Editorial
Sadly, in the past month I have been contacted by
seven individuals who have been, or were about to
be made redundant. All of those contacting me have
known me for a number of years and all are from a
common background that of marketing and selling
care businesses.
As always, I will do what I can to introduce people to
others with whom I think they will have an affinity and
who may be able to provide opportunities of one sort
or another.
I wish them all well.
However, this is the clearest of signs that the selling
agents are now feeling the ‘pressure’ as much as
high street estate agencies. This is not good for the
sector or for the businesses concerned.
On a different note; I have been telephoned by two
readers this week who were hesitant in making their
contact as they both said that lots of people say “get
in touch with us we will give you some free, no
obligation advice and support” and that in their
experience they had found that such statements
were usually ‘hot air’, not really meant and that there
were ‘strings attached’.
I am pleased to confirm that here at Brunswicks we
are all genuinely interested in helping people and
people are committed to putting something back into
the sector – if we can provide you with support or
‘signpost’ issues quickly, and without expending too
much time, we will do it for free and happily so.
You will always be told well in advance if we are
proposing to make any charge so that you can
decided whether you do, in fact, wish to formally
instruct us or, alternatively, retain your usual advisors.
This week’s article
The week Martin Green, Chief Executive of English Community Care Association, identifies one of the issues facing the long term care sector as we begin this New Year.
We hope that politicians take note and provide the sector with the resources that will enable it to play a full and active part in developing long term care provision.
To read the article in full, click here
.
Parliament
15.01.09 – HoL - Baroness Shephard of Northwold
to call attention to the functioning of children’s
services departments in local authorities; and to move
for papers.
Next
Abuse
1. Phil Hope MP in webchat on 20.01.09
The Care Services Minister, Phil Hope MP will be
hosting his first webchat on 20.01.09. Dignity
Champions are invited to take part in a discussion
with the Minister about dignity in care.
To access the webchat, all you have to do is to visit
the website www.publicquestion.com. Indeed, you
can visit the website at anytime between now and
the event itself to pre-submit your own question or
2. You and Yours - Charities voice concerns
about age discrimination
6 January 2009
Gary Fitzgerald, Dame Joan Bakewell and Andre
Harrop participated in a discussion/debate discrimination
based on age.
Fitzgerald said “We start from the point of view that
you hurt as much at the age of 70 as you do at seven
and that when you look at how the Government responds
to … abuse of older people you would … be
forgiven for believing that they [don’t] accept that
principle. Then contrast of the case … of Baby P
[compared with] when you look at what happens with
Granny P there’s a deafening silence … we see a
political cynicism here that … you would be forgiven
for thinking is about the … lack of political power of
older people.
“We had research quite a long time ago that suggests
a minimum figure we can put on the abuse of
older people is half a million, Government research
last year suggested at least 350,000 in the community
alone. Our helpline tells us at least two thirds of
abuse is behind closed doors in the community and
yet the focus is very much on care homes … for
some people care homes are the right place to be
and they give good quality care.
“What the Government’s doing at the moment is
pushing the concept of cash for care, we will give
older people the money they go and buy their own
care. The problem with that is there’s no safeguards
or systems of protection around them, they’re actually
creating vulnerability there.
“The most we get from the Government in responding
to the situation in hospitals is a dignity campaign. To
solve this problem is going to take money [and] it
clearly needs legislation. We know that the guidance
... in place at the moment [is] failing … we do
have to recognise that our National Health Service is
not giving the sort of service it was giving 20, 30, 40
years ago and if we don’t address why that is we’re
not going to solve the problem.”
3. Action on Elder Abuse
The campaigning charity raising awareness of abuse
of elderly people and pressing for legislation to protect
vulnerable older people has published its annual
report and accounts.
He charity grew over the 12 months to 31.03.08 and
received almost 10,000 telephone calls from older
people, friends and families seeking advice and in
need of counselling.
In the current year the charity is maintaining profile
and pressure for legislation as part of the response to
the Department of Health’s consultation on the No
Secrets guidance issued in 2000.
4. Claims that staff may be choosing wrong
option
January 2009 - Caring UK
Help the Aged’s policy officer, Elizabeth McLennan,
believes that night workers, because of a lack of senior
managers, may be choosing the wrong option
when they suspect abuse and, in the process she
believes that evidence is inadvertently destroyed.
Ed. Remember, your staff can be fully supported
day or night where abuse is suspected or detected
by using Brunswicks Crisis Intervention
Line 07855 855 588.
If you would like to discuss how we can provide
your organisation with access to a senior, experienced
lawyer and a bespoke, cost effective solution
to 24 hr a day 365 days a year support call
me on 0870 766 9285.
You can try it FREE OF CHARGE for two months,
with no obligation!
Business News
5. Mears Group PLC
8 January 2009
Pre-Close Trading Update
Mears reported trading for the year to 31.12.08
across all divisions was in line with management expectations
in what was a difficult year for the British
economy.
The Board is pleased with the successful achievements
during the year in building a care provision
alongside the Group's social housing services, where
Mears now has partnership arrangements in place
with Cross Keys Homes, Wakefield Homes and Circle
Anglia to provide a combined care
and repair service and the Board anticipates making
further progress in this area during 2009.
The Group has maintained a strong balance sheet
and low gearing going into the new financial year and
will continue to benefit from strong cash flow.
The Group will be announcing its preliminary results
for the year ended 31 December
2008 on Tuesday 10 March 2009.
Commenting, Bob Holt, Chief Executive of Mears
Group, said:
“I am delighted with the progress made across the
Group during 2008, particularly with
our achievements in building a successful care provision
alongside our social housing services.
