Website of the Department of Health

Consultations and evaluations

1.  Having a say in local spending (Gateway reference number: 9654)

A draft national strategy on Participatory Budgeting, launched for consultation on 19 March by Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, sets out how to encourage the uptake of this approach in all local authority areas. How the strategy can be used in the delivery of health funding is discussed in Chapter 4. Responses are sought by the closure date of 10 June 2008.

Action: There is specific reference to health and social care budgets in this consultation document that chief executives will want to feed back on.

• Communities and Local Government: Participatory Budgeting - A Draft National Strategy (opens new window)

Publications

2. NHS campus definition change (Gateway reference number: 9549)

From 1 March 2008, the definition of NHS campus will include those in assessment and treatment units who are not compulsorily detained or undergoing a recognised evidence-based treatment programme, and who have been in the unit over 12 months - a reduction in time from 18 months.

Action: Directors of adult social care will need to be aware of this change when completing April ROCR returns on campus numbers.

• Learning disabilities latest news

3. Consortium chosen for world class commissioning (Gateway reference number: 9588)

The 10 SHAs, in association with the Department of Health (DH) have selected an innovative consortium to develop and implement the World Class Commissioning (WCC) assurance system. Kaiser Permanante, Humana, Dr Foster Intelligence, Mental Health Strategies and Ernst & Young - led by  McKinsey - have been selected to work with all PCTs and SHAs over the next year or so, to finalise the  system and support implementation.

Action: Follow this work as the infrastructure for the system is developed and completed in June 2008.

• World class commissioning: news

4. Health inequalities progress report (Gateway reference number: 9548)

This status report provides a review of developments using Office of National Statistics (ONS) data since publication of the Programme for Action in 2003. It considers progress against the national health inequalities PSA target, the national headline indicators and against government commitments. The report highlights the challenging nature of the health inequalities PSA target for 2010.

Action: This report indicates how the health inequalities agenda should be taken forward at local level.

• Tackling health inequalities: 2007 Status Report on the Programme for Action

5. Free Choice roll out for patients (Gateway reference number: 9634)

From April 2008, the Free Choice policy will give patients much greater choice of where they wish to be treated. This means that GPs will be able to refer to any clinically appropriate provider, PCT commissioning arrangements will not restrict where patients are offered a choice, and Choose and Book and the NHS Choices’ website will change to support this roll out.

Action: There is a range of guidance and supporting documents here to clarify how best to roll out Free Choice.

• Choice at referral: guidance and supporting information for 2008/9

6. User-led organisations become action sites (Gateway reference number: 9635)

The recently launched cross-government Independent Living Strategy will enable disabled people to have more choice and control and greater access to employment, transport, health and housing opportunities. User-led organisations (ULOs) are vital to this work and 12 received a share of £750,000 to become action and learning sites in 2008/09.

Action: The aim is to have a ULO in each area by 2010, and chief executives and directors of social care can learn from how the 12 action and learning sites progress. 

• Action and Learning Sites

7. Updated early years programme (Gateway reference number: 9640)

Launched on 17 March 2008, the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP) guide focuses on pregnancy and the first five years of life. It builds on the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services published in 2004 and is intended to provide services tailored to the individual needs of children and families. 

Action: Chief executives can use this guide to promote and modernise child health and maternity services.

8. Antivirals not needed for flu (Gateway reference number: 9644)

The most recent surveillance data available indicates that the overall rate of influenza reports has now fallen below the threshold at which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on the use of antiviral drugs is triggered.

Action: This is confirmation that antiviral drugs are not required for the prevention or treatment of influenza. 

• Influenza Season 2007/08 - Use of antivirals (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what's new

9. Mental health commissioning (Gateway reference number: 9614)

A Department of Health (DH) seminar on 7 May 2008 will focus on world class commissioning, integrated mental health commissioning, and mental health priorities, and will be an opportunity to discuss future developments in mental health commissioning.

Action: Chief executives and senior directors are encouraged to attend.

• New Horizons for Mental Health Commissioning - An opportunity to help shape the agenda. 7th May 2008

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/014 (Gateway reference number: 9647)

Device: Typhoon and Typhoon II battery powered wheelchairs manufactured by Invacare.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/014 (opens new window)

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/015 (Gateway reference number: 9648)

Device: Patient transfer slides/boards, models LOCO-400A Duo and LOCO-401A Duo manufactured by Select Healthcare (UK) Ltd.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 17 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:  

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/015 (opens new window)