Response to consultation on health registration and adult social care

The Care Quality Commission is the new health and social care regulator for England. This document provides the Government's response to the consultation held during spring 2008: 'The future regulation of health and adult social care in England: a consultation on the framework for the regulation of health and adult social care', which outlined the new registration framework to be introduced from 2010. It also launches a consultation on the wording of the draft regulations on the scope of registration and the registration requirements due to be set before Parliament this year under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The consultation will run from 30 March to 29 May 2009. Primary medical and dental care providers will be brought within the scope of the regulator at the earliest from April 2011.

Further details are here.

For more information visit the CQC website.

2009/10 doctors' and dentists' pay award

The Government has accepted recommendations made by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) in full.

This means that from 1 April 2009:

• Directly employed medical and dental staff will receive a headline increase of 1.5%
• General practitioners will receive a 2.29% gross increase in GMS contract payments which is intended to produce an average increase of 1.5% in GP's net income
• General dental practitioners will receive a 0.21% increase in gross income, which equates to a net increase of 1.5% due to a decrease in expenses

The full story is here.

New issue of Commissioning Excellence available on PCC site

The spring edition of Commissioning Excellence, PCC's quarterly briefing for SHAs and PCT chief executives and boards is now available on the website. Among highlights of this issue are a call to action over procurement policy and a commentary by Victor Adebowale, chief executive of Turning Point on the gap between policy intention and reality in commissioning of social enterprise and third-sector organisations.

Download a copy here.

NHS health checks begin in April

NHS health checks, which could prevent 1600 heart attacks and strokes each year and help save 650 lives were announced by health secretary Alan Johnson. The health secretary's announcement marked the introduction of two other initiatives: the abolition of prescription charges for cancer patients and the start of selective MRSA screening.

Read the full story on the DH website.

RCGP publishes revalidation guide for GPs

With the national revalidation of GPs on the horizon for 2010, the Royal College of General Practitioners has issued a guide, which sets out for the first time the processes and evidence that will be required for GPs to be revalidated.

Download Guide to the Revalidation of General Practitioners here.

Revised briefing on QOF indicator records 23

The February 2009 QMAS end of year bulletin alerted PCTs to a problem with the rule set for QOF indicator records 23. In light of the revisions to the rule set, PCC has published an updated briefing.

It is available for subscribers here.

Pharmacists with special interests: guidance on skin disease coming soon

The latest in the revised and updated guidance for pharmacists with special interests (PhwSI), a dermatology framework, will be published soon on the PCC website. The guide has been developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and British Association of Dermatologists with support from the Department of Health.

FAQ on the amended Drug Tariff provisions on Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions allowances

The Drug Tariff has been amended from April 2009 to clarify and take account of new pharmacies that have opened since the Release 1 allowances were paid, claims made by LPS pharmacies and the Release 2 allowance payment. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.

New PSNC prescription charge card

PSNC has produced a new prescription charge card for use in community pharmacies. The new NHS prescription charge is £7.20 for each medicine or appliance. A copy will be sent out to all community pharmacies with the latest edition of Community Pharmacy News.

The card can also be downloaded from the PSNC website.

BNF e-learning module for pharmacists launched on CPPE website

Pharmacists working in the community and other primary care settings will be able to access changes to the British National Formulary (BNF) with an e-learning tool launched last week.

Called BNF Update, the tool from the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) and the BNF gives pharmacists the ability to assess how changes to the BNF affect their clinical practice.

Further information is available here.

Response to consultation on stoma and urology services consultation

A report has been published following the consultation undertaken between June and September 2008 on the provision of stoma and urology appliances and related services under Part IX of the Drug Tariff. The response is available here.

New SFEs in force from 1 April 2009

New GDS and PDS Statements of Financial Entitlements, including 2009/10 uplift, have been published on the DH website.

Full details are here.

GDC launches two consultations

The General Dental Council (GDC) has launched two new consultations - one on flexible training opportunities for dentists wishing to become specialists and one seeking views on how to regulate implant dentistry.

Further details are available on the GDC website.

New dental guide launched

A comprehensive guide to dental services in England has been published on the DH website. The guide completes the set of patient information on NHS dental services in England in 2009.

Access the guide here.

July deadline set for annual retention fee

The deadline for dental care professionals to pay their annual retention fee (ARF) has moved from December to 31 July 2009. The fee applies to all professionals including dental hygienists, dental therapists, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists.

