Editorial
It seems years ago since our last issue was
published, 20th December!
I hope that you are all recovered from the festivities
of the past few weeks and that all the parties for
residents (I note that in the last few months of 2006
CSCI has begun to move away from using the
politically correct and legally accurate term ‘service
user’ – no doubt this will come as a great relieve to
all the many residents who regard the term ‘service
user’ as pejorative) were enjoyable.
TV is now full of adverts to persuade smokers to give
up smoking (the Government has spent £7m on
them and has announced that it to increase the age
at which cigarettes can be bought from 16 yrs to 18)
and holidays.
I have been surprised that many providers of
residential care for younger adults, that is, those
aged under 65 years, are unaware that the national
minimum standards anticipate that residents will be
provided with a week’s holiday.
Standard 14, which deals with 'leisure activities' says
that people in long term placements should have the
option of a minimum seven day annual holiday and
that this should be included as part of the basic
contract price. Further, people should help to choose
and plan the holiday if they wish. So, get the holiday
brochures and begin planning!
Parliament
Parliament is in recess until 8 January 2007
Next
Abuse
1. Child sex offender details posted on Most
Wanted
29 December 2006 – Child Exploitation And
Online Protection Centre (CEOP) (National)
A child sex offender on the run from south Yorkshire
is the sixth paedophile to have his details posted on
a “most wanted” website. Peter Wheatherley, 39, is
suspected to be in Spain or elsewhere in Europe.
His details are posted on the following website and
people are now being asked to support the search
for him : http://www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted
2. Wanted paedophile is named on web
29 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report click here
3. Rise in child abuse cases puts pressure in
legal aid budget
28 December 2006 – The Times
The cost of court hearings over whether a child
should be removed from home has increased 62% in
the past five years. There are some 4,000 such
cases each year and about 3,000 children removed
from their homes.
4. ‘Carers’ boss to face jail
22 December 2006 – The Sun
Patients abused at care home
22 December 2006 - Islington Tribune
Carer incited patients to fight
22 December 2006 – BBC news
A report of the conviction at Snaresbrook Crown
Court of former care home manager, Diane Butler
47, and two care staff Noelin Bailey, 31,and Eulalee
Hall, 51, for abusing learning disabled adults in their
care. Sentencing will take place at a later date.
For BBC report click here
5. Police investigate child abuse in northern
town
21 December 2006 – Telegraph Media Group Ltd
Oldham is the location for a major police investigation
in which police have arrested 20 men, five of whom
have been charged with a range of offences including
abduction and rape. The offences are said to have
been committed against young white girls by predominantly
Asian men.
6. Sex offenders register expanded
18 December 2006
The register of sex offenders has been extended to
include individuals who have been convicted of a
wider range of offenders than was previously the
case.
7. Catholic church in new sex abuse row
17 December 2006 – The Observer
Concerns about the behaviours of Father David
Crowley towards young boys was, it is reported,
known to the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev David Konstant
who while banning Crowley from contact with children,
nevertheless assisted in the transfer to Devon
and sent him for counselling rather than reporting him
to the police. The Bishop is now being sued by one
of Crowley’s alleged victims.
Business News
8. Care UK Plc announced its role as 50% owner of
a joint venture, Partnership Health Group, and its
success having been appointed by DoH for a major
Independent Sector Treatment Centre across Hampshire
and the Isle of Wight. See BHCR Vol 1, Issue
36, item 6.
For BBC report click here
9. Private company to run entire hospital
23 December 2006 – The Times
Private health care firm will take over running
of new NHS hospital
23 December 2006 – Daily Mail
Lymington Hospital in the New Forrest which cost
£36m opened today and is the first to be wholly run
by a private provider, Partnership Health Group using
medical staff seconded from the NHS as well as
those employed directly. Care UK owns 50% of Partnership
Health Group and Mike Parish is the CEO.
Care Homes
10. Home ready to offer nursing care
31 December 2006 – BBC News
A residential home in Jersey is ready to start offering
nursing care instead of outsourcing. The Jeanne
Jugen home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor has
managed to obtain ten beds and will employ extra
nurses in the new year. The home has been granted
dual registration to enable it to now care for residents
who become frail or ill.
For full report click here
11. Council spend £529k to clear beds
21 December 2006 – BBC News
Cornwall County Council is paying out £529,000 to
solve its bed blocking problem. The money was to
move 120 elderly people into care homes and community
hospitals who were currently blocking beds
due to a serious issue with delayed hospital charges
in the area. The Department for Adult Social Care is
looking at ways to ensure the problem does not happen
again.
For full report click here
Case Reports
Law Reports
12. Birmingham City Council –v- R & Others
The Court of Appeal has held that it is not open to a
person who needs the permission of the courts to
make an application for a special guardianship order
to give notice to the local authority of his intention to
apply for such an order before permission has been
obtained.
13. Buck & Ors –v- Nottinghamshire Healthcare
NHS Trust
The Court of Appeal held that the NHS Trust was
liable for injuries inflicted on nursing staff by a patient
at a high security hospital where it had failed to implement
a policy recommended by the Safety and
Security in Ashworth, etc. Directions 2000, where
had it implemented them the incident causing harm
would not have occurred.
14. H –v- L (2)
Exceptionally, the Attorney General will provide an
advocate to cross-examine a vulnerable witness who
alleges past sexual abuse by a litigant in person father
who sought parental responsibility and contact
to the witness’s sibling. The court emphasised the
need for such an arrangement in private law proceedings.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
15. Carer incited patients to fight
21 December 2006 – BBC News
Diane Butler, manager of a care home, has been told
she will face a jail term for her reign of terror over her
abuse of patients in her care. Her staff mentally and
physically ill-treated patients, including inciting one
patient with Downs syndrome to attack another who
has autism. Her staff ill-treated mentally and physically
patients in their care, including one carer trying
to set up a fight between a Down’s Syndrome patient
and a resident with autism.
Butler insisted that there was nothing wrong at the
home, but the jury, after 9 hours of deliberation decided
that she was lying.
16. Climbié social worker denied place on
register
20 December 2006 – Community Care
The General Social Care Council has refused to register
the social worker at the centre of the Victoria
Climbie case. Lisa Arthurworrey, formerly Victoria’s
allocated worker applied in September 2005 after she
won her appeal to be removed from the Protection of
Children Act list.