“We have already secured 81% of
the Group's consensus forecast revenues for 2009
and our forward order book stands at £1.6 billion. We
continue to see strong forward demand for our services
with good levels of activity in new contract bidding.
We are confident in the future prospects for the
Group.”
6. Privatisation plan scaled down amid the
credit crunch
January 2009 - Caring UK
Devon Council which had been in the process of
transferring its care homes to Shaw Healthcare has
delayed the process by at least six months; however,
Shaw will be developing 190 beds in the county.
Care Homes
7. Delay to home care registration nears twoyear
mark
Department of Health and GSCC in talks over
issue
9 January 2009 – Community Care
The Department of Health has admitted that it still
isn’t ready to order the General Social Care Council
to open the register to home care staff, despite the
fact it was originally scheduled to take place two
years ago.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the DH said it remained
committed to registering domiciliary care
staff, in the interests of public protection and staff
quality.
For full report click here
8. Students asked to design ’care home of
the future’
7 January 2009 – NCF
RIBA and DWA Architects have launched a competition
for architectural students to design the next generation
of homes for the elderly
Students worldwide have been encouraged to enter
‘Caring for Older People’, an international design
competition supported by care home operator BUPA
Care Services and competitors have been asked to
take into consideration a number of issues including
integrating with the community, improving visitor
numbers, conserving energy and creating the best
layout for the patient; all of which will improve quality
of life for elderly residents.
Source: www.building.co.uk
For NCF report click here
9. National Patient Safety Agency alert: Resuscitation
and management of choking in
care settings
5 January 2009 – NCA
National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) alert: Resuscitation
and management of choking in care settings.
The NPSA has issued a rapid response report alert to
NHS services, about incidents of people choking, suffering
a cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest in mental
health and learning disability services after receiving
reports of people who died after choking on food and
reports of people choking, where staff did not always
have the skills to deliver effective first aid.
The alert outlines action the NHS should take to improve
training and accessibility of resuscitation equipment.
For full report click here
10. Care homes to lobby over cuts
January 2009 - Caring UK
Front page item about care homes in the Wirral who
have had all their contracts terminated by the council
and offering to engage with each at a rate which is
£14 per resident, per week less than has been paid.
Wirral MBC appears to have adopted Laing & Buisson’s
fair price calculation, however, it has applied
the rate for an 80 bedded home. 50% of care homes
in the Wirral are 35-40 bedded. There are more
smaller homes. None of them will have the economies
of scale that would apply to an 80 bedded
home.
Ed. This is an appalling distortion of the intended
use of a carefully developed tool; the apparent
use in this way is likely to undermine the trust
and confidence in both the tool and those who
use it.
11. Residents distressed over loss of pets
January 2009 - Caring UK
The Society for Companion Animal Studies has said
that the number of care facilities allowing pets to
move in has dropped from 48% to 41% and homes
which never allow pets has increased from 20% to
27% causing distress to elderly people when moving
into a care home.
12. Care home fees vary – report
January 2009 - Caring UK
The SAGA Cost of Care Report says that care home
fees vary by as much as 50% across the UK.
13. Residents claim war film ban breaches
their human rights
January 2009 - Caring UK
Service users in The Village, Cumbernauld, owned
by Southern Cross complained to the Care Commission
that staff were preventing them viewing programmes
and films of their choice. Southern Cross
said that the residents’ perception was the result of a
misunderstanding now rectified by a policy document.
14. Futuristic first aims to cut visits to GP
January 2009 - Caring UK
Woodside House, operated by Barchester Healthcare
piloted the use of a computer system which allowed
GPs to remotely monitor the health of residents.
The aim was to reduce the number of hospital
admissions and GP visits. The pilot was so successful
it is to be rolled out to other care homes in the
area.
15. 200 homes ‘too old to be modernised’
January 2009 - Caring UK
Edinburgh council will, over the next 10 years, close
more than 200 care homes which it says cant be
modernised and 14 new ones built in their
place. The council also says that it will provide tailormade
support to people in their own homes.
16. Care homes subject to the Human Rights
Act
January 2009 - Healthcare Business
A useful overview by Jonny Landau of the Articles of
the European Convention which are most likely to
impact care home operators.
Case Reports
Law Reports
17. R v Southern Cross
Oxford Crown Court ordered Southern Cross to pay
fines of £80,000 and pay £120,000 towards the costs
of prosecution arising from the death of Mrs Maisie
Jones in June 2003 who fell from a first floor window
sustaining injuries from which she later died.
Southern Cross pleaded guilty to an offence under
section 3(1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
and an offence under Regulation 3(1)(b) Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Ed. Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act 1974 states every employer has a duty to
conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure,
so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons
not in his employment who may be affected
thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their
health or safety.
Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, states that
employers have a duty to undertake suitable and
sufficient risk assessment of the risks to the
health and safety of persons not in their employment.
For those shocked by the level of fine – it might
have been more had not the court been convinced
that the home concerned was otherwise well run.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
18. Home fined over resident's death
9 January 2009 – BBC News
Southern Cross Healthcare has been fined £80,000
following the death of an 82-year-old woman with dementia.
The Brookfield Christian Care Home in
Greater Leys pleaded guilty to breaching health and
safety regulations after Maisie Jones fell from a first
floor window.
The incident happened in June 2003. The company
issued a statement saying that a risk assessment had
been carried out and it had upgraded its window security.
For full report click here
19. Care home manager guilty of fraud
8 January 2009 – BBC News
Caroline Ward, 50, of Gresley Care Home pleaded
guilty to stealing money from residents at a care
home by withdrawing money from their accounts using
their bank cards.
She stole a total of £1,850 from care home residents.
