Editorial
This past week saw what some people may have
interpreted as the Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Sir
Liam Donaldson, seemingly taking leave of his
senses.
He came out with the staggeringly odd statement
that the taxpayer should not have to fund the
treatment of patients whose care had been cockedup
by the NHS and that NHS Trusts should pay for it
and that they should also face fines and penalties.
First, where does he think the NHS Trusts get their
funds from? Santa? No, surprise, surprise, its from
the taxpayer. A detail which seems to have been
overlooked.
Second, he also overlooks the fact that NHS Trusts
can already been fined and punished – there are
examples in some of the more recent issues of
BHCR of hospitals being fined in relation to patients
who fall, or jump, from windows in upper floors and
injure themselves; there is also the example of
Southampton University Hospital fined £40,000, last
year, for the needless death of a patient following
routine knee surgery.
Third, how will ‘inflicting’ greater penalties help the
apparently cash-strapped NHS.
Fourth, if one is seeking to encourage an open
culture where deficiencies are openly acknowledged
in anticipation of overcoming them it seems to me
that the approach suggested is misguided.
All in all this is not a ‘solution’ which enjoys my
support.
Having got that off my chest, I take this opportunity,
on behalf of everyone at Brunswicks to wish
you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful, healthy
and prosperous 2008.
In an effort to not to increase your tasks in the week before Christmas we have decided not to include an article this week.
We will be taking a festive break at BHCR over the holiday season and our next publication, Vol 3, Issue 1, will be on 09.01.2008.
Meantime, our team of lawyers will be available to assist with crises if the need arises at any time over the
Christmas break:
Crisis Intervention Line: 07855 855 588
Parliament
18.12.07 – HoC – Oral Questions, Health
Ten Minute Rule Bill - Human Rights Act 1998
(Meaning of Public Function) - Mr Andrew Dismore
1 9 . 1 2 . 0 8 - C h r i s t m a s R e c e s s
Adjournment. Parliament sits again 07.01.08
Next
Abuse
1. National Care Association Appalled by
CSCI’s Report on Restraint
18 December 2007
NCA expressed grave concern and disappointment
at the latest report from the Commission for Social
Care Inspection (CSCI), the regulator of all registered
care providers.
NCA Chairman Nadra Ahmed OBE said: “Members
of NCA and indeed all care providers sustain CSCI
by the substantial fees we pay, to act in the best interests
of the service.
In return the public and responsible care providers
expect the regulator to carry out its responsibility to
ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the people
in receipt of social care in regulated services.
That responsibility of CSCI must include the prevention
of abuse and inappropriate restraint within the
protection framework as an essential part of their
responsibility
NCA has always worked with CSCI over the years
but now question the motive behind the publication of
this report with its lack of balance as it fails the good
practice that there is throughout the responsible sector.
We believe this will lead to a loss of confidence
in CSCI by small and medium sized providers.
Having said that NCA and its members will view this
report seriously as it questions their credibility as responsible
providers.
It is essential that all care providers keep their practice
under continual review and we hope that as a
result of this report our members will review their policies
relating to restraint.
NCA itself will be looking at the training provided in all
facilities to ensure that our members are training their
staff appropriately.”
2. Rights, risks and restraints
17 December 2007 - CSCI
A 53 page report from CSCI seeking to raise the issue
of restraints – of all kinds, from physical restraints
of different types to subduing people using medicines.
Ed. The report has prompted a variety of reactions
and responses from different bodies. I have
not yet had time to read the full report, however, it
is based on a small sample of service users and
relatives plus complaints received by CSCI and
its inspectors findings. It therefore conveys extreme
practice but that is not, in my view, sufficiently
emphasised; accordingly, there is a real
danger of CSCI alienating providers and scaring
the public. This report is likely to ‘feed’ the frenzy
often seen in a certain part of the press.
Further, there seems to be some confusion on the
part of the author in relation to matters of human
rights and the level of applicability in care
homes. Either that, or, the report is written deliberately
in a style which will cause inexpert readers
to think that the Human Rights legislation is
directly applicable in private care settings.
3. Tied up, strapped to chairs, drugged, and
locked up. The restraint of older people is
under-reported in care homes
17 December 2007 – Action on Elder Abuse
CSCI published a report (‘Rights, risks and restraints’),
stating that 'evidence from inspectors’ reports
reveal that levels of restraint are much higher
than those recorded by staff in care
homes. Inspection reports identified a tacit reluctance
to acknowledge that restraint occurs'. The report
describes older people being held in bed;
strapped into wheelchairs; blocked by chairs, tables
or stools; dragged by their hair and tied into chairs;
left in soiled pads for up to three hours; sedated;
locked into rooms; and threatened or intimidated.
Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder
Abuse (AEA), stated, “This is an appalling situation
that warrants immediate and urgent action and collaboration
between regulators and care providers to
stamp out such behaviour. These abuses are intolerable
and go way beyond debates about lack of dignity.
Restraint turns care into imprisonment and we
should not accept it.”
Noting that it is three years since the Health Select
Committee recommended the production of this report,
FitzGerald continued, “It is difficult to quantify
how many older people have been restrained in that
period of time, but it is more difficult to understand
why the report does not recommend more immediate
and concrete action to prevent further such
abuse. While we applaud CSCI in updating their
guidance for inspectors on restraint, we feel that this
matter requires a far more robust approach. Last
year CSCI produced a similar report on medication
abuse, but there is no evidence that it resulted in a
reduction in such abuse within the care home sector.
This is just not acceptable”.
AEA has consequently written to CSCI on this matter.
4. Abuse claims review
12 December 2007 - The Times
The Church of England is to review all claims of child
abuse to identify any cover-ups. All 43 dioceses
have been given 18 months to appoint an independent
reviewer and carry out the reviews.
Business News
5. Synergy aims to clean up helping the NHS
15 December 2007 - Daily Mail
Half page comment on the plans for Synergy Healthcare
to move from sterilisation of surgical instruments
and hospital linen into ward cleaning and
housekeeping services – it seems well placed to do
so.
6. BUPA wizard of Oz
15 December 2007 - Daily Mail
BUPA looks set to become the biggest company in
Australian private healthcare if plans to combine with
Australia’s MBF group.
7. Southern Cross
10 December 2007
Full year results: sales up £122m to £731.9m; number
of beds increased 18.6% to 34,304.
8. The blame game
December 2007 - Health Investor
Item about the report from the Public Accounts Committee
which is highly critical of the Private Finance
Initiative which it says is weakening and has not improved
in the four years since the PAC’s last report
on the subject.
9. Once bitten, twice shy
December 2007 - Health Investor
Article about the change of attitude to private sector
provision by the DoH/NHS and the apparent contradictions
of cancelling contracts for Independent Treatment
Centres and on the other hand seeking to woo
private provision to supplement the NHS.
10. A year to forget
December 2007 - Health Investor
A review of 2007 and comment about whether there
is reason to be more optimistic about 2008. The author
suggests there are reasons to be optimistic.
11. From showroom to boardroom
December 2007 - Health Investor
A profile of Claimar Care Plc and its CEO, Mark
Hales.
12. End of an era for the Southern Cross king
December 2007 - Health Investor
Two pages about the current CEO of Southern Cross
Healthcare Plc, Philip Scott who stands down at the
end of the month and hands on the baton to Bill
Colvin.
Care Homes
Nothing to report
Case Reports
Law Reports
13. B v (1) Reading Borough Council, (2)
Wokingham District Council & (3) Chief Constable
of Thames Valley
Where a claim that a local authority was vicariously
liable for the negligence of social workers was struck
out on the basis that it was not arguable that the social
workers owed a duty of care to a parent suspected
of child abuse, a claim that the local authority
owed a direct duty to the parent was similarly not arguable
as, in either case, it would have to be shown
that a social worker had been in breach of duty.
14. Pierce v Doncaster MBC
P, a 31yr old, successfully argued that Doncaster social
services should have taken him into care as a
child thereby sparing him the abuse suffered at the
hands of his parents. In the first case of its kind P
was awarded £25,000. Doncaster announced it will
petition the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal.
