Editorial
First, BHCR will not be published next week. We are
taking a break over Easter. As a consequence, this
edition includes items and stories from this week, not
just last week. The next issue will be published on
02.04.08 – so you won’t have to search for the ‘April
Fool’ item!
Because there is no BHCR next week, we report
matters beyond Sunday 16.03.08 and up to midnight
on Wednesday 19.03.08.
Parliament
18.03.08 – HoC – Health, oral questions
Parliament will end its sitting on 20.03.08 and will not
recommence until 25.03.08.
Next
Abuse
1. Jersey inquiry: man in court
18 March 2008 - The Times
Gordon Wateridge, 76, a former warden at Haut de
la Garenne, has been formally charged with assaulting
three girls under the age of 16. He appeared
before St. Helier Magistrates’ Court, the case was
adjourned for four weeks.
2. Courage to speak out about abuse
17 March 2008 - Hartlepool Mail
The number of people ‘blowing the whistle’ on those
abusing vulnerable people is increasing.
A recent report shows the number of allegations of
abuse against vulnerable people aged up to 99 in
Hartlepool has risen from 63 to 146 in 12 months.
3. Stripped of dignity during her last days
14 March 2008 - Islington Tribune
A report undertaken by Islington social services and
the borough’s Primary Care Trust, show how Mary
Quigley, 78, was stripped of her dignity at St Anne’s,
a 50-bed home in Durham Road, Finsbury Park has
been ‘leaked’ it apparently indicated institutional
abuse and falsification of records.
4. Second care home ‘torture pit’ is opened
11 March 2008 - The Times
The police investigating allegations of sexual abuse
and murder at the Jersey care home Haut de la Garenne
have ‘broken through’ to a second room believed
to be connected with the unlawful goings on at
the home. It is reported that there may be two further
rooms yet to be uncovered in the cellar complex.
5. Cabal of leading Jersey figures wreck
abuse inquiry, police say
10 March 2008 - The Times
A spokeswoman for Jersey Police said: “A small
number of police officers have left the force in various
circumstances after being accused of activities which
could be described as corrupt.
“They, and associates of theirs, including a local businessman
and a small number of politicians, have
conducted a high profile campaign aimed at discrediting
officers involved in their cases.
“This has included sending a large number of letters
including a threat to damage the home and vehicle of
one of the officers concerned.
“Following the public announcement of this inquiry a
politician connected with the child abuse debate was
approached by at least one of these former officers
and warned not to trust or co-operate with the officers
leading the inquiry.”
Business News
6. Southern Cross Healthcare Group PLC
17 March 2008
18 March 2008 - The Times
Southern Cross announced a further growth in beds,
a significant freehold sale and provides an update to
the market on the 2008/09 Local Authority fee rate
settlement in Scotland.
It has acquired the leases of three modern, purpose
built care homes, totalling 195 beds, in England, for a
nominal consideration. A brand new 62 bed purpose
built home in the Wirral has also been acquired and is
due to open next week.
Since 01.10.07 the Company has increased total registered
beds by 8.1% operating 37,080 beds in 727
care homes and provides 245 daycare places.
The Company also announces that it has divested the
freehold interest in a large care home in Harrogate for
£14.3 million at an initial yield of 5.75%, again retaining
the operating business for a nominal consideration.
7. Annual fee reviews
On 13 March 2008, the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities (‘COSLA’) and the providers’ representative
body, Scottish Care, announced the settlement
for care home fees for 2008/09 in Scotland. The fee
rates received by Southern Cross for the 5,548 beds
it currently operates in Scotland, representing 15% of
the Southern Cross portfolio will increase by 4.38%
from 1 April 2008.
Discussions with Local Authorities in the rest of the
UK are ongoing and the Company will provide an update
on average fee increases with its interim results
in May.
8. Mapping out more contracts
14 March 2008 - York Press
Architect firm DWA of York has taken on six additional
staff in the wake of a boom in contracts to design
care homes the country.
Ed. DWA designed a number of care homes that
were award winners in the 2007 Design Awards
sponsored by Pinders.
9. Treasury puts off plan to move PFI
schemes on balance sheet
13 March 2008 - Health Service Journal
The Treasury has given the NHS a year's stay of
execution over changes to accountancy rules with
major implications for private finance initiative
schemes. The move to international financial reporting
standards was due to be implemented across the
public sector from this April.
10. Noel Plumridge on Darling's discipline
13 March 2008 - HSJ
Yesterday's Budget announcement held few surprises
for the NHS. As expected. Nowadays, the important
public finance figures are published in the
autumn, and it would have been disappointing indeed
if chancellor Alistair Darling had revisited the
NHS assumptions in last October's spending review.
11. The Staff are the Stars for Life Opportunities
Trust
Twenty organisations from third sector have received
The Best Companies 2008 star status accreditation
for their outstanding workplaces and investment in
their people.
Life Opportunities Trust is proud to have been
awarded one star status accreditation this year.
Ralph Verlander, Chief Executive of LOT said: “This
award is extra special because it recognises the hard
work we have put in to make our staff feel valued and
comfortable about expressing opinions and contributing
ideas. The organisation would not have achieved
so much without their continued commitment and
dedication to improving the support for people who
use our services.”
Ed. I believe that LOT is the only learning disability
service to win this prestigious award. Well
done to all concerned.
