Editorial
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I think the greeting needs to be emphasised with all
the bad news filling, nay overwhelming, our senses
as 2008 came to a close.
2009 offers plenty of promise.
However, the continuing economic ills should force
some clear headed thinking upon our politicians.
The first issue I would like the Department of Health
to address is the crazy costs associated with the
NHS National IT project – some £16bn, some £266
for every man, woman and child.
The project aims to have all patient records of every
kind accessible from any terminal in the NHS – so
that in an emergency records can be accessed
seamlessly. Call me old fashioned, but, the NHS
personnel practising acute medicine always seem to
have done lifesaving quite well without such a
system.
I am not only concerned about cost, but, also
security. Tens of thousands of NHS staff will be able
to access MY records. Government doesn’t have an
enviable track record when it comes to data security!
Why not simply keep all data centralised with GPs,
where it is of most use?
Patients, if they wish, could be issued with a medical
memory stick or smart card and they can have
custody of the data or transport it between different
medics handing over the memory stick/smart card at
each appointment.
I know that there are flaws. I have a habit of putting
useful things in safe places never to be seen
again. However, if information is centred on GPs as
it always has been – all is not lost. Such an approach
must be achievable for less than £60 a head, possibly
much, much less.
This week’s article
It has become established that the first issue of each new volume of this publication begins with congratulations to all those whom Her Majesty The Queen has conferred honours. This year, some 8% of all honours came from Health. The wide range of awards include DBEs for Elizabeth Fradd, for services to nursing and for her extensive and regular contribution to policy development at national and international levels, and for Professor Sally Davies, director of research and development at the Department of Health, for her outstanding contribution to patient care and health research.
A full list of those persons relevant to the health and social care sectors can be found at page 23..
Parliament
Parliament is in recess until 12.01.08.
Next
Abuse (incl. Vetting & Barring)
1. New figures on scale of child abuse
31 December 2008—Vetting and Barring Scheme
(VBS) Update
ISA Decision Making (IDM) update
31 December 2008—Vetting and Barring Scheme
(VBS) Update
For background, as part of the transition to the new
Vetting and Barring Scheme, the Independent Safeguarding
Authority (ISA) is due to take over decisions
on new referrals to the existing barred lists (List 99,
POCA, POVA in England and Wales) from the Secretaries
of State at the Department for Children,
Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department of
Health (DH).
Since 31 March 2008, the ISA has advised the Ministers
on barring, but when IDM comes in employers in
England and Wales (under PoCA or PoVA), and employers
in England (under List 99) must send new
referrals under these schemes to the ISA, which will
take the barring decisions. There will be local variations
on these arrangements for List 99 in Wales and
Northern Ireland. Where the ISA asks organisations
for information on a case, they must provide it.
Other key features of IDM worth noting are:
• New referrals must be made to the ISA and not
the DCSF or DH;
• New referrals will no longer be considered for provisional
listing on POCA or POVA, making it even
more important for employers to follow best recruitment
practice by taking up references and
looking into career history, to ensure they fully
understand why job applicants left any previous
employment;
• In the education sector, misconduct referrals on
teachers in most cases (although not child protection
related) must go to the General Teaching
Council and no longer the DCSF;
The appropriate wording on CRB certificates will
change to reflect POCA/POVA and List 99 decisions
will now be taken by the ISA.
The IDM may commence as soon as 20.01.09.
2. ISA Decision Making Process (IDMP)
31 December 2008—Vetting and Barring Scheme
(VBS) Update
There are plans to spell out exactly how the ISA will
make decisions when it deals with cases in 2009. A
specific structure to the way case workers and the
board of independent experts will approach referrals
from the Criminal Records Bureau and information
from a variety of other sources has been signed off
by the ISA Board.
3. Baby P and the safeguarding of children in
Haringey - Healthcare Commission comment
19 December 2008—Healthcare Commission
Newsletter
HC recently commented on the health-related findings
of the joint review at Haringey, which we carried
out with Ofsted and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.
The review assessed the Borough's current arrangements
for safeguarding children and young people
following the tragic death of a 17-month-old baby boy,
known as Baby P.
HC has already reviewed the documentary evidence
of the care provided to Baby P, as part of its normal
procedures in serious cases of this kind. It will now
extend these inquiries - carrying out interviews and
visits - to look in further detail at the roles of the NHS
organisations involved. This review at the four trusts
involved will particularly focus on:
• Communication between healthcare professionals
and between agencies
• Awareness of healthcare procedures for child protection
• Recruitment and training
• Levels of staffing
4. Abuse charity questions star ratings for
two councils
January 2009—Caring Times
Action on Elder Abuse has questioned why Hounslow
and South Tyneside have been given two star ratings
by CSCI in view of the high profile scandals concerning
residents in their respective areas.
5. Care worker is sacked over alleged picture
December 2008—Caring UK
Item about a care worker in Dundee sacked for allegedly
taking an indecent picture of an elderly service
user using a mobile ‘phone. The operator also introduced
a ban on the use by staff members of mobile
‘phones at work.