15. R v Breeze
R’s conduct in downloading 4,270 photographs/
pseudo-photographs of a child, contrary to the Protection
of Children Act 1978 s.1(1)(a), over almost
four years was not conduct at the’ very top of the
range of personal downloading’ and it was therefore
appropriate to substitute a custodial term of two years
with one of 15 months.
16. R (Paul and Ors) v Assistant Deputy
Coroner of Inner West London
A coroner was not entitled to read hearsay evidence
to the jury where he considered the evidence was
likely to be disputed and where the maker of the
statement was not able to attend court in person.
17. Saulle (by Gabrielle Saulle his sister and
Litigation Friend) v Nouvet
The court is required by the CPR r.21.1(2)(d), as
amended by the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules
2007 -, to apply the definition of legal capacity within
the Mental Capacity Act 2005 s.2(1) when deciding
whether he was a protected party as part of the determination
of whether a S had capacity to manage
his own property and affairs and to conduct the litigation.
18. Colwill v Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS
Trust
The hospital Trust was negligent where it had failed
to prescribe antibiotics within the appropriate time
where the patient was showing signs of infection.
19. Morrell v Owen & Others
Organisers of a sports event for disabled athletes
failed to provide adequate arrangements for the
safety of a competitor. A disabled archer was struck
on the temple by a discus, the archer suffered permanent
brain damage. Her claim succeeded.
20. R (Sheikh) v General Dental Council
The court terminated an interim suspension order
made under the Dentists Act 1984 s.32(4) against a
dentist convicted of conspiracy to defraud and offered
guidance concerning the imposition of an interim
suspension order and the powers of review
contained in s.32 of the Act.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
21. Jurors question guilt of killer childminder
19 December 2007 – The Times
An unprecedented statement made by two jurors, one
the Jury Forman, calls the role of expert witnesses in
trials arising from the deaths of babies and very
young children. The jurors have said that they do not
believe that Mrs Keran Henderson is guilty of killing a
child in her care by shaking it so violently that the
baby was left both blind and brain damaged. The
baby died days later. Mrs Henderson has been convicted
of killing the baby.
22. War pilot's care home mismanaged
14 December 2007- BBC News
An inquest into the death of Charles Hounslow, a former
World War II RAF pilot, has found the care home
where he spent some of his final days was "grossly
mismanaged".
Mr Hounslow, 85, died in hospital 11 days after falling
and breaking his hip at Miles Court in Brighton where
staff appeared to fail to notice the fracture for 37
hours, but the coroner said Mr Hounslow's death in
May from pneumonia was not caused by the delay.
For full report click here
23. Death care home owners released
13 December 2007 – BBC News
Care deaths police question pair
11 December 2007 – BBC News
Couple held over care home deaths
10 December 2007 – BBC News
Nurse Rachel Baker and her husband Leigh have
been arrested on suspicion of murdering five elderly
residents at a care home. The two were originally
questioned over the death of a woman at Parkfields
Residential Home in Butleigh, Somerset.
The pair were former managers of Parkfields.
For 10 Dec report click here
For 11 Dec report click here
For 13 Dec report click here
24. Council fine for foster failures
11 December 2007 – BBC News
Wirral Council has been fined and heavily criticised
for failing to make basic checks before putting two
children into foster car. The council was made to pay
£10,000 compensation by the Local Government Ombudsman
for placing the pair with a carer without following
regulations.
The council has been told to review its procedures to
ensure it does not happen again.
For full report click here
25. Sacked nurse loses appeal hearing
10 December 2007 – BBC News
A decision to sack psychiatric nurse, Karen Reissman,
was upheld at an appeal hearing.
Reissmann was suspended in June and found guilty
of gross misconduct by Manchester Mental Health
and Social Care Trust last month.
For full report click here
Children
26. Children in care seek rights boost in revised
minimum standards
13 December 2007 – Community Care
Children and young people have their say on
the revised national minimum standards for
children in care
13 December 2007 - GNN
Children and young people have urged the Government
to place their rights to be kept safe and having
a say in life decisions as a top priority in the new National
Minimum Standards for children’s social services.
The standards were first published in 2002, and are
currently being revised to fit in with the 2007 white
paper, Care Matters: time for change.
For full report click here
27. Social work is central – SCIE’s response
to the Children’s plan
11 December 2007 – SCIE
The Social Care Institute for Excellence has urged
the Government to use the expertise of social workers
to realise the aims set out in the Children’s plan.
SCIE wants schools to offer advice to parents and
teachers and to support and bring together evidence
from previous “community school” schemes to explain
what practice works and how it works.
For full report go to http://www.scie.org.uk/news/
mediareleases/2007/111207.asp
28. Childminder’s ‘babycam’ brings issue of
trust into sharp focus
11 December 2007 - The Times
Valerie Boccara, a French childminder, has become
the first nanny to install CCTV linked to a computer
so parents can watch their child from their workplace
computer.
Ed. We have considered the issue of webcams to
‘keep and eye’ on older people – known in the
USA as ‘Grannycams’. To read our articles on the
legal issues such technological solutions raise
look at BHCR Vol 2 Issue 23.
29. Foster children may be at risk
10 December 2007 - The Times
The child protection system established in response
to the death of Victoria Climbie is not working in respect
of children with ‘private’ foster parents such as
aunts, family friends and the like because it relies on
the foster parent notifying the relevant local authority.
Only 1,250 of the estimated 20,000 have done
so.
Conferences & Courses
30. Achieving Patient-led Services
Winning Contracts in the New Commissioning
Era
Wednesday 23rd January 2008 – Central London
In association with the NHSAlliance.
This conference will tackle the uncertainty which exists
around the question of the extent to which private
firms can be and will be involved in providing NHS
services. Industry insiders will provide clarification
concerning the level and type of business the comm
issioning framework will enable.
Keynote speaker Mark Britnell, Director General of
Commissioning and System Management at the Department
of Health, will anticipate the future of the
healthcare market and the enhanced provider role of
the private sector.
Delegates will learn more about how to improve commissioning
practice through improved understanding
of demand and strategic needs assessment. Lessons
from appointed private sector firms will also be provided
on how to take commissioning and contracting
forward.
The range of commissioning models available and
their similarities and differences will be explored in
depth and consideration will be given to the key issues
in contracting.
Other contributors include:
Professor Paul Corrigan, Director of Strategy and
Commissioning, NHS London
Dr Mo Dewji, National Clinical Director, Primary Care
Contracting Improvement Foundation
Derek Felton, Director of Commissioning Services,
Tribal
Dr Katrina Herren, Head of Business Development,
BUPA Commissioning Services
Tim Jones, Commissioning Specialist
Tim Riley, Chief Executive, Tameside and Glossop
PCT
Ruth Smith, Legal Adviser for HealthInvestor Event
Mike Sobanja, Chief Officer, NHS Alliance
Katherine Ward, Director of Commissioning, United-
Health, Europe
To book online please click here
For further details about this event please either:
Email carolyn.spring@healthinvestor.co.uk; or call
the events team on 020 7451 7067.
31. National Children's Commissioning Conference:
"Accountability for Outcomes"
11 and 12 February 2008
Hilton Metropole, London"Effective joint planning and
commissioning is at the heart of improving outcomes
for children and young people." (DCSF, October
2007).
Following the success of our first national health and
social care commissioning conference in July, CareandHealth
has decided to hold the first National Children's
Commissioning Conference and Exhibition of
its kind. We intend to lead the way in defining and
developing the meaning of commissioning in children's
services from 2008.
Along with key messages from the government and
DCSF, we will also have the opportunity to hear from
commissioning experts in local authorities and beyond,
service providers and voluntary agencies.
The conference will explore the significance and application
of service commissioning, as a means to
deliver Every Child Matters outcomes in integrated
children's services, and to provide a learning and networking
environment that energises all service stakeholders
to develop a greater national consensus
about joint commissioning for results and all the accountabilities
of the local authority.
