Website of the Department of Health

1. Commissioning a Patient-led NHS Update (Gateway reference number: 6263)

This is the latest in a regular series of updates on Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS. It is available at:

2. Capital allocation process: £130 million for adult mental health services (Gateway reference number: 6213)

The priorities for this money are to:

Reduce reliance on police stations as a place of safety for assessment of those brought in under s136 of the Mental Health Act.

Ensure that the number of psychiatric intensive care units and acute, general psychiatric low secure units that are least fit for purpose is reduced.

This money will be allocated to SHAs via a national bidding process outlined in the letter:

• Capital allocation process: £130 million for adult mental health services

Consultations and evaluations

No news this week

Publications

3. MRSA Improvement Programme (Gateway reference 6256)

DH has set up a MRSA Improvement Programme, with specialist teams providing tailored support for Trusts. Teams are working alongside 3 Trusts, ultimately supporting around 17 others, (likely to be those facing challenges in relation to local MRSA delivery plans). Enquiries - Samita Dass: 020 7972 5246 Further information: 6/2/06 press release at:

• MRSA: "Trusts must do better" says Minister

4. Former additional pharmacist access (out of hours) service and care homes service (Gateway reference number: 6234)

PCTs are reminded that these services, which could be extended for up to 12 months after 31 March 2005, all finish on 31 March 2006. New contractual arrangements need to be put in place from 1 April.  For further information see:

• NHS community pharmacy - former additional pharmacist access (out of hours) service and care homes service

Contact Gillian Farnfield on 020 7972 2700

5. Payment Agency Chief Executives - GP Payments Migration (Gateway reference number: 6248)

NHS Connecting for Health is undertaking an internal business case to migrate the NHAIS GP payments system to a new software platform. The letter describes the progress of the work and provides links to further information. Available at:

• the NHS Connecting for Health website (opens new window)

6. The NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme Annual Report 2005 (Gateway reference number 5989)

The report describes for clinicians, managers and users of the NHS and others interested in research a brief outline of how the HTA Programme works and  progress it has made in the past year. See:

• the NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme website (opens new window)

 Hard copies request by email to:

• dh@prolog.uk.com (opens new window)

7. Healthy Futures #4: Are you a good corporate citizen? (Gateway reference number 6238)

This publication summarizes the benefits of good corporate citizenship and how NHS organisations can promote strong local economies, community cohesion and a healthy environment. It signposts case studies and the good corporate citizenship assessment model.  See:

• the Sustainable Development Commission website (opens new window)

 or for copies email:

• larissa.lockwood@sdcommission.org.uk (opens new window)

8. Revenue allocations for LDDF (Gateway reference number 6209)

The final revenue allocations for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) are now available at:

• Final revenue allocations for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 Learning Disability Development Fund

Letters will be copied to the appropriate Partnership Boards, informing them of these allocations. Any comments or queries please contact:

• SCPI-Enquiries@dh.gsi.gov.uk (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

9. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/012 (Gateway reference number 6245)

All batches of Tiger Tube^TM nasojejunal feeding tube manufactured by William Cook Europe ApS. Product code C-NJFT-14-F.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 21 February 2006 to NHS trusts for action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/013 (Gateway reference number 6246)

Hospital bed: Hill-Rom Evolution 150BO.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 February 2006 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/014 (Gateway reference number 6247)

Boston Scientific urological stone retrieval basket (1.9 Fr ZeroTip nitinol), catalogue numbers M0063901040 and M0063901050.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 28 February 2006 to NHS trusts for action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)