Chief medical officer calls for action on alcohol

Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer has published his 2008 annual report, in which he called for recognition of the effect of 'passive drinking' on society. He wants to see a shift in public opinion on alcohol similar to the move to smoke-free public places, so that being drunk is no longer an aim of drinking nor socially acceptable. The chief medical officer made recommendations to the Government to tackle alcohol harm, and particularly the collateral damage to society, family members, the NHS, and the economy.

Read the full story here.

The Government's response to the Health Select Committee report: NHS Next Stage Review

This command paper deals mainly with primary care trust commissioning, primary care provision, the quality agenda and the NHS Constitution.

Download a copy here.

Health inequalities gap widening

This report from the House of Commons Health Committee shows that whilst the health of all groups in England is improving, over the past 10 years health inequalities between the social classes have widened with the health of the rich improving more quickly than that of the poor.

Download a copy here.

Safe in the knowledge: how do NHS boards ensure safe care for their patients?

This report aims to help the boards of all types of NHS trust to identify and develop the key behaviours and measures that they should review on a regular basis and to determine whether they are truly commissioning and delivering the safest possible care.

Access the report here.

Guidance on internal separation for SHAs to support business readiness in PCT provision

This guidance was published to help support PCTs in internally separating their commissioning and provision functions and to help PCT Provided Services become business ready in order to provide high quality services. This is the executive summary only.

Access the guidance here.

Code of conduct for payment by results from 1 April 2009

This code of conduct is aimed at all commissioners and providers, including those from the independent sector and other bodies operating within the payment by results (PbR) system, but without prejudice to any future Government decision on extending the scope of PbR. Its purpose is to establish the principles that should govern organisational behaviour under PbR and set expectations as to how the system should operate.

The code is here.

Two new reports on learning disabilities

Two new reports have been published on the needs of people with learning disabilities. The first, by the Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and Mental Health Act Commission, looked at nine areas of England to see how well people with learning disabilities and complex needs were being supported by local services. The report, available here, gives key findings and recommendations and presents some examples of good practice.

The other report sets out the Government's strategy for people with learning disabilities for the next three years. It also responds to the main recommendations in Healthcare for All, the independent inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. Valuing People Now: Making it Happen for Everyone is here.

Reform of complaints handling rules and regulations

New regulations and procedures have resulted from the reform of complaints handling in health and social care.

Full details, including key messages for PCTs and social services can be found here.

Cervical screening age - experts to review evidence

A panel of experts is to carry out an evidence review to determine whether women under the age of 25 should be routinely screened for cervical cancer, health minister Ann Keen announced today.

Cervical screening currently starts at age 25 years in England, in line with World Health Organisation recommendations and the advice of leading experts in this country including the independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS).

More information is available here.

Clinical leadership for cancer in primary care

This is a letter to chief executives of primary care trusts on the value of appointing a primary care cancer lead clinician (PCCL), together with a letter inviting PCCLs to apply for affiliation with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Read the letter here.

NHS constitution: local decision-making about funding of medicines and other treatments

This letter to all SHA and PCT chief executives discusses the statutory directions that are coming into force on 1 April clarifying PCT's responsibilities regarding local decision-making about the funding of medicines and other treatments.

The directions are here. The letter is here.

The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Amendment Regulations 2009

These amendment regulations come into force from 14 April 2009. The regulations include processes in the development of LPS schemes to support transparency and good practice.

A printable version can be found here.

The explanatory memorandum can be found here.

Guidance on commissioning and manufacturing dental appliances

The GDC has issued new guidance for all GDC registrants involved in prescribing, manufacturing and fitting dental appliances.

Read the guidance here.

National guidelines for the appointment of dentists with a special interest (DwSI) in special care dentistry

The Department of Health has issued guidance to PCTs on the appointment of dentists with a special interest and on the competency framework for the scope of treatment that can be undertaken.

Access the guidance here.