Care Homes
12. Counsel and Care conference to focus on
dignity in care homes
13 March 2008 – NCF
Counsel and Care is hosting a major conference to
examine ways to improve the quality of life of older
people living in care homes.
The Dignity Challenge for Care Homes: Living well
and maintaining choice and control for older people
will including talks from Ivan Lewis, Minister of State
for Social Care, on ways in which the Dignity in Care
campaign will be expanded to address the needs of
care home residents and will be chaired by Richard
Furze, Chief Executive of care home provider Friends
of the Elderly.
For full report click here
Case Reports
Law Reports
13. Casewell v Secretary of State for Work
and Pensions
Court of Appeal held that there was no error of law in
a decision of the commissioners to hold that payments
received by a husband, for care given to his
disabled wife under a scheme provided for by a local
authority, were the husband’s earnings for the purposes
of calculating his entitlement to income support.
14. R v O
The Court of Appeal held that a sentence of 20 years'
imprisonment for 13 counts of sexual offences involving
young children, including rape, was not manifestly
excessive. The case of R v Millberry (2002) indicated
that the appropriate starting point for a ‘campaign’ of
rape was 15 years, it was not a finishing point, and
the sentencing guidelines applied.
15. R (on the application of G) v Nottingham
City Council; Nottingham University Hospital
NHS Trust (interested party)
This is the case in which social workers removed a
new-born from its teenage mother without lawful authority.
The Administrative Court held, on Judicial
Review that the local authority had acted in breach of
its duties under the Children Act 1989 and the Children
(Leaving Care) (England) Regulations 2001 in
failing to produce a lawful pathway plan for a mother
who was an "eligible child". Further, by separating
the mother from her child at birth it had acted unlawfully
and breached her rights under the European
Convention on Human Rights 1950 Art.8.
16. R (on the application of Rayner) v Secretary
of State for Justice
The Court of Appeal held that in relation to a patient
detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act
1983 by the Secretary of State for the Home Department
pursuant to s.75(1) the relevant test concerning
the speed of referral to a mental health review tribunal
was whether there had been a failure to proceed
with “reasonable despatch” having regard to all the
material circumstances. The patient was adequately
protected by the Sec of States duty combined with
habeas corpus and judicial review.
17. Smith v Northamptonshire County Council
(NCC)
A carer/driver employed by NCC to collect a person
from home and take her by minibus to a day centre.
As Smith was pushing the person in a wheelchair
along a wooden ramp from the front door to
ground level Smith stepped on the edge of the ramp
which crumbled and gave way. Smith sued for her
injuries and loss. The Court of Appeal held that a
local authority was not strictly liable under the Provision
and Use of Work Equipment Regulation 1998
for a failure to maintain an access ramp to a person’s
home it was not equipment within the control of NCC.
18. T (a child) v Wakefield Metropolitan District
Council
The Court of Appeal held that on a proper construction
of the Children Act 1989 Sch.3 para.6 it does not
permit the making of a supervision order of three
years' duration from the outset. Three years' protection
could only be provided by the making of at least
two orders, the first a supervision order of 12 months'
duration and the second an order extending the first
for a further two years. The court gave guidance
concerning the practice to be followed in extending
supervision orders.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
Ed. Well, sort of a case, sort of in the news...
19. Mopping up slips, trips and falls across
Lincolnshire
19 March 2008 - GNN
Shattered lives could affect you - Special Health and
safety seminar in Lincoln for contract cleaning firms
A nurse slips on wet leaves that should have been
cleared and twists her ankle resulting in surgery. Six
years later in the same hospital she slips on a wet
vinyl floor which hadn't been dried falling directly onto
the same ankle. She endured over 30 operations
and eventually had to have her leg amputated. She
will never work again.
This is just one real example of the consequences of
a slip that was discussed during a Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) and Lincolnshire local authority
workshop this week at the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln.
Every 25 minutes, someone breaks or fractures
a bone at work according to the latest figures from
the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In Lincolnshire
last year there were 589 injuries caused by
slips, trips and falls. 179 of these were serious injuries
and one person died, with a cost to the local
community of over £9 million.
HSE's 'Shattered Lives' campaign aims to highlight
the devastating consequences of simple slips, trips
and falls in the workplace.
For more information on the Shattered Lives campaign
visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/
index.htm
For further information on Health and Safety in the
Cleaning Industry visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/
cleaning/index.htm
Ed. Keep your eyes peeled for similar courses in
your area. If we become aware of them we will let
you know.
20. Brain-damaged woman is first successful
case in Bristol baby scandal
14 March 2008 - The Times
Marinna Telles, 22, is reported to have secured a
seven figure compensation package for the brain
damage she suffered as a baby at Bristol Royal Infirmary
during a period when a large number of babies
died or suffered brain damage as a result of surgery.
A leaked memo suggested in September 2007 that
the NHS faced claims of £4.5 bn for alleged blunders
by doctors and midwives which have left babies with
brain damage.
21. Council rapped over woman's care
12 March 2008 – BBC News
Birmingham City Council has been rapped over its
failure to provide adequate care for a deaf woman
with learning disabilities. The ombudsman said it
“failed utterly” and the care received by ‘Miss D’ over
eight years was “woefully inadequate”.