For full report click here
17. Landmark decision over disability
20 December 2006 – BBC News
Sharon Coleman is due to have her grievance heard
by the European Court of Justice after being branded
“lazy” for wanting time to care for her disabled child.
Ms Coleman said legal firm Attridge Law where she
worked as a legal secretary refused to allow her to
work from home or work flexible shifts to care for her
son, who has hearing problems.
For full report click here
18. Nurse 'poisoned elderly patient'
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Noreen Muholland of Park Road, Portadown has
been given a 10 year suspended sentence for assaulting
and poisoning elderly patients in her care.
She was also told that she would never work again.
For full report click here
Children
Nothing to report
Conferences & Courses
19. Raising the Stakes - Commissioning on
the Edge
31 January 2007 – London – CSCI
£50 discount for bookings made before 9 January
2007
Social Care Minister Ivan Lewis and Dame Denise
Platt (CSCI) to speak at major Commissioning Conference
Leaders in health and social care have warned the
sector it must improve the way it commissions services.
As local health authorities battle to balance the books
and councils warn they will have to raise their eligibility
criteria for home care, the issue of how care services
are provided has never been higher.
Kevin Barron, chairman of the Commons health select
committee, told CareandHealth that there is still
a long way to go: "We're certainly not there yet with
commissioning. We should make sure we're spending
the money for patient care on care that they
need, that is vital for them and not on doing procedures
that they've always done."
Social care minister Ivan Lewis has also called for a
radical change in approach: "Commissioning is vital
to the improvement of the quality of services. Good
commissioning - hearing the views of people, involving
partners and focused on outcomes - is essential
to our reforms of health and social care. We still have
a mindset where commissioners look to the safe familiar
tools."
The minister is set to be the keynote speaker at the
CareandHealth conference on commissioning taking
place on 31 January, 2007 in London in partnership
with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and
The Guardian.
Paul Snell, the chief inspector at the Commission for
Social Care Inspection, who will be taking part in the
panel debate, said: "If we are to meet people's expectations
and deliver the policy ambitions of the
White Paper, we need to develop a new way of commissioning.
The challenge is to commission for personalised
and bespoke care which meets people's
needs."
This conference will be in huge demand and we advise
that you and your colleagues book early to avoid
disappointment.
To reserve your place now book online at
www.careandhealth.com or contact the conference
team on 0870 9017070.
Please click on the link below for the conference brochure
with further information about the day.
(Raising the Stakes: Commissioning on the Edge)
20. GSCC Annual Conference 2007
14 November 2006 – GSCC
The GSCC has announced that its next annual conference
will be held on Thursday 15 February 2007,
at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in Westminster, London.
The day-long conference is called “Protection, Professionalism,
Pride,” aiming to reflect all the things
the GSCC stands for within the sector.
Speakers and the programme for the day are to be
finalised, and more information will be posted on the
website as it is confirmed.
For full report go to http://www.gscc.org.uk/
N e w s + a n d + e v e n t s / M e d i a + r e l e a s e s /
Annual+Conference+2007.htm
21. Capita's 1st National Leaving Care Conference:
Supporting the Transition to Independence
Monday, 26th February 2007 - Central London
In Association with: The National Leaving Care
Advisory service and Rainer
Please click Conference Brochure for further information
Chair: Joyce Moseley, Chief Executive, Rainer,
Natalie Acton, Looked After Children Strategy Paper,
DfES; Mark Burrows, Professional Adviser,
Looked After Children Strategy, DfES; Martin Hazlehurst,
Service Manager, National Leaving Care Advisory
Service; Jan Storo, Assistant Professor,
Child Welfare Programme, Oslo University College;
Brian Kinney, Programme Manager, UASC Reform
Programme, Home Office
This event addresses key issues arising out of the
Looked After Children Green Paper consultation, providing
valuable guidance for frontline professionals.
We will tackle head-on the needs of young care leavers,
through service-focused sessions and sharing
best practice. Expert speakers will highlight what can
be achieved when services work in partnership,
giving care leavers the best chance of success
in future.
Benefits of attending include:
• The latest on expected developments from the
consultation on the Looked After Children Green
Paper
• Learning from international experience on providing
more than just a range of services and adopting
a comprehensive approach to maximise life
chances
• Practical sessions on care leaving services tackling
disability, mental wellbeing, supported
housing and the NEETS agenda, helping you
to meet key areas of need
• Hearing new guidance from the Home Office on
dealing with unaccompanied asylum seeking
children, designed to resolve the conflict between
a duty of care for local authorities and the
asylum process.
Nick Rotsides
Capita Conferences
2nd Floor
17 Rochester Row
Victoria, London
SW1P 1LA
0207 808 5290
nick.rotsides@capita.co.uk
22. The Care Show
Bournemouth BIC—20 & 21 March 2007
Details : 01425 470666 www.careshow.co.uk
Consultations
To follow next week
CSCI, CSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
23. Mental Welfare Commission guidance on
covert medication
22 December 2006 – Scottish Care Commission
New guidance has been issued concerning covert
medication by the Mental Welfare Commission. The
Scottish Care Commission issued a statement immediately
following issue of the new guidance.
For full report click here
For BBC report click here
For guidance go to http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/web/FILES/
Publications/covertmedication.pdf
24. Complaint investigation - Wee rascals
nursery
22 December 2006 – Scottish Care Commission
The Scottish Care Commission has completed its
formal investigation into the complaint received
against Wee Rascals Nursery and has issued a statement.
Their investigation upheld seven of the allegations
and the remaining allegation has been partially
upheld. The complaints included inappropriate restraint
of children, humiliating children and forcefeeding,
it has now emerged.
For full report click here
For full BBC report click here
25. Patients get chance to perform health
check on independent healthcare providers
20 December 2006 – Healthcare Commission
New website service to help patients see performance
against standards in private and voluntary sectors.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk//
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=4891&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
26. Disability scheme aims to end discrimination
20 December 2006 – CSCI
The CSCI has issued its new Disability Equality
Scheme which details how they plan to eliminate discrimination
in the workplace and what they expect
from social care providers and councils.
For full report click here
27. Web watch on private health care
20 December 2006 – BBC News
The Healthcare Commission has set up its website to
enable patients to view how private and voluntary
hospitals and health providers are performing. This is
enabled by running a postcode search for private
centres and the standards cover everything from infection
control to staff training.
