Quality accounts

'High quality care for all' proposed that all providers of NHS care should produce quality accounts to provide the public with information on the quality of care they provide. The Department of Health has introduced legislation to require the publication of quality accounts from 2009/10. The process flowing from this, of designing the format and content of quality accounts, is being facilitated by the DH, and steered by stakeholders, including the regulators, NHS management, clinicians and patient groups.

Find out more here.

Partners in care: stories about NHS patients and their doctors

This publication features 18 case studies which demonstrate the range of positive changes that consultants, GPs and other NHS staff can make to people's lives, and the new services doctors are developing to benefit their patients.

Download the document here.

Response to the consultation on the extension and revision of Direct Payments Regulations

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 extended direct payments to adults who lack the capacity to consent to their receipt. From August to November 2008, the Department of Health consulted on regulations implementing the extension. This document summarises the responses to the consultation and outlines what subsequent action the department proposes to take.

Procurement helpdesk pledges advice on system management

This is a reminder to all SHAs, PCTs and providers that there is now a procurement helpdesk on the PCC website which may be used to ask questions and seek advice on procurement issues arising from system management policies and, in particular the PCT Procurement Guide. Queries will be answered within seven to 10 days. The helpdesk can be found at www.pcc.nhs.uk/helpdesks.

NHS health check: vascular risk assessment and management best practice guidance

This document provides best practice guidance to support PCTs in their implementation of the vascular risk assessment and management programme and aims to ensure consistency, quality assurance and safety across England.

Further details are here.

Patient complaints FAQ now available on PCC website

PCC has issued an FAQ in response to the policy on handling patients' complaints that took effect from 1 April.

The FAQ is available to download for PCC subscribers here.

Good practice advice for services for adults with autistic spectrum conditions

This good practice advice for PCT and local authority commissioners builds on 'Better Services for People with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder' and is part of a programme of work to ensure that people with autistic spectrum conditions receive the right support to live life independently and to the full, exercising choice and control over decisions that affect their lives. This publication is part of a two-stage process to better support commissioners of services for adults with autistic spectrum condition and will be followed by detailed commissioning guidance later in the year.

Access the advice here.

Fairer funding of GP services

Following the DDRB announcement on the uplift to GP funding, Ben Dyson CBE, director of primary care, Commissioning and System Management Directorate, has written to SHA directors of commissioning and SHA primary care leads about fairer funding of GP services.

Read the letter here.

QOF guidance amended

The 2009/10 QOF guidance for the GMS contract issued by NHS Employers last month has been revised. The updated guidance is available here.

Amendment to Statement of Financial Entitlements

The Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No. 2) Directions 2009 were signed on 24 March 2009 and are effective from 1 April 2009. These amending directions are the second in a series of three changes to be made to the Statement of Financial Entitlements published in April 2005. The primary purpose of these three amendments is to implement the agreement reached on changes to the GP contract for 2009/10, as set out in Ben Dyson's letter to SHA directors of commissioning on 14 October 2008. The first amendment to be completed, the SFE (Amending) (No.3) Directions 2009, was published on 3 April 2009.

This amendment puts in place:

• A revised Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2009-10 (Annex D of the SFE)
• Some associated changes to section 4 (Quality and Outcomes Framework - General of the SFE)
• Changes, by removing the square root formula, to the related prevalence calculation in Annex F of the SFE, (see 10-15 of Ben Dyson's letter)

A copy of the directions, and Ben Dyson's letter, can be found here.

NICE announces chair for QOF advisory committee

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has named Dr Colin Hunter as chair of the Primary Care Quality and Outcomes Framework Indicator Advisory Committee, the body that will oversee development of new QOF indicators. NICE also announced the appointment of an external contractor.

Full details of both announcements are here.

Countdown begins on revalidation of GPs

PCC has issued a briefing covering the highlights of the guide to the revalidation of GPs published earlier this month by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The briefing underlines the urgency of building revalidation into PCT plans.

The briefing is in the subscriber pages of the PCC site.

Revalidation Support Team publishes revised guide to quality assurance

The NHS Revalidation Support Team has revised its 2005 report on quality assurance, which now appears under a slightly different title. 'Assuring the Quality of Medical Appraisal for Revalidation' reflects the emphasis placed on quality in the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety' and describes the requirements of an effective appraisal process for revalidation.

New resources available in the expanded appendices include revised self-assessment checklists and descriptors of quality around selection, training and support of appraisers.

A final draft is available here.

Validation deadline looms for PCTs in benchmarking survey

Final validation of benchmarking data is now underway. If your PCT has submitted data and you believe amendments need to be made, the deadline is tomorrow, 15 April 2009. If the deadline is met, validated data will be made available to PCTs by 22 April.

Please forward any amendments to elizabeth.stopp@pcc.nhs.uk.

