Editorial
As part of our commitment to further development of BHCR
and broadening the materials provided we bring, this week,
a summary of some of the more detailed goings-on in
Parliament. We are grateful to our colleagues in PLMR a
media and lobbying company for their support and detailed
contributions.
We hope that this will enhance the resource available to
readers.
A shame then that CSCI doesn’t do likewise.
I refer to the content of the CSCI website – a matter which
has drawn criticism from me before. Previously my jibe
was prompted by an award CSCI had won for its website, it
won for its ‘prettiness’ as, at the time, much of the content,
especially the vital materials of legislation and regulation
were old and out of date.
That was, thankfully, redressed.
This time my ire is on behalf of all providers who want to
challenge a CSCI inspection report.
First, unhelpfully, CSCI when rejecting a provider’s
challenge simply says in its letter rejecting the challenge
words to the effect of “you have the right to request a
formal review, this must be done within a short time’”.
CSCI neither says how long the period is; the surprisingly
short period of 7 days, and simply directs the reader to the
CSCI website.
‘Phone calls from providers to CSCI asking for confirmation
of the time for ‘appeal’ are loftily dismissed and told to look
on the CSCI website.
The website has been changed since the summer. The
search engine within the CSCI website is now
worthless. All the search parameters used by my client
failed to identify those web pages which set out the time
allowed for seeking a formal review.
When the client contacted me I tried and failed too.
This is unacceptable.
CSCI should not be erecting hurdles to providers. Life is
tough enough without that sort of approach. Some may
conclude that CSCI is seeking to prevent requests for
review of inspection reports and the star rating awarded! I
hope Baroness Young will take note and ensure a web site
for CQC which is invaluable for both the public and
providers alike.
1. I slept with my teacher... but he’s not a sex
offender
9 October 2008— The Times
Two page article by Julia Pascal who, when 17, began
a five year relationship with one of her teachers.
The article was prompted by the General Secretary
of National Association of Schoolmasters Union
of Women Teachers, Chris Keates, who outraged
child protection experts earlier in the week when she
said on BBC Radio 4 that such teachers commit a
gross breach of trust but that they should not be
criminalised as sex offenders.
2. Hospital tied up elderly patients
6 October 2008—BBC news
An investigation by Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT)
found nursing staff at Northwick Park Hospital tied up
five patients using bed sheets, men's braces and
wheelchair straps in Fletcher Ward last year.
Harrow PCT said staff shortage and lack of training
led to the incidents.
The incidents took place between October and November
2007 in the ward where 42% suffered from
dementia.
Harrow PCT's chief executive Dr Sarah Crowther
said:.
"Internal disciplinary action has been taken and a
programme of training has been introduced to ensure
that all staff provide the best possible care for vulnerable
patients."
North West London NHS Trust, which currently manages
the hospital, said it is ensuring that recommendations
of the report are followed.
Daniel Blake, spokesperson for Action on Elder
Abuse, commented:
"I find it difficult to accept that staff shortages and
lack of training were to blame. There are hundreds
and thousands of nurses who do not report to these
methods."
Business News
3. New hospice for teenagers can’t pay the
builders
10 October 2008—The Times
Naomi House, Hampshire helps 250 teens and their
families annually. After raising money to build a second
hospice it put £5.7m on deposit with Icelandic
bank Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander, now bust.
Construction began two months ago – without access
to the cash the charity can’t pay the builder.
4. Southern Cross Healthcare Grp PLC
9 October 2008
PRE - CLOSE TRADING UP -
DATE AND BOARD CHANGE
• Mature home occupancy rate, as at 28
September 2008, 90.5%
• Total number of available beds 37,425
• Sale of freehold interests in 16 residential
care homes, during August and September,
for £51.8m; discussions with potential
purchasers regarding further freehold sales
continuing
• Borrowings under B1 and B2 facilities reduced
to £33.4m; discussions regarding
long term bank financing progressing
and currently scheduled to be resolved by
end October
Board Change
Further to its announcement on 04.09.08, Southern
Cross announces that the Board accepted Bill
Colvin's resignation from the Company on 8 October
2008. The Board is actively continuing its search for
a new Chief Executive. Until such appointment is
made, Ray Miles, Chairman of the Board, will assume
executive responsibility for the Company.
5. OFT refers merger of Patientline and Premier
to Competition Commission
7 October 2008
The OFT has referred the anticipated acquisition by
Hospedia Ltd (Hospedia), owner of Patientline, of
Premier Telesolutions Limited (Premier) to the Competition
Commission.
Both companies supply NHS hospitals with Bedside
Entertainment and Communication Systems (BECS),
which offer patients a bedside phone and TV or other
video entertainment.
The text of these decisions will be placed on the Office
of Fair Trading's web site at http://www.oft.gov.uk
as soon as is reasonably practicable.
For previous reports about the roller-coaster ride of
Patientline go to www.brunswicks.eu and put the
word ‘Patientline’ into the website search engine.
6. Rescue and recovery
October 2008 - Care Management Matters
A look at some of the warning signs and options
available to providers who are being squeezed in the
current climate.
7. Virgin on the brink?
October 2008 - HealthInvestor
Comment and views on Virgin Healthcare Ltd and
recently departed, high profile CEO, Mark Adams.