Business News
6. Priory in bid to gatecrash care deal
4 January 2009 - The Sunday Times
Priory’s merger talks collapse
4 January 2009 - Mail on Sunday
Report that the RBS proposal for merging the Priory
and Four Seasons Healthcare has been rejected by
major creditors. Four Seasons has seen a number
of potential purchasers express interest in acquisition
– at the right price.
£1.3bn is due to be repaid to financiers towards the
end of January.
It is said that Philip Scott, CEO of the Priory, has
written directly to 30 lenders to Four Seasons urging
their support for a merger.
The management of Four Seasons is said to favour a
debt-for-equity-swap which will result in a write-off by
banks of some £500million.
7. A missing child becomes mother of invention
for personal global tracking device
3 January 2009 - The Sunday Times
Item about serial entrepreneur, Sara Murray, who
developed a tracking devise to keep tabs on her
daughter from whom she had become separated
when on a shopping trip.
Ed. The technology may become a user-friendly
device for use by people who become confused
or lost – see item 60.
8. Creditor fears for NHS foundations
28 December 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
Creditors of NHS Foundation Trusts may be left with
nothing if a Foundation Trust goes bust.
Ed. I recall researching this issue some six or
seven years ago for a lease hire business which
provided large items of plant and equipment to
such organisations – my advice was exactly that,
if a Foundation Trust fails creditors are likely to
be left without remedy. The advice was not well
received at the time, perhaps with the credit
crunch the business managers will now think differently.
9. ADL PLC
24 December 2008
Interim Report for the six months to 30 September
2008
Financial Highlights
• £361,000 Operating Profit before deducting
£110,000 exceptional costs (30 September 2007:
£631,000 before exceptional costs of £417,000)- a
reduction of 43%
• (£53,000) Retained loss after exceptional items
(30 September 2007: Retained profit £78,000)
• (0.54)p Earnings per Ordinary Share (30 September
2007: (1.49)p)
• 82.1p Net Assets per Ordinary Share (30 September
2007: 85.1p) - a decrease of 3.5% (Allowing
for the transition from UK GAAP to IFRS)
Trading in the second half is showing a similar performance
to that experienced in the first half
Sir William Wells, Chairman, commented “The past
six months in particular have presented extraordinary
challenges for our business and I am delighted that,
with the end of the legal action, we have been vindicated.
Your management team, who have borne
these challenges with fortitude, are now determined
to work to rebuild shareholder value”
Chairman's statement
Financial Results
I have pleasure in presenting ADL's Interim Report for
the six months ended 30 September 2008. In this period
turnover was £2.925 million (30 September 2007:
£3.023 million and year to 31 March 2008 £6.043 million).
The profit on ordinary activities before interest,
taxation and exceptional costs fell to £361,000 from
£631,000 in the six months to 30 September 2007.
Our net assets at the period end were £8.117m,
equivalent to 82.1p per share. Our relationship with
our bankers remains positive. Our banking facilities at
30th September 2008 were £9m and no repayments
are due until October 2009.
Your board does not consider it appropriate at the
present time to declare an interim dividend.
The reduction in turnover within the Company is primarily
due to the impact of the closure of The Knoll
noted below.
Despite exceptional expenditure of £110,000 in relation
to the legal action against the Company and its
directors, and the distraction caused in this respect,
the Company has managed to minimise the overall
loss for the Company to £53,000 for the six months.
Review of Business
Progress over the last six months has been difficult
owing to the considerable resources and senior management
time which were deployed in the defence
against the criminal charges brought against the
Company under the Mental Health Act 1983. These
charges were (as previously announced) stayed by
His Honour Judge Ticehurst in Bristol Crown
Court on the 21st November 2008.
Ed. Readers can look at coverage of the legal
proceedings by going to our website
www.brunswicks.eu and putting ‘ADL’ into the
website dedicated search engine.
This legal action followed the dawn raid by Police
and the Commission for Social Care Inspection
('CSCI') on the 26th July 2005 at Newsham House
Nursing Home in Gloucester and this has undoubtedly
affected the performance of the group since that
date. Direct costs incurred in defending
the Company, its Directors and employees since
2005 are in excess of £430,000.
Clearly the issues at Newsham House have affected
the Company's relationship with both the regulatory
body and other associated bodies throughout the
country. In the Company's view this was a contributory
factor in the emptying of The Knoll (a 42 bed
facility in Bradford) by the local authority on the
4th July 2008. The six month period under review
shows the impact of its closure on income and the
redundancy costs incurred.
At the time of the Company and its Directors being
charged it was our intention to acquire a compatible
group of five homes to complement our provision in
the northern area. Previously arranged funding was
withdrawn as a result of the Company being
charged. As a consequence in the year end accounts
the costs incurred of £310,112 were written off.
