Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

2. Heatwave Plan 2007 - second tier contact list (Gateway reference number: 8147)

The Met Office will again be sending heatwave alerts this year to all NHS and local authorities (LA) chief executives, directors of public health at SHAs and LA directors of adult social services and directors of childrens services. Chief executives can nominate one additional contact to receive alerts.

Contact details form available at:

• Heatwave Plan 2007 second tier contact list

Publications

3. Revised statement of financial entitlements (SFE) for dental contracts (Gateway reference number: 8136)

The general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) statement of financial entitlements (SFE) are amended with effect from 1 April 2007 to reflect the adjustments to contract values and vocational training payments for 2007/08.

Detailed information on what action PCTs need to take to ensure contracts and payments comply with the revised Regulations are available.

Contact: Chris Audrey 020 7633 4149

• GDS and PDS Statement of Financial Entitlements

4. Advice to commissioners on patient mobility in Europe (Gateway reference number: 8010)

Following recent court judgements, please see guidance on how to handle requests from patients to go abroad for treatment.  We welcome feedback on this guidance, please e-mail:

• treatment.abroad@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)
• Guidance at: Overseas treatment for NHS patients - Requests to go abroad for treatment in the EU

5. 2006/07 reference costs – HRG4 chapter guidance (Gateway reference number: 8138)

Chief executives will wish to be aware of guidance published this week detailing HRG4 by its constituent chapters and the logic by which the new groups will be assigned. HRG4 will be used to support NHS reference costs from April 2007 and inform payment by results processes. See:

• The Information Centre - Prepare for HRG4 (opens new window)

6. The Community Hospital survey results (Gateway reference number: 8141)

The Community Hospital survey results are now available on the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement website.

The database reflects results from 266 out of 332 community hospitals and includes services/staffing and locations for each of these hospitals. A focused survey report /improvement stories are included.

• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement - Community Hospital Survey (opens new window)

7. New guidance for The National Child Measurement Programme (Gateway reference number: 8092)

The National Child Measurement Programme: Guidance for 2006/07 school year has been published. The guidance has been revised to improve clarity and address issues arising from last year’s exercise. To view the guidance visit

• Supporting healthy lifestyles: the National Child Measurement Programme Guidance for 2006-07 school year

8. Government grants to support sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) (Gateway reference number: 8144)

Grants are now available to partnerships of PCTs, police and the voluntary sector to support developing and existing SARCs, one stop locations where victims of sexual crime receive medical care, counselling and can undergo a forensic examination.

PCT chief executives can contact Rima Chowdhury-Hawkins.

See:

• Crime Reduction - Sexual Assault Referral Centres (opens new window)
• Email Rima Chowdhury-Hawkins at: rima@forensictiltd.com (opens new window)

9. Allan Brooking NHS Travel Fellowship (Gateway reference number: 8146)

If you are a NHS manager the Allan Brooking NHS Travel Fellowship could grant you up to £3,000 for travel and accommodation [within UK or abroad] to allow you to investigate innovative management practices, in any discipline, that might benefit the wider NHS. Applications to be received on or before 2 July 2007. Further information at:

• The Charitable Trusts for the United Bristol Hospitals - The Allan Brooking NHS Travel Fellowship (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what's new

10. Analysis into action roadshows (Gateway reference number: 8128)

The Information Centre for health and social care are holding free, non-technical half-day events in April and May for NHS managers on how to use information from the secondary uses service to improve performance and support delivery of 18 week waits, practice based commissioning and payment by results. See:

• The Information Centre - SUS 'Analysis into Action' workshop (opens new window)

Conference and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/030 (Gateway reference number: 8140)

Device:
External defibrillator: Lifepak 20 defibrillator manufactured by Medtronic.
This Medical Device Alert was issued on 3 April 2007 to NHS trust and for action.
Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/030 (opens new window)