Current data showed hospitals doing well but that
one-in-five mental health units were not meeting at
least five targets.
For full report click here
28. Watchdog welcomes dental standards
19 December 2006 – Scottish Care Commission
The Scottish Care Commission has welcomed the
announcement of new national dental standards as
an important safeguard for patients. The Commission
will have the role of registering and regulating dental
services, which will involve unannounced spot checks
on services and investigation of complaints.
For full report click here
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
29. Huge rise in NHS emergency cases
30 December 2006 – The Herald
A massive rise in the number of people seeking
emergency medical attention has trigged an investigation
into why more Scottish people are turning to
the NHS. Levels of serious illness are believed to be
the same, and therefore independent research has
been commissioned amid concern that the service is
suffering due to society’s shift to a 24-hour supermarket
culture.
30. Scotland's NHS dedication praised
29 December 2006 – BBC News
Deputy Health Minister, Lewis Macdonald has paid
tribute to the “tireless and dedicated” work of thousands
of NHS staff over the festive season.
For full report click here
31. Warning to NHS over A&E closures
28 December 2006 – The Herald
Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the British Medical Association
in Scotland is calling for NHS boards to make
a point of demonstrating to the public that centralizing
healthcare will not be detrimental and patients
will not suffer as a result. He said health boards
need to improve their public consultations and suggested
that replacement services be commissioned
before services are actually closed down.
32. Hospital closure call from doctor
28 December 2006 – BBC News
Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland,
has called for the public to be more involved in consultations
on hospital closures, urging NHS boards to
find new ways to involve the public and health profession.
For full report click here
33. Care home call after man's death
27 December 2006 – BBC News
A family is calling for action to prevent similar tragedies
such as the case of their family member, Jim
Hutchinson, 90, who died after being attacked by
another resident in a care home. A sheriff ruled that
Mr Hutchinson’s death could have been prevented if
his attacker had been properly supervised. The family
is calling for care homes to address staffing issues.
For full report click here
34. SNP make Scotland Office axe call
27 December 2006 – BBC News
Alex Salmond, leader of the SNP, is calling for the
Scotland Office to be abolished and for the money to
be invested in the health service instead. Mr Salmond
said its £6.4m annual budget would be better
used by improving A&E services, such as Ayr and
Monklands, currently under threat.
For full report click here
35. 22 December 2006
No. 603 The National Health Service (Functions of
the Common Services Agency) (Scotland)
Amendment (No. 2) Order 2006
For full report see Legislation Update—item ??
36. Child protection bill 'is flawed'
21 December 2006 – BBC News
MSPs have described current plans to enhance the
protection of children and vulnerabled adults as
flawed. Holyrood's education committee said the
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill was
an improvement on the current disclosure system,
however, MSPs want ministers to shelve proposals to
share sensitive information among public bodies.
MSPs also argued that the bill should not proceed
until ministers have explained how it would work in
detail.
For full report click here
37. Beds cut at £100m children’s hospital before
it is built
21 December 2006 – The Herald
Doctors have discovered that Glasgow’s Royal Hospital
for Sick Children will lose many beds when it
moves to its new location. In contrast, caseloads are
planned to increase by up to 15%. The hospital is
due to relocate to a £100m purpose-built facility at the
city’s Southern General in 2011.
38. Stop private sector drive in the NHS, say
doctors
19 December 2006 – The Herald
A group of senior doctors and health campaigners are
calling for a stop to private sector involvement in the
NHS in Scotland during a public debate on the issue.
Their letter stated the group’s “dismay” and attacks
the use of the Private Finance Initiative for the building
of hospitals.
39. NHS 'failings' in baby death case
20 December 2006 – BBC News
An inquest in Leeds has heard that a newborn baby
died of an infection due to a shortage of beds in the
delivery suite. Her mother, Janine Howarth, had to
wait nearly three days at Leeds General Infirmary
from the time her waters broke for the labour to be
induced. Hospital chiefs admitted that there were
“some failings” in this instance but that work had been
done to prevent further similar incidents.
For full report click here
40. Private firm offers NHS check-ups
20 December 2006 – BBC News
NHS Lanarkshire is using nurses employed by a private
firm, management consultants Refer2Us to carry
out thousands of check-ups on NHS patients. Ministers
welcomed the news.
For full report click here
41. Health board rapped for treatment
19 December 2006 – BBC News
NHS Tayside, previously criticised by a watchdog
over its treatment of a patient has agreed to tighten
its policy. The woman suffered an injury after receiving
intravenous treatment. The Board also accepted
a recommendation by the Public Services Ombudsman
to apologise to the woman. Another complaint
of the treatment itself being botched was not upheld.
For full report click here
42. Watchdog upholds care complaint
19 December 2006 – BBC News
An 88 year old man is due to have his case reviewed
after he faced “bankruptcy and eviction” from a care
home. He is to be reconsidered for council funding
after a watchdog told East Dunbartonshire Council
that they treated the man unreasonably by including
a property he no longer owned in a means-test. The
man had gifted the house to his son nine years ago.
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Alice Brown
called for reform of the current system.
For full report click here
Wales
43. Tories attack Welsh NHS spending
28 December 2006 – BBC News
Official figures have been released showing that less
money is being spent on the NHS per head in the
population of Wales than in the rest of the United
Kingdom. The Welsh Assembly Government responded
by saying it was difficult to draw direct
spending comparisons with England, Scotland and
Northern Ireland.
For full report click here
44. Hospital defends Christmas TV ban
24 December 2006 – BBC News
Managers at Penrhos Stanley Hospital in Holyhead
on Anglesey has defended its decision to remove
elderly patients’ televisions in Christmas week. They
said TVs on the ward were a trip hazard and noisy if
patients wanted to sleep, but relatives said the move
was badly timed.
North West Wales NHS Trust, which runs the hospital,
said its staff decided to remove the TVs based on
purely clinical criteria.
For full report click here
45. 22 December 2006
No. 3366
(W.308) The National Health Service (Dental
Charges) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
For full report see Legislation Update—item ??
46. NHS dental places 'still limited'
20 December 2006 – BBC News
BBC Research has shown that patients are still facing
a postcode lottery in trying to have NHS dental treatment
in Wales. Five of Wales’ 22 local health boards
were without a dentist offering new NHS places, and
others were only able to offer an appointment in 12
months. This is in spite of a record investment by the
Welsh Assembly Government.
The research was based on the NHS Direct website.