To be at the forefront of discovery - to find new ways
to improve outcomes for children and young people,
be inspired by sector experts, learn about best practice
and share your experiences - join us for this unmissable
two-day national conference and exhibition.
To find out more about this stimulating and informative
event, and to reserve your place, click here to
visit our website, which has details of our themes,
speakers, venue and exhibition space.
32. Retirement Housing - One Day Conference,
27th February 2008
Thistle City Barbican, London, EC1
10.00 Surveying the market for retirement housing
including demographic trends across
the market
Barbara Laing, Managing Director - Housing Services,
Anchor Trust
10.30 Exploring opportunities in the growth of
Retirement Villages in the UK
Nick Sanderson, CEO, Raven Audley
11.30 Analysing the impact of retirement housing
on the wider residential market
Jim Ward, Head of Residential Research, Savills
12.00 Charting the growth of supply in luxury
retirement properties and challenges for
existing and new market entrants
Anthony Oldfield, Senior Associate, Healthcare, King
Sturge LLP
12.30 Exploring housing policy and partnerships
for retirement property development
Mark Wagstaff, Policy Advisor, Housing Corporation
14.00 Focusing on lending and finance for retirement
housing and the emergence of
specialist finance including mortgages,
tax, and equity
Paul Moran, Area Director - Head of Healthcare,
Bank of Ireland
14.30 Managing land acquisition and planning
strategies for retirement property
Neil Rowley MRTPI, Associate Director, Commercial
Planning, Savills
15.30 Evaluating marketing strategies to reach
retirement property customers
Martin James, Director, Retirement Homesearch
16.00 Case Study - St George’s Park Augustinian
Living – working with community
stakeholders to create added value in retirement
living
Philip Smith, Marketing Director, Augustinian Living
FAX the completed form to +44 (0) 20 7970 4799
Call +44 (0) 20 7970 4770
Book Online @ www.housing-strategy.com
Post a copy of this form together with your payment to
Centaur Conferences, 50 Poland Street, London, W1F
7AX
33. Extracare Housing - One Day Conference
- 28th February 2008
Thistle City Barbican, London, EC1
10.00 Surveying the market for extracare provision
and niche opportunities for the independent
sector
David Driscoll, CEO, Signature Senior Lifestyle
10.30 Reviewing partnerships and funding in extracare
housing projects
David Weiss, Head of Partnerships and Property,
Kent Adult Social Services
11.30 Health and social care partnerships in extracare
provision
Trevor Edwards, Housing LIN, Department of
Health
12.00 Choices in Long Term Care
Sue Collins, Principal Policy and Public Affairs Manager,
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Charting the trends and gaps in the development
of extracare housing supply
Tom Whittington, Head of Healthcare Research,
Savills
14.00 Designing sustainable extracare housing
Anne-Marie Nicholson, Director, PRP Architects
14.30 Developing medicare and extracare assistive
technology in housing
Denise Gillie, Associate, Care Services Improvement
Partnership, Department of Health
15.30 Promoting total care concepts including
self support, independent living and well
being in extracare services
Sarah Vallelly, Research Manager, Housing 21
16.00 Developing Sustainable Retirement Communities
Simon Evans, Senior Research Fellow, Health Training
& Research Centre, University of the West of
England
FAX the completed form to +44 (0) 20 7970 4799
Call +44 (0) 20 7970 4770
Book Online @ www.housing-strategy.com
Post a copy of this form together with your payment to
Centaur Conferences, 50 Poland Street, London, W1F
7AX
34. RCN Independent Nurse Managers Forum
Conference: Improving practice...improving
care
The RCN will be holding a conference on Saturday 8
March 2008 at Cowdray Hall, RCN Headquarters,
London. The conference will examine the evolution
in the provision of health care and how independent
providers can look for ways to better assist the community
they serve. For further information please
contact the organiser: Guillia Ward; independent@
rcn.org.uk or visit www.rcn.org.uk/events
35. ICHA Annual Conference : Investing in
Children
The intelligent use of residential child care
Wednesday 27 February 2008, Regent’s College
Conference Centre, London
The ICHA Annual Conference, organised in partnership
with CareandHealth will provide a unique opportunity
to explore with providers and commissioners
why investment in high quality residential care for
children must be sustained and developed and to
consider the impact of the plans laid out in Care Matters:
Time for Change White Paper and the new legislation
in the Children in Care Bill.
The conference will also allow providers for residential
care to consider with Local Authority senior managers
and commissioners how to ensure they can
help meet the challenge of ensuring that every child
in care has the 'right placement' and is able to experience
both stability and also the continuity of relationships
which, together, can lead to succesful outcomes.
Speakers include:
Christine Gilbert - Chief Inspector of Ofsted, Kevin
Brennan, Minister at DCFS, Andrew Christie - Director
of Children's Services, London Borough of Hammersmith
and Fulham and ADCS lead on Care Matters,
Jonathan Stanley, Principal Officer at the National
Centre for Excellence in Residential Care,
Benni-Jo Tyler - A National Voice.
Chair for first session: David Kidney - Chair of All
Party Parliamentary Group on Children in Care.
For more details go to www.careandhealth.com
Email: conferences@careandhealth.com
Tel: 0845 055 9207
Fax: 0871 901 7774
Consultations
36. Have your say – Consultation on the
regulations for Local Involvement Networks
(LINks)
Closing date: 21 December 2007
The Government is aiming to strengthen the ability of
local communities to influence what health and social
care services are provided and how they are run.
The Local Government and Public Involvement in
Health Bill contain proposals to establish Local Involvement
Networks (LINks) to help achieve this
aim. LINks will have specific powers to hold local
health and social care services to account. This consultation
document outlines draft versions of these
regulations, explains more about them, and asks for
views and comments on them.
For consultation click here
37. NICE: Current consultations
To browse through consultations go to http://
www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=consultations.current
38. The Responsible Pharmacist: Consultation
on the Content of the Responsible Pharmacist
Regulation
Closing Date: 20 January 2008
This paper sets out proposals for the content of the
Responsible Pharmacist Regulations that follow on
from changes to the Medicines Act 1968 through the
Health Act 2006. There currently a statutory requirement
on Ministers to consult on changes to the Medicines
Act.
For full consultation click here
39. NHS Identity Scheme for Dental Practices:
Providing NHS dentistry
Closing Date: 21 January 2008
A consultation seeking views on proposals to introduce
quality criteria in association with the roll-out of
increased use of the NHS identity in selected primary
care dental practices.
For full report click here
40. Mental Health: Draft Revised Code of
Practice and Secondary Legislation
Closing Date: 24 January 2008
DoH are now consulting on the draft revised Mental
Health Act 1983 Code of Practice and draft secondary
legislation under the Mental Health Act 2007
(the 2007 Act).
The consultation is relevant to all NHS and social
care managers and professional staff with responsibility
for services for people with mental health problems.
For full report click here
41. Future of the Standing Dental Advisory
Committee: consultation document
Closing Date: 31 January 2008
This consultation document explains how the Department
has made increasing use of bodies like the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE), and subject specific committees, for obtaining
clinical advice in dentistry; and also proposes that the
Standing Dental Advisory Committee (SDAC) be
abolished.
For full consultation click here
42. National Studies Consultation for Health
2008-09
Closing Date: 31 January 2008
A consultation describing details of a proposed studies
programme for 2008-09. It is seeking responses
on the programme's usefulness and appropriateness,
the scope and timing of individual studies, and potential
for overlap and collaboration with others.
For full consultation click here
43. Protection of Vulnerable Groups
(Scotland) Act 2007: Secondary Legislation
Closing Date: 12 February 2008
Proposals for secondary legislation required to implement
the vetting and barring scheme introduced
through the Protection of Vulnerable Groups
(Scotland) Act 2007.
The new scheme will not only collect disclosure information
but also assess it, and will continue to collect
vetting information about an individual after the initial
disclosure check has been made. There will be a
separate children's and adult's list and the scheme
will remove the need for continued disclosure. The
lists will be managed by a Central Barring Unit (CBU).
