WALES NEWS
Variations in performance of the four UK health systems
The Nuffield Institute has published research which suggests that the NHS in England spends less and has fewer doctors, nurses and managers per head of population than the health services in the devolved countries (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), but the NHS in England is making better use of the resources it has in terms of delivering higher levels of activity, crude productivity of its staff and lower waiting times.
£505m bill for NHS repairs in Wales
The Western Mail has reported that the bill for essential NHS maintenance has risen in a year from £468m to £505m.
NHS Wales revamp of the complaints procedure
The NHS complaints procedure in Wales is to be simplified and overhauled to tackle patients' frustration. Patients whose complaints are upheld will have rights to various remedies, ranging from an apology, action plans, remedial treatment and financial compensation as appropriate. The proposals are out for public consultation until 2 April 2010.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales annual report
The role of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) is to regulate the quality and safety of healthcare in both the NHS and the independent sector. It has published its 5th annual report
Website to offer patients access to their medical records
Health Minister, Edwina Hart, has announced 1.7m pounds funding for a website which will allow patients to check their medical records. 'My Health Online' - a bilingual NHS Wales website - will also let people order repeat prescriptions and book appointments with their GP. Other features of the site will include advice and information to help patients manage health conditions.
Individual health record pilot goes live
Informing Healthcare has announced that the first pilot for the national Individual Health Record (IHR) solution went live in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion at the end of December. The IHR gives emergency and out of hours doctors access to information from the medical record held by the patient's GP.
Initial approval of Welsh clinical portal
Initial plans to revolutionise the NHS' computer systems enabling health professionals to access important patient information quickly and securely have been approved by Health Minister, Edwina Hart. The Welsh Clinical Portal will give one view of the information held about the patient, making it easier for healthcare staff to provide better care. It will bring together information held in the many hospital computer systems that doctors, nurses, clinicians and pharmacists use on a day-to-day basis.
Information and technology strategy for Wales update
The strategy covers, networking services, user access devices, servers, messaging, directory services and voice services. Click here to access more details about the strategy from Informing Healthcare's website.
Screening unit offers improved access for disabled women
Breast Test Wales has launched a new mobile breast screening unit which offers wheelchair access. The new unit is the first of its type in the UK. Breast Test Wales is planning to replace every Breast Test Wales mobile unit over the next few years, bringing equality of service to every woman across Wales. For further information email Chris.Lines@nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Chronic conditions management website
To help deliver and drive improvements to chronic conditions management (CCM) across Wales, three national service improvement CCM demonstrator projects were established in Cardiff, Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd. An updated website has been launched which provides details all of the current and ongoing work. If you have any queries contact Darren Davies: darren.davies@nliah.wales.nhs.uk
£1.7m funding for adult autism services
The Assembly has announced an investment of £1.7m, over three years, to develop and improve services for adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their carers and their families.
Infections: report of critical care surveillance scheme
The first report of a new surveillance scheme looking at infections associated with critical care units in Wales has been published by the Welsh Healthcare Associated Infections Programme of the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS).
New structure for community health councils
The Health Minister has announced reforms to Community Health Councils (CHCs) in Wales. From 1 April 2010, 17 of the existing 19 CHCs will be dissolved and 6 new CHCs created in their place, with the same boundaries as the health boards. Each new CHC will consist of local committee having the same boundaries as the local authorities within the CHC's area. The two Powys CHCs will remain unchanged for the time being, while work continues on the future relationship between Powys Health Board and Local Authority.
Wrexham Cancer Information Centre wins national award
The Macmillan Shooting Star Information Centre at Wrexham Maelor Hospital has been selected as one of the first sites to be awarded the new Macmillan Quality Environment Mark. The award recognises building and service excellence for patients with cancer, and indicates that the facility offers the highest standards.
Joint health and social care centre opens at Llanrwst
A new health and social care centre has opened serving rural communities in Conwy county. The joint venture between Conwy County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board is Canolfan Crwst in Llanrwst. It will also help to reduce the need for patients to travel far for care.
Child and adolescent mental health unit for Bridgend
The Health Minister has approved plans for a new purpose-built centre at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend. The project is backed by 26m pounds Assembly funding, and is expected to open late this year. It will have 14 treatment beds and five emergency and high dependency beds.
