WELSH NEWS
NHS Wales chief endorses enhanced patient data protection
A code of practice has been delivered by Paul Williams, NHS Wales Chief Executive to organisations to support the protection of personal information. The Code of Practice outlines the encryption requirements for the protection of person identifiable information; how data is stored and transported, how it is protected and how we can improve this. It also supports the procurement of an encryption framework contract
Image sharing across hospitals
Informing Healthcare is preparing for a pilot project to test out image-sharing between hospital PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications Systems). There are currently six different PACS systems in use across Wales making it difficult to share images between care settings. The pilot will explore how image sharing can support the care of cancer patients. It will take place in South East Wales and is scheduled to begin in early 2010 and run for 12 months
Launch of Wales concordat information sharing tools
The Concordat for the Inspection, Regulation and Audit of Health and Social Care in Wales together with the Corporate Health Information Programme has developed information sharing tools that will assist signatories in making better use of information.
Action needed to sustain improvements in delayed transfers of care
A report released by the Auditor General for Wales shows that fewer people in Wales are suffering delayed transfers of care because of a more co-ordinated approach to tackling the problem. To sustain the improvement local partners in health and social care, and the Assembly Government, must take a longer term approach and seize opportunities arising from the restructuring of the NHS
NHS waiting times for diagnostic tests continue to fall
Waiting times for diagnostic scans within the Welsh NHS continue to fall, in line with Assembly targets, according to new figures. The statistics show that no patient was waiting more than 14 weeks for access to therapy services, including physiotherapy and speech and language therapy
Welsh Ambulance Service performance
Welsh Ambulance Service response times have improved. There has been a steady increase in performance across Wales from the low point in December 2008 when only 47.6% of Category A calls arrived within 8 minutes
New all-Wales nurses uniforms showcased
New all-Wales uniforms for NHS nurses – designed so that patients can easily see who is in charge of hospital wards – have been unveiled. The uniforms will be phased in across Wales from October 2009
New national cancer standards for sarcoma services published
New standards to improve access to diagnosis and treatment of sarcomas have been published by the Assembly. The standards, which have been developed by the Cancer Services Co-ordinating Group with a multi-professional group of cancer specialists and patients, take into account the latest NICE guidance which emphasises the importance of earlier diagnosis in order to improve survival
HD video links
Informing Healthcare has announced that clinicians in Wales with HD-ready video equipment can now conduct video-link meetings in high definition (HD). The new service is particularly useful where a degree of medical diagnosis is involved in a session
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Hospital NHS Trust wins award
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Hospital NHS Trust has won the best use of wireless healthcare category in BT's e-Health Insider awards
Minister agrees to establish Public Health Wales
A new NHS trust, to be known as Public Health Wales, has been announced by the Welsh Assembly Government. The establishment, will be in shadow form from 1 August and fully operational from 1 October
First probable case of swine flu in Wales
A probable case of swine flu in Wales has been identified by microbiology testing. The patient is a 31 year old male from the Caerphilly local authority area. The infection is linked to his travel to the USA
Publication of a new measles leaflet
The leaflet provides advice on how to protect children from measles with the MMR vaccination
Consultation on the future of community health councils in Wales
The consultation on the restructure of community health councils (CHC) has shown that there is no real consensus on how CHCs should be structured in order to balance locally held views with the need to engage with the strategic issues, which the seven Local Health Boards will need to address. There was concern that having seven larger CHCs would represent a centralisation of power and move decision-making away from local communities and there was considerable opposition to the idea of area associations. CHCs are, therefore, being allowed to develop proposals for joint working and given a period of time to demonstrate that they can work together. CHCs are expected to come up with proposals for joint working by the end of July
Health Maps Wales update, May 2009
An update to the mapping tool Health Maps Wales is now available . Health Maps Wales already includes data on hospital admissions and cancer incidence. It is now updated to include data on all mortality, cancer mortality, injury mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, respiratory disease mortality, general fertility rates and births
Improvements to referrals through use of Map of Medicine
