Chief Executive Bulletin 1-7 December 2000
Issue 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go back to referring page
Main Page
Hard copy versions of these publications can be ordered from the NHS Responseline 0541 555 455.
Contents:
NHS and Social Care interest
1. Winter: The Winter Plan; MET Office Workload Forecasts
2. Safety Notice - MDA SN2000(25) Alaris (IVAC) 597 and 598 Pumps: Risk of Over Infusion
NHS interest
3. HSC 2000/035 2001/02 HCHS Capital Allocations
4. NHS: Changing Workforce Programme
5. Emergency Planning
6. NHS Plus
7. Errors in the care and treatment of a young woman with diabetes
8. Clarification of guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients
9. IMPORTANT NOTICE
10. Guidance On Commercial Sponsorship - Ethical Standards For The NHS
11. Job Evaluation
Social Care interest
12. LASSL(2000)14 Local Authority Personal Social Services Capital Programme: Annual Capital Guidelines for 2001-2002
13. LASSL(2000)16 - Additional Personal Social Services (PSS) Funding: 2001-02
14. Survey of PSS Assets, Strategies and Management - A Research Report (October 2000)
15. Adopting Changes - Survey and Inspection of Local Councils' Adoption Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHS / Social Care interest
1.Winter
The Winter Plan
This plan describes how the NHS, local councils and their partners have prepared for winter and responded to the extra investment provided this year.
All parts of the system have developed since last year with:
Wider provision of flu vaccination for at risk groups.
Nationwide access to health advice through NHS Direct.
Developments in primary, intermediate and community care.
1,350 more general and acute hospital beds and 445 more critical care beds.
Increases in local authority placements in nursing homes, intensive home care packages, and new intermediate care services.
This increase in capacity is underpinned in the last year by:
An increase of over 6,000 in the number of nurses.
Improvements in the way things are done, removing bottlenecks, better planning and improvements in systems and the spread of good practice.
Partnership being enhanced and extended - across all sectors - primary and community, social care, acute hospitals and for the first time the private sector. All are playing their part.
Link to Winter Plan www.doh.gov.uk/winter/winterplan.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MET Office Workload Forecasts
WEST and the Met office are issuing twice weekly workload forecasts, which will bring together the following information:
Respiratory Disease and Flu Surveillance information
Existing workload
Weather information
There are two levels of information:
The workload forecasts will be in detail for a limited number of specific areas. These are piloting the detailed system for possible role out in the future.
Regional level forecasts
We expect all those involved in responding to winter demand both in trusts and primary care to use the information as part of the management data-set when planning their organisations continued response to winter pressures.
The forecasts can be obtained on the NHS web on the following address: nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/winter/forecasts.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Safety Notice - MDA SN2000(25) Alaris (IVAC) 597 and 598 Pumps: Risk of Over Infusion
This Safety Notice was issued on 29 November 2000 to NHS Trust, Health Authority and Primary Care Trusts Chief Executives. As usual, it was also issued to NHS Trust and Health Authority liaison officers for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice.
Electronic version of Safety Notice 2000(25) can be found at:
www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2000(25).htm
For further information on the role and nomination of liaison officers e-mail us on:
[log in to unmask] www.medical-devices.gov.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHS interest
3. HSC 2000/035 2001/02 HCHS Capital Allocations
This HSC details the allocation of capital resources available for Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) in 2001/02. It also provides Regional Offices indicative figures for general capital allocations for the remaining two years of the Spending Review period to give planning certainty to deliver the NHS Plan.
Link to full circular
Ref. 22944. Copies will be mailed to Finance directors of Regional Offices, Health Authorities, NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts w/c 11/12/00.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. NHS: Changing Workforce Programme
The Changing Workforce Programme has been set up to support the development of new ways of working. As a foundation for this work, the new Director, Judy Hargadon, is asking for information from the NHS about current work.
Examples of patient care pathways, protocols, guidelines and clinical guides are sought. Secondly, the Changing Workforce Programme would like to know about new ways of working that have been developed in the NHS.
Link to letter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Emergency Planning
In November 1998 the Department of Health issued "Planning for Major Incidents - The NHS Guidance". This contains comprehensive guidance on emergency planning in the NHS. A new chapter has been issued (Chapter 12) entitled "Legal Implications". The new chapter considers the most likely ways that an emergency plan will be appraised in a judicial or quasi-judicial forum and covers:
Public Inquiries
Civil liability (including claims for damages as a result of negligence)
Health and Safety legislation
Criminal prosecution.
