Website of the Department of Health

National set of NHS values announced Building on ‘What Matters to Staff’ report

A national set of values for the NHS has been announced by Chief Executive David Nicholson, developed in consultation with patients, the public, staff and stakeholders. They will sit alongside local values and include compassion, respect and dignity, improving lives and pulling together. They were informed by the 'What Matters to Staff in the NHS' research, just published by Director General of Workforce Clare Chapman. This says ensuring staff understand their role and where they fit in the organisation, and involving and listening to staff are some of the factors linked to motivation and staff advocacy of the NHS.

• What matters to staff in the NHS

PCTs launch health and well-being schemes - Pilots to support more productive working

The first of 10 sites have started testing a new approach to supporting health and well-being programmes for NHS staff. Rotherham PCT launched a project for 300 of its staff and a further nine sites will be launched by 8 July. It is part of a two-year pilot taking place within three areas across the country to support the improvement of employee health on the basis that healthy employees are less likely to be absent, be more fulfilled at work and more productive. 

• Press release: 'Creating a Healthier NHS': NHS pilots well being assessments for staff (opens new window)

Policy news

1. Pay award for very senior managers (Gateway reference number: 9980)

See letter from David Nicholson to chairs and chief executives of NHS organisations informing them of increases to remuneration for chairs and non-executive directors; increases in pay for very senior managers; and the approval process for awards to those covered by the very senior managers' pay framework.

Action: The letter gives final details of these pay awards and further action required.

• Pay Framework for Very Senior Managers in Strategic and Special Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Ambulance Trusts 2008-09

2. Patient experience surveys for 18 weeks (Gateway reference number: 10079)

This letter is to inform NHS chief executives of the intention to use PCT level surveys to measure local patient experience of 18 week pathways. Patient experience of choice will continue to be measured through the National Patient Choice Survey.

Action: David Flory, Director General for NHS Finance, Performance and Operations has written the letter, see:

• 18-Week Patient Experience Survey and National Patient Choice Survey

3. Vaccine for national human papilloma virus programme (Gateway reference number: 10050)

This letter announces the vaccine to be used for the new national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, starting at the beginning of the next school year. This letter also confirms the funding allocations for PCTs in support of this programme, and provides further information on the local management of HPV vaccine supplies.

Action: PCTs need to be aware of this information in order to effectively plan HPV immunisation.

• Introduction of human papillomavirus vaccine into the national immunisation programme: announcement of vaccine to be used
• NHS Immunisation Information: Professional information (opens new window)

Consultations and evaluations

4. Procedural rules for mental health tribunals (Gateway reference number: 10089)

From 3 November 2008, the Mental Health Review Tribunal will be replaced by the Health, Education and Social Care (HESC) Chamber of the new First-tier tribunal, with a new right of appeal to the Upper Tribunal.  The Tribunals Service is consulting on procedural rules for these tribunals which mental health trusts and social services authorities will have to follow.

Action: Trusts and local authorities have until 11 July 2008 to respond to this consultation.

• The Tribunals Service: latest news (opens new window)

5. Improvements in patient safety (Gateway reference number: 10085)

Twenty more NHS chief executives have committed to raising awareness on reducing harm to patients by signing up to the second Leading Improvement in Patient Safety programme.

Action: You can register for the third wave of the programme, designed to reduce harm in your trusts.

• LIPS III (opens new window)

6. The Beacon scheme (Gateway reference number: 10088)

In Round 10 of the Beacon scheme, we will be awarding Beacon status to local authorities who show excellent and innovative approaches to supporting disabled adults through person-centred responses.

Action: Local authority chief executives have a deadline of 11 July 2008 to apply in order to reward excellent services for disabled people, including those with complex needs.

• Apply for beacon status (opens new window)

Publications

7. Patient safety incident reporting (Gateway reference number: 10073)

The National Patient Safety Agency announces the most recent quarterly incident reporting figures from NHS organisations and provides an overview of the trends and patterns in patient safety incidents covering the period 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2008.

Action: Patient safety incident trends will be of great interest to trusts. 

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

8. World Class Commissioning resources (Gateway reference number: 10090)

The NHS Information Centre is supporting World Class Commissioning. The competencies in the DH commissioning assurance system rely on good quality information. We have produced a short film and booklet about how our national, comparative information is vital for local decision making.

Action: These resources should be viewed to ensure you have the latest free information on offer.

• Supporting world class commissioning film (opens new window)

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

9. NHS Live: energising innovation (Gateway reference number: 10078)

This national conference on 1 July 2008 at Wembley Stadium to celebrate 60 years of the NHS is open to anyone who seeks to innovate, improve and make a real difference for patients.  Speakers include Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) President/CEO Don Berwick.  The unique event will combine NHS 60 celebrations with the opportunity to explore the innovations that will help shape our future. 

Action: To book a free place chief executives should visit:

• NHS Live: energising innovation (opens new window)

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

We are holding five regional events in July. These events 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: Access letter for further details and corrected registration advice, see:

• '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

11. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/039 (Gateway reference number: 10087)

Device: Medtronic Physio-Control LIFEPAK® 12, LIFEPAK® 20 and LIFEPAK® 20e external defibrillators with certain settings.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 16 June 2008 to NHS trusts for immediate action.

Further information can be found at: 

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/039 (opens new window)