Health Management and Policy Alert

31/01/07 - Safer management of controlled drugs: guidance on Standard Operating Procedures for controlled drugs

The purpose of this guidance is to promote the safe, secure and effective use of all controlled drugs. These governance arrangements need to be implemented in a way that supports professionals, and encourages good practice around the management and use of these important medicines when clinically required by patients. (DH - publications)

New/updated Health Management briefings/hot topics

Updated hot topics:

Emergency care practitioners;
Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI): Clostridium difficile;
Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI): MRSA;

Choice: choice of hospital/setting for treatment

30/01/07 The Paddington Health Campus Scheme

The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts has published a report into the Paddington Health Campus Scheme. The Committee took evidence from the Department and NHS on two main issues: the way in which the local NHS developed the Campus scheme and the role of the Department. Eleven conclusions and recommendations are made. (Committee of Public Accounts - press release; BBC news item)

30/01/07 MRSA and Clostridium difficile

There were 42,625 cases of Clostridium difficile infection in patients aged 65 years and above in England in the first three quarters of 2006, according to the figures on mandatory surveillance published by the Health Protection Agency. This represents an increase of 5.5% over the same period in 2005, when there were 40,390 cases reported. While this is a smaller increase than seen previously, rates of infection remain high across England , particularly in small acute trusts, and the results show clearly the scope for improvement. The latest MRSA bloodstream infection figures, show that there were 3,391 cases of MRSA bloodstream infection reported in England from April - September 2006, down 5.0% from the same period in 2005. The MRSA rate from April - September 2006 was 1.69 cases per 10,000 bed days. Since the surveillance started in April 2001, rates have fluctuated between 1.69 and 1.88 cases per 10,000 bed days. (Health Protection Agency - press release, DH - press release, BBC news item)

30/01/07 Growing up matters

Growing up matters, a report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), has found that young people with complex needs (which include combinations of acute and chronic medical conditions, multiple and profound impairments, behaviour problems and learning disabilities) and their families are experiencing considerable difficulties when the young person reaches adulthood and moves from children’s services to adult services. The report action is needed at both national and local levels; action on policy and resource issues at a national level and action on commissioning, organisational arrangements and practice at a local level by councils, NHS, education, housing and other organisations to ensure young people with complex needs have every opportunity to lead as independent a life as possible. (CSCI - press release)

29/01/07 An anatomy of GP referral decisions

This paper, published by the King's Fund, presents the findings of a small qualitative study exploring GPs’ views about their role in supporting patient choice at the point of referral. In particular, it focuses on GPs’ level of support for patient choice and the influences on their referral behaviour; GPs’ early experiences of Choose and Book; the information that GPs need to inform patients about choice; and the impact of patient characteristics on equity in choice. (King's Fund publication)

29/01/07 A recipe for care: not a single ingredient

Professor Ian Philp, National Director for Older People, has published A recipe for care: not a single ingredient which sets out the challenge ahead in looking after older people and why we need to change services to ensure they get the best possible care in the future. In the report, Professor Philp recommends a five point plan to change older people's services for the better; early intervention, long-term conditions management, early supported discharge, acute hospital care when needed and partnership working. He says that this is already happening in some areas but it needs to happen across the country. (DH - press release, BBC News item)

29/01/07 National survey: general practice

In 2006, the Department of Health commissioned the Picker Institute to carry out this survey using exactly the same survey instrument as the PCT surveys carried out by the Healthcare Commission within the National Patient Survey Programme. The report on the survey has now been published. The results shows that 88 per cent of patients now report having the chance to see GP within 48 hours; many patients report seeing a GP well inside two working days; and that four out of ten (41 per cent) patients receive an appointment on the same working day they contacted their GP. (DH - press release)

29/01/07 Injury Costs Recovery Scheme

The new NHS Injury Costs Recovery (ICR) scheme has come into force. The scheme will replace the current Road Traffic Act (RTA) scheme. The ICR scheme will expand the cases where the NHS can reclaim the cost of treating injured patients to all cases where personal injury compensation is paid. (DH - publications, DH - press release)

26/01/07 NHS contracts for 2007/2008

The Department of Health has published NHS contracts for 2007/2008 (model contract) and Guidance on the NHS contract for acute hospital services 2007/08 (model contract guidance). These documents support the NHS operating framework for 2007-08. The NHS contract for acute hospital services will cover agreements between PCTs and providers for the delivery of acute hospital based care.  The contract will apply to agreements for 2007-08 for NHS trusts, foundation trusts and new agreements between PCTs and independent sector providers. There are two versions of the contract: a legally-binding one for NHSFTs and an abridged SLA version for NHS trusts. Included with the contract templates are final versions of the contract guidance, four contract schedule templates, and the activity plan template. (DH - Publications)