It sets out: -
practical steps that can be taken to improve practice and thereby help health authorities or trusts comply with their legal duties.
essential actions that must be taken to minimise the risk of litigation.
Note: This new chapter is only available electronically, the addresses are
NHS Web: nww.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/epcu/legch12.htm
Department of Health: www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/epcu/legch12.htm
Please ensure that details of the new chapter are made available to the senior officer in charge of emergency planning
Further details from: In the first instance, please contact your Regional Office Health Emergency Planning Adviser.
If you need further information, please contact:- John Orsulik, Emergency Planning Co-ordination Unit Room 603, Richmond House, London SW1A 2NS. Tel 020 7210 5768
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. 6. NHS Plus
A letter has been sent from Pat Troop to NHS Trust Chief Executives and others setting out further details of the Government's plans for delivering an Occupational Health Service to the private sector under the heading "NHS Plus". The letter explains that the service is intended to grow steadily as a valuable means of income generation but that it is important that it does not lead to a lower standard of provision being given to the NHS. It gives contact details for those who would like further information. Trust chief Executives are urged to consider the contents of the letter with their Occupational Health Department Staff.
Link to letter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Errors in the care and treatment of a young woman with diabetes
The Health Service Commissioner has today published a report, "Errors in the care and treatment of a young woman with diabetes", following three separate investigations by his office into the care provided to "Ms J". The Commissioner is critical of the care provided by a GP in Wales and at the Halton General Hospital in England, which almost certainly lead to her death. He also investigated the handling of a complaint about the Welsh GP by the North Wales Health Authority.
The Commissioner's reports have a great potential as a tool both in terms of training and improvement to the provision of services. Chief Executives and Medical Directors are urged to use the report to consider what lessons can be learned for their organisations, where appropriate for diabetes services, but also from the more general issues that have been raised. The full report is available of the Commissioner's own website: www.ombudsman.org.uk
For further information contact: Adrian Landon, Complaints and Clinical Negligence Policy Unit,br> Tel: 0113 254 5679 e-mail: [log in to unmask]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Clarification of guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients
Please bring this to the attention of staff in renal units, and staff issuing exemption certificates.
Guidance on exemption from prescription charges is set out in leaflet HC11, Help with Health Costs. The leaflet is also published on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/nhscharges/hc11.htm
We would like to clarify the conditions for medical exemption from prescription charges in the case of dialysis patients. Any patient who has a permanent fistula which requires a surgical dressing or an appliance would be entitled to medical exemption if they have completed application form FP92A and a doctor has signed the form to confirm the condition (in this context, "permanent" is taken to mean "intended to last indefinitely"). Whether or not a dialysis patient has a permanent fistula which requires a surgical dressing or appliance is a matter for their doctor's clinical judgement. We would expect the criteria to be met where there is a clinical need for a permanent fistula to be covered by a surgical dressing (for example between haemodialysis treatments) or by an appliance (such as a catheter for peritoneal dialysis).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. GMC's Fitness to Practice Committees
HSC 1999/224 advised NHS organisations of decision of the GMC's Committee on Professional Performance to suspend the registration of Dr Manjula Krippendorf (GMC Registration Number: 4355876) with effect from 22nd July 1999. It also stated that an appeal had been lodged against the decision.
Following her appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which was upheld, Dr Krippendorf's registration became fully effective again as from 15th November 2000.
The Website at nww.doh.nhsweb.uk/nhs/gmc.htm which contains the decisions of the GMC's Fitness to Practice Committees has been updated with this information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Guidance On Commercial Sponsorship - Ethical Standards for the NHS
New guidance is available on the ethical standards to be observed when considering commercial sponsorship proposals. This guidance complements an existing circular which is still extant on Standards of Business Conduct for NHS Staff, HSG(93)5 - which covers the general standards which should be maintained by staff working in the NHS. The new guidance advises that collaborative partnerships can have a number of benefits but that the implications of a new sponsorship deal should be very carefully explored before any agreement is reached.