Public health studentships available
DECIPHer (Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement) is a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence focusing on children and young people. Currently, nine studentships for postgraduate study are available on a range of topics. Contact Lynnette Thomas, Director of Operations on thomaslm7@cardiff.ac.uk or the website for more information.
UK NEWS
NHS constitution becomes law
All NHS organisations in England are now legally obliged to take account of the rights and pledges outlined in the NHS Constitution, which came into force on the 19th of January. The constitution sets out patient rights including legal rights to access NHS services and drugs and treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It also offers patients choice about where they receive their care and aims to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Human rights and human resources in the NHS
This NHS Employers briefing outlines a human rights approach to managing workplace practices. It shows some of the ways the Human Rights Act could be used to challenge human resource decisions, and provides a useful decision making tool to ensure compliance.
Confused communications compromise care
This BBC article is focused around how poor communication can compromise patient safety. Amongst other things it talks about how staff culture needs to be changed through training to improve clear communication and eliminate fear of saying what needs to be said.
Controlling NHS spending in a period of tight funding
This Policy Exchange research paper, which included a roundtable discussion with a number of senior academics and business leaders with expertise in the NHS, considers some of the options for the NHS in a period of tight funding.
Government wastes over £50m on hospital food initiatives
The Government has wasted over £50m since the year 2000 on at least 17 separate initiatives to improve hospital food, which have resulted in almost no improvement to the quality of meals served, or to their nutritional and environmental value. The findings come in a report from a coalition of health and environmental campaigners, who are calling for a new law to improve all food served in public sector institutions.
Oral feeding difficulties and dilemmas
Nil by mouth should be a last resort rather than the first option. That is the central message from a working Party report published jointly by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Society of Gastroenterology which was prepared because of continuing unease about the lack of consensus about when artificial nutrition and hydration is appropriate.
Connecting diversity with leadership
This NHS Employers briefing brings together evidence from within the NHS and externally to support trusts and their leaders to use their roles to embed diversity within their organisations and effectively respond to the current regulatory climate.
All patients should be screened for blood clots
All patients admitted to hospital should be assessed for the risk of developing blood clots, according to latest NICE guidance. It updates and replaces 2007 NICE guidance on prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical patients.
MRSA spread by patients moving between hospitals
Dutch researchers have reported that MRSA is mainly spread by patients moving between hospitals. The authors have called for more screening of people who are repeatedly admitted to different hospitals to try to break this transmission cycle.
Improving death certification in England and Wales
This document provides a general overview of the Death Certification Programme and an update on current progress.
Defining and measuring quality
This Kings Fund report offers information about how quality is defined and how quality measures can be used or misused. It sets out the main debates and choices faced by those involved in measuring and using data on quality and outlines some practical issues to be considered in choosing and using quality measures.
Hospital wards break noise limits
Hospital wards across the NHS are breaking recommended noise limits, disturbing patients' sleep, well-being and recovery. Studies have found that the din of chattering visitors and loud mobile phones pushed noise levels well over recommended limits. The World Health Organization says patients should not be exposed to noise above 35 decibels or a loud whisper.
Investigating information governance serious untoward incidents
This Department of Health document provides guidance for all NHS staff in managing information governance serious untoward incidents. It should be used in conjunction with previous issued guidance and local guidance issued by SHAs.
Review of European Working Time Directive impact on training
Medical Education England is reviewing the European Working Time Directive and its impact on the quality of training for doctors, dentists, pharmacists and healthcare scientists. NHS chief executives who wish to submit views are invited to do so by 15 February 2010.
NHS stress hotline launched in England
An NHS helpline to help people struggling with stress has been launched by the government. The service is available across England, following concerns about the mounting problems people will face in coming months because of the economy. Trained health advisers will staff the hotline - available on 0300 123 2000 - from 8am to 10pm.
Children and young people: early intervention support services
This guidance aims to pull together good practice and provide guidelines for local authorities, PCTs, government offices and SHAs to support the delivery of quality advice, support and guidance for joint commissioning of early-intervention support.
