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BHCR 2009 Vol 4 Issue 05
Brunswicks Healthcare Review 2009 Volume 4 Issue 05

Editorial

Keith is enjoying a well earned break in sunny Sri

Lanka so I have the pleasure of editing BHCR in his

absence! Keith, being the workaholic that he is left

an article on the important House of Lords judgment

considering the PoVA scheme and the effect of

placing individuals on the provisional list without

having given them an opportunity to be heard so

you'll have to wait until next week to feel the full force

and effect of having me at the helm!

On 12 January 2009 I spoke at the Action on Elder

Abuse Conference considering the case for

legislation to strengthen the protection afforded to

vulnerable adults. I was asked to speak on the

provider's perspectives on Adult Abuse issues and

why local authorities sometimes get adult protection

so wrong.

If you want to listen to my remarks and the debate I

sought to engender amongst a largely local authority

audience you can download the podcast.

There are many many ways of downloading the

podcast but the 3 easiest are:

direct download from our hosts at

www.brunswicks.libsyn.com;

direct download from our website

www.brunswicks.eu; or downloading through a

podcast aggregator such as iTunes. Simply search

for "Andrew Dawson" or “Brunswicks."

Andrew W Dawson

This week’s article

The House of Lords has heard appeals brought by RCN nurses who were placed on the provisional PoVA

list. Their appeals challenged the PoVA scheme on the basis that they were placed on the provisional PoVA list and thus effectively prevented from continuing in their chosen careers with all the obvious effects on their earning and the ability to pay their mortgages without having had a proper opportunity to be heard. This they said was a breach of their human rights. At the risk of giving the game away the House of Lords agreed with them! At the risk of courting controversy I am always pleased to see our Judges standing up for civil liberties!

To read article click here.

Parliament

HoC – 5 Feb 2009

Adjournment - Prejudice and mental health - Mr

Charles Walker

Next

Abuse

1. No Secrets review must focus on abuse by

family carers

26 January 2009 – NCF

Researchers are warning that a government safeguarding

adults review will be “ineffective” if it does

not take into account abuse of older people by family

carers.

The Department of Health is currently consulting on

changes to its No Secrets guidance on the protection

of vulnerable adults.

For full report click here

Business News

Nothing to report

Care Homes

2. Charging for residential care: Personal

Expenses Allowance

27 January 2009 – DoH

Draft guidance issued by the Department of Health

means that councils will be allowed to pass on a percentage

of the cost of services to personal budget

users.

For full report click here

3. Charging for Residential Care

27 January 2009 – DoH

A document assessing several factors influencing the

charges made for residential care, including personal

expense allowances.

For full report click here

Case Reports

Law Reports

Nothing to report

Disciplinary cases

4. Sacked nurse settles with trust

28 January 2009 – BBC News

Karen Reissmann, the nurse formerly fired from her

NHS Trust for speaking publicly about her fears for

privatisation has accepted an out-of-court settlement.

She had claimed unfair dismissal by her employers,

Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust,

which sacked her for gross misconduct.

Both parties reached a private agreement midway

through her employment tribunal hearing.

For full report click here

5. Social worker pleased to be removed from

register

28 January 2009 – Community Care

The General Social Care Council is defending itself

after being accused of misusing its regulatory powers

by holding a hearing into the conduct of a social

worker who wanted to be removed from the social

care register.

For full report click here

6. Baby death official is struck off

26 January 2009 – BBC News

Eleni Cordingly has been struck off for showing

“extremely poor judgement” in her dealings with a

case in which a 13-month-old boy was later murdered.

A conduct hearing was told she did not follow child

protection procedures in the case of Aaron Gilbert.

For full report click here

Cases in the news

7. Care accused 'questioned nurse'

29 January 2009 – BBC News

Nurse Andrea Garrick, along with care assistants,

Jodie Atkinson and Danielle Schofield are currently

accused of neglecting an elderly woman.

Ms Atkinson told the court that she twice asked Ms

Garrick whether the procedure of sitting the elderly

patient on a commode of hot water was safe.

For full report click here

8. Care home boss accused of murders

28 January 2009 – BBC News

Rachel Baker, 44, is accused in connection with the

deaths of three elderly residents at a care home in

Somerset. The co-manager has been charged with

murdering Francis Hay, Marion Alder and Lucy Cox at

Parkfields care home near Glastonbury.

For full report click here

9. Bug scandal boss 'made scapegoat'

27 January 2009 – BBC News

Bug scandal boss fights for cash

26 January 2009 – BBC News

Rose Gibb, the former boss of Maidstone and Tunbridge

Wells NHS Trust in Kent where 90 people died

is asking the High Court to uphold her £250,000 payoff.

The trust negotiated the £250,000 deal but withheld

£175,000 after being told not to pay it by the Government.