8. Dodging the crash
October 2008 - HealthInvestor
Comment on the twists and turns in the financial fortunes
of Southern Cross this year.
9. The 24/7 care ‘hotels’
October 2008 - Caring Business
Q&A with Daya Thayan who leads Kingsley Health
Care a group which has grown to 17 care homes
since 1999.
Care Homes
10. Hope for the elderly as care homes are
forced to give residents a voice
9 October 2008 - The Times
There will be radical changes to the regulation of
Britain's 13,900 care homes, including a new complaints
system and tougher inspections for large private
care providers.
Elderly people and their families, who pay for care –
more than 200,000, will soon be able to take grievances
to the Local Government Ombudsman, whose
office currently investigates complaints against local
authorities over school admissions, housing and social
services.
Experts have said the loophole must be closed if
standards of care are to rise when the new “superregulator”
Care Quality Commission begins scrutinising
2.8 million staff in the NHS, local authorities and
the private sector in April next year.
11. A little thoughtfulness can make all the
difference
9 October 2008 - The Times
Joan Bakewell said “there are too many [care] homes
where the old are treated with indifference and the
little things that matter – the fetching of a library book,
a hot meal served while it’s still hot – are neglected.
This is a field that calls for the most delicate
of human relationships. And yet we don’t make it
easy or fund it adequately”.
12. My mother went through five homes… in
the end I had to look after her myself
9 October 2008 - The Times
Item about the experiences of Krys Dylewska, looking
for care for her mother who suffered from vascular
dementia: “What followed was a five-year journey
around five homes, all of which she says offered her
mother poor standards of care”.
13. Private pay rate among older care home
residents reaches 35%
7 October 2008
An estimated 146,000 older and physically disabled
care home residents in the UK are now paying their
fees privately, representing 35% of the 418,000 older
and physically disabled people who were living in
care homes or long stay hospitals in the UK at April
2008. The figures, published in Care of Elderly
People Market Survey 20081 by Laing & Buisson,
show an increase of 10,000 self payers compared
with the previous year.
Nearly all private payers are accommodated in private
and voluntary care homes, where they account
for as many as 39% of the 376,000 residents. The
remaining residents of private and voluntary homes,
plus the 42,000 residents in council run homes and
long stay NHS hospitals, are nearly all paid for by the
state – either by local councils (the majority) or by the
NHS. The report’s author Alex Mitchell commented:
“While these private payer estimates may be subject
to a small degree of error, there is no doubt that the
trend in private payment has been upwards in recent
years. Partly this is because of the rising number of
owner occupiers amongst the very old population at
risk of entering care homes. There have also been
reports that local councils are more vigorously investigating
older property owners’ entitlement to council
funding and fewer people than before are passing the
compulsory means test2.”
William Laing, chief executive of Laing & Buisson,
said:
“Most private payers in care homes in one way or
another use the equity from a former owner occupied
property to pay their care home fees. A declining
property market hinders the realisation of property
assets, but we do not believe that this will have much
impact on the volume of demand for what is a needsdriven
service.”
1 Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2008 is available
from Laing & Buisson, 29 Angel Gate, City Road,
London EC1V 2PT. Tel 020 7833 9123. Email:
info@laingbuisson.co.uk. Price £645 (hard copy),
£797.50 (hard copy and PDF).
www.laingbuisson.co.uk.
2 People in England with assets of over £22,500, including
housing assets (except where a spouse or a
former carer is living there), are barred from receiving
council support to pay care home fees
14. Manager turns resident to put home to
the test
October 2008 - Caring UK
Cheri Halvorsen manager of Cherry Garth, owned/
operated by Freemantle Trust lived in the home as a
wheelchair user for 48 hrs to experience it and examine
how the home can be improved.
Case Reports
Law Reports
15. R v Guys and St Thomas’s NHS Trust
The Trust was fined £75,000 following a guilty plea to
an offence under section64(1) Medicines Act 1968.
The Court of Appeal reduced the fine to £15,000 on
appeal saying that it was against public policy to punish,
by a large fine, a not-for-profit organisation conducting
work for public benefit.
Ed. The section of the Act is repeated below:
64 Protection of purchasers of medicinal products
(1) No person shall, to the prejudice of the
purchaser, sell any medicinal product
which is not of the nature or quality demanded
by the purchaser.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
16. BBC to pay £1/2m costs in IVF libel case
9 October 2008 - The Times
BBC ordered to pay £500,000 costs
8 October 2008—BBC News
Mohamed Taranissi, the country’s most successful
exponent of IVF is to have his legal costs of some
£500k paid by the BBC in connection with a libel action
after the BBC threw in its hand on the defence
that the BBC was protected by ‘qualified privilege’
which protects responsible journalism.
The BBC is continuing to defend the allegations on
the basis they were substantially true.
Ed. Mr Taranissi secured £1m in costs from the
HFEA last year following a bungled inspection.
The GMC is currently hearing complaints
against Mr Taranissi from two patients – complaints
he is contesting.
17. School abuse test case in court
8 October 2008 – BBC News
Two former pupils at Kerelaw school in Ayrshire, at
the centre of child abuse allegations are seeking
£50,000 in damages from Glasgow City Council.