For consultation click here
44. Towards a framework for postregistration
nursing careers: a national consultation
Closing date: 15 February 2008
This consultation sets out options for a new careers
framework for post registration nursing. It fulfills a
commitment in Modernising Nursing Careers setting
the direction (2006) to align nursing careers with the
NHS Careers Framework and develop new career
paths for nursing. It proposes a framework built
around patient care pathways and seeks responses
from as many people as possible before any further
work is done.
For consultation click here
45. Comprehensive Area Assessment consultation
launched
Closing Date: 15 February 2008
CSCI is asking for you to have your say on how the
Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), the new
independent report on whether people are getting
value for money from their local services, will work.
For full report click here
46. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
2006/Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups
(Northern Ireland) Order 2007, policy consultation
document
Closing Date: 20 February 2008
The implementation of the Independent Safeguarding
Authority scheme under the Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups Act 2006 will introduce the most stringent
vetting and barring service yet with the scheme
protecting both children and vulnerable adults by preventing
those who are known to pose a risk of harm
from accessing these groups through their work. The
consultation is seeking views on a wide range of policy
issues that will ensure the successful implementation
of the Act.
For full consultation click here
47. Childcare Act 2006: Future approach to
fees and subsidies
Closing Date: 20 February 2008
Consultation seeking views on the proposed structure
and level of fees payable to Ofsted by childcare providers
joining the Early Years Register or compulsory
part of the Ofsted Childcare Register from September
2008. It also proposes changes to subsidy arrangements.
For full consultation click here
48. Transforming tribunals: Consultation
Document
Closing Date: 22 February 2008
The tribunals service has just produced its consultation
document. This document will have a very significant
impact on the future of the Care Standards
Tribunal.
It is available for downloading on http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/
latestnews.htm
49. Consultation on the Health Care and Associated
Professions Order 2008
Closing Date: 22 February 2008
Consultation seeking views on the Healthcare and
Associated Professions Order, which is the first in a
series of orders that will take forward the reforms for
professional regulation identified in the white paper,
Trust, Assurance and Safety.
For full consultation click here
50. Improving health, supporting justice: a
consultation
Closing Date: 4 March 2008
The publication of this document is the start of a consultation
process on how health and social care services
can be improved for people subject to the criminal
justice system. This is a joint initiative between
the Department of Health, Department of Children,
Schools and Families, Ministry of Justice, Youth Justice
Board and the Home Office.
For full report click here
51. Finding a Shared Vision of How People's
Mental Health Problems Should Be Understood:
Consultation on guidance
Closing Date: 5 March 2008
Consultation seeking views on draft guidance on how
people’s mental health problems should be understood.
The guidance is aimed at everyone involved in
the development and delivery of services, including
people that use services and their carers.
For full consultation click here
52. Improving Specialist Disability Employment
Services: Public consultation
Closing Date: 10 March 2008
This consultation seeks views on proposals to reform
the department's disability employment services that
help disabled people who have complex issues to
find, retain and progress in work. The department is
interested to hear from disabled people, employers
and organisations who represent the interests of disabled
people.
For full consultation go to http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
resourcecentre/des-consultation.asp
53. A better life for people with learning disabilities
4 December 2007 - GNN
Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis launched a consultation
to seek views on the priorities for learning disability
for the next three years.
'Valuing People Now - From Progress to Transformation'
is a cross-government consultation which sets
the agenda across a range of issues, including
health and well-being, housing, employment, education
and community inclusion. It builds on the vision
set out in Valuing People (2001) which was the first
white paper on learning disability for thirty years - a
vision based on the four main principles of rights,
independence, choice and inclusion.
The key areas it will focus on are:
* the personalisation agenda - having choice and
control through individual budgets, direct payments,
person centred planning and advocacy;
* what people do - helping people to be socially included
in their local communities, with a particular
focus on paid work;
* better health - ensuring that the mainstream NHS
provides full and equal access to good quality healthcare
and that specialist healthcare services are modernised;
* access to housing - ensuring that people have access
to housing that they want and need with a focus
on home ownership and real tenancies;
* making sure that change happens - making learning
disability partnership boards more effective and
checking that the things we say should happen do
actually happen.
The consultation will run until 11th March 2008 and
can be accessed at: http://www.dh.gov.uk
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
54. National Care Association Appalled by
CSCI’s Report on Restraint
For full report see Abuse—item 1
55. Rights, risks and restraints
17 December 2007 - CSCI
A 53 page report from CSCI seeking to raise the issue
of restraints – of all kinds, from physical restraints
of different types to subduing people using medicines.
Ed. The report has prompted a variety of reactions
and responses from different bodies. I have
not yet had time to read the full report, however, it
is based on a small sample of service users and
relatives plus complaints received by CSCI and
its inspectors findings. It therefore conveys extreme
practice but that is not, in my view, sufficiently
emphasised; accordingly, there is a real
danger of CSCI alienating providers and scaring
the public. This report is likely to ‘feed’ the frenzy
often seen in a certain part of the press.
Further, there seems to be some confusion on the
part of the author in relation to matters of human
rights and the level of applicability in care
homes. Either that, or, the report is written deliberately
in a style which will cause inexpert readers
to think that the Human Rights legislation is
directly applicable in private care settings.
56. Care Commission Forum Presentations
14 December 2007 – Scottish Care Commission
The Care Commission Forum’s presentation documents
are available at the link below. The Conference
took place at the Beardmore Conference Centre
on Tuesday 4 December 2007.
For full report click here
57. CSCI signs up to shared vision on adult
social care
14 December 2007 – CSCI
The Commission for Social Care Inspection has put
its signature to the Government’s new social care
reform programme. The agreement has been signed
by social care organisations, trade associations and
six government departments and it is a shared vision
and commitment to the transformation of adult social
care.
Dame Denise Platt, Chair of CSCI, said:
“With this initiative, people should expect their experiences
of social care to change considerably as they
find themselves with greater control and choice over
how they receive services.”
"We are particularly pleased that the Government is
looking to CSCI to assist in monitoring how the social
care reform agenda programme is actually delivered.”
For full report click here
58. Report calls for national guidance for
emergency ambulance volunteers
13 December 2007 – Healthcare Commission
A survey by the Healthcare Commission shows that
ambulance trusts value schemes but that a standard
management approach is needed.
The Commission has called for national guidelines to
be developed so that ambulance trusts can manage
and govern their community first responder schemes
consistently.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/
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59. Have you replied to our quality rating letter?
11 December 2007 – CSCI
CSCI is urging care providers to respond to its letter
offering the chance to have your current quality rating
published in the New Year.
For full report click here
60. Section 20 – Urgent Cancellations
11 December 2007 – Healthcare Bi-Weekly
In this issue there is extensive coverage of the issue
of urgent cancellation of registration of care homes
under section 20 Care Standards Act 2000. There
are comments, articles and letters from a range of
solicitors.
61. Comprehensive Area Assessment consultation
launched
10 December 2007 – CSCI
CSCI is asking for you to have your say on how the
Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), the new
independent report on whether people are getting
value for money from their local services, will work.
For full report click here
62. Annual Returns - Frequently Asked Questions
10 December 2007 – Scottish Care Commission
A list of frequently asked questions relating to the
completion and submission of the annual returns
document for the 2008-2009 inspection year.
For full report click here
63. On your toes
December 2007 - Health Investor
Article which posits the argument that the activities of
new ‘super regulator’ the Care Quality Commission is
likely to favour the larger care providers and will
probably raise the barrier for entry into the care sector.
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
64. Hospital's hygiene 'is appalling'
12 December 2007 – BBC News
Health watchdog, the Western Health and Social Services
Council has criticised Erne Hospital in Enniskillen
for its “appalling levels of hygiene”. The comments
were made after an unannounced visit to the
maternity, elderly care and medical wards in October.
For full report click here
Scotland
65. Trainee doctors asked to pledge commitment
to Scotland
15 December 2007 – The Herald
The SNP Government wants trainee doctors to show
their commitment to Scotland in a bid to separate
those dedicated to Scotland from those who just want
any job.
The move comes after predictions that there will be
massive competition for places from English and
overseas candidates.
