Launch of national pandemic flu service

The chief medical officer has issued a letter announcing the launch of the national pandemic flu service.

The national framework for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care

This revised framework has been produced as a result of a commitment to review the national framework within 12 months of its publication. It aims to clarify and support consistency in the determination of eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care. It also encourages NHS bodies and local authorities to work together to prepare for implementation in October 2009.

Reaching out: community engagement and health

This report explores the importance of engaging communities in health promotion and health services, and the health benefits that this can bring. It reflects on government commitments to engaging the public further in democratic and decision-making processes and builds on the NICE guidance on community engagement and health.

NHS apprenticeships to boost jobs for young people

NHS organisations will receive a total of £25 million to create 5,000 new NHS apprenticeships by March 2010, health secretary Andy Burnham has announced. Apprenticeships will include clinical support roles such as dental nurses and pharmacy support workers and non-clinical roles such as IT support, estates and facilities management and catering.

Essence of Care: a consultation on a new benchmark on pain

Essence of Care is a structured system of benchmarks widely used in various health settings. A focus group made up of carers, patients and professionals has met to review the benchmarks and this has led to a proposed new benchmark for pain management. The Department of Health is now opening this up for wider consultation.

UK Vision strategy in the spotlight

The South Central GOS/POS network event on 25 September in Newbury will include a presentation by Anita Lightstone, programme director of the UK Vision Strategy. While the strategy is not a DH national priority, it is of increasing importance. PCTs will have the opportunity to discuss their local strategies at this event.

Building QOF assessment capability

A Building Foundations level 1 QOF assessor training event is planned for 25 September at Milton Keynes PCT. Aimed at PCT new QOF assessor teams, the day will explore roles, visit preparation, processes and expected outcomes. Sessions will look at both clinical and non-clinical issues for the teams.

Prevention package for older people

The prevention package raises the focus on prevention as a means of ensuring good health, well-being and independence in later life by promoting and encouraging uptake of comprehensive health and social care services for older people. The suite of downloadable prevention package resources is designed to support PCTs, SHAs and local authorities in prioritising and effectively commissioning services that support the health, well-being and independence of older people.

Estimating future numbers of adults with profound multiple learning disabilities in England

The work in this report was conducted by the Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) at Lancaster University on behalf of the Department of Health. The aim of the project was to estimate change in the future numbers of adults with profound multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) in England over the period 2009 to 2026.

New Horizons: towards a shared vision for mental health

This consultation sets out to take mental health care to a new level, by improving prevention of mental illness and supporting the local development of higher quality, more personalised services.

Response to the Independent Advisory Group's review of sexual health and HIV strategy

This Government response outlines the progress made in improving sexual health since 2001 and responds to each of the national level recommendations put forward by the Independent Advisory Group.

Information Centre publishes final GMS seniority factors for 2004-05 and 2005-06

The Information Centre (IC) has published the final seniority factors for 2004-05 and 2005-06 for General Medical Service (GMS) contractors in England. PCTs may need to consider financial adjustments in light of the figures.

For general queries on seniority contact your local NHS Primary Care Commissioning (PCC) advisor.

Specific questions on the NHAIS system are addressed by the CFH systems and service delivery website or ring the dedicated helpline on 0139 225 1289.

Osteoporosis DES payments

Following several queries from PCTs, the following information has been provided by NHS Employers which explains how the DES payments for osteoporosis can be calculated:

For criterion 1 the denominator will be: the proportion of women patients on the Fragility Fracture Register as at 31 March of the relevant financial year who are at least 65 but not yet 75, who have sustained a fragility fracture.

The numerator for criterion 1 is: have been referred for a DEXA scan during the previous 12 months.

For criterion 2 the denominator is: the proportion of women patients on the Fragility Fracture Register as at 30 June following the end of the relevant financial year who, as at 31 March of the relevant financial year, were at least 65 but not yet 75, who had sustained a fragility fracture during that financial year, who have had a diagnosis of osteoporosis confirmed by DEXA scan.

For criterion 2 the numerator will be: receiving treatment with a bone-sparing agent.

For criterion 3 denominator: the proportion of women patients on the Fragility Fracture Register as at 31 March of the relevant financial year who are at least 75, who have sustained a fragility fracture.

For criterion 3 the numerator will be: receiving treatment with a bone-sparing agent.

Milestone for Summary Care Record programme

EMIS LV is used by about 45 per cent of GP practices in England and the Summary Care Record (SCR) implementation team will now begin working with those PCTs using the EMIS system.

The first three PCTs to go live with EMIS LV will be South Birmingham, Dorset and Somerset. Further details are available from Connecting for Health.

New home oxygen order form published

Version 2.3 of the home oxygen order form (HOOF) has been published by DH and is available on the PCC website. The new HOOF can be used with immediate effect, although suppliers will still accept the old version until the end of October 2009. Clinicians do not need to reissue existing HOOFs. The new HOOF will be available in electronic format - no hard copies are being produced. If you have any problems or queries relating to the new HOOF, please get in touch with us through the oxygen helpdesk.