A study on a Map of Medicine-based patient care pathway in South East Wales has highlighted that use of the tool has dramatically improved the referral process for chronic kidney disease. Overall 62% of primary care practices registered with the Map of Medicine in Gwent sent a higher proportion of appropriate referrals and were less likely to generate referrals with inadequate information. (Informing Healthcare)
All Wales mandatory clostridium difficile surveillance report
The 8th report of the All-Wales Mandatory Clostridium difficile Surveillance scheme has now been released by the Welsh Healthcare Associated Infections Programme. The report covers January 2008 to December 2008 and includes data for all NHS trusts in Wales
Community pharmacy based chlamydia services
The NPHS Pharmaceutical Public Health Team has produced a rapid review document in order to inform the development of an enhanced pharmacy services assessment (EPSA) tool for the delivery of chlamydia infection interventions by community pharmacists in Wales
Step closer to opt-out system for organ donation in Wales
Wales has taken another step closer to becoming the first country in the UK to change the law on organ donation. A consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales has been launched. Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out. But relatives would still be consulted about organ donation at the time of death
Rise in dementia in Wales
There are 37,000 people living with dementia in Wales, and this is set to rise by 35% over the next 20 years. One in three people over 65 is expected to die with a form of dementia. The director of the Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, Ian Thomas, has called dementia “the health and social care challenge of the century”, and it is a challenge that we in Wales must meet. Health Minister Edwina Hart, has given a group the job of developing a national dementia plan for Wales
Older people with dementia: standards in care homes
This handbook provides advice to inspectors on implementing regulations and national minimum standards in relation to care homes for people with dementia. The document gives increasing emphasis to the identification of good practice in relation to service users’ well-being and makes reference to the model of person centred care
Wales Chapter for Healthcare
The Wales Chapter is designed for all healthcare students studying in Wales - dietitians, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, midwifes, or any other allied health profession - to strengthen skills in Quality Improvement; Patient Safety; Teamwork; Leadership and Patient-Centred Care
UK NEWS
National innovation and improvement survey
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement has launched the first nationwide innovation and improvement survey specifically designed for the NHS. It aims to give all NHS staff an opportunity to influence the national innovation and improvement agenda. The survey closes on 8 June 2009
Health committee: top-up fees
Following Professor Richard's report, 'Improving access to medicines for NHS patients', the Department of Health's instruction that NHS trusts should immediately cease the practice of withdrawing funding for NHS patients who had purchased additional treatment was generally welcomed. However some of the evidence in this report raised concerns about the risks of potential disadvantages to NHS patients including the formation of a "two-tier" system
Consultation on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act
The original consultation contained four sets of draft regulations required to implement the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. A report on each of these regulations following the consultation have now been published
Eliminating mixed sex accommodation
This letter updates on progress in respect of delivering same-sex accommodation and confirms further action required in the coming months, for completion by 30 June 2009
Sustainable food - a guide for hospitals
This guide describes why the sustainability of food is important, provides guidance on what hospitals can do to improve the sustainability of the food they provide to patients, staff and visitors, and advises on how hospitals can assure the sustainability of their food service provision
Reducing deaths from blood clots in hospitals
Blood clots, or venous thromboembolism (VTE), are a major risk to hospitalised patients. It is estimated that hospital-associated VTE leads to about 40,000 deaths in England per year, 25,000 of which may be preventable through proper risk management and care. This briefing sets out the strong quality and financial imperative for hospitals to prioritise VTE prevention
End of life care
This report examines the scale and quality of end of life care, the current and future approach to commissioning and funding of services, and the capability and capacity of NHS and social care staff to provide such care
Supporting people in later life
The Supporting People in Later Life Annual Evidence Update for 2009 has been launched
Enabling compassionate care in acute hospital settings
A discussion paper based on a workshop in November 2008, which brought together people who work in hospitals (nurses, doctors, psychologists, chaplains, managers), and academics
Phone line launched to support whistleblowers
The RCN has now launched a phone line to support whistle blowing nurses. RCN members can now call 0845 7726 300 if they have serious or immediate concerns about patient safety in their workplace
Review of health bodies involved with Baby P