For full report click here

For full report click here

10. Care home patient was 'neglected'

26 January 2009 – BBC News

Leeds Crown Court heard that Violet Smith, 87-

years-old suffered third degree burns when care

home staff sat her on a commode filled with hot water.

Mrs Smith suffered from dementia and a patient

at a specialist care home in Batley at the time.

Andrea Garrick, Jodie Atkinson and Danielle

Schofield deny the charge of wilfully neglecting Mrs

Smith.

For full report click here

Children

11. City must improve child services

30 January 2009 – BBC News

Birmingham City Council has been given the ultimatum

to improve its children's services within one year

after 15 children died through abuse or neglect since

2005.

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said she was

"very concerned" after Ofsted inspectors said four

out of five cases were inadequately dealt with.

For full report click here

12. 390,000 to access child database

26 January 2009 – BBC News

The Conservative party has said that a child protection

database containing the contact details for all

under 18-year-olds in England is "another expensive

data disaster waiting to happen".

The ContactPoint database will be accessible to

390,000 staff and aims to improve information sharing

between professionals working with children.

For full report click here

13. Baby P council pleads for staff

26 January 2009 – BBC News

Peter Lewis, Haringey Council's new children's services

director has written an appeal to other local authorities

asking for help with a staffing crisis.

He said the council needed skilled staff to address a

"pinch point" in assessing suspected abuse cases but

most social services departments at other authorities

say they are struggling because of the Baby P case.

For full report click here

Conferences & Courses

14. 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:

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

15. Improving Nutrition within Primary Care

The National Reporting and Learning Service, a division

of the National Patient Safety Agency, will be holding a

series of workshops to raise awareness of nutrition as a

safety issue within Primary Care.

The workshops will be run in partnership with the Royal

College of Nursing and the WRVS and will aim to identify

the barriers to providing nutritional care within Primary

Care environments and will highlight the key safety

issues related to the provisional of nutritional care.

Delegates will have opportunity to explore the current

provision of food services to their client group and to

learn about areas of good practice and innovation in

improving the health and well-being of service users and

individuals.

There will be five workshops which will take place

across England and Wales on the following dates:

11 February 2009 – The Wellcome Collection Centre –

London

19 February 2009 – De Vere Heritage University Arms

– Cambridge

05 March 2009 – The Ramside Hall Hotel – Durham

Who should attend?

The workshops are intended for all members of the

healthcare team that are responsible for the delivery

food services and nutritional care to people across a

wide variety of settings, from care homes to an individuals

own home.

This could include care home managers, community

matrons, caterers, dieticians, speech and language

therapists, district nurses and commissioners.

Spaces are limited to 30 delegates at each venue.

To find out more or to register to attend please contact

Gloria Taplin on 020 7927 9564 or via e-mail at gloria.

taplin@npsa.nhs.uk.

16. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF URGENT

AND EMERGENCY CARE

17th February 2009 – Central London

Primary care commissioners are now tasked with

ensuring a successful strategy to enable the new

vision for a single point of access for 24/7 urgent

care. Opportunities for independent providers to

provide services are booming with an estimated 40

new contracts emerging in this financial year.

As the urgent and emergency care sector rapidly develops,

requirements for new services, new systems

and new providers are increasing. This conference

examines the raft of new primary initiatives and

aimed at reducing inequality, accelerating access and

promoting innovation in urgent care. The programme

addresses how providers and investors can to

achieve these new requirements and adapt quickly in

order to benefit from the expanding market.

Expert guidance will be offered on developing a

strong business case for your urgent care investment

and improving your commercial acumen within the

NHS. The programme will address the following key

concerns for investors:

The Department of Health vision for urgent care

Reasons for private sector investment in urgent care

Commissioning world class urgent and emergency

care

Driving improvements in urgent care in primary care

Building a business case for out-of-hours care provision

Towards world-class services in ambulatory care

Collaborating within urgent care and across external

care services

Working creatively with relevant agencies to improve

care outcomes

Improving public access to urgent and emergency

care

Contributors include:

Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director,

Emergency Care Access, Department of Health

Rick Stern, Primary Care Foundation and special advisor

in primary care management to the NHS Alliance

James Vallance, Urgent Care Policy Manager, Service

Design Division, Directorate of Commissioning

and System Management, Department of Health

Eric Peacock, Retired Chief Executive, Northern Doctors

Urgent Care

If you would like further details or to book a place at

these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk

or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or

email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk

17. Meeting the challenges of practice-based

commissioning

Thursday 19 February 2009, 10.00am–4.15pm,

London

Practice-based commissioning is a major strand of

recent NHS reform policy in England, offering an opportunity

to shape clinical outcomes and drive innovation

through service provision. This conference will

examine the next stage in the evolution of practicebased

commissioning, engaging general practitioners

and primary care trusts to look at devolving budgets,

accountability and the challenges of making this work

in practice.