The court case has impacted the CSCI ratings of our
homes throughout the country and impacted group
earnings.
Your Board is currently in consultation with its legal
team and are assessing the quantum of the claim for
consequential damages which they believe could be
in excess of £1 million.
CSCI insisted on the removal of the Acting Manager
at Gloucester following her being charged in September
2007, and your Directors were precluded from
general access to the home. This action led to CSCI
seeking to close the home. As a result and to protect
the home, its residents and the Company's investment,
a management agreement has been entered
into with Lifeline Homes Limited until re-registration
takes place in their name. Following that it is your
Company's intention to lease the home to this company
on a 35 year lease and to subsequently seek a
sale of the resultant investment.
As previously reported it is the Company's policy to
de-gear and reduce bank debt by selected asset
sales.
Development Opportunities
Completion of the sale of surplus land
at Gloucester has been delayed due to planning
problems by the developers. Building work on the
new car park is virtually complete. Financial completion
of the sale is expected in early 2009.
The developer who acquired Morton Manor managed
to sell four of the six units prior to the market collapse.
Your Directors have taken a lease of one of
the remaining flats in satisfaction of the developer's
outstanding debt of some £250,000. This will be let in
the short term with the intention of a sale once market
conditions allow.
The developers of surplus land at Allambie
Court, Nuneaton have withdrawn from the conditional
contract to develop some eight flats in view of deteriorating
demand. The Company has received planning
consent to extend the property to provide six single
rooms in view of the lack of demand for twin rooms.
Now the court case has ceased and as cash flow allows,
this extension will be built.
In addition the Company is currently analysing demand
in the area with a view to seeking planning permission
for a further extension to bring the home up
to 60 beds.
Outlook
It is your Board's intention to seek to rebuild relationships
with both the regulator, CSCI, throughout the
country and purchasing authorities, thus stabilising
the business. Once this has been achieved we will
seek appropriate opportunities to grow the business.
Sir William Wells
Chairman
10. Primary Care Estate in Privatisation Plan
December 2008 - HealthInvestor
The Govt. is reported to be considering plans which
would allow for the sale and leaseback of the NHS
estate through local improvement finance trusts
(LIFTs).
11. Capita signs £60m IT contract
December 2008 - HealthInvestor
The DoH and Capita have contracted for the development
and delivery of ‘NHS Choices’ valued at
£60m over three years.
12. Taylor National relaunched
January 2009 - Caring Times
Hamilton Anstead has raised his profile in the sector,
previously CEO of Four Seasons, he has now
teamed up with Grayson Taylor and Rachael Jolley
to form a new property agency, Taylor National.
Care Homes
13. Care home praised over pet policy
26 December 2008 – BBC News
The Blue Cross charity has praised a Surrey care
home for being one of the few that provide pets for
residents.
The animal charity said a survey of 234 care homes
and sheltered housing units had found that the "vast
majority" did not allow animals.
It praised the Abbeywood Care Home in Ash Vale
where pets are allowed.
For full report click here
14. Out with the assistance and in with the
nursing?
December 2008/January 2009 - Community Care
Market News
Over two pages, Justin Merritt looks at the move by
Sunrise Senior Living to re-register its homes as
‘care homes with nursing’ and asks whether this is a
sign of things to come. Is there a change afoot in
extra care provision?
15. Homes forced to ring for ambulances
December 2008 - Caring UK
English Community Care Association’s Martin Green
reporting that his members are having to ring for ambulances
for routine illness as GPs are not available
and how they are also waiting prolonged periods for
GPs to issue death certificates.
16. Best homes to get share of £2.5m
December 2008 - Caring UK
Nottinghamshire is introducing a new @Local Fair
Price’ for care which, when fully implemented, will
result in the best care homes receiving an extra £117
per resident per week.
Case Reports
Law Reports
Nothing to report
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
17. 300 victims of abuse to sue councils for
neglect
24 December 2008 - The Times
Following the decision secured by Jake Pierce (see
below) between 200 and 300 cases are being prepared
against councils – the opportunity has been
opened by the case of A v Hoare (see BHCR Vol 1
Issue 7—item 11).
18. Compensation at last for a childhood betrayed
24 December 2008 - The Times
Jake Pierce has been awarded £25,000 for the failings
of social workers to protect him from his abusive
parents.
19. Damages win for parents falsely suspected
of abuse
23 December 2008 - The Times
Tim & Gina Williams secured a “six-figure sum” to
compensate them for the wrongful removal of their
three children for a period of two years after wrongly
believing the children to have been abused when in
their care – they had been exonerated in 2006.
The barrister representing the family – Robin Tolson
QC
20. Sex offenders ruling
20 December 2008 - The Times
Sex offenders have won the right to challenge their
inclusion for life on the sex offenders register.
The Court of Appeal decided that the lack of review is
a breach of human rights.