The guidance is available at www.doh.gov.uk/comspon.htm
The guidance indicates that employers and independent contractors should-
make all staff aware of NHS guidance and relevant codes of conduct
take responsibility for ensuring that codes are observed
ensure that all sponsorship deals are documented
make it a matter of policy that offers which could possibly breach the code are reported to the Board
ensure that all staff record with their Health Authority any financial interest in organisations which have implications for funding e.g. they hold contracts with the NHS that existing contracts and corporate governance policies should be reviewed to ensure that they meet the ethical standards required.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Job Evaluation
The Joint Statement of Progress on Agenda for Change issued on 3 November indicated that progress was being made in all aspects of the negotiations.
Following on from this a letter was sent to Chief Executives and Human Resource Directors on 1 December informing them on the development of the Job Evaluation Scheme for the NHS and inviting organisations to participate in the benchmarking exercise planned for February and March. The letter and attachments can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/agendaforchange/jebenchmarking
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Care Interest
12. LASSL(2000)14 Local Authority Personal Social Services Capital Programme: Annual Capital Guidelines for 2001-2002
This letter informs Local Councils of decisions made by the Secretary of State for Health about the Annual Capital Guidelines (ACGs) for Personal Social Services for the financial year 2001-2002. The ACG for each Local Council is shown in the attached Annex A.
Link to LASSL(2000)14
Ref. 22862 mailed to Chief Executives of Local Authorities with PSS Responsibilities and Social Services Finance Directors 4/12/00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. LASSL(2000)16 - Additional Personal Social Services (PSS) Funding: 2001-02 This letter notifies local councils of their share of the additional £100 million that is being made available for Personal Social Services in 2001-02. The additional funding was announced by the Secretary of State on 27 November. http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/lassl_2000_16.pdf Ref. 22940. Mailed to Chief Executives of Local Authorities with PSS Responsibilities 7/12/00.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Survey of PSS Assets, Strategies and Management - A Research Report (October 2000)
The Department of Health commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out a survey of Personal Social Services assets, strategies and management in councils with social services responsibilities in England. The aim was to investigate the PSS asset base and to assess how prepared social services departments were to contribute information about their capital needs to the wider corporate processes and to the council's policy priorities and objectives, as required under the auspices of the Single Pot.
The survey findings of social services assets cover the following area(s) -
Usage - providing services in a mixed economy of care
Condition - inspection, minimum standards;
Disposal - change in policy priorities
Investment - use of PFI and/or partnerships, future funding routes
Performance management - use of property performance indicators; and
Incentives - devolved budgets, energy savings.
Lessons to be learned include -
More needs to be done by social services departments to build a stronger base from which capital bids and rationalisation, and management of, assets can be made; and
More needs to be done by Local Authorities to prepare corporate aims and objectives by making social services capital strategies, capital needs and assets an integral part of the corporate planning process.
The results from the survey report are now available. Key messages need to be learned. Case studies of good practice are illustrated in the survey report which some councils will find helpful.
Links to executive summary, main report and components in PDF, Word and Rich Text Format www.doh.gov.uk/scg/pssassets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Adopting Changes - Report and CI(2000)22
Survey and Inspection of Local Councils' Adoption Services
Public, political, media and professional interest in adoption has never been higher. Adoption is a highly emotive topic. It is an area of experience which touches many of us personally. It concerns, at a most basic level, our views about the importance of stable, nurturing and loving family life for all children and especially for those children in the public care. Many of those children will not have experienced consistency and security and their birth families may be unable to provide this. It is important that decisions about how adoption services need to change are based on accurate information rather than anecdote or emotional responses to unrepresentative cases. This report describes the findings of a major project that the Social Services Inspectorate has undertaken over the last year to evaluate local councils' adoption services.
The circular, LAC(98)20 Adoption, Achieving the Right Balance was issued in August 1998 to help councils improve their adoption services, in particular their planning both for individual children and the service as a whole, their management and monitoring, and their placement activity. One year later a national survey took place to establish how far councils had achieved the good practice advocated in the circular. This was followed by a data collection exercise in 34 councils and inspections of adoption services in 10 councils. The findings of all three initiatives are the subject of this report. Together they provide us with a detailed picture of what is happening in adoption services on which we can base planning for change.
Link to report in PDF www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/adoptchan.pdf
Link to CI(2000)22
Ref. 22818 Report, 22817 CI(2000)22. Copies mailed to Chief Executives of Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, Local Authorities with PSS Responsibilities and Directors of Social Services 6/12/00.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