We are pleased to confirm our keynote panel speaker

will be Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning,

Department of Health.

What works?

The conference will include case studies, giving examples

of how practice-based commissioning is currently

working. Experiences will be shared from a clinician/

GP holding model, a community/social enterprise

model and also a private-sector facilitated

model of practice-based commissioning.

Key factors for success

Discussion groups at the conference will give delegates

the opportunity to question how the following

factors are important in making practice-based commissioning

work successfully:

use of data and creating reliable data

engagement of GPs and clinicians

governance and accountability, specifically roles and

responsibilities in the commissioning process.

Find out more

To download the full programme please visit our

website. Places are limited at this event, so book

early to secure your place. Book online now.

18. NAPA City Centre Training Days

1. Course Title: Activities for Mixed Abilities

This course will cover how to adapt activities to cater

for residents with poor memory/confusion or those

living with a dementia. 50 students per course.

Students will learn:

1. How to recognise different cognitive ability levels.

2. How to match activities to participants.

3. How to adapt ‘activities’ to meet individual needs.

COURSE DATES LOCATION

19th February 2009 Cambridge, Romsey Mill,

CB13BZ

22nd April 2009 Newcastle, Civic Centre

11th June 2009 Aberdeen, Arts Centre, King Street

16th July 2009 Cardiff, Star Centre, Splott, Cardiff

23rd September 2009 Leeds, Venue to be confirmed

7th October 2009 London, St Brides Institute, Off

Fleet Street

For further details and information about a range of

other training contact Sue Trischitta, NAPA, Bondway

Commercial Centre, 5th Floor Unit 5.12, 71 Bondway,

London SW8 1SQ (Please mark the envelope Training

Days 2009).

Tel. 020 7078 9375 Fax: 020 7735 9634

Email: sue@napa-activities.co.uk

19. Capita’s Annual Disability Forum

Improving Services and Embedding Equality

Monday 23 February 2009 - Central London

Bookings are now being taken for this event, which is

CPD certified and supported by RADAR and Action

for Children.

The course is of relevance to those involved with Disability

Services and Disability Equality.

For conference agenda and booking form please

click here or if the link doesn’t work please ask for a

brochure via email at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk

THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU

MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.

Chair: Dr Philippa Russell CBE, Chair, The Prime

Minister's Standing Commission on Carers and former

Disability Rights Commissioner

Our speakers include:

Paul Zickel, Chair, Civil Service Disability Network

Caroline Ellis, Deputy Chief Executive, Radar

Caroline Tomlinson, Consumer Support Director, In

Control

Barbara Waters, Chief Executive, Skill

Greer Nicholson, Commissioning Manager Transport

and Concessionary Travel, London Borough of

Newham

Tasman Oxlade, Programme Director – Self Directed

Support, Essex County Council

Belinda Milrod, Housing Manager, Aspire

Capita’s Disability Forum brings together disabled

service providers and equality and diversity professionals

from across the public sector, to address how

to successfully improve service delivery for disabled

children and adults as well as fulfil your equality duty.

Designed and delivered around feedback from key

disability stakeholders and practitioners, this conference

explores key areas including:

Sustaining a disability equality culture in service

provision and fulfilling your equality duty

Meaningful involvement of disabled people in

service design and delivery

Making the most of personalised support services

Housing and associated support needs

Self directed support and managing individual

budgets

Managing transitions between services, and from

childhood to adulthood

Support for disabled people to lead fulfilling and

independent lives

This conference will benefit delegates responsible for

delivering better services for disabled people as well

as those with responsibility for ensuring that your

organisation is continuing to meet the equality duty.

Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with a

wide range of experts, practitioners and colleagues

and take away ideas on improving standards for disabled

service users and employees.

Benefits of attending

Find out more about how you can improve services

for disabled young people and adults

through good practice examples

Identify how to take the next step to embed disability

equality throughout your organisation

through a practical interactive workshop

Enhance your ability to involve and include disabled

users in shaping and delivering your services

Hear innovative ideas to enhance personalised

support services

Take part in focused sessions to learn more about

how to help disabled people lead independent

lives

Learn more about how you can ensure a smooth

transition from young peoples’ services to adult

services and maximise opportunities for young disabled

people

Find out the latest developments in self directed

support and individual budgets

Get to grips with tools to mainstream disability

equality and enhance service provision across

key areas of need

You are strongly advised to book now as places are

limited.

Spaces can be booked on this event either by filling

in and faxing the booking form on the final page of

the brochure (For agenda and booking form please

click here) to 0870 165 8989, or by e-mailing me

directly with the delegate details.

