Editorial
Some companies seem to strike a rich seam of
potential wealth while others seem only to strike
icebergs.
In this issue both of these extremes are
demonstrated; first by Southern Cross which, shortly
before Christmas announced that it had, in effect,
bought yet another business without really paying
anything for it (see item 3 in this issue of BHCR).
Having acquired the business it sold on the freehold
for a sum equivalent to the amount it paid for the
business. Its only costs therefore are legal and
accountancy fees, perhaps some merchant bank
fees and the cost of bridging finance – essentially
giving the company greater operating businesses at
no, or no appreciable cost! This is a formula the
company has used on many of its acquisitions.
Compare that successful formula with the troubles
which have befallen ADL (see item 6 this issue of
BHCR); the company has announced that two of its
main board directors have been charged with wilful
neglect of service users which the Crown alleges
occurred at Newsham House in 2005.
Since that time the company has had the double
whammy of having to paying legal fees to defend
itself while not being able to even maintain the
company’s trading activity levels. Against that
background the financial results the company
announced are pretty good. Looking forward, I
hope that there will be a more stable trading
environment for all providers and that we all enjoy
2008 with appropriate rewards.
Parliament
08.01.08 – HoC – Umbilical Cord Blood Donation, 10
Min Rule Bill
08.01.08 – HoL – Baroness Howe to ask about
progress in implementation of Action Plan contained
within the Department of Health report, Improving
access to audiology services in England
**STOP PRESS**
We have heard that Tony Blair now has a new, well paid job. He is not the only
one; news has now broken that Philip Scott, previously CEO of Southern Cross
Healthcare Plc - a role from which he retired at the end of 2007 - is to take over as
chief Executive of the Priory Group well known for its mental health hospitals.
Previously led by high-profile Chai Patel, I wonder whether Priory is gearing itself
up for a Stock Exchange float.
More in next week's BHCR.
Abuse
Nothing to report
Business News
1. Craegmoor makes two new senior level
appointments
4 January 2008
Craegmoor Healthcare announced two new senior
appointments as part of the restructuring of its
“Specialist Business” - the part of Craegmoor that
provides care and support to people with learning
disabilities or mental health illnesses, as well as to
people with acquired brain injury and neurological
illnesses.
Christine Cameron, formerly Craegmoor’s Divisional
Managing Director for Specialist South and West and
the founder of the company’s pioneering “Your
Voice” initiative, has taken up with immediate effect
the position of “Managing Director, Specialist Business”.
Following Christine’s appointment, Sarah Hughes,
formerly Craegmoor’s Divisional Operations Director
for Older People, will become the company’s new
Divisional Managing Director for Specialist South and
West. Peter Cavanagh retains his position as Craegmoor’s
Divisional Managing Director for Specialist
North and East.
Craegmoor Chief Executive Ted Smith said: “I am
pleased and excited about the appointments of
Christine and Sarah. Having been responsible for
some of Craegmoor’s most successful initiatives to
date, Christine is the right person to lead the development
of Craegmoor’s Specialist Business into what I
hope is going to be a new phase of structured
growth.”
2. Nestor Healthcare Group PLC
4 January 2008
The board of directors of Nestor Healthcare noted the
recent movement in its share price and announced
on January 4th that it is in very preliminary discussions
with potential buyers. There can be no certainty
that an offer will be made.
3. Southern Cross gets another group of care
businesses ‘free’
24 December 2007
Southern Cross Healthcare Group PLC the UK's largest
care home operator, announced that it has completed
the divestment of the freehold interests in four
care homes for £22m in cash, these homes were acquired
in September 2007 for the same amount. The
cash raised will all be used to repay the bridge loan
taken out to acquire the freeholds.
The sale is consistent with the Company's successful
asset light growth strategy whereby the amount
raised by the sale of the property offsets the original
enterprise value paid for the homes. The residual
leasehold operating businesses are thus retained by
Southern Cross for only nominal consideration.
4. Bouncing BUPA goes global
23 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
A commentary on BUPA and its CEO, Val Gooding.
BUPA is a little older than the NHS having been
founded in 1947 when 17 regional provident associations
merged.
The organisation now trades in 190 countries with
over 8m customers and derives more than 50% of its
income from overseas.
5. Dentist opens wide for sell-off
23 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
David Hudlay who founded Integrated Dental Holdings
is looking to sell a further stake which, if comes
off, will have seen him realise £50m from the business.
