide patients with more choice on where and when they are treated.

Payment by Results will be phased in over the next four years to 2008, starting with the first foundation trusts on 1 April.

• Payment by results

Survey shows confidence managing immunisation

GPs, practice nurses and health visitors are having great success advising parents about childhood immunisation and MMR in particular.

The latest annual survey of the work around immunisation has highlighted areas of strength and weakness, what information resources are valued, which could be improved and where new materials are needed.

The study, commissioned by NHS Immunisation Information, was based on the personal views and concerns of 366 GPs, 592 practice nurses and 599 health visitors.

Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson and chief nursing officer Sarah Mullally said: "The media furore over MMR has presented challenges for all of us involved in the childhood immunisation programme.

"Overall the media is reporting in a way that better reflects the widespread scientific support for MMR and, best of all, we are seeing uptake figures rising slowly but surely.

"We are already working to improve our communication materials and bring you the latest immunisation information more rapidly."

The survey report is at:

• NHS Immunisation Information (opens new window)

Get the Right Treatment

Colour-coded posters promoting GPs and other health care services are helping patients identify the best care options to help them with a condition or injury.

This initiative is the latest in the Get the Right Treatment campaign, launched in 1999, by the Department of Health.

It aims to highlight what each service is for and make patients more aware of the different role of health services.

The £1.8 million poster and radio advertisement campaign suggests when it is best to consult a GP, visit an NHS Walk-in Centre or attend accident and emergency.

More information is available at:

• NHS Direct - self-help guide - Get the right treatment (opens new window)

Regulation of cosmetic body piercing

Guidance has been published by the Department of Health on new legislation for regulating businesses providing cosmetic body piercing and semi-permanent skin-colouring such as micropigmentation.

The guidance says that skin-piercing businesses need to ask clients to declare certain medical conditions that may be affected by a piercing or other procedures and to seek advice from their GP, if necessary, before deciding whether to go ahead.

This recommendation particularly applies to heart conditions. Recent advice from the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy is that anyone who has had heart surgery or been diagnosed with a heart condition that may put them at increased risk of endocarditis, should consult their GP before having a piercing involving a mucous membrane such as nose, lip, tongue or genitals, as appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis may be needed. In such cases, GPs may wish to seek further advice from local microbiologists and cardiologists.

You can read more at:

• Local Government Act 2003 : Regulation of cosmetic piercing and skin colouring businesses

Patient involvement

A Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum has been set up for every PCT and NHS trust in England.

The independent forums are made up of local people who will play an active role in health-related decision-making within their communities.

The new Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, which will oversee and promote the new system of patient and public involvement, has welcomed more than 4,600 members.

The commission will fund, monitor and support PPI Forums and the delivery of the Independent Complaints Advocacy Services.

The independent network of 572 PPI Forums was set up on 1 December 2003 following a four-month recruitment campaign. Recruitment in 2004 will focus on ensuring the forums are as reflective of their local communities as possible.

More information is available at:

• Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (opens new window)

Pharmaceutical evaluation website

A website dedicated to the national evaluation of local pharmaceutical services (LPS) pilots has been launched.

LPS contracts are being tested as alternative to the national pharmaceutical contract. They are individually designed to provide services tailored to specific communities and offer better quality care to patients.

Funded by the Department of Health, the national evaluation aims to assess how the LPS pilots are improving community services and care locally.

The website address is:

• National Evaluation of Local Pharmaceutical Services Pilots (opens new window)

operated by the University of Manchester National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, is the central point of information for new pilots and connects sites concerned with both LPS and the national evaluation.

The 17 pilots in the first wave are due to be joined by a second wave later in 2004 once all candidates have been evaluated.

Read more about these pilots at:

• Local pharmaceutical services guidance notes

Foundation trusts countdown

Twelve NHS trusts are hoping to become NHS foundation trusts from 1 April.

The new Independent Regulator has named the trusts which will become the first ever NHS foundation trusts, providing they meet certain conditions.

The Independent Regulator will now examine whether each applicant has the resources and management skills required to safely run health services for its local community, free from central control by Whitehall.

The regulator will also make sure trusts have budgeted properly for future development plans and whether these plans meet local needs.

Another 12 trusts are scheduled to take on foundation status from 1 July. The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust has also now been approved by the health secretary and will go through to the final assessment by the Independent Regulator.

The publication Applying for authorisation as an NHS Foundation Trust: Guide for applicants

Read more about foundation trusts at:

• NHS foundation trusts

Read further information at:

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

Stop smoking services campaign

A campaign is being launched to promote awareness and understanding of local NHS Stop Smoking Services.

The programme has been running for some time but research shows that many smokers are still unaware of the help they can get to quit. The new campaign is being launched on No Smoking Day on10 March.

GPs are being asked to help the campaign by further supporting efforts to encourage more smokers to access the services to help them quit.

The initial phase of the campaign involves regional radio and press advertising supported by PR activity.

A set of resource materials has been produced for practices.

To order call 0800 169 0 169 from 1 March.

More information is available at:

• How to stop and stay stopped (opens new window)

Health and Social Care Awards 2004

The health and social care service's equivalent to the Oscars will this year celebrate an even wider range of achievement and excellence in frontline care.

The annual Health and Social Care Awards are a key opportunity to identify and recognise outstanding contributions to care.

This year there are changes to classes, criteria and structure to further enhance the award's accessibility, relevance and credibility. A key development is the introduction of two levels of competition, with four 'regions' -- North, Midlands and East, South and London - conducting local awards schemes to select finalists in each of the categories for the national awards.

Regional and national awards will be run jointly by the Department of Health and the NHS Modernisation Agency. Regional winners will receive £1,000 each and national winners £15,000.

The national high-profile ceremony will take place on 7 July at the ExCel Centre in London.

The award categories are: Primary Care Professional of the Year; Hospital Doctor of the Year; Nurse or Midwife of the Year; Allied Health Professional of the Year; Manager of the Year; Outstanding Achievement in Emergency Care and Outstanding Achievement in Social Care.

There are also awards for: Health and Social Care Team Award; Reducing Health Inequalities Award; Chronic Disease Management Award; Outstanding Achievement in Mental Health; Queen Mother's Older People's Awards; Children's Care Award and the 'NHS Live Award' for Patient Involvement.

For application packs and more information e-mail:

• awards@doh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

British National Formulary ordering process

Every GP receives a copy of the British National Formulary which provides information on the selection and clinical use of most medicines.

Published by the British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, it goes directly to all practices.

Practices should tell the Department of Health of any changes to their GP complement by e-mailing:

• dh_bnf_amendments@talkingnumbers.com (opens new window)

now to receive April's edition.

GPs who do not receive a copy of the April edition can order one by e-mailing:

• dh@prolog.uk.com (opens new window)

or calling the publication orderline on 08701 555 455 with full contact details.

Practice managers should order on behalf of all their GPs and will need to supply full details when ordering.

Any practices with any queries should e-mail:

• dh@prolog.uk.com (opens new window)

or telephone 08701 555 455.