Alternatively you can book online by clicking here

and use booking ref code: TSDE. If you have any

questions or difficulties please call Dave Eastman on

0207 202 0597 or email dave.eastman@capita.co.uk

Please read Terms and Conditions

THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU

MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.

20. A Capita Interactive Seminar

Health Promotion: Improving Well-Being and

Reducing Health Inequalities

Please Click Here for the brochure and booking

form

Friday 27th February 2009 – Central London

Booking reference code is TSDE

Chair and Seminar Leader:

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive, Royal

Society for Public Health

Capita’s seminar provides strategic and practical

ideas to reduce inequalities and improve health outcomes.

This event brings together, Primary Care Trusts, local

authorities and health providers, to effectively unite

your agendas, and help meet your 2010 health inequality

targets and LAA objectives, through improving

partnerships and implementing proven successes

Practical presentations from award winning PCTs and

councils will be followed by group discussions to

share best practice. Participants will take away ideas

on how to work more closely to identify solutions for

preventing ill health and promoting healthier public

lives.

Our expert speakers include:

Steve Feast, Senior Advisor, Health & Wellbeing, Department

of HealthCathy Warlow, Head of Health Improvement

and Partnerships, NHS Sefton

Joanna Saunders, Public Health Specialist, NHS

Rotherham

Jeremy Wight, Director of Public Health, NHS Sheffield

Nicola Baboneau, Chair, Hackney and the City’s

Teenage Pregnancy Partnership

Eddie D’Silva, Portfolio Manager - Wellbeing in the

East, Eastern Development Centre

Chris French, Health Improvement Specialist, North

East Essex PCT

Places can be booked by filling out the booking form

on the final page of the event brochure, or by emailing

the delegate details to me directly at

dave.eastman@capita.co.uk

Alternatively you can book online by clicking here and

using Booking Reference Code TSDE.

21. The impact of personal health budgets

on managing long-term conditions

Wednesday 4 March 2009, 9.30am–1.00pm

The King's Fund, London

The personalisation of health and social care has

been a key theme in recent government health policy.

Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review highlighted

the importance for patients to have the power to decide

the nature of their own support including moves

towards personal health budgets. The Queen's

speech also made reference to the Health Bill, and

within this Bill there is a focus on developing ways to

give patients greater personalisation over the health

services they receive. Following the pilots of individual

budgets in social care, in 2009 the Department of

Health will pilot personal health budgets that will enable

patients to have greater control over the service

they receive.

The keynote speaker is Stephen Johnson, Head of

Long Term Conditions Team, Department of

Health, who will focus on delivering services for people

with long-term conditions.

Our event will give health professionals and managers

in both primary care and local authorities the

chance to:

hear the latest evidence around personal health

budgets and the potential impact this will have on

managing long-term conditions

access case studies looking at how professional

relationships will need to be developed to ensure

personal health budgets are implemented effectively

discuss the practical challenges involved in developing

personal health budgets.

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.

22. INVESTING IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL

TOURISM: OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS AND DEVELOPMENTS

24th March 2009 – Central London

By 2010 medical travel is expected to be a £23 billion

business, with over 780 million patients seeking care

outside their principal country of residence. Many

countries tourism income increasingly depends on it

and its impact on the organisation of national and

international healthcare is increasing.

It is a huge worldwide business, but until now, information

has been aimed at patients. This groundbreaking

conference will investigate from a business

perspective what is happening now and what is likely

to happen worldwide in different types of medical and

health tourism.

This event addresses the key questions:

Why is it happening? Where is demand coming from?

Where are people going? Who is offering or planning

to offer services? What is the relationship to insurance?

& What are the risks and problems?

It could help you:

Access this market

Stay ahead of the opposition

Identify new income areas

Understand the regulations and avoid the associated

risks

Gain from this developing sector

Promote your business

It could stop you:

Missing out on a growing market

Providing the wrong type of service

Missing out on deals

Losing market share and existing customers

Making assumptions based on inaccurate information

Using unregulated intermediaries

Contributors include:

Ken Anderson, Managing Director, UBS

Keith Pollard, Managing Director, TreatmentAbroad

Dipa Jethwa, Founder, The Taj Medical Group

If you would like further details or to book a place at

these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk

or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or

email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk

23. 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

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15

June 2009, this is in its 4th Year now and

we want to make it an important date in

everyone’s diaries , please join with us in

doing an event on the day and helping

raise awareness on Elder Abuse.

For more information email

worldelderabuseday@elderabuse.org.uk

or call 0208 765 7000.

Action on Elder Abuse has launched a

series of exciting challenge events, including

skydiving, trekking and running.

If you've ever wanted to trek the Inca

Trail, freefall from 10,000 feet or sledge

across Lapland with huskies (to name

but a few), visit www.elderabuse.org.uk

for more information.