Two women launched a test case at the Court of Session
in Edinburgh and claimed they were abused at
the Kerelaw school in Ayrshire in the 1990s. Two
male employees were found guilty of abusing children
in their care in 2006.
For full report click here
18. Hospital tied up elderly patients
6 October 2008 – BBC News
An investigation by Harrow Primary Care Trust has
found that 5 vulnerable old people were
“inappropriately” restrained by staff at Northwick Park
Hospital.
The inquiry was launched after a complaint was filed
by a patient who was tied to his chair with a bed
sheet.
For full report click here
See report under 'Abuse' - item 2
Children
19. Priorities to safeguard children
11 October 2008 – BBC News
A report by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local
Safeguarding Children Board has set out priorities to
safeguard children in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The Board co-ordinates the work of all groups who
help children and families and includes councils,
health service, police, schools, charities and the probation
service. The priorities are sexual abuse, domestic
violence, unintentional injury, bullying and harassment.
For full report click here
20. Care changes are 'being acted on'
7 October 2008 – BBC News
Jersey’s Health and Social Services Department has
said it is acting on recommendations of the Williamson
Report, published in July.
The report recommended changes in Jersey’s child
care system.
For full report click here
Conferences & Courses
21. Improving patients' experiences: developing
high quality care
Monday 27 October 2008, 10.00am–1.15pm
The King's Fund, 11–13 Cavendish Square, London
W1G 0AN
Achieving high quality patient care will be the key
objective for the NHS over the coming years, with
particular focus in the NHS Next Stage Review on
measuring and improving the patient experience.
Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Alan Johnson
MP, at the NHS Confederation Annual Conference,
pointed to new measures which will be introduced to
look at the safety and quality of care, as well as the
compassion with which that care is delivered. Work
is already underway on the development of Patient
Reported Outcomes Monitoring, and the choice
agenda is being rolled out. How should providers and
commissioners ensure they are at the forefront of the
movement to transform patients' experience?
This seminar will:
• develop understanding of patients' experience
and how to involve patients in service design
• provide case studies from the acute sector including
insight into methods for measuring patients'
experience
encourage discussion between commissioners,
acute care providers and patients about methods for
improving the quality of care.
Places at this event are limited so we recommend
that you reserve a place as soon as possible by
downloading a booking form from our website or
booking online. For further information and to
download the full programme, please visit our website
or email us and we will be happy to provide you
with more details.
22. Leading the way in social care
Social Care Leadership Development Programme—
by SCIE
November 2008 and January 2009
SCIE is running a third year of the highly successful
Social Care Leadership Development Programme,
which will be run by the King’s Fund, Birmingham
University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
The programme welcomes applications from:
• Potential directors of adult social services and potential
directors or chief executives in provider organisations
• Black and minority ethnic applications
• Private sector provider applicants
The programme is designed to provide a developmental
and outcomes-focused framework that draws
on participants’ experiences and relates to their current
work environment. Core content themes are:
• Leadership for social care outcomes
• Personal and organisational leadership
• Community leadership
The programme is funded by the Department of
Health with a maximum of 24 participants in each
group.
For more information and an application form please
contact Elizabeth Scott, Programme Administrator,
SCIE, Goldings House, 2 Hay’s Lane, LONDON, SE1
2HB on 020 7089 6920 or elizabeth.scott@scie.og.uk
23. 'Choosing protection' conference
6 November 2008 – Llandrindod Wells
A key concept of modernising health and social care
systems is the right for people receiving services to
be able to exercise choice. Should this right to
choose, mean giving up the right to protection? Is
there really any contradiction between these two
rights? How can we learn from the lessons of Domestic
Violence and take a positive attitude towards tackling
abuse whilst allowing adults the right to choice
and control over their lives?
At a time when In Safe Hands is being reviewed this
question is crucial for all those involved in protection
and safeguarding work.
This unique conference hosted by Action on Elder
Abuse will hear from a multitude of speakers on this
important topic and many other important safeguarding
issues.
Other topic areas to be addressed include:
Developing a survivors network
Criminal justice
Abuse of people with learning disabilities
Natalie Fernandez
Senior Events Co-ordinator
Action on Elder Abuse
020 8765 7000
www.elderabuse.org.uk
25. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
Morning, 19th November 2008, Westminster SW1
With Glen Mason
Director of Social Care Leadership & Performance,
Department of Health
Our Website | Book Online
Planned sessions will look at:
The central themes of the Adult Social Care Workforce
Strategy;
Implementing the personalisation of adult social care
services;
Remodelling the adult social care workforce; and
Regulating and measuring the performance of the
adult social care workforce.
We are delighted that Glen Mason, Director of Social
Care Leadership & Performance, Department of
Health will be delivering a keynote address at this
seminar.
Other speakers are expected to be confirmed shortly.
Typically, attendees at our seminars are a senior and
informed group numbering around 120, including
Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government
officials involved in this area of public policy,
health professionals, trade unions, representatives of
health consumer organisations, academia, interested
and affected charities and other related industries,
together with representatives of the trade and national
press.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
(including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts)
are £190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
26. The King's Fund Annual Conference 2008
Reshaping the NHS: Creating locally-driven
evidence-based service change
Tuesday 25 November 2008, 9.30am–5.30pm
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,
Regent's Park, London
What is the conference about?
Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review makes it clear
that all future NHS reconfigurations should be clinically
driven, evidence based and locally led – with
inputs from patients and the public. The King's Fund
Annual Conference 2008 will look at what this means
in practice. We will explore different types and applications
of evidence, consider the roles that service
commissioners and providers need to adopt, and
showcase successful national and international service
reconfigurations that reflect these principals.
24. ‘Mind the Gap! The future of
care.’ The English Community
Care Association 2008 Conference
& Exhibition
Wednesday, 12 November, 2008. Holiday Inn,
Bloomsbury, London.
Funding, regulation and personalised services are
key concerns for the whole sector and there is a real
need for knowledge about how they will affect providers’
ability to deliver a quality service. This conference
will give delegates the opportunity to hear
the views of those at the very top in government,
regulation and commissioning and to challenge the
mismatch between the rhetoric and the practice.
The speaker programme includes:
• Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services. Ministerial
address
• Baroness Young, Chair, Care Quality Commission.
Vision for regulation of the social care
sector
• John Dixon, President, ADASS. Partnerships,
personalisation & funding
To book your place at the conference, sponsored by
Boots Care Services, call ECCA on 08450 577 677,
email conference@ecca.org.uk or visit
www.ecca.org.uk
© Brunswicks LLP 2008 http://www.brunswickslaw.eu Page 8
26. The King's Fund Annual Conference 2008
Reshaping the NHS: Creating locally-driven
evidence-based service change
(continued…)
Keynote speakers
International keynote speaker: David Levine, President
and Director General of the Health and Social
Services Agency in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
UK Keynote speaker: Geoff Mulgan, Director, The
Young Foundation
Exhibition and sponsorship
Following the success of last year's exhibition we are
delighted to be offering a limited number of extra
conference stands in 2008. We have a wide variety
of sponsorship packages available.
Places at this event are limited so we recommend
that you reserve a place as soon as possible by
downloading a booking form from our website or
booking online. For further information please visit
our website or email us and we will be happy to provide
you with more details.
27. Capita’s National Conference
Improving the Lives of People with Dementia
Capita’s National Conference
Improving the Lives of People with Dementia
Tuesday 25th November 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
popular event, which is CPD Certified and supported
by UCL, the Alzheimer’s Society, and Age Concern.
We are also taking bookings on the related
Half Day Briefing on Wednesday 26th November,
Developing the Skills of the Dementia Care Workforce.
RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT FOR BOOKING ON
BOTH EVENTS.
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 Maria Parsons, Executive Director, London
Centre for Dementia Care, our expert speakers
include:
• Ruth Eley, CSIP National Programme Lead,
Older and Disabled People, Department of
Health
• Alison Murray, Provider Relationship Manager,
Inspection, Regulation and Review Directorate,
Commission for Social Care Inspection
• James Buckley, Chief Executive Officer, Tunstall
• Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Public Affairs,
National Dementia Strategy Implementation,
Alzheimer’s Society
• Tony Tench, Extra Care and Services Director,
Hanover Housing Association
• Philip Hurst, Policy Manager, Age Concern
• Rachael Dutton, Specialist Dementia Research
Manager, Housing 21 Dementia Voice
• Lee Sims, Operational Manager, Housing 21
Dementia Voice
Launching in October, the Government’s first National
Dementia Strategy for the UK will have profound
implications for all stakeholders involved in dementia
care and support services.
Organised to address the key challenges ahead,
Capita’s National Improving the Lives of People
with Dementia Conference brings together expert
speakers from forward thinking organisations involved
in dementia care. They will provide local authorities,
housing providers and care support services with advice
and practical guidance on improving well-being,
inclusion and quality of life for people with dementia.
This timely event will cover a range of pertinent issues,
including:
• Providing workforce wide support for implementing
the National Dementia Strategy
• Ensuring flexible care services to meet different
support needs
• Methods for enabling early diagnosis and intervention
for people with dementia
• Ways to improve dementia support in care
homes through design and integrated specialist
services
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.
28. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Palliative and End of Life Care
Morning, 9th December 2008
Westminster, SW1
With Professor Mike Richards - Chair, End of Life
Care Strategy Advisory Board and National Cancer
Director, Department of Health
and
Thomas Hughes-Hallett - Chief Executive, Marie
Curie Cancer Care
and
Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the provision
and quality of palliative and end of life care, and
what more can be done to provide a better service to
patients and their families. It follows the publication
of the Government’s End of Life Care Strategy and
the recently released Darzi review of the NHS, which
looked in part at end of life care.
Sessions will look at:
Palliative and end of life care in the UK and the end
of life care programme;
The impact of the strategy so far and the next steps
for implementing the reforms;
Delivering frontline palliative and end of life care and
preferred place of care;
Innovative approaches and ethical issues in end of
life care; and
The end of life care strategy and the way forward for
palliative and end of life care.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Palliative and End of Life Care (including
refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are
£190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
For those who cannot attend:
Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts
of all speeches and the question and comment
sessions and further articles from interested
parties, will be available approximately 7 days after
the event for £95 plus VAT (£111.63);
Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT (£58.75).
