NHS Constitution published

The NHS Constitution was published on 21 January. It brings together in one place for the first time in the history of the NHS what staff, patients and public can expect from the NHS.

The Constitution explains that by working together we can make the very best of finite resources to improve our health and wellbeing, to keep mentally and physically well, to get better when we are ill, and when we cannot recover to stay as well as we can to the end of our lives.

The Constitution reaffirms that everyone has a role to play in the success of the NHS. Dedicated guidance and web pages have been created to provide you with everything you need to know about the NHS Constitution. Find out more here.

The text of NHS chief executive David Nicholson's letter is here.

NHS takes the lead on leadership

Health Minister Lord Darzi and NHS chief executive David Nicholson last week unveiled plans for a new National Leadership Council (NLC) that will help nurture the next generation of NHS leaders.

Further details are here.

Personal health budgets: the shape of things to come?

The 2008 NHS Next Stage Review endorsed the proposal to include NHS funding within personal budgets. A report from the NHS Confederation explores the potential of personalisation and is designed to stimulate further debate on how this development will impact on mainstream commissioning and provision of NHS services.

The report is available here. An NHS Confederation press release is here.

Views sought on drivers of practice based commissioning

Please take a few seconds to vote in the poll on the NHS Networks site on the drivers of practice based commissioning and use the forum provided to put your views. The poll is here.

Supporting people with long term conditions: commissioning personalised care planning - a guide for commissioners

This guide aims to provide commissioners of health and social care services with the information and support they need to embed personalised care planning in their localities. This should ensure that people with long term conditions receive more individualised care and services to help them manage their conditions better and achieve the outcomes they want for themselves. The guide was developed in collaboration with stakeholders across health, social care, the voluntary and independent sectors and patient representative groups.

Download a copy of the guide as a PDF here.

GPs too slow to refer arthritis patients to specialist care, says King's Fund

Clinicians and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) believe that many GPs remain insufficiently aware of the indicators that may suggest RA or the importance of early referral to specialist care for rapid aggressive therapy to prevent damage to joints.

This is the main finding of a report published last week by The King's Fund and commissioned by the Rheumatology Futures Project Group. The report recommends a process of GP education to raise levels of knowledge and awareness of RA and that GPs must be more aware about local services that are available to RA patients.

The report highlights inconsistencies, poor GP knowledge and "underlying uncertainty" about managing flares which are experienced by 90% of patients. The report concludes that medical education should play a role in increasing the awareness of future GPs about RA and cites medical professionals who say that rheumatoid arthritis is "given minimal attention and often lost in the focus on orthopaedics."

A copy of the report is available here.

Pharmacy in England: building on strengths, delivering the future: proposals for legislative change - consultation summary report relating to proposals for primary legislation

A consultation on proposals for structural change within the pharmacy white paper took place from August to November 2008. This report contains an analysis of consultation responses on proposals relating to primary legislation together with feedback from public listening events.

The report is available here.

NPC publishes management guide to prescribing

The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published a new guide for all NHS managers to help improve understanding of key issues in medicines use.

All you need to know about prescribing, the drugs bill and medicines management is intended to be a readily accessible quick reference guide which will enable all NHS managers to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of medicine use. It provides a basic understanding of how medicines are managed and regulated throughout the NHS to ensure safe, effective and cost-effective usage.

In addition it highlights areas in which managers should be working with colleagues involved in prescribing and medicines management within their own and partner organisations.

Hard copies of the guide are being distributed to primary and secondary care organisations.

The guide is also available to view or download on the National Prescribing Centre website.

PCT decision making processes on medicine

The Department of Health has developed guiding principles to support local decision making about medicines. This includes decisions on medicines made as part of the development of the annual operating plan as well as consideration of in-year service developments and individual funding requests (IFRs). The principles are designed to cover decision making across primary and secondary care on all medicines not, or not yet, appraised by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). While these principles are directed at primary care trusts (PCTs), they should equally apply to any collaborative arrangements PCTs may choose to adopt.

Further details are here.

The new NHS Constitution - dental pledge

The following dental pledge is specifically mentioned in the handbook accompanying the Constitution:

'The Operating Framework for 2009/10 makes it clear that PCTs need to continue to develop NHS dental services, with the aim of being able to provide dentistry for anyone who seeks help in accessing services. Strategic health authorities (SHAs) will be agreeing dental commissioning strategies with each PCT to achieve this objective. These plans are likely to be based on achieving the objective by or before the end of financial year 2010/11.'

