Chief Executive Bulletin 22 December 2000 - 4 January 2001
Issue 47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services. A Consultation Document and Draft Guidance.
2. Planning for Health and Social Care
3. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2000(27) Enteral Feeding Systems
4. Implementation Programme for the NHS Plan
NHS interest
5. NHS Modernisation Programme: Steps To Minimise vCJD Risk
6. Chief Medical Officers Summit Meeting on Organ Retention
7. ADVANCE LETTER (MD) 6/00 Consultants' Contract: Annual Appraisal For Consultants
8. MET Office Workload Forecasts
Social Care interest
9. National Minimum Wage and Therapeutic Work
NHS / Social Care interest
1. Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services. A Consultation Document and Draft Guidance.
Draft guidance on local authority home care charging policies was issued for consultation , as part of the Government's determined effort to reduce the scale of variation in charges for non-residential social services.
The consultation period ends on 30 March 2001. Copies of both the consultation document and draft guidance can be found on www.doh.gov.uk/scg/homecarecharges
Ref. 22983 Consultation Document, 22984 Draft Guidance. Will be mailed to Chief Executives of HAs, NHS Trusts, PCGs, PCTs, Local Authorities with PSS Responsibilities and Directors of Social Services w/c 8/1/01.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Planning for Health and Social Care
The guidance for NHS organisations and Local Authorities on Service and Financial Frameworks (SaFFs) is now available on the Department of Health website at: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanimpprogramme/planning.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SAFETY NOTICE - MDA SN2000(27) Enteral Feeding Systems
This Safety Notice was issued on 19 December to NHS Trust, Health Authority and Primary Care Trust Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services Departments. As usual it was also issued to Liaison Officers of Trusts and Health Authorities for action and for onward distribution as specified in the Notice.
For further information on the role and nomination of Liaison Officers e-mail us at: [log in to unmask]
Electronic version of the Safety Notice SN2000(27) can be found at: www.medical-devices.gov.uk/sn2000(27).htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Implementation Programme for the NHS Plan
The Programme sets out the key targets and provisional milestones for the NHS and social care for 2001-02. The document describes the overall framework within which the NHS Plan should be implemented and explains the methodology that has been used to develop the programme. It outlines the purpose and role of Taskforces and sets out the financial underpinning for the implementation of the NHS Plan and the performance management arrangements that will apply.
The Implementation Programme is at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsplanimpprogramme
This item was mentioned in Bulletin 46 without the ordering reference number and details of hard copy mailing.
Ref. 23043. Hard copies are being mailed to Chief Executives of Has, NHS Trusts, PCGs, PCTs, Local Authorities, Directors of Social Services and Council Leaders
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHS interest
5. NHS Modernisation Programme: Steps To Minimise vCJD Risk
Pat Troop has written to all NHS Trust chief executives today, following the announcement £200m to modernise NHS decontamination and sterilisation facilities and on the introduction of single-use instruments for tonsil surgery to minimise the threat from variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). Chief Executives are reminded of the importance to follow the timescales and guidance set out in HSC 2000/032, 'Decontamination of Medical Devices'. The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is meeting with the supply industry and the ENT surgeons. Single-use instruments will be available as quickly as possible via the NHS Logistics Authority, to ensure the co-ordination of supply and demand. Chief Executives are urged to discuss this with ENT surgeons as a matter of urgency. The package of measures are precautionary against a theoretical risk. Nevertheless, it will be for surgeons to agree with patients and families on a case by case basis the immediate clinical needs of the patients balanced against this theoretical risk.
Full letter text will be available from noon 5/1/01 on www.doh.gov.uk/publications/pointh.html
The associated press release will also be available from noon 5/1/01 on
www.doh.gov.uk/newsdesk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Chief Medical Officers Summit Meeting on Organ Retention
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, is to hold a national summit meeting on organ retention, on 11th January, where individuals, professional bodies and other relevant organisations will give evidence in public with panel and audience discussion.
The evidence, ideas and discussion raised at the summit will help to shape the advice which he will give to Ministers on the way forward in this sensitive area.
The purpose of the summit meeting is to gather a wide range of views on the serious concerns raised by events at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital (Alder Hey) and the United Bristol Hospital Trust. This involved the widespread practice of the retention of organs and tissues following post-mortem examination and has caused serious public concern and great distress for the individual families involved.
Details of the summit and how to get involved can be found on the summit website at www.cmosummit.org.uk from noon 5/1/01. Written evidence for the national summit meeting - or details of any person who wishes to give oral evidence or attend the conference on the day - should be sent to the National Summit on Organ Retention on Fax number 0121 702 2886, or by e-mail to [log in to unmask] Evidence can also be sent by post to RSLive, Centre Court, 1301 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 9HH.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. ADVANCE LETTER (MD) 6/00 Consultants' Contract: Annual Appraisal For Consultants
This Advance Letter notifies employers of the introduction of compulsory appraisal for all consultants from 1 April 2001.
The letter can be accessed at: www.doh.gov.uk/consultantscontract.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Care Interest
9. National Minimum Wage and Therapeutic Work
The Department of Trade and Industry has produced an information note titled: The Minimum Wage and Therapeutic Work. This will be of relevance to Local Authority teams working on Welfare to Work For Disabled People. Copies of the note can be obtained from the DTI publications orderline tel: 0870 1502 500; fax: 0870 1502 333; e-mail [log in to unmask] Alternatively the note can be accessed from this link: http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw/therapeutic.pdf
|