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Welcome to our News RoundupA digest of news reports and press comment specifically selected for Practice Managers
In each article there are link(s) to other websites - clicking on a link will open a new window (or a new Tab if you are using tabbed browsing). Close that window/tab to return here.
Pop-up blockers (Windows XP, Google, Yahoo and others). If you have a pop-up blocker enabled, the links below may not open. So if you click on a link and nothing happens, hold down the Ctrl key and click the link again (holding the Ctrl key overrides the pop-up blocker)
Headlines w/c 30th August 2010
NHS Direct to be phased out, DoH confirms
NHS Direct will be scrapped and replaced by the new 111 non-emergency number, the DoH has confirmed.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
bulletin/DAILY_NEWS/article/1024970/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicGP referrals on the rise again, DH figures show
GP referrals to secondary care appear to be accelerating again, with the latest figures from the Department of Health showing a 6% year-on-year rise in the first quarter of 2010/11.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?
storycode=4126905&cid=latest_headlines_1_310810&
sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35748561Burnham launches bid to block GP commissioning plans
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham today launched what he has billed as the ‘mother of all battles’ to stop the NHS reforms outlined in the coalition Government's health white paper, claiming they will fatally 'compromise' the role of GPs.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?
sectioncode=35&storycode=4126922&c=2Practice size 'makes no difference' to QOF achievement
The quality of care provided in small and single-handed practices is comparable to that provided by larger practices, an analysis by primary care researchers has shown.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?
sectioncode=35&storycode=4126902&c=2NHS managers to go head-to-head with private sector to provide GP commissioning support
NHS bosses are preparing to pitch themselves into competition with the private sector to offer support to GP commissioning consortia by re-inventing themselves as social enterprises, in moves backed by GP leaders.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?
sectioncode=23&storycode=4126854&c=2GP consortia will be paid £9 commissioning fee per patient
SHAs have been told that a management fee of £9-10 per patient for GP consortia will be confirmed this autumn. The fee will cover the cost of running consortia and allow GPs to pay independent companies or local authorities to support them in GP commissioning services.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1025252/GP-consortia-will-paid-9-commissioning-fee-per-patient/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicGPs predict health White Paper could force their retirement
The White Paper reforms could prompt a rash of early retirement and lead to a shortage of GPs in some areas, LMCs and patient groups have warned.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1025343/GPs-predict-health-White-Paper-force-retirement/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicNew 'GP commissioning council' meets to discuss White Paper plans
A new GP 'commissioning federation' has held its first meeting to discuss the implementation of the White Paper proposals. The NHS Alliance’s GP Commissioning Federation council includes a range of clinical commissioners from each region of England, including GPs and doctors from secondary and community care, as well as both PCT and practice-based commissioners.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1025219/New-GP-commissioning-council-meets-discuss-White-Paper-plans/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicHeadlines w/c 23rd August 2010
National specifications for cleanliness: primary medical and dental premises
As part of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration will require healthcare providers to comply with essential standards of quality and safety. This includes the need to protect those who may be at risk of exposure to infections.
These national cleanliness specifications provide a framework for primary dental care providers and primary medical care providers to demonstrate to the CQC how they ensure their premises are clean and safe and meet the required standards.
http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/
patient-safety-topics/environment/?entryid45=75241GPC guidance on the principles of GP Commissioning
Read the first in a series of guidance notes from the GPC on the principles of GP commissioning - A GPC statement in the context of ‘Liberating the NHS’
http://www.bma.org.uk/images/
whitepapergpcguidence1aug2010_tcm41-199488.pdfTopic Suggestions for the 2013/14 Quality and Outcomes Framework
The first call for topic suggestions for the 2013/14 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) opened on Monday 23rd August for four weeks and will close on Monday 20th September. Anyone with an interest in health, including health professionals, patients, community groups and voluntary organisations are encouraged to contribute to the development of the 2013/14 framework via the NICE website. The online topic suggestion facility allows stakeholders to submit suggestions for new indicators for QOF based on NICE guidance or other NHS Evidence accredited sources.
http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qof/SubmitSuggestion.jspDefault Retirement Age Consultation - Have Your Say
NHS Employers is gathering employer views to feed in to the Government’s consultation on the default retirement age (DRA), and new proposals to scrap the provision from October 2011. Views are being sought on whether the Government could provide additional support for employers in managing without the DRA or statutory retirement procedure. This includes the possibility of future guidance or a more formal code of practice on handling retirement discussions. The new proposals allow for a six month transition from the existing regulations, following the announcement in the Budget that the DRA would be phased out from April 2011. The consultation survey is available online and should be completed by