Children
Nothing to report
Conferences & Courses
21. Deprivation of liberty safeguards - training
These FREE events are being held for providers in
Lancashire to help ensure providers are up to speed
with the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in advance
of their implementation in April
1. 12th January Red Rose Hub, Preston - 9:00
registration - 9:30 start 16:30 finish.
2. 13th January The Globe, Accrington—FREE.
Lunch provided.
3. 19th January— Red Rose Hub, Preston
4. 20th January— Borwick Hall, Lancaster
To register contact...
DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY SAFEGUARDS
PRE- IMPLEMENTATION WORKSHOP
Monday 12th January 2009
9.30 – 4pm
The Glebe Centre
Church Street
Murton, Seaham
County Durham
SR7 9BX
This workshop will assist all organisations affected
by this legislation to identify the steps they need to
take to now to ensure that they will be ready to ‘go
live’ on 01.04.09.
Cate Short
Lancashire County Council Mental Capacity Coordinator
Cate.Short@SSD.LancsCC.Gov.Uk
Dawn Fletcher
NHS Central Lancashire Mental Capacity Act Lead
Dawn.Fletcher@centrallancashire.nhs.uk
Paul Harper
East Lancashire PCT Mental Capacity Act Lead
paul.harper@eastlancspct.nhs.uk
This will be a practical event with an opportunity to
attend workshops on Case Scenarios; DoL Decision-
Making tools; Managing the DoL process for Supervisory
Bodies & Managing Authorities; Using the Standard
forms; Role of IMCAs & Relevant Person’s Representative.
Who Should Attend?
.. Multi-agency staff from Local Implementation
Networks
.. Deprivation of Liberty Leads
.. Staff from Provider services - Hospitals & Care
Homes
.. Commissioners from Primary Care Trusts and
Local Authorities
Independent Mental Capacity Advocates
How to Register to Attend:
If you would like to attend this event please E mail
your booking form to: sally.robertson@yhip.org.uk or
fax it to 01904 717269, or post to: Sally Robertson,
Genesis 5, Innovation Way, Heslington, York, YO10
5DQ.
Alternatively if you don’t have access to the internet
please telephone Sally Robertson on 01904 717260
Please book as soon as possible; the final closing
date to register your attendance is Wednesday,
7th January 2009
If you are unable to attend this event please notify us
as soon as possible so we can offer your place to
somebody else.
22. Action on Elder Abuse - FORTHCOMING
events
> Legislation Conference, London, Jan 2009
> AEA’s National Conference, Nottingham, 23/24
March 2009
For details please contact Natalie Fernandez on natalie@
elderabuse.org.uk, or call us on 0208 765 7000
23. Leading the way in social care
Social Care Leadership Development Programme—
by SCIE
November 2008 and January 2009
SCIE is running a third year of the highly successful
Social Care Leadership Development Programme,
which will be run by the King’s Fund, Birmingham
University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
The programme welcomes applications from:
• Potential directors of adult social services and potential
directors or chief executives in provider organisations
• Black and minority ethnic applications
• Private sector provider applicants
The programme is designed to provide a developmental
and outcomes-focused framework that draws
on participants’ experiences and relates to their current
work environment. Core content themes are:
• Leadership for social care outcomes
• Personal and organisational leadership
• Community leadership
The programme is funded by the Department of
Health with a maximum of 24 participants in each
group.
For more information and an application form please
contact Elizabeth Scott, Programme Administrator,
SCIE, Goldings House, 2 Hay’s Lane, LONDON,
SE1 2HB on 020 7089 6920 or elizabeth.
scott@scie.og.uk
24. Safeguarding Protection Conference, 12
January 2009, NCVO, London
The Government has recently launched its consultation
on The No Secrets guidance to protect adults at
risk of abuse. Eight years on from the launch of the
guidance, this conference asks whether it is now
time to put this work on a par with child protection
and domestic violence by introducing a legislative
framework? A range of expert speakers from across
statutory and voluntary sectors will examine a number
of key questions including:
• What do we mean by adult protection legislation?
• Why is legislation important? What do we want it
to achieve?
• The limitations of a guidance only approach.
What would legislation look like?
This unique conference will look at and examine
adult protection legislation as well as critiquing other
related legislation such as The Mental Capacity Act,
Human Rights Act, Domestic Violence Crime and
Victims Act.
Speakers have been invited from a number of organisations
including:
• Tim Spencer- Lane, Law Commission
• Penny Furness-Smith, ADASS
• Kathryn Stone, Voice UK
• Caroline Ellis, RADAR
Jackie Barron, Women’s Aid
Forthcoming events
AEA’s National Conference, Nottingham, 23/24
March 2009
For details please contact Natalie Fernandez on natalie@
elderabuse.org.uk, or call us on 0208 765 7000
25. Capita’s 6th National Conference
Improving Services for Older People
Promoting Independence, Wellbeing and Social
Inclusion
Monday 19th January 2009 – Central London
Please note that we still have spaces available on
this popular and timely event, which is CPD Certified
and supported by Age Concern, POPP (the Dorset
Partnership for Older People Project) and the Beth
Johnson Foundation. If you have not yet booked
any places on this event and would like to, please email
me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk
This conference is an excellent learning and networking
opportunity for anyone involved with Older People’s
Services, Independent Living, Care Management,
Supporting People, Supported Housing and
Health and Wellbeing. I would be grateful if you could
forward these details on to anyone you feel would
benefit from attending.