6. ADL plc
21 December 2007 - Interim Report for the six
months to 30 September 2007
Financial Highlights
• £631k Operating Profit before deducting £417k
exceptional costs (30 September 2006: £538k before
exceptional costs of £100k) - an increase of 17.3%
• £(147)k Retained loss after exceptional items (30
September 2006:Retained profit £142k)
• (1.49)p Earnings per Ordinary Share (30 September
2006: 1.44p)
• 85.10p Net Assets per Ordinary Share (30 September
2006: 77.78p) - an increase of 9.4%
(Allowing for the transition from UK GAAP to IFRS)
• Interim dividend passed (2006: 1p per Ordinary
Share)
• Trading in the second half is showing a similar performance
to that experienced in the first half
Chairman's statement
In September 2007 the company and two of its directors,
Jeremy Davies and Pearl Jackson were
charged with wilful neglect under the Mental Health
Act following police enquiries emanating from the
raid on Newsham House in July 2005.
Although these charges are being strenuously defended,
this action effectively places an embargo on
the further development of the company generally
and in particular on the proposed acquisition of a
group of five homes in the Bradford area which the
company had been progressing well and which was
nearing completion. Accordingly your board has written
off some £310,112 in corporate finance costs
incurred to date on this project .
In the period your company also incurred a further
£51,554 in legal fees defending itself from the
charges raised against it by the Crown.
Further exceptional costs of £55,000 were incurred
following the unsuccessful defence by the company
of a claim for wrongful dismissal by a former executive
director of the group, who had relocated to the
USA.
Care Homes
7. Consumer ratings site for care homes
launched
3 January 2008 – Community Care
A new website has been launched, WhereforCare,
which includes reviews of care homes by service
users and their families. The site is designed to help
other potential users choose services.
For full report click here
To access website go to www.whereforcare.co.uk
8. Counsel and Care: Green paper must resolve
adult care confusion
3 January 2008 – Community Care
Counsel and Care has set 10 tests for the forthcoming
green paper to see if it is to reform the adult social
care system, which the charity referred to as steeped
in confusion.
The charity wants the reformed system to ensure universal
provision for all users, regardless of where
they live, to have greater publicly funded support for
those on low incomes; improve the skills and pay of
the social care workforce; and integrate social care
with health.
For full report click here
9. ‘Care homes should stop putting drugs in
OAP’s food’
31 December 2007 – Thisisaberdeen
Hunter Watson, a campaigner, has hit out at a recommendation
that covert medication for care home residents
to be allowed to continue.
Watson, of Aberdeen's Burnieboozle Place, is campaigning
for a clampdown on how medicines are
given to care home residents who may not have the
capacity to consent.
http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?
nodeId=202847&command=displayContent&sourceNode=148
797&contentPK=19403201&folderPk=85354&pNodeId=148788
10. Care home plan 'could cost £19m'
31 December 2007 – BBC News
A report shows that plans to close 14 care homes
across Staffordshire could cost the taxpayer up to
£19m.
Staffordshire County Council said in November it will
go ahead with the proposals, despite protests from
the families of the homes' residents.
For full report click here
Case Reports
Law Reports
11. CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL V (1) W (2)
C (3) J & K & L (BY THEIR CHILDREN'S
GUARDIAN F) (4) B
In the circumstances, a mother had not established a
sufficient change of circumstances since a placement
order was made in respect of her daughter and it was
therefore not appropriate to revoke that order.
12. R v Terrell
It was not appropriate to impose a sentence of imprisonment
to secure public protection pursuant to the
Criminal Justice Act 2003 s.225 against an offender
convicted of making indecent photographs of children,
because the link between the offending act of
downloading images and the possible harm to children
was, on the facts of the case, too remote to satisfy
the requirement that the offender's reoffending
would cause serious harm.
13. ANNA SAVAGE (Appellant) v SOUTH ESSEX
PARTNERSHIP NHS FOUNDATION
TRUST (Respondent) & MIND (Intervener)
In order to establish a breach of the European Convention
on Human Rights 1950 Art.2, where it was
alleged that there had been a failure to take reasonable
measures to prevent the risk of suicide of a patient
held under the Mental Health Act 1983 s.3, it
was only necessary to show negligence rather than
gross negligence.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
14. Dentists defeat fashion giant that cried
‘snap’ over croc logo
3 January 2008—The Times
Two dentists, Tim Rumney and Simon Moore, who
used a representation of a crocodile as their corporate
logo were sued by Lacoste for trade mark infringement.
The claim was thrown out.
15. Failing care home is closed down
December 2007 – Guide2Care
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
has been granted an emergency court order to shut
down a care home in Shropshire following repeated
concerns over its treatment of residents.
The Willows in Mill Street, Bridgnorth housed seven
elderly residents, all of whom have now found new
accommodation.
CSCI said that it had serious concerns over the dispensing
of medication, inadequate care for the residents
and a lack of required records.
Children
16. Children’s bodies taken miles from families
over shortage of pathologists
4 January 2008 - The Times
Children’s bodies being moved illegally
4 January 2008—BBC News
Attention is drawn to the unlawful transportation of
bodies across the country because of a shortage of
pathologists. Bodies can be transferred under the
Coroners Act 1988 but only as far as an adjoining
district. Alan Crickmore, Coroner for Gloucestershire
has said that he has been forced to break the law by
sending the bodies of infants further for post mortems.
