Health Management and Policy Alert

Removing or suspending chairs and non-executives from PCTs and NHS trusts: consultation on introducing powers of suspension.

This consultation sets out a single approach to considering whether, and if so how, a chair or non-executive member of a PCT, or a chair or non-executive director of an NHS trust, should be removed from office. The process may involve either seeking resignation or the termination of appointment and also introduces the potential use of a suspension function. Responses to DH by e-mail or in writing by 6 March 2008. (DH - consultations)

Healthy weight, healthy lives: a cross-government strategy for England

A £372 million cross-government strategy to help everyone lead healthier lives has been launched by the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls. 

The five key elements of the strategy are:

• the healthy growth and development of children
• promoting healthier food choices
• building physical activity into people's lives
• creating incentives for better health
• personalised advice and support

The strategy will be followed by an annual report that assesses progress, looks at the latest evidence and trends, and makes recommendations for further action. A panel of experts will assist the government, with input from a new public health obesity observatory that will develop an understanding of what changes behaviour.
(DH - press release) [BBC Health - news]

Operating framework 2008/9

This briefing, published by the King's Fund, summarises the main points from both the operating framework and supporting documents and offers some analysis of their content. (King's Fund - briefings)

A dialogue of equals: the Pacesetters programme community engagement guide

The guide has been written to support NHS organisations participating on the Pacesetters programme to better engage with seldom-heard communities and groups.
(DH - publications)

NHS Foundation Trust Financial Reporting Manual 2007/08

This manual gives guidance to foundation trusts on producing their annual report and accounts. The guidance has been finalised following consultation, and a summary of responses is available. (Monitor - publications)

Can pay regulation kill? Panel data evidence on the effect of labor markets on hospital performance

Published by the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), this paper exploits panel data from the population of English acute hospitals where pay for medical staff is almost flat across the country. The authors predict that areas with higher outside wages should suffer from problems of recruiting, retaining and motivating high quality workers and this should harm hospital performance. The authors argue that stronger local labour markets significantly worsen hospital outcomes in terms of quality and productivity. (CEP - publication abstract)

A pharmacist’s brief guide to General Medical Practices

This guide has been produced by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) to give community pharmacists a flavour of how a GP practice works and how best to collaborate and develop relationships with GP practices. (PSNC - news)

Medicines management: everybody's business

This leaflet aims to empower service users and carers to ask relevant questions about medication and have their views taken into account, and to help health and social care practitioners improve their person-centred approach in the area of medicines management. (DH - publications)

Department of Health: prescribing costs in primary care

This report, published by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, is based on evidence from the Department of Health on prescribing costs in primary care. It looks at the scope for better use of the £8 billion a year spent by the NHS on prescription drugs. (Public Accounts Committee - reports)

Practice based commissioning: GP practice survey Wave 2 (September 2007)

This is the second quarterly practice survey, covering a sample of practices from each primary care trust. The aims of the survey are to get feedback from practices on their perception of the support offered by their primary care trust and on the clinical and financial engagement of practices with practice based commissioning.
(DH - statistics