Miss D’s report said that Birmingham Adult Learning
Disability Service asked a social worker to do reviews
with her over the phone, even though Miss D is deaf.
The council apologised to Miss D and said its service
had greatly improved.
For full report click here
22. Care inquiry over 'fake' notes
11 March 2008 – BBC News
Devon County Council has started an inquiry against
1st React amid allegations of carers faking notes to
show they checked an 83-year-old whilst she was in
hospital.
Wilhelmina Dart had a stroke and was admitted to
hospital in Exmouth, and her family alleged that two
different carers wrote entries into a log book stating
they had visited her three times, which would not
have been possible.
For full report click here
Children
Nothing to report
Conferences & Courses
23. Mental Capacity Act Training
National Care Association is providing a number of
training courses around the country. Each course is
free of charge and open to all, including nonmembers
of NCA.
Speakers include, Nadra Ahmed, Keith Lewin, Sheila
Scott and others. The next course will take place as
follows:
Leeds University, Leeds on Wednesday 26th March
2008 – 12.30pm - 5.00pm
For further information please click on the link
24. Capita’s 3rd National
Early Intervention for Families At-Risk Conference
Tackling Exclusion and Supporting Change
Friday 28th March 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
popular event, which is CPD Certified and supported
by the NCH and the Children’s Workforce Development
Council. I would be grateful if you could find
the time to read this and also forward it on to colleagues
to whom it may be relevant, especially those
involved in Children’s and Adult Social Work, Family
Intervention, Social Inclusion and Safeguarding Children,
so that all stakeholders are given the opportunity
to attend this important event.
Please click here for further details of this conference.
If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Angela Sibson, Chief Executive Officer,
National Academy of Parenting Practitioners, our
expert speakers include:
Gill Strachan, Assistant Director, Families Group,
DCSF
Graham Robb, Interim Chair, Youth Justice Board
Hilary Ellam, National Development Manager for
Integrated Working, Children’s Workforce Development
Council
Leandra Box, Strengthening Families, Strengthening
Communities Programme Director, Race Equality
Foundation
The Think Family report, published by the Social
Exclusion Task Force in January 2008, has launched
a comprehensive Early Intervention strategy uniting
services for children, young people, parents and families
to improve outcomes for all.
Attend this event to gain valuable ideas and help parents
in your communities realise and even raise their
expectations of themselves and their children. Benefit
from the opportunity to network with other stakeholders
who share your commitment to delivering an
holistic birth to adult inclusion programme.
Benefits of Attending:
Hear a clear overview of cross-Government strategy
on promoting strong family and community relationships
Discover how parenting support programmes can be
used as an effective Early Intervention tool to redress
entrenched inter-generational problems and increase
uptake of vital public services
Attend dedicated streamed sessions with experts in
your field
Places can be booked on this event either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the delegate
details directly to dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.
Alternatively you can book online by clicking here and
using Booking Reference Code TSDE.
25. Action on Elder Abuse National Conference—‘
Making Changes’ – 31st March & 1st
April
University of Warwick
Action on Elder Abuse will be hosting its fifteenth 2
day National Conference in 2008, and it is set to be a
major event in the Health and Social Care calendar.
With a keynote speech by Ivan Lewis, Parliamentary
under-Secretary of State, and speakers to include:
• Dru Sharpling, Crown Prosecution Service
• Ronnie Monks, Department of Health
• Richard Brook, Office of the Public Guardian
• Representatives from the Association of Chief
Police Officers and the Healthcare Commission
Workshops will include subjects on:
• Hate crime
• Deprivation of liberty
• Financial abuse
• Review of ‘No Secrets’
• Domestic violence, elder and vulnerable adult
abuse
• Learning Disabilities and Safeguarding Adults
£220 + VAT for members
£255 + VAT for non-members
A full, detailed programme and booking form will be
available shortly, but to register your interest and
request a booking form, please contact Natalie Fernandez
on natalie@elderabuse.org.uk
26. Capita’s 2nd National
Independent Living Conference
The Changing Landscape of Self Directed
Support
Thursday 24th April 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
event, which is CPD Certified and supported by In
Control, the Care Services Improvement Partnership
and the Office for Disability Issues. I would be
grateful if you could find the time to read this and also
forward it on to colleagues to whom it may be relevant,
especially those involved in Care Management,
Direct Payments, Independent Living and Supporting
People, so that all stakeholders have a chance to
attend this timely event.
Please click here to download a copy of the conference
brochure in pdf format, which includes a full list
of speakers, an agenda for the day and a booking
form. If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Sue Bott, Executive Director, National
Centre for Independent Living, our expert speakers
include:
Jenny Morris, Independent Living Strategy, Office for
Disability Issues
Rita Brewis, Core Team Member and Lead for
“Staying In Control”, In Control
Steve Bailey, Regional Project Manager, Mencap
Beverly Maybury, Head of Modernisation, Adult Social
Services, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Steve Strong, Individual Budget Advisor, Care Services
Improvement Partnership
Capita’s 2nd National Independent Living Conference
captures a crucial transition for public service reform.
Learn from front line practitioners and service users
about how to effectively integrate personal care
budgets, develop peer-led advocacy and achieve
the collective goal of inclusive living in your local
area.