66. Increase in doctor training posts
14 December 2007- BBC News
The Scottish Government will be increasing the number
of GP training places and improve support for
student nurses.
For full report click here
67. NHS workforce planning
14 December 2007 – Scottishgov
Better Health, Better Care: Planning for Tomorrow’s
Workforce Today has been published. It is a strategy
to ensure that the NHS workforce is fit for the future
and ensure that the NHS has the right staff in the
right place with the right skills at the right time in order
to deliver high quality care.
Training numbers for doctors, nurses and midwives
has also been set out, to ensure that there are sufficient
numbers of staff being trained to meet future
service need, with a further investment of £10 million
to be provided for 150 extra posts in GP training.
For full report click here
68. Ambulances Missing 8-minute Targets
For Emergency Patients
14 December 2007 – The Evening Times
A new report has revealed that ambulances are failing
to reach dangerously ill patients within eight minutes.
Paramedics reached 55.7% of life threatening
emergencies last year within eight minutes which is
lower than the target of 64% and down 2.8% on the
previous year.
Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland has said a
huge rise in 999 calls since GP surgeries stopped
working after 6pm has been a major factor in the performance
slump and the report also noted a sudden
surge in patients attending A&E departments.
69. Radical Shake-up Of Health Services Revealed
13 December 2007 – The Herald
Scottish Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon has announced
sweeping changes to the NHS will include
walk-in medical appointments being offered at railway
stations and shopping centres.
She also unveiled moves to make GPs open outside
office hours, and plans to set down patient rights in a
charter.
The steps are part of the SNP health strategy Better
Health, Better Care, which she launched in the Scottish
Parliament.
70. Patient 'walk-in access' plans
12 December 2007 – BBC News
The Scottish Government has announced plans to
give patients walk-in access at pharmacies for a
range of treatment. Members of the public will also
be able to get treatment for minor injuries and sexual
health screening.
For full report click here
71. Health staff 'fear blame culture'
12 December 2007 – BBC News
Quality Improvement Scotland has found that some
NHS staff do not report accidents involving patients
or colleagues because of their fear of the consequences
of admitting a mistake. The staff survey by
the watchdog noted that the health service was better
at reporting incidents than other industries.
For full report click here
72. Enforcers target hospital smokers
12 December 2007 – BBC News
A hit squad is set to circle hospital grounds and enforce
the smoking ban in hospital grounds. NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that eight cessation
enforces will patrol the grounds of all acute hospitals
in Glasgow and ask smokers to sub out their cigarettes,
as well as offer advice on kicking the habit.
For full report click here
73. GP protection 'should go further'
10 December 2007 – BBC News
Trade unions have criticised legislation for not going
far enough to protect doctors and community nurses
from attack. Medical staff working in a hospital or
responding to an emergency are protected by the
law, but the Emergency Workers Act is to be extended
to health workers on non-urgent calls.
Unison's Scottish organiser Dave Watson welcomed
the extension, but said he was very disappointed that
it had not been extended to other non-emergency
workers, such as social workers and traffic wardens.
For full report click here
Wales
74. Up to 3,000 patients' data stolen
14 December 2007- BBC News
The details of up to 3,000 NHS patients may have
been on a computer stolen from a doctors' surgery.
The laptop belonged to the Diabetic Retinopathy
Screening Service (DRSS) and contained patients'
names, addresses, dates of birth and phone numbers.
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said the laptop was
coded with passwords and had three levels of protection.
For full report click here
75. Funding row delays NHS equipment
13 December 2007- BBC News
A woman with disabilities had to wait three years for
vital equipment simply because NHS bodies could not
agree who should pay for it.
In 2003, carers said Sarah Dadd, 28, from Cogan
near Cardiff, should be given a specialist bed. In 2004
they said she needed a specialist chair too.
Ombudsman Adam Peat has criticised two NHS
trusts and a local health board for not providing the
equipment until 2006. He also recommended that Ms
Dadd's parents be given £2,000 compensation.
Ms Dadd, has a learning disability, epilepsy and cerebral
palsy.
For full report click here
Ed. It is not that long ago that the Information
Commissioner said that he would consider prosecutions
if laptop computers were lost with personal
information available. However, the fact
that the data is apparently protected by passwords
may mitigate. Better security would be to
encrypt the data as well as password protecting
it. Doubtless with all of the losses of data by Government
the Info Commissioner has his hands
full!
Volume 2 Issue 46
76. New children's 'champion' named
12 December 2007 – BBC News
The new children’s commissioner for Wales has
been confirmed as Keith Towler. Mr Towler is the
head of Save the Children in Wales.
For full report click here
77. Gaps in learning disability care
12 December 2007 – BBC News.
A new report by the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
(HIW) said there were major gaps in the learning disability
support system especially at school leaving
age. Some patients live far away from their families,
and should be offered the chance to live nearer.
HIW made 27 recommendations in all.
About 60,000 Welsh have some form of learning disability.
For full report click here
Learning Disabilities
78. Good practice in learning disability nursing
14 December 2007 – DoH
Document giving good practice guidance to support
learning disability nursing to make a major contribution
to the health and well-being of people with a
learning disability in the future.
For full report click here
79. Learning disabilities: councils to take
NHS role
13 December 2007 – Community Care
A proposal has been outlined in the Valuing People
Now: From Progress to Transformation, to transfer
commissioning powers for learning disability social
care services has been given support by most of the
sector.
The paper followed a damning Healthcare Commission
audit, A Life Like No Other which was published
the day before and exposed nationwide institutional
failures at specialist in-patient healthcare services for
people who have learning disabilities.
For full report click here
80. Funding row delays NHS equipment
13 December 2007- BBC News
For full report see Wales—item 75
81. The school that gives lessons in how to
play with autistic children
11 December 2007 - The Times
Item about Treehouse School, North London, and
how it helps siblings of autistic children relate to their
brother/sister. Treehouse is one of the charities supported
by The Times Christmas Appeal this year.
82. Personal care budgets and extra £520
million to transform care for older and disabled
people
10 December 2007 - GNN
For full report see Miscellaneous—item 105
83. Heather’s fabulous flourish wins national
art competition
6 December 2007 -
Local artist Heather Fletcher, a tenant of Cherrywood
Supported Living Service, has won the Grand Final of
Craegmoor Healthcare’s national art competition.
Heather, a prolific artist, submitted a number of entries
to the competition. Acclaimed fellow artist John
Waterhouse who was one of the main judges of the
competition stated: “The standard of the art submitted
was extremely high and we all had a difficult time selecting
the pieces that were chosen for each of the
heats, but there was a clear winner from all the online
votes.”
Legislation Update
84. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
(Amendment) Regulations 2007
12 December 2007 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
85. Key mental health unit to close
17 December 2007 – BBC
Psychiatrists say a decision to close a unit which offers
unique help to people with complex mental health
problems will harm vulnerable patients.
The NHS trust which ordered the closure of the Henderson
Hospital in Sutton, Surrey says it made the
decision "with great sadness".
Doctors have pinned the blame on changes made by
the government to funding arrangements.
It does intensive work with people who have a moderate
or severe personality disorder.
This means they have enduring emotional and behavioural
problems which can involve them harming
themselves or others.
A year ago, the hospital received national funding,
and had a six-month waiting list. Then funding
passed to local NHS trusts, and referrals dwindled.
Currently, only 12 of its 29 beds are occupied.
Residential care is expensive - but psychiatrists say
the cost of treatment at the Henderson Hospital is
recouped in the long run because, after patients
leave, they tend to be far less dependent on other
services.
86. NHS criticised over axe killing
14 December 2007- BBC News
An inquiry has found that a man hacked to death with
an axe might not have died if his killer’s mental
health care had been adequate in the first place.
Paranoid schizophrenic Garry Taylor, 39, was jailed
indefinitely for killing Colin Johnson, 40, of Sunderland
and at the time, the 39-year-old was receiving
care from South of Tyne and Wearside Mental
Health NHS Trust.
The independent panel said that the quality of his
treatment had been poor.
