Health Management and Policy Alert

26/01/07 Updated HMSL Briefings

Clinical guidelines: a brief introduction

Applying for NHS foundation trust status

26/01/07 - Statistics released on practice based commissioning

The Department of Health has published statistics on practice based commissioning : implementation monitoring up to 31 December 2006. All primary care trusts have achieved universal coverage as per their trajectory. Practice uptake is at 93%, up from 89% in November.

(DH PBC)

26/01/07 - Figures published on NHS referrals following GP reforms

GPs are sending fewer patients to hospital for unnecessary appointments following Government reforms giving practices a greater say in how the NHS provides and buys services for patients. Primary care trust tables in Excel can be downloaded here.

(GNN news)

25/01/07 - House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has published a report on child obesity

The eighth report on child obesity is based on evidence from the Departments of Health, Education and Skills and Culture, Media and Sport. It is estimated the rise in obesity costs the NHS £1bn a year.

(Health Service Journal Daily Announcements - login required) (Society Guardian) (GNN news - Government response) (BBC news)

25/01/07 - Consultation published on proposed changes to residential care charges 2007

The changes proposed in the consultation include uplifts to current levels of the Personal Expenses Allowance, Capital Limits and Savings Disregard.  Other changes are proposed to take account of changes made by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in October 2006 in the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 2006/2378). The consultation runs until 9 April 2007.

(DH Consultations)

24/01/07 - Enquiry launched into third sector public service

The Commons Public Administration Committee has launched an inquiry into the growing trend towards government buying or commissioning services from the third sector - (charity or voluntary organisations and non-government organisations). The committee's inquiry aims to explore the costs and benefits of the policy, and to judge the effectiveness of the approach.
(UK Parliament)

24/01/07 - Diabetes UK launches a report on the state of diabetes in the UK

The report, Diabetes : state of the nations 2006,  was launched in Parliament and shows the overall state of diabetes services across the UK. It is only the second report of its kind, enabling a comparison in the performance of the NHS between 2005 and 2006.

(Diabetes UK)

24/01/07 - Advice for end-of-year issues for primary care dental contracts

The Department of Health has published guidance to assist dentists with an NHS contract in managing their end-year issues.

(DH Publications)

23/01/07 - Report published on relationship between information and improving health and healthcare

The report, published by Dr Foster Intelligence, looks at 21 success stories in acute hospitals, primary care trusts and GP practices. Professionals are using information tailored to their needs, to identify potential areas of improvement and track the impact on patient care.

(Dr Foster Intelligence)

23/01/07 - Implementation plan for the local government white paper published

This implementation plan gives further information on how the Government will play its part in implementing the key proposals in volume one of the Local Government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, following the introduction to Parliament of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill on 12 December 2006. It is intended to be a practical tool for local government and other key partners to plan for the future.

(Communities and Local Government news)