He has said that the Ministry of Justice is
aware of the problem to which everyone is turning a
blind eye.
For BBC report click here
Ed. The draft Coroners Bill is likely to address
the problem, not by training more pathologists
but by allowing bodies to be transported further.
17. Nursery teachers told to let boys be boys
– even if they want to play with toy guns
29 December 2007 - The Times
Government advice, ‘Confident, Capable and Creative:
Supporting Boys’ Achievements’ is to allow boys
to play with toy weapons – guns are not explicitly referred
to. This is contrary to guidance from teachers
and the police.
18. Children’s health
24 December 2007 - The Times, Media Planet Supplement
15 pages of hints and tips in dealing with children
who are ill or whose health can be improved.
Conferences & Courses
19. 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
i s s i o n i n g framework wi l l e n a b l e .
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.
20. 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.
21. 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
Volume 3 Issue 1
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
To follow next week
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
25. Adult support newsletter
4 January 2008 – Scottish Care Commission
The second edition of the newsletter ‘Towards implementation
of the Adult Support and Protection
(Scotland) Act 2007’ is now available. Click on the
link below to access the publication.
For full report click here
26. Booklet gives advice for people looking
for care
2 January 2008 – CSCI
Public urged to ask more questions about
care
2 January 2008 – CSCI
CSCI has issued an updated advice booklet, designed
to encourage people to ask the right questions,
find out as much as possible about their options,
and then make informed choices about their
care.
For full report click here
For 2nd CSCI report click here
27. Social Care: Choosing the right service
for you
Updated CSCI booklet giving advice and encourages
people to ask the right questions and find out as
much as possible about their options when choosing
social care services.
For full report click here
28. Notifications regarding Child Protection
Referrals
1 January 2008 – Scottish Care Commission
The Scottish Care Commission has sent letters to
every local authority’s chief social work officer and
the heads of all residential schools and secure units.
For full report click here
29. Commission sets out proposals for
2008/09 assessment of NHS trusts
20 December 2007 – Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission is set to push trusts to
ensure all patients have a guarantee of basic standards
of care.
The Government has announced that, subject to legislation,
the new health and social care regulator will
develop a registration system for trusts that provide
services with the Commission working with the NHS,
strategic health authorities and Monitor to support
trusts to reach compliance with standards for all patients
by 2009, ready for this registration.
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/newsandevents/
pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=5957&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
30. Healthcare watchdog encouraged by
signs of improvement at Maidstone & Tunbridge
Wells NHS trust
20 December 2007 – Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission has said that Maidstone
and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is improving infection
control and providing better care for patients with
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).
http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/newsandevents/
pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=5958&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
31. Plan to improve care sector dogged by
claims of cheating and fraud
2 January 2008 – The Scotsman
Employees currently working in Scotland’s care sector
have been granted key qualifications on the basis
of coursework completed by other people. The dozens
affected include foreign nationals with limited
English and many do not have the requisite skills to
work with the country’s elderly and vulnerable.
It emerged that training companies are putting forward
unsuitable candidates so that they can tap into
millions of pounds worth of training contracts funded
by the taxpayer and that the coursework and continuous
assessment is a sham, with many of the assessors
encouraged to complete the work on behalf of
the candidates.
One woman who worked in the care industry in the
west of Scotland has turned whistleblower to reveal
the unscrupulous practices resulting in elderly people
being looked after by unqualified staff, she worked as
an assessor training candidates for Scottish Vocational
Qualification (SVQ) level three through a private
training company. She said she was routinely
ordered to "pass" pupils who were out of their depth.
32. New NHS Helpline Gives Advice In 120
Languages
31 December 2007 – Evening Times
A PIONEERING new health service has been
launched to help the thousands of immigrants to
Scotland who do not speak English.
Language Line is run by NHS 24 and enables non-
English speakers to call for medical help in an emergency
and communicate with someone in their own
language.
33. Dirty Docs
29 December 2007 – Evening Times
Scottish Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, has told
hospital staff to clean up their act. A survey by
Health Protection Scotland found that two out of five
doctors don't wash their hands.
The survey was the world’s first national audit of hand
hygiene.
34. Health Chiefs Take On Sturgeon
26 December 2007 – Evening Times
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are going to take
on the Scottish Government after being overruled on
plans to shut down an emergency unit without consulting
the public.
The trust has warned that patients will be put at risk if
it is not allowed to go through with its plan to shut the
emergency unit at Vale of Leven hospital based in
Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.
The Board planned to transfer emergency or unscheduled
services to the Royal Alexandra Hospital
in Paisley nearby.
35. Hospital Parking Charges In Scotland
Capped
21 December 2007 – The Herald
Hospital car parking charges in Scotland will be
capped at £3 a day at every hospital apart from two
of the biggest hospitals where Private Finance Initiative
arrangements are in place.