The NHS Constitution and Handbook are available here.

Liverpool dentist sentenced for ghost NHS patient claims

On 26 January 2009, Liverpool dentist Robert Nolan was sentenced to 20 custodial sentences of 36 weeks each to be served concurrently, suspended for 18 months, after being found guilty of multiple counts of fraudulently claiming money from the NHS.

The judge at Liverpool Crown Court also sentenced Nolan to 300 hours unpaid work, a three month curfew (8pm to 7am daily) requiring him to wear a tag, and ordered him to pay £1500 towards prosecution costs.

Despite entering a plea of not guilty, Nolan, who ran a practice at Great Homer Street in Liverpool's Walton area, was found guilty on 20 specimen counts on 26 November last year. This followed an investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS) and Merseyside Police.

NHS CFS dental fraud team manager, Stephen McKenzie, said: "Our thorough investigation showed that he was systematically defrauding the NHS. He claimed money for patients that did not exist and for work that was never undertaken on his registered patients. It is despicable that a person in his position, a position of trust in the community, should steal money from the NHS. Fortunately, it is only a small minority of healthcare professionals that abuse the system aimed at delivering NHS care."

CFS will consider recovery action on the overpayments made to Nolan as well as compensation. A case will also be submitted to the General Dental Council, which has the power to prevent Nolan practising as a dentist.

Further information on the NHS CFSMS can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/fraud

New GOS sight testing and domiciliary fees published

The Department of Health has published new GOS sight testing fees and domiciliary fees to take effect from 1 April 2008. There is also a new rate for the pre-registration supervisor's grant. The letter also includes a figure for the 2009 continuing education and training allowance but no action should be taken on this yet and further directions will be issued. Details of the new fees and allowances and new payment directions can be found here.

PCTs or their support services agencies should pay arrears of the new sight testing fees and domiciliary fees as soon as possible to bring fees claimed since 1 April 2008 up to the new levels.

Coming soon - GOS contract monitoring toolkit

NHS PCC is currently putting the finishing touches to a monitoring toolkit for the new GOS contract. We intend to consult the optical professional bodies on the content of the toolkit during February and hope to publish the toolkit at the end of March. Further details will appear in New@PCC.

QOF Management Guide volume 2 now available

The second part of NHS PCC's comprehensive three-volume guide to QOF is now available. Download a copy.

NHS PCC secondment opportunities

NHS PCC is looking to expand its team of Primary Care Contracting Advisors (PCCAs) by four whole-time equivalent appointments to the south west, south central, east of England and west midlands. These posts may be offered on a fixed term/secondment basis. Further information and details on how to apply can be obtained from rebecca.thornley@pcc.nhs.uk or sarah.rothwell@pcc.nhs.uk. Closing date for applications/expressions of interest is 6 February 2009 with interviews on 19 February 2009 in London.

Business development manager band 8a - Bristol PCT

Ref: 701-71180N-CR

PCTs can provide details of their vacancies to be included in this section. Contact your local advisor if you would like a vacancy in your PCT featured.

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all

January 2009

• 27th: World Class Commissioning and System Management - The Brewery, London EC1Y 4SD
• 28th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning for Primary Care - Eye Care - Cambridge Belfry, Cambourne CB23 6BW
• 29th: NHS London - Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care, ITT Evaluation Re-run - Portland Place, W1,
• 30th: Draft Pharmacy Order 2009 Consultation Event (Professionals) - The Queen's, Leeds LS1 1PL

February 2009

• 2nd: North West QOF Leads Network Meeting - Tickled Trout Hotel, Preston, PR5 0UJ, Preston PR5 0UJ
• 3rd: The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation Workshops - Holiday Inn Regents Park, London W1W 5EE
• 4th: NW Primary Care Finance Leads Network - The Fir Grove, Warrington WA4 2LD
• 5th: The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation Workshops - Reebok Stadium: Bolton Wanderers FC / Devere Whites Hotel, Bolton BL6 6JW
• 5th: NW: Primary Care Commissioning Leads Network - Macdonald Kilhey Court, Standish WN1 2XN
• 5th: W Midlands Region: Dental Focus Group Meeting - The Studio, Birmingham,

For further event dates please see www.pcc.nhs.uk/events