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the week: issue 18, 19 - 25 October 2007

  • Last modified date:
    25 October 2007
  • Series number:
    18

Published every Thursday, the week provides need-to-know news, consultations and events for chief executives and their teams. It provides links to more information and resources, highlighting areas for action.

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Policy news

1. Counter fraud measures: Directions amended (Gateway reference number: 8893)

The first amendment makes clear that guidance issued by the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) can relate to both the suitability of an individual Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) and the terms under which that LCFS may be appointed. The second amendment clarifies the position where a LCFS has already been appointed.

Action: The revised Directions came into force from 8 October 2007, they are only available to NHS web users. NHS chief executives are required to ensure that the terms under which they employ LCFS meet the requirements of these Directions.

Consultations and evaluations

2. Offender Health performance indicators (Gateway reference number 8921)

In conjunction with the key stakeholders, the Offender Health (formerly Prison Health) team has developed a set of voluntary indicators specifically to measure the quality of prison health services and to help achieve the objective of NHS-equivalent standards.

Action: NHS chief executives of PCTs that commission prison health services may wish to use these indicators to measure and improve the quality of the services they are commissioning.

3. Dentistry and the NHS brand (Gateway reference number: 8668)

This consultation paper seeks views on proposals to introduce quality criteria in association with the roll-out of increased use of the NHS Identity in selected primary care dental practices.

Action: NHS chief executives are invited to comment on the proposals by using the proforma provided on the website and returning it to:

4. Child health mapping (Gateway reference number: 8943)

The 2007 National Child Health, CAMHS and Maternity Service mapping exercise is ready to launch. NHS commissioners, providers and local authority commissioners in England may begin data collection from 1 November 2007. The Healthcare Commission will use this data to monitor improvement in children's hospital services as part of the Annual Health Check.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives need to assign an individual as mapping lead and submit the required data by 28 February 2008.

5. Future regulation of health and adult social care (Gateway reference number: 8701)

This document sets out the Government’s response to the consultation on the future regulation of health and adult social care in England. It reaffirms the Government’s vision for regulation and reinforces the commitment to establish an integrated health and adult social care regulator. Over the coming months, there will be further and extensive consultation with the NHS and other partners prior to the new regulatory framework starting in 2009/10.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives should be aware that the proposals will form part of the forthcoming Health and Social Care Bill.

6. Annual NHS workforce census 2007 (Gateway reference number: 8972)

The annual NHS workforce census is currently being collected via ESR by the Information Centre. NHS organisations will be asked to sign off their data. 

Action: NHS chief executives should ensure their organisation’s data is validated and returned to the NHS Information Centre by 30 November 2007. 

7. Mental Health: draft revised Code of Practice and secondary legislation (Gateway reference number: 8973)

The Government is launching two formal consultation exercises today on the draft revised Code of Practice and draft secondary legislation in the light of the Mental Health Act 2007. 

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives should be aware of the proposals and are invited to comment.

8. Applying for NHS foundation trust status: Guide for applicants (Gateway reference n umber: 8974)

Monitor is updating its assessment guidance, Applying for NHS foundation trust status: Guide for applicants. As part of this, they have launched an 8-week consultation on introducing service line management for Wave 6 applicants onwards.

Action: NHS chief executives may wish to respond to the consultation.

Publications

9. User-led Organisations Development Fund (Gateway reference number: 8895)

A new User-led Organisations Development Fund is available for 2007/08. Applications must be submitted by user-led organisations.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives are requested to publicise this new funding opportunity locally.

10. Care Closer to Home demonstration sites - report of the specialty subgroups (Gateway reference number: 8419)

This publication sets out an evaluation of each of the six specialties covered by the Care Closer to Home project demonstration sites, which looked at improving access and convenience for patients. As well as showing the considerable potential of care closer to home, the report makes recommendations for service planners considering similar changes.

Action: Chief executives and commissioners should note the reports and consider how similar service changes can be delivered locally.

11. Clarification on the status of Homoeopathic Services document (Gateway reference number: 8971)

The above document bearing the NHS logo - distributed to directors of commissioning - was not issued with the knowledge or approval of the Department of Health, and does not represent any central policy on the commissioning of homoeopathy.

Action: NHS chief executives will wish to note the unofficial status of the document.

12. Reissued: Who pays? Establishing the responsible commissioner (Gateway reference number: 8934)

The guidance document - Who pays? Establishing the responsible commissioner - published on 18 September 2007, has been reissued with some amendments. The amendments relate to NATO personnel and the interim protocol for the Welsh border area

Action: PCT commissioners should be aware of the amendments

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

MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/078 (Gateway reference number: 8968)

Device: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead. Sprint Fidelis manufactured by Medtronic, model numbers: 6930, 6931, 6948 and 6949.

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 19 October 2007 to NHS trusts for immediate action

MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/079 (Gateway reference number: 8969)

This alert updates and replaces MDA/2007/071 issued 10 September 2006.
Device: Syringes: BD Medical Surgical Plastipak™ 1ml, 2ml, 5ml and 10ml hypodermic Luer slip syringes manufactured between April 2007 and August 2007.

Action: This Medical Device Alert was issued on 22 October 2007 to NHS trusts for immediate action and update

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