Website of the Department of Health

1. Commissioning a Patient-led NHS Update (Gateway reference number: 6349)

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

Consultations and evaluations

2. Review of salaried Primary Dental Care Services (Gateway reference number: 6259)

The Department of Health has announced its response to the consultation Creating the Future: Modernising Careers for Salaried Dentists in Primary Care. The response and supporting documents are available at:

• Creating the future: Modernising careers for salaried dentists in primary care - Stakeholder consultation response report

3. Adult mental heath services (ROCR/OR/0125) (Gateway reference number: 6325)

The Durham mapping is in progress and will be used to inform the Healthcare Commission's key target performance assessment on crisis resolution teams. An email and password will be sent to CEs of Mental Health provider trusts for signing off their data. To be completed by 19 April.

Publications

4. Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) (Gateway reference number: 6277)

The Department of Health has issued guidance inviting Local Authority-led partnerships, including at least one PCT partner, to apply for the second round of funding (£18.5m) available from the POPP Grant for 2007/08. Initial expressions of interest are invited by 12 May 2006.

See:

• Partnerships for Older People Projects Grant - Guidance note for applications for 2007/2008

5. LAC (2006)5 £80M Preventative Technology Grant 2006/07 - 2007/08 (Gateway reference number: 6292)

This Circular, aimed also at PCTs, SHAs, and Care Trusts, sets out arrangements surrounding the £80M Preventative Technology Grant. The grant is provided to enable councils to invest in telecare to support older people to remain independent at home and avoid unnecessary hospital and residential care. See:

• LAC (2006)5 Preventative technology grant 2006-07 to 2007-08

6. GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) (Gateway reference number: 6339)

The Department of Health has announced its intention to implement a new initiative for the provision of GP Clinical IT Systems. The proposed GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) scheme will provide GPs across England with a choice of clinical IT systems.  For more information see:

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

7. NHS Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and Schemes of Reservation & Delegation to the Board (Gateway reference number: 6184)

These documents are for NHS boards to use as a good practice template for their continued development towards good governance principles.

These templates can be found at:

• Governance

8. Volunteers Across the NHS (Gateway reference number: 6027)

DH have sponsored Volunteering England to produce best practice guidance on volunteer management in NHS organisations, through the Home Office funded Change Up programme. Volunteers Across the NHS will ensure consistency in the way volunteers are managed and has been endorsed by DH. See:

• Volunteers across the NHS: Improving the patient experience and creating a patient-led service

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/2006/019 (Gateway reference number: 6335)

All cochlear implants

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 16 March 2006 to NHS trusts for action and update. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/020 (Gateway reference number: 6336)

Evab Mark 1 Compact delivery bed (obstetric table/birthing bed)

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 March 2006 to NHS trusts for action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/021 (Gateway reference number: 6337)

Baxter haemodialysis instruments: System 1000 Tina, Aurora and Arena

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 March 2006 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information can be found at:

• www.mhra.gov.uk (opens new window)