Please click here for further details of this conference.
If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Alan Hatton-Yeo, Chief Executive, Beth
Johnson Foundation, our expert speakers include:
Andrew Harrop, Head of Policy, Age Concern England
Charlotte Potter, Senior Health Policy Officer, Help
the Aged
Luke O’Shea, Team Leader, Supporting People,
Communities and Local Government
Bernadette Simpson, Older People Lead – National
Personalisation Programme, CSIP
Sue Warr, Project Manager – Dorset POPP, Dorset
County Council
Nicola Humberstone, Older Lesbian Project Development
Worker, Association of Greater London
Older Women
Places can be booked on this event either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the delegate
details directly to dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.
Alternatively you can book online by clicking here
and using Booking Reference Code TSDE.
Please read Terms and Conditions
We offer discounts for Block Bookings of 3 delegates
or more, please call me direct on 0207 808
5309 for more details.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU
MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
26. Urgent Care
Developing integrated community-based
pathways to deliver the right care, in the
right place, at the right time
20th January 2009, Earls Court Exhibition Centre,
London
www.hsj-urgentcare.com
Join conference chair, Rick Stern, Lead on Urgent
Care at NHS Alliance, as he leads you through key
sessions that will equip you with the tools to transform
your Urgent Care services, including:
Establishing quality, community based urgent care response
services
Overcoming common problems in achieving integrated
care pathways
Managing the workforce implications of service transformation
Opportunities for growth and development in the new
health economy
Maximising the role of World Class Commissioning in
driving collaboration and integrated urgent
Measuring health outcomes to inform commissioning
and improve urgent care services
Developing the role and public image of ambulance
services to drive improved care pathways
Delivering improvements in emergency care services
Using social marketing to drive the prevention agenda
Gain expert guidance from high level speakers, including:
David Colin-Thomé, National Clinical Director for Primary
Care, Department of Health
David Carson, Director, Primary Care Foundation
Bob Ricketts, Director of Systems Management and
New Enterprise, Department of Health
Kathy Jones, Director of Service Development, London
Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Paul Devlin, Network Director, Urgent Care, Coventry
and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Jeff French, Director, National Social Marketing Centre
Download our conference brochure for more information
including details of our comprehensive programme
and exceptional speaker line-up.
To register quote HSJRUC03EM3B -
Tel: 0845 056 8299
Fax: 0207 728 5299
Email: HSJconferences@emap.com
Online: www.hsj-urgentcare.com
27. Commissioning for change: Healthinvestor
primary series
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NHS ALLIANCE
21st January 2009 – Central London
The introduction of world class commissioning is designed
to raise procurement standards across the
UK. This event explores the efficacy of these commissioning
mechanisms and the outcome these
changes have in terms of enabling patient choice and
individualised healthcare. The programme also examines
the successes and the lessons which can be
learned for both commissioners and providers.
The agenda will address the following issues:
How will commissioning meet the healthcare challenges
posed by future demand?
Towards a level playing field for the independent sector
Presenting a good business case: The view of an
independent provider
Why are some organisations successful why others
fail?
Improving patient and public involvement in commissioning
Understanding the information requirements for improved
commissioning
Lessons from overseas commissioning
Revisited: Will NHS commissioning be the envy of the
world?
Contributors will include:
Mike Sobanja – Chief Officer, NHS Alliance
Ken Anderson – Managing Director, UBS
Gary Belfield – Director of Commissioning, Department
of Health
Hilary Heywood – Assistant Director, Ashton, Leigh
& W i g a n P r i m a r y C a r e T r u s t
Derek Felton – Director of Commissioning Services,
Tribal
Conal Timoney, Head of Communications Development,
NHS London
Paul Mainwaring, Chair, Patients Council
Nick Gordon, Commercial Director, Harmoni
If you would like further details or to book a place at
these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk
or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or
email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
28. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Dementia and Elderly Care
Morning, 27th January 2009
Westminster, London SW1
with
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services,
Department of Health
and
Professor Sube Banerjee
Senior Professional Advisor, Older People's Mental
Health, Department of Health
and
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the reform
of dementia services, and what more can be done to
provide a better service to patients and families. It is
timed to reflect issues raised in the National Dementia
Strategy which is due to be published later this
year.