Ophthalmic dispute resolution direction

Download the directions as to the functions of the National Health Service Litigation Authority (GOS Contracts Disputes) 2009 here.

Download the directions as to the functions of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (GOS Contracts Disputes) 2009 here.

GOC hosts codes of conduct discussion event

The General Optical Council (GOC) is hosting a discussion event on proposed changes to the codes of conduct for opticians and optical businesses. The event will take place on 16 April, and is designed to encourage discussion and prompt debate about some of the key changes affecting registrants. Practitioners, patient groups, optical bodies, and employers are all encouraged to attend the event and have their say.

Further details and an online booking form are also available from www.optical.org.

Eccentric viewing conference set for Birmingham

The Macular Disease Society is holding a conference on a two year-old technique for helping the partially sighted to read. The eccentric viewing programme trains people to use their peripheral vision to read and perform everyday tasks. It has proved successful for hundreds of individuals including some registered blind.

The event takes place in Birmingham on 27 April. Download a booking form from www.maculardisease.org.

Government declares QOF consultation period ended

The government has announced the outcome of the 13-week QOF consultation. From 1 April 2009 the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) will oversee the annual process of reviewing the clinical indicators included in QOF.

The full story is here.

West Midlands QOF workshop event report

The West Midlands QOF workshop was held on 5 March. The aim of the workshop was to review the financial implications of changes to GMS 2009/10 for PCTs and their practices. It also included a demonstration of the Ready Reckoner as an indicative tool for impact of the changes to QOF prevalence and MPIG, and considered stakeholder engagement and strategic commissioning plans in the context of world class commissioning.

Download the event report here.

NHS PCC is looking to expand its capacity of PCCAs by two WTE posts one in the north-east/Yorkshire & Humber and the other in the east of England/south east coastal areas. The former post may be offered on a permanent or fixed term/secondment and the latter on a fixed term or secondment for 12 months.

More information is here.

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all

March 2009

• 25th: BY INVITATION ONLY - E Midlands Region: Focus Group - Hilton East Midlands Airport, Derby DE74 2YW
• 26th: Primary Care Medical Services Benchmarking and Good Practice - Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH
• 26th: NHS London Dental Contracts - De Vere Holborn Bars, London EC1N 2NQ
• 27th: South West Region: Transforming Community Services Roadshow - The Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 30th: North: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning: Eye Care - Hilton Leeds, LS1 4BX
• 31st: South West Pharmacy Network Meeting - Holiday Inn Taunton, Taunton TA1 2UA
• 31st: East of England World Class Commissioning - De Vere University Arms, CB2 1AD

April 2009

• 1st: Integrated Care Programme - Learning Network launch - Guoman Tower, London E1W 1LD
• 3rd: North West Dental Event - Haydock Park Racecourse, Newton-le-Willows WA12 0HQ
• 7th: EoE: Community Pharmacy Commissioning network - Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport, Stansted CM24 1PP
• 8th: East Midlands World Class Commissioning - Nottingham Belfry, NG8 6PY
• 9th: West Midlands Region: Half-day Focus Group - Lunch + P.M. - Maple House, Birmingham, B4 6TB
• 9th: W Midlands Region: PC Leads Meeting - A.M.+ Lunch - Maple House, Birmingham, B4 6TB
• 21st: Commissioning Offender Health Care - Radisson Edwardian Manchester, Manchestetr M2 5GP
• 21st: SEC Regional QOF Event - Hilton Gatwick Airport, Crawley RH6 0LL
• 22nd: NHS London GOS Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 22nd: North West Primary Care Leads Meeting - Stanley House, Lancashire BB2 7NP
• 22nd: North West Primary Care Steering Group - Stanley House, Lancashire BB2 7NP
• 23rd: EoE: Performer and Pharmaceutical List Management Day - Mercure Letchworth Hall Hotel, Letchworth, Hertfordshire SG6 3NP
• 23rd: W Midlands Region: QOF Leads Meeting - Osprey House, Redditch, B97 4DE

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