Health Management and Policy Alert

30/10/06 - Consultation on the delivery of medical expert evidence in family law cases

The Chief Medical Officer has published the report Bearing Good Witness for a period of consultation until 28 February 2007. The key proposal is that the NHS should establish teams of specialist doctors and other professionals within local NHS organisations to improve the quality of the medical expert witness service by introducing mentoring, supervision and peer review. A National Knowledge Service to support the medical expert witness programme is also proposed.

(DH Consultations)

27/10/06 - Practice based commissioning implementation monitoring

The DH is publishing information that it collects from Strategic Health Authorities to monitor progress towards universal coverage and practice take-up of incentive payments. This data is collected on a monthly basis. The figures at 30 September 2006 have now been published.

(DH - PBC)

26/10/06 - Strong and Prosperous Communities - the Local Government White Paper

This newly-launched White Paper includes proposals to build on Our health, our care, our say by offering further impetus to closer partnership between local government, health and the third sector. Annex B of the White Paper offers a devoted review of its proposals for health and well-being. Chapter 6 outlines proposals for a single performance framework for local authorities from 2008/9. 

(DH - Chief Executive's Bulletin, 341)

25/10/06 - Mental health services: project on implementation of outcomes measurement

This Dear colleague letter addressed to all Chief Executives of mental health trusts is about the National Outcomes Measures project which was instigated by the Department of Health and the Care Services Improvement Partnership. (DH - publications)

25/10/06 - Government’s response to the Health Committee’s report on Independent Sector Treatment Centres

The House of Commons Health Committee published its report on Independent Sector Treatment Centres on 25 July 2006. This Command Paper sets out the Government’s response to the recommendations in that report. (DH - publications)

25/10/06 - Guidance on suicide prevention

The Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), on behalf of the DH, has produced Guidance on action to be taken at suicide hotspots. This best practice guidance aims to support the development of effective collaboration by local multi-agency suicide prevention groups in identifying particular places within their local area that are 'hotspots' for suicide. In addition to this guidance the CSIP have also produced Suicide audit in primary care trust localities: a tool to support population-based audit of suicides and open verdicts. This toolkit is designed to assist PCTs in establishing a system for collecting relevant information on suicides to inform local, regional and national suicide prevention strategies. The toolkit also comes with a data collection pro forma. To supplement this toolkit they have also published Suicide audit in primary care trust localities: a whole systems approach, which aims to provide guidance on how to undertake a whole systems approach to suicide audit within a PCT in order to improve clinical practice.

(National Institute for Mental Health in England - news & events) [DH press release]

23/10/06 - Productivity and efficiency indicators

The NHS Institute and the DH have developed a set of 'better care, better value' indicators. The indicators are published on a website, which can be searched according to area, type of trust, and subject.The key findings are:

• There is variation across the country in the efficiency and productivity of the NHS and significant benefits to patients could be delivered if trusts learnt from best practice. 
• Reducing unnecessary admissions could unlock more than £348 million. 
• Reducing wasted bed days could improve patient care and release £510 million a year - freeing up beds for other operations. 
• Improving the discharge process so that patients are discharged when they are ready, not when the system is, could deliver better patient care and release £975 million.

The DH will be providing this information to the NHS on a quarterly basis. NHS trusts will be informed how they compare to similar organisations to help them identify best practice and areas of underperformance. The indicators are primarily aimed at commissioners and acute hospital providers. 
(DH - press release) [NHS Institute news] [BBC news item]

23/10/06 - Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health (SLEH)

SLEH is the latest specialist library to be added to the resources of the National Library for Health. Its mission is to be the central UK point of reference for research evidence and guidance on best practice relating to the health of an ethnically-diverse population. The collection will cover all aspects of health care delivery, from individual patient care to broader public health concerns, and include guidance on the design of health care services for diverse ethnic groups. (NLH - press release)

23/10/06 - Mental Capacity Act 2005: consultation on draft research regulations - government response

In June 2006 the DH published a consultation paper, Consultation on Regulations to be made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The consultation period lasted 12 weeks ending on 5 September 2006 and produced 38 responses. This document discusses the main points arising from the responses received and the DH's position on these issues. (DH - consultations)

20/10/06 Publication of various documents relating to the 'GP patient survey - Your Doctor, your experience, your say', [formerly known as the National Patient Experience Survey 2006/07]

The Department of Health has commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct the “GP Patient Survey”. Questionnaires will be sent to selected patients in January 2007. Payments to practices qualifying for an award should be paid by PCTs in the first quarter of the 2007/8 financial year.   A range of notes, aimed at various audiences, is available here. 

[DH publications]