Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

1. Improved pay offer - apply for extra training and development funds (Gateway reference number: 8896)

On 17 October, NHS Employers published pay circulars for NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts following acceptance of the improved pay offer. This included extra training funds for staff not requiring professional registration. 

Action: NHS chief executives can access more information via the link below, and work with appropriate staff side representatives to apply for additional training funds.

• Improved Pay Offer - apply for extra training and development funds

Publications

2. Diabetes in the NHS (Gateway reference number: 8916)

A report on commissioning and providing specialist services highlights the important role specialists play in ensuring safety and quality across diabetes services.  It gives examples of specialists’ roles in improving diabetes pathways.

Action: NHS chief executives may wish to use this report to address governance issues and see what efficiencies can be achieved for acute trusts. 

• Download Diabetes in the NHS - Commissioning and providing specialist services from National Diabetes Support Team in Portable Document Format (PDF) (opens new window)

3. Gateway to leadership is now recruiting (Gateway reference number: 8923)

Selecting 30 participants from some 1,200 applications, the NHS Institute’s Gateway to leadership programme is now recruiting to find the best talent for your team from other sectors, at no cost.  A comprehensive NHS orientation is provided for all participants.

Action: NHS chief executives are invited to identify key posts, on permanent contracts at circa £50k for Gateway participants

• Download Add new life to the NHS, from NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in Portable Document Format (PDF) (opens new window)

4. Safe management of controlled drugs in secondary care (Gateway reference number: 8913)

This updated best practice guidance, first issued in May 2007, promotes the safe and effective use of controlled drugs in healthcare organisations providing secondary care. The guidance incorporates regulatory changes which were made in July 2007.

Action: NHS chief executives, chief pharmacists and accountable officers in organisations providing secondary care need to be aware of the updated guidance.

• Safer management of Controlled Drugs: a guide to good practice in secondary care (England)

5. Changes to requirements for requisitions for the supply of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs (Gateway reference number: 8713)

This best practice guidance is to inform and support health and social care professionals and organisations and suppliers of controlled drugs in implementing forthcoming changes to the requirements in respect of requisitions used for the supply of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs. 

Action: NHS chief executives and accountable officers need to be aware of the new regulatory requirements in respect of requisitions used for the supply of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs in the community.

• Safer management of controlled drugs: changes to requirements for requisitions for the supply of schedule 1, 2 and 3 controlled drugs. Interim guidance (for England only)

6. Changes to record keeping requirements - interim guidance (Gateway reference number: 8712)

This best practice guidance is to inform and support relevant healthcare professionals and organisations in implementing changes to the record keeping requirements for controlled drugs. This includes guidance on the changes required to the format of the controlled drugs register (CDR) and the headings/titles of the columns used to capture the mandatory fields of information.

Action: Chief executives and accountable officers need to be aware of the new regulatory requirements for record keeping arrangements.

• Safer management of controlled drugs: changes to record keeping requirements. Interim guidance (for England only)

7. Updated service and monitoring guidance for NHS Stop Smoking Services – (ROCR/OR/0028/008) (Gateway reference number: 8596)

Updated guidance provides detail on changes to data collection and reporting requirements for NHS Stop Smoking Services in 2008/09 and an overview of the key issues and recommendations for commissioners and practitioners. It includes quality principles for all stop smoking service delivery options.

Action: NHS chief executives are required to ensure all commissioners and leads of NHS Stop Smoking Services are aware of the updated guidance and the need to implement the required changes for 2008/09.

• NHS Stop Smoking Services: service and monitoring guidance, October 2007/08

8. Information governance assurance to support connection to the N3 Network (Gateway reference number: 8939)

The previous NHS Information Authority Code of Connection requirement has been replaced by a NHS Connecting for Health Statement of Compliance.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives whose organisations connect to the N3 network need to sign a Statement of Compliance form and return this to NHS Connecting for Health by 31 March 2008. 

• NHS Connecting for Health: Information governance (opens new window)

9. National evaluation - Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) (Gateway reference number: 8941)

The Department of Health has funded a national evaluation of the POPP programme. An interim report of progress providing early findings and key lessons learnt is now available. The evaluation is ongoing and further findings will be reported in October 2008.

Action: This report will be of interest to NHS chief executives taking forward strategies to promote health, well-being and independence for older people. 

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

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/077 (Gateway reference number: 8942)

Device: Home use blood glucose meters: Boots brand blood glucose monitoring system.

Action: This medical device alert was issued on 15 October 2007 to NHS trusts and social services departments for action.

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/077 (opens new window)