Public information and quality of services under the spotlight

The Health Management Services Centre (HMSC) recently completed a series of evidence reviews exploring the provision of public information about the quality of primary care services. Each review addresses a specific question including: what information about the quality of primary care services do patients and the public want; which information formats are most accessible and effective; and how can information be presented to empower patients to make an informed choice of primary care provider?

Comprehensive Area Assessment now in force

As of 1 April 2009 Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) came into force, meaning that for the first time the outcomes of children's services, health, adult social care, waste and recycling, fire, police and other services will be assessed collectively - to produce a unified verdict on local quality of life and value for money. This briefing explains how CAA will work, including the implications for health bodies.

Primary care service framework: alcohol

The alcohol primary care service framework for those drinking to hazardous and harmful or dependent levels has been updated to include recent policy changes and includes enhanced tools to support implementation.

This document provides examples of good practice in alcohol services in primary care and can be adapted and used as a basis for an enhanced service via a schedule within a local primary care contract or service level agreement.

The updated document also supports the introduction of the new clinical directed enhanced service (DES) for alcohol, which took effect in April 2008 and runs for two years.

Primary care service framework for Gypsies and Travellers

The primary care service framework for Gypsies and Travellers mentioned in last week's New@PCC is now available on the NHS PCC website.

Prompt Payment Code

The Prompt Payment Code is a payment initiative developed by Government with the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) to tackle the crucial issue of late payment and help small businesses. All SHAs, PCTs, NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts should be adopting the principles incorporated within the code, as a letter from DH makes clear.

Deed of variation for 2008 NHS standard acute contract

This suite of documents is for those commissioners and providers who entered into the acute services contract that was published in December 2007, but reflects the changes brought about by the operating framework for 2009-2010.

The standard deed of variation is designed to vary those existing acute services contracts by incorporating the significant elements of the 2009/2010 standard NHS contract for acute services brought about by the operating framework.

Template for PE7 and PE8 payments now available

DH has released the template letter for use by PCTs in informing GPs of their entitlement to QOF payments under GP Patient Survey Patient Experience indicators PE7 and PE8. It has also issued a Q&A.

Urgent care: a practical guide to transforming same day care in general practice

The Primary Care Foundation was commissioned by the Department of Health to undertake this review of urgent care in general practice. The Next Stage Review pledged: 'Every member of the public should be able to expect integrated local services that provide access to urgent care, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.' This project explores the practical steps that GPs and their staff are taking to improve patient care and reduce pressure on the wider healthcare system.

GP earnings and expenses enquiry 2006/7 final report

Final report from the NHS Information Centre.

New GP flyers from the Information Centre

New GP flyers have been produced by the NHS Information Centre.

Coming soon: guide to PMS regulation and PCSF on peripheral arterial disease

Two new documents will be available from NHS PCC in the next week. A guide to primary medical care regulation and guidance provides a useful reference tool for PCT staff involved in contracting. Also new is a primary care service framework on peripheral arterial disease. Check the PCC website for details.

Local Pharmaceutical Services model contract

This document is a model contract offered by the Department of Health as a template for a Local Pharmaceutical Services (LPS) scheme for use by PCTs considering commissioning LPS services. It reflects the mandatory terms for any LPS contract.

PCT prescribing savings success

A National Audit Office report into prescribing costs in primary care shows that PCTs achieved a total saving of £394m across the country in 2008 through more consistent use of lower cost, generic medicines for some common conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gastric problems. The largest savings were made on statins with £278m saved.

E-reporting - useful links

NHS Dental Services has just published several web pages on e-reporting.

• The home page has signposts to all the relevant e-reporting pages on the site.
• The latest news page covers recent developments.
• The systems development page has a more detailed update on dashboards
• A report from the recent Risk Monitoring User Group meeting includes a dashboards demo.

NHS dental statistics, Q3 2008/09

This report has now been published by the NHS Information Centre.

General Ophthalmic Services: workforce statistics, December 2008

This report is now available from the NHS Information Centre.

Vision UK conference 2009

The UK Vision conference 2009 will take place at the QEII Centre, Westminster on 4 June hosted by the RNIB, Vision 2020 UK and the Department of Health.

Public Health Pharmacist - Buckinghamshire PCT

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

June 2009

• 3rd: NE; Dental Access - Workshop 1 - Radisson SAS Durham, DH1 5TL
• 4th: SEC; Dental Access - Workshop 1 - Sofitel London Gatwick, RH6 0PH
• 4th: WM; Primary Care Leads Meeting (inc lunch) - Maple House, Birmingham, B4 6TB
• 4th: WM; Steering Group Meeting (inc lunch) - Maple House, Birmingham, B4 6TB
• 4th: EM Dental Network - Holiday Inn, Sandiacre,
• 5th: Building Foundations Towards World Class Commissioning for Primary Care - Dental Level 1 - Guoman Tower, London E1W 1LD
• 5th: EM Community Pharmacy Network - Ramada Jarvis Leicester, LE1 6ES
• 9th: WM; Dental Access - Workshop 1 - Aston Business School, Birmingham B4 7ET
• 9th: NHS London Dental Access Solutions - County Hall Park Plaza, London SE1 7RY
• 9th: NW QOF assessor training - Doubletree by Hilton Chester hotel , Chester CH2 3PD
• 9th: South West Eyecare Network Meeting - The Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 10th: South Central World Class Commissioning - Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire RG14 7NZ
• 11th: South West Home Oxygen Service Event - The Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 12th: NHS London; Procurement Network Meeting - De Vere 17 Portland Place, London W1B 1PU
• 12th: WM; Primary Medical Services Contract Management - tbc,
• 16th: South West Dental Network Event - Holiday Inn Taunton, TA1 2UA
• 17th: W Midlands Region: 5% Random Check Process for 2008/09 - NHS West Midlands, Birmingham B16 9RG.
• 17th: NW; Dental Access - Workshop 1 - Ramada Manchester Piccadilly, M1 4PH
• 24th: Building Foundations Towards World Class Commissioning for Primary Care - Medical Level 1 - Village Leeds South, Tingley LS27 0TS
• 25th: Urgent care: a practical guide to transforming same-day care in general practice - King's Fund, London W1A 0AX
• 26th: EoE Primary Care finance leads network - Hilton Stansted Airport, Stansted CM24 1SF
• 26th: WCC Competencies - Personal Development Awareness (Midlands) - Crowne Plaza Birmingham, Birmingham B1 1HH
• 30th: World Class Commissioning of Pharmacy Services and Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments - Millennium Gloucester Hotel, SW7 4LH

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