Pandemic influenza: guidance on meeting the needs of vulnerable people

The purpose of this guidance is to emphasise the need for vulnerable groups to be taken account of in the pandemic flu plans drawn up by primary care organisations and their partners. All plans for the flu pandemic should be sensitive to the demographics of local populations, taking account of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and the geographical dispersion of residents.

New Equality and Diversity Council seeks wide representation

The Department of Health has announced the formation of a new Equality and Diversity Council that will strengthen the national focus on improving quality in the National Health Service. Its key role will be reporting on equality and diversity issues to the NHS management board, including championing improvement and campaigning for change. Lay members are being asked to apply to join the council which will include representatives from patient groups, NHS staff, social care and voluntary organisations and the council will be chaired by NHS chief executive, David Nicholson.

National patient choice survey, England - March 2009

This report gives the final results of around 93,000 responses to the 17th national patient choice survey commissioned by the Department of Health to assess the implementation of choice at PCT level. The series of surveys monitor patient awareness of choice and recall of having been offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment.

Consultation on alternative medicine regulation

A consultation on whether, and if so, how, practitioners of acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine should be regulated was launched by the Department of Health.

At present, there is no statutory regulation of practitioners who offer acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in the UK.

The consultation will seek views on whether a regulatory system should be established to govern the practice of these complementary and alternative therapies. The three health ministers for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have agreed that this consultation should be UK-wide.

Dental Access Programme answers questions from Yorks and Humber

The Yorkshire and Humber Dental Access Programme workshop took place on 10 August in Leeds. The workshop was for PCT staff involved in commissioning dental services or managing dental service procurement projects. Following issues raised in June by the Yorkshire and Humber Dental Network, a range of solutions developed under the Dental Access Programme was presented. The workshop provided an opportunity to gain insight into service specification strategies and tender processes and an overview of the new contract mechanisms for dental services available to PCTs.

Gary Belfield invites PCT and SHA chiefs to WCC year two event

Gary Belfield, acting director general, commissioning and system management, Department of Health, invites PCT chief executives, chairs and PEC chairs and SHA chief executives and SHA directors of commissioners to attend the launch of world class commissioning assurance year two, in central London on 16 September. Each PCT and SHA is invited to send two representatives at executive level. Further information including how to book a place at the event can be found on the PCC web site. Delegates are encouraged to register as soon as possible as places for this event will be limited.

NHS Benchmarking Network workshops focus on Transforming Community Services

These events will discuss emerging good practice in Transforming Community Services and will feature presentations from recognised innovators in delivering community services. They will focus on the impact of TCS care pathways on PCT commissioning strategies and organisational structure. The first event is on 10 September (hosted by NHS Wakefield District) and the second on 13 October (hosted by Oldham PCT).

For further details contact Lindsey Rigby at lrigby@nhs.net.

Improving access to child and adolescent mental health services

This guidance states how the 18 week referral to treatment standard applies to non-emergency consultant-led CAMHS services and pathways. The guide does not set any new standards or targets but shows how accessible low-wait CAMHS can be achieved and provides good practice examples.

NICE publishes recommendations on QOF indicators for 2010/11

NICE has published its first set of recommendations for the clinical indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2010/11. The recommendations cover:

• New indicators and revisions to existing indicators in three areas - central nervous system (epilepsy); endocrine, nutritional and metabolic (diabetes); mental health and behavioural conditions (learning disabilities)
• Retirement of some existing indicators in five areas - coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, mental health and thyroid

The recommendations are now being considered by the Department of Health which in turn, will inform NHS Employers' discussions with the General Practitioners' Committee on possible changes to the GMS contract for 2010/11.

QOF CVD PP1 indicator (Cardiovascular disease - primary prevention 1)

The business rules are being amended (version 14.1) to exclude patients aged 75 years and over from PP1. Patients in this age group should still be individually assessed and their risks reduced, although risk equations do not apply and thresholds for reductions are not currently available. PP2 applies to all age groups, as do the blood pressure control indicators in the hypertension set.

Access to primary medical care for foreign nationals

PCTs are reminded that GP practices have discretion in how they respond to requests to become a registered NHS patient. This has been the basis of access to general practice since the inception of the NHS. Registered NHS patients receive primary medical care free of charge but are not entitled to free hospital treatment unless they are considered ordinarily resident in the UK or are otherwise exempt from charges under NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations. A GP practice which refuses an application for registration from a foreign national can offer to treat that patiently privately and make an appropriate charge. However, they must provide any immediately necessary treatment free of charge. PCTs may wish to remind their practices of these rules, and that the Department of Health cannot advise on individual cases.

GP Practice Vacancies Survey 2009

This is the fifth annual survey of GP Practice Vacancies in its current format. Its purpose is to collect and supply data about GP recruitment in England and Wales and to provide information on practice nurse and practice staff vacancies in GP practices.

Consultation on pharmacy registration fees for 2010/11

The level of the fee charged by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for the registration of pharmacy premises is being reviewed. The consultation closes on 30 October 2009.

Repeat dispensing research demonstrates benefits for GP practices and patients

Research examining the introduction of repeat dispensing in their general practice has recently been published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice.