As manager, she was responsible for the financial
affairs of two residents and had control of their bank
cards, and on 14 occasions withdrew money from
their accounts.
For full report click here
20. Baby P: Sharon Shoesmith to appeal
against Haringey dismissal
6 January 2009 – Community Care
Sharon Shoesmith, the former Haringey Council director
of children's services has lodged an appeal
against her sacking during the Baby P scandal.
Shoesmith was dismissed without compensation or
payment in lieu of notice.
The authority said that Shoesmith was challenging its
decision to sack her last month, which was done a
week after children's secretary Ed Balls used statutory
powers to remove her from the director's post.
For full report click here
21. PCT director jailed for CV lies
6 January 2009 - Health Service Journal
Lee Joseph Whitehead, 44, of White End Park,
Bucks, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for lying
to employers, including Stoke on Trent PCT.
He claimed he had a BSc in psychology, an MSc in
clinical psychology and a doctorate in psychology.
He also said he was a chartered psychologist with
full membership of the British Psychological Society.
Children
22. Ofsted said 15,000 useless teachers
worked in our schools. Nine years on, how
many have been fired? Just 10
10 January 2009 - Daily Mail
From the regulator with responsibility for monitoring
childrens services (remember Baby P?), it is revealed
that only 10 teachers have been struck of for
incompetence.
23. Training for childcare chiefs after Baby P
9 January 2009 - The Times
Ed Balls announced that the heads of council childrens
services will get intensive training after the
Baby P scandal at Haringey.
Conferences & Courses
24. The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental
Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
PCTs across England will be introducing a new
form of standard contract with effect from
01.04.09. So far as we are aware there has not
been wide consultation of the sector – in fact, we
are not aware of any ! Whilst it makes sense to
have a common form of contract across the country
(wouldn’t it save time, energy and resources if there
was a single form of contract with all local authorities?)
the lack of consultation gives genuine cause
for concern.
However, there will be implementation workshops;
dates below:
16th January – The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Hilton Leeds, LS1 4BX
21st January – The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
De Vere University Arms
26th January - The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
The Cleve Hotel & Country Club,
Wellington TA21 8SN
3rd February - The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Holiday Inn Regents Park, London
W1W 5EE
5th February - The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental
Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Reebok Stadium: Bolton Wanderers
FC / Devere Whites Hotel, Bolton
BL6 6JW
6th February - The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental
Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Radisson SAS Durham
10th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Mercure London Gatwick Hotel, Gatwick
RH6 0BE
12th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Hilton London Metropole, London W2
1JU
18th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:
Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation
Workshops
Birmingham City Football Club
Rest of conferences will be published next
week
Consultations
25. Common Assessment Framework for
Adults consultation (to be launched in January
2009): online registration for updates and
events
18 December 2008 – DoH
Opportunity to pre-register for online consultation and
linked consultation events.
For full report click here
26. Consultation on CQC's enforcement policy
CQC's consultation on how it intends to use its enforcement
powers under the Health and Social Care
Act 2008 closes on Friday 16 January 2009.
The consultation document is available to download
from the CQC website. Responses can be sent on
the hard copy reply form to the Freepost address
provided or by e-mail to consultationresponses@
cqc.org.uk
27. Care Quality Commission unveils first
two initiatives aims at improving quality and
safety of services
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Care Quality Commission has published two
documents which set out how it aims to:
• drive further improvements in how the
NHS deals with healthcare associated infections,
such as MRSA
• use its new enforcement powers to improve
the quality and safety of health and
adult social care services for the people
who use them
The CQC is launching a 12-week consultation with a
wide variety of stakeholders on how it intends to use
its new enforcement powers, together with publishing
guidance to NHS trusts about additional requirements
for registering with the new Commission in relation to
healthcare associated infection (HCAI).
For full consultation go to http://www.cqc.org.uk/news/
hcai_and_enforcement_policy.aspx
28. Enforcement policy consultation
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
On 24 October 2008 CQC launched a 12 week consultation
on how it intends to use its enforcement
powers under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Visit the CQC website to download a copy of the consultation
document.
29. The Looked After Children (Scotland)
Regulations 2008: Second Consultation,
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Scottish Government wants responses to the
second draft of the Looked After Children (Scotland)
Regulations 2008 which have been significantly restructured
and redrafted following the original consultation
which closed in March 2008.
For full consultation click here
30. Developing an Acknowledgement and Accountability
Forum for Adult Survivors of
Childhood Abuse
Closing Date: 16 January 2009
The Scottish Government has published a paper on
proposals to develop an acknowledgment and accountability
forum for adult survivors of childhood
abuse.
For full consultation click here
31. Consultation: Draft guidance on NHS patients
who wish to pay for additional private
care
Closing Date: 27 January 2009
A consultation seeking views on draft guidance on
how to proceed in situations where NHS patients
want to buy additional secondary care services that
the NHS does not fund.
For full consultation click here
32. Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of
Liberty Safeguards: Consultation on the Mental
Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring
and Reporting) and (Deprivation of Liberty:
Standard Authorisations, Assessments
and Ordinary Residence) (Amendment) Regulations
2009
Closing Date: 30 January 2009
Draft regulations conferring power on the Care Quality
Commission for the purpose of monitoring, and
reporting on, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation
of Liberty Safeguards.
For full consultation click here
33. Government consults on safeguarding
vulnerable adults
Closing date: 31 January 2009
Care Services Minister Phil Hope launched a consultation
on how to improve safeguarding policy - the
protection of vulnerable adults - and address abuse in
all its forms in the care system.
The 'No Secrets' guidance for local authorities, the
police and the NHS to work together to protect adults
is already in place. The Government now wants to
make sure it keeps up with changes in the social
care system, with the new emphasis on choice and
control and changing forms of abuse.