The move came after an independent review group
was set up to look at the issue amid concerns from
hospital staff and patients.
Wales
Nothing to report
Learning Disabilities
36. Learning disability drug warning
4 January 2008 – BBC News
Researchers are warning doctors not to routinely give
people with learning disabilities anti-psychotic drugs
to curb aggressive behaviour. An Imperial College
London study of 86 patients found that the drugs
were no more effective than not medicating.
For full report click here
Legislation Update
37. DISABLED PERSONS
The Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs,
etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
4 January 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
38. No. 3545 (C.153) Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) Order
2007
28 December 2007 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
39. No. 3555 Equality Act 2006 (Dissolution of
Commissions and Consequential and Transitional
Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2007
28 December 2007 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
For explanatory memorandum click here
40. No. 564 (C.46) Protection of Vulnerable
Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement
No. 2) Order 2007
24 December 2007 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
41. Rethink and MIND launch stigma survey
of mental health users
3 January 2008 – Community Care
Two charities are launching a new survey of people
with mental health problems and their carers to look
at ways to best tackle the stigma that accompanies
mental health.
Rethink and MIND, along with the Institute of Psychiatry
in London and Mental Health Media were
given £18m by the Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief
last year to fund a national anti-stigma campaign.
The campaign is called Moving People and will be
launched later this year.
For full report click here
Miscellaneous
42. Care in the UK
With effect from 7 January 2008 BBC Radio 4 will
run its social care season. A number of programmes,
including flagship ‘You & Yours’ and
Woman’s Hour will have feature items focusing on
social care. In the first programme Carolyn Atkinson
and Peter White investigate the state of care provision
in the UK. You hear from four generations of a
Lancashire family each of whom need care or give
care. Care Minister, Ivan Lewis, is asked - What's the
future for care in the UK?
43. Competition 'tough' for NHS posts
5 January 2008 – BBC News
Junior doctors in jobs scramble
6 January 2008 - The Sunday Times
Junior doctors jobs go abroad (for second
year running)
6 January 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
Following a court decision which held that government
policy favouring EU trained doctors would be
favoured over non-EU doctors for specialist training
was unlawful our ‘home grown talent’ will, likely as
not, be forced to seek posts overseas. Each UK
trained doctor costs the British tax-payer £250,000.
For BBC report click here
Ed. It looks like the calamity of summer 2007
which saw thousands of junior doctors unable to
pursue their specialist training in the UK seeking
posts abroad will be repeated in 2008.
44. Regulation plans for homeopathy
5 January 2007 – BBC News
New laws to govern alternative medicine
5 January 2007 The Times
Popular complementary therapies such as aromatherapy,
massage, reflexology, Reiki, yoga, homeopathy
and others are to be regulated under a
scheme backed by the Government. It will establish
the Natural Healthcare Council modelled on the General
Medical Council.
The scheme will initially be voluntary.
For BBC report click here
Ed. This got the attention of our Publications
Manager, Linda, as she is a practitioner of a number
of therapies!
If the scheme gets under way, doubtless care
homes, when sourcing practitioners of alternative
therapies, will be forced to use only those who
are registered within the scheme!
45. Caring Choices Points the Way to the Future
4 January 2008
The English Community Care Association as a partner
in the Caring Choices initiative, welcomed the
publication of the report The Future of Care Funding:
Time for a Change.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“This report identifies that if we are going to meet the
challenges of the future we need to be both radical in
our aspirations and innovative in the way we deliver
services. The current cycle of under-funding and inequitable
access to care must be swept away and we
need to develop a new approach to partnerships between
the state and the individual which will see clarity
about who funds care so that people can make
provisions for their future”.
“The unprecedented partnership of groups that were
brought together by Caring Choices show the desire
of everyone to work for a better system and the report
is the foundation for a debate about how we can define
the future”.
46. Doctors say dress code is dangerous
4 January 2008 - The Times
Superbug fears stop doctors’ wristwatches
4 January 2008 - Daily Mail
The Govt’s dress code for medics has been criticised
as it lacks any support from science. The bare below
the elbow policy was announced in September 2007
as part of the policy to eradicate MRSA and other
bugs but two specialist registrars have drawn attention
to the need for doctors to be able to have
watches to enable them to accurately check on pulse
and respiration rates.
47. New vaccination give scientists hope of
conquering flu pandemic
4 January 2008 - The Times
A new vaccine has been developed to protect
against all strains of influenza responsible for flu pandemics
currently vaccines need to be modified for
each particular strain of the virus. The vaccine is
three to five years away from being commercially
exploited.
48. Peerage for director linked to Lib Dems’
biggest benefactor
3 January 2008 - The Times
Full page about donations made to LibDems, in particular
that the main corporate backer is a care
homes business, Alpha Healthcare, whose director
has been given a peerage.