For full report click here
47. Watchdog finds cardiac 'failings'
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Swansea’s Morriston Hospital has pledged to form an
action plan for the cardiac centre after a watchdog
found “many failings” over several years. The Healthcare
Inspectorate Wales (HIW) performed the review.
For full report click here
Learning Disabilities
Nothing to report
Legislation Update
48. 29 December 2006
No. 592 The Personal Injuries (NHS Charges)
(General) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
For full legislation click here
49. No. 593 The Personal Injuries (NHS Charges)
(Reviews and Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations
2006
For full legislation click here
50. 28 December 2006
No. 3400
(C. 127) The Education and Inspections Act 2006
(Commencement No. 2) Order 2006
For full legislation click here
51. 22 December 2006
No. 3332 The Health Service Commissioner for
England (Special Health Authorities) (Revocation)
Order 2006
For full legislation click here
52. No. 507 The Recovery of Health Services
Charges (Amounts) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2006
For full legislation click here
53. No. 603 The National Health Service
(Functions of the Common Services Agency)
(Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2006
For full legislation click here
54. No. 3366
(W.308) The National Health Service (Dental
Charges) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
For full legislation click here
55. 21 December 2006
No. 3346 The Education (Special Educational
Needs) (England) (Consolidation) (Amendment)
Regulations 2006
For full legislation click here
56. No. 3360
(C. 121) The Childcare Act 2006 (Commencement
No. 1) Order 2006
For full legislation click here
57. No. 3388 The Personal Injuries (NHS
Charges) (General) and Road Traffic (NHS
Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2006
For full legislation click here
58. No. 3397
(C. 125) The Health and Social Care (Community
Health and Standards) Act 2003
(Commencement) (No. 11) Order 2006
For full legislation click here
59. No. 3398 The Personal Injuries (NHS
Charges) (Reviews and Appeals) and Road Traffic
(NHS Charges) (Reviews and Appeals)
(Amendment) Regulations 2006
For full legislation click here
60. 20 December 2006
No. 3373 The National Health Service
(Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) Regulations
2006
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
61. Recognition for health trust work
30 December 2006 – BBC News
North Essex Mental Health Partnership Trust has
received level two accreditation in NHS clinical negligence
standards. This makes it the first in its field in
the country to achieve a higher status in patient
safety. Inspectors assessed the trust’s approach to
managing risks in care and treatment of patients and
people with learning difficulties as well as clinical incidents,
health records and infection control.
For full report click here
62. NHS takes cash meant for charity
28 December 2006 – The Times
Dame Elizabeth Hoodless, executive director of the
charity Community Service Volunteers, has protested
that the cash, £3.7m of it, intended for the charity
which undertakes work encouraging and supporting
people in London who suffer mental illness to undertake
voluntary work, and which was passes by the
Treasury to the NHS was kept by the NHS.
Protests to the NHS and to Ministers went unheeded
until the charity went to lawyers and reported the matter
to the press.
The Treasury condemned the Department of Health,
but nothing happened. The money is now promised
for the end of January, ten months late.
Miscellaneous
63. Rule No 1 for treating les anglais – let ladies
keep their clothes on
28 December 2006 – The Times
French GPs learning how to treat the influx of British
migrants are taught some of the common pitfalls –
confusing terms such as not confusing a groin strain
with a pigs snout (groin) and haemorrhoids (piles)
with batteries (pile); most importantly, resisting the
apparently usual request of patients to remove their
clothes even when attending surgery with a common
cold.
64. Hospital charges
23 December 2006 – The Times, Letters to the
Editor
Cllr Frances Taylor draws attention to the fact that
many patients receiving long term care in London
face bills for the congestion charge. Those bills can,
in some circumstances, be presented to the NHS for
reimbursement. The NHS then claims from Transport
for London.
65. MSPs urge Executive to withdraw Part 3
of the Vulnerable Groups Bill
21 December 2006 – Children 1st
Children 1st has welcomed the recommendation to
remove Part 3 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups
Bill by the Education Committee. The Committee
made the proposal in its Stage One report published
on 21 December saying that it should be given further
consideration.
For full report go to http://www.children1st.org.uk/news/
index.html?action=view&id=285
66. Bristol-Myers settles on claims
22 December 2006 – The Times
Bristol-Myers Squibb paid $499m to settle claims
brought by the US Justice Department and US Attorney
General in Massachusetts over inflated prices for
pharma products and marketing practices.
67. Health staff lacking
20 December 2006 – The Times
Healthcare Commission says that one in ten private
hospitals lack appropriately trained staff.
68. Hospital parking
20 December 2006 – The Times, Letters to the Editor
From the Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support
a letter indicating support for Government guidance
‘Income Generation. Car Parking Charges –
Best practice for implementation’. However, he comments
that too many cancer patients and their families
suffer hardship because parking discounts are
random and poorly advertised.
69. NICE Guidance: online databases
20 December 2006 – NCVCCO
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) has launched two new online databases
to support the implementation of guidance.
The first database is available at www.nice.org.uk/
sharedlearning and aims to share learning across the
NHS and organisations with responsibility for delivering
public health programmes.
The second database is called ERNIE ((which stands
for evaluation and review of NICE implementation
evidence and is available at www.nice.org.uk/ernie).
ERNIE provides a bank of guidance-specific implementation
uptake reports produced by NICE and references
to external studies looking at how NICE
guidance is being implemented.
For full report click here
70. Smoke-free premises and vehicles: Consultation
on proposed regulations to be
made under powers in the Health Bill - An
analysis of consultation responses
Closing date: 9 October 2006
Outcome published: 18 December 2006
A paper reporting on responses received by the Department
of Health’s consultation document Smokefree
premises and vehicles. The Department of
Health’s consultation was on proposed regulations to
be made under powers in Part 1, Chapter 1 of the
Health Act 2006 (Smoke-free premises, places and
vehicles).
For full report click here
NHS
71. Recognition for health trust work
30 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report see Mental Health—item ??
72. Nurses face sack over cups of tea
29 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report see Nursing—item ??
73. Sorry Tony, but I’ve got to look after No 1
31 December 2006 – The Sunday Times
Interview of Hazel Blears, chairman of the Labour
Party, and her decision to demonstrate against the
hospital cuts proposed in her constituency.