Key issues on which Government is seeking views
are:
* Whether there is now a need for legislation,
* The feasibility of a national database of recommendations
from serious case reviews where abuse has
occurred
* What new measures are needed in the face of increased
'personalisation' of care with more people
now being in charge of their own care instead of local
authorities
* What new measures are needed in the face of
changing forms of abuse, such as financial abuse
Phil Hope said:
"I am determined to improve safeguarding of vulnerable
people. We need a greater focus on prevention,
a greater emphasis on safeguarding in commissioning
services and support, and greater empowerment
of people to determine how they wish to be safeguarded.
The No Secrets guidance must be updated
to make sure everyone - individuals, police, care
agencies, the NHS and local authorities prevent
abuse, and also recognise it and stamp it out if it
does occur.
"The consultation is particularly relevant as more
people gain control of their own care. I want to help
people maintain this control and independence, free
from fear of abuse. I look forward to hearing people's
views and will not hesitate to take tough action to improve
safeguarding for those in vulnerable situations."
The consultation on the review of No Secrets will run
from 14th October to 31st January 2009.
The consultation can be found on the Department of
Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/
Socialcarereform/Safeguardinganddealingwithabuse/
index.htm
34. Consultation on GP Quality Incentive
Scheme launched
Closing Date: 2 February 2009
Delivering the best possible care for patients and addressing
health inequalities will be at the heart of proposed
changes to the GP quality incentive scheme,
the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), Health
Minister Ben Bradshaw announced today.
The QOF rewards GP practices for managing some
of the most common chronic diseases such as diabetes
or heart failure; improving health; organising practices
well; how patients view their experience at the
surgery and the quality of extra services offered such
as child health and maternity services.
Under new proposals set out in a public consultation
published today, the National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE) would in future oversee
the annual process of reviewing clinical indicators.
From April 2009, NICE would review the benefits
to patients and the cost effectiveness of the indicators
used to assess the quality of care provided by
GP practices. NICE would be responsible for developing
a more transparent and inclusive review process
with input from patients and carers, primary care
professionals and other stakeholders.
The final choice of QOF indicators would remain a
matter for negotiation with the British Medical Association
(BMA), based on the advice produced by
NICE.
The 12-week consultation is seeking views on how
the new process for assessing evidence for QOF indicators
should work. The key elements that will be
considered in the consultation will be how best to:
* Review existing QOF indicators and develop new
indicators for clinical quality and health outcomes,
based on evidence of clinical effectiveness;
* Allow a range of stakeholders, including patients,
carers and clinicians to identify potential QOF priorities;
* Set up a panel of independent experts that will prioritise
areas for developing new indicators;
* Pilot new indicators with GP practices; and
* Give flexibility to the local NHS to select some indicators
to reflect local health needs.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"We have come a long way in addressing health inequalities
thanks to the current GP scheme for quality
incentives and the UK leads the world in providing
incentives to GPs to improve quality of care for patients.
"The latest figures for the Quality and Outcomes
Framework show that practices have continued to
deliver improvements in services for patients. But we
want to ensure that GP practices continue to deliver
more improvements to patient care, and the system
needs to evolve to support practices in achieving
even better outcomes for patients.
"Asking NICE to manage a more independent, open
and transparent process for reviewing QOF indicators
will make sure that we make the best use of our
annual investment in the scheme and continue to
support GPs in delivering the best care possible for
patients, allowing the QOF to adapt and respond to
the latest medical advances."
A full explanation of how the current scheme operates
and details of how to become involved in the
consultation can be downloaded from: http://
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/index.htm
35. Department of Health: Developing the
quality and outcomes framework - Proposals
for a new, independent process
Closing Date: 2 February 2008
Consultation seeking views on proposals for a new
independent and transparent process for recommending
quality outcome framework indicators.
For full consultation click here
36. DH: End of Life Care Strategy: Quality
Markers Consultation
Closing Date: 6 February 2009
The DoH has launched a consultation on Quality
Markers for End of Life Care which was promised in
the End of Life Care Strategy published in July.
The document is aimed at commissioners, performance
managers and providers of end of life care services,
from the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors.
For full report click here
37. Consultation on Statutory Guidance: The
roles and responsibilities of the lead member
for children's services and the director of
children's services
Closing Date: 10 February 2009
This consultation seeks views on updated statutory
guidance that explains the roles of the lead member
and director of children's services and how working
together as a team, they can be most effective in driving
clear improvements in outcomes for children and
young people.
For consultation go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/
conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1583
38. National Studies Consultation for Health
2009-10
Closing Date: 12 February 2009
Consultation covering the Commission’s proposed
studies programme for health for 2009-10.
It intends to seek views on its usefulness and appropriateness,
the scope and timing of individual studies
and the potential for overlap and collaboration with
others.
For full consultation click here
39. The Future of the Healthcare Scientist
workforce - Modernising Scientific Careers:
The Next Steps
Closing Date: 27 February 2009
This consultation document setting out proposals to
transform the future training and career pathways of
the healthcare science workforce.
The proposals were developed as the result of detailed
discussions with nearly 3,000 stakeholders and
as a UK initiative will be taken forward by the four
countries in partnership with all major stakeholders,
including patient groups, to ensure that the healthcare
science workforce is fit for the future in a rapidly
changing and evolving healthcare environment.
DoH welcome responses to the electronic consultation
from all with an interest in delivering high quality
care to patients, which is inextricably linked to the
future of the healthcare science workforce, and its
central role in supporting and delivering that care.