National Smile Month 2009

The 2009 National Smile Month runs from 17 May to 16 June. Organised by the British Dental Health Foundation, this year's theme is the link between oral health and general health. Further details are available here.

Forthcoming conference - dentists with special interests (DwSIs)

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) is organising a conference in the summer on dentists with special interests (DwSIs), which will include case studies of schemes currently in operation. More details to follow.

Dental access programme: potential provider information events

PCC and the DH are running two events to give potential providers greater insight into the policy context of the dental access programme and specifically on how to participate in the procurement framework. The Department of Health is seeking interest from all suitably qualified and experienced healthcare providers, including independent dentists, corporate dental bodies, social enterprise and third-sector organisations. These events are for providers only. Regional events are also planned for PCT commissioners.

Both events are free. The Manchester event is on 27 April. The London event is on 28 April.

Boots Opticians Ltd/D&A merger - director checks

Last week we advised that fitness to practice checks have now been completed by NHS Nottingham City on all the future directors of Boots Opticians Professional Services Limited and D&A Professional Services Limited. If you need to obtain a copy of the letter to process a contract application please email PCC on pcc.contact@pcc.nhs.uk. PCTs may now proceed to issue the contracts they have been holding to D&A and Boots Opticians. If you have any queries arising from this please direct them to the PCC GOS helpdesk at www.pcc.nhs.uk/eyecare-helpdesk and not to NHS Nottingham City.

New eye care fees from 1 April

The Department of Health has published a letter setting out increases in the NHS sight test fee, optical voucher values and the income threshold for those receiving tax credits, together with relevant directions and regulations. The letter is available here.

New awards scheme for excellence in macular degeneration care

The Macular Disease Society is to launch an awards programme to recognise excellence in the care of people with macular degeneration (MD). The awards cover clinical services as well as rehabilitation and emotional support as well as the work of campaigners, fundraisers and volunteers in the society's 175 local support groups.

Further information is available from the Macular Disease Society.

NHS PCC opportunity in London

NHS PCC is looking to expand its team of primary care contracting advisors (PCCAs). If you can support PCTs to become world class commissioners of primary care and you are interested in a part-time role in London then please get in touch. The post, for two days per week, may be offered on a fixed term/secondment or self-employed basis. Further information and details on how to apply can be obtained from sarah.rothwell@pcc.nhs.uk. Closing date for applications is 17 April 2009 with interviews on 30 April 2009 in London.

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all

April 2009

• 7th: EoE: Community Pharmacy Commissioning network - Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport, Stansted CM24 1PP
• 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
• 16th: Integrated Care Programme - Learning Network launch - Guoman Tower, London E1W 1LD
• 21st: Commissioning Offender Health Care - Radisson Edwardian Manchester, Manchestetr M2 5GP
• 21st: By invitation only:South Central Performers List Event - Holiday Inn Southampton, Southampton
• 22nd: NHS London GOS Network - Regus City Point, London EC2Y 9HT
• 22nd: North West Primary Care Leads Meeting & Steering Group meeting - Stanley House, Lancashire BB2 7NP
• 23rd: By Invitation only: Performer and Pharmaceutical List Management Day (Beds, Herts and Luton PCTs) - Mercure Letchworth Hall Hotel, Letchworth, Hertfordshire SG6 3NP
• 23rd: W Midlands Region: QOF Leads Meeting - Osprey House, Redditch, Redditch B97 4DE
• 27th: NHS London; Equitable Access Programme Network Meeting - De-Vere West One, W1B 1PR
• 27th: Social Enterprise Network Learning Event - Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH
• 27th: Dental Access Programme: Potential Provider Information Event - Manchester - Midland Hotel, Manchester M60 2DS
• 28th: Dental Access Programme: Potential Provider Information Event - Guoman Tower, London E1W 1LD
• 28th: South West Eyecare Network Meeting - The Cleve Hotel and Country Club, Wellington, nr Taunton TA21 8SN
• 29th: E Midlands Region: Dental Network - Allocation TBC,

Other events

World class commissioning: benchmarking and good practice

The NHS Benchmarking Network is holding a national event on 21 April 2009 at the Warwick Hilton to discuss benchmarking and good practice in world class commissioning.

In this seminar, top performing PCTs, including Birmingham East and North and Tower Hamlets, will share good practice in key areas where PCTs typically achieved low scores in the WCC assurance process, including market development and procurement. The event will demonstrate the role of benchmarking in helping your organisation attain these competencies.

To book a place contact Lindsey Rigby on lrigby@nhs.net or call 0161 266 1997.

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