Benefits of attending include:
Hear key content of the five year cross-Government
Independent Living Strategy, and how user-led consultation
will shape the implementation and monitoring
of its future profile
Learn the final results of the Individual Budgets
Evaluation Network and familiarise yourself with the
toolkit designed by Care Services Improvement Partnership
to support workforce reform
Get practical guidance from the pilot authorities on
how to replicate a functioning Resource Allocation
System to address localised shortfalls in provision
Find out how to effectively engage with your multiagency
partners including user-led organisations
to deliver credible improvements in standards and
choice of care
Impact on the Independent Living agenda as key
stakeholders meet to discuss future policy and legislation
Places can be booked on this event either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the
delegated details directly to dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.
Alternatively you can book online by clicking here and
using Booking Reference Code TSDE.
We also have spaces available on our 2nd National
Sheltered Housing conference, taking place on the
30th April in London and supported by ERoSH, Counsel
and Care, and the Anchor Trust. Please click
here for more details.
We offer discounts for Block Bookings of 3 delegates
or more, please call me direct on 0207 808
5309 for more details.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU
MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
27. Capita’s Bi-Annual Conference
The Future of the Adult Social Care Workforce
Monday 28th April 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
event, which is CPD Certified and supported by the
General Social Care Council and the Social Care
Institute for Excellence. I would be grateful if you
could find the time to read this and also forward it on
to colleagues to whom it may be relevant, especially
those involved in HR/Personnel, Adult Social Care
Management, Recruitment and Workforce Development,
so that all stakeholders have a chance to attend
this timely event.
Please click here to download a copy of the conference
brochure in pdf format, which includes a full list
of speakers, an agenda for the day and a booking
form. If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Anne Williams, Immediate Past President,
Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
(ADASS), our expert speakers include:
David Behan, Director General for Social Care,
Department of Health
Mike Wardle, Chief Executive, General Social
Care Council
Elaine Cass, Practice Development Manager,
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Patricia Kearney, Director of Practice Development,
Social Care Institute for Excellence
Dr Philippa Russell, Chair, Standing Commission
on Carers
John Dermody, Head of Adult Social Care
(Commissioning), Borough of Poole
This timely and important event will enable you to
keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of
adult social care. It is designed to keep you informed
of progress, and includes advice and guidance from
high-achieving authorities on ensuring excellent provision
for all adults in your area. Take away the
knowledge to make your workforce a model of best
practice.
Benefits of attending include:
• Get a crucial update on the Green Paper on social
care funding and discuss the future of the adult
social care workforce
• Hear about progress on regulation, registration
and workforce development
• Learn how to improve recruitment and retention
in your area
• Consider the challenges and opportunities of the
personalisation agenda, the way forward for self
care and Individual Budgets
• Understand how the new National Minimum Data
Set information gathering will ultimately affect local
workforce development
• Take away advice, guidance and best practice
examples on consulting service users and
workforce solutions that have led to real change
and improvement in service provision
Places can be booked on this event either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the delegate
details directly to dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.
Alternatively you can book online by clicking here and
using Booking Reference Code TSDE.
We offer discounts for Block Bookings of 3 delegates
or more, please call me direct on 0207 808
5309 for more details.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU
MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
28. Department of Health Seminar on Mental
Health Commissioning: 7 May 2008
This letter gives advance notice of a one-day seminar
on 7 May 2008 at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in
London, focusing on world-class commissioning, integrated
mental health commissioning and mental
health priorities.
For full report click here
29. The HealthInvestor Annual Investing in
Primary Care Conference: “A New Vision for
Health Services and Infrastructure” will take
place on 8th May 2008 at One Great George
Street, Westminster, London.
The emphasis of today’s primary health market on
delivering ‘made to measure’ services to patients
closer to home requires the continual upgrade of
premises infrastructure and capital investment. This
conference identifies how to meet these demands by
engineering flexible premises which are designed to
embrace change, evolution and a wide range of
healthcare providers, supported by fully effective facilities
management. Expert speakers will propose
solutions to barriers to progress and development
and explore recent innovations in primary care.
Visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk for further information
and to book your place at this conference.
Alternatively, please call 0207 451 7050 or
email lukas.hall@healthinvestor.co.uk.
30. SHOWUCARE Event
There is a SHOWUCARE event being held in Tonbridge
on the 15th May.
This event is aimed at managers and operators of
care homes and agencies together with associated
care professionals based in the South East of England.
With no other event being held in the South
East SHOWUCARE TONBRIDGE offers an excellent
opportunity to meet face to face with decision makers
of some of the 6000 care services in the region.
The opportunity exists for companies to join the
growing list of market leaders exhibiting at the event.
Companies such as Boots The Chemist, Lloyds TSB,
Capita Care, CFS Carpets, Cool Blue and Training
and Care Solutions are already sign up to the show.
The state of the art River Centre will host the event
and the quality business environment aids prestige to
the showcasing of products and services.
As a key player in the sector we thought that some of
you might be interested in joining us for the event.
Further details including a tour of the venue can be
found on www.showucare.org
31. The HealthInvestor Annual Investing in
Healthcare Conference: “Investment Opportunities
in the UK and Overseas Markets”
will take place on 11th June 2008 at One Great
George Street, Westminster, London.
This event offers a clearer understanding of the future
direction of the domestic market and an overview of
the substantial differences and common trends applicable
to the UK, US and European market. Industry
insiders will identify how developments in the US and
Europe and Eastern markets will provide UK investors
with new avenues for innovation and exciting
opportunities for revenue growth and profitability.
