Greater freedom for the NHS

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has set out proposals for the removal of financial constraints which currently put NHS foundation trusts at a disadvantage to voluntary and private sector providers.

The consultation document Regulating Healthcare Providers proposes the removal of the statutory private income cap and borrowing limits as well as rules that inhibit mergers and takeovers between trusts.

The document underlines the role of Monitor and the Care Quality Commission as the economic and quality regulators of the NHS, respectively.

The white paper declared the government's intention that all NHS trusts would become foundation trusts by 2013.

For further background see the press release and consultation document on the DH website.

Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients

The government's white paper, Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS set out proposals for putting local consortia of GP practices in charge of commissioning services, supported by an independent NHS commissioning board.

The Department of Health has now launched a consultation on the proposals.

Liberating the NHS: increasing democratic legitimacy in health

This consultation builds on the proposals in the white paper to increase local democratic legitimacy in health. This will be achieved through local authorities being given a stronger role in patient choice and representation, assuming responsibility for public health and promoting more effective commissioning.

Liberating the NHS: report of the arm's-length bodies review

The report of the Department of Health's review of arm's length bodies in the health and social care sectors recommends the abolition of several institutions. The bodies affected will be phased out over two years.

Extent and causes of international variations in drug usage

This report for the secretary of state for health by professor Sir Mike Richards explores the extent and causes of international variations in drug usage across 14 countries, including the UK, for a range of disease areas.

North-east primary medical care and eye care leads meeting

Two half-day events on 11 August: The Building Foundations Level 1 morning event is for new managers in PCTs with responsibility for the commissioning, contracting and management of primary medical care services. The afternoon session for eye care leads will include presentations by John Hearnshaw, specialist adviser, eye care.

Transparency in outcomes - a framework for the NHS

The government's white paper set out how the secretary of state for health will hold the NHS commissioning board to account for delivering better health outcomes through a national NHS outcomes framework, which is now the subject of a consultation by the Department of Health.

Consultation on changes to the allocation formulae for the learning disability commissioning transfer grant, preserved rights grant and AIDS support grant

The Department of Health is seeking views on options for distributing three social care grants from 1 April 2011. This consultation will not pre-empt the outcome of the spending review, which will be announced on 20 October 2010.

Funding allocations and list cleansing

Some PCTs may be deferring GP list cleansing in the mistaken belief that they will be penalised by a reduced secondary care allocation. This briefing from PCC clarifies the rules around funding allocations.

PCT contacts for consultations on draft PNAs

PCTs are in the process of developing their first PNA under the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005, as amended. Regulation 3F requires PCTs to consult a specified list of organisations which includes neighbouring PCTs. PCC has collated a list of contact details for PCTs. If you wish to add or amend details please email maria.axford@pcc.nhs.uk.

PCTs are advised to contact all the organisations listed in Regulation 3F to identify the appropriate recipients for draft PNAs and their preferred format for the information.

Annual review of ESPLPS contracts

PCC has produced a briefing for PCTs with ESPLPS contracts, who are required to undertake an annual review of the contracts to ensure they continue to meet eligibility criteria.

Example questions for consultations on draft PNAs

NHS Peterborough and NHS South East Essex have agreed to share the questions they will be asking about their PNA when they go out to consultation this summer.

Community dispensing statistics for 1999 to 2009

NHS IC has published statistics for prescriptions dispensed in the community. The bulletin presents a summary of prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors in England. It also highlights recent changes and the main trends between 1999 and 2009.

Contract management support

In 2008/09 over 40% of providers delivered less than 96% of their contracted activity. Many PCTs either wrote off the difference or did not recover monies they were entitled to under the dental regulations, wasting on average £200,000 per PCT.

PCC's contract management package will help your PCT meet QIPP targets and improve access to NHS dentistry for local populations by reducing underdelivery and increasing return on investment. For more information, contact barbara.dingley@pcc.nhs.uk.

GDC secures ninth illegal practice prosecution of 2010

The General Dental Council (GDC), the UK's dental regulator, is continuing to push ahead in its pursuit of people practising dentistry illegally.

It has successfully prosecuted the ninth person this year for the offence. The full story is on the GDC website.

Eurom 1 aims to make Europe's roads safer

Eurom 1, the European federation of optical industry bodies, secured Jim Higgins, an Irish member of the European Parliament and member of the transport committee, to host the event which provided MEPs with information about the importance of vision in driving.

Professor Renato Pocaterra, an eye care professional and researcher at the University of Milan, revealed a direct causal link with visual perception in 59 per cent of road accidents from an analysis of national statistics.

The full story is at the Optician Online website.

Primary care commissioning adviser east of England, £45,000 to £55,000

PCC CIC is a challenging and exciting company and candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working in a demanding environment.

PCC CIC is a social enterprise that works in parallel with NHS PCC, a well established and highly respected organisation providing professional services to the NHS. See our website for further details.

PCC CIC is looking to recruit one PCCA to cover the east of England to:

• Work with local commissioners to support effective primary care commissioning.
• Provide authoritative advisory support on wider commissioning.
• Develop good working relationships with NHS commissioners.
• Manage complex relationships and projects.
• Take a national lead on one or more work areas.
• Play a key role in developing the reputation of PCC.
• Contribute to the development of business proposals and ideas.

The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 13 August 2010. To apply or for further details contact debbie.dove@pcc.nhs.uk.

Support primary care commissioning adviser, western area, £30,000 to £40,000

PCC CIC is looking also to recruit one support advisor to:

• Work with the western team and with local commissioners to support effective commissioning
• Support the delivery of projects, in particular supporting analytical aspects of projects
• Contribute to the development of business proposals and ideas.

To apply or for further details contact debbie.dove@pcc.nhs.uk

Subscriber only events

Other

DH-led event

July 2010

• 29th: YH: Steering Group + Primary Care Leads & Optometry Network - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE
• 29th: Primary care leadership in the new commissioning context - Palace Hotel Manchester, Manchester M60 7HA
• 29th: EM: Building foundations level 1: primary medical care - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG

August 2010

• 6th: EM: Primary care leads network - Holiday Inn Leicester, LEI 5LX
• 11th: NE: a.m. Building Foundations Level 1 Eye Care event and p.m. Eye Care Leads meeting - Marriott Durham Royal County, Co. Durham DH1 3JN
• 16th: NW: QOF netwok - The Studio, Manchester, M1 1BB
• 18th: LDN: Finance Network Meeting - Melia White House Hotel, London NW1 3UP
• 25th: NE: QOF Refresher training - Marriott Durham Royal County, Co. Durham DH1 3JN
• 26th: YH: Pharmacy and Dental Network meetings - Holiday Inn Wakefield, WF5 9BE

September 2010

• 1st: NW: Pharmacy leads meeting - The Studio, Manchester, M1 1BB
• 3rd: EM: Primary care leads (am) & steering group (pm) network meetings - Hilton Leicester, LE19 1WQ
• 8th: NW: QIPP meeting & senior primary care leads (am) primary care leads & steering group (pm) network meetings - The Studio, Manchester, M1 1BB
• 8th: EM: Building foundations level 1 - community pharmacy - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 10th: WM: Finance leads network - Clarendon Suites, Birmingham B16 9SB
• 10th: WM: QIPP, QPC and the white paper workshop - Clarendon Suites, Birmingham B16 9SB
• 15th: EM: Dental network - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ
• 16th: EM: Community pharmacy network - Springfield House Business and Conference Centre, Grantham NG31 7BG
• 23rd: EM: QOF network - Holiday Inn Derby / Nottingham, NG10 5NJ

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