If you find the charge for tickets a barrier to attending,
please let me know and we will do our best to see
you are not excluded. Please note terms and conditions
below (including cancellation charges) will still
apply.
29. Action on Elder Abuse is pleased to announce
its National Conference for 2009 will
be on Monday 23 March 2009 and Tuesday 24
March 2009
Next year it will be held at East Midlands Conference
Centre
Nottingham Conferences
University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ
T: 0115 951 5000
F: 0115 951 5009
nottinghamconferences.co.uk
Consultations
To follow next week
CSCI/Care Quality Commission
(w.e.f. 2009), CSSIW,
Healthcare Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
30. Baroness Young
12 October 2008 - The Independent on Sunday
The head of CQC appeared at number 46 in a list of
Britain’s top 100 environmentalists as a result of her
previous role running the Environment Agency.
31. CSCI’s Newsletter October 2008
This month's features are:
• CSCI at the National Children and Adult Services
Conference 2008
• Revised enforcement policy
• Get the most from volunteering
• Help shape the future of care
• New report on registering suitable social workers
• NHS continuing healthcare for people living in care
homes
32. Scottish Government Consultation on
Minimum Frequency of Inspections
9 October 2008 – SCRC
The Scottish Government has now launched a consultation
to change the statutory minimum frequency
of inspection for certain services.
For full report click here
33. Healthcare watchdog to give a voice to
NHS staff
7 October 2008 – Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission wants to encourage
NHS employees to provide feedback on their experiences
at work by participating in the annual NHS
Staff Survey.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6554&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usec
ache=false
34. Impact of the stars
October 2008 - Care Management Matters
After eight months of the star rating system (Ed. I
calculate it is just six months since the launch on
May 7th) Andrew Cole considers its impact and
whether it is a force for good.
35. Up close and personal
October 2008 - Care Management Matters
Les Bright looks at the latest CSCI report in the ‘In
Focus’ series which has its aim as assisting providers
to address the needs of black and minority ethnic
people.
36. Three into one won’t go – will it?
October 2008 - Caring Business
A look at the Care Quality Commission, the challenges
it faces and the promise it holds.
Dementia
37. Dementia patients 'suffer stigma'
6 October 2008 – BBC News
Terry Pratchett talking about dementia and its
stigma.
For full report click here
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
38. Deaths Linked To MRSA Superbug Hit
Record Levels
11 October 2008 – The Herald
Scottish deaths linked to the hospital superbug
MRSA reached record levels last year. The number
of deaths recorded were more than double that
logged seven years ago.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2459651.0.0.php?utag=28804
39. Hospital bug infection rate falls
8 October 2008 – BBC News
Data published by the Health Protection Scotland
shows that cases of MRSA and C.diff have fallen in
Scotland during the quarter April and June compared
to the previous quarter.
The Scottish Government said it had achieved a 90%
compliance rate with new hand hygiene rules, a key
part of their battle against the infections.
For full report click here
40. Faster Check On Volunteer Workers' Records
7 October 2008 – The Herald
The Scottish Government has proposed a new
streamlined system to check past records of people
working or volunteering with children.
Changes to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups legislation
means that it will be simpler to keep track of
changes and prevent needless checks against people
with minimal contact with children.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2457936.0.0.php?utag=28804
41. Children treated on adult wards
7 October 2008 – BBC News
Scottish health boards continuing to treat children
with psychiatric problems on adult wards will be
warned they may be breaking the law according t new
legislation.
The Mental Health Act 2003 states every health
board must place children with psychiatric problems
in appropriate care.
For full report click here
42. Protecting Vulnerable Groups
6 October 2008 – 4 Nations
Scottish Parliament has announced new proposals to
better safeguard vulnerable groups and put an end to
'needless bureaucracy' which can deter volunteers
from helping Scotland's children.
For full report go to http://
www.childpolicyinfo.childreninscotland.org.uk/index/newsapp?
story=6914&archived=N
Wales
43. Display to tackle discrimination
8 October 2008 – BBC News
Senedd in Cardiff Bay will be exhibiting photographs
taken by people with mental health problems and
their carers to reduce discrimination against people
with mental illnesses.
The exhibition is the result of mental health charity
Hafal's campaign to reduce discrimination against
people with mental illnesses.
For full report click here
Learning Disabilities
44. Helping young people feel safe would
boost inclusion in schools
12 October 2008 - University of Cambridge and
Foundation for Learning Disability
Young people with learning difficulties who attend
mainstream schools and colleges need to feel safer
and more secure between lessons, new research
has found.
The study, a collaboration between Cambridge University’s
Faculty of Education and the Foundation for
People with Learning Disabilities, reveals that many
students with special educational needs feel vulnerable
and anxious at break times, lunchtimes and
while moving between classrooms.
It argues that they should be given more access to
“safe” areas, such as libraries, or have access to
support, supervision or an activity they enjoy outside
of lessons.
The recommendation is just one of a number that
appear in a new report entitled What about us?
which examines how the experiences of students
with learning difficulties in mainstream education
could be improved.
Government policy is increasingly geared towards
teaching students with special educational needs in
mainstream settings. Statutory guidance suggests
that “nearly all” such children should be taught in
regular colleges and schools.