For full report click here
87. Mental health 'costs UK billions'
13 December 2007 – BBC News
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health has announced
that mental health problems are costing
British businesses on average up to £1,000 a year
for every employee.
This brings annual cost to employers, including time
off work and lost productivity to nearly £26bn. Most
firms vastly underestimate the problem, but could
make big savings with a few simple steps.
For full report click here
88. Cheshire and Wirral NHS trust backs HSE
policies to reduce stress
10 December 2007 - GNN
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust is taking pro-active measures to address the
situation and has seen a resultant improvement in
sickness, absence and staff turnover levels.
Judith Hackitt the Chair of HSC had a stark reminder
for employers, saying: "We need to make a conscious
effort to tackle workplace stress as we have
lost nearly 14 million working days due to stress last
year. It cannot be eliminated, but must be managed
with our workforces' wellbeing in mind.”
Stress, anxiety and depression accounted for 18% of
total sickness absence in 2005 and reduced at its
lowest point in June 2007 - to 8.43% of total sickness.
Miscellaneous
89. European open health market will allow
NHS patients to beat queues
18 Dec 2007 The Times
19 Dec 2007 BBC Radio 4, Today
19 Dec 2007 BBC News
For full report see NHS—item 109
90. 'U-turn' over sight-saving drugs
14 December 2007 – BBC News
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) has reversed a controversial decision to
limit drugs for a major cause of blindness.
After 13,000 complaints, the body is now recommending
that NHS patients with wet age-related
macular degeneration should be eligible for 14 injections
of Lucentis per eye, but a second drug,
Macugen, is still not recommended for use on the
NHS.
For full report click here
91. Cost of Regulatory Merger
14 December 2007 – ECCA
The English Community Care Association (ECCA)
responded to the suggestion that the merger of the
regulator will cost £300m.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, says:
“At a time when the sector is facing severe financial
pressures with ever increasing cost base and local
authorities holding fees to low levels and in many
cases not giving any increases which is a cut in real
terms, the Government need to look carefully at the
enormous cost of the regulatory merger. Quite
frankly, we need more money in the services and less
in the system”.
92. Quango costs £300m
14 December 2007 - The Times
Merger of CSCI, the Healthcare Commission and
Mental Health Commission is set to cost £300m an
amount equivalent to the savings made by the three
regulators.
Ed. This seems yet another cock-eyed scheme to
save cash. It reminds me of the old joke; I saved
£50 I bought 1000 tins of beans! It would be
funny if it wasn’t such a monumental waste.
93. Discworld author has early Alzheimer’s
13 December 2007 - The Times
Best-selling author Terry Pratchett has announced
that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
This will draw greater attention to the condition.
94. Ambulance funding 'to save lives'
11 December 2007 – BBC News
West Midlands Ambulance Service is calling for extra
ambulance funding of £5m to help facilitate faster response
times and more lives being saved. The cash
would apparently buy 30 rapid response vehicles,
usually manned by one member of staff and pay for
extra paramedics.
New national targets to be set in April mean the 10
ambulance trusts in England will have to respond to
calls more quickly.
For full report click here
95. The beginning of the end for ambulances?
11 December 2007 – BBC News
Article looking at the history of ambulances and how
it may evolve in the future.
For full report click here
96. Couple held on suspicion of 5 murders at
care home
11 December 2008 The Times
Leigh & Rachel Baker who worked at a care home
owned by Mr Baker’s parents have been arrested on
suspicion of murder, theft, unlawful possession of
controlled prescribed drugs and attempting to pervert
the course of justice.
They are thought to have murdered elderly residents
at the care home.
97. Head of Regulation
The General Osteopathic Council is looking to recruit
a lawyer to lead on regulation at a salary of £70,000.
98. I can’t say sorry for something I didn’t do
11 December 2007 - The Times
In a two page article Prof. David Southall seeks to
set the record straight make the public aware of his
point of view and explain his conduct following the
decision last week by the GMC to strike him off the
medical register.
99. Campaigners argue for abolition of
‘outdated’ Hippocratic Oath
11 December 2008 The Times
Leaders of the medical profession in Italy are seeking
to abolish the obligation on doctors to heal the
sick.
100. Christmas Opening Hours
3 December 2007 – CRB
CRB’s Christmas opening times are published via this link
101. Plans to cut charity red tape go to consultation
11 December 2007 - GNN
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, and Dame
Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission, have
jointly published, for consultation, a package of proposals
to increase various financial thresholds for
charities. If implemented, these would free up resources
for up to 75% (125,000) of registered main
charities and help ensure they are not disproportionately
burdened by regulation.
The aim of the proposals is to reduce administrative
burdens on charities while maintaining an effective
regulatory framework. The main proposals are:
* only registered charities with an income above
£25,000 would need to prepare a Trustees Annual
Return, currently a requirement for all registered
charities;
* the income threshold of £10,000, above which
charities must submit their annual accounts to the
Charity Commission would increase to £25,000;
* the income threshold of £10,000, above which
charities must have their accounts externally examined,
would increase to £25,000; and
* the threshold of £100,000, above which a charity
must prepare accruals accounts (as opposed to simpler
receipts and payments accounts), would be
raised to £250,000. These measures will enable thousands
of registered charities to meet their accounting
and reporting obligations in a simpler and less expensive
way.
The consultation document is available at: http://
ww2charity/enhancingcharities/consultations.asp
The Cabinet Office and Charity Commission have
both published simplification plans today as part
of a cross government initiative to reduce the administrative
burden of regulation. For further information
please see: http://bre.berr.gov.uk/
regulation/reform/simplifying/plans.asp
102. ECCA signs Concordat on the Future of
Social Care
10 December 2007 - ECCA
The English Community Care Association (ECCA)
has signed the Concordat Putting People First which
identifies a vision for the future of social care.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“The Concordat raises the profile and importance of
social care and gives us all a clear framework on
which to develop our future policies. This new approach
must be measured in the delivery as much as
the policy”.
103. Tasting their own medicine
December 2007 - Health Investor
Article about the prospect of GPs finding themselves
taken to European Court because of a conflict of interest
between their dual role of commissioner of services
and provider status arising because of practice
based commissioning.
104. Ivan Lewis returns
December 2007 - Caring Business
A ‘Winter Summit’ of care providers and the Minister
responsible for social care, Ivan Lewis, is reported on
extensively. The key issues which seem to have
come out of the Summit is the Minister’s view that
providers need to ‘raise their game’, be clear about
what social care means and place dignity at the heart
of services.
105. Personal care budgets and extra £520
million to transform care for older and disabled
people
10 December 2007 - GNN
Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced an extra
£520 million of ‘ring fenced’ funding to transform Social
Care over the next three years through the introduction
of Personal Care budgets.
In the concordat "Putting People First" Central Government,
Local Government, the professional leadership
of adult Social Care and the NHS have jointly
committed to a radical transformation of Care Services
over the next three years.
In addition to Alan Johnson, five cabinet members
have also signed 'Putting People First' as lead partners
with involvement in the reform process:
- Chief Secretary of the Treasury Andy Burnham,
- Communities Local Government Secretary, Hazel
Blears,
- Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and
Skills, John Denham,
- Education Secretary Ed Balls,
- Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain,
- Leader of the Local Government Association Sir
Simon Milton,
- NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson, and
- President of the Association of Directors Adult Social
Care Anne Williams.
Key elements of the transformation programme in
every community will include:
- Giving the vast majority of people who receive
funded care their own personal budgets so they can
choose the support services they want for themselves
of a family member. An increasing number of
people to utilise direct payments.
- High quality care homes, home care and day services
to be rewarded, poor performers failing to respect
people's dignity no longer used by local councils
and the NHS.
- Initiatives such as first-stop shops becoming common
place so that everyone will have access to advice
and advocacy about community services, such
as local community equipment providers, fall services
or domiciliary support and transport links.
- Investing in support that keeps older people healthy
and tackles loneliness and isolation.
