Website of the Department of Health

1. Commissioning a Patient-led NHS Update (Gateway reference number: 6039)

The latest Commissioning a patient-led NHS update is available at:

2. Changes to nGMS contract for 2006/07 (Gateway reference number: 5968)

Barbara Hakin, lead negotiator for NHS Employers GMS review team wrote to all PCT and SHA Chief Executives on 20 December to provide a comprehensive and financial articulation of the agreement reached with the General Practitioners Committee on nGMS contract changes for 2006/07.  The letter is available on the DH website at:

• 2006/07 nGMS Contract: Financial implications

Consultations and evaluations

3. Redesigning future ambulance transport for patient safety (Gateway reference number: 5861)

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is leading on a collaborative project looking at A&E ambulance design. Selected chief executives were invited to attend a stakeholders' workshop on 16 January, chaired by Peter Bradley, DH ambulance adviser. Further information visit:

• Designing future ambulance transport for patient safety (opens new window)

Publications

4. Women at Risk - the mental health of women in contact with the judicial system (Gateway reference number: 5491)

The guidance provides PCTs (among other stakeholders) with best practice guidance on providing services in prison and the community which support women in contact with the judicial system.

• Women at risk: The mental health of women in contact with the judicial system

Contact:

• marco.carrera@londondevelopmentcentre.org (opens new window)

or 020 7307 2439.

5. Primary Dental Services: Implementation of Local Commissioning (Gateway reference number: 6035)

Further to Gateway 5917

• Commissioning primary care dental services: Next steps

this letter provides further information about the allocations made to PCTs for local commissioning of primary dental services and further support being offered to PCTs.  It also alerts SHAs and PCTs to practical support available in communicating details of the dental reforms to the public. Letter at:

• NHS primary dental care service: Implementation of local commissioning

6. Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Gateway reference number: 6038)

The new Civil Partnership Act 2004, which came into effect on 5 December 2005, will provide guidance for the way NHS and social care staff interact with patients, carers and family members who are in same-sex relationships.  For more details visit:

• the Women and Equality Unit website (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what's new

No news this week

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

7. Discontinuation of Konakion Neonatal (vitamin K) (Gateway reference number: 6026)

Konakion Neonatal will be discontinued on 31 March. An alternative, Konakion MM Paediatric, is available. Paediatric and obstetric staff should be aware, as for some indications the volume of injection will change. For a copy of the 'dear health professional' letter please see:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)

8. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/002 (Gateway reference number: 6032)

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare adult breathing circuits - dual heated: Model numbers RT100, RT104, RT200, RT204, RT026 and 900MR914. Batch numbers 041101 to 050331

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 12 January 2006 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)