There is a transcript of an interview with the former
LibDem spokesman on health, Lord Clement-Jones
about the connection between the recommendation
for a peerage and the donations.
49. Social Care Under-funding
3 January 2008
The English Community Care Association has responded
to the findings of the Counsel and Care report
on the under-funding of social care.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“The report highlights both the under-funding of social
care and the enormous contributions that are being
made both by service users and their relatives in order
to bridge the gap between what the state provides
and the real cost of care”.
“One of the other features of this report is the dissatisfaction
expressed by service users not only with the
funding they receive from local authorities but also
the lack of confidence users have in the system and
how it is administered. The Government’s announcement
of a Green paper on the funding of social care
is welcomed because the inequalities and underfunding
in the current system have to be addressed
as a matter of urgency”.
50. Charity uncovers £66.4bn social care
funding gap
3 January 2008
The 'care gap' between the social care that councils
and the NHS provide to elderly and disabled people
and what they actually need has grown to £66.4bn a
year according to the charity Counsel and Care.
The gap, equivalent to £25,000 for every disabled
person over 65, is plugged through privately funded
care services or informal care provided by friends and
family.
51. Better diet could prevent one in 10 premature
deaths, according to latest analysis
3 January 2008 - GNN
Early analysis published by the Strategy Unit (SU) in
the Cabinet Office, as part of a project looking longterm
at UK food policy, finds that improving our diet
could save 70,000 lives a year - one in every 10
deaths.
In addition, eating more whole grains and oily fish,
and consuming less salt, saturated fat and sugar,
would all help reduce the impact on our long-term
health.
Health Minister Ivan Lewis said:
"Obesity is now one of the great challenges facing
both the NHS and our society. While government
alone cannot provide all the solutions, it is essential
we offer strong leadership commensurate with the
importance of the issue. That is why we will be using
the analysis we are publishing today to inform the
development of a radical long-term strategy to tackle
obesity. This strategy to be published later this month
will once again underline the centrality of prevention
and public health at the heart of a modern NHS."
A full copy of the analysis can be found at: http://
www. cabi n e t o f f ice. g ov. u k / s t rat egy/work_a reas/
food_policy.aspx
52. National Care Association signatory to
the ‘Putting People First’ social care concordat
2 January 2008
NCA is one of the organisations invited by the Department
of Health to be a signatory to the new ‘Putting
People First’ Social Care Concordat launched by the
Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson on
10.12.07.
Nadra Ahmed OBE who signed the Concordat on
behalf of NCA said: “On behalf of our members we
welcomed the opportunity to be a signatory to the
Concordat. The launch of the Concordat is a major
opportunity to engage all stakeholders especially service
users in both the planning of and the purchasing
of services tailor made to meet their needs.
NCA believes that the biggest challenge emerging
from the Concordat will be to ensure that all older
people have equal access to the proposed new arrangements.”
Mrs. Ahmed went on to say: “NCA will be watching
very closely to be certain that the frailest and most
vulnerable of service users are treated in exactly the
same way as all other older people.”
53. Survey on GP patient care planned
1 January 2008 – BBC News
More than 1,000 patients in north east Essex will be
invited to comment on the care they receive by general
practitioner doctors. From Monday 7 January a
random sample of people over the age of 16 registered
with one of the 45 surgeries in the area will receive
detailed questionnaires.
The questions will include making an appointment,
care given, medicines, referrals and health promotion.
For full report click here
54. New publication launched
A new publication has been launched by ShowUCare
to be available every Monday from noon, we have
not yet seen a copy. Accessible from
www.showucare.org
55. New Year Message: Prime Minister
A transcript of the New Year message from Prime
Minister Gordon Brown on 30 December 2007.
For full report go to http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/
Page14099.asp
56. Essential information on inspection and
regulation
31 December 2007 – Community Care
Article about how social care inspection and regulation
in England has been revolutionised since 2000
with significant reforms to inspection standards, inspectorates
and the government's approach to targets.
For full report click here
57. Pharmacy professional regulation
31 December 2007 – DoH
Information on a proposal for a new regulator governing
pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy
premises.
For full report click here
58. Waits for hearing aids 'too long'
30 December 2007 – BBC News
The charity, Royal National Institute for the Deaf says
some people in England face waiting nearly 2½ years
for an NHS hearing aid.
The charity surveyed 99 primary care trusts and
found 10 were not treating people within a year, and
the longest wait was 125 weeks in Kingston-upon-
Thames, London.
The average wait for treatment was 22 weeks and the
shortest was four weeks. The Government said that
progress was being made.
For full report click here
59. Formaldehyde – a solution to fighting
deadly hospital bug
24 December 2007 - The Times
Clinical trials are about to get underway for the development
of a vaccine against Clostridium difficile. The
vaccine works by using a tiny quantity of formaldehyde
to neutralise toxins released by the bacteria –
similar to the way a tetanus jab works.
