Health Management and Policy Alert

25/07/06 - Independent Treatment Sector report

The Health Select committee published its report into ISTCs on the 25th, raising a number of concerns.   The Healthcare Commission responded by issuing a statement stating that,

'It is very important that the debate about independent sector treatment centres is informed by fact. The Committee’s report rightly points out that we need good evidence about whether these services provide the best care for patients. The Healthcare Commission currently inspects independent sector treatment centres annually to ensure they are meeting national standards. We are also working with the Department of Health and other partners on how performance between the public and private sectors can be better compared.

In addition, later this year, the Healthcare Commission will undertake a national review of independent sector treatment centres to assess whether they are providing good quality care and are providing patients with the support and information that they need. The Commission is carrying out this review at the request of the Secretary of State for Health.'  The terms of reference for the Healthcare Commission's coming review of the quality of care provided by ISTCs are given here.

BBC news 24/07/06 Healthcare Commission statement 25/07/06

24/07/06 Healthcare Associated infections

The Department of Health published the Draft code of practice for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection on the 24th July. 

The purpose of this code of practice is to help NHS bodies plan and implement how they can prevent and control HCAI. It sets out criteria by which managers of NHS organisations and other health care providers should ensure that patients are cared for in a clean environment, where the risk of HCAI is kept as low as possible. The Healthcare Commission will be using this code to assess NHS performance and similar requirements will be introduced for the private and voluntary healthcare sector and care homes. The final version will be published in autumn 2006.

DH press release 24/07/06

The Health Protection Agency published the Mandatory Surveillance of Healthcare Infection report 2006,  which showed a rise in Clostridium Difficile cases, amongst other findings.   

HPA press release 24/07/06

The Healthcare Commission published its report into two serious outbreaks of Clostridium Difficile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Healthcare Commission Press Release 24/07/06

21/07/06 - Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2005

The Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) Annual Report, On the state of public health, details the progress that has been made in key action areas that were identified in the Annual Report 2004. In addition, five main topic areas have been covered. The first chapter looks at inappropriate variation in clinical practice, maintaining that a reduction in this variation would both deliver high quality equitable services and reduce waste. Other chapters include discussions on patient safety, influenza pandemic and Kernicterus, a disease which affects newborn babies. Also highlighted in this year’s report is the importance of protecting public health budgets and infrastructure, in a time of organisational change and funding pressure throughout the NHS. (DH - press release) (BBC news item)

20/07/06 - Review of allergy services

A Review of services for allergy: the epidemiology, demand for and provision of treatment and effectiveness of clinical interventions sets out the findings of a review of allergy services, which the government planned to carry out in its response to a House of Commons Health Committee inquiry. It identifies actions that can be taken, both at local and at national levels, to improve services. The report highlights three areas in which initial action will be of key importance:

• local commissioners to establish levels of need for services for allergy in their health community
• SHA workforce planners to work with Deans and providers to explore the scope for creating additional training places for allergists
• the DH to consider the options for commissioning the development of NICE guidelines for allergy, and work with the Royal Colleges on guidance for referral and care pathways. 

The review is accompanied by supporting information on the epidemiology of allergies, and interventions and services available for treatment and diagnosis of allergies.

(DH - press release) (DH - publications) (BBC news item)

20/07/06 - National Quality Requirements in the delivery of out-of-hours services

This guidance clarifies a number of aspects of particular Quality Requirements (including some important confusions about compliance). Several of these issues were addressed in the Commentary that was published at the same time as the Quality Requirements, and while this guidance provides additional clarification, it should still be read in conjunction with that Commentary. (DH - publications)

19/07/06 - National audit of NHS services for people with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Jointly commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the MS Trust, NHS services for people with multiple sclerosis: a national survey (summary) looked at whether guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in November 2003 were being implemented. The audit covered strategic health authorities, primary care trusts, NHS trusts and people with MS, and is the first national audit of its kind in the UK. The full report will be available on the RCP Web site on 31 July 2006.
(RCP - press release) (MS Trust - press release)

19/07/06 - Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS)

This is the ninth Report to Parliament on the PPRS. The PPRS is a voluntary agreement made between the Department of Health and the branded pharmaceutical industry, and covers all licensed, branded, prescription medicines sold to the NHS. It does not cover products without a brand name (generics) nor branded products available without prescription (over the counter medicines), except when prescribed. It is a UK wide scheme and covers around 80% by value (around £8 billion) of the medicines used in the NHS in both primary and secondary care. (DH - publications)

19/07/06 - The National Education and Competence Framework for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners

This discussion document outlines a proposed National Education and Competence Framework for the role of an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner. It includes the progress that has been made within the National Practitioner Programme Critical Care Project with regard to the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner role. Comments on the proposed Framework can be sent to: [email protected] (DH - publications)

18/07/06 - Patient safety in mental health services

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has published With safety in mind; patient safety in mental health services, the first analysis of patient safety incidents relating to mental health from any national incident reporting system, anywhere in the world. The analysis covers almost 45,000 mental health incidents reported to the agency’s National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) by mental health staff between November 2003 and the end of September 2005. It includes data from 75% of specialist mental health service providers in England and 80% of combined trusts in Wales. It also includes new analysis of clinical negligence claims, data from death registrations, hospital activity and national surveys. (NPSA - press release)

18/07/06 - NHS charges

Published by the House of Commons Health Select Committee, NHS charges is an inquiry into the rationale behind charging for treatments such as prescriptions, dentistry and optical services, for certain amenities, such as television and telephone use, and for car parking at some hospitals.
(Health Select Committee - reports) (NHS Confederation press release) (BBC news item)