Nearly half the population in the UK receive repeat prescriptions and 75% of all prescribed items are estimated to be repeats, however use of the repeat dispensing service has remained very low.

EPS Release 2 initial implementation begins in Leeds

Initial implementation of EPS Release 2 has begun at a site in Leeds. The pharmacy involved, Liptrots Pharmacy currently uses the Cegedim Pharmacy Manager system and the GP surgery is using CSC/TPP SystmOne.

In recent weeks, the technical connectivity has been tested using synthetic prescriptions. Approval has now been granted by Connecting for Health's clinical safety group to begin offering the service to patients. A pharmacy system can be rolled out in up to five sites before authority to deploy nationally is granted by CFH. Work is already underway to establish a second Cegedim Pharmacy Manager initial implementor site.

General Dental Council members named

The Appointments Commission has confirmed the names of the members appointed to the restructured General Dental Council which will take office in October. The new council will consist of 24 members, 12 lay and 12 professional. They are appointed for a four-year term.

New commissioning statistics published

DH has just published dental commissioning statistics for the last quarter. They show PCTs commissioned 1.1 million more units of dental activity (UDAs) than in the previous quarter, an increase of 1.4%.

Health minister Ann Keen said: "Access to NHS dentistry is now growing. In the last two quarters the number of people seeing an NHS dentist rose by 340,000. Today's data show an increase in NHS dentistry bought by primary care trusts of 1.4 per cent against the previous quarter."

Rise in oral cancer cases reported

Alcohol is largely to blame for an "alarming" rise in the rate of oral cancers among men and women in their forties. According to experts, numbers of cancers of the lip, mouth, tongue and throat in this age group have risen by 26% in the past decade.

The full story is on the BBC website.

Procurement of local enhanced eye care services should be open and fair

PCC has been contacted by the Association of Optometrists which has received complaints from its members regarding a PCT which has failed to adhere to good procurement practice when commissioning a local enhanced eye care service and awarding contracts under the scheme. PCTs are reminded that the process should be open and fair and should not prejudice practitioners in any particular area. The new world-class commissioning guide to improving primary eye health services provides useful guidance.

London focus for vision strategy day

The latest UK Vision Strategy event, which has been announced for the winter, will specifically aim to improve eye care in London.

'Transforming eye health and sight loss services' will take place on November 16 at law firm Clifford Chance, which is sponsoring the event, at its Canary Wharf offices.

It is being organised by the RNIB, which helped initiate the UK Vision Strategy, and the London Visual Impairment Forum.

As well as professionals involved in eye care, health and social care commissioners and managers are invited to attend to help implement the UK Vision Strategy in England's capital. For more details call 020 7378 0985.

Contracts Manager, North East Essex PCT

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

August 2009

• 19th: NW: Dental Access Programme Managers Meeting - Reebok Stadium: Bolton Wanderers FC / Devere Whites Hotel, Bolton BL6 6JW
• 20th: DH policy workshop for commissioners hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - City Inn Leeds, LS1 4BR
• 21st: DH policy workshop for commissioners hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - The Studio, Birmingham B2 5EP

September 2009

• 1st: SW: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 1st: DH policy workshop for commissioners hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - The Resource Centre, London N7 6PA
• 3rd: WM: Primary Care Leads Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 3rd: WM: Steering Group Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 3rd: EM: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Eastwood Hall, Nottingham NG16 3SS
• 4th: Ldn: Procurement Network Meeting - De Vere 17 Portland Place, London W1B 1PU
• 4th: DH policy workshop for providers hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - Hilton Leeds, LS1 4BX
• 8th: EM: Dental Network - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 8th: DH policy workshop for providers hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 10th: WM: QOF Leads Network - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 10th: YH: Primary Care Dental & Optometry Network Meetings (Inc Lunch) - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 10th: EM: Community Pharmacy Network - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG
• 14th: DH policy workshop for providers hosted by the system management and new enterprise team - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 15th: EoE Regional Dental Network - Hilton Stansted Airport, CM24 1SF
• 15th: NW: Primary Care Leads (AM) & Steering Group Meetings (PM) - Holiday Inn Bolton, BL1 2EW
• 15th: WM: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - St John's Hotel, Solihull B91 1AT
• 16th: World Class Commissioning Assurance Launch of Year Two - The Brewery, London EC1Y 4SD
• 16th: NW: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Park Inn Manchester, M4 4EW
• 18th: SEC: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Sofitel London Gatwick, RH6 0PH
• 18th: DH policy workshop for team 3rd Sector/SE hosted by the system management and new enterprise - Park Inn Russell Square, London WC1B 4BH
• 21st: YH: QOF Assessor Training - Hilton York, Y01 9WD
• 22nd: WM: Finance Leads Network - Aston Business School, Birmingham B4 7ET
• 23rd: EM: Primary Care Quality Network - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG
• 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
• 24th: SC: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Venue tbc, TBC
• 25th: South Central : GOS/POS network meeting - Shaw House, Newbury RG14 2DR
• 25th: SC : QOF assessor training - NHS Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6RT
• 29th: NE: Dental Access - Workshop 3 - Radisson SAS Durham, DH1 5TL

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