For full consultation click here
40. Creating a New Professional Regulator
for Pharmacy: Health care and associated
professions - The draft Pharmacy Order 2009
Closing Date: 9 March 2009
Consultation seeking views on proposals to create a
new regulator for pharmacy professionals and pharmacy
premises in England, Wales and Scotland.
For full consultation click here
41. CQC publishes consultation of reviews in
2009/10
Closing Date: 12 March 2009
On 18 December CQC launched a 12 week consultation
on its proposals for reviews in 2009/10.
The three types of review are:
• Periodic reviews assessing health and adult social
care commissioning by primary care trusts and
adult social care departments within councils
• Periodic reviews of health and adult social care
providers, such as hospitals and care homes
Special reviews and studies on particular aspects
of health and adult social care
The consultation document is available to download
from the CQC website. This consultation closes on
Thursday 12 March 2009.
More on the consultation of reviews in 2009/10
42. Government consults on use of 084 numbers
in the NHS
Closing Date: 31 March 2009
The NHS could be stopped from using telephone
numbers such as 084 in England, under proposals
set out in a public consultation.
Some people are currently having to pay more than
the equivalent cost of a local rate call when they telephone
their GP or other NHS services if they have
adopted a number from this range. A number of NHS
organisations, although still a small minority, have
started using 084 numbers in recent years.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"We are concerned that some people are paying
above the odds to contact the NHS. For people on
low incomes who need to contact their local doctor or
hospital regularly, those costs can soon mount up.
"We know that some people value the additional service
that 084 numbers can offer, but others object to
being charged more than the cost of a local call to
access NHS services. We receive regular complaints
from members of the public and parliamentarians
about this."
A copy of the 084 consultation booklet is available in
GP surgeries and hospitals, and online at:
For full consultation click here
43. NICE: Current consultations
To browse through consultations go to http://
www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=consultations.current
CSCI/Care Quality Commission
(w.e.f. 2009), CSSIW,
Healthcare Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
44. Improving the user experience of the services
directory
6 January 2009 – CSCI
CSCI says it has improved the look and layout of its
services directory to make it easier to find social care
services.
For full report click here
45. Healthcare Commission finds substantial
improvement in infection control at Maidstone
and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust
9 January 2009
Healthcare Commission has said that Maidstone and
Tunbridge Wells Trust must maintain momentum and
make further improvements.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/
newsandevents/mediacentre/pressreleases/
pressreleasesarchive.cfm?
cit_id=1579&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
46. NCA plans for the challenges of care
9 January 2009 – NCA
Chairman of the National Care Association has said
that “2009 will prove to be a very special year for the
care sector.”
“The launch of the Care Quality Commission in April
offers a new beginning and we are hopeful that the
new Commission will focus on the monitoring of outcomes
for people using the service and minimise bureaucracy.
This would be a huge step forward.”
For full report click here
47. Important information about letters we
send you
January 2009 - CSCI e-newsletter
CSCI will only send standard documents, such inspection
reports and registration letters, to people
who are registered with it and to the responsible individual.
Make sure you have arrangements in place if you
want an acting or unregistered person to respond on
your behalf.
Find out about the letters CSCI sends to you
48. New qualifications for managers and staff
in care homes for adults
January 2009 - CSCI e-newsletter
The Leadership and Management for Care Services
Award will replace the Registered Managers Award
(RMA). The RMA will remain a valid and relevant
qualification.
Find out about the new Leadership and Management for Care
Services Award
49. Best practice in nutritional care
January 2009 - CSCI e-newsletter
If you are responsible for the delivery of food services
and provide nutritional care to people in care
homes or other settings you may want to:
• attend a nutritional care workshop
• read the nutrition action plan mid year report
find out about best practice in nutritional care
Dementia
50. Dementia drug death risk warning
9 January 2009 – BBC News
A three-year study has been published in the Lancet
Neurology reporting a risk of early death in people
with dementia on sedatives long-term.
As many as 100,000 people in UK care homes with
dementia are routinely prescribed anti-psychotic
drugs for aggressiveness or agitation.
Ministers said they were currently reviewing the use
of the drugs in dementia care.
Current guidelines state that anti-psychotics can be
given to patients who are severely agitated or violent
for short periods of time, but recent figures suggest
the drugs are overused.
For full report click here
51. NICE end of life guidelines will not benefit
people with dementia
5 January 2009 – NCF
Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society
has commented on new guidelines issued by NICE
on life-extending treatments for people who are terminally
ill and not expected to live more than two
years
“End of life treatment is extremely important for all
people with a terminal disease. 1 in 3 people over 65
will die with dementia; it is unreasonable that these
people will not benefit from NICE's flexibility.”
“Whilst it is good that NICE is adopting some flexibility,
NICE's entire remit needs to be reviewed. Everyone
with a terminal condition deserves the best treatment
and care available to them. It needs to be about
quality care, not just extending life. People in the
early stages of Alzheimer's disease are still being
denied access to the only drug treatments available
to them.”
For full report click here
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
52. MSP's Relative Waits Eight Hours For
Hospital Bed
3 January 2009 – The Herald
The elderly mother-in-law of a Labour MSP waited for
eight hours on a hospital trolley at Monklands Hospital
before being found a bed as the hospital staff “struggled
to cope”.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2479635.0.0.php?utag=28804
53. Fury At Spy Plan For City NHS Car Parks
2 January 2009 – Evening Times
Some Glasgow hospital car parks will be installing spy
cameras to stop people breaking new rules on waiting
times.