Speakers and Delegates
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Dementia and Elderly Care (including refreshments
and PDF copy of the transcripts) are
£190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
29. Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum keynote
seminar
Nutrition and the Elderly
Morning, 3rd February 2009
Westminster, London SW1
with
Dr Rekha Elaswarapu
Healthcare Commission Lead on Older People and
Joint Chair, Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board in
charge of Regulation and Inspection
&
Gordon Lishman
Director General, Age Concern and Chair, Nutrition
Action Plan Delivery Board
Live Agenda | Our Website | Book Online
Seminar
Has elderly nutritional care been improved significantly
in line with Government aims? What more still
needs to be done?
It is almost a year since the Department of Health
introduced the Nutrition Action Plan, Improving Nutritional
Care, and set up an associated stakeholder
board to oversee its implementation. These initiatives
came in response to statistics revealing unprecedented
levels of malnourishment amongst elderly
people taken into professional care.
With the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board due to
wind up its role, this timely seminar will examine how
effective the board and plan have been.
Planned sessions look at:
How well nourished are the nation’s elderly?;
The latest thinking on the causes of malnutrition in
elderly people;
Assessing the progress from the users’ perspective;
and
The way ahead: implementing the policies for the future.
I have copied the current draft agenda below my signature
here to give you a feel for the morning. You
can follow the updated, live agenda here.
This important meeting is organised on the basis of
strict impartiality by the Westminster Food & Nutrition
Forum.
Speakers
We are delighted that Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, Healthcare
Commission Lead on Older People and Joint
Chair of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board in
charge of Regulation and Inspection, and Gordon
Lishman, Director General, Age Concern and Chair,
Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board, will be delivering
keynote addresses at this seminar.
Other confirmed speakers include: Lynne Berry
OBE, Chief Executive, WRVS; Debbie Dzik-Jurasz,
Lead on Elderly Nutrition, Royal College of Nursing;
Professor Marinos Elia, Chair, BAPEN; Paul Kirwan,
Chief Executive, Carers Network Westminster;
Dr Joanne Lunn, Senior Nutrition Scientist, British
Nutrition Foundation; Sue Ullmann, National Chair,
National Association of Care Catering; Professor
Christina Victor, University of Reading and the British
Society of Gerontology; and Dr Lisa Wilson, Science
Director of the Caroline Walker Trust.
Terry Rooney MP, Chair, Work and Pensions Select
Committee, and Baroness Greengross, Member,
All- Party Parliamentary Group on Ageing and Older
People, have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.
We expect attendees and speakers to be a senior
and informed group numbering around 100, including
Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government
officials involved in this area of public policy,
businesses involved in nutrition, and other related
sectors, including social care, medicine and voluntary
organisations, together with representatives of
the trade and national press.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form
here.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Nutrition and the Elderly (including refreshments
and PDF copy of the transcripts) are
£190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
30. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF URGENT
AND EMERGENCY CARE
17th February 2009 – Central London
Primary care commissioners are now tasked with
ensuring a successful strategy to enable the new
vision for a single point of access for 24/7 urgent
care. Opportunities for independent providers to
provide services are booming with an estimated 40
new contracts emerging in this financial year.
As the urgent and emergency care sector rapidly develops,
requirements for new services, new systems
and new providers are increasing. This conference
examines the raft of new primary initiatives and
aimed at reducing inequality, accelerating access and
promoting innovation in urgent care. The programme
addresses how providers and investors can to
achieve these new requirements and adapt quickly in
order to benefit from the expanding market.
Expert guidance will be offered on developing a
strong business case for your urgent care investment
and improving your commercial acumen within the
NHS. The programme will address the following key
concerns for investors:
The Department of Health vision for urgent care
Reasons for private sector investment in urgent care
Commissioning world class urgent and emergency
care
Driving improvements in urgent care in primary care
Building a business case for out-of-hours care provision
Towards world-class services in ambulatory care
Collaborating within urgent care and across external
care services
Working creatively with relevant agencies to improve
care outcomes
Improving public access to urgent and emergency
care
Contributors include:
Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director,
Emergency Care Access, Department of Health
Rick Stern, Primary Care Foundation and special advisor
in primary care management to the NHS Alliance
James Vallance, Urgent Care Policy Manager, Service
Design Division, Directorate of Commissioning
and System Management, Department of Health
Eric Peacock, Retired Chief Executive, Northern Doctors
Urgent Care
If you would like further details or to book a place at
these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk
or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or
email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
31. Meeting the challenges of practice-based
commissioning
Thursday 19 February 2009, 10.00am–4.15pm,
London
Practice-based commissioning is a major strand of
recent NHS reform policy in England, offering an opportunity
to shape clinical outcomes and drive innovation
through service provision. This conference will
examine the next stage in the evolution of practicebased
commissioning, engaging general practitioners
and primary care trusts to look at devolving budgets,
accountability and the challenges of making this work
in practice.
We are pleased to confirm our keynote panel speaker
will be Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning,
Department of Health.
What works?
The conference will include case studies, giving examples
of how practice-based commissioning is currently
working. Experiences will be shared from a
clinician/GP holding model, a community/social
enterprise model and also a private-sector facilitated
model of practice-based commissioning.