24. Shaping PCT provider services: the future

of primary and community care

Tuesday 31 March 2009, 9.30am–4.45pm

The King's Fund, London

The NHS Next Stage Review has encouraged the

separation of PCT commissioning and provider functions.

The review also encourages PCTs to support

greater choice and contestability of provision within

primary and community health services and greater

service integration. A range of organisational and

governance models are now possible for community

health services, which include becoming a social enterprise

or creating an integrated care organisation.

With the Department of Health shortly publishing

guidance on future organisational forms and governance

for PCT provider services, we are delighted to

announce our keynote speaker, Bob Ricketts, Director

of System Management and New Enterprise,

Department of Health. He will share the Department

of Health's current policy direction on system reform

with a focus on the role of commissioners and PCT

providers.

For commissioners, managers and health professionals

working in primary care, this conference focuses

on moving towards implementation of changes and

will:

explore the strategic challenges facing community

health services

share the latest thinking on system reform and PCT

provider services

consider the issues posed by estates within community

health services who should own and manage

it?

look at the organisational options and the key factors

that need to be taken into account when deciding on

a preferred option.

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.

25. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar

The Future of Dentistry

Morning, 31st March 2009

Westminster, London SW1

With

Dr Barry Cockcroft

Chief Dental Officer for England, Department of

Health

Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online

This seminar will examine issues around the future of

dentistry, the right to NHS dental treatment and dental

contracts. It is timed to take place as the gross

income protection scheme ends for dentists in England.

Bringing together policy makers from Government

and Parliament with key stakeholders to discuss how

current strategies may change dental care in the UK

and how they can be implemented across the PCT

network.

Sessions will look at:

Recommendations for improving the dental contracts

and funding allocation;

Addressing regional differences in oral health and

barriers to participation;

The changing role of dental practitioners;

The role of the private sector; and

Dental practice in Scotland in comparison with the

UK.

Dr Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer for England,

Department of Health has agreed to deliver a

keynote address at this seminar.

Further speakers are expected to be confirmed

shortly.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

26. 2nd April 2009 - the Wakefield & District

Annual

Safeguarding Conference at Fieldhead Education

Centre

Keynote speaker - LEO QUIGLEY is Service Manager

for Safeguarding Adults with Sheffield City

Council, a position he has held since January 2004,

and is currently advising the Department of Health on

the review of No Secrets. Leo was previously Joint

Lead Officer for Older People at Gateshead Primary

Care Trust, where he was responsible for coordinating

the joint response to the National Service

Framework for Older People.

Leo has published several articles on adult safeguarding

in Community Care and in the Journal of

Adult Protection, and is a member of the Journal of

Adult Protection’s Editorial Board. He was a member

of the Department of Health Steering Group which

produced the No secrets section 7 guidance document

in 2000, and was also a member of the ADSS

Editorial Board which wrote the Safeguarding Adults

document launched in 2005.

Leo qualified as a social worker in 1976. He was

awarded the degree of M.Sc. in Public Sector Management

from Aston University Business School in

1996.

For the full programme and to register, please email

hgardner@fpld.org.uk or visit our website http://

www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/our-work/community-andinclusion/

life-in-the-community/building-community-networks/

27. Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar

Primary Care, Polyclinics and

the Future of the General Practitioner

Morning, 21st April 2009 in Central London

With Ben Dyson, Director of Primary Care, Commissioning

and System Management Directorate, Department

of Health

Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online

Seminar

Timed to coincide with the launch of the first Polyclinics

in London, this seminar will focus on the changing

face of primary care delivery, and the future of the

GP.

Bringing together policy makers from Government

and Parliament with key stakeholders, discussion is

expected to focus on the future of primary care, GP

led health centres, Polyclinics and the role of the independent

and third sectors.

Planned sessions will examine:

The Department of Health’s policies to improve

access to GP services, the role of new GP health

centres, and the conclusions of and impact of

Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review in relation to

primary care;

What will be done to ensure that new services

improve the standard of primary care while maintaining

the relationship between a patient and

their GP practice?

How far should GP services be integrated with

other community-based health services (e.g. diagnostic

services)?

The role of the independent sector and third sector

in providing primary care; and

The next steps for improving primary care.

Speakers and Delegates

Ben Dyson, Director of Primary Care, Commissioning

and System Management Directorate, Department

of Health has agreed to deliver a keynote address

at this seminar. Further speakers are expected

to be confirmed shortly.

We expect attendees and speakers to be a senior

and informed group numbering around 140, including

Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government

officials involved in this area of public policy,

charities, interest groups, academia and other related

industries, together with representatives of the trade

and national press.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

28. Patient Safety Congress 2009 - Full programme

30 April - 1 May 2009, ICC Birmingham

Last year's Congress was about making the case for

patient safety. The programme this year has been developed

to help you get down to work. It provides

the information you need to be able to deliver improvement.

