Website of the Department of Health

National debate launched on care and support - Views sought from public and professionals

A six-month consultation on the future of the care and support system for England has been launched with the findings used to inform the development of a Green Paper in 2009.

A series of regional events will ask for views from the public and health and social care professionals on how to deliver a fair and affordable system. Linked to this, a £31 million programme to test the potential of telecare and other technologies in meeting complex health and social care needs has also started. 

• Social care consultation press release (opens new window)

New legislation to deliver Next Stage Review - Bill included in Government programme

A new NHS Reform Bill to help deliver improved, more personalised care for millions of patients has been included in the Government's draft legislative programme.

The bill will take forward any proposals arising from the NHS Next Stage Review that will require primary legislation to implement, such as  publishing an NHS Constitution setting out the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients to strengthen and sustain the NHS, and increasing public involvement in PCT commissioning arrangements.

• Download Preparing Britain for the Future (in PDF format) from the TSO (The Stationery Office) website (opens new window)

Policy news

1. Primary ophthalmic services regulations (Gateway reference numbers: 9838, 9839, 9837, 9876)

Four new regulations have been laid before Parliament, which make changes to arrangements for primary ophthalmic services. Transitional provisions allow PCTs to work as if the main regulations were already in force to enable implementation to be complete by August. 

Action: PCTs need to implement the new regulations by August this year.

• Eye care services

Consultations and evaluations

2. Innovation for Life Challenge Fund (Gateway reference number: 9899)

The £100,000 revenue funding is to support the development of cross-sector innovative social enterprise solutions that will improve health and well-being across communities. Criteria for funding is available via the link.

Action: SHAs and their partners are invited to bid with initial expressions of interest required by 19 June 2008.

• Social Enterprise: 'Innovation for Life Challenge Fund'

3. Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (Gateway reference number: 9918)

Vacancies exist for employer members on the Advisory Committee’s regional sub-committees.

Action: Please access the above link to register for these important bodies.

• Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (opens new window)

4. Military and civilian health partnership awards (Gateway reference number: 9891)

These awards launched on 12 May aim to recognise people working within the NHS, Defence Medical Services, charity or private healthcare sectors for the excellent services they provide to UK armed forces, their dependants and veterans. There is more information and details here of how to nominate or apply.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives and directors of social care need to nominate people  for the awards by 5 July 2008.

• Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards (opens new window)

Publications

5. Human Papillomavirus vaccine supply and funding (Gateway reference number: 9880)

This letter gives further details for PCTs on the arrangements for vaccine supply and funding allocation in support of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, which starts in autumn 2008.

Action: Comments or queries are requested from PCTs regarding their allocation and a designated person to order vaccines.

• NHS Immunisation Information: Further information on vaccine supply and funding allocation (opens new window)

6. Full adoption of NHS Number (Gateway reference number: 9801)

The NHS Number has refreshed its programme of work to build upon and provide further support, guidance and assistance to healthcare organisations in achieving complete adoption of the NHS Number. Please see the attached letter from Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director who will be acting as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for this programme

Action: Take up of the NHS Number as the national identifier for patients will significantly improve safety by ensuring they are correctly identified.

• NHS Number Programme

7. Heatwave Plan 2008 (Gateway reference number: 9575)

The Heatwave Plan for England 2008 uses a new ‘traffic light’ alert system and there have been some changes to the alert level thresholds to give better warning of a heatwave. The plan includes new additional background information for long term planning, such as how to create cool hospital estates and care homes with minimal use of air conditioning.

Action: Trusts need to look at what action they can take in response to the plan and the factsheets that form part of it.

• Heatwave plan for England 2008

8. Down's Syndrome screening model (Gateway reference number: 9674)

The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) has updated the model of best practice on Down's Syndrome screening published by the Department of Health in November 2003. The revised document outlines the UKNSC recommendations on outcomes for the Down’s Syndrome screening programme in England

Action: NHS chief executives will be want to take note of this publication in line with their ultimate responsibility for quality and patient safety.

• Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme - Screening for Down's Syndrome: UK NSC Policy recommendations 2007 - 2010: Model of Best Practice

9. Productive Ward (Gateway reference number: 9921)

The NHS Institute can support plans to invest in frontline nursing through the implementation of the Productive Ward. The Productive Ward releases nurses from carrying out unnecessary tasks so that they have more direct patient care time. Two membership packages are available.

Action: There is £50m additional funding for this project and nurses within NHS trusts should be encouraged to take part.

• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Productive ward membership packages (opens new window)

10. Ex-service personnel prostheses (Gateway reference number: 9783)

Guidance has been placed on the Department of Health website about the maintenance and replacement of prostheses for ex-service personnel with prostheses provided by the armed forces.

Action: The commissioning of prostheses services in PCTs should allow for ex-service personnel to get their prostheses maintained and replaced appropriately on the NHS.

• Continuity of care for discharged members of the armed forces - prostheses

11. Better acute mental healthcare workbook (Gateway reference number: 9676)

Laying the Foundations is a service redesign and capital investment workbook. It is designed to assist those involved in the review, planning and redesign of adult acute mental health services, and informs any related capital development proposals.

Action: This has particular relevance for chief executives of all providers and commissioners of adult acute mental health services, in light of the current Healthcare Commission’s inpatient service review.

• Download Laying the Foundations for Better Acute Mental Healthcare (in PDF format) from the CSIP website (opens new window)

12. Suspension of trust and PCT non-executives (Gateway reference number: 9908)

Between January and March 2008 the Department of Health in conjunction with the Appointments Commission carried out a consultation seeking views on introducing a reformed process by which chairs and other non-executives in NHS trusts and PCTs may be removed from office, including the introduction of new powers of suspension.

Action: You can see the final version of the commission's new process and the supporting regulations that were laid before Parliament on 13 May at: 

• Removing or suspending chairs and non-executives of primary care trusts and NHS trusts from office: feedback on the consultation to introduce powers of suspension

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

13. Beyond accountability: using data for improvement (Gateway reference number: 9923)

Increase your understanding of how to use data to develop a total measurement system for your organisation that will ensure the right things are being monitored.

Action: Register for this one-day seminar aimed at NHS chief executives and their management teams.

• NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Beyond Accountability - Using data for improvement (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

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Patient safety alerts

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