Key factors for success
Discussion groups at the conference will give delegates
the opportunity to question how the following
factors are important in making practice-based commissioning
work successfully:
• use of data and creating reliable data
• engagement of GPs and clinicians
governance and accountability, specifically roles and
responsibilities in the commissioning process.
Find out more
To download the full programme please visit our
website. Places are limited at this event, so book
early to secure your place. Book online now.
Consultations
32. Consultation on CQC's enforcement policy
CQC's consultation on how it intends to use its enforcement
powers under the Health and Social Care
Act 2008 closes on Friday 16 January 2009.
The consultation document is available to download
from the CQC website. Responses can be sent on
the hard copy reply form to the Freepost address
provided or by e-mail to consultationresponses@
cqc.org.uk
33. Reviewing the Mental Capacity Act 2005:
Forms, supervision and fees – Consultation
Closing Date: 15 January 2009
Consultation seeking views on proposed changes to
three areas of the work of the Office of the Public
Guardian and the Court of Protection following the
implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in
October 2007.
It aims to cover a redesign of the lasting power of
attorney forms, the restructuring of the supervision of
deputies by the public guardian and alterations to fee
structures.
For consultation go to http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/
reviewing-mental-capacity-act.htm
34. Care Quality Commission unveils first
two initiatives aims at improving quality and
safety of services
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Care Quality Commission has published two
documents which set out how it aims to:
• drive further improvements in how the NHS
deals with healthcare associated infections,
such as MRSA
• use its new enforcement powers to improve
the quality and safety of health and
adult social care services for the people
who use them
The CQC is launching a 12-week consultation with a
wide variety of stakeholders on how it intends to use
its new enforcement powers, together with publishing
guidance to NHS trusts about additional requirements
for registering with the new Commission in relation to
healthcare associated infection (HCAI).
For full consultation go to http://www.cqc.org.uk/news/
hcai_and_enforcement_policy.aspx
35. Enforcement policy consultation
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
On 24 October 2008 CQC launched a 12 week consultation
on how it intends to use its enforcement
powers under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Visit the CQC website to download a copy of the consultation
document.
36. The Looked After Children (Scotland)
Regulations 2008: Second Consultation,
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Scottish Government wants responses to the
second draft of the Looked After Children (Scotland)
Regulations 2008 which have been significantly restructured
and redrafted following the original consultation
which closed in March 2008.
For full consultation click here
37. Developing an Acknowledgement and Accountability
Forum for Adult Survivors of
Childhood Abuse
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Scottish Government has published a paper on
proposals to develop an acknowledgment and accountability
forum for adult survivors of childhood
abuse.
For full consultation click here
38. Consultation: Draft guidance on NHS patients
who wish to pay for additional private
care
Closing Date: 27 January 2009
A consultation seeking views on draft guidance on
how to proceed in situations where NHS patients
want to buy additional secondary care services that
the NHS does not fund.
For full consultation click here
39. Government consults on safeguarding
vulnerable adults
Closing date: 31 January 2009
Care Services Minister Phil Hope launched a consultation
on how to improve safeguarding policy - the
protection of vulnerable adults - and address abuse
in all its forms in the care system.
The 'No Secrets' guidance for local authorities, the
police and the NHS to work together to protect adults
is already in place. The Government now wants to
make sure it keeps up with changes in the social
care system, with the new emphasis on choice and
control and changing forms of abuse.
Key issues on which Government is seeking views
are:
* Whether there is now a need for legislation,
* The feasibility of a national database of recommendations
from serious case reviews where abuse has
occurred
* What new measures are needed in the face of increased
'personalisation' of care with more people
now being in charge of their own care instead of local
authorities
* What new measures are needed in the face of
changing forms of abuse, such as financial abuse
Phil Hope said:
"I am determined to improve safeguarding of vulnerable
people. We need a greater focus on prevention,
a greater emphasis on safeguarding in commissioning
services and support, and greater empowerment
of people to determine how they wish to be safeguarded.
The No Secrets guidance must be updated
to make sure everyone - individuals, police, care
agencies, the NHS and local authorities prevent
abuse, and also recognise it and stamp it out if it
does occur.
"The consultation is particularly relevant as more
people gain control of their own care. I want to help
people maintain this control and independence, free
from fear of abuse. I look forward to hearing people's
views and will not hesitate to take tough action to improve
safeguarding for those in vulnerable situations."
The consultation on the review of No Secrets will run
from 14th October to 31st January 2009.
The consultation can be found on the Department of
Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/
Socialcarereform/Safeguardinganddealingwithabuse/
index.htm
40. Consultation on GP Quality Incentive
Scheme launched
Closing Date: 2 February 2009
Delivering the best possible care for patients and addressing
health inequalities will be at the heart of proposed
changes to the GP quality incentive scheme,
the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), Health
Minister Ben Bradshaw announced today.
The QOF rewards GP practices for managing some
of the most common chronic diseases such as diabetes
or heart failure; improving health; organising practices
well; how patients view their experience at the
surgery and the quality of extra services offered such
as child health and maternity services.
