Boorman review urges investment in staff health

NHS Employers supports the findings of a new independent review which calls for staff health and well-being to be placed at the heart of NHS board agendas in order to improve patient care. The review, led by occupational health expert Dr Steve Boorman, draws on findings from NHS organisations and sets out a number of recommendations including the need for board commitment, top management leadership and staff engagement.

Drinkers unaware of potential sleep disruption

Drinkers across England are losing valuable sleep and disrupting vital brain functions without knowing that their boozing is the cause, new research for the Government's Know Your Limits campaign has revealed.

More than half (58%) of nearly 2,000 drinkers surveyed by YouGov did not realise that drinking above the recommended daily limits can cause sleep problems, with more men (63%) than women (53%) unaware of the link.

West Midlands QOF network to focus on 5% random check process

The West Midlands QOF network will meet on 10 September in Birmingham. The meeting will focus on the pan West Midlands 5% random check process. Assessor visiting teams will have the opportunity to feedback and share lessons learnt from the 5% random checks for 2008/09. The host PCT will provide an update on any actions taken following their receipt of the 5% random check reports and suggest improvements for future planning. It is important that all PCTs are represented at this meeting. Where possible a clinical and managerial assessor should attend.

World class commissioning (WCC) summer update - July/August 2009

This letter from Gary Belfield gives a progress report on the world class commissioning (WCC) programme for July and August. It includes updates on the launch of assurance year two, the PBC National Clinical Network, a new film showcasing PBC in action, some new support and development resources and an update on the programme of Integrated Care Pilots (ICP).

Animated account of WCC

A seven minute introductory animation about world class commissioning is available, set as an underwater detective story. Developed for the Innovation Expo, it is specifically aimed at introducing the concepts behind WCC to new audiences.

PBC Connection website gets a makeover

This site was set up earlier this year to support the work of the PBC Connection, a network of networks for stakeholders in clinical commissioning. Changes to the site make it easier and more attractive to use. It features an interactive map of PBC activity across the 10 SHA regions. An online form will soon be added to allow PCTs to upload information about local clusters. In the meantime, please send details to NHS PCC lead on PBC Sean Fenelon, together with any examples of local policies and good practice.

Statistics on NHS stop smoking services: England, April 2008 to March 2009

This annual report presents final results from the monitoring of the NHS stop smoking services in England during the period April 2008 to March 2009. This report includes information on the number of people setting a quit date and the number who successfully quit at the four week follow-up. It also presents in-depth analyses of the key measures of the service including pregnant women, breakdowns by ethnic groups and type of pharmacotherapy received and regional analyses at SHA and PCT levels.

Assessing complementary practice: building consensus on appropriate research methods

Despite the increasing popularity and use of complementary practice, it is difficult to assess its effectiveness. Lack of research - and lack of agreement on research methods - has led to criticism from branches of conventional medicine. The King's Fund set up an advisory group, chaired by Professor Dame Carol Black, to consider how to develop and apply a robust evidence base for complementary practice. The group drew on the experience of a wide range of academics, researchers, practitioners and funders and have published this report on their findings.

Pandemic flu: planning and responding to primary care capacity challenges

New guidance has been published for PCTs on how to deliver primary care services whilst potentially short staffed and how to cope with increased patient demand during the pandemic and the anticipated seasonal flu.

Templates referred to in the guide will be available on the NHS PCC website shortly.

The National Health Service (Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Community Pharmaceutical Services and Optometrist Prescribing) Regulations 2009

Amendments to the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 have been laid in Parliament and come into force from 17 September 2009. Among other matters, the amendments enable pharmacists and dispensing doctors to dispense against prescriptions from optometrists who are qualified as independent prescribers, contain measures allowing for temporary changes to the arrangements for the provision of community pharmaceutical services during an emergency, and make various technical changes to improve the functioning of the framework legislation for community pharmaceutical services. These technical changes cover matters such as opening hours, inducements, the handling of applications, and the provision of information to PCTs about officers of companies that are providing community pharmaceutical services.

