Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
Page menu
You are here:
- Home >>
- Publications >>
- Bulletins >>
- the week >>
- Chief executive bulletin
Chief executive bulletin: Issue 312, 31 March - 6 April 2006
-
Last modified date:24 July 2008
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
Select a section
Policy news
1. Commissioning a Patient-led NHS
The latest updates on Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS are available at:
2. John Bacon is stepping down from the position of overall SRO for the National Programme (Gateway reference number: 6425)
Sir Ian Carruthers will be taking on that role with immediate effect. John has navigated the programme through a challenging but successful period and Sir Ian thanks him for his excellent leadership and would like to wish him well for the future.
3. Amendment to Standards for Better Health (Gateway reference number: 6405)
The change to public health developmental standard clarifies the status of new NICE public health guidance for implementation in the NHS, and allows the Healthcare Commission to assess, from 2007/08, NHS progress towards achieving conformity with NICE public health guidance. See:
4. Social Security Benefits from April 2006 for patients detained under sections 45A and 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (Gateway reference number: 6401)
Chief executives are alerted to the financial allocations being made available to support patients affected by changes to social security benefit rules. Important information for mental health providers, PCT commissioners and social services authorities regarding financial allocations can be found at:
5. Registration Authorities - Governance Arrangements (Gateway reference number: 6244)
NHS Organisations are responsible for registering all NHS CRS users including non-NHS staff to ensure adequate safeguards are in place to maintain the confidentiality of information held on individual patients. This note sets out a policy framework, aimed at Boards and Executive Management Teams, to establish appropriate NHS CRS Registration Authority governance arrangements in NHS organisations. This includes a framework to extend NHS CRS Registration to non-NHS organisations.
NHS Organisations should review their current registration arrangements in the light of this policy.
Further information on the NHS web at:
6. Local Authority Circular Mental Health Grant Guidance 2006/07 - LAC (2006)9 (Gateway reference number: 6366)
All Councils with Social Services Responsibility (CSSRs) are asked to look at the guidance for the Mental Health Grant (2006/07) at:
The document includes important information about the Mental Health Grant. Any queries to Dorothy Francis on 020 7972 4678.
Consultations and evaluations
7. National Capabilities Survey (ROCR/OR/0042/FT6/004) (Gateway reference number: 6396)
Responses are due by 30 April to the technical estates section of this survey from all NHS organisations, including NHS Foundation Trusts. These questions form section 21 of the DH Estates efm-information system (ERIC), which went live on 31 March. Enquiries to Robert Grogan on 0113 254 7010.
Further information on ERIC at:
8. Disclosure of health statistics (Gateway reference number: 6372)
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request for data may result in the disclosure of patient identifiable information. It is important to bear in mind that FOI exemptions might apply - see:
A consultation on the disclosure of health statistics carried by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) is currently ongoing. Detail of the consultation is available at:
In the interim, guidance for disclosure of abortions statistics is available at:
9. Health and Social Care Review and Studies Programme (Gateway reference number: 6415)
This programme has been jointly produced by the Audit Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission and the National Audit Office, and acts as consultation for the Audit Commission on its proposals for health studies for 2006/07. If you have any views, or consider other areas should be addressed, email comments by 19 May 2006 to:
Information from:
Publications
10. The Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Gateway reference number: 6295)
Following last year's consultation, the new NHS Code of Practice on records management is now available at:
11. The National Health Service (Functions of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and Administration Arrangements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (Gateway reference number: 6404)
The regulations came into force on 1 April 2006 and made changes to the NHS body responsible for long-term care for adults. See paragraphs 65-70 and Annex C of the guidance at:
12. Prison Health Care: Future Auditing Arrangements (Gateway reference number: 6218)
In light of the completion of the transfer of health services in public sector prisons to the NHS, a joint letter has been issued by the Prison Service and Prison Health setting out the future auditing and performance management arrangements. See letter at:
13. Information Catalogue Launch (Gateway reference number: 6378)
A single point of reference for health and social care statistics was launched on 3 April 2006. Developed by The Information Centre, the Information Catalogue is a new online portal, which will enable Chief Executives within health and social care organisations, to access national statistical information. See:
14. Secretary of State Directions to the NHS relating to fraud, security management and violence against NHS staff (Gateway reference number: 6376)
Amended to reflect that from 1 April 2006 the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service is a Division within the NHS Business Services Authority. See:
15. NHS Institute Strategic Plan Overview (Gateway reference number: 6087)
The Institute supports the NHS with high-impact solutions to some of its biggest challenges, as well as innovative ideas, new practices and technologies. This brochure is an overview of the 2006/07 business plan and sets out the work programmes the NHS Institute is currently focusing on.
16. Prevention of sexually transmitted infections including HIV (Gateway reference number: 6352)
The NHS operating framework 2006/07 prioritises action on sexual health and access to genito-urinary medicine services within 48 hours. This has particular benefits for HIV prevention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following non-occupational exposure to HIV can prevent HIV transmission. New clinical guidelines on PEP include risk assessments on prescribing. For further details see letter at:
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
17. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT - MDA/2006/023 (Gateway reference number: 6409)
X-ray system: GE Healthcare, Precision 500D undercouch radiography/fluoroscopy system
This Medical Device Alert was issued on 3 April 2006 to NHS trusts for immediate action. Further information can be found at:
Additional links
Ordering publications
Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.
Help viewing PDFs
Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.
Search bulletins:
Access keys