What about us? examined how these young people
could be helped to feel more included. The research
team worked with nine different institutions in three
separate parts of the country. These included mainstream
schools, colleges of further education, an independent
post-16 vocational training college and a
special school.
“The overall message from students was that the inclusion
policy is a good one, but that it needs to be
translated and put into practice more effectively,”
Richard Byers, Cambridge University lecturer in special
and inclusive education said.
The findings will now be published on a website,
http://www.whataboutus.org.uk/, and in an 85-page
report published by the FPLD, which will be distributed
to policy managers and makers.
45. Learning disability advocate's experience
makes a good read
10 October 2008 - Caring Business
Hilda Turner, Craegmoor Healthcare’s ‘Your Voice’
regional rep has written a book with Dr Carole Dawson,
University of East Anglia called Sixty Years of
Services For People With Learning Disabilities.
Legislation Update
46. No. 2436 (W.209) The Mental Health
(Approval of Persons to be Approved Mental
Health Professionals) (Wales) Regulations
2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
47. No. 2437 (W.210) The Mental Health
(Independent Mental Health Advocates)
(Wales) Regulations 2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
48. No. 2439 (W.212) The Mental Health
(Hospital, Guardianship, Community Treatment
and Consent to Treatment) (Wales)
Regulations 2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
49. No. 2440 (W.213) The Mental Health
(Conflicts of Interest) (Wales) Regulations
2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
50. No. 2441 (W.214) The Mental Health
(Nurses) (Wales) Order 2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
51. No. 333 The Mental Health (Absconding
Patients from Other Jurisdictions) (Scotland)
Regulations 2008
10 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
52. No. 2593 The National Health Service
(Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment
Regulations 2008
8 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
53. No. 2553 The Nursing and Midwifery
Council (Constitution) Order 2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
54. No. 2554 The General Medical Council
(Constitution) Order 2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
55. No. 2556 (C.112) The Health Care and Associated
Professions (Miscellaneous
Amendments) Order 2008 (Commencement
No. 1) Order of Council 2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
56. No. 2560 The Mental Health (Hospital,
Guardianship and Treatment) (England)
(Amendment) Regulations 2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
57. No. 2561 (C.113) The Mental Health Act
2007 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional
Provisions) Order 2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
58. No. 2569 The Social Fund Cold Weather
Payments (General) Amendment Regulations
2008
6 October 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Capacity
59. Public Guardian Board publishes first Annual
Report
7 October 2008
Issued by Ministry of Justice on behalf of the Public
Guardian Board
The Mental Capacity Act and the services it has put
in place have introduced a cultural change by creating
a new system of support for those who lack mental
capacity in England and Wales, a report published
today by the Public Guardian Board (PGB) shows.
The report 'Scrutiny, review, engagement - the first
annual report of the Public Guardian Board' says that
the new services, including the Office of the Public
Guardian, which came into effect on 1 October last
year, were long overdue and have put in place strong
foundations for the future care of some of the most
vulnerable people.
In the first year of operation, the OPG has succeeded
in raising awareness of the changes, but there have
been disruption and delays caused by a surge of demand
for the services, and operational difficulties in
introducing new processes, it was said.
The Public Guardian Martin John said:
"The Public Guardian Board report recognises that
this has been a tough first year. It also acknowledges
that staff at the OPG have worked very hard to meet
the challenges presented by new systems allowing
people to plan ahead for a time when they may not
be able to make decisions, and those which safeguard
the welfare of people who lack mental capacity.
I welcome the Board's recommendations for the future,
and look forward to working with them to make
the real progress and improvements that are needed.
"As part of continually looking at the way we work,
and improving what we do, we will shortly be starting
a thorough review of the Mental Capacity Act implementation
and we want to hear what the public,
stakeholders, and customers think about the legislation
and about our services."
In their report, the Board recommend that:
* The MCA should be reviewed to look at organisational
structures set up under the Act as well as legal
aspects, and include stakeholders who have experience
in using the Act or delivering services and functions
under it.
* Administration of the Court of protection should be
done by Her Majesty's Courts Service, who are more
suited to supporting the judicial process.
* There should be more stakeholder engagement.
* The Act should have a champion to raise awareness
to the wider public.
For a copy of the report, please go to
http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/docs/pgboardreport-
1008.pdf
60. Deprivation of liberty - standard documentation
The proposed documentation for each of the stages
associated with deprivation of liberty was expected to
have already been published by DoH; latest information
is that it will be published later this month.
Mental Health
61. Psychiatric cases rise
10 October 2008 - The Times
There has been a 20% rise in the number of patients
compulsorily detained in England in ten years to
2006. In 2006 there was a total of 51,361.
62. WHO report shows mental health services
in England leading the way in Europe
10 October 2008
Health Secretary Alan Johnson welcomed publication
of a landmark international report, which highlights
that mental health services in England are
leading the way in Europe.
The report from the World Health Organisation, published
to mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October,
showed that:
* England directs 13.8% of the health budget towards
mental health - highest level in Europe among those
who submitted figures
* We provide high levels of access to mental health
care, with 12.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 population,
compared to the European average of 8.9.
* Access to mental health nursing care is also higher
than average, with 51.9 nurses per 100,000, compared
with the European average of 18.7.