For full report go to http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/
display.var.2478817.0.0.php?utag=28804
Wales
Nothing to report
Learning Disabilities
54. Hospital shamed over stroke victim left to
starve to death
9 January 2009 - The Times
See item 72 in NHS
Legislation Update
55. No. 3171 (W.284) The Health Act 2006
(Commencement No. 2) (Wales) Order 2008
9 January 2009 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Capacity
56. What Are the Mental Capacity Act Deprivation
of Liberty Safeguards? – Updated
15 December 2008 – DoH
A leaflet providing a brief general introduction to the
Mental Capacity Act deprivation of liberty safeguards
and has been specifically designed for care homes
and hospitals to help staff understand what the safeguards
will mean for them and for their service users.
For full report click here
57. Mum Dad Alzheimer’s and me
12 January 2009 - Channel 4, 20:0 hrs
Presented by Fiona Phillips looking after her own
father whom she moved from Wales to Hampshire.
Well presented and poignant.
Some bullet points
• Sheer draining, emotionally and physically for carers
(and some abuse they face but NOT in this
particular case)
• ‘Lottery’ variations in skill/availability of specialist
clinical teams
• Lack of proper training of GPs in diagnosis, and
dementia generally
• Dismissive attitude of many health professionals
(e.g. not interested in mild to moderate cases, ‘go
away and come back when really bad’)
• Absence of seamless service in providing support
(e.g. psychologists, nurses, social workers, OTs )
• Very limited respite services for carers and many
elderly left to fend for themselves, for spouses/
partners
• Generally very reactive clinical response (e.g.
leaving treatment late rather than addressing
early symptoms immediately with new medication
)
• The usual problems in sorting out care/funding
packages (who funds - Health or Social Services?)
How does the average carer cope?
• Incompetence of some bodies (e.g. registering
power of attorney but sending mail to old address
, miles away).
58. Damning death verdicts called for
9 January 2009—BBC News
A health watchdog should issue damning verdicts on
six deaths of vulnerable NHS patients, a charity has
said. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
is due to rule on the cases highlighted by
Mencap later this month. Last year an independent
inquiry into the deaths said laws to protect people
with learning disabilities were being ignored by the
NHS in England.
For full report click here
Mental Health
59. Talking therapies explained in handy new
guide
9 January 2009
The array of different psychological therapies available
in the UK is bewildering. From psychoanalysis
to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, people often have
no idea how to tell which treatment is right for
them. It can also be difficult for health professionals
to provide information on all the options involved.
The Mental Health Foundation has published
‘Talking therapies explained’, a quick and easy
guide for those wanting to find the most suitable therapy
for their needs. The booklet explains the types of
different therapies available and how they work, as
well as organisations listing reputable therapists.
The guide also addresses the accreditation and regulation
of therapists, as unscrupulous and poorly qualified
practitioners can be difficult to recognise. The
booklet is designed to help people looking for a therapist
in both private and public sectors.
According to the charity, the government’s program to
improve access to psychological therapies on the
NHS has only just begun so receiving therapy on the
NHS can still be a lengthy process with an average
wait of six months. Psychological therapy can not
only improve an individual’s mental health but also a
person’s ability to manage family life, relationships, a
job or an ongoing physical illness.
Celia Richardson, Campaigns Director at the Mental
Health Foundation, said:
“We hope that this resource will provide a much
needed helping hand for people lost in the fog trying
to find a therapist. Many people don’t know where to
begin. We also hope health professionals will be able
to use ‘Talking therapies explained’ when advising
people about the options available.”
For a copy of ‘Talking therapies explained’ telephone
the Mental Health Foundation on 020 7803
1101 or download it from www.mentalhealth.org.uk
60. Mental health and learning disabilities
contract under fire from Adass
7 January 2009 – Community Care
Sector leaders are warning that a new standard contract
for mental health and learning disability services
in England will fail to adequately support integration
between health and social care.
The Standard NHS Contract for Mental Health and
Learning Disabilities comes into effect in April for a
year and creates legally binding agreements between
care providers and primary care trust and local authority
commissioners, in order to commit them to
specific policy objectives and ensure accountability.
Existing arrangements are able to continue until April
2010 where contracts are well-established.
For full report click here
Miscellaneous
61. Civil servants get £40,000 home perk
11 January 2009 - The Sunday Times
Item about housing allowances to officials in the
NHS.
62. Why Swiss suicide trips will not be outlawed,
by the DPP
10 January 2009 - Daily Mail
Keir Starmer QC has signalled that families of the
gravely ill will not be prosecuted where they help
their relative to commit suicide abroad.
63. This blind faith in experts fails family justice
9 January 2009 - The Times
Camilla Cavendish writes about the need for professional
experts in family cases to be independent of
the parties rather than ‘hired guns for local authorities’
against the backdrop of the Sally Clark and Angela
Canning injustices and the evidence presented
by Prof Sir Roy Meadow.
64. Is it time to ditch your private medical
insurance?
9 January 2009 - The Times
Dr Mark Porter MBE, a GP who presents BBC Radio
4’s ‘Case Notes’ has become the ‘new doctor writing
a weekly column. This week Dr Porter considers
whether it is still the case that private medical insurance
(PMI) represents good value for money considering
that NHS waiting lists are reduced and hospital
infections such as MRSA on the retreat.
65. People’s Award for Dignity in Care 2009
opens
9 January 2009 – NCF
Nominations have been opened up for the brand new
People’s Award for Dignity in Care. The award has
been created as a way of saying thank you to exceptional
health and social care staff.
Anyone employed in care-giving is eligible, from
nurses and social workers, to hospital porters and
nursing home employees, providing they have gone
the extra mile to ensure dignity and respect in any
area of health and social care.
You can nominate someone by calling 0870 000
1100 or visiting the Dignity in Care website:
www.dignityincare.org.uk/ (opens new window)
Nominations will close on 6 March 2009 and then 10
regional finalists will be selected to go through to the
final in July where the winner and runners up will
meet Sir Michael Parkinson and Phil Hope, Minster
for Care Services.
