Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and Evaluations

2. Outcomes and accountability for health and social care (Gateway reference number: 8317)

The Department of Health (DH) wishes to see health and social care services that are more innovative, locally-led and responsive to users. We are developing a new accountability framework, which shifts the focus of performance from central direction to locally-driven improvement. We would welcome your views. See

• Health and Social Care Outcomes and Accountability Framework (2008-09 to 2010-11)

3. Childcare Act 2006 – Consultation on the raising standards, improving outcomes guidance (Gateway reference number: 8359)

The Act places a duty on primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and Jobcentre Plus to work with local authorities in improving outcomes for children under five. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) are consulting on the proposed guidance which can be found at:

• DfES: Raising Standards, Improving Outcomes - Draft Statutory Guidance on the Early Years Outcomes Duty (opens new window)

Publications

4. Advice on remuneration of the PCT professional executive committee (PEC) (Gateway reference number: 8336)

Further to the publication of Fit for the Future on 30 March 2007, additional guidance regarding professional executive committee remuneration is now available. Existing legislation will be amended in line with the new guidance by 1 October 2007. See:

• Advice on remuneration of the PCT Professional Executive Committee (PEC)

5. Publication of 18 weeks referral to treatment times data (Gateway reference number: 8358)

To support delivery of 18 weeks, the Department of Health (DH) is publishing national data on referral to treatment times for the first time this week. Further information available at:

• 18 weeks - RTT data publication (opens new window)
• Downloadable spreadsheets of the RTT data (opens new window)

6. Integrated cancer care programme (ICCP) - final report (Gateway reference number: 8231)

The integrated cancer care programme was a two year initiative established to explore how cancer services could be delivered more effectively in the community. This report summarises the work undertaken in each of the pilot sites, and highlights the key learning from the programme. See

• Integrated Cancer Care Programme (ICCP) Final Report

7. Managing medicines across a health community (Gateway reference number:8223)

Medicines management and prescribing are key elements in both PCTs and acute trust business and it is important that organisations liaise effectively on these issues. This new guide will help collaboration across health communities and ensure arrangements are fit for purpose. See guide at

• Managing medicines across a health community - Making area prescribing committees fit for purpose

8. Onwards and Upwards, handbook to accompany the Healthcare Commission acute inpatient mental health service review (Gateway reference number: 8314)

The Care Services Improvement Partnership and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (CSIP-NIMHE), together with the Healthcare Commission, have produced a handbook Onwards and Upwards: Sustaining service improvement in acute care to assist local services to carry out the review and to help sustain improvements in acute care. See

• Virtual Ward: Standards - Onwards and Upwards handbook (opens new window)

9. Director of adult social services – Appointment date (Gateway reference number: 8175)

The Government intends to bring into force legislation which will require councils with social services responsibilities to appoint a director of adult social services by 1 January 2008, in line with existing guidance. See letter from David Behan, Director General of Social Care. See

• Requirement to Appoint a Statutory Chief Officer to be Known as the Director of Adult Social Services by 1 January 2008

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

10. Grant for the development of multisystemic therapy (MST) pilots - Seminar (Gateway reference number: 8378)

The Department of Health is inviting local authorities and primary care trusts to a seminar on 29 June to welcome bids for the allocation of up to £7 million to support the development of MST pilots. See:

• Grant for the Development of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Pilots

11. National child measurement programme - July workshops (Gateway reference number: 8316)

The national child measurement programme (NCMP) team will be holding workshops in July. The aim of the workshops is to consult with PCTs and schools on the 2006-07 programme and the programme for 2007-08.

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week.

Patient safety alerts

12. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/040 (Gateway reference number: 8363)

Device: Primus anaesthetic workstation supplied by Draeger Medical UK Ltd. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 May 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/040 (opens new window)

13. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/041 (Gateway reference number: 8364)

Device: Hospital Beds: Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd Contoura 880. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 May 2007 to NHS trust and social services for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/041 (opens new window)

14. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/042 (Gateway reference number: 8365)

Device: External pacemakers and temporary cardiac pacing leads. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 May 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/042 (opens new window)

15. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/043 (Gateway reference number: 8366)

Device: Invacare Flamingo mobile patient hoists.
This Medical Device Alert was issued on 31 May 2007 to NHS trust and social services for action.
Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/043 (opens new window)

16. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/044 (Gateway reference number: 8367)

Device: Medication cassette reservoir for CADD legacy infusion pumps manufactured by Smiths Medical: model numbers 21-7001-24 and 21-7002-04. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 31 May 2007 to NHS trust for immediate action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/044 (opens new window)

17. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/045 (Gateway reference number: 8368)

Device: Laryngoscope handle: Optima XL stubby handle, manufactured by Timesco of London Ltd. Models: 3000.308.10 and 3000.308.10T. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 4 June 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/045 (opens new window)

18. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/046 (Gateway reference number: 8369)

Device: External defibrillator batteries for the Lifepak 20 manufactured by Medtronic. This Medical Device Alert was issued on 5 June 2007 to NHS trust for action. Further information can be found at

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/046 (opens new window)