* England are the only country to provide a comprehensive
network of specialist early intervention
teams
* England is one of only three countries to provide
comprehensive access to assertive outreach teams.
* England has 23 mental health beds per 100,000,
reflecting continued focus on moving mental health
treatment out of institutions and into the community.
The WHO report, which provides a summary of mental
health services across Europe, can be found at
http://www.euro.who.int/mentalhealth/20080602_1
For more information about the 'Time to Change'
campaign, including 'Get Moving', go to http://
www.time-to-change.org.uk
63. Mental health services reviewed
10 October 2008 – BBC News
The East of England will have its mental health services
reviewed to ensure that mental health services
are focused on patient recovery.
It will also look at making local health trusts more responsive
to patient needs by involving monitoring
authorities and ensuring commitments are written into
trust contracts.
For full report click here
64. England’s first mental health promotion
TV campaign launched
6 October 2008 – Mental Health Organisation
The Care Services Improvement Partnership in the
East of England and the Mental Health Foundation
has teamed up with ITV Anglia for the UK’s first mental
health promotion television campaign.
The commercial will run five-times-daily between the
7th and the 11th October 2008 throughout the East of
England to coincide with World Mental Health Day on
10th October.
For full report go to http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/media/
news-releases/news-releases-2008/6-october-2008/
Miscellaneous
65. Health secretary shaping the future of
care and support in Birmingham
11 October 2008
People in Birmingham had the opportunity to shape
Government policy and tell the Health Secretary Alan
Johnson what they think about the future of the care
and support system in England.
In the next 20 years the number of people over 65 in
the West Midlands will increase by 373,800 (43%)
and the number of people over 85 will increase by
101,700 (93%).
Alan Johnson said:
"In 20 years' time the number of over 65s in Birmingham
will have increased by 16 per cent so it's vital I
discuss, with the people of Birmingham, how we can
create a high quality, affordable care and support system
for a rapidly ageing population.
"The care and support system for the future should
promote independence, choice and control for everyone.
It is important that everyone has their own personalised
care plan so that they can choose how their
needs are met both though the care and support system
and the NHS. We are committed to creating a
care and support system that meets the needs of our
ageing population and their families. I urge people to
get involved - the reform affects us all."
Ed. To read my experience and views on the consultation
look at my report of the first in the series
of consultative meetings which was held in Manchester
on 16.06.08.
Members of the public can contribute their views
t h r o u g h a w e b s i t e h t t p : / /
www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk
66. GPs paid to cut patient referrals
10 October 2008 – BBC News
Oxfordshire’s doctors have been offered money to
reduce the number of patient referrals to recoup a
£23 projected budget overspend. The county’s primary
care trust has issued a new scheme which will
give money to GPs to re-examine the case files and
only send them on when absolutely necessary.
The PCT said it aimed to keep costs down but patient
services high.
For full report click here
67. MPs condemn ‘eye-watering’ pay rise for
GPs
9 October 2008 - The Times
GPs 'paid more for working less'
9 October 2008 – BBC News
GPs in England gained “eye-watering” pay increases
of 58% under a revised NHS contract that reduced
their working hours, the Commons Public Accounts
Committee said.
For BBC report click here
68. Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
and Medicines Dispensed to Patients at
Home
9 October 2008 – DoH
The Department of Health reached agreement on
key components after negotiating with the pharmaceutical
industry. The new Pharmaceutical Price
Regulation Scheme means there should be significant
savings in the NHS drugs bill from 2009.
For full report click here
69. Checks for all Doctors Moves a Step
Closer
8 October 2008
Checks on doctors to get £1m support
8 October 2008 - The Times
Revalidation for all doctors moved a step closer today
as the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson,
confirmed the formation of the implementation team
for England and £1 million of funding to support them.
The team comprises a panel of senior doctors who
will provide professionally informed leadership, support
and advice to the NHS, patients and doctors representatives
for the design and delivery of the process,
ensuring that all doctors meet the standards expected
of them.
Supporting today's announcement, President of the
GMC, Professor Sir Graeme Catto said:
"We look forward to working with the new Revalidation
Support Team on developing local processes
and systems that will meet the needs of the medical
profession, employers and patients and welcome
their appointment."
70. Taking the long term view: the Department
of Health's strategy for delivering sustainable
development 2008-2011
8 October 2008 – DoH
The Department have Health has declared its commitment
to the issue of sustainable development for
the long-term.
They say that they must ensure that by delivering
better care and well-being for present generations,
we are also ensuring that we are contributing to a
strong and healthy society for generations of the future.
For full report click here
71. Government's Response to the Health Select
Committee Report on Dental Services
7 October 2008 – DoH
This document sets out the interim Government response
to the conclusions and recommendations in a
report on dental services.
For full report click here
72. Human Rights in Healthcare - A Framework
for Local Action
7 October 2008 – DoH
The Department of Health, along with the British Institute
of Human Rights and five NHS Trusts have
worked in conjunction to produce this framework to
assist NHS trusts to develop and apply human rights
based approaches (HRBAs) in their organisations to
improve service design and delivery.
For full report click here
73. How to Achieve World Class Commissioning
Competencies. Practical tips for NHS
Commissioners
7 October 2008 – DoH
The Government has now set out its vision for a future
health service to deliver better health and wellbeing
for all. It aims to help people to live healthier
and longer lives and reduces health inequalities.
