A (H1N1) swine flu: vaccination programme update

Ian Dalton, national director of NHS flu resilience, has sent a letter to NHS chief executives providing further information on the swine flu vaccination programme.

Preparing for swine flu vaccination

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has announced that the swine flu vaccination programme will begin on Wednesday 21 October 2009. The Social Partnership Forum (SPF) has identified the top six things that NHS organisations can do now to prepare for the impending vaccine administration.

NICE lists cost-saving guidance

NICE has published a list of guidance, which, when implemented, will generate net cost savings. The list is based on costing work undertaken at the time of publication for all NICE clinical guidelines from January 2005 and technology appraisals from January 2006.

Over this period NICE guidance has resulted in a potential national estimated saving across the whole of the NHS of over £600 million.

NHS performance ratings 2008/09

The Care Quality Commission has published performance ratings for all 392 NHS trusts in England. The CQC's assessment, also known as the 'annual health check' shows big improvements for patients.

NHS as the preferred provider

The secretary of state's recent speech at the King's Fund focused on putting quality at the core of the NHS. He assured 'the NHS is our preferred provider'. The Department of Health has sent a letter to NHS chief executives explaining how this policy will be reflected in future guidance.

West Midlands dental leads workshop on e-reporting and contract management

This is a joint PCC and West Midlands Investing for Health Project 11 event to support PCTs in improving access to and quality of dentistry. The event, due to take place in Birmingham on 26 October, will demonstrate how e-reporting enables better management of dental contracts helping PCTs to identify and tackle performance issues and improve value for money.

An introduction to world-class commissioning

This guide provides a brief introduction to world-class commissioning.

World class commissioning update

This letter from Claire Whittington gives a progress report on the world class commissioning programme, including updates on assurance year two, revisions to the new practice-based commissioning surveys, an update on integrated care pilots and information on new online and film resources.

Self care support advice for commissioners and providers

DH has updated the advice on its website for commissioners and providers of self-care support.

Getting it right for children and families

This guide is for health visitors and their teams, provider managers, commissioners and educationalists. It sets out the contribution that health visitors and teams can make to health and wellbeing and public health.

Communities for Health: unlocking the energy within communities to improve health

The Communities for Health programme exemplifies the increasing role local government plays in supporting health improvement and reducing health inequalities. This second report includes community activities in over 80 local authorities aimed at encouraging behaviour change and strengthening local partnership to tackle a wide range of key health priorities.

Patient feedback on GP practices

Patients can now post online feedback about their experience of visiting their GP. Feedback is pre-moderated and practices have the right to post a reply to each comment. In addition, a new practice comparison facility enables users to easily compare opening times, treatments and facilities and patient feedback to help them identify the best practice for themselves and their families.

Model General Medical Services (GMS) contract and variation notice

As a result of changes to the GMS regulations, a revised model GMS contract is available on DH website. This version of the contract should be used for all new contracts signed after 17 September 2009.

For existing contracts, a variation notice is also available, as are revised APMS and PCTMS directions.

Alternative Provider Medical Services Directions 2009: a clarification

The item about APMS directions which appeared in last week's issue also contained a link to the directions for PCTMS, which were wrongly described as "directions for PMS".

Implementing the Health Act 2006: review of fees for applications to provide pharmaceutical services in England

The National Health Services Pharmaceutical Services (Fees for Applications) Directions 2008 (as amended in April 2008) came into force on 21 April 2008 and specify the types of application for which a fee will be payable and the levels of such fees.

During the passage of the Health Bill 2006, the Government undertook to consider a general review of the measure at a later date. DH would welcome comments and views on the impact of charging on the NHS, pharmacy and appliance contractors and applicants and whether or not the current fees represent a fair contribution to NHS costs. Contact Tracey Ellis on 0207 972 5511.

October CPN is now online

The October edition of PSNC Community Pharmacy News is now available.

E-reporting licences and training

Following the item on e-reporting in the October issue of Access@dental PCTs are reminded that e-reporting licences will only be issued by NHS Dental Services in conjunction with an initial training day. However, pre-defined reports are still available through POL.

Please email any queries to: ereporting@dpb.nhs.uk

Survey reveals good oral health for five year old children in England

A new report reveals that 69% of five-year old children are free of obvious dental decay. The survey is based on the examination of nearly 140,000 five year old children from state schools across 147 of 152 PCTs in England during the 2007/2008 academic year. This is the first survey requiring parents of children involved to give consent, so direct comparisons with previous surveys should not be made.

The survey was conducted as part of the NHS Dental Epidemiology Programme for England.

Specsavers

According to Optician magazine, the Specsavers chain is still expanding despite the recession. The article cites plans by the company to open 30-40 new practices each year.

Those with non-correctable vision problems die sooner, study says

Non-correctable sight problems lead to an increased risk of death among people aged 49-74 years, according to a new study.

Researchers in Australia reported that a higher risk of dying could be associated to non-correctable vision impairment, with the connection being more prominent in individuals aged under 75.

Associate director, NHS Primary Care Commissioning

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Commissioning for quality manager - NHS Bristol

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Subscriber only events

Other

Event open to all NHS

October 2009

• 22nd: Northern: POL Training - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 26th: WM: Dental Leads Workshop 2 (E-reporting & Contract Management) - Clarendon Suites, Birmingham B16 9SB
• 27th: LDN: South West Primary Care Leads Network - St John's Therapy Centre, Battersea SW11 1SW
• 28th: Primary Care Commissioning for Offenders - Hilton London Metropole, W2 1JU
• 29th: NW: GOS Network Meeting - Ramada Manchester Piccadilly, M1 4PH

November 2009

• 3rd: EM: Community Pharmacy Network - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG
• 3rd: LDN: South East Primary Care Leads Network - In Tuition House, London SE1 1JX
• 5th: EoE: NHS PCC Steering Group and Primary Care Commissioning Leads meetings - Great Hallingbury Manor, Bishop's Stortford CM227TJ
• 5th: EoE: Primary Care Commissioning and Primary Care Contracting leads - Great Hallingbury Manor, Bishop's Stortford CM227TJ
• 11th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: QOF Level 1 - Park Inn Russell Square, London WC1B 4BH
• 11th: SW: Contract management event - Cleve Hotel & Country Club, Somerset TA21 8SN
• 12th: BY INVITATION ONLY: Optometric Adviser's Group Meeting - Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre, B5 4EW
• 12th: EM: Contract Management Event (+ Lunch) - Park Inn Nottingham, NG5 2BT
• 12th: LDN: North Central Primary Care Leads Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 13th: WM: Working Group for Annual Medical Services Contract Review - Holiday Inn Express Redditch, B97 6AE
• 18th: EoE Regional Dental Network - Hilton Stansted Airport, CM24 1SF
• 18th: South West Dental Network workshop - Lyngford House, Taunton TA2 8HD
• 19th: WM: Pharmacy Leads Network - Clarendon Suites, Birmingham B16 9SB
• 19th: SEC:Community Pharmacy Services - Strategic Network Meeting - Mercure London Gatwick Hotel, Gatwick RH6 0BE
• 19th: LDN: North West Primary Care Leads Network - Friends House, London NW1 2BJ
• 24th: Building Foundations for World Class Commissioning of Primary Care: Pharmacy Level 2 - Thistle Kingsley, London WC1A 2SD
• 25th: LDN: QOF Assessor Training - Venue, tbc
• 26th: YH: Primary Care Policy Leads and Pharmacy Network meetings - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 27th: SW : World Class Commissioning of Pharmaceutical Services in the South West - South West House, Taunton TA1 2PX

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