The Congress is a rich opportunity to share the

experiences of those that are successfully tackling patient

safety across the globe. Whatever your role, or

area of interest within patient safety, you will find content

designed specifically for you.

Keep up to date with the latest programme developments

by signing up for the Patient Safety Congress EBulletin.

Speakers will be added over the next 2 months. To be

the first to receive speaker and programme updates

sign up to the Patient Safety Congress E-Bulletin.

Should you need any specific questions answered

please complete the call me form and one of the team

will contact you directly.

29. Dignity is More Than Just a Word

Perceptive professionals embedding dignity

and respect in a care environment

Monday 11 May 2009, Cardiff

The workshop is focused on fine tuning communication

and listening skills to enrich relationships between

patients/clients, relatives and carers and colleagues.

Email for further information

We welcome your comments and suggestions. If

you have any information that you would like to share

with others please let us know and we will be happy

to circulate it in the next newsletter.

A Dignified Revolution, Britannia House, High

Street, Cowbridge, CF71 7AD

A straightforward way to implement the End of Life

Care strategy in your care home

Over 500,000 people die each year in England. On

16 July 2008 the Government launched its End of Life

Care strategy to improve the quality of care for people

at the end of their life. As a Care Home Manager,

you are required under the National Minimum Standards

to have policies and procedures in place for

palliative care.

Yet Care Home Managers tell us that many staff feel

ill-equipped to handle end of life care and can panic,

resulting in a patient avoidably dying alone in a hospital,

against their wishes. In order to help Care Home

Managers implement the End of Life Care strategy,

we have now developed:

Tools and Support for Assessing Palliative Care

Needs:

Practical checklists, policies, information sheets and

training on CD-ROM

With this practical CD-ROM and accompanying handbook,

you will be able to:

Develop a Resident Plan using our assessment

checklists for: care planning review; physical, learning

disabilities assessment; religious or spiritual needs

assessment.

Save money on training with our PowerPoint presentations

covering key issues such as: the Mental

Capacity Act; advance care planning and recognising

the end of life phase.

Provide dignity and privacy to residents and ensure

that residents are treated with respect with our

worked example policy on dignity and privacy in end

of life care.

Understand the law regarding end of life care with

our easy-to-use guidance on key issues such as the

Mental Capacity Act 2005 and 'do not attempt to resuscitate'

orders.

Reduce the number of emergency hospital admissions

with our needs assessment checklist, advance

care planning record and statement of wishes and

preferences.

Provide the best service for dying residents and

good care after death and ensure that residents and

their families are treated with sensitivity and respect

with our worked example policies on: resuscitation;

equality in end of life care; palliative care; and our

handout on making choices about palliative care.

Price P&P VAT Total Price

£99.99 £7.75 £16.16 £123.90

For more information, a full list of contents or to order,

please click here.

Alternatively, call 020 8941 8589 or email

info@forumbusinessmedia.co.uk

30. Westminster Briefing entitled Keeping

Children Safe: Working In Partnership to Improve

the Systemwhich will be hosted by The

House Magazine on Thursday, 21st May 2009

in Westminster.

As a result of the events in Haringey, which lead to

direct government intervention, and subsequent investigations

in Doncaster and Birmingham, keeping

children safe is now the government's top priority.

Consequently Lord Laming is conducting a new review

to determine how safeguarding is working and

Ed Balls has set up a task-force to undertake a fullscale

review of how social workers are trained, recruited

and supported in their work. Delegates at this

Westminster Briefing will have the opportunity to consider

the impact on the future of children’s social services

following recent events, bringing together all of

the key agencies involved in child protection. Participants

will engage with the panel throughout the

course of the day in a number of sessions which will

look at issues including:

The role of central government in setting standards

for child protection

Inspecting child protection services

Intervention: when, why and how?

Establishing common understanding between

different professional disciplines

The role of the inspectorates in monitoring child

protection

The future of Local Children’s Safeguarding

Boards

How the serious case review procedure is working

For full details please see the attached agenda, for

an event synopsis please click here.

31. 1st July 2009 - Third Yorkshire and Humberside

ADASS Safeguarding Conference -

Barnsley

A huge success in previous years with nationally renowned

speakers and stimulating workshops. Book

early to avoid disappointment!

Consultations

To follow next week

CSCI/Care Quality Commission,

CSSIW, Healthcare

Commission &

Scottish Care Commission

32. National Care Standards campaign back

on our screens as awareness drive continues

29 January 2009 – SCRC

A campaign to increase awareness of Scotland’s National

Care Standards will have re-commenced on 2

February 2009, as new research shows that public

awareness has doubled with almost a third of Scots

(32%) now aware of the Standards, compared to 15%

in 2004.

