Health Management and Policy Alert

Developing specialties in medicine: protocol for handling applications for new CCT specialties, new sub-specialties and for decommissioning specialties which are no longer needed

This document lists the protocol for handling applications for new CCT specialties, and for decommissioning specialties which are no longer needed. (Department of Health - publications)

Moving beyond sponsorship: interactive toolkit for joint working between NHS and the pharmaceutical industry

This is a revised version of a toolkit designed to aid coordination and cooperation between NHS organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. The common agenda of both is to improve patient outcomes through joint working to ensure that patients get optimal care, with support to help them maximise the benefits of treatment. It is recommended that this toolkit be used in conjunction with Best practice guidance for joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry. (Department of Health - publications)

Transforming adult social care delivery support architecture

This paper summarises the national and regional systems in place to support the implementation of the Putting People First, transformation of social care programme. ‘The Putting People First’ (PPF) concordat was published by the Department of Health in December 2007. It sets out information to support the transformation of social care, as outlined in the Health White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a New Direction for Community Services in 2006. It describes the vision for development of a personalised approach to the delivery of adult social care. PPF concordat is an agreement between central and local government and other key organisations about the direction for adult social care for the next ten years and beyond. (Improvement and Development Agency - publications) 

Milestones for Putting People First: progress measures for the delivery of transforming adult social care services

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Care, Department of Health and Local Government Agency have been jointly discussing a framework that enables local authorities to view their progress for the Putting People First transformation programme. The need for such a framework came from both the findings of the Measuring Progress survey, reported in April, and also from regional and national feedback. This has highlighted the absence of any published markers to enable authorities to judge their pace of change, particularly in the wider national and regional context. This document was sent out to council directors, setting out personalisation milestones that they, alongside staff and local stakeholders, may be assessed against if they offer personal budgets and care reviews. (Improvement and Development Agency - publications)

The principles of GP commissioning: a General Practitioners Committee statement in the context of ‘Liberating the NHS’

This statement from the British Medical Association (BMA) outlines their views on what the fundamental principles underlying the development of GP commissioning should compromise. The BMA argue that these principles should be used to define policy, inform debate and negotiations and ensure that good medical practice is enshrined within the proposed White Paper changes to the NHS. (British Medical Association - press releases) 

Holistic assessment: support sheet 16

This publication from the National End of Life Care Programme provides an overview on the key elements of holistic assessment. (National End of Life Care Programme - publications)

The transformative power of effective facilitation - practical steps to making a difference in end of life care

This is a report of a conference that was held to launch the National End of Life Care Programme Facilitators Network. It highlights the objectives and thoughts behind the development of the network and is aimed at facilitators as well as SHA end of life leads. (National End of Life Care Programme - publications)

Regional skills and labour market intelligence (LMI) briefings

Skills for Health have now published the LMI reports for all the English regions. These reports provide a profile of demand for healthcare in each region; the labour market; the size and structure of each regional health sector; workforce characteristics; an evaluation of the skills gap, shortage and provision of training; and projections of future levels of employment. (Skills for Health - workforce design and development) 

Understanding the contribution of skills to productivity in the UK health sector

This working paper outlines the issues of understanding how skills can enhance productivity and performance in the health sector. It is clear that skills and skills utilisation are an important factor in achieving a productive workforce but the precise connection is also difficult to quantify. The paper also highlights that employers and service providers who are seeking to make improvements need to use high quality evaluation techniques that use measures which are meaning for both patients and employers. (Skills for Health - workforce design and development) 

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) consultation

NICE is currently running a consultation which provides stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute to the development of future indicators for the QOF. This online topic suggestion facility enables stakeholders to suggest topics for QOF indicator development. Suggested topics for indicator development should be based on the relevant clinical recommendations derived from NICE guidelines or other NHS Evidence accredited sources. User guidance for the QOF topic facility is also available. This consultation will close on Monday 20^th September 2010. (NICE - Quality and Outcomes Framework)