For full report click here
66. CRB: Quarter of people know nothing of
safeguarding agency
8 January 2009 – Community Care
A survey for the CRB has found that over than
a quarter of people know nothing about the Criminal
Records Bureau six years after its creation, a survey
for the agency has found.
The Ipsos Mori study of 3,671 people, published yesterday,
found two-thirds of respondents did not have
a working knowledge of the CRB, which does not
advertise itself in the media.
For full report click here
67. Tendering in Walsall
7 January 2009 - West Midlands Care Association
Walsall PHASE 1 Residential & Nursing Care Services
Tender 2009
The tender will be for a maximum initial period, subject
to the phasing, of four years from the 1 April 2009
to 31 March 2013.
After the initial three year period, the Agreement will
be subject to review and may result in a possible further
extension at the end of year four.
Planned programme dates are as follows:
Phase 1 (19 December 2008) NOW REVISED TO
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009
· Older People Dementia (EMI)
· Older People (65yrs+) not covered by the other
categories (OP)
· End of Life Care / Terminally Ill (TI)
Phase 2 (27 February 2009)
· Mental Health excluding a learning disability or dementia
(MD)
· Drug Abuse/Problem excluding alcoholism (D)
· Sensory Impairment (SI)
Phase 3 (31 March 2009)
· Learning Disability (LD)
· Physical Disability (PD)
· Alcohol Dependency (A)
· Dementia (DE)
· Adults (65yrs-) not covered by the other categories.
· Other not covered by Older People (65yrs+) in
Phase 1
Our feedback to the Tender Team, following our
meeting at the Beverley Hotel was very well received
and all the points we had identified were taken on
board and integrated into the revised forms.
Dialogue has been positive and constructive and we
look forward to continuing this work with the Tender
Team. We’ll call another meeting as soon as the
Team confirms it’s new Phase 1 dates.
68. Volunteers welcome criminal record
checks to protect the vulnerable
7 January 2009
The myth that volunteers are put off by Criminal Records
Bureau (CRB) checks has been destroyed by
research which shows nine out of ten people are in
favour of them.
The research published shows 91% support checks
for anyone working or volunteering with children and
vulnerable adults.
The research found:
* 90% say anyone working or volunteering with vulnerable
groups should be checked;
* more than 70% think the CRB helps protect the
vulnerable; and
* 75% are more likely to use a business if staff have
been CRB checked
The CRB has issued more than 18 million checks
stopping more than 80,000 unsuitable people working
with children and vulnerable adults.
69. Reputation as a leader on disability rights
questioned
5 January 2009 – NCF
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has
warned that delays in ratifying the UN Disability Convention
risk damaging the UK's reputation as a leader
on disability rights.
The Commission is writing to the Secretaries of State
for four government departments, asking them to explain
and justify the large number of reservations they
are requesting from the UN Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities.
For full report click here
70. Patients to have a say in improving GP
services
5 January 2009
More than five million patients in England are being
asked for their views on how to improve family doctor
services in a new survey launched by the Government
today. Results from the national survey will be
used to drive changes to GP services and rewards for
GPs who provide fast, convenient services.
This is the third year DoH has run the GP patient survey,
which focuses on patients' experiences of visiting
a GP.
Patients' answers will continue to set the level of payments
made to their GP practice for delivering access
to GP appointments in two working days and for
booking appointments in advance. The expanded
survey also means the local NHS can link GP pay
more closely to their patients' views if this will improve
care for patients.
For further details on the survey, including a copy of
the new survey questionnaire see http://www.gppatient.
co.uk
71. Eye on Wales
January 2009 - Healthcare Business
Mario Kreft, chairman of Care Forum Wales, writes
about the consultation underway in Wales about how
long term care will be funded (Ed. This mirrors the
exercise by Department of Health which began in
June 2008 ahead of the forthcoming Green Paper).
Care Forum Wales has been invited by the
Welsh Assembly to be involved in the process.
The consultation ends in March 2009 – you can contribute
to the process at www.payingforcareinwales.net
NHS
72. Hospital shamed over stroke victim left to
starve to death
9 January 2009 - The Times
Sorry, says hospital that let man starve to
death
10 January 2009 - Daily Mail
The Kingston Hospital NHS Trust has issued an apology
for allowing Martin Ryan,43, to starve to death
while in hospital in 2005. Mr Ryan, who had Down’s
Syndrome, suffered a stroke and lost the ability to
swallow.
Ann Abraham, Parliamentary and Health Service
Ombudsman, is expected to issue a report into the
death next month.
Ed. This is astounding. How many more deaths
will there be before the NHS accords people with
learning disabilities the same rights and treatment
as everyone else? MENCAPS report ‘Death
by Indifference’ set out the details of the unnecessary
deaths of six people with learning disability,
including that of Mr Ryan.
Government has instigated the Dignity Champions
scheme which is intended to raise awareness.
73. NHS patients face indignity of mixed-sex
hospital wards
9 January 2009 - The Times
Men and women in hospital are still being treated on
mixed-sex wards with little or no segregation, despite
government promises to improve privacy for patients,
the Conservative Party says.
74. Mixed-sex wards 'blighting NHS'
9 January 2009 – BBC News
For full report click here
75. The King’s Fund response to Alan Johnson’s
statement on new PCT funding allocations
9 December 2008 – King’s Fund
The King’s Fund’s Chief Executive Niall Dickson has
commented on the publication of new funding allocations
for primary care trusts (PCTs) in England,
which will calculate how much each part of the country
will receive in NHS funding over the next two financial
years:
“It’s clear from these figures that local health services
need to brace themselves for leaner times ahead.