For full report click here

33. Care Quality Commission consults on

involving people who use services

28 January 2009 – CQC

The Statement of Involvement has been published by

the Care Quality Commission and explains the importance

the body places of people’s views and experiences

to the work of the Commission. It also sets out

plans on how it wants to involve people who use services

in all of its work, including inspections and reviews

of services to help shape its priorities.

For full report go to http://www.cqc.org.uk/news__events/

statement_of_involvement.aspx

34. Zero tolerance policy across NHS Scotland

on non compliance to hand hygiene

28 January 2009 – SCRC

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has now launched

a zero tolerance policy across NHS Scotland on

those who do not comply with hand hygiene. The

policy is contained in new guidance issued to NHS

Boards.

For full report click here

35. Countdown to required registration for

workers in residential child care services

28 January 2009 – SCRC

The Scottish Care Commission has released a newsletter

available for workers in residential child care

services who are required to apply for registration by

31 March 2009.

For full report click here

36. The state of social care in England 2007-

08

27 January 2009 – CSCI

CSCI has released its report on social care in England.

It reveals that progress on personalised care is

patchy and too few people with complex needs are

experiencing the personalised care they need.

For full report click here

37. Dignity in care award

26 January 2009- CSCI

The People’s Award for Dignity in Care is a way to

say thank you to health and social care staff and

highlight the remarkable work they do.

For full report click here

Dementia

38. New push to end dementia 'stigma'

1 February 2009 – BBC News

Health Secretary, Alan Johnson has unveiled a national

dementia strategy which he claims will transform

the treatment of 700,000 sufferers.

He said the aim was to get people to seek diagnosis

earlier.

At the moment, it took three years, on average, for

someone suffering from to seek diagnosis, Mr Johnson

told BBC One's Andrew Marr show.

For full report click here

39. MPs inquiry will consider dementia workforce

29 January 2009 – NCF

MPs and Peers are to commence a 6 month investigation

into the dementia care workforce.

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on

Dementia (APPG) are to investigate whether social

care staff caring for people with dementia at home or

in care homes are being equipped with the right skills

to deliver quality dementia care.

The APPG on Dementia wants evidence from care

home organisations, care staff, regulators, people

with dementia and carers.

For full report click here

40. Dementia 'must get top priority'

27 January 2009 – BBC News

Professor Sube Banerjee, the Government’s main

adviser on its dementia strategy for England said that

dementia should be top priority. He also said the

condition should not be regarded “as an inevitable

part of growing old”.

For full report click here

Ireland, Scotland & Wales

Ireland

41. Abuse of elderly is highlighted

26 January 2009 – BBC News

Northern Ireland has seen the launch of a campaign

to try to raise awareness of abuse of the elderly.

A DVD has been produced by Uniting against Elder

Abuse, which is funded by a range of charities to

highlight the problem.

For full report click here

Scotland

42. Warning over new form of C.diff

1 February 2009 – BBC News

Jackie Baillie, a Labour MSP has warned of a

"potentially more dangerous" form of the Clostridium

difficile (C.diff) bug in Scottish hospitals.

She said there was evidence suggesting it could be

more serious than other strains of the bug.

Health Secretary. Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Baillie's

comments were alarmist and misleading.

For full report click here

43. New child protection hub set up

27 January 2009 – BBC News

The Scottish Government has announced that the

UK’s first hub of child protection expertise will be set

up at the University of Stirling.

The unit intends to bring together a network of experts

from practice, policy and research.

For full report click here

44. 'Immediate' C.diff inquiry backed

27 January 2009 – BBC News

Calls for an immediate inquiry into a C.diff outbreak at

the Vale of Leven Hospital, Dunbartonshire has been

supported by the Holyrood Committee. Health Secretary,

Nicola Sturgeon has said she won’t rule out a

public inquiry into the outbreak.

For full report click here

45. NHS Staff Warned To Clean Hands ... Or

Face The Sack

27 January 2009 – Evening Times

Health workers who fail to clean their hands could be

sacked after the Scottish Government introduced its

"zero tolerance" policy on poor hygiene.

For full report go to http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/

display.var.2484852.0.0.php?utag=28804

46. Nurse plea over hygiene crackdown

26 January 2009 – BBC News

RCN Scotland, the main Scottish nursing body has

said disciplinary action against its members for failing

to wash their hands should be used only as a last

resort.

Health boards will also be required to publish results

on how they are dealing with the control of infections

and under the zero tolerance hand washing scheme,

"serial offenders" who repeatedly fail to comply would

face disciplinary action.