60. Deaf ask for right to have deaf children
23 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing People is calling for deaf parents to be able
to have embryos screened to enable them to select a
deaf child over one which will have all of its senses as
part of the lobbying of Parliament as it debates the
Human Tissue and Embryos Bill.
Ed. One can see this area becoming highly contentious
with those who believe that it is a fundamental
misuse of medical technology to deliberately
create babies with ‘defects’ – outside the
‘norm’. There are views that such a decision
should not be that of the parent; one can see the
prospect of conflict between different organs of
the State, for example, if it were legally permissible,
would a social worker and, ultimately a court,
decide that taking such a decision is an abuse of
the child and/or demonstrates an inability to act in
the child’s best interests?
61. Doctors’ data breach
20 December 2007 - The Times
DoH breached data protection laws when a ‘browser’
was allowed access to personal information about
junior doctors. The Information Commissioner has
demanded that such data be encrypted in future.
62. Row breaks out over doctor hours
(continued…)
20 December 2007 – BBC News
Doctors and the Government are currently at loggerheads
over plans for GPs to work evenings and
weekends.
Negotiations have been ongoing since October 2007
but are almost at the point of breaking down. Doctors
agree to open for longer but disagree over how
long it should be for, and the subsequent penalties if
they don’t.
Gordon Brown has made extending GP hours a priority,
although the government's survey of 2m patients
earlier this year showed 84% were happy with
opening.
For full report click here
NHS
63. Brown pledges superbug screening
6 January 2008 – BBC News
Gordon Brown has announced new plans for patients
to be screened for MRSA and Clostridium difficile
when entering NHS hospitals in England. The PM
said tackling the hospital-acquired infections remained
an “absolute priority”.
For full report click here
64. Medical abbreviations 'pose risk'
6 January 2008 – BBC News
The UK’s Medical Defence Union has warned doctors
that using abbreviations in medical notes could
put patients’ lives at risk. The Union said difficulties
can arise because abbreviations could be misread,
or have more than one meaning.
A recent US study of 30,000 medication errors, some
fatal, showed 5% were linked to abbreviations in
notes.
For full report click here
65. Cancer patients fight to stop NHS withholding
care
6 January 2008 - The Sunday Times
Collette Mills and Debbie Hirst are launching legal
proceedings to prevent the NHS withdrawing their
treatment where they elect to also pay for medicines
which the NHS will not pay for.
66. Almost 100 hospital wards close to contain
spread of norovirus
5 January 2008 - The Times
The winter bug which induces vomiting and diarrhoea
has struck hospitals across the UK. It is believed that
the bug is affecting between 100,000 and 200,000
people in wider society. The virus strikes most winters
but usually later in the season.
67. Ward closures after bug outbreak
4 January 2008 – BBC News
List of which hospital wards closed due to the Norovirus
outbreak.
For full report click here
68. Our NHS, our future - tell us what you
think
4 January 2008 – ournhsuk.co.uk
An online staff and stakeholder questionnaire has
been launched to help more people play a part in a
wide ranging review of the NHS.
To participate, click on the link below.
Questionnaire (opens new window)
69. Patient ‘left for hours’
4 January 2008 - The Times
SCOPE has accused North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke
of neglecting Karl Hodgson, 37, who has
cerebral palsy, for 14 hours during which time he was
not fed and left in an unchanged bed.
Ed. There has simply not been enough effort by
nurses and other hospital staff to ensure that frail
and vulnerable people are properly fed and cared
for. It is as though the report published 10
months ago by MENCAP ‘Death by indifference’
had not been written.
70. NHS Inpatient and Outpatient waiting
times figures
4 January 2008 - GNN
Inpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 26 weeks at the
end of November 2007 was 77. Of these 77, 2 were
English residents waiting in Welsh hospitals.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 20 weeks at the
end of November 2007 was 5,400, a decrease of
1,700 (23.6%) from October 2007, and a fall of
38,700 (87.8%) from November 2006.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks at the
end of November 2007 was 47,400, a decrease of
16,800 (26.2%) from October 2007, and a fall of
118,400 (71.4%) from November 2006.
* The percentage of patients waiting under 13 weeks
was 92.0%, compared to 89.5% in October 2007 and
78.1% in November 2006. The median waiting time of
those still waiting at the end of November 2007 was
4.6 weeks.
Outpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks for a
first outpatient appointment at the end of November
2007 was 98. Of these 98, 38 were English residents
waiting in Welsh hospitals.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 11 weeks at the
end of November 2007 was 1,800, a decrease of 900
(32.4%) from October 2007, and a fall of 20,200
(91.7%) from November 2006.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 8 weeks at the
end of November 2007 was 30,400, a decrease of
6,200 (16.9%) from October 2007, and a fall of
106,300 (77.8%) from November 2006.