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published this report showing systemic failings in the healthcare provided by NHS trusts to Baby Peter. The report raises questions about how NHS trusts assure themselves they are meeting important standards for safeguarding children
Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children
This consultation document is a revised version of the existing guidance, 'Promoting the Health of Looked After Children', which was published by the Department of Health in 2002. The revised guidance will be statutory on PCTs and on Strategic Health Authorities as well as local authorities. The consultation closes on 3 August 2009
Call for clarity on pupils' asthma
A study by Asthma UK found young sufferers were being inadvertently excluded from education by teaching professionals who do not have a proper understanding of the condition. The Missing Out report revealed that around 75% of children with the condition have difficulties joining PE lessons, while four in 10 complained that asthma had stopped them having fun
Baby fat charts say breast is best
Different rates of growth between breast-fed and bottle-fed babies mean that growth charts are having to be reconfigured. The Department of Health has produced new charts for babies and children up to four years
Survey of adult inpatients 2008
This national survey of the views of adult inpatients asked about the experiences of people who have been admitted to hospital overnight or for longer. The questions in the survey cover the issues that patients consider important in their care and would like to be included in national assessments.
A new way of thinking about patient and public engagement
The engagement cycle is a way of approaching patient engagement when commissioning services. It highlights who needs to do what to engage people at each stage of the commissioning cycle
Guide to using patient feedback to transform care
This guide sets out best practice in terms of collecting, analysing and using patient feedback to transform services. It also includes examples of how the NHS is already using feedback from patients to get results
Addressing climate change in health care settings
This paper begins to define a framework for analysing and addressing the health sector's climate footprint - including identifying seven aspects of a climate-friendly hospital. It also draws on examples from around the world which demonstrate that the health sector is beginning to provide leadership in this area
Uptake of NICE approved cancer drugs
This letter from Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, outlines the findings on the usage of NICE approved cancer drugs in 2007/8
Joint documents promote pharmacy to the NHS
These documents, 10 High Impact Changes in PCT Commissioning Practice and'5 High Impact Changes for SHAs are part of a strategy to promote the role of pharmacists to commissioners, managers, general practitioners and others in primary care
Pharmacists with special interests: people with skin conditions
This is guidance is the latest in a series of frameworks for pharmacists with special interests. These frameworks aim to facilitate the delivery and accreditation of services in primary and community settings
National patient choice survey
This report gives the final results of around 76,000 responses to the 16th national patient choice survey commissioned to assess the implementation of choice at PCT level. The series of surveys, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department of Health, monitor patient awareness of choice and recall of having been offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment
Transforming same day care in general practice
The Primary Care Foundation was commissioned by the Department of Health to undertake this review of urgent care in general practice. This project explores the practical steps that GPs and their staff are taking to improve patient care and reduce pressure on the wider healthcare system
GP training practices £100m capital programme
The Department of Health has been allocated £100m for 2009/10 to advance the upgrading of up to 600 GP surgeries to training practices with the aim of creating opportunities for small firms and targeting funding on those areas that have historically had a lower provision of doctors. This guidance sets out how the funding will be allocated and who has responsibility for ensuring the capital upgrading of the relevant practices takes place
Supporting patients to make informed choices in primary care
This policy paper on the provision of patient information notes that current methods have limited reach and effectiveness. The report found that while most patient information is provided in the form of written leaflets or via the internet, around one in five British people do not have basic literacy and struggle to read, and one third of households do not have a home internet connection
Primary care service framework: gypsies and travellers
The focus of this service framework is Romany Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities and other traveller groups. The purpose of the framework is to provide commissioners with the background knowledge, service and implementation details to work with providers and practitioners to deliver primary care services, over and above mainstream services
Review of primary care information for the public
The Health Management Services Centre (HMSC) recently completed a series of evidence reviews exploring the provision of public information about the quality of primary care services
