Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

2. Consultation on deprivation of liberty safeguards (Gateway reference number: 8319)

The deprivation of liberty safeguards being introduced to the Mental Capacity Act are planned to come into force on 1 October 2008. The safeguards embrace important responsibilities for PCTs, NHS trusts, local authorities and registered care homes.

Action: Views are invited from chief executives before the closing date on 2 December.

• Ministry of Justice deprivation of liberty safeguards consultation (opens new window)
• Mental Capacity Act 2005 - deprivation of liberty safeguards

3. Child Immunisations Parent Survey (Gateway reference number: 8650)

The British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) will be conducting research on behalf of NHS Immunisation Information (as part of the Department of Health), between 1 October and 4 November 2007. The research examines the attitudes and awareness of parents to immunisation.

Action: Chief executives should be aware that this research might take place in your PCT. Read the letter in order to understand how to answer any parent queries.

• Child immunisations parent survey

4. Safeguarding children consultation (Gateway reference number: 8687)

Department of Children, Schools and Families invite views on the implementation of guidance on handling allegations made against those working with children and young people as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2006.

Action: NHS and LA chief executives and their staff are invited to comment on the consultation within 6 weeks.

• Department for Children, Schools and Families: Review of implementation of guidance on handling allegations of abuse against those who work with children and young people (opens new window)

Publications

5. Response to the report on the Penny Campbell investigation (Gateway reference number: 8580)

Ben Bradshaw, Minister of State for Public Health, has written to the report’s panel to outline the Department of Health’s response to recommendations made in the report.

Action: NHS chief executives may wish to view the Department’s response to further recommendations in the report that have national policy implications.

• Response to the report of the panel overseeing the serious untoward incident investigation into the death of Penny Campbell

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

6. Community hospitals: the secret of success (Gateway reference number: 8770)

The NHS Confederation and the Department of Health have produced this one-day event on Thursday 25 October in London. It offers delegates the opportunity to access critical learning from the field of community hospital development. Focus of the event is on access to public capital, improving standards of care and community facilities.

Action: Find out more and book your place.

• NHS Confederation: Community hospitals - the secret of success (opens new window)

7. Royal College of Surgeons Craft Specialty event (Gateway reference number: 8729)

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), supported by NHS National Workforce Projects are holding a craft specialty event on the 5 October 2007 to address common challenges to the Working Time Directive (WTD) 2009 requirement that specialties face. The event is aimed at decision makers within trusts, and will be opened by Bernard Ribeiro (President RCS).

Action: NHS chief executives wishing to attend should register quickly as demand may be high.

• NHS Healthcareworkforce: RCS WTD craft specialty event (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

8. PCT chief executive senior responsible officer masterclass (Gateway reference number: 8674)

The masterclass, titled Driving Digital: Responding to the leadership challenge, takes place on Monday 1 October at the Microsoft London, Cardinal Place, London.

Action: This masterclass is for PCT chief executives. If the chief executive is unable to attend, either the professional executive committee chair or chair of the board can attend. For more information and to register, see:

• Masterclass - Driving Digital: Responding to the leadership challenge (opens new window)

Patient safety alerts

9. NPSA issues Rapid Response Report 3 (Gateway reference number: 8759)

Following the death of a patient, the National Patient Safety Agency is warning that surgery should not be commissioned or delivered in facilities which lack the systems and equipment to manage emergencies safely. The report is titled Emergency Support in Surgical Units: Dealing with Haemorrhage.

Action: NHS chief executives may wish to review their local arrangements.

• National Patient Safety Agency: Emergency support in surgical units - Dealing with haemorrhage (opens new window)