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Chief executive bulletin: Issue 370, 18 - 24 May 2007
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Last modified date:24 May 2007
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Series number:370
This Bulletin alerts chief executives to publications, circulars and announcements from the Department of Health. It is e-mailed to NHS and Council chief executives and directors of social services.
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Policy news
1. GMS Contract 2007/08: Directed enhanced services for improved access and choice and Booking (Gateway reference number: 8289)
This will be rolled forward to 2007/08 for a further year to 31 March 2008. Directions to primary care trusts to commission these services will be issued as soon as practical, backdated to 1 April 2007. These schemes will be essentially the same as in 2006/07. For further details contact Gill Littlehales on 0113 2546288.
Consultations and evaluations
2. Cost implications of possible changes to residential care charges relating to personal injury awards (Gateway reference number: 8293)
The Department of Health (DH) has published a consultation paper seeking evidence on the cost implications of proposals to disregard personal injury awards when calculating contributions towards meeting the cost of residential care. The deadline for comments is 6 July 2007. Chief executives are asked to ensure awareness of this consultation within their organisation. The consultation paper is available at:
Publications
3. Department of Health’s annual report (Gateway reference number: 8119)
The seventeenth annual report for the Department of Health has been published. For further information contact Mike Harris on 0113 254 6012.
Report available at:
4. A resource pack to support communications about reconfigurations (Gateway reference number: 8266)
The NHS Service Improvement website launched today contains films, images, reports and data that can be incorporated into presentations, documents and websites, to support clinical leaders and senior managers. Visit the Office of Strategic Health Authorities at:
5. Independence, choice and risk: A guide to supported decision making (Gateway reference number: 7733)
This best practice guidance is for everyone involved in supporting adults using social care within any setting. It provides advice and information on how to support people to make choices about their lives and manage any risks involved. See
6. The AIDS support grant local authority circular 2007(5) (Gateway reference number: 8251)
This contains grant allocations totalling £16.5m to 150 local authorities. The grant is a contribution to local authority provision of social care services to meet the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, carers and families. The circular includes individual local authority allocations and expenditure claim forms. See
7. Accreditation of GPs and pharmacists with special Interests: Directions 2007 (Gateway reference number: 8286)
These new directions, which come into force on 1 June 2007, describe PCT’s responsibilities to have regard to the provisions of the guidance Implementing care closer to home: Convenient quality for patients – Part 3: The accreditation of GPs and pharmacists with special interests, when commissioning, assessing or accrediting any service provided by a GP or pharmacist with a special interest. See
8. Funding to implement smokefree legislation (Gateway reference number: 8290)
The Department of Health has now distributed the second instalment of funding to first-tier local authorities to undertake new work associated with the implementation of smokefree legislation in their areas. Funding arrangements are detailed in local authority circular (2006)17. See
9. A best practice toolkit CD for delivering choice (Gateway reference number: 8264)
A CD toolkit intended to help primary care trusts to implement choice at referral has been sent to all lead PCT directors. For further details contact Damon Rutherford on 020 763 34048.
10. Disease management information toolkit (Gateway reference number: 8159)
A free web-based toolkit designed to help organisations strengthen their approach to disease management by providing data and guidance on interventions for prevalent disease in PCT localities is now available. It is a key aid to decision-making and commissioning services. See
11. Healthy Futures No.6: The natural environment, health and well-being (Gateway reference number 8239)
The Sustainable Development Commission's Healthy Futures publications provide the strategic context for sustainable development and how it can contribute to NHS goals of health improvement, reducing health inequalities and improving efficiency.
Available to download in Portable Document Format (PDF) at:
12. Local authority circular (LAC (DH) (2007) 6 - Mental health grant guidance 2007/08 (Gateway reference number: 8126)
All councils with social services responsibility are asked to look at the guidance for the mental health grant (2007/08) by accessing this document.
The document includes important information about the Mental Health Grant. For further information contact Dorothy Francis on 020 7972 4678.
13. Funding of technology appraisal guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (Gateway reference number: 8307)
The Department of Health (DH) has agreed to waive the three month direction for NICE Appraisal No 120, guidance on the use of Cardiac resynchronisation therapy for the treatment of heart failure. Details of the direction can be found at:
14. Human Rights in Health: A Framework for Local Action (Gateway reference number: 8022)
Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Health Services, recently launched this framework. It was developed in conjunction with the British Institute of Human Rights and five NHS trusts to assist organisations across the NHS use a human rights based approach to help improve the way services are delivered. This best practice framework is available to download or via Prolog on 8701 555 455.
15. White paper whole system long term conditions (LTC) demonstrators (Gateway reference number: 8308)
The selection process for the whole system demonstrator sites has now concluded. The three successful NHS/LA partnerships are confirmed as Cornwall, Kent and Newham.
See press release and Long Term Conditions latest news for more information:
16. The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group's report Radiotherapy: developing a world class service for England (Gateway reference number: 8235)
A letter has been sent to cancer networks from professor Mike Richards to help them consider if they are meeting the needs of their local populations and if they can improve current productivity. See
Conferences and events - i) what's new
No news this week
Conference and events - ii) places still available
No news this week
Patient safety alerts
17. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/036 (Gateway reference number: 8295)
Device: Urine test strips: Makromed – all products with expiry dates in 2007 or 2008. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 16 May 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at
18. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/037 (Gateway reference number: 8296)
Device: All paediatric ventilator breathing systems containing a water trap, manufactured by Viasys Healthcare. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 21 May 2007 to NHS trust for immediate action. Further information can be found at
19. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/038 (Gateway reference number: 8297)
Device: Bariatric profiling beds – Nightingale Pro Axis and Pro Axis Plus. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 21 May 2007 to NHS trust and Social Services for immediate action. Further information can be found at
20. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/039 (Gateway reference number: 8298)
Device: Homecraft Rolyan bath lift hand controls for the Bathmaster 2000, Bathmaster Classic, Bathmaster Xtra and Bathmaster Reclina. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 21 May 2007 to NHS trust and Social Services for action.
Further information can be found at
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