The NHS has benefited from record levels of investment
during the prosperous times and now needs to
prepare itself for life on a tighter budget.”
“PCTs face an overall real terms funding increase of
3.9 per cent next year, followed by a 2.7 per cent increase
in 2010/11. This compares to growth rates
after inflation of around 7.4 per cent since 2002/3 to
2007/8. This was not unexpected, and the NHS will
have to demonstrate greater efficiencies and value
for money, especially as government spending from
2011 will without doubt be less generous still.”
For full report click here
76. Religion or Belief: A practical guide for
the NHS
9 January 2009 – DoH
The Department of Health has issued guidance to
assist NHS organisations to implement and comply
with the requirements of legislation on religion or belief,
understand the role of religion or belief in the
context of healthcare and integrate this knowledge
into single equality schemes.
For full report click here
77. Consultant who broke data rules loses
appeal
9 January 2009
A hospital trust has rejected the appeal of a consultant
who was sacked for gross misconduct after transferring
patient records to a community diabetes clinic.
Shirine Boardman led the establishment of the Apnee
Sehat clinic project in Leamington Spa in 2007, while
employed by South Warwickshire General Hospitals
trust, and with the support of NHS Warwickshire.
The clinic was set up as a 12-month pilot research
project providing help and advice to the Asian community.
It received several national awards and was
visited by Prince Charles and national clinical director
for primary care David Colin-Thomé.
However, the project was not continued and last July
Dr Boardman was dismissed by the hospital trust for
gross misconduct.
Confidential information
The trust announced it had upheld its original decision
following an appeal. It said in a statement: "In
February 2008, Dr Boardman transferred over 80 patient
records without patient or trust consent from an
audit database to the Apnee Sehat organisation.
"The database was never intended to be used to contact
patients in this manner and contained patient
identifiable confidential information.
"This disclosure of confidential patient information
went against explicit, repeated, consistent advice not
to do so without individual patient consent. It was also
in breach of guidelines on disclosure within the NHS.
Apology
"The database included records relating to a number
of deceased patients and, together with other patients,
at least one deceased patient's relative was
contacted by Apnee Sehat.
"When the matter came to light, we wrote to the patients
concerned to apologise, explain the circumstances
in which their confidentiality was breached
and tell them about the action we had taken."
Some supporters of the project had called for Dr
Boardman to be reinstated.
78. NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting
times figures
9 January 2009
NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures,
30 November 2008
The key points from the latest release are:
Inpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over the 26 weeks
standard for inpatient admission at the end of November
2008 was 56 (compared to the total of
551,000).
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 13 weeks at the
end of November 2008 was 32,900, a decrease of
7,900 (19.4%) from October 2008, and a fall of
14,500 (30.6%) from November 2007.
Outpatient Waiting times
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over the 13 weeks
standard for a first outpatient appointment following
GP referral at the end of November 2008 was 235
(compared to the total of 857,000). Of these 235, 46
were English residents waiting for appointments in
Welsh hospitals.
* The number of patients, for whom English commissioners
are responsible, waiting over 8 weeks at the
end of November 2008 was 39,000, a decrease of
3,000 (7.1%) from October 2008, but a rise of 8,600
(28.4%) from November 2007.
Tables are available
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/
Performancedataandstatistics/
HospitalWaitingTimesandListStatistics/index.htm
79. BMA head wins polyclinic contract
8 January 2009 – BBC News
The King’s Fund’s Chief Executive Niall Dickson is
part of a consortium that is to run one of the polyclinics
his organisation has campaigned against.
The British Medical Association has strongly opposed
the super-surgeries being set up across England.
But it has now emerged BMA chairman Dr Hamish
Meldrum is part of a group of doctors that have been
appointed to run a clinic in East Riding in Yorkshire.
For full report click here
80. Records Management: NHS code of practice
- Parts one and two
8 January 2009 – DoH
Newly issued code of practice as a guide to the required
standards of practice in the management of
records for those who work within or under contract to
NHS organisations in England. It is based on current
legal requirements and professional best practice.
Part one was published on 5 April 2006. Part two was
published on 8 January 2009.
For full report click here
81. New Health and Social Care Commissioner
appointed for London
8 January 2009
Ann Lloyd has been appointed to the post of Health
and Social Care Commissioner for London at the Appointments
Commission.
As the Commissioner for London, Ann will be responsible
for ensuring that the best possible people from
all sections of our society are recruited to serve as
Chairs and Non-Executive Directors on NHS bodies
in the Greater London area through a transparent,
rigorous and effective selection process. Ann will also
provide pastoral support and mentoring to those appointed
and will participate in the Appointments Commission's
training activities. In addition, Ann will undertake
the lead Commissioner role for a number of
national health and social care bodies.
Ann will be taking up her post in February 2009. The
term of the appointment is four years and will end in
January 2013. The remuneration for the position is
£31,059 per annum. This appointment has been
made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public
Appointments' Code of Practice.
82. NHS Referral To Treatment (RTT) times
data October 2008
8 January 2009
Main Points
* Data is being published on Referral to Treatment
(RTT) times for patients whose 18 week clock
stopped during October 2008.
* Data for admitted patients (patients whose 18 week
clock stopped with an inpatient/ day case admission)
has been published each month since January 2007
on an unadjusted basis.
* Data for admitted patients (patients whose 18 week
clock stopped with an inpatient/ day case admission)
has been published each month since March 2008 on
an adjusted basis.
* Data for non-admitted patients (patients whose 18
week clock stopped during the month for reasons
other than an inpatient/day case admission) and incomplete
RTT times for patients whose 18 week
clock is still running has been published each month