Delegates attending will have the opportunity to:
• Identify new markets overseas and analyse key
trends
• Assess rapidly changing demographic need and
to match healthcare services accordingly
• Strengthen their competitive advantage through
comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of the
overseas markets.
• Identify the best prospects for 2008-2009
• Understand how to navigate the obstacles to
high performance
• Network with potential future partners
Visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk for further information
and to book your place at this conference.
Alternatively, call 0207 451 7061 or email lukas.
hall@healthinvestor.co.uk or carolyn.
spring@healthinvestor.co.uk;
Consultations
32. Health Care and Associated Professions
(Miscellaneous Amendments) No 2 Order
2008 - a paper for consultation
Closing Date: 22 March 2008
An order, the second in a series of orders that will
take forward the reforms of professional regulation
identified in the White Paper "Trust assurance and
safety". It concentrates on reforms set out in the
White Paper, but also includes measures required to
deliver other legislative requirements.
For consultation click here
33. Ofsted Race Equality Scheme: Consultation
Closing Date: 31 March 2008
This consultation seeks views on Ofsted's revised
Race Equality Scheme, which sets out methods to
eliminate discrimination, foster good race relations
and promote equality of opportunity in response to
the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment)
Act 2000.
For consultation click here
34. Proposed Revisions to the Standard
Guidance on Writing Disabled Persons' Protection
Policies
Closing Date: 23 May 2008
Document seeking views on a proposed revision of
the standard guidance for train operating companies
on writing their disabled persons' protection policies.
For consultation go to http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/
open/dppp/
35. CSCI begins new study into safeguarding
4 March 2008
CSCI is going to carry out a new study into how well
people are protected from abuse or neglect in adult
social care. The study into safeguarding will look at
how good the way adult social care is provided is at:
• Raising awareness of abuse issues and giving
priority to safeguarding
• Preventing abuse
• Recognising and acting on allegations
• Continually improving safeguarding systems and
practice
CSCI inspectors will, apparently, be asking some
additional questions in key inspections of care services
carried out from 5 to the 16 May.
Between 21 April and 16 May it will also be carrying
out some thematic inspections that focus on safeguarding.
36. Consultation on the Medical Profession
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008
Closing Date: 5 June 2008
A consultation paper asking for comments on a draft
order. The changes proposed in the draft order
seeks to implement two of the reforms set out in the
White Paper: Trust Assurance and Safety. The draft
order also provides an additional route to the Specialist
Register for NHS consultants. All amendments
relate to the functions of the General Medical Council.
For full consultation click here
37. Private and voluntary healthcare: Care
Standards Act 2000. Regulations and national
minimum standards consultation
document
Closing Date: 10 June 2008
DoH plans to make sweeping changes to the way
that health and adult social care is regulated and performance
managed, from April 2009 (a date which
may ‘slip’). The consultation document contains the
proposed changes to the regulations and proposed
changes to the associated National Minimum Standards
(NMS).
For full consultation click here
38. NICE: Current consultations
To browse through consultations go to http://
www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=consultations.current
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
39. Healthcare Commission to launch investigation
at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation
Trust
18 March 2008 – Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission has announced its intention
to investigate mortality rates at the Mid Staffordshire
NHS Foundation Trust.
The move responds to published data suggesting that
the trust’s rates of mortality may be high, especially in
the area of emergency admissions.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk//
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6327&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
40. CSCI to review who qualifies for care services
14 March 2008 – CSCI
CSCI will be implementing a major review of the eligibility
criteria that councils when they decide whether
or not a person receives help from the council with
social care services.
For full report click here
41. Healthcare watchdog calls on hospitals to
ensure they are not exposing patients to unnecessary
doses of radiation
14 March 2008 – Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission has issued its first report
on x-ray and radiological incidents. The report shows
that one in three involve the wrong patient and that
reporting is patchy.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk//
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6325&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
42. Would you like to have your say?
12 March 2008 – SCRC
The Scottish Care Commission have reiterated their
commitment to involving people who use care services
and their carers in all areas of its work.
For full report click here
43. Commission visits to front line social
care services
11 March 2008 – CSCI
An article on Dame Denise Platt, the chair of CSCI,
its other Commissioners and their regular visits to
care services to find out about what is happening in
social care on the ground.
For full report click here
44. CSCI Newsletter
March 2008—CSCI
Link to March newsletter—all items have been covered
in previous issues of BHCR.
To access the newsletter click here
Education
45. Half of the children who fail key tests
‘have learning difficulties’
14 March 2008 - The Times
Researchers say 55% of primary school children failing
SATs had symptoms of developmental learning
problems, most commonly dyslexia.
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
46. Doctors have lost confidence in health
service chiefs, says IMO
13 March 2008 – Press Association
Claims have been made that the Irish medical profession
has lost confidence and trust in the management
of the health service. Health chiefs and the
politicians were under fire from the Irish Medical Organisation
(IMO), which said doctors cannot be
blamed for inadequate financial planning.
Scotland
47. Thousands hit by breaches of data
12 March 2008 – BBC News
According to a report by BBC Scotland’s Investigations
Unit, thousands of people have been affected
by personal data breaches. The information was obtained
through freedom of information requests to
NHS boards, councils and police forces.