World class commissioning of pharmacy-based stop smoking services

NHS Employers have produced guidance for PCTs commissioning world class pharmacy-based stop smoking services. The guidance, aimed at senior NHS managers responsible for commissioning pharmaceutical services, public health professionals and commissioners of stop smoking services, will also be of interest to community pharmacies providing these services and other providers of core NHS stop smoking services.

Prescribing waste schemes

NHS Employers' community pharmacy negotiating team is collating a comprehensive database of local prescribing waste medicines schemes and any other relevant schemes which have made effective savings in prescribing budgets. NHS Employers is keen to hear from PCTs with successful examples of such schemes, including the service specification used, the savings made, monitoring arrangements and resourcing requirements. Please email details to michelle.hogan@nhsemployers.org.

Deadline nears for claiming EPS release 1 deployment allowances

All pharmacy contractors that were part of the national contract were paid two allowances of £1300 in December 2005 and February 2006. Pharmacies established after these payments were made would have missed out on receiving this funding. Further details of how to submit claims can be found on the PSNC website.

Review of CPD records goes live

The call for continuing professional development (CPD) records began on 27 July 2009. This last stage in the implementation of CPD to the profession means that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will routinely ask practising pharmacists and registered practising pharmacy technicians to submit their records for review and feedback.

Dental earnings and expenses 2007/8

The NHS Information Centre will publish its latest dental earnings and expenses reports for 2007/8 on Tuesday 4 August. As last year, a report considers figures from HMRC for England and Wales. There is a new report on the earnings and expenses of dentists in Northern Ireland.

The report will be available from 9.30 on 4 August.

Annual retention fee deadline fast approaching

The General Dental Council has issued reminders that all dental care professionals must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK and that registration will be at risk for any professionals who fail to pay the annual retention fee by the 31 July 2009 deadline. The GDC is particularly keen to get the message to dental nurses and dental technicians, who are paying their annual retention fees for the first time.

Student retention deadline now passed

The deadline for student retention has now passed. Overall, 3515 students successfully renewed their GOC registration by the deadline, leaving 862 applications outstanding. When compared to last year, this is a reduction of almost 10 per cent, when 956 applications were outstanding at the deadline. In addition, five withdrawal notices have been received. Reminder letters have been sent to those students who have yet to renew their registration.

Director of Healthcare Commissioning - NHS Bolton

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

August 2009

• 3rd: EoE: Dental Access Programme Workshop 2 - Radisson Stansted Airport, CM24 1PP
• 6th: WM: Primary Care Leads Meeting - Crowne Plaza Birmingham, B1 1HH
• 10th: Y&H: Dental Access Programme Workshop 1 - Hilton Leeds, LS1 4BX
• 11th: WM: Working Group for Annual Medical Services Contract Review - Holiday Inn Express Redditch, B97 6AE
• 19th: NW: Dental Access Programme Managers Meeting - Reebok Stadium: Bolton Wanderers FC / Devere Whites Hotel, Bolton BL6 6JW
• 20th: Supply to Health Commissioner - City Inn Leeds, Leeds LS1 4BR
• 21st: Supply to Health Commissioner - The Studio, Birmingham B2 5EP

September 2009

• 1st: Supply to Health Commissioner - The Resource Centre, London N7 6PA
• 3rd: EM: Dental Network - Holiday Inn Sandiacre, NG10 5NJ
• 3rd: WM: Primary Care Leads Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 3rd: WM: Steering Group Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 10th: WM: QOF Leads Network - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 15th: EoE Regional Dental Network - Hilton Stansted Airport, CM24 1SF
• 15th: NW: Primary Care Leads (Am + Lunch) - Holiday Inn Bolton, BL1 2EW
• 15th: NW: PC Steering Group Network (Pm + Lunch) - Holiday Inn Bolton, BL1 2EW
• 21st: YH: QOF Assessor Training - Hilton York, Y01 9WD
• 22nd: WM: Finance Leads Network - Aston Business School, Birmingham B4 7ET
• 24th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care - Medical Level 2 - Hilton Kensington, W11 4UL
• 24th: YH: Primary Care Policy Leads Network (Inc Lunch) - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 24th: YH: Primary Care Pharmacy Network (Inc Lunch) - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 24th: London: Finance Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 25th: South Central : Eyecare network meeting - Shaw House, Newbury RG14 2DR
• 28th: Supply to Health - The Resource Centre, London N7 6PA

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

Other events

First national orthodontic commissioning education day

The British Orthodontic Society is holding the first orthodontic commissioning education day during this year's British Orthodontic Conference in Edinburgh on 15 September. The day is aimed at individuals or organisations directly or indirectly involved in commissioning NHS orthodontic services.