NHS interest


1. HSC 2000/020 Hepatitis B Infected Health Care Workers

This circular supplements previous guidance on hepatitis B infected health care workers, reduce further the risk of transmission of infection to patients. The circular recommends carrying out additional testing of hepatitis B infected care workers who are e-antigen (HBeAg) negative and perform exposure prone procedures, and restricting the working practices of those with higher viral loads.

Previous guidance on hepatitis B infected health care workers who are e-antigen positive still applies (Health Service Guidelines HSG (93)40: Protecting health care workers and patients from hepatitis B - 18 August 1993, and its Addendum issued under cover of EL(96)77 - 26 September 1996).

Circular

http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/hepatitisb.htm

Guidance

http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/hepatitisb.pdf 

Ref. HSC 21853 Guidance 21854 Mailed to NHS Medical Directors, Directors of Nursing, Human Resources and Public Health 23/6/00


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2. Project on Primary Care's Role in Capacity Planning 

For the attention of Chief Executives of Primary Care Groups and Primary Care Trusts

The National Patients' Access Team recently wrote to Chief Executives about work to manage demand. Some PCG/Ts are appointing people to specifically focus on this area. The main focus of the position is feeding back referral information to clinicians, liasing with secondary care clinicians, identifying best practice and assisting the other members of the PCG/T in implementing these schemes. 

Many of these posts are being developed in isolation, and I would like to develop a network so that they can all learn from each other.

If you have such a position, or are developing one within your PCG/T could you e-mail me on [log in to unmask] with details, so I can take the development of this network forward.


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3. Staff Involvement Action Plan

Ministers have launched the staff involvement Action Plan which sets out what they expect NHS employers, trade unions, contractors and the NHS Executive to do to ensure real staff involvement happens at all levels. It is accompanied by a self-assessment tool which is for local employers and Staff Sides to use when conducting joint local reviews of staff involvement - this will be a requirement under the forthcoming HR Performance Framework.

[One of the first activities to take place under the Action Plan will be a series of eight Regional Partnership Workshops in July. Leading trade unionists and managers in each region will work together with ACAS facilitators on developing a steering group and activity plan to spearhead activity in their NHS region. This will be followed by a "Sharing good practice" event in each region later in the year to help local managers and stewards conduct the self-assessments and make real changes. ]

Copies of the three following documents are available from the NHS Responseline on 0541 555 455 and from the Internet on http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/staffinv.htm:

Report of the NHS Taskforce on Staff Involvement http://www.doh.gov.uk/pub/docs/doh/stafinv2.pdf (July 1999) 

Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the NHS Taskforce on Staff Involvement http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/staffinvaction.pdf, 

Working together: Staff involvement self-assessment tool http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/staffinvself.pdf (April 2000) 

For further information contact Maggie Evans on 0113 254 6462 or at [log in to unmask]


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4. Hazard Notice MDA HN2000(05) Trilucent ä Breast Implants: Recommendation To Remove 

Issued 15 June 2000

This Hazard Notice was issued to NHS Trust and Health Authority Chief Executives and as usual, it was also faxed to Trust, Health Authority for immediate action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. www.medical-devices.gov.uk/hn2000(05).htm

For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on:

[log in to unmask] http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk


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5. Hazard Notice MDA HN2000(06) Drager 8000 Incubators Issued 26 June 2000

This Hazard Notice was issued to NHS Trust and Health Authority Chief Executives and as usual, it was also faxed to Trust, Health Authority for immediate action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. www.medical-devices.gov.uk/hn2000(06).htm 

For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on:

[log in to unmask] http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk


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NHS / Social Care interest

6. Safety Notice MDA SN2000(11) Single Hand Use, Propelling Wheel System for Wheelchairs Risk of injury from spring loaded, detachable cross tube axle during removal.

This Safety Notice was issued on 22 June 2000 to NHS Trust, Health Authority and Primary Care Trust Chief Executives and Social Service Directors for immediate action for onward distribution as specified in the Notice. www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2000(11).htm 

For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on:

[log in to unmask] http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk

The documents in this bulletin are Crown copyright but may be reproduced by NHS and Local Authority staff without formal permission or charge for personal or in-house use - ©2000 


 



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