The response of the government to the review of CAMHS
This document contains the full response of the government to the final report of the independent CAMHS review, setting out progress to date and plans for the future of children and young people's mental health. The response also gives examples of the outcomes expected from a good service as an aid for commissioners, providers and practitioners.
Services for people with long term conditions - information tool
The main aim of this information tool is to share a common vision of what a good service for people with long term conditions should look like, and to provide some practical suggestions for commissioners to help them achieve that vision.
Connect in Car: resources for older people
Connect in Care finished in January 2010. The resources created during the last 3 years have been gathered into a practical guide including a handbook and DVD called Let's talk about it: using stories to improve care for older people, a practical guide. For further information about the resource and how to access it, visit the Connect in Care website
Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People Projects
The Partnership for Older People Projects (POPP) were funded by the Department of Health to develop services for older people, aimed at promoting their health, well-being and independence and preventing or delaying their need for higher intensity or institutional care. The evaluation found that a wide range of projects resulted in improved quality of life for participants and considerable savings, in addition to better local working relationships.
Dental fear over older population
NHS dentistry is facing a major challenge coping with the consequences of the ageing population, a leading expert says. British Dental Association scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley said better oral care meant people were increasingly keeping their own teeth. Research by the BDA has shown that fewer than a third of over-65s currently have their own teeth, but within 20 years that is likely to increase to about 50%.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards data collation sheet
The original guidance issued in April 2009 was updated in July 2009, has been issued as a new document because an additional data item has been added for the third quarter data collection period.
Same-sex accommodation: mental health and learning disability services
This NHS Confederation briefing summarises existing national policy and good practice on same-sex accommodation, explains what support is available to organisations that need to make improvements, and sets out what both providers and commissioners can do to ensure same-sex accommodation is provided.
Mental health needs of BEM groups
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published this report which recommends that the NHS, councils and wider community bodies should work together to improve preventative services to ensure that they meet the mental health needs of people from black and minority ethnic groups.
Report of findings from the adult autism strategy consultation
The consultation on the future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) closed on 15 September 2009. Over 1,100 responses were received, including people with ASC, families and carers, voluntary sector organisations and health and social care bodies. This document is a summary of the findings, setting out the approach taken, and the key themes and priority actions identified by respondents.
End of life care report
A new King's Fund report entitled Delivering better care at end of life: the next steps outlines 10 recommendations to help give patients high-quality care at the end of their lives and meaningful choices about where they die.
End of life care manifesto 2010
The National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) has launched its end of life care manifesto, warning that without continuing radical change in the way Britain cares for dying people, increasing numbers of older people are likely to die in a distressing manner without good care.
National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NSCI) vision
This document provides an update on the first year of the NSCI. It describes the emerging vision for improved care and support for people living with and beyond cancer, and brings together the work of service users, carers, clinicians, commissioners, charities and researchers.
Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
These standards published by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV provide a framework for monitoring performance which covers the core principles of STI care, staff training, clinical assessment and management, diagnostics, information governance, links to other services, clinical governance and the engagement of patients and the public.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act - disclosure of information
The consultation, which took place between October and December 2009, contained proposals for amendments to be made to new regulations on the disclosure of identifying information for research purposes. This report summarises the responses received during the consultation.
Performance indicators for health and social care partnerships
This DH paper provides an update on work underway to develop new performance indicators for adult social care, and health and care partnerships.
Alcohol: first report of session 2009-10
This report looks at the impact of alcohol on health, the NHS and society and the response of the government to the rise in binge drinking and alcoholism.
PALS in prison: a toolkit
Toolkit and good practice guidance covering the implementation of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service in a secure setting. It has been designed to be read by commissioners and providers of healthcare in the criminal or youth justice sectors.
A guide to working in the independent healthcare sector
This resource has been produced by Skills for Health and Independent Healthcare Advisory Services. It is ideal for those who want to start or progress their career in the independent healthcare sector.
END PIECE
Power Corrupts
Research published in Psychological Science supports the idea that power corrupts; the powerful can feel entitled not to obey the moral rules they demand others to follow. In each of five experiments involving 172 participants, the more powerful characters consistently showed moral hypocrisy. They disapproved of immoral behaviour, such as the over-reporting of expenses, and yet behaved badly themselves.
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