Health Management and Policy Alert

The Quarter

This is the first in a series of quarterly updates. It outlines progress on financial management and performance, forecasting the financial position of the NHS based on the first three months of the year. Although subject to fluctuation over the rest of the financial year, the forecast figures show:

• the NHS forecasting a surplus of £983m at the end of 2007/8 compared to the end of year position of £510m surplus in 2006/7 and a deficit of £547 million in 2005/6. This represents 1.3 per cent of the NHS budget - this money will be retained by the NHS and spent on further improving services and patient care.
• since last year the number of NHS trusts in deficit is predicted to reduce by three quarters to just 22, or only 6% of NHS trusts.
• the gross deficit is down from £911 million in 2006/7 to £204 million.

(DH - press release)

Planning for a possible influenza pandemic

Two papers on the planning for potential influenza pandemic have been published. Exercise Winter Willow - lesson learned reports on the emergency planning exercise which was aimed at testing and strengthening planning for the response to an influenza pandemic. Planning for a possible influenza pandemic: a framework for planners preparing to manage deaths has been prepared by the Home Office. It sets out proposals on planning for the management of potentially large numbers of deaths during a pandemic influenza outbreak. The draft Framework is specifically aimed at local planners preparing contingency plans. (UK Resilience - news)

Guidance on the destruction of controlled drugs - new role for Accountable Officers

This guidance is to inform relevant health and social care professionals and organisations about changes to the role of Accountable Officer for controlled drugs which now enable them to authorise people, or groups of people to witness the destruction of controlled drugs. (DH - publications)

DH Statistics

• NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting: events occurring during the quarter ending 30 June 2007
• Waiting times for suspected cancer patients: quarter ending 30 June 2007
• Cancelled operations, England: quarter ending 30 June 2007
• Critical care beds, England: Census day July 2007
  (DH - statistical press release)

Primary care out-of-hours services [Scotland]

This report, by Audit Scotland, highlights some of the issues that have hindered NHS Boards in Scotland from developing integrated services for out-of-hours care. The findings show that most patients are satisfied with NHS out-of-hours care, but fewer GPs are working during the out-of-hours period and there is a significant risk the service is unsustainable in its current form.
(BMA - press release) [BBC Health - news]

Best practice guidance: specification for adult medium-secure services

This is a best practice document containing quality principles, specifications and high-level indicators for all medium-secure services. It also clarifies the performance framework underpinning the quality principles. (DH - publications)

Consultation on the introduction of picture warnings on tobacco packs: report on consultation

This is the report of the consultation on the introduction of picture warnings on tobacco packs, which was launched on 27 May 2006. The consultation proposed the introduction of picture warnings on all tobacco packs that are subject to the current written warnings. (DH - consultations)

Delivering eighteen weeks in dentistry

Two  papers  are available on the 18 weeks website to explain how the wider principles that underpin the 18 week target apply to dental specialties. Applying 18 weeks rules to dental specialities explains how the principles and rules set out in the generic 18 week clock rules paper apply to dental specialties. Delivering 18 weeks in dentistry: maximum impact – shorter pathways aims to prompt PCTs and acute providers to consider ways in which the patient pathway can be shortened to help deliver 18 weeks in consultant-led dental services. (Delivering the 18 week patient pathway - dentistry)

NHS statistics

• NHS dental statistics for England 2006/7 - This report considers NHS dental activity and workforce data in the first year of the new dental contract.
• NHS workforce vacancies survey 2007 - The data covers NHS staff (medical and dental, and non-medical) for all NHS organisations.

(Information Centre - homepage)

New/updated Health Management hot topics

Health Management hot topics are brief guides on current issues within the health care sector. They consist of a summary, followed by links to the most up-to-date publications on a particular topic, including policy guidance, toolkits, reports and consultations. There are around 50 hot topics on the Health Management website at present, these are updated and added to regularly. Full list of hot topics.

New:
Access: NHS dentistry services in primary care