For full report click here
74. £11 million boost for dental hospitals
7 October 2007
An extra £11 million will be allocated to dental hospitals
across England to fund new IT systems that will
support the training of dental students, the Department
of Health announced.
75. ECCA committed to working with new
Minister
7 October 2008
The English Community Care Association committed
itself to continuing a positive relationship with the
Department of Health and it looks forward to working
with the new Minister of State for Care Services, Phil
Hope MP.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“We look forward to working with the Minister on the
big issues that affect the sector such as funding,
regulation and workforce. We are also delighted that
the Prime Minister has raised to Ministerial status the
lead on social care within the Department’s Ministerial
team”.
76. Action on Elder Abuse welcomes Phil
Hope as new minister for care services
6 October 2008
In welcoming the new Minister, Phil Hope, to the social
care portfolio Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) has
paid tribute to his predecessor who made a tremendous
and positive impact on the social care sector,
and on the issue of elder abuse.
Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of AEA, said, “Ivan
Lewis has established a major foundation for
change, which we anticipate that Government will
seriously build upon. He showed a tremendous empathy
and insight into the realities of social care and
of elder abuse, worked tirelessly on the issues, and
we wish him well in his new role.
“We commend the Prime Minister for increasing the
importance of social care by giving Phil Hope’s portfolio
full ministerial status. The new Minister has a
full agenda of major issues to take forward and develop,
and no doubt will have his own agenda too,
and we look forward to working as productively with
him in the coming weeks and months. The launch of
the No Secrets consultation is now ten weeks overdue
so it should be a first priority to see this undertaken
quickly, particularly as we know the current
arrangements are failing to provide adequate protection
for many older people and other adults vulnerable
to abuse. But we also have to ensure that the
personalisation agenda is widened to include more
than just the current ‘cash for care’ model, as well as
see the debate on long term funding for social care
brought to fruition. It is an exciting time for a new
Minister to take up this post and we wish him well.”
77. Biog of Phil Hope MP – new Care Services
Minister
Mr Hope’s previous positions in central government
include: Minister for the Third Sector, Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State for Skills, Private Secretary
to former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
He was elected to Kettering Borough Council during
the 1980s and Northamptonshire County Council between
1993 and 1997 where he chaired the Equal
Opportunities Committee.
Formerly a teacher at Kettering School for Boys, Mr
Hope has also been a youth policy advisor to the National
Council for Voluntary Organisations, Head of
the Young Volunteer Resources Unit at the National
Youth Bureau and a management consultant to notfor-
profit organisations.
Mr Hope was educated at Wandsworth Comprehensive
School and St Luke's College, Exeter.
78. Keeping things private
October 2008 - HealthInvestor
The author opines that private business should be
relieved that Alan Johnson, Health Secretary, focused
on political matters at the Labour Party Conference in
view of the likely backlash to the ‘greed is good’ culture
of The City with the financial meltdown.
79. Hammering out a simpler law on care
October 2008 - Caring Business
Bob Finch looks at how the Law Commission Review
might be able to streamline and simplify the legal
complexity currently surrounding care issues – we
might have a new Act in 2012!
80. Access denied
October 2008 - HealthInvestor
If pharmacies are to fulfil the role envisaged of them
by Government the issue of ‘control of entry’ whereby
PCTs have the ability not only to decide whether it
can even open in the area but also what to commission
for the pharmacy but also what hours they
should open, the facilities offered needs to be grappled
with.
81. Call to ditch social care means-testing
October 2008 - Caring Business
Prof. Justin Keen of Leeds University says England
should choose a model of either free personal care or
a ‘partnership model as opposed to the current system.
NHS
82. The price of life: it was £20,000. Now an
NHS agency recalculates
12 October 2008 - The Independent on Sunday
An item about the review by NICE of the way in which
it assesses the benefit of new treatments and therapies.
83. NHS infection control: a clean bill of
health
10 October 2008 - HSJ
Last October Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust
was the subject of sensational headlines over deadly
superbug outbreaks. A year on, under a new chief
executive, it is being transformed.
84. Complaints 'do not improve NHS'
10 October 2008 – BBC News
The National Audit office says that vital lessons
which could be learned from complaints to the NHS
are ignored.
The largest ever review of the system in England,
found "little evidence" that complaints improved services.
For full report click here
85. Call to ban junk food from NHS
10 October 2008 – BBC News
The British Dental Health Foundation is calling for
hospital and GP surgeries to ban sugary drinks and
snacks and instead fill their vending machines with
water, fruit juices and healthy snacks.
The Government said the NHS and the rest of the
public sector should "lead by example" and promote
healthy food.
For full report click here
86. Delay to vaccinations IT system
10 October 2008 – BBC News
A computer system designed to track immunisations
in London has been delayed despite fears of a national
measles epidemic. It is due to replace a system
which failed to give accurate figures – but supplier
BT say the new system would not be ready until
mid-2009, which is 6 months later than originally
planned.
For full report click here
87. Hospital food waste highlighted
8 October 2008 – BBC News
An investigation has highlighted the wastage of food
by NHS hospitals across Devon.
A freedom of information request into unused meals -