Website of the Department of Health

Hospital deep clean success - Specialist checks to start

Ninty-three percent of trusts completed the local deep cleaning programme by the 31 March 2008 deadline, according to the latest data from the first national programme of hospital deep cleaning. Next steps will see specially trained teams from the Healthcare Commission go into hospitals to check they are meeting and maintaining stringent standards of cleanliness.

SHAs will publish details of their local spend on the deep cleaning programme and final data on its completion will be issued later in April.

• New specialist inspectors to monitor future cleaning

Pharmacists to have bigger role - White Paper heralds major changes

An extended role for pharmacies enabling them to prescribe for and deal wth minor ailments and support people with long-term conditions, is set out in the new pharmacy White Paper Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future. In future pharmacists will complement the work of GPs in promoting health and preventing sickness but not duplicate what GPs do. Two new pharmacist clinical directors or ‘tsars’ will be appointed to champion these changes in hospitals and in the community. To consult on the plans a series of public events will be held around the country starting on 1 May.

• Pharmacy in England: building on strengths - delivering the future

Policy news

No news this week

Consultations and evaluations

1. Bercow report on children (Gateway reference number: 9714)

John Bercow MP was asked by Ed Balls and Alan Johnson to conduct an independent review of services for children with speech, language and communications needs. The interim report was published on 20 March. The final report will be delivered to the Government in July.

Action: This is a chance to comment on the conclusions so far before the final report is completed.

• Bercow Review (opens new window)

Publications

2. Payments for unregistered patients (Gateway reference number: 9681)

This Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) Directions 2008 is effective from 1 April 2008.  Annex C had detailed the Temporary Patients Adjustment, but was restricted to 2007/08.  It has been amended to provide for 2008/09. The directions also include a minor typographical amendment to Annex G.

Action: Payments should continue to be made in line with Annex C of these directions.

• Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) Directions 2008

3. Flu immunisation letter (Gateway reference number: 9570)

This Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s letter on Influenza Immunisation is aimed at health professionals who take part in the flu vaccination programme. The letter contains details of the annual 2008/09 influenza immunisation campaign, influenza immunisation for health and social care staff, and the poultry worker immunisation programme. 

Action: This letter has important information for PCTs on next year's flu vaccination programme.

• The influenza immunisation programme 2008/09

4. Changes to GP contract (Gateway reference number: 9619)

The Department of Health (DH) has written to all GPs to inform them of proposed changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework, which apply from 1 April 2008. The department will make and publish the changes to the statement of financial entitlements, once they have been agreed, as soon as possible. 

Action: PCTs need to be aware of these contract changes, which feature patient access to GP surgeries.

• Proposed changes to the quality and outcomes framework for the financial year 2008/09

5. Environment and health assessment (Gateway reference: 9490)

Draft guidance on Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment was published for consultation in March 2007. Analysis of the responses is published pending further work on considering a health organisation as a consultation body.

Action: Chief executives and directors of social care should note this and look out for further consultation.

• Draft guidance on health in strategic environmental assessment: response to consultation

6. Corporate manslaughter legislation (Gateway reference number: 9699)

On 6 April the main provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 come into effect. All the indications are that the NHS is well placed to deal with its provisions, and that current risk management procedures, if properly implemented and regularly reviewed, will enable that to continue.

Action: Risk management procedures need to continue to be regularly reviewed.

7. Bowel cancer screening (Gateway reference number: 9691)

Advice to the service for bids to participate in the final wave of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme can be found at the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme website (access only for authorised NHS users).

Action: The advice and bidding process is detailed here.

• NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Website (opens new window)

8. National improvement programme (Gateway reference number: 9715

NHS Improvement, a new integrated national improvement programme, is launched this week. Bringing together over eight year’s practical service improvement experience, NHS Improvement will work with NHS organisations and clinical networks to transform, deliver and sustain improvements across the entire pathway of care in cancer, cardiac, diagnostics and stroke services.

Action: Several clinical programmes have merged to provide practical guidance under the umbrella of NHS Improvement.

• NHS Improvement (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i what’s new

9. Modernising medical careers events (Gateway reference number: 9694)

The NHS Medical Director and Director of NHS Employers have written to medical directors notifying them of a series of national events to involve doctors in decisions for Modernising Medical Careers in 2010 and beyond and to influence operational processes for 2009.

Action: There should be arrangements in place so that junior doctors can attend these events without disrupting clinical services in trusts.

• Opportunity for doctors to attend discussion events on Modernising Medical Careers (MMC)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

10. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/018 (Gateway reference number: 9709 )

Device: Patient turner, model 411973300, manufactured by Etac.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 25 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/018 (opens new window)

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/019 (Gateway reference number: 9710)

Device: Folding shower seat 2000 Series manufactured by AKW Medi-Care Limited.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 26 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/019 (opens new window)

12. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/020 (Gateway reference number: 9711)

Device: Nursing beds. Models 3010 and 5020 manufactured by Volker.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 27 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/020 (opens new window)

13. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/021 (Gateway reference number: 9712)

Device: Hospital beds Eleganza Standard, Smart and Deluxe models supplied by Pegasus.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 27 March 2008 to NHS trusts and social services for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/021 (opens new window)

14. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/022 (Gateway reference number: 9713)

Device: ALN retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 1 April 2008 to NHS trusts for immediate action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/022 (opens new window)