European Workforce Directive (EWTD)

The EWTD is now fully implemented across the NHS with the inclusion of junior doctors in training in the 48-hour working week. There are some exceptions, a very small number of services, which under the agreed derogation have a 52-hour week, giving additional time to 2011 to meet the 48-hour requirement. There is voluntary option to opt-out, for example, to support the NHS through flu pandemic or provide extra cover for a short term vacancy.

Keep on the road for longer

The Department of Health has teamed up with Age Concern and Help the Aged to produce a leaflet with a range of practical self-help tips for the over 50s for staying healthy.

Support for people with mental health conditions to stay in work

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced a range of measures to provide people with mental health problems with extra support to manage their condition and remain in the workplace.

Yorkshire & Humber regional WCC event

The Yorkshire and Humber world class commissioning of primary care services regional event will be held on 30 September at Royal Armouries Leeds.

This regional event will enable delegates to focus on the importance of commissioning and performance managing primary and community care provision, especially in relation to patient safety and quality. A number of guides have been produced which aim to support PCTs to realise world class service delivery and it is hoped that a further guide focusing on quality will be launched on 30 September.

A primary care benchmarking application commissioned by the Department of Health's primary care and community services team will also be presented at the event.

PCT autumn statements for services for disabled children

This dear colleague letter from Dame Christine Beasley DBE, chief nursing officer, includes a questionnaire template which PCTs may find useful when setting out their autumn statements on the development of services for disabled children.

Access to specialist neuromuscular care: the Walton report

The all-party parliamentary group on muscular dystrophy has heavily criticised the way in which the NHS plans services for rare conditions, following an in depth investigation, which took evidence from key clinicians, researchers, patients and NHS commissioners from across the UK. This document reports on the findings from this investigation and also calls for immediate guidelines to be set in place for muscular dystrophy.

Transfer of learning disability social care funding and commissioning from the NHS to local government

Since 1 April 2009, funding and commissioning responsibility of social care for adults with learning disabilities transferred from the NHS to local authorities. Further guidance on capital transfers and other financial and practical issues has been published.

Practice Management Network gets off the ground

A new network for managers in general practice officially got off the ground today with the launch of a website promising to raise the profile of practice managers and increase their influence on the policy agenda. Managers need to register for the network before getting access to all areas of the site, which includes a national map of local networks. The site also features an online version of the access guide currently being distributed to practices in printed form. Improving access, responding to patients: a 'how-to' guide for practices is available to all on the site. The network, started with support from the DH and several stakeholder organisations is keen to work with PCTs both at a practical level to support the registration drive, and in the wider sense to foster more productive working relationships and better communications.

RCGP seeks clinical lead to develop access guide

The RCGP is advertising for a clinical lead for the 'Improving access, responding to patients' education programme and has set Friday 11 September as the closing date for applications.

The framework for responsible officers and their duties relating to the medical profession: a consultation on responsible officer regulations and guidance

The Department of Health is consulting on draft regulations and guidance relating to the roles and responsibilities of responsible officers. These are doctors who will oversee clinical governance and professional competence. The responsible officer role will be particularly important in the revalidation of GPs. The draft regulations set out the legal framework for introducing responsible officers. The guidance expands on the regulations and describes the role that responsible officers will play in supporting organisations and doctors as they strive to improve quality of care. An FAQ is also available.

Advisory group set up on the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations

Following the publication of the white paper 'Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths - delivering the future' on 3 April 2008, and the consultation on proposals for legislative change, an advisory group representing the various stakeholder bodies has now been formed. Subject to parliamentary approval, the advisory group will impose a duty on PCTs to develop and publish pharmaceutical needs assessments and use assessments as a basis for determining the provision of NHS pharmaceutical services.

NHS Employers and PSNC start discussions on new pharmacy services

NHS Employers and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) have started discussions on possible changes to the community pharmacy contractual framework. The discussions are focusing on developing new or improved pharmacy services and developing the pharmacists' clinical, as well as dispensing, roles. It forms part of NHS Employers' wider work programme outlined in the pharmacy white paper. See NHS Employers' community pharmacy web pages for more information.

NPA pharmacy IT green paper out for consultation

The NPA has developed a pharmacy IT green paper and started a process to design what IT could be needed in future for community pharmacy. The NPA is requesting comment from its members and others through the NPA IT Forum website.

The safer management of controlled drugs: annual report 2008

The Shipman Inquiry found that ineffective monitoring had allowed Dr Harold Shipman to obtain large quantities of diamorphine. This report details progress in implementing regulations introduced in response to the Shipman Inquiry to monitor controlled drugs.

September is Oral Health Month

Colgate Oral Health Month is a UK-wide initiative run by Colgate in partnership with the British Dental Association (BDA). Now in its seventh year, the aim is to educate the public about the importance of oral health and to promote communication between dental professionals and patients. The 2009 campaign is focusing on the theme of delivering prevention in practice.

GOC asks how opticians registers can be improved

The General Optical Council (GOC) is hosting a series of consultation events to find out how the opticians' registers can be improved for employers, patients and the public, and registrants.

This autumn, four events will be held around the UK, focusing on issues including:

• What information should be published on the registers?
• How can the GOC make the registers more accessible?
• How can the GOC make the registers more user-friendly?

Interim Programme Manager - Southampton City PCT

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
• 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
• 22nd: YH: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Hilton Leeds, LS1 4BX
• 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
• 28th: LDN: Dental Access Programme Workshop 1 & 2 (re-run) - Holiday Inn Regents Park, London W1W 5EE
• 29th: NE: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Radisson SAS Durham, DH1 5TL
• 29th: EoE: Primary Care finance leads network - Hilton Stansted Airport, CM24 1SF
• 30th: Y&H: World Class Commissioning for Safety and Quality in Primary and Community Care Services - Royal Armouries Leeds, Leeds LS10 1LT

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