Primary care and community services: improving pharmaceutical services

Pharmacy minister Phil Hope has written to PCT chief executives to alert them to a new world-class commissioning guide. 'Primary care and community services: improving pharmaceutical services' recognises the role of PCTs in developing pharmaceutical services that maximise the opportunities for contributing to their populations' health.

The letter is available here.

Download the guide here.

New Building Foundations briefings

PCC has published two new papers in its Building Foundations series aimed at bringing commissioners up to speed with key issues.

One reflects on the role of the PCT in overhauling existing pharmacy contracts. The other considers community pharmacy in the context of world-class commissioning.

Building on healthy foundations

Community pharmacies as providers in a world-class PCT

Incorporation of future prices in Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

In November 2008 the Office of Health Economics organised a seminar on incorporation of future prices in HTA on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Industry Health Economics Group. This discussion has highlighted the challenges faced in estimating future drug prices, and the lack of evidence surrounding the current NICE assumption of constant life-time drug prices when calculating future drug prices. This report discusses different ways of calculating drug prices and the implications for further research.

The report is available here.

First equitable access workshop planned

The DH is holding workshops for PCTs and SHAs introducing the policy aspects of the dental access programme and providing information on the early steps of the procurement process. A PCT procurement framework has been developed to support local procurements of dental services and attendees will be given information and guidance on using the framework and adapting documentation to meet local needs. Information will also be provided on the development of the process, timescales for delivery and the support available from the DH. One event will be held in each region.

South Central, 6 May

East of England, 7 May

West Midlands, 18 May

Final version of decontamination guidance coming soon

The DH is working on an updated, final version of HTM015, which will now include a section on engineering. One hard copy will be mailed out to each practice in England in May/June along with a self-assessment audit tool designed to help practitioners ensure compliance. Further copies will be available from the DH website.

Choosing better oral health - updated version due out

'Delivering Better Oral Health - An evidence-based toolkit for prevention' was published by the Department of Health in 2007 and provided evidence-based preventive protocols to help promote oral health and prevent oral diseases.

It is currently being revised and the new edition will carry clarification on:

• Toothpaste formulations
• Sugar-free medicines
• Healthy eating
• Links to the national DH Change for Life campaign

Hard copies will be distributed to practices in England in June with a letter from the chief dental officer.

Revalidation pilot under way

The first stage of a revalidation scheme is currently being trialled by the GDC. This feasibility study requires approximately 300 dentists from around the country to produce a portfolio of evidence to prove their competency for the job. The programme should be rolled out nationally by 2011.

New Local Government Network calls for a ceiling on private work

In an open letter to Professor Jimmy Steele, who is leading the government's independent review of NHS dentistry, the New Local Government Network recommends limiting the amount of private work dentists are allowed to take on, arguing that imposing such a restriction would improve access to NHS dental services.

Read the letter here.

GOC launches consultation framework

The General Optical Council (GOC) last week published its consultation framework, outlining the regulator's commitment to giving stakeholders a say in future policy changes.

The full story is here.

Optical regulator removes 464 opticians from its registers

The GOC has removed from its registers 464 opticians who failed to renew their registration for 2009/10.

The total includes 183 optometrists, 191 dispensing opticians and 90 bodies corporate. Practitioners are required to renew their GOC registration each year.

PCTs must check the registration status of everyone on their Ophthalmic Performers List against the online register at www.optical.org.

Since its original announcement on 2 April, the GOC issued an alert advising that a small number of registrants were removed from the list in error. The problem has been rectified and all of those concerned have been informed. If in doubt, call 020 7580 3898.

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.

Primary Care Contracting Manager - NHS Bristol

Details are available here.

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all

April 2009

• 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
• 28th: NW Primary Care Finance Leads Network - Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel, Preston PR5 0UJ
• 29th: E Midlands Region: Dental Network - Holiday Inn, Sandiacre,
• 29th: EoE Steering Group - Great Hallingbury Manor, Bishop's Stortford CM227TJ
• 29th: EoE Primary Care Commissioning Leads meetings - Great Hallingbury Manor, Bishop's Stortford CM227TJ
• 30th: NHS London Primary Care Finance Network - Allocation TBC,

Other events

NHS PASA: procurement and contracting support training courses for PCT commissioners

A programme of six bespoke training courses has been developed for commissioners who need to understand the fundamentals of procurement.

The courses have been designed to cover the knowledge, core skills and competencies required by PCT commissioners. Each course builds upon the previous event to form a coherent body of knowledge. For further information and bookings see www.pcc.nhs.uk/events/pasa.

The Faculty of General Dental Practice conference: DwSI

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), Department of Health and the Oxford Dental Deanery are organising a conference on 3 July 2009 in London on dentists with special interests (DwSI). The event is free of charge.

For further information email fgdp-education@rcseng.ac.uk.

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