Issue 37

4 Aug 2006

Circulation up

Over 15,000 primary care professionals now subscribe to New@PCC. If you would like to comment on anything we publish, we’d like to hear from you. To contact us with your news and views click the link at editorial@pcc.nhs.uk

News and information

 New !  Commissioning a patient-led NHS update 28 available now from DH

Click here to access it.

 New !  Electronic Prescription Services

All updated publications, guidance and support materials are available by clicking here.

On the state of the public health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2005

The CMO’s Annual Report 2005 highlights the health challenges that face us in the UK, and details the progress that has been made in key action areas that were identified in the Annual Report 2004. To access a copy of the report, click here.

PCT Medical Services Directions 2006

Directions relating to PCT directly-provided medical services came into force on 24th July 2006. To access a copy of these directions, click here.

Primary Care Contracting Advisor areas

With the new Strategic Health Authority configurations, we have updated the areas covered by our special advisors. To see these updated areas and our advisors’ contact details, click here.

Primary Medical Care

 New !  Dispensary Services Quality Scheme

NHS Employers and the GPC in consultation with the Dispensing Doctors Association have now published details of the Dispensary Services Quality Scheme together with guidance to assist practices and PCTs to implement the scheme. It is expected that Directions supporting the scheme will come into place by the start of autumn. Click here.

 New !  QMAS update bulletin

Click here to access the latest update from Connecting for Health.

GMS Contract Variations

It has been brought to the attention of the Primary Medical Care Contracting team at the Department of Health that some PCTs might not be issuing contract variation documents following the twice-yearly amendments to the GMS Contract Regulations.  If PCTs do not do this the GMS contract is not varied, the changes in the relevant amending regulations are not implemented and the contract is no longer in accordance with the GMS regulations - which by law it must be. 

To read a statement with further details on what process PCTs must follow to ensure their GMS (and PMS and APMS) contracts remain valid, click here.

Dentistry

 New !  Patient information leaflet for NHS dental practices and PCT managed dental services

Under the new regulations, practices are required to produce a patient information leaflet detailing their services, opening hours and other information for patients. PCTs will need to ensure that these leaflets are produced. A toolkit for producing these leaflets is available here.

 New !  Procurement case study

PCC has worked with PCTs in North Cumbria to publish a case study on their experience of undergoing a formal procurement exercise to provide dental services. The case study, and accompanying template documents, are available from our dental Shared Learning page here.

 New !  Dental contract local dispute resolution

The NHS LA has made the DH aware that a number of dental contract disputes that have been brought to them are on hold as they have yet to go through the local dispute resolution process. PCTs are reminded that local dispute resolution processes for disputed contracts should have been in place since 1st April 2006 and that they should ensure that disputes are dealt with expediently at local level.

Capital funding

A paper setting out the arrangements for allocating the £100 million capital funding for primary care dentistry announced on 18 May 2006 provides guidance for SHAs and PCTs on the types of dental services for which the funding is intended. Click here to access the DH paper.

Funds flow for vocational dental trainees

DH has supplied this letter inform SHAs and PCTs of the funding flows for Vocational Dental Training posts attached to primary dental care contractors. Click here to download.

Two National Learning Events for PCTs held

The first of two national learning events for PCTs to share learning since the new contracts and local commissioning were introduced was held on 6th July in London. Click here to access the presentations from the day. The second was held on 18th July in Manchester. These presentations will be available on the PCC website shortly.

Practice Based Commissioning

 New !  Practice-based commissioning governance and accountability framework - consultation

Appendix D of the document sets out proposals for a governance and accountability framework for PBC. The proposals aim to balance the PCT's responsibility for providing health services to their population and effective use of taxpayers' funds with the freedom for clinicians to innovate to deliver real patient improvements. Responses and feedback are welcomed by 6th October 2006.

 New !  Third PBC regional event announced

North on 3 October at Haydock Park Racecourse

South on 11 October at Newbury Racecourse

East on 24 October at Newmarket Racecourse (The Rowley Mile Conference Centre)

Designed to support the wider development of Practice Based Commissioning (PBC), these events are aimed at both PCTs and Practices and will stress the key role of PBC in terms of the wider commissioning reform agenda. The day will explode myths, highlight examples of implementation from across the country and allow delegates the opportunity to have their questions answered and their concerns addressed. Click here for more details.

Pharmacy

DH statement

DH has released a statement of non-compliance and dispute. Click here to go to the Pharmacy Assurance Framework page on our website for the download.

Free training programme update

The free training programme developed for community pharmacists around clinical governance by the NHS Clinical Governance Support Team, and with a link on our website, has now been relaunched. It is on a new website to overcome some of the technical difficulties in downloading modules. The programme is now available at www.cg4cp.org.uk.

Optometry

 New !  Payment to suspended General Opthalmic Services contractors and assistants

SI2006 No1550 came into force on 19 July amending existing regulations to be paid to suspended GOS contractors and assistants. Click here to download the document.

Click here for the PCC Optometry Homepage.

PCC Events

Details of all Primary Care Contracting events can be found here where you can book your place online and also find an archive of previous presentations.

 New !  PBC regional events

There are three regional events designed to support the wider development of Practice Based Commissioning (PBC). See above in ‘Practice Based Commissioning’ for more details. Click here for more details.

At a glance:

August

• 10th: Regional W Midlands Tendering, Procuring & Contracting of Primary Care Services Event - Birmingham
• 22nd: Regional Event South East - Oxygen Assessment (by invitation only)

September

• 28th: South West Primary Care Leads Network Event - PBC & Pharmacy

October

• 3rd:   Regional Event: PBC North
• 11th: Regional Event: PBC South
• 12th: WiPP National Event: GPN Roadshow
• 17th: WiPP National Event: GPN Roadshow
• 19th: WiPP National Event: GPN Roadshow
• 24th: Regional Event: PBC East

External events

You may be interested in the following events run by other organisations.

Primary Care Neurology Society Conference

To be held at Cutler’s Hall, Sheffield on 12 October, this year’s programme includes the following topics: Primary Care Neurology in the Psychiatrists Chair; Fits Faints and Funny Turns; Access to MS Services ; Development of Neurological Rehabilitation Services; Diagnosis and Long-term Management Issues in Parkinson’s Disease; Establishing a Primary Care Epilepsy Service. The format is a mix of keynote lectures, an Interactive Question Time and clinical workshops. Click here for more information.

Train the Trainers

Train the Trainers - Facilitator Training Course is organised by CfH on behalf of CBA. During the course delegates are trained to become facilitators for the Table-Top Challenge Game designed by Focus Games Ltd. The events are held at different location throughout the year with each event having a morning and an afternoon session and delegates are only able to select one. For further details please click here.

BPC Manchester 2006

This year's British Pharmaceutical Conference, run by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, will be held at Manchester International Convention Centre, from Monday September 4 to Wednesday September 6, 2006. Conference theme: Personalised medicine in healthcare. Click here for more information.

Further support

To discuss any support you need locally, contact your local advisor. Their contact details are all available on the PCC website: click here.

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