The regulations are accompanied by an explanation of the changes.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society issues guidance to Muslims for Ramadan

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is urging Muslims who are taking medication, and fasting from sunrise to sunset during the religious festival of Ramadan, to seek advice from pharmacists on how to manage medicine intake effectively and safely in the interests of their health.

CPPE launches e-learning programme on responsible pharmacist requirements

CPPE has launched an e-learning programme aimed at helping pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians comply with the new responsible pharmacist requirements. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can work through a series of key learning points on CPPE's website or download a version that can be printed off and studied at their convenience. Each learning point is broken down into case study scenarios that require the learner to consider how they would act in situations that may arise after the regulations come into force. Full answers to each point are also provided.

The Migration Advisory Committee's recent advice to the UK Borders Agency (UKBA) on shortage occupations: implications for pharmacy

Briefing note to advise members of recent changes to visa requirements affecting non-EEA overseas pharmacists, non-EEA overseas pharmacy technicians and non-EEA overseas pharmacy students.

Clarification of contract variation notices

On 29 May 2009 the Department of Health issued variation notices and templates to update GDS contracts and PDS agreements to reflect changes made to relevant regulations mainly with effect from April 2009. PCC has provided some points of clarification following comments from PCTs that the notices contain discrepancies.

Local self-assessment audit for assessing implementation of HTM 01-05

This audit tool has been produced jointly by the Department of Health and the Infection Prevention Society, to allow practices to assess their level of compliance with the HTM 01-05: decontamination in primary care dental practices. It will allow practices to identify areas where they need to improve the quality of the decontamination process to achieve essential quality requirements and best practice, as identified in the guidance document.

CDO performs truth extraction

The chief dental officer Barry Cockcroft has clarified Information Centre statistics published last week on tooth extraction which prompted misleading reports in some parts of the media.

The description of a real rise in extractions in children was erroneous as the data for the base line year of 2003/04 did not include PDS statistics, and was therefore an underestimate.

Real figures for teeth extracted in children over the period 1997/98 to 2008/09 in England show a fall of 14% from 1.14 million to 982,000.

Boots Opticians' contract variations to be completed this week

NHS Nottingham City are currently carrying out director checks on David Foster, the recently appointed company secretary at Boots Opticians Professional Services Ltd, but PCTs are reminded that the merger planned for 1 September 2009 is not dependent upon the director checks for this one individual being completed before the merger deadline. PCTs should send out contract variation letters this week adding the D&A branches in the PCT area to the Boots Opticians' contract. PCTs will be advised through New@PCC when the director checks on David Foster have been completed.

November focus on eye health announced

Renewed efforts to make the public better informed about eye health will take place in early November. As part of its National Eye Week (9 to 15 November) the Eyecare Trust will produce a lifestyle survey on factors that people do not necessarily associate with good vision and healthy eyes.

Commissioning Project Manager - NHS Dorset

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

September 2009

• 3rd: WM: Primary Care Leads Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 3rd: WM: Steering Group Meeting - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 4th: LDN: Procurement Network Meeting - De Vere 17 Portland Place, London W1B 1PU
• 8th: EM: Dental Network - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 10th: WM: QOF Leads Network - Maple House, Birmingham B4 6TB
• 10th: YH: Primary Care Dental & Optometry Network Meetings - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 10th: EM: Community Pharmacy Network - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG
• 14th: SW: Dental Network Meeting - Holiday Inn Taunton, TA1 2UA
• 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 Programme 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 Programme Workshop 3 - Park Inn Manchester, M4 4EW
• 18th: SEC: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Sofitel London Gatwick, RH6 0PH
• 21st: YH: QOF Assessor Training - Hilton York, Y01 9WD
• 22nd: WM: Finance Leads Network - Aston Business School, Birmingham B4 7ET
• 22nd: SW :QOF Assessor training - Lyngford House Conference Centre, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8HD
• 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 - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 24th: YH: Primary Care Pharmacy Network - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 24th: LDN: Finance Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 24th: SC: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - De-Vere Wokefield Park, Reading RG7 3AH
• 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 Programme Workshop 3 - Radisson SAS Durham, DH1 5TL

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