Website of the Department of Health

Carers receive £255m boost with new strategy - Programme includes annual check-up and GP training

Breaks for carers will be expanded following the publication of a new Government strategy. The programme to help improve the lives and employment of carers is supported by a £255 million investment.

Key elements of ‘Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities’, include £150 million extra investment to expand short breaks for carers, annual health check pilots and training for GPs to recognise the role that carers play. The strategy involved consulting a wide range of stakeholders and more than 33,000 views were fed into the consultation.

• Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own

Matron numbers doubled to 5,000 - Tackling care standards and infections

More than 5,000 modern matrons are now working in the NHS, according to new figures released by the Department of Health. The figures show there are 5,538 modern matrons in post. This follows a commitment the Prime Minister made in September 2007 to double the number of modern matrons to more than 5,000 by the end of May 2008.

Matrons have authority to act when standards are not being met around improving care and reducing healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs).

• Press release: Matron numbers doubled to 5,000 (opens new window)

Policy news

1. Changes to notice periods (Gateway reference number: 10017)

David Nicholson announced on 1 November 2007 the Secretary of State’s proposal to issue directions to standardise notice periods to no more than six months for chief executives, executive directors and other senior managers. These directions were issued 3 June 2008 and will come into force on 18 June.

Action: Further details can be accessed at:

• NHS Bodies Employment Contracts (Notice Periods) Directions 2008

Consultations and evaluations

2. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services review (Gateway reference number: 10038)

A national call for evidence has been launched, to help inform the deliberations of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) review team. The review has been established by the Department of Health and Department of Children Schools and Families to examine recent progress toward improving services and to make practical recommendations to further improve the commissioning and delivery of services.

Action: Feed in to the review, with a closing date of 7 July 2008, at:

• The CAMHS Review: Next Steps to Improving the Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health of Children and Young People - Call for Evidence (opens new window)

3. Healthy Community Challenge Fund (Gateway reference number: 9932)

The Government wants to work with a small number of local areas to test and evaluate new ideas on the environmental factors that can help to prevent obesity. 

Action: Local authority and PCT chief executives can submit an expression of interest by 11 July 2008. Guidance and an application form can be found at:

• Healthy Community Challenge Fund Invitation to local areas

4. Titan prisons (Gateway reference number: 10065)

Last week the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation on its plan to build three new Titan prison complexes, each housing 2,500 prisoners. The likely areas for these builds are London, the West Midlands and the North West. Titans will present implications for health services.

Action: The deadline for NHS and local authorities to give their responses to this consultation is 28 August 2008. 

• Titan prisons (opens new window)

Publications

5. Social Partnership Forum (Gateway reference number: 9957)

Following the recent re-energising of the Knowledge and Skills Framework, the Social Partnership Forum has collectively recommended actions for organisations. Health Minister Ann Keen has written a letter to convey that message.

Action: Trusts and board members need to ensure they are aware of the forum’s recommended actions.

• Letter: NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework

6. Higher education for paramedics (Gateway reference number: 10015)

Guidance on the transition to higher education for paramedics is now available. The guidance sets out the reasons for change, the education model and advice on commissioning and funding.

Action: This guidance can be used by trusts to drive change locally.

• Pre-registration education and funding for paramedics: guidance for SHAs, PCTs and ambulance services

7. Putting People First personalisation toolkit (Gateway reference number: 9878)

The Putting People First personalisation toolkit is now available to support councils and their partners in their work to achieve the changes set out in Putting People First. Bringing together the learning so far from the Individual Budgets pilot and the work of In Control, the toolkit is available online.

Action: Local authority chief executives at various stages of implementing self-directed support can access the toolkit at:

• Putting People First Personalisation toolkit (opens new window)

8. 2008/09 AIDS support grant (Gateway reference number: 9907)

The AIDS support grant (ASG) Circular LAC 2008(3), issued on 30 May contains grant allocations totalling £19.8m to 150 English local authorities. The grant is a contribution to local authority provision of social care services to meet the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, carers and families.

Action: Important details on the 2008/09 ASG allocation at:

• AIDS support grant for social care for people with HIV/AIDS: financial year 2008/2009

9. Foresight training resource pack (Gateway reference number: 9624)

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has launched this pack to support nurses and midwives, working in all care settings, with the aims of improving awareness of the factors that combine to increase the likelihood of patient safety incidents; increasing local learning through sharing experiences; and improving understanding of ‘risk-prone situations’ and situations that could be considered as a ‘near miss’.

Action: This training pack contains a range of training scenarios, paper and video based, and supporting materials which can be valuable for health organisations.

• Foresight Training Programme (opens new window)

10. Commissioning a world class imaging service (Gateway reference number: 9834)

This web-based tool has been developed to support commissioners of imaging services. It aims to bring together a number of valuable resources about diagnostic imaging in one easy and convenient reference tool.

Action: PCT chief executives will find this good practice tool is a key source of information for commissioners of imaging services.

• Commissioning A World Class Imaging Service (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

11. ‘Making Experiences Count’ regional events (Gateway reference number: 10059)

There are five regional events in July.  These are an opportunity for you to meet participants from the Early Adopter programme involved in developing new complaints systems and hear first-hand accounts of how the new approach is being tested.

Action: You can register to attend by viewing the access letter at:

• 'Making experiences count' regional events - sharing the learning from the complaints reform early adopter sites

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

12. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/036 (Gateway reference number: 10058)

Device: : Invasive blood pressure monitoring sets: LogiCal, NovaTrans and TranStar models with trigger flush device. Manufactured by Smiths Medical from October 2007 to February 2008 inclusive.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 3 June 2008 to NHS trusts for action and update.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/036 (opens new window)

13. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/037 (Gateway reference number:10061)

Device: All posture/safety belts fitted to seating, stair lifts, hoists and wheelchairs.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 5 June 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/037 (opens new window)

14. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/038 (Gateway reference number:10062)

Device: Implantable drug pumps for intrathecal therapy. All manufacturers.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 9 June 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/038 (opens new window)