First quarterly report on NHS shows progress

David Flory's first quarterly report of 2009/10 on NHS finance and service performance, shows that the NHS has started 2009/10 well. The quarter features the latest data on healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) which show that the risk of infection with MRSA bacteraemia or C. difficile is at its lowest for five years. It also shows that the NHS has sustained operational standards on 18 weeks and has further improved access to primary care services.

Flu vaccination delivery

Following negotiations with the BMA General Practitioners Committee (GPC) to agree how the swine flu vaccine will be delivered, Ian Dalton, National Director of NHS Flu Resilience, has written to all NHS chief executives to share the detail of the agreement and set out clear next steps. The vaccination programme will begin once the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) licenses the vaccines.

084 phone numbers in the NHS: Department of Health response to consultation

This is the Department of Health's response to the recent consultation document which sought views from all interested parties on the use of 084 numbers in the NHS. It sets out proposed action as a result of the consultation.

East Midlands focuses on quality

The East Midlands primary care quality network will meet on 23 September.

This event will focus on the quality issues in delivering robust primary care commissioning and contracting and the sharing of good practice across the East Midlands.

Commissioning Excellence newsletter available

PCC's quarterly bulletin for chief executives, boards and directors of commissioning is published today. Timed to coincide with the world class commissioning year two assurance event taking place in London, the new edition covers the polysystems being developed as part of the Healthcare for London initiative, examples of commissioning good practice from around the country, and an editorial by Dr James Kingsland, national clinical lead for practice-based commissioning. Download a copy from the PCC website.

PBC survey deadline extended

The NHS Benchmarking Network has extended the deadline for participation in its study of practice-based commissioning. A report based on phase one of the study had 26 contributions covering a number of areas, including cluster structure, financial data, commissioning and engagement and management support. The network is seeking updated data from the original respondents but also hopes to attract new contributors. The data collection template and the phase one report are available for download. The new deadline for submissions is 2 October. Queries should be directed to cholditch@nhs.net.

Commissioning for people with skin conditions

University of Hertfordshire is hosting 'Commissioning services for people with skin conditions: the updated Health Care Needs Assessment', which takes place on 22 October. The agenda and booking form for the half-day event are available to download.

Pandemic flu payments agreed

NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) have reached agreement on payments to support the swine flu vaccination programme. The agreement should enable the effective delivery of the swine flu vaccination to patients identified as being at risk. Further information is available on the NHS Employers pandemic flu payments web page.

NICE QOF topic suggestion facility

The NICE online topic suggestions facility for QOF will be open for four weeks.

Users of the site can suggest potential new indicators and submit comments on existing indicators.

The following resources may also be useful:

• Proposed new indicators for 2010/11 QOF: NICE current indicators menu. Click on each indicator title to view the related briefing papers and advisory committee recommendations including cost effectiveness.
• Review of existing QOF indicators: recommendations on retirement and thresholds. See the link to advisory committee recommendations under the July advisory committee minutes.
• For full details of the advisory committee discussions and considerations, see the advisory committee minutes.

Use of NICE appraised medicines in the NHS in England: experimental statistics

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal process assesses the clinical and cost effectiveness of new and existing drugs and treatments, and provides guidance on their use by the NHS. As part of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) agreement which came into operation on 1 January 2009, the Department of Health (DH) and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry agreed that the DH would review the variation in uptake of selected medicines in the NHS in England. Details are available from the Information Centre.

Category M price changes for October 2009

The Medicines Margins Survey conducted by the Department of Health assesses the margin achieved by pharmacy contractors in the previous financial year. This year's survey disclosed that significant excess margin was achieved beyond the £500 million allowed. To account for this, from the 1 October, average item value will be reduced by 9.4 pence per item achieved through a reduction in Category M reimbursement prices.

Primary care trust prescribing data: April to June 2009

This release contains data for the quarters April to June 2008, July to September 2008, October to December 2008, January to March 2009 and April to June 2009.

Progress on procurement and template agreement

As part of our discussions with the BDA on the revised dental agreement, we are developing a template agreement (contract) that addresses BDA concerns about the current version. The template agreement will cover the requirements for quality and access metrics but should also be attractive to providers.

PCTs engaged in procurements have asked to use the new agreement and several are already in contact with the commercial team at the Department of Health. PCTs are advised that the agreement is a draft document and may be subject to change.

Quality and access metrics should be built into all new procurements whether or not they use the new agreement. Contact jatinder.garcha@dh.gsi.gov.uk if you require support.

An update will be made at the SHA leads meeting on 21 October.

GDC freezes fees again

Dental professionals' annual retention fee (ARF) will stay the same for a third year running following a decision made by the council of the General Dental Council. The full story is on the GDC website.

Judges to rule on Southampton fluoride decision

Permission has been granted for a judicial review of the decision to fluoridate water supplies in Southampton and south west Hampshire. Fluoridation plans in other parts of the country have been put on hold pending the outcome of the review which is likely to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by the end of the year.

Macular Disease Society Awards: winners announced

Presentation of the inaugural Macular Disease Society Awards will take place on Saturday 19 September in London. The MDS Awards were launched this year to recognise the outstanding work being done in the UK for people with macular disease, the leading cause of vision loss. More than 70 nominations were received for the awards.

Home oxygen services in England: strategic review report

DH has published the home oxygen service strategic report which is now available.

The new SRO for home oxygen, chief scientific officer Professor Sue Hill, commissioned the review which makes a number of recommendations in relation to the home oxygen service.

Interim Primary Care Manager - Oxfordshire PCT

More information

Band 7 Primary Care Contracting Manager - Coventry PCT (permanent post)

More information

Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

September 2009

• 21st: YH: QOF Assessor Training - Hilton York, Y01 9WD
• 21st: NE: Invitation only - Dental Workshop (Finance & Contract Management) - LIFE Conference Centre, Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP
• 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: NW: World Class Commissioning of Primary & Community Care Services - Hilton Manchester Airport, M90 4WP
• 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 and Pharmacy Network meetings - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 24th: LDN: Finance Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 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: EM: Invitation Only - PBC Clinical Network - Thistle East Midlands Airport Hotel, Derby DE74 2SH
• 29th: NE: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Radisson SAS Durham, DH1 5TL
• 29th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: Eyecare - Park Inn Russell Square, London WC1B 4BH
• 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

October 2009

• 1st: London: GOS Network - King's Fund, London W1A 0AX
• 2nd: EoE: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - De Vere University Arms, CB2 1AD
• 6th: SW : Eyecare Network Meeting - Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 6th: LDN: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Thistle Kensington Gardens, London W2 3HL
• 6th: Market Communication Events for the Dental Access Programme (Information day for Potential Dental Providers) - Crowne Plaza Birmingham, B1 1HH
• 6th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: Fitness to Practise - Thistle Kingsley, London WC1A 2SD
• 7th: EM: Dental Access Programme Workshop 3 - Park Inn Nottingham, NG5 2BT
• 7th: SW :Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: Eye Care - Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Wellington TA21 8SN
• 8th: EM; QOF Network - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 8th: Market Communication Events for the Dental Access Programme (Information Evening for Potential Dental Providers) - Abbey Hotel, Redditch B98 9BE
• 9th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: QOF - Radisson Edwardian Manchester, M2 5GP

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