Health Management and Policy Alert

21/12/05 - NHS workforce scorecard

The NHS workforce scorecard is a tool developed locally to enable human resources (HR) interventions to be aligned with the overall goals of an organisation. It measures the contribution of HR to patient value and service improvement. (DH - NHS workforce scorecard)

20/12/05 - General Dental Services Contract

The Standard General Dental Services Contract has been provided as an MS Word document for primary care trusts (PCTs). This is so PCTs can amend it to suit local needs and commissioning priorities. Unlike the new General Medical Services contract it is intended that the new General Dental Services contract will be a local contract, allowing PCTs to set it as they wish, providing they take into account all the provisions in the legislation. The Standard Contract must be read in conjunction with the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005 (S.I 2005/3361) and the General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services Transitional Provisions Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3435). (DH - publications) DH - fact sheet No.5

20/12/05 - Survey on healthcare-associated infection

The Health Protection Agency and the Healthcare Commission have published Management, prevention and surveillence of Clostridium difficile: interim findings from a national survey of NHS acute trusts in England. The survey looked at:

• the reported incidence and pattern of Clostridium difficile infection
• approaches that already exist to prevent and manage outbreaks of the infection in hospitals
• the challenges preventing trusts from being able to control outbreaks
• the views of professionals on what should be done to reduce the incidence of the infection

The findings revealed that over a third of trusts surveyed did not routinely follow government guidelines on the management of Clostridium difficile infection in their hospitals.

(Healthcare Commission - press release) DH letter BBC news item

19/12/05 - Research in the NHS: indemnity arrangements

This note summarises the current position on NHS indemnity for NHS bodies involved in research. It is a guide to managing the risks associated with research that involves NHS staff and/or NHS patients, including their organs, tissues or data.

(DH - publications)

19/12/05 - Attributing revenue costs of externally funded non-commercial research in the NHS (ARCO)

This document aims to clarify the distinction between research costs, NHS support costs and treatment costs in relation to activity specified in the research application/protocol; and to help attribution between the NHS and the external funder of: (1) patient-related activity; (2) clinical staffing; and (3) placebos and medicines. This paper should be read in conjunction with HSG (97)32: Responsibilities for meeting patient care costs associated with research and development in the NHS.

(DH - publications)

19/12/05 - Health Select Committee's report on smoking in public places

This report is in three volumes and recommends a complete ban on smoking in public places and work places. The Committee adds that a comprehensive ban would be easier and more cost-effective to implement and enforce, and would be more intelligible to the public. The Health Bill, as it stands, would introduce a partial ban, allowing smoking in private clubs and pubs that do not serve food. DH press release BBC news item

19/12/05 - Healthcare Commission annual report 2004/2005

Our progress: one year on is the Healthcare Commission's first annual report for 2004-05. It sets out how they have carried out their functions in 2004-05. It also highlights their key achievements and reports on the progress made in relation to their strategic goals. (Healthcare Commission - homepage)

16/12/05 - Integrated Service Improvement Programme

Following the issue of the NHS Integrated Service Improvement Programme (ISIP) guidance on benefits realisation planning, this letter, Integrated Service Improvement Plans – realising quality and value for money benefits, sets out what is required of SHAs and local health communities in the period through to 31 March 2006 and explains how it fits with other mainstream initiatives. (DH - letters)

16/12/05 - Guide to implementing NICE guidance

This guide, How to put NICE guidance into practice, is divided into three parts – the first two focus on organisations directly responsible for implementation, and the third focuses on commissioning organisations. Part 1 is aimed at chief executives and directors who have an overall responsibility for implementation and outlines the principles of implementation. Part 2 is aimed at people working to implement guidance, as part of their day-to-day practice, and has practical steps with examples, action points and ideas. Part 3 provides practical information on how commissioners can ensure the services they receive are in line with NICE guidance.

(NICE - publications)

16/12/05 - NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: priorities for 2005/06

The mission of the NHS Institute is to improve health outcomes and raise the quality of delivery in the NHS. They aim to do this by accelerating the uptake of proven innovation and improvements in healthcare delivery models and processes, medical products and devices and healthcare leadership. This brochure sets out the initial work programme and priorities of the NHS Institute, up to April 2006. (DH - publications)