Health Management and Policy Alert

27/11/06 - Annual Health Check: revision of criteria for assessing core standards 2006/7

The Healthcare Commission has revised its criteria that is uses to assess NHS trusts' performance against the core standards in 2006/7. They have also carried out a limited review of the elements to be used in our 2006/2007 assessment of core standards. The review has focused on updating elements for which there is now new guidance or requirements. In a small number of cases, they have revised an element to reduce repetition or to increase clarity. (Healthcare Commission - what's new)

27/11/06 - Health and social care regulation

The DH has published The future regulation of health and adult social care in England,  which builds upon Health reform in England : update and commissioning framework and Health reform in England : update and next steps. The publication confirms the commitment to merge the Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission. It outlines the benefits for patients and service users and aims to give some clarity about how the organisations' roles will develop and how the transition will be managed until the new organisation is established. The closing date for consultation responses is 28 February 2007.
(DH - consultations)

27/11/06 - Organisational options for primary care trust (PCT) providers services

Birmingham University’s Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) and the law firm Hempsons have published Options for primary care trust provider services: an evidence based policy analysis for NHS West Midlands, a report funded by NHS West Midlands It explores the different organisational arrangements that may in future be used for the delivery of services such as district nursing, health visiting and community physiotherapy.  The report is intended to contribute to the national debate about how community health services should be organised and governed in the future, and sets out an analysis of the pros and cons of different organisational models.  The report concludes that there will not be any ‘one size fits all’ solution to how PCTs can organise their provider services in future, and asserts that models such as PCT provider units, community foundation trusts, and social enterprises are the most likely forms that will emerge. (HSMC - news)

27/11/06 - Code of practice for promotion of NHS services

This consultation document sets out the context within which providers may wish to consider promoting their services. It outlines proposals for a self-regulatory approach to promotion of NHS services, underpinned by a Code of Practice.

This will ensure that:

• information patients receive is not misleading, inaccurate, unfair or offensive;
• the brand and reputation of the NHS is protected;
• expenditure of public money on advertising and promotion is not excessive.

The closing date for consultation responses is 28 February 2007.

(DH - consultations)

27/11/06 - Cost benefit analysis of Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

The report sets out the findings of the cost benefit evaluation of HIA. The Department of Health commissioned York Health Economics Consortium to undertake this work. They followed 16 HIAs looking at the process, impact, outcomes and costs and benefits of HIA. The findings show the benefits outweigh the costs, although it was a small sample. (DH - publications)

27/11/06 - NHS funding of specialist palliative care services

The National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) undertook a survey in August 2006 of NHS funding of specialist palliative care services in the current year as compared with the year to 31 March 2006. By 6th October, 107 responses had been received from voluntary hospices and 91 from NHS services. The survey reveals that the funding gap is widening and that most services are experiencing some erosion of NHS funding that is necessary to support current levels of service, or are likely to do so as and when final agreements are concluded. (NCPC - press release)

27/11/06 - GP patient survey

The DH has published GP patient survey: your doctor, your experience, your say, it has been developed as a result of a commitment made in the White Paper Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services, and is part of the Directed Enhanced Service (DES) entitled the Improved Access Scheme. The survey questions cover:

• the four areas covered by the Improved Access Scheme DES: satisfaction with telephone access; ability to book appointments within two days; ability to book ahead; and ability to book with a doctor of choice
• two further questions added by the Department of Health on satisfaction with opening hours
• several demographic questions to assist with the data analysis

Survey results will be made available by late May 2007, with a view to PCTs making payments to practices in the first quarter the of 2007/08 financial year.
(DH - press release) [BBC news item] [Guardian news item]

National Library for Health (NLH) - tools and rules

The NLH has plans to create a National Library of Tools and Rules. The Health Management Specialist Library (HMSL) has been asked to nominate any tools/toolkits or rules used by healthcare managers, clinical managers or leaders. For example tools that measure costs, service utilisation or any that are used in the management of healthcare. NLH are looking for tools/rules that are recommended, but also those that are not.

If you have any suggestions please could you send me the details:
Tim Judkins [email protected]

The HMSL thanks you for your continued support.

New/updated Health Management briefings/hot topics

Updated briefing:

Private Finance Initiative;

Updated hot topics:
Our Health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services - White Paper;

Lean thinking;

Practice based commissioning

24/11/06 - Promoting the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people

This document reports on progress in improving the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people. The report highlights some areas on which service providers and commissioners will need to focus if the ten-year objectives set out in Standard 9 of the Children’s National Service Framework (NSF) are to be achieved, and offers some models of best practice. (DH - publications)