PCT performance - quick guides
The Quick Guides have been created as an aid to improving PCT performance against a series of Annual Health Check targets. The Commissioning Performance Directorate has worked with PCTs and clinicians to condense existing guidance into a practical and user friendly guide covering the essential issues to improve performance
Primary care alcohol service framework
This service framework is for adult patients who are drinking to hazardous and harmful or dependent levels. This document has been updated to include recent policy changes and is supported by a range of enhanced tools to support implementation. A complementary suite of resources and supportive notes is also available
Bringing GDS contracts and PDS agreements in line with current regulations
The text of both the Standard General Dental Services Variation Notice 2009 and the Personal Dental Services Agreements Variation Notice 2009 have been prepared by the Department of Health’s Solicitors
General Optical Council (GOC) 2010-2015 strategy
The GOC has launched a consultation on its five year strategy, aimed at registrants, patients, the public and partner organisations. Feedback is invited on a range of issues including the GOC's role in relation to patients, how the GOC should work with other organisations to protect the public and how the GOC should support registrants who raise concerns. The deadline for responses is 31 August 2009
Comprehensive Area Assessment
As of 1 April 2009 Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) came into force, meaning that for the first time the outcomes of children’s services, health, adult social care, waste and recycling, fire, police and other services will be assessed collectively – to produce a unified verdict on local quality of life and value for money. This briefing explains how CAA will work, including the implications for health bodies
Shaping Healthy Communities
This report highlights the role of local authorities in improving public health. The Shaping Healthy Communities report is based on Sheffield City Council’s work with partners across the Yorkshire and Humber Region, and demonstrates how this kind of partnership work can improve standards of public well-being
New registration system for health and adult social care
From April 2010, a new system of regulation for health and adult social care in England comes into force for the NHS. This will require all providers of certain health and adult social care activities to register with the Care Quality Commission in order to provide services. The Department of Health is now consulting on the draft regulations. This briefing summarises the main proposals and their implications for providers of NHS care and its commissioners
Independent mental health advocates
The Department of Health has been asked to provide this guidance on whether section 130B of the Mental Health Act 1983 allows independent mental health advocates (IMHAs) to see information in patients’ records which would not be disclosed directly to the patient and, if so, whether IMHAs may share that information with patients
In the Face of Fear Report
As part of Mental Health Action Week 2009, the Mental Health Foundation launched the In the Face of Fear report. The report considers how fear and anxiety affect our health and society, and what we can do about it
Liaison psychiatry services
This briefing looks at opportunities to improve quality and efficiency in acute services by focusing on the needs of the significant number of patients who also have mental health problems complicating their care and discharge. It sets out some good practice examples together with academic evidence to build a business case for liaison psychiatry services
Dealing with nuisance behaviour
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 creates a criminal offence of causing a nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises and a power for fully trained NHS staff to remove a person reasonably suspected of committing this offence. This consultation seeks comment on a draft of the guidance which will be issued to support use of the power of removal by NHS bodies in England
Just visiting.com
A visitor to the site can open an online visiting room and invite friends and family to view regular bulletins and post their own messages of support between each other
Health Innovation and Education Clusters (HIECs)
The Department of Health is investing £10 million in the introduction of HIECs across England. HIECs will be partnerships between NHS, higher education, industry and other public and private sector organisations. This guide describes the vision for HIECs, the role of HIECs in education and training, how HIECs will support innovation and the application process
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The elderly population in Europe
People in virtually every country in the world are living longer. This briefing looks at how the population is ageing in the largest EU member states and in the EU overall and discusses the implications for health care
AND FINALLY…………
We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any information that you would like to share with others please let me know and I will be happy to circulate it in the next newsletter: news@healthcarealliances.co.uk
Terry Dennis
Healthcare Alliances
Britannia House, 11 High Street, Cowbridge, CF71 7AD
Tel: 01446 774864
Mob: 07977 49 29 26