- Closer collaboration between the NHS and local
government so that people receive more coordinated
and efficient support in the community.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"Support for individuals and families when they need
it is of vital importance to all of us. These proposals
for personal budgets will allow all those who would
benefit from a personal budget to receive one, putting
real control into the hands of those in care and their
carers, leading to far more personal and responsive
care."
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"One of my top priorities is to develop a new care
system which gives people maximum control over
their own support services
"This is a groundbreaking concordat because it is
the first ever attempt by Central Government to
co-produce a major Public Service reform in this
case with local government, the NHS, people who
use services and their carers.”
106. Christmas Opening Hours
3 December 2007 – CRB
CRB’s Christmas opening times are published via this link
NHS
107. Public vote on website genitals
19 Dec 2007 – BBC.co.uk
The NHS is asking patients whether a new interactive
body map should be correct in every detail - or
whether the genitals should be left off.
The body maps have been developed for the NHS
Choices website and are to be ‘launched’ next month.
The public is invited to vote on the issue via the website.
Censored version of the body images
Professor Sir Muir Gray, chief knowledge officer at
the NHS, is opposed to censoring the images and
said: "I'm all for the genitalia, anything else would just
be an overly prudish Victorian approach.
"It's completely bonkers: the edited versions resemble
space aliens. People have to accept this is the 21st
century."
Ed. I’m with the learned Professor on this one!
108. Department of Health publishes MRSA
report
18 December 2007 - GNN
A report examining the variation in rates of MRSA
between different hospitals between 2001 and 2006
and looking at the factors which have contributed to
a 27% fall in the probability that a patient will acquire
MRSA since 2001/2, has been published by the Department
of Health.
The report, 'Hospital organisation, speciality mix and
MRSA', shows that, while high bed occupancy and
greater use of temporary nursing staff correlated with
higher MRSA rates up to 2003/04, in recent years
these relationships have weakened and are not statistically
significant.
The report 'Hospital organisation, specialty mix and
MRSA' is available on the DH website at http://
www.dh.gov.uk
109. European open health market will allow
NHS patients to beat queues
18 Dec 2007 The Times
19 Dec 2007 BBC Radio 4, Today
19 Dec 2007 BBC News
The EU is proposing a Directive which would open
the market up for healthcare provision. Under the
outline proposals patients would be able to travel to
any other EU country for treatment and reclaim the
cost up to the cost of the treatment under the NHS
pricing.
Ed. This proposal follows the claim by Yvonne
Watts in 2002 for a hip replacement. She took
her case to the European Court of Justice to recover
the cost of treatment from her NHS trust
which refused to reimburse £4,000 which she
paid to beat the then NHS waiting lists. However,
the proposed Directive goes much further.
There are many practical obstacles to any Directive
and it will be some years before it might be
brought into force.
110. New wave of community hospitals and
services
18 December 2007 - GNN
Government unveiled a £132 million wave of new
NHS community hospitals and supersurgeries.
Facilities will now be built or refurbished in
towns and cities across the country as part of a major
drive to provide NHS patients with better primary care
services and more minor operations, medical tests
and follow-up care outside of large hospitals.
Outdated facilities set to be transformed into modern
community hospitals are:
- Malvern Community Hospital;
- Horsea, Beverley and Driffield Community Hospitals
in the East Riding;
- Selby Community Hospital;
- Moreton and Bourton Community Hospitals in the
North Cotswolds;
- Keynsham Park Hospital in Bath and North Somerset;
- St Mary's in Portsmouth;
- Berkeley Vale in Gloucestershire;
- St Charles in Kensington, London.
There will also be a new health centre in Hartlepool
that will house GP services and offer a walk-in service
for patients with minor injuries and illnesses, as
well as other additional services, such as maternity
and diagnostic services.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"Community hospitals are an important part of the
NHS. These schemes worth close to £132 million in
total will be welcome news to local communities and
offer local people a variety of important services.
"We are not just building like-for-like replacements of
existing buildings, we are re-thinking the way the
NHS provides care so that patients receive better,
more convenient services."
111. NHS threat to halt care for cancer patient
16 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
Collette Mills, former nurse, who wants to pay for part
of her cancer treatment by paying for drugs not available
on the NHS (£4,000 a month) has been told that
if she does that she will have to pay for all her anticancer
medication – a further £10,000 a month. She
is taking a stand and calls the policy ‘immoral’.
Ed. I recall a time when NHS hospitals accepted
privately paying patients, the patient paid for the
privacy of a ‘side room’ and treatment was provided
by the NHS. It seems difficult to see why
this woman can not contribute to treatment which
the NHS will not provide while the NHS pays for
that part it is prepared to pay for. The DoH says,
by way of apparent justification that to allow a
patient will cause a two-tier health service. Who
are they kidding? That is exactly what we have
with the ‘post code lottery’. For goodness sake,
wake up and smell the coffee. The Secretary of
State for Health and his junior ministers bang-on
about the personalisation of services; either that
it pure twaddle or they mean it. If they mean it
they should enable people to participate in getting
that personalised treatment even where the state
is not prepared to fund the cost.
112. Doctors quit dirty NHS for India
16 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
Article about the exodus of NHS trained doctors to
India and featuring the comments and comparisons
made by Mahesh Kulkarni, consultant orthopaedic
surgeon, who worked in Bristol Royal Infirmary for 10
yrs before moving to a hospital in Pune. He says it is
cleaner, enjoys high levels of investment, gives him a
better quality of life.
113. Fining hospitals will undermine transparency
15 December 2007 - The Times, Letters to the
Editor
Three letters from three doctors all joining issue with
Sir Liam Donaldson’s puzzling statement that he
thinks hospitals should be fined for providing poor
care.
114. Hospitals to pay for harming patients
14 December 2007 - The Times
The Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Sir Liam Donaldson,
has said that taxpayers should not foot the bill for
patients who suffer bad or unsafe care. Rather, clinicians
and NHS hospitals responsible for errors or
omissions, super-bug infections and the like should
be penalised for the extra treatment needed.
His proposals are to be presented to Lord Darzi as
part of his review of the NHS.
Sir Ian Carruthers, former chief exec of the NHS,
agreed there is a need to end the culture of sweeping
such matters under the carpet.
Sir Liam asserts that fines should be introduced into
the NHS as a “hard-nosed financial incentive” to improve
standards and care.
Ed. See this week’s editorial.
115. NHS Emergency Planning Guidance
2005: underpinning materials - critical care
contingency planning in the event of an
emergency where the numbers of patients
substantially exceeds normal critical care
capacity
14 December 2007 – DoH
A set of general principles to guide all NHS organisations
to help develop their ability to respond to an
emergency where the number of patients substantially
exceeds normal critical care capacity within the
context of the NHS Emergency Planning Guidance
2005.
For full report click here
116. King's Fund statement on NHS Operating
Framework 2008/09
14 December 2007 – King’s Fund
King’s Fund Chief Executive, Niall Dickson has commented
in response to the publication of the NHS
Operating Framework for 2008/09:
'It is right that the government should set national
priorities and right too that they should maintain the
assault on hospital infections and the drive to cut
waiting times. These are areas that patients are justifiably
concerned about and it is imperative the NHS
makes progress in them.”
“Crucially, this document is an important step forward
in getting to grips with what has long been the Achilles
heel of the service – commissioning. The Department
of Health is right to emphasise that better care
and services will not be achieved through central directives
and targets, but through better local commissioning
led by primary care trusts (PCTs). “
“That will only be achieved if PCTs accept that this is
what they are there for, rather than running services
themselves. The encouragement to explore other
ways of running community services is welcome and
should allow them to concentrate on what really matters
and to develop their skills in how best to assess
local needs and commission services to meet them.”
For full report click here
117. Tackling health inequalities: 2004-06
data and policy update for the 2010 national
target
14 December 2007 – DoH
Document providing an update on progress to meet
the health inequalities national target to reduce the
gap as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy,
by 10% by 2010. It also includes an assessment
of whether the 70 spearhead area local authorities,
which map to 62 PCTs, are on track to meet the
life expectancy target.