74. Three ministers in NHS cuts protest
29 December 2006 – The Times
Six ministers have protested over Labour’s
own NHS cuts
29 December 2006 – Daily Mail
The Government crisis in dealing with the NHS deepened
as it emerged that three cabinet ministers and
four Labour MPs have joined campaigns against hospital
closures in their own constituencies. The protesters
include John Reid former Health Secretary
and Jacqui Smith, former junior health minister.
75. Sly, incompetent and hypocritical
29 December 2006 – Daily Mail, “Comment”
The Editor shares the view that the acts of Hazel
Blears, Labour Party chairman, and ministers John
Reid, Tessa Jowell and Harriet Harman in protesting
against proposed cuts to NHS services in their own
constituencies to be “breathtaking hypocrisy”.
76. Minister backs Blears on protest
29 December 2006 – BBC News
Ivan Lewis backs Hazel Blears’ protest.
For full report click here
77. Blears labelled hypocrite on NHS
29 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report click here
78. Minister defends hospital protest
28 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report click here
79. Minister in NHS hospital protest
28 December 2006 – BBC News
Hazel Blears, Cabinet Minister has joined a protest
over plans to close part of a hospital in her constituency.
It is rare for a cabinet minister to come out
against measures directly resulting from government
policy and will be seen as an embarrassment. The
proposals for Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester,
are part of the NHS shake-up.
For full report click here
80. Patients move to privatised NHS
29 December 2006 – BBC News
The NHS has opened a new hospital run entirely by a
private company, called Lymington New Forest, and
its aim is to cut waiting times. Partnership Health
Group Ltd is the first provider to manage an entire
NHS site, a move that union chiefs called a gamble
with healthcare. See BHCR Vol 1, Issue 36, item 6
and item 8 of this Issue.
For full report click here
81. Routine post-op checks 'to end'
29 December 2006 – BBC News
The NHS is aiming to save up to £2bn a year by
scrapping routine consultant check-ups for post-op
patients six weeks after surgery. It is proposed that
patients see their GP, practice nurse or decide for the
themselves whether they wish to be seen. The longterm
aim is to cut waiting times and free up surgeons’
time so that more operations could be done.
For full report click here
82. Superbug claims 'underestimated'
29 December 2006 – BBC News
Figures released by the NHS Litigation Authority
show that the amount paid out by the NHS to hospital
superbug-related compensation claims is actually
10 times higher than previously thought. The Authority
stated recently that there had only been seven
cases in the past four years, but there have actually
been 68 cases, costing the NHS more than £8m in
total. It is thought that the majority of cases listed
are related to MRSA.
For full report click here
83. Hospital care fear over Thursdays
28 December 2006 – BBC News
A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research
has shown the worst day to go into hospital is a
Thursday. People admitted on this day spend on
average 6.3 days in hospital which is a day longer
than a Sunday submission. The think tank said that
delays were being caused by the reduction in staffing
made at weekends.
AVERAGE HOSPITAL STAY
Sunday - 5.3 days
Monday - 5.6 days
Tuesday - 5.6 days
Wednesday - 5.8 days
Thursday - 6.3 days
Friday - 6.1 days
Saturday - 5.5 days
For full report click here
84. NHS job losses
28 December 2006 – The Times
According to the pressure group Health Emergency
22,000 jobs were lost from the NHS in 2006 and
2,500 beds lost. It projects that the numbers lost in
2007 will increase.
85. NHS urged to 'reduce drugs bill'
28 December 2006—BBC News
The Government is calling for the NHS to save
money by efficiently prescribing statins, drugs that
lower cholesterol. This move could apparently save
at least £85m a year, the health service currently
spend an annual total of £600m on the drugs.
For full report click here
86. Fatal health service blunders mar 2006
28 December 2006 – BBC News
A special report on the health service and its blunders
during 2006.
For full report click here
87. Superbug increase sparks warning
28 December 2006 – BBC News
Nigel Chapman, coroner, has warned that the superbug
clostridium difficile (C Diff) cases could increase
to cause “huge problems” for the NHS. The superbug
causes severe diarrhoea and can lead to death
in the elderly and vulnerable.
For full report click here
88. Area sees 70% NHS dentist access
28 December 2006 – BBC News
Thanks to a new centre, about 70% of people in a
south Devon district can now access an NHS dentist.
Two years ago, the Teignbridge area was severely
affected by a dental crisis and the problem was highlighted
in Parliament. The change is mainly down to
the special centre funded by the local authority and
primary care trust.
For full report click here
89. NHS takes cash meant for charity
28 December 2006 – The Times
For full report see Mental Health—item ??
90. NHS centre takes pressure off A&E
26 December 2006 – BBC News
West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) has set up a
walk-in centre for people with minor injuries and illnesses
near a hospital A&E in Dartford in a bid to
keep admissions and waiting times down. The centre
will open on 2 January 2007.
For full report click here
91. Spiritual healing at medical unit
24 December 2006 – BBC News
Staff and students at a medical research and training
centre have launched a room in the Knowledge Spa
at the Royal Cornwall Hospital and called it Spirituality
Space. The room will be available to everyone of
any faith (or none) for prayer, reflection, meditation
and tranquility. The colour schemes and materials
have been chosen specially for the above methods.
For full report click here
92. Private company to run entire hospital
23 December 2006 – The Times
Private health care firm will take over running
of new NHS hospital
23 December 2006 – Daily Mail
For full report see Business News—item ??
93. Statistical press notice: Practice Based
Commissioning
22 December 2006 – Department of Health
(National)
The following statistics were released by the Department
of Health:
* Practice based commissioning: implementation
monitoring, November 2006
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/
C o m m i s s i o n i n g / P r a c t iceBasedCommissioning/
P r a c t i c e B a s e d C ommi s s i o n i n g A r t i c l e / f s / e n ?
CONTENT_ID=4136758&chk=7ZBazh
94. Probe into hospital waiting lists
22 December 2006 – BBC News
After an investigation into manipulated hospital waiting
lists, health officials have disciplined one employee,
with another employee resigning and a third
being cleared of misconduct.
For full report click here
95. Use of Non-Geographical (‘084’) Telephone
Numbers to contact NHS Services
22 December 2006 – DoH
As a result of a consultation, Lord Warner has issued
a letter advising PCT Chief Executives that Ofcom,
has decided to create a new country-wide number
range.