* The percentage of patients waiting under 8 weeks
was 96.2%, compared to 95.7% in October 2007 and
86.9% in November 2006. The median waiting time
of those still waiting at the end of November 2007
was 2.6 weeks.
DoH will publish significant revisions to the data six
monthly to dates that will be included in the DH Statistics
12-month publication plan.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/
CodeOfPractice/DH_4016423
71. Patients and staff flee wards as blaze hits
top cancer hospital
3 January 2008 - The Times
Report of the fire which destroyed the leading cancer
hospital Royal Marsden, Chelsea.
72. Tories 'should be party of NHS'
2 January 2008 – BBC News
The Conservative party have stated their intention to
replace Labour as “the party of the NHS”. David
Cameron has outlined plans to tackle “superbugs”
including fining hospitals per individual case instead
of for missing infection targets.
Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, stated that many of
Mr Cameron's plans were already in legislation before
Parliament.
For full report click here
73. NHS 'now four different systems'
2 January 2008 – BBC News
The carve-up of the NHS
2 January 2008 – BBC News
Articles looking at the four different NHS systems
operating in the UK since devolution.
As the NHS enters its 60th year, NHS Confederation
boss Gill Morgan said that the health service is now
in a unique position in its history.
For full report click here
For 2nd full report click here
74. In full: Cameron on the NHS at 60
2 January 2008 – BBC News
The full text of Conservative leader David Cameron's
speech on the NHS, delivered in Manchester on 2
January 2008.
For full report click here
75. Change your lifestyle if you want to have
treatment from NHS
1 January 2008 - The Times
Article setting out proposals that people will have to
take better care of themselves if they are to receive
treatment from the NHS, reduce weight, stop smoking
etc.
Ed. I wonder how realistic such an approach
is. It is not unlawful to smoke, an activity from
which the Governments of all sides have derived
much revenue from taxation. However, if such an
approach becomes policy will there be a similar
approach to those who embrace greater risk in
their lives? I have in mind speeding motorists,
scuba divers, skiers, I could go on...!
76. PM signals first NHS constitution
1 January 2008 – BBC News
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced his intentions
to press ahead with a constitution for the NHS,
which would set out the rights and responsibilities
linked to entitlement to NHS care.
Mr Brown’s comments were made during a New Year
message to NHS staff ahead of the health service’s
60th anniversary.
For full report click here
77. 'No two-tier NHS' under reforms
1 January 2008 – BBC News
The Government has said that patients with unhealthy
lifestyles will not be penalized under proposed
NHS constitution plans. Health Minister, Ann
Keen, said that those who are offered medical guidance
will be encouraged to act in a “responsible” way.
She insisted that newspaper reports indicating smokers
or obese people being refused treatments were
not true.
For full report click here
78. NHS e-records programme launched
31 December 2007 – BBC News
The new NHS online database has had the first patients’
electronic records uploaded. Around 20 GP
surgeries in Bolton and Bury have added 110,000
patients’ details to the system.
The e-records will be available to NHS staff nationwide
and will contain details on medical conditions,
medication and allergies.
For full report click here
79. Four out of five doctors believe patient
database will be at risk
31 December 2007 - The Times
A poll of GPs carried out over the festive period indicates
that 80% are ‘not confident’ that patient data
on the NHS National IT Project will be secure.
80. Roll out of digital technology revolutionises
NHS patient care in England
27 December 2007
The DoH has said that state of the art digital technology
that has revolutionised the way the NHS captures,
records and uses patient x-ray and scans is
now being used in every hospital trust in England.
Picture Archiving and Communications Systems
(PACS) are replacing the old way of capturing x-rays
and scans on film and paper enabling clinical images
to be stored electronically and viewed on screen.
The roll-out of PACS has been a major element in
the National Programme for IT (NPfIT), which is helping
the NHS to deliver better, safer care to patients
via new computer systems and services.
Using this technology, healthcare professionals can
look at images at the touch of a button. X-rays and
scanned images are available to view on screens in
different locations such as x-ray departments, outpatients
clinics, operating theatres and in-patient
wards simultaneously.
The system also gives clinicians instant access to old
x-rays and scans, enabling the comparison of old
images with new. This is especially useful when
treating long-term conditions. Images can also be
rotated, enlarged and manipulated in other ways,
helping clinicians diagnose conditions more quickly
and accurately.
81. Allergy to medicines ‘is killing thousands’
27 December 2007 - The times
Soaring toll of patients hit by drug sideeffects
27 December 2007 - Daily Mail
Front page article about the level of adverse reactions
to medication. On average 1,000 patients a
year for the past three years have died as a result of
taking medicine intended to help them and thousands
more hospitalised.
82. NHS 'can be trusted' over records
24 December 2007 – BBC News
NHS Chief Executive, David Nicholson, said that the
NHS can be trusted to handle patient records, despite
the loss of thousands of personal details by several
Trusts.
Nicholson said the losses were taken seriously and
the new e-records system would be more secure than
internet banking.
