Website of the Department of Health

Partnership working Patients to benefit from new fund for NHS collaboration

Staff can look forward to playing a bigger role in improving patient services – thanks to new Government funding. Launched at last week’s NHS Employers conference, the Partnership Fund offers employers and unions the chance to bid for their share of a £500,000 pot to pay for local partnership working. Health Minister Ann Keen said, ‘I want staff to feel supported and actively engaged in the organisation in which they work.’
The initiative delivers on the commitment made in the draft NHS Constitution

• The NHS Constitution
• Find out more (opens new window)

Dignity in Care Award Recognition for those going beyond the call of duty

The first ever award to recognise those who treat patients with dignity and respect has been launched.The People's Award for Dignity in Care is open to everyone. Anyone can nominate individuals or teams who are committed to making a difference to the way in which older people are treated in care. Local nominees will be put forward for a regional award and one overall winner will then be chosen by panel of national judges.
Nominations for the dignity awards open soon and close 6 March 2009.

• Click here to find out more

Policy news

No news this week

Consultations and evaluations

1. Quality Markers consultation (Gateway reference number: 10693)

The Department has launched a consultation on Quality Markers for End of Life Care (EoLC), as promised in July’s EoLC strategy. This has been developed with help from the SHA pathway chairs for the NHS Next Stage Review, who identified the need for a national approach in order to raise the quality of care for people at the end of life.

Action: NHS and local authority chief executives may wish to respond by 6 February 2009.

• End of Life Care Strategy: Quality Markers Consultation

2. Annual NHS Workforce Census 2008 (Gateway reference number: 10844, ROCR/OR/0086/WEIS/FT6/009 & ROCR/OR/0085/FT6/008)

The census collection populates official statistics to monitor and support the development of the NHS workforce. 

Action: NHS chief executives are asked to ensure their trust validates and signs off their data for this year’s census by 1 December 2008.

• NHS staff numbers, Information Centre for health and social care (opens new window)

Publications

3. 18 Weeks - Clinical Genetic Services (Gateway reference number: 10858 )

The attached letter from David Flory clarifies the application of the Department's guidance on 18 weeks Referral to Treatment, first outpatient and diagnostic appointments for clinical genetic services.
 
Action:  SHA chief executives and the wider NHS will be interested in this letter, as it should clear up any possible confusion about the application of the Department's guidance.

• GP referral for clinical genetics services

4. Social factors of mental ill-health (Gateway reference number: 10831)

The recent report ‘Foresight Mental Capital and Well-being: Making the most of ourselves in the 21st century’, highlighted the link between mental ill-health and social factors, especially debt - particularly important given recent financial events.  Previously, periods of high unemployment or severe economic problems have had an adverse effect on mental health and have been associated with high suicide rates. 

Action: PCT chief executives will want to be aware and will want their organisations to work with frontline agencies to identify and support vulnerable individuals.

• Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project Outputs (opens new window)

5. Neonatal taskforce (Gateway reference number: 10822)

The second edition of the neonatal taskforce bulletin has been published. It provides an update on the taskforce work programme focusing on; data for commissioning, neonatal workforce, transfers of neonates and neonatal surgery. There are also two cross-cutting themes (communications and parental support) that all work groups are incorporating into their work streams. All future editions will be available at the link below.

Action: NHS chief executives who wish to subscribe to future editions should email Allison Binns in the Children, Families & Maternity team

• Maternity, first years of life and families
• Email the Children, Families & Maternity team (opens new window)

6. Additional funding for pandemic influenza preparedness (Gateway reference number: 10801)

The Department has identified additional non-recurrent funding totalling £15million from within central budgets for 2008/09 for pandemic influenza preparedness. Margaret Edwards and Lindsey Davies' letter of 13 November refers.

Action: SHA chief executives will wish to allocate this funding in support of their pandemic influenza preparedness planning.

• Additional Funding for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

7. Vascular checks 'next steps' guide (Gateway reference number: 10729 and 10857)

Putting Prevention First (April 2008) set out plans for the NHS to introduce a systematic and integrated programme of vascular risk assessment and management for those aged 40 to 74.  A ‘next steps’ guide, published today, will help PCTs begin their roll out.  The Vascular Checks Impact Assessment and 'The Summary of Vascular Checks Technical Consultation Responses' will also be made available shortly.

Action: PCT chief executives will find this guide useful in implementing the vascular checks programme.

• NHS Health Check

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

8. Achieving World Class Commissioning (Gateway reference number: 10834)

The Department of Health, Social Care Institute of Excellence and Community Care are hosting a joint conference providing clear guidance on implementation of the new commissioning policy. The conference will take place on the 27 November 2008 in London.

Action: Local authority chief executives and PCT commissioners can register for the conference and take advantage of a discounted rate by emailing the registration team at LexisNexis quoting CC/WCC/DH

• LexisNexis: Achieving World Class Commissioning (opens new window)
• Email registration team at LexisNexis (opens new window)

9. Towards effective prevention in adult social care (Gateway reference number: 10835)

The Department of Health, Social Care Institute of Excellence and Community Care are hosting a joint conference to address early intervention and preventative services for older people. The conference will take place 3 December 2008 in London.

Action: Local authority and PCT chief executives as well as directors of social services can register for the conference and take advantage of a discounted rate by emailing the registration team at LexisNexis quoting CC/EI/DH

• LexisNexis: Towards Effective Prevention In Adult Social Care (opens new window)
• Email registration team at LexisNexis (opens new window)

10. Patients' rights to cross-border healthcare within the EU  (Gateway reference number: 10847)

Department of Health listening events are taking place on 26 November in London and 1 December in Manchester on a recent draft EU Directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. 

Action:  NHS chief executives who wish to attend this event or nominate a relevant member of their staff (information provision/ financial planning/commissioning are especially relevant) to attend can register at the attached link.

• Consultation on the European Commission's proposals for a Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare

11. Health Innovation and Education Clusters Gateway reference number: 10853)

As part of the Next Stage Review, the report ‘A High Quality Workforce’ included a commitment to develop Health Innovation and Education Clusters - partnerships between trusts, universities, employers and possibly others to promote innovation within the NHS. A national event on 5 December will discuss their development.

Action: NHS chief executives who wish to attend or nominate a relevant member of staff should email the HIEC team. 

• A high quality workforce: NHS Next Stage review
• Email the Health Innovation and Education Clusters team (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

No news this week