For full report click here
96. Smoking patients face losing care
22 December 2006 – BBC News
Plymouth’s patients may have their home care withdrawn
if they refuse to stop smoking while a health
worker is with them. Guidance has been drawn up
stating that the PCT’s staff should not have to be
subjected to second-hand smoke, therefore if a patient
continues to light up, care could be withdrawn
as "a last resort".
For full report click here
97. DoH claims to be on target for practice
based commissioning
22 December 2006 – GNN
Health Minister Lord Warner said:
"It's still too early to be popping the champagne
corks, but all the latest indications are that the NHS
is set to achieve our goal for universal coverage of
practice based commissioning by the end of the
year.”
98. NHS could save millions of pounds
22 December 2006 – GNN
Figures published by the DoH suggest that the NHS
could save at least £85m through more efficient prescribing
of statins, the medication that reduces cholesterol.
99. Suspended hospital chiefs resign
21 December 2006 – BBC News
The Chief Executive of Scarborough and North East
Yorkshire NHS Trust, Alison Guy, and Finance Director
Bernard Flynn will step down on 31 December
after tendering their resignations. The move follows a
five-month investigation into their work after concerns
were raised by the Audit Commission. A leaked secret
report appeared to show Ms Guy and Mr Flynn
had favoured "operational over governance challenges".
For full report click here
100. Council spend £529k to clear beds
21 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report see Care Homes—item ??
101. Thousands need drugs for sight loss
21 December 2006 – BBC News
An estimated 10,000 people in Northern Ireland have
a serious eye condition called age-related macular
degeneration (AMD for short), however, the health
service has not yet decided if the expensive drugs
should be available on the NHS.
For full report click here
102. Money for new health facilities
21 December 2006 – BBC News
A new community hospital, health centre and a centre
for children will be built in Minehead, Somerset as
part of a £44.5m package announced by the government.
The £24m hospital will open its doors in 2009.
The other buildings will be for Yate in South Gloucestershire,
with the Council having already committed
funds to the health centre, also due to open by 2009.
For full report click here
103. Tackling health inequalities: 2003-05
data update for the national 2010 PSA target
21 December 2006 – DoH
A document containing 2003-05 ONS data on the
national health inequalities PSA target for life expectancy
and infant mortality and on/off status for spearhead
areas, together with policy context.
For full report click here
104. Minister joins the NHS frontline
20 December 2006 – BBC News
Government minister, Andy Burnham, has admitted
that it has been a difficult year for NHS staff. He is
finishing his report after an exercise that involved him
shadowing staff in the health service, including a
cleaner and a porter.
For full report click here
105. NHS Direct to launch on Freeview
20 December 2006 – BBC News
NHS Direct, the health advice service, will be launching
on a Freeview channel. Viewers will be able to
access the interactive 150-page service on Channel
108, and will include answers to common health
questions and advice on healthy lifestyles.
For full report click here
106. Hospital PCs future under threat
20 December 2006 – BBC News
Two full-time police officers currently based at the
Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro now have their future
under threat. They are based there to provide
protection to nurses and hospital workers, but the
hospital is attempting to claw back £31m of a predicted
deficit.
For full report click here
107. Emergency Oxygen costs NHS millions
21 December 2006 – The Times
Changes to the distribution of oxygen cylinders to
patients brought into effect in February 2006 have
resulted in extra costs to PCTs of about £37m.
108. Community health centres get £44.5m
21 December 2006 – The Times
Lord Warner is to pledge £44.5m to four new community
hospital and health centres (Bristol, Gosport,
Minehead and Sunderland) when he announced cuts
to local services including community hospitals and
29 A&E departments.
109. Orthopaedic patients kept waiting for
over 2 years
20 December 2006 – The Times
Reporting on the performance statistics on NHS waiting
times. The target that no patent should wait
more than 18 weeks from GP referral to start of treatment
by the end of 2008. Junior Health Minister,
Andy Burnham, said most specialisms treat between
30% and 50% within target dates for trauma and orthopaedics
the performance is much worse at below
20%.
110. Asbestos cancer drug block review
19 December 2006 – BBC News
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) will be reconsidering their original
stance to block a drug for people who had asbestosrelated
cancer.
NICE had recommended that Alimta (pemetrexed
disodium) should not be used in England and Wales,
but the case will now be reviewed by its appraisal
committee.
For full report click here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6194915.stm
111. MPs attack NHS for training budget cuts
19 December 2006 - Careandhealth
A report issued by the Commons Health Select Committee
has condemned the decision by health authorities
to reduce training in a bid to balance the books
as “unacceptable”.
The report also concluded cuts in the budget for the
education of hospital workers was having adverse
effects on staff morale and could have a significant
effect on the quality of the workforce. It also warned
against MPs savings being attempted on soft targets
such as mental health and public health services. In a
wide ranging report, the committee found “compelling
evidence of a failure of financial management” within
the NHS.
For full report go to http://www.careandhealth.com/Pages/
Story.aspx?StoryID=bda019ef-60d6-4c47-aa24-6b947ae5d904
112. Business primed to expand GP role
19 December 2006 – BBC News
The BBC has learned that the government is intending
to extend proposals to get businesses to run GP
surgeries in areas struggling to recruit doctors. A
pilot scheme has only had limited success, but ministers
plan to run an advertising campaign to attract big
companies and smaller organizations to fill the gaps
in 30 parts of England currently short of family doctors.
For full report click here
113. Waiting lists now 'squeaky clean'
19 December 2006 – BBC News
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust board has announced
its waiting lists are now “squeaky clean” after
a recovery plan was implemented. The plan came
into effect after revelations came to light that the waiting
lists had been deliberately manipulated to meet
government targets, by putting more than 1000 patients
on a “suspended waiting list”.
For full report click here
114. Patients given power to veto health records
being held electronically
19 December 2006 – Community Care
Patients will now be given power to veto their health
records being held electronically if they wish. The
government accepted recommendations of a taskforce
that included patients being invited to correct or
amend records along with giving explicit consent
whether they wish to share or opt out of sharing information.
Health Minister, Lord Warner, announced that the
electronic records will be piloted from Spring 2007
For full report click here
115. Government to measure the time it takes
before patients receive treatment
19 December 2006 – GNN
From January 2006 the government will begin to
measure how long it takes for a patient to begin to
receive treatment following referral by a GP to be
known as RTT – referral time to treatment.