For full report click here
118. Health inequality target monitoring: update
to include data for 2006
14 December 2007 – DoH
Reports summarising progress against Department of
Health inequality targets for 2010 in the following areas:
Infant mortality; life expectancy at birth for males
and for females; cancer (premature mortality rate)
and all circulatory diseases (premature mortality rate).
For full report click here
119. Department of Health autumn performance
report 2007
14 December 2007 – DoH
A command paper setting out a mid-year update on
the progress the Department has made towards
achieving its Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets,
and follows on from the Departmental Report in
May.
It details the Department of Health’s aim and objectives
that were agreed in Spending Review SR2004
along with an analysis of progress against these targets
and Departmental SR2004 Standards.
For full report click here
120. Department of Health resource accounts
2006-07
14 December 2007 – DoH
These accounts consolidate the financial information
within the Departmental Accounting Boundary. This
includes the parent Department of Health (DH), Purchasing
and Supply Agency, and other NHS bodies
funded directly by the Department.
For full report click here
121. Community Pharmacy Contractual
Framework - Medicines use review
13 December 2007 – DoH
As an advance service of the community pharmacy
contractual framework, pharmacies can offer Medicines
Use Reviews (MURs). An MUR is between a
pharmacist and a patient to discuss the patient’s
medication and support them in getting the most
from their medicines.
For full report click here
122. Bugs and waits top NHS priorities
13 December 2007 – BBC News
Ministers are making hospital infections and waiting
targets key priorities for the NHS in 2008. The targets
for next year will be to halve MRSA rates and
ensure patients are treated within 18 weeks.
Other key areas will be improving patient experience,
cutting inequalities and planning for pandemic flu.
For full report click here
123. Hospital 'fines' for patient harm
13 December 2007 – BBC News
Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government’s Chief Medical
Officer has proposed that hospitals be fined if they
harm patients. He said taxpayers should not have to
pay for poor care resulting in longer stays in hospitals.
His comments come as the National Patient Safety
Agency (NPSA) reported significant progress in safe
standards of care in the NHS in the past year.
More than 700,000 NHS "patient safety incidents"
were reported in 2006-7with some 6,500 resulting in
severe harm and nearly 3,000 people died.
For full report click here
124. The NHS in England: the operating
framework for 2008/9
13 December 2007 – DoH
The Operating Framework sets out a brief overview
of the priorities for the NHS in 2008 and is accompanied
by annexes (some part of the document, some
virtual) which provide more detail on the priorities,
how they are measured and how the new arrangements
for managing the system will work.
For full report click here
125. Report on the National Patient Choice
Survey, England - July 2007
12 December 2007 – DoH
Report showing the final results of around 62,000
responses to the eighth national patient choice survey
commissioned to assess the implementation of
choice at PCT level.
The series of surveys, conducted by Ipsos MORI on
behalf of the Department, monitor patient awareness
of choice and recall of having been offered a choice
of hospital for their first outpatient appointment.
For full report click here
126. Follow-up checks at NHS bug trust
12 December 2007 – BBC News
Healthcare inspectors will be visiting Maidstone and
Tunbridge Wells hospital as part of follow-up procedures
after a damning Healthcare Commission report.
90 people died from the clostridium difficile superbug.
The visit will be to assess how recommendations
from the report were being implemented.
For full report click here
127. Councils 'want say on NHS chiefs'
12 December 2007 – BBC News
The head of the Local Government Association has
called for council leaders to be given the power to
sack under-performing health and police chiefs.
In a speech Sir Simon Milton said chief constables
and NHS Trust bosses should be answerable to people
through local councils in England and Wales and
backs a national police force to tackle terrorism and
organised crime.
For full report click here
128. Can Gerry Robinson Fix the NHS? One
year on
12 December 2007 - BBC 2, 9pm
'NHS plot? I wish there was'
10 December 2007 – BBC News
At the beginning of the year Mr Robinson, former
CEO and Chairman of Granada, went into an NHS
hospital in Rotherham (see BHCR Vol 2, issue 2,
item 64) to review the way it operated and whether
he could improve the efficiencies with no extra funding.
This follow up documentary suggests that he
succeeded; relationships between consultants and
hospital managers are better Operating theatres are
working to capacity rather than standing idle and
staff have the autonomy to fix local problems.
For BBC report click here
129. Drugs deal ‘could cost NHS millions extra’
12 December 2007 - The Times
If a deal between manufacturers and distributors of
medicines is extended the Office of Fair Trading
thinks the NHS will pay £millions more than it needs
to.
130. Consultation launched into the use and
sharing of personal information
12 December 2007 - GNN
A consultation into how personal information is used
and shared in the public and private sectors has
been launched today by Richard Thomas, Information
Commissioner, and Dr Mark Walport.
The consultation forms part of an independent review
into the use and sharing of personal information announced
by the Prime Minister on 25.10.07. It asks
how and why information is shared and used;
whether the Data Protection Act offers sufficient
safeguards; what impact technological advances
have had on the protection of personal information;
and whether there are lessons the UK can learn from
other countries.
Richard Thomas said:
"The review will be concentrating on information sharing.
When do public bodies, in particular, need to
make use of personal information held by others to
do their job properly? Law enforcement, child protection
and more personalised services may be examples.
But we will need to assess the dangers if information
is shared too freely.
The terms of reference of the review into the use and
sharing of personal information were announced on
23 November 2007 -. http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/
announcement_231107a.htm
Copies of the consultation document and the response
form are available online at: http:http://
www.just ice.gov.uk/reviews/datasharingintro.
htm
131. Safety incidents go unreported, survey
shows
12 December 2007 – HSJ
There is 'widespread' under-reporting of safety incidents
in NHS Scotland, a survey by Quality Improvement
Scotland has found.
Staff taking part in the survey also said there was a
lack of feedback and action after an incident was reported
and that a blame culture further fuelled secrecy.
132. NHS 'at risk of drugs bill rise'
11 December 2007 – BBC News
The Office of Fair Trading has found a “significant
risk” of higher drug costs for the NHS because of
changes to drug distribution methods. The watchdog
is currently undertaking an inquiry into the supply of
medicines after changes at the world’s biggest pharmaceutical
firm, Pfizer.
For full report click here
133. Thousands of staff details leaked
11 December 2007 – BBC News
Thousands of staff’s personal details have been
leaked after Selfton Primary Care Trust “accidentally”
sent them out. The Merseyside health care trust’s
union, Unite, is calling for an urgent investigation.
The blunder includes dates of birth, N.I. numbers,
salary and pension details for all staff.
For full report click here
134. Speech by the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP,
Secretary of State for Health, 10 December
2007: ‘Putting People First’
11 December 2007 – DoH
For full report click here
135. NHS ‘owes £800m’
10 December 2007 - The Times
According to info released to LibDems NHS Trusts
have incurred debts of £800m and will pay £188m in
interest over 25yrs.
Nursing
Nothing to report
Volume 2 Issue 46
Older People
136. Elderly to get personal care cash
10 December 2007 – BBC News
A revolution in social care?
10 December 2007 – BBC News
The Health Secretary has announced a scheme to
give cash to elderly people to fund their own social
care. From April, millions of pensioners will be given
control of how their money is spent, rather than having
to rely on social workers to make decisions for
them.
Younger disabled people could also be allocated a
"personal budget" for care.
For full report click here
For 2nd report click here
137. Personal care budgets and extra £520
million to transform care for older and disabled
people
10 December 2007 - GNN
For full report see Miscellaneous—item 105
Social Care
138. Adults' Personal Social Services and
Children's Services: Specific revenue and
capital grant allocations and contributions to
area-based grants for 2008-09, 2009-10 and
2010-11
10 December 2007 – DoH
A letter to follow up the overall local government finance
settlement announced on 6 December 2007. It
notifies local authorities of their adults’ personal social
services specific revenue and capital grant funding
and the department’s contributions to the new
area-based grant in support of social care policies.
For full report click here
Staff, employment and
disciplinary
139. Immigration and the workforce
December 2007 - Health Investor
Two pages of vignettes and comments from an event
where the issue of Home Office/work permit was discussed.