Necessity - not nicety: a new commercial operating model for the NHS and Department of Health

The new commercial operating model will further enhance commercial and procurement skills across the NHS in helping to deliver high quality and personalised care for patients.

Independent mental health advocates: supplementary guidance on access to patient records

The Department of Health has been asked to provide this guidance on whether section 130B of the Mental Health Act 1983 allows independent mental health advocates (IMHAs) to see information in patients' records which would not be disclosed directly to the patient and, if so, whether IMHAs may share that information with patients.

Guide for applications to create health innovation and education clusters

The Department of Health is investing £10 million in the introduction of health innovation and education clusters (HIEC) across England. HIEC will be partnerships between NHS, higher education, industry and other public and private sector organisations. They will support the spread and adoption of innovation locally and strengthen professional education and training. The guide to applications is entitled Breakthrough to real change in local healthcare.

Demonstrating how to deliver stroke care for adults in the community

This is an updated version of LAC(DH)(2008)2. It gives information about the scope and purpose of funding which the Department of Health introduced last year for all councils with adult social services responsibilities in England to demonstrate how to deliver stroke care for adults in the community.

World-class commissioning on tour

This week sees the world-class commissioning event series run by NHS PCC and the Department of Health taken to London (Tuesday) and the north-east (Wednesday). Places are still available at both venues.

These events build on the successful national event for chief executives and boards held in January. Chief executives are among the target audience for the regional events, which are also aimed at directors of commissioning, primary care and PBC leads and polyclinic implementation leads. As well as presentations by senior figures from DH, including director of primary care Ben Dyson and director of commissioning Gary Belfield, the events feature workshops on various aspects of commissioning of primary care and community services and case studies from PCTs. Further regional events include:

• West Midlands, 19 May
• South Central, 10 June

Tackling health inequalities: 10 years on

This report reviews developments in health inequalities over the last 10 years across government. It covers developments on the wider social determinants of health and the role of the NHS. It also reviews a range of key data sets covering social, economic, health and environmental indicators and considers lessons learned and challenges for the future.

Vascular programme briefing packs

This pack was prepared in 2009 to provide the ten strategic health authorities with an assessment of progress, opportunities and future challenges in key areas of vascular disease.

Consultation on strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions

This consultation is on a future strategy to support adults with autistic spectrum conditions to live full and inclusive lives with access to the right care and support. The consultation considers five key themes for delivering change - health, social inclusion, choice and control, awareness raising and training, and access to training and employment. It will run until 15 September 2009.

GP training practices £100m capital programme guidance

The Department of Health has been allocated £100m for 2009/10 to advance the upgrading of up to 600 GP surgeries to training practices, creating opportunities for small firms and targeting funding on those areas that have historically had a lower provision of doctors. This was announced in the Chancellor's Autumn statement (Page 113) and the Operating Framework (page 34, para 10).

This guidance sets out how the funding will be allocated and who has responsibility for ensuring the capital upgrading of the relevant practices takes place.

GMC affiliates pilots: mid-term report of the independent evaluation

In July 2008, the Department of Health commissioned KPMG to undertake an independent evaluation of two pilots introducing a system of GMC affiliates aimed at closing the regulatory gap between local workplace management of doctors and national professional regulation. The purpose of this evaluation is to produce feedback and provide an assessment of the feasibility, potential benefits, costs and wider impacts of the introduction of GMC affiliates at a national level. This report marks the mid term point in the evaluation of the pilots.

Building Foundations events

NHS PCC is repeating the successful level 1 pharmacy Building Foundations event on 27 May in London. The event is aimed at PCT and support agency staff new to the commissioning and contracting of community pharmacy services. As a result of feedback from delegates, NHS PCC will also be running an event in June which will look at PCT powers to address community pharmacy performance concerns under the Pharmaceutical Regulations and the Service Committee and Tribunal Regulations. A level 2 event is being developed for early July for more experienced staff and those looking to build on knowledge from the level 1 event. Keep an eye on our events page for further details.

Salaried dental services benchmarking

A comprehensive survey of salaried primary care dental services (SPDCS) will follow the recently completed primary medical care benchmarking exercise. The project will allow PCTs to share information on SPDCS to inform world-class commissioning plans and help shape local dental services strategies. The results of the joint venture between PCC and the NHS Benchmarking Network will be available to PCC subscribers as part of the annual subscription. PCTs will be able to use the anonymised data to track their own performance against regional and national norms. PCC will provide follow-up support to participating PCTs seeking to use the data to improve local services.

The project will:

• Provide an accurate picture of the provision of SPDCS in England
• Identify the range and types of service and their associated costs
• Assess numbers, range and specialist qualifications of SPDCS staff
• Consider access, quality and effectiveness - eg looking at referral criteria
• Identify good practice and innovation

Data collection will begin on 20 May and end on 26 June, with a first draft of findings available to subscribers by the end of July. To take part in the survey contact elizabeth.stopp@pcc.nhs.uk.

Vision UK 2009 conference - implementing the UK Vision Strategy

Vision 2020 UK is holding a national event on 4 June 2009 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London to discuss implementing the UK Vision Strategy and reveal key findings of the Future Sight Loss UK research. This is a major study that will inform and influence future service development.

Commissioning Manager (Pharmacy & Optometry) NHS Blackburn with Darwen tPCT

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all

May 2009

• 12th: W Midlands Region: Finance Leads Network - The Studio, Birmingham, Birmingham B2 5EP
• 12th: London World Class Commissioning - Hilton London Metropole, W2 1JU
• 12th: NHS South West - Dental Equitable Workshop 1 - The Cleve Hotel and Country Club, Wellington, nr Taunton TA21 8SN
• 13th: North East World Class Commissioning of Primary Care - Hardwick Hall, TS21 2EH
• 13th: West Midland Region: QOF Management Guide Workshop - The Studio, Birmingham, Birmingham B2 5EP
• 14th: W Midlands Region: GOS Contract Compliance Framework - Maple House, Birmingham, B4 6TB
• 14th: E Midlands Region: QOF Leads Meeting - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 18th: NHS East Midlands - Dental Access Workshop 1 - Nottingham Belfry, NG8 6PY
• 19th: EoE QOF network - Hilton London Stansted Airport Hotel, Stansted CM24 1SF
• 19th: West Midlands World Class Commissioning of Primary Care & PBC Reinvigoration - The National Motorcycle Museum, B92 0EJ
• 21st: BY INVITATION ONLY: Optometric Adviser's Group Meeting - Thistle Euston,
• 22nd: South Central Eyecare Network Meeting - Hilton Newbury Centre, Berkshire RG14 7HL
• 27th: Building Foundations Towards World Class Commissioning for Primary Care - Pharmacy Level 1 - Guoman Tower, London E1W 1LD

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