These included lost patient notes, compromised payroll
data and information on sex offenders.
For full report click here
48. Ex-health boss apologies to MSPs
11 March 2008 – BBC News
Dick Manson, a former Western Isles health board
chief executive has apologised to MSPs for not being
able to remember seeing a controversial report. Mr
Manson told the Scottish Parliament’s audit committee
that he did not see the document into failings in
financial reporting at the board.
Mr Manson has now written to the committee saying
he had since been able to recall the report.
For full report click here
49. NHS wards trial hand-wash device
10 March 2008 – BBC News
NHS Lothian is now trialling ultra-violet light boxes in
two wards to encourage staff and visitors to wash
their hands properly. The “Glo Boxes” are being piloted
in wards 108 and 208 at the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh.
The project might be rolled out across other wards in
NHS Lothian with similar trials taking place.
An alcohol rub is applied before the hands are put
under the UV light box.
For full report click here
Wales
50. Report 'must not shut hospitals'
13 March 2008 – BBC News
NHS uncovers hospital 'failings'
13 March 2008 – BBC News
A report by the NHS Clinical Governance Support
and Development Unit (CGSDU) has found failing
patient safety standards at Powys hospitals. The Local
Health Board said the report was "thorough, albeit
hard hitting".
A Powys GP said it was difficult to disagree with the
report.
For 1st report click here
For 2nd report click here
Learning Disabilities
51. (DH) Transition: moving on well
A good practice guide for health professionals and
their partners on transition planning for young people
with complex health needs or a disability.
Ivan Lewis, Care Services Minister, announced the
publication of good practice guidance for health professionals
and their partners on the transition planning
for young people moving into adulthood.
Transition from children's to adult health services is
recognised as an important issue. More children are
now surviving into adult life with conditions which
once would have been fatal in early childhood. Many
of these conditions will be unfamiliar to health professionals
working in adult service and often the young
person needs care from a number of different specialities.
The coordination of care which they have received
in children's services all too often fades away
when they transfer to adult care. Young people with
a neuro-disability such as cerebral palsy or muscular
dystrophy are the least well served when the time
comes to move on to adult care.
Ivan Lewis, Care Services Minister, said
'Young people and their families tell us of the uncertainty
they face about their future support when they
reach 18 years of age. All too often, they feel unsupported
which is why we have made improving the
transition experience of young people a Government
priority.”
Transition: getting it right for young people was published
by the Department for Education and Skills
and the Department of Health in 2006. DCSF and
DH published a transition guide for all services, key
information for professionals about the transition
process for disabled young people in 2006. It can be
viewed electronically via the following link: http://
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/_files/TransitionGuide.pdf
52. Census to complement second phase of
closure programme
14 March 2008 – Community Care
The Government will be carrying out a census of
people with learning disabilities in NHS campus accommodation
to help fund people's move into the
community.
The census aims to determine the distribution of
£96m of funding from 2008-11 to support the Department
of Health's programme to close all campuses
and move its residents into the community by April
2010.
For full report click here
53. Concern over future of care home
14 March 2008 – BBC News
Cornwall County council is being lobbied by people
with learning disabilities and their carers to not close
their day care centre. The Blantyre Centre in St Austell
is one of a number of sites earmarked for possible
closure because the council wants to improve its
adult social care services.
For full report click here
Legislation Update
54. No. 745 (C.30) The Mental Health Act 2007
(Commencement No. 4) Order 2008
19 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
55. No. 116 (C.11) The Adult Support and Protection
(Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement
No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Amendment
Order 2008
19 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
56. No. 112 (C.9) The Scottish Commission
for Human Rights Act 2006 (Commencement
No. 2) Order 2008
18 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
57. New Regulations relating to Age are
amended
17 March 2008
For full report see Staff, Employment & Disciplinary—item 112
58. No. 683 The National Health Service
(Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment)
Regulations 2008
14 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
59. No. 640 The Fostering Services
(Amendment) Regulations 2008
13 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
60. No. 641 The Disability Discrimination
(Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties)
(Amendment) Regulations 2008
13 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
61. No. 90 The Recovery of Health Services
Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2008
12 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
62. No. 91 The Health and Personal Social
Services (Assessment of Resources)
(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2008
12 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
63. No. 105 The National Health Service
(Charges for Drugs and Appliances)
(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008
12 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
64. No. 79 The Special Educational Needs
and Disability (General Qualifications Bodies)
(Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable
Steps and Physical Features) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2008
11 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
65. No. 571 The National Health Service
(Charges for Drugs and Appliances) and
(Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges)
Amendment Regulations 2008
10 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
66. The Sex Discrimination (Amendment of
Legislation) Regulations 2008
10 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
67. No. 78 The Community Care (Personal
Care and Nursing Care) (Scotland) Amendment
Regulations 2008
10 March 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
Nothing to report
Miscellaneous
68. Charity tribunal launched - beginning a
new era of charity law
18 March 2008 - GNN
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, launched the
new Charity Tribunal. It will act as an independent
appeal body allowing charities to challenge legal decisions
of the independent regulator, the Charity
Commission. Previously, charities could only take
such appeals to the High Court, which was too costly
and time consuming for most charities. The Tribunal
will improve access to justice for charities and as
more cases are heard it will help to develop case law
which has not always kept pace with changes in society
and the charity sector. This one of the major reforms
introduced by the Charities Act 2006.