116. More NHS Trusts applying for foundation
status
19 December 2006 – GNN
Lord Warner, Minister for Reform, announced that 17
more NHS Trusts are to apply for foundation
status. There applications are supported by the Secretary
of State and will be forwarded to Monitor the
regulator.
117. Patient veto for e-care records
18 December 2006—BBC News
For full report click here
118. Electronic care records go ahead
18 December 2006 – BBC News
For full report click here
119. Q&A: E-care records
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Special article looking at the government’s decision
to go ahead with putting people’s medical records on
a national electronic database.
For full report click here
120. Electronic Patient Records
18 December 2006 – GNN
Government seems to be taking a step back from the
confrontation over the loading of all NHS patient records
onto the NHS National Computer by accepting
that a summary care record will improve safety over
not having any record. There will be trials in Spring
2007.
121. Does the NHS need to be set free?
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Article looking at the implications of a proposed NHS
Independence Bill for the New Year.
For full report click here
122. Questions over NHS maternity cuts
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Nick Yeo, East Sussex Primary Care Trust chief executive
has told a committee that there were no firm
proposals for the maternity services, but that the
views of the public would be sought when the time
came. He was answering questions put to him by
East Sussex’s health overview and scrutiny committee,
a body set up to get people involved in decisionmaking.
For full report click here
Nursing
123. Nurses face sack over cups of tea
29 December 2006 – BBC News
Nurses at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel,
east London have been warned that they could be
sacked if they take cups of tea from ward trolleys.
Staff at the hospital have also been told that they
have to now buy their own tea bags, milk and sugar
and that hot drinks intended for hospital patients
should not be taken by nurses. A spokeswoman for
the nurses’ union said that "I don't think patients
would begrudge an overworked nurse a cup of tea."
For full report click here
124. Nurses' pay rise claim rejected
18 December 2006 – BBC News
The States Employment Board has rejected a claim
for an 8.4% pay increase for nurses. The Royal College
of Nursing and the Jersey Nursing Association
unions made the claim on behalf of 1300 nurses and
other health workers after it was revealed that nurses’
pay is falling behind their UK counterparts which
makes recruitment difficult.
For full report click here
Older People
125. Spare a thought for me as you tuck into
your turkey, Mr Blair
24 December 2006 – Sunday Express
Referring to the 10,000 signature petition handed in
to 10 Downing Street in October calling for an end to
older people having to pay for their own nursing care
the plight of pensioner, Winifred Warburton, 99, who
wants to buy gifts for her relatives but can’t afford to
as most of her savings and pension are taken by the
local authority to pay for her care home fees, leaving
her with £20 a week.
The charity Age Concern launched a campaign to
increase the personal allowance to £40 per week.
Social Care
126. Minister defends funding for social care
29 December 2006 – National Care Forum
Ivan Lewis has defended the government’s record of
investment as a response to calls from local government
chiefs to improve funding for home care services.
The health minister said that extra cash will be
invested and that he accepted there were pressures
on authorities. His comments followed after an open
letter signed by the leaders of 45 local authorities calling
on the government to help maintain home care
services.
For full report click here
127. SCIE publishes Annual Review
29 December 2006 – National Care Forum
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has
issued its annual review 2005/2006 – Better knowledge
for better care – featuring case studies from
practitioners, trainers, managers and service users
who have used SCIE’s resrouces to further their
knowledge and improve their practice.
For full report click here
128. Review of the year
28 December 2006 – Community Care
Community Care list the top 10 most memorable social
care moments of 2006.
For full report click here
129. If Tony Blair was Father Christmas,
what would you ask him for?
25 December 2006 – Community Care
Community Care asked key people in the social care
sector : “If you could ask the government for one
thing for Christmas to improve the social care sector,
what would it be?”
For full report click here
130. National social care recruitment campaign
2007
20 December 2006 – DoH
A published letter announcing a national social care
recruitment campaign which will run early March
2007. The attached bulletin summarises the key areas
of the campaign strategy.
For full report click here
131. Climbie social worker denied place on
register
20 December 2006 – Community Care
For full report see Case Reports—item ??
132. Government is warned: invest in older
people's care or condemn thousands – major
organisations call for action by the Chancellor
18 December 2006 – King’s Fund
For full report click here
133. Plea over funds for elderly care
18 December 2006 – BBC News
Eight groups, including Help the Aged, Age Concern
and the King’s Fund are campaigning the government
to provide extra funds for care, saying that
many vulnerable elderly people will otherwise be
condemned to “isolation and dependency”. The
Treasury said the comments would be taken into
consideration when looking at next year’s social care
spending review.
For full report click here
134. Charity calls for homecare taskforce
Caring Times, December 2006 – National Care
Forum
The charity, Action on Elder Abuse (AEA), has welcomed
the issue of The Commission for Social Care
Inspection’s report Time to Care? which criticises the
delivery of homecare services. A major concern in
the CSCI report is that homecare agencies are cutting
corners in their selection and recruitment practices
and the lack of support and training offered to
care workers more generally. Another serious concern
is the way medication is handled and managed
by basic grade staff and so the report concludes that
radical changes are needed to the way services are
commissioned and delivered.
For full report click here
Staff, employment and
disciplinary
Nothing to report
New Year Honours
Brunswicks LLP offers its congratulations to all those
from the health and social care sector whose efforts
have been recognised by Her Majesty the Queen in
the New Year’s Honours List.
The awards and to whom they are made appear below.