Under new proposals set out in a public consultation
published today, the National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE) would in future oversee
the annual process of reviewing clinical indicators.
From April 2009, NICE would review the benefits
to patients and the cost effectiveness of the indicators
used to assess the quality of care provided by
GP practices. NICE would be responsible for developing
a more transparent and inclusive review process
with input from patients and carers, primary care
professionals and other stakeholders.
The final choice of QOF indicators would remain a
matter for negotiation with the British Medical Association
(BMA), based on the advice produced by
NICE.
The 12-week consultation is seeking views on how
the new process for assessing evidence for QOF indicators
should work. The key elements that will be
considered in the consultation will be how best to:
* Review existing QOF indicators and develop new
indicators for clinical quality and health outcomes,
based on evidence of clinical effectiveness;
* Allow a range of stakeholders, including patients,
carers and clinicians to identify potential QOF priorities;
* Set up a panel of independent experts that will prioritise
areas for developing new indicators;
* Pilot new indicators with GP practices; and
* Give flexibility to the local NHS to select some indicators
to reflect local health needs.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"We have come a long way in addressing health inequalities
thanks to the current GP scheme for quality
incentives and the UK leads the world in providing
incentives to GPs to improve quality of care for patients.
"The latest figures for the Quality and Outcomes
Framework show that practices have continued to
deliver improvements in services for patients. But we
want to ensure that GP practices continue to deliver
more improvements to patient care, and the system
needs to evolve to support practices in achieving
even better outcomes for patients.
"Asking NICE to manage a more independent, open
and transparent process for reviewing QOF indicators
will make sure that we make the best use of our
annual investment in the scheme and continue to
support GPs in delivering the best care possible for
patients, allowing the QOF to adapt and respond to
the latest medical advances."
A full explanation of how the current scheme operates
and details of how to become involved in the
consultation can be downloaded from: http://
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/index.htm
41. Department of Health: Developing the
quality and outcomes framework - Proposals
for a new, independent process
Closing Date: 2 February 2008
Consultation seeking views on proposals for a new
independent and transparent process for recommending
quality outcome framework indicators.
For full consultation click here
42. DH: End of Life Care Strategy: Quality
Markers Consultation
Closing Date: 6 February 2009
The DoH has launched a consultation on Quality
Markers for End of Life Care which was promised in
the End of Life Care Strategy published in July.
The document is aimed at commissioners, performance
managers and providers of end of life care services,
from the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors.
For full report click here
43. Consultation on Statutory Guidance: The
roles and responsibilities of the lead member
for children's services and the director of
children's services
Closing Date: 10 February 2009
This consultation seeks views on updated statutory
guidance that explains the roles of the lead member
and director of children's services and how working
together as a team, they can be most effective in driving
clear improvements in outcomes for children and
young people.
For consultation go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/
conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1583
44. The Future of the Healthcare Scientist
workforce - Modernising Scientific Careers:
The Next Steps
Closing Date: 27 February 2009
This consultation document setting out proposals to
transform the future training and career pathways of
the healthcare science workforce.
The proposals were developed as the result of detailed
discussions with nearly 3,000 stakeholders and
as a UK initiative will be taken forward by the four
countries in partnership with all major stakeholders,
including patient groups, to ensure that the healthcare
science workforce is fit for the future in a rapidly
changing and evolving healthcare environment.
DoH welcome responses to the electronic consultation
from all with an interest in delivering high quality
care to patients, which is inextricably linked to the
future of the healthcare science workforce, and its
central role in supporting and delivering that care.
For full consultation click here
45. Creating a New Professional Regulator
for Pharmacy: Health care and associated
professions - The draft Pharmacy Order 2009
Closing Date: 9 March 2009
Consultation seeking views on proposals to create a
new regulator for pharmacy professionals and pharmacy
premises in England, Wales and Scotland.
For full consultation click here
46. CQC publishes consultation of reviews in
2009/10
Closing Date: 12 March 2009
On 18 December CQC launched a 12 week consultation
on its proposals for reviews in 2009/10.
The three types of review are:
• Periodic reviews assessing health and adult social
care commissioning by primary care trusts and
adult social care departments within councils
• Periodic reviews of health and adult social care
providers, such as hospitals and care homes
Special reviews and studies on particular aspects of
health and adult social care
The consultation document is available to download
from the CQC website. This consultation closes on
Thursday 12 March 2009.
More on the consultation of reviews in 2009/10
Volume 4 Issue 1
47. Government consults on use of 084 numbers
in the NHS
Closing Date: 31 March 2009
The NHS could be stopped from using telephone
numbers such as 084 in England, under proposals
set out in a public consultation.
Some people are currently having to pay more than
the equivalent cost of a local rate call when they telephone
their GP or other NHS services if they have
adopted a number from this range. A number of NHS
organisations, although still a small minority, have