The Trusts are reported to have lost 168,000 patient
details in total.
For full report click here
83. Anger as NHS patient records lost
23 December 2007 – BBC News
More personal data lost as none NHS trusts
own up to security breaches
24 December 2007 - The Times
Now they’ve managed to lose our health records
24 December 2007 - Daily Mail
The records and data of hundreds of thousands of
patients and staff have been lost by nine NHS trusts
– only one trust has recovered its lost records.
The Trusts said to be responsible are:
City and Hackney
Bolton Royal Hospital
Sutton and Merton
Sefton Merseyside
Mid-Essex Care Trust
Norfolk and Norwich
Gloucester Partnership Foundation Trust
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
East and North Hertfordshire
For full report click here
84. Patients admitted to hospital simply to hit
targets
24 December 2007 - The Times
Front page news that waiting time targets have cost
the English NHS £2bn over five years as patients in
danger of waiting more than four hours in A&E are
admitted to a ward ‘just in case’.
85. Despite the promises, 80% of trusts still
have mixed-sex wards
24 December 2007 - Daily Mail
Health Secretary has stated that the removal of mixed
gender hospital wards in the NHS is still a priority despite
the fact that 80% of Trusts said that they put
male and female patients on the same ward separated
sometimes by just a curtain.
86. NHS to curb health tourists
23 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
Plan by the Government to curb health tourism to the
UK will see NHS hospitals and GPs conducting
checks on the immigration status of patients before
treatment.
87. Hospitals fight NHS ban on patients using
private drugs
23 December 2007 - The Sunday Times
NHS confederation says that refusing to treat patients
who themselves pay for ‘top-up’ medicines
which the NHS will not pay for is perverse and defies
common sense and that co-payments should be allowed.
88. Retreat on wards
22 December 2007 - The Times
Report that the Labour Govt is backtracking on its
pledge to scrap mixed gender hospital wards.
89. Cancer victim wins right to buy drug but
stay with NHS
22 December 2007 - Daily Mail
An unnamed cancer sufferer in Cumbria is having
NHS treatment and being allowed to fund additional
medicine which the NHS is not prepared to pay
for. This is in contrast to the treatment of former
nurse, Colette Mills, who has been refused – see
BHCR, Vol 2, Issue 46, item 111.
90. Scotland caps NHS car parking charges
21 December 2007
Nicola Sturgeon announced that NHS facilities in
Scotland will have to cap the charge for car parking
at £3 a day.
Ed. Lets see if the NHS in England is forced to
follow the example set by Scotland – I fear that it
will not!
91. Medicine without frontiers is now here
20 December 2007 - The Times
Stephen Pollard, president of the Centre for the New
Europe, Brussels, writes in support of the idea of
Europe-wide treatment of patients with patients deciding
in which country they will be treated. He cites
Frank Dobson’s opposition as a good reason why it
should happen; oh, and he also cites some supportive
jurisprudence too.
92. Partnership and regulation in adult protection:
the effectiveness of multi-agency
working and the regulatory framework in
adult protection
21 December 2007 – DoH
This study is one of eleven research studies that
make up the Modernisation of Adult Social Care
(MASC) research initiative. The DoH commissioned
and sponsored between 2003 and 2007.
For full report click here
93. Efficiency appendix to NHS Operating
Framework
20 December 2007 – DoH
This document is an annexe to the NHS Operating
Framework 2008/09 and provides guidance on key
efficiency principles and major opportunities that may
support local financial and business planning for
2008/09.
For full report click here
94. Delivering health and well-being in partnership:
the crucial role of the new local performance
framework
20 December 2007 – DoH
This is one of a few narratives that are being produced
by the Department of Communities and Local
Government that articulate changes made to local
area agreements and the local government performance
framework as a result of the Local Government
and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.
For full report click here
Nursing
Nothing to report
Older People
95. Dementia victims ‘need electronic tags to
help carers stay in touch’
27 December 2007 - The Times
The Alzheimer’s Society is promoting the idea of electronically
tagging dementia sufferers enabling satellite
tracking.
Ed. This is a potentially useful tool in need of
careful and sensitive use; however, it will be
abused by some and there will, in time, be a need
to regulate its use.
Social Care
96. 'Standardised' social care urged
3 January 2008 – BBC News
Counsel and Care, has said that the “postcode lottery”
in social care for the elderly must be addressed
so that some people do not have to use their life savings
to pay for it.
Currently, everyone over 65 who needs assistance is
being funded £25,000 by means of informal and private
care to plug a shortfall, according to the charity.
However, nearly two million of these people receive
no funded care whatsoever.
For full report click here
Staff, employment and
disciplinary
97. Annual Increase in Compensation Limits
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order
2007 has been laid before parliament.
Compensation limits are increased:
• a week's pay (basic award / redundancy payment)
- from £310 to £330
•