Experienced lawyer, Alison McKenna has been appointed
as President of the Charity Tribunal.
Unusually for a tribunal the Charity Tribunal will be
able to consider points of law referred to it by the Attorney
General or the Charity Commission without a
case being brought. This will further speed up the
creation of a solid foundation of case law that will result
in a new era of legal certainty for charities.
For more information on the Charity Tribunal see:
http://www.charity.tribunals.gov.uk
69. Go public if you have any ethical qualms,
doctors ordered by GMC
17 March 2008 - The Times
The General Medical Council has said in its document
‘Medical Beliefs and Medical Practice’ that all
doctors must set out explicitly any views that may
affect their views as to treatment – such as abortion.
Doctors must display posters/give out leaflets detailing
any ethical objections that they may have.
70. Charities Act 2006 third commencement
order
17 March 2008 - GNN
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, has made
the third commencement order of the Charities Act
2006. This will bring into force a range of changes to
bring charity law up to date and give charities greater
flexibility.
The main changes are:
1. Allowing charities to pay trustees for goods and
services. In the past charities have been restricted
from paying trustees or anyone associated
with them for goods or services to avoid
conflict of interest. New measures remove this
restriction to enable, for example, a trustee
who is a roofer to fix the charity's roof at cost
price. A range of safeguards accompany the
new power, to prevent conflicts of interest or
abuse.
2. Wider powers to help the Charity Commission
protect charities. Under a new power the Charity
Commission can direct the actions of a charity
or individuals running a charity, if it believes
that misconduct or mismanagement have occurred.
In the past the only option would be to
remove the board and appoint interim managers
at great cost to the charity. The new rules
enable a proportionate response to each case.
3. Flexibility for charities changing their charitable
purpose. A charity always has a defined purpose.
Over time circumstances may change
requiring that purpose to change. As the charity's
assets have been given for the original
purpose the law courts and Charity Commission
must give permission. In the past they
could only permit the nearest alternative purpose.
Now, social and economic conditions can
be considered so that the charity can have the
most beneficial purpose.
4. Power for the Charity Commission to remove
or suspend membership of a charity. This
closes a loophole where an individual in a
charity is suspended or removed from their
position but could seek re-election to it if they
remained a member of the charity.
5. Helping charities deal with difficult circumstances.
The Act gives the Charity Commission
more flexibility to help charities deal with
charitable donations that cannot be used as
intended, and to help charities that are established
for purposes that are no longer relevant
to change those purposes.
6. New Charity Tribunal. If a charity wants to appeal
against a decision of the Charity Commission
it must go the High Court. This is too
costly for most charities resulting in lack of
justice for them and stagnation in charity law
as it is not updated through case law. The new
tribunal will provide an affordable independent
recourse for charities.
71. A Living Death
17 March 2008 - The Times
A two page article about the funding of research into
Alzheimer’s disease, linking Terry Pratchett’s donation
(see item 84) to the recently published book by
Dr Guy Brown who argues that dementia research
should be the priority and that extending life expectance
is a bad idea.
72. Another $600,000 bill to alter ‘swastika’
care home
15 March 2008 - The Times
Welcome to Swastika House
15 March 2008 - Daily Mail
Following complaints by a Jewish activist a care
home in Alabama, The Wesley Acres Methodist
Home, will have new wings added to disguise the
appearance of the home from the air.
73. Advert for ‘Total body Scan’
15 March 2008 - The Times
Under the caption ‘An MOT for 2008’ and offering a
10% discount on an unspecified fee.
74. Health ‘MOT’ tests are misleading and
can be harmful, experts say
11 March 2008 - The Times
The Royal College of Pathologists has released a
report saying that the MOT tests currently promoted
and aimed at the ‘worried well’ are medically misleading
and can be dangerous – for example by exposure
to unnecessary x-rays.
75. Accolades Awards 2008 opens
14 March 2008 – NCF
Skills for Care are again seeking the best of the best
among Britain’s million plus adult social care staff as
nominations for their Accolades 2008 open.
The Accolades are viewed as the Oscars of the social
care world and last year saw a record number of entries
from organisations and employers who wanted
to showcase their work in developing a highly trained
workforce.
Nominations are now open.
For full report click here
76. Doctors condemn super-clinic push
14 March 2008 – BBC News
Doctors say that the Government are putting local
health groups under pressure to create new
“polyclinics” even if they are not required.
The clinics are said to provide a range of services
under one roof as part of a wide-ranging review of the
NHS by health minister Lord Darzi, and the British
Medical Association said the clinics will not work everywhere.
The Department of Health said it had no intention of
"imposing health-centres on anyone".
For full report click here
77. 'Lax standards' on data security
14 March 2008 – BBC News
The Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned
that the Government’s persistent failure to take data
protection “sufficiently seriously” and that such lapses
might be breaking the Human Rights Act.
MPs and peers agreed that episodes such as the loss
of child benefit discs containing 25m people's details
were "symptomatic of lax standards," and the report
said this did not "inspire confidence" in controversial
plans for a National Identity Register.
The Government is said to be considering measures
to toughen up the Data Protection Act.
For full report click here
78. GP pensions ruling
14 March 2008 - The Times
DoH acted unlawfully when retrospectively capping
the rise in GP pensions allowed under the ‘new contract’.