For full report click here

47. Website To Reveal Hospital Superbug

Infection Rates

26 January 2009 – The Herald

A new campaign by the Scottish Governmen means

that patients will be able to monitor superbug infection

levels at every hospital in Scotland for the first

time ever.

For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/

display.var.2484538.0.0.php?utag=28804

Wales

48. Cases of patients at risk double

29 January 2009 – BBC News

The BBC has learned that over 56,000 incidents put

patients at risk of harm in the Welsh NHS>

The figure has doubled over the last three years and

includes patient accidents, infections and abuse by

staff or others.

For full report click here

49. NHS work days lost 'significant'

28 January 2009 – BBC News

A report by Wales’ financial watchdog says that NHS

staff sickness in Wales is a “significant problem” despite

recent improvements.

Since April 2004, sickness absence rates averaged

around 14 working days per year for an NHS trust

employee, which is a reduction from 2002-03 when

rates averaged at just over 15-and-a-half working

days per year.

For full report click here

Learning Disabilities

Nothing to report

Legislation Update

50. Health and Social Care (Reform) Act

(Northern Ireland) 2009 c.1

28 January 2009 – OPSI

For full legislation click here

Mental Capacity

51. Mental Capacity and end of life care - new

from NCPC

27 January 2009 – NCF

The National Council for Palliative Care has published

a report on Good Decision-making: the Mental

Capacity Act and End of Life Care.

For full report click here

Mental Health

Nothing to report

Miscellaneous

52. Call for end to drug firms' gifts

1 February 2009 – BBC News

A report created by a working party led by the Royal

College of Physicians and including members of leading

pharmaceutical companies is calling for drug industry

representatives to stop giving gifts to doctors.

The report says the measure would do much to rebalance

the relationship between medicine and industry.

The UK regulator, the GMC, says gifts must not be

accepted which could be seen to affect clinicians'

judgement.

For full report click here

53. Medics get working hours opt-out

30 January 2009 – BBC News

The Government has announced that not all doctors

will have their working week cut to 48 hours in August

as planned.

Ministers said the European Working Time Directive

limit would not have to apply to certain doctors working

in emergency medicine, or in rural areas, and instead,

they will remain able to work up to 52-hours a

week.

For full report click here

54. Better care 'if doctors rest'

30 January 2009 – BBC News

Research carried out by the Univesrity Hospitals Coventry

and Warwickshire NHS Trusts suggests that

doctors working fewer hours can have direct benefits

for patient safety.

Doctors working to the new rota, which allowed them

more sleep and more recovery time, made 33% fewer

errors than their traditional counterparts.

For full report click here

55. Strengthening Workforce Planning - Department

of Health response to the King's

Fund Report on the Centre of Excellence

30 January 2009 – DoH

The Department of Health has responded to the

King’s Fund on its Report on the Centre of Excellence.

For full report click here

56. Health and Social Care Awards 2009 -

Who deserves recognition in the West Midlands?

30 January 2009 – NCA

The National Care Association is once again looking

for the best health and social care staff and teams in

the West Midlands.

You can nominate yourself or your own team. The

application deadline is 6th March 2009.

For full report click here

57. Provision of adult balance services: a

good practice guide

28 January 2009 – DoH

A document providing good practice and evidence to

help commissioners and service providers to change

the way that adult balance services are delivered. It

also aims to reduce waits for patients with the most

common hearing difficulties.

For full report click here

58. Planning for pandemic influenza in social

care

28 January 2009 – DoH

Guidance to help local authorities and other social

care organisations with the tools and resources

needed to plan for, and meet the challenges presented

by, pandemic influenza

For full report click here

59. Health Profile of England 2008

27 January 2009 – DoH

A statistical publication that profiles the health of

people living in England and is intended to be of use

to public service professionals and officials within the

local community, such as local councillors and primary

care trust directors of public health, who are in

a position to exert influence over the planning, commissioning,

procurement and delivery of public health

programmes.

For full report click here

60. World class commissioning of primary

care and community services: guides for primary

care trusts

27 January 2009 – DoH

These documents are for commissioners and form

part of a series of supporting guides to help primary

care trusts become world class commissioners of

primary care and community services.

The paperwork has been co-produced by NHS East

of England, NHS Primary Care Contracting (NHS

PCC), and the Department of Health.

For full report click here

NHS

61. Watchdog criticises NHS pay deal

29 January 2009 – BBC News

The National Audit Office (NAO) has declared that a

new pay system for over a million NHS staff has

failed to deliver promised rises in productivity.

"Agenda for Change" was aimed to bring in a single

pay scheme for most NHS staff, alongside schemes

boosting staff training and development.

For full report click here

62. Mixed-sex wards to be penalised

28 January 2009 – BBC News

Health Secretary, Alan Johnson has announced penalties

for NHS Trusts in England that fail to scrap

mixed-sex accommodation.