KNIGHT BACHELOR
Prof. John Edward Tooke, dean Peninsula Medical
School, services to medicine
ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
DBE
Joan Margaret Higgins, chairwoman, Christie Hospital
NHS Trust, Manchester
Mary Elizabeth Marsh, director and chief executive,
NSPCC
Josephine Williams, chief executive, Mencap
CBE
Nina Lizette Barough, founder and chief executive,
Walk the Walk Worldwide (breast cancer charity)
John Boyington, deputy director general, Health and
Care Partnerships, DoH
Prof. Norma Brook, formerly president, Health Professions
Council
Roswyn Hakesley-Brown, president, RCN
Margaret Rosemary Cooper, chairwoman, Independent
Living Funds
Neil Goodwin, chief executive, former Greater Manchester
Strategic Health Authority
Shiela Glennis Haworth, Prof. of Developmental Cardiology
University College London
Peter William Mount, chairman NHS Confederation
Prof. Barbara Ann Parfitt, dean School of Nursing,
Glasgow Caledonian University
Malcolm Stuart Tanner, Emeritus Prof. of Paediatrics,
Sheffield Children’s Hospital
Prof. Stephen Tomlinson, formerly provost and deputy
vice-chancellor, Cardiff University, services to
medicine
Ian Wilson, corporate director of Social Services,
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
OBE
John Courtney Allcock, associate director National
Workforce Programme, DoH
David John Astley, chief executive, St George’s
Healthcare NHS Trust
Richard Henry Aust, head teacher, Chadsgrove Special
School
Robert Lawrence Banner, chairman, Rethink charity
Quentin Coey, chief executive, Belfast City Hospital
John Verdi d’Abbro, head teacher, New Rush Hall
Special School
Lisa Dougherty, nurse consultant, Royal Marsden
Hospital
Azhar Farooqi, GP, East Leicester Medical Practice
Ashour Omar Gebreel, special co-ordinator, World
Health Organisation
Prof. William John Gillespie, formerly foundation
dean, Hull York Medical School
Margaret Ann Harper, consultant obstetrician and
gynaecologist
Fiona Denise Knight (Ms Street), lately chairwoman,
United Kingdom Homecare Association
Elizabeth Jane Leese, senior medical officer, DoH
Richard John Knight, director of research, Disability
Awareness in Action
Prof. Stuart Gowans Macpherson, chairman, Scottish
Modernising Medical Careers implementation Group
Kate Louise Nash, formerly chief executive, Royal
Association of Disability and Rehabilitation
Angela Mary Pedder, chief executive, Royal Devon
and Exeter Hospital
Lynette Elaine Phillips, formerly chairwoman, London
Black and Ethnic Minority Network for NHS Staff and
Allied Health Professionals
Geraldine Mary Strathdee, consultant psychiatrist,
Oxleas NHS Trust
Moira Swinbank, chief executive, TimeBank, services
to volunteering
Rosemary Margaret Varley, formerly regional commissioner,
NHS Appointments Commission and
chairwoman, General Optical Council
MBE
Ronald Arkley Anderson, services to NHS catering
and the community of Walsall
Kanyalal Aswani, GP Waltham Forest
Anthony John Gilbert Berry, chairman and cofounder,
North Staffordshire Heart Committee
Binoy Bhattacharyya, Consultant West Middlesex
Hospital
Irene Helen Callaghan, services to nursing in Angus
Christine Mary Callund, founder, Charitable Association
Supplying Hospitals
Andrew Joseph Carman, services to disabled people
in Warrington
Myrna Edna Chave, services to the Guide Dogs for
the Blind Association
John Crosby & Joy Crosby, foster carers
Prof. Amirtham Jebamoney David, director of nursing
and professional development, West Kent PCT
Fiona Mary Ford, GP and senior lecturer, East Lancashire
Teaching PCT
Helen Foster, Saturday club for deaf children, Isle of
Wight
Anne Gait, services to children with special needs in
Leeds
Barry Thomas Gifford, director of finance, Royal National
Institute for the Blind
Barbara Greggains, lay representative, clinical radiology
patients’ liaison group, Royal College of Radiologists
Thomas John Hall, charge nurse, Tyrone and Fermanagh
Hospital
Dilys Elvena Hanmer, president, Pembroke and District
Committee, Macmillan Cancer Relief
Rosemary Hawley, chairwoman, Knowsley PCT
Aneurin John Wyn Heath, paramedic supervisor,
Wales Air Ambulance Service
Mary Hodgson, services to disabled people in Croydon
Joseph Clifford Hughes, services to St Catherine’s
Hospital and community in South Ribble
Margaret Anne Hughes, services to League of
Friends, Oxford Churchill Hospital
Margaret Hutchins, nursing sister, Bellsdyke Hospital
Larbert
Lady Evelyn Jacomb, chairwoman, Friends of Moorfields
Hospital
Enid Lois Johns, services to Multiple Sclerosis Society
Doris May Jones, services to people with learning
disabilities in Anglesey
Beryl Genevieve Juma, clinical lead, Leeds Sickle
Cell Service
Joseph Charles Lansdell & Rita Eileen Lansdell, foster
carers
John Leese, services to Douglas Macmillan Hospice,
Stoke-on-Trent
Iftikhar Ahmed Lone, GP, Middlesbrough
Lynn Avis Lynch, consultant midwife
Neale Charles Marney, supervisor, Newbury Ambulance
Station
Elizabeth Carole Martin, formerly director of public
health Kingston PCT
Yvonne McQuinn, non-executive director, North Kirklees
PCT
Jayne Denise Medlicott, nursing director, Hospice of
the Valleys, Blaenau Gwent
Elizabeth Mitchell, district nurse
Phillip Edward Stephen Morgan, director, support
services, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
Susan Morgan, Macmillan nurse specialist for teenagers
and young adults, St James’s Hospital, Leeds
Christine Mullen, associate director, workforce strategy
NHS North West
Yvonne Mary Norton, chairwoman, West Midlands
Lupus Group
Mary Ord, services to Huntly and District Macmillan
Cancer Research Branch
Theresa Josephine Owen, volunteer services manager,
Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust
Richard John Patterson, formerly chairman, Dorset
ME Support Group
Catherine Potter, specialist bed co-ordinator, Medway
NHS Trust
Lillian Jane Ramsay, founder and director, The Eyeless
Trust for Children and Young People Born Without
Eyes
Anne Roberts, head of health visiting and school of
nursing, North Glamorgan NHS Trust
Jean McHattie Roberts, care advisors, Sangers (NI),
services to Stoma Care Nursing
Yvonne Carol Sessions, formerly clinical services
manager, learning disability services, Leeds Mental
Health Teaching NHS Trust
Paul Edward Siddall, executive officer, Disability and
Carers Service
John Simpson, works operational manager, Gateshead
Health NHS Foundation Trust
Margaret Anne Sims, senior health promotion specialist
Paul Anthony Twomey, GP, Grimsby
Mary Norah Barclay Tyrrell, hon. secretary, League of
Friends, Gosport War Memorial Hospital
Peter George Wallis, non-executive director, former
Thurrock PCT
Lavinia Wallop, trustee, NSPCC
Edith Hazel Ward, founder, Take Heart Support
Group
Gillian Waterhouse, head of patient public involvement,
Heart of England NHS Trust
Susan Watkin, formerly chairwoman, Huntington ’s
Disease Association