79. 60,000 new doctors will target problem
drinkers
14 March 2008 - GNN
Sixty thousand new doctors will be specifically
trained in the next ten years to identify and treat people
who are drinking too much, Public Health Minister
Dawn Primarolo announced.
Medical schools have been allocated £650,000 to
undertake a scoping exercise next financial year to
see how alcohol misuse training can be added to the
curriculum.
The findings will enable a first tranche of medical
schools to make the necessary changes - and test
them - before full roll out. Within three years, every
medical school in the country will have alcohol training
on the curriculum.
The Department of Health says that alcohol misuse
costs the NHS around £1.7 billion every year. For
every £1 invested in specialist alcohol services for
dependent drinkers, the public purse saves £5, including
a £1.65 saving for the NHS.
The cross-government alcohol strategy, 'Safe, Sensible,
Social', was published in June 2007 and commits
all Government departments to work together to
tackle what is a society-wide problem. The report can
be found at h t t p : / /www. d h . go v . u k / e n /
P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d s t a t i s t i c s / P u b l i c a t i o n s /
PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_075218
Ed. Time was that GPs themselves were among
the groups at primary risk of alcohol misuse.
80. No blame for medical record loss
13 March 2008 – BBC News
The patients’ group has expressed its amazement
that three inquiries into how medical records came to
be strewn on a road failed to find anyone responsible.
The records belonged to patients from London's
Whipps Cross University Hospital and St Bartholomew's
Hospital, and London Ambulance Services
(LAS) and the medical records, contained details of
serious illnesses suffered by patients and outpatient
forms.
For full report click here
81. GPs urge PCTs to remain flexible
13 March 2008 – HSJ
Primary care trusts will now need to negotiate with
family doctors over how to implement extended hours
locally after the overwhelming majority of GPs voted
to accept the government's proposed deal.
82. CRB's response to press reports of mistakes
by the Courts Service
13 March 2008 – CRB
The Criminal Records Bureau has responded to the
press in light of mistakes made by the Courts Service.
The body and Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS)
worked together to establish if the CRB’s service was
compromised as a result of failures by Courts Service
staff, and after rechecking all 15 million Disclosures
issued since 2002, against the conviction details that
were not recorded on the Police National Computer
at the time of the CRB check.
The exercise revealed 3 people who had received a
Disclosure which, whilst revealing their conviction
history, was incomplete.
For full report click here
83. Tackling health inequalities: 2007 Status
Report on the Programme for Action
13 March 2008 – DoH
A status report providing a review of developments
against the data since the publication of the Programme
for Action in 2003. It considers progress
against the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target,
the national headline indicators and against government
commitments. The report also highlights the
challenging nature of the health inequalities PSA target
for 2010.
For full report click here
84. Pratchett’s million-dollar wish to give battle
against Alzheimer’s an extra kick
13 March 2008 - The Times
13 March 2008 - BBC Radio 4 Today
Author, Terry Pratchett, has donated a million dollars
to help to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
85. New standard raises the bar for public
services
11 March 2008 - GNN
Minister for Transformational Government Tom Watson
launched the new Customer Service Excellence
(CSE) standard - a practical tool to support and drive
public services that are more responsive to people's
needs.
The aim of CSE is to encourage, enable and reward
organisations that are delivering services based on a
genuine understanding of the needs and preferences
of their customers and communities.
CSE is designed to get right inside the culture and
ethos of an organisation, identifying what really matters
to users of that service and concentrating on improving
their whole experience of service delivery.
Organisations can apply to be assessed against the
CSE standard from today.
86. Remove red tape to recruit more service
user volunteers - Neuberger
11 March 2008 – Community Care
Volunteering in health and social care report
10 March 2008
Baroness Julia Neuberger, the Government's independent
volunteering champion, published her report,
‘Volunteering in the Public Services: Health and
Social Care’.
The report is the first in a series examining the role of
volunteers and volunteering in public services.
Through consultation with over 1000 volunteers
and organisations it found much potential to
expand volunteering in health and social care to build
more people centred services.
The report identifies a largely untapped source of
volunteers in service-users. It argues that they could
make an enormous contribution as volunteers in
health and social care because no one understands
what it is like to have a condition like a person who
has it themselves.
Baroness Julia Neuberger, the Government's independent
volunteering champion, said:
“Volunteering can create a virtuous circle, improving
levels of well being for volunteers, professional colleagues
and most importantly the people that use the
services. In health and social care I found some excellent
examples of volunteers being involved in services
as well as significant potential to increase levels
of volunteering in the sector.”
The review's main recommendations are:
1) In-house 'volunteering hubs' should be established
within government agencies to help mainstream volunteering
in health and social care services.
2) When commissioning services, Government agencies
should consider the social benefits and true
costs of volunteering.
3) Employee volunteering schemes should become
commonplace throughout health and social care services.
4) A programme board should be set up, with a remit
to increase volunteering in health and social care and
ensure that volunteers are properly managed.
5) Both the Government and charities need to make
more of the huge, largely untapped, resource of service-
users as volunteers.
6) NHS websites should signpost their users to peer
group support websites, and to more general volunteering
opportunities.
These findings will feed into a final report on volunteering
in public services to be submitted to the Prime
Minister towards the end of 2008 after which the Government