Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

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Publications

2. Investment to improve services for disabled children
(Gateway reference number: 9267)

This letter from the Department of Health and Department of Children, Schools and Families sets out the full Comprehensive Spending Review settlement and priorities for disabled children's services, including investment in short breaks, palliative care, transition support and access to childcare. 

Action: Local authority and PCT chief executives can be aware of the new settlement and priorities for implementing the Children’s National Service Framework.

• Investment to improve services for disabled children

3. Cross English/Welsh ordinary residence dispute arrangements
(Gateway reference number: 9199)

An interim arrangement has been made under section 41 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 to enable local authorities in England and Wales to seek determinations of disputes between English and Welsh authorities.  

Action: Local authority chief executives will want to take note of these arrangements in case their authority should be involved in such a dispute.

• Determining ordinary residence disputes between English and Welsh authorities

4. LINks funding for each area announced
(Gateway reference number:  9208)

The Government has published how much communities will receive to run their Local Involvement Network from 2008/11. Amounting to over £80 million, each local authority has been advised of how much they will receive.

Action: NHS chief executives can check how much their areas are receiving. Local authority chief executives can be aware of the funding to help authorities comply with their statutory obligations from 1 April 2008. 

• Local Involvement Networks (LINks) bulletin

5. Efficiency Appendix to NHS Operating Framework
(Gateway reference number: 9224)

This document provides guidance on key efficiency principles and major opportunities that may support local financial and business planning for 2008/09.

Action: Chief executives should note the key opportunities and consider how they can be incorporated into annual cost improvement plans.

• Efficiency appendix to NHS Operating Framework

6. Guidance on preparation of local IM&T plans for 2008/09
(Gateway reference number: 9196)

This guidance for local information management and technology planning supports the priorities in the NHS Operating Framework.

Action: Chief executives should note the guidance and expectations and consider what actions are required locally.

• Guidance on preparation of local IM&T plans for 2008/09

7. Practice based commissioning
(Gateway reference number: 9203)

This guidance supports the Operating Framework 2008/09 in relation to practice based commissioning. Specifically budget setting refinements and clarification of health funding flexibilities, incentive schemes and governance

Action:  PCTs to note actions relating to budget setting, governance, financial flexibilities and incentive schemes

• Practice based commissioning - budget setting refinements and clarification of health funding flexibilities, incentive schemes and governance

8. Generic choice model for long-term conditions
(Gateway reference number: 9198)

Supporting the Operating Framework, the model helps commissioners understand the process and range of services required to improve and personalise services and support for people with long-term conditions. The model, developed in conjunction with a number of patient organisations, provides good practice examples, and aims to reduce inequalities.

Action: Chief executives to note for local adaptation of this model.

• Generic choice model for long term conditions

9. Mixed sex accommodation guidance
(Gateway reference number: 9275)

This guidance from the NHS Institute outlines 11 key principles to support best practice in achieving physical separation of the sexes in hospital accommodation.  It includes a self-assessment toolkit to help trusts identify issues that need to be addressed.  The guidance supports the Operating Framework.

Action: Chief executives can use this guidance to help the NHS achieve gender segregation in clinical areas. 

(please note to download the document chief executives will have to log on to the Institute website via their account name and password)

• Privacy and Dignity: the elimination of mixed sex accommodation (opens new window)

10. Collaborative commissioning
(Gateway reference number: 8829)

This best practice guidance sets out roles and responsibilities for the collaborative commissioning and management of national screening programmes, as recommended in Sir David Carter’s Review of Commissioning Arrangements for Specialised Services.

Action: PCT chief executives and specialised commissioning groups should consider the above best practice guidance for the management of national screening programmes.

• Collaborative commissioning of National Screening Programmes

11. Hospital organisation, specialty mix and MRSA
(Gateway reference number: 9163)

This paper presents an analysis of the contribution of organisational factors - such as bed occupancy rates, cleanliness and use of temporary staffing - to understand the variations in MRSA rates between different hospitals. The paper also examines how these relationships may have changed over time.

Action: NHS chief executives can analyse factors involved in delivering on the MRSA targets. 

• Hospital organisation, specialty mix and MRSA

12. GP Systems of Choice: next steps
(Gateway reference number: 8725)

GP Systems of Choice (GPSoC) is a scheme through which the NHS will fund the provision of GP clinical IT systems in England. GPSoC allows practices and PCTs to benefit from a range of quality GP clinical IT systems from existing suppliers who will now be contracted to work within the NHS National Programme for IT.

Action: PCT chief executives need to consider a range of actions to take under GPSoC. See letter and guide from NHS Connecting for Health outlining next steps for the delivery of this initiative. 

• NHS Connecting for Health - GP Systems of Choice (opens new window)

13. Patient safety quarterly data
(Gateway reference number: 9263)

The National Patient Safety Agency announces the most recent incident reporting figures from NHS organisations and provides an overview of the trends and patterns in patient safety incidents covering the period ending 30 September 2007.

Action: Access data on the patient safety incident trends and how they may affect your organisations.

• The National Patient Safety Agency NRLS quarterly data summary (opens new window)

14. Safety First: one year on
(Gateway reference number: 9264)

On 13 December, the National Patient Safety Agency hosted a multi-agency event to update key audiences about progress made over the last year in meeting the 14 recommendations in Safety First. The document, Safety First: One year on, has been produced to inform on progress.

Action: NHS chief executives will be interested in work underway to meet the 14 recommendations outlined in Safety First that impact across the NHS. 

• The National Patient Safety Agency - Safety First: One year on (opens new window)

15. NHS foundation trusts’ six-monthly review
(Gateway reference number: 9266)

Monitor has released their second quarterly report for this financial year.

Action: NHS chief executives considering applying for NHS foundation trust status will be interested in this overview of sector performance. 

• NHS Foundation Trusts - Review of Six Months to 30 September (opens new window)

16. Implementation plan for reducing health inequalities in infant mortality
(Gateway Reference number: 8855)

The plan, based on the key interventions in the Health Inequalities Infant Mortality Public Service Agreement (PSA) Target Review, shows how the PSA target can be delivered, in partnership, by narrowing the health inequalities gap in infant mortality and improving infant and child health for all disadvantaged groups.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives and directors of social services can use this best practice tool to help achieve the PSA target.

• Implementation plan for reducing health inequalities in infant mortality: a good practice guide

17. Healthcare Commission’s audit
(Gateway reference number: 9158)

The Healthcare Commission completed an audit of the specialist inpatient learning disability services.

Action: NHS and social care chief executives covered by the audit should act upon advice of the Commission. 

• Healthcare Commission - National audit of inpatient services for people with learning difficulties (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what's new

18. National Information Prescriptions conference
(Gateway reference number: 9255)

Information prescriptions will ensure that people with long-term health or social care needs receive the information they need to manage their condition. This free one day conference in London on 19 March 2008 will highlight the tangible benefits and impact of mainstream implementation. 

Action: NHS and social care chief executives can register at:

• information.prescriptions@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

19. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/097 (Gateway reference number: 9257)

Device: Infusion pump software for target controlled infusions. Propofol-Schnider model used with Alaris PK pumps manufactured by Cardinal Health.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 13 December 2007 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency – MDA/2007/097 (opens new window)

20. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/098 (Gateway reference number: 9258)

Device: Enteral feeding pump.
Fresenius Kabi Applix Smart pump – all models.
This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 December 2007 to NHS trusts and social services for action.
Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/098 (opens new window)

21. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2007/099 (Gateway reference number: 9259)

Device: Blood/solution warming units. All Smiths Medical Level 1® H-1200 fast flow fluid warmers with an intergrated H-31B air detector/clamp and H-1025 fast flow fluid warmers with the optional H-31B air detector/clamp.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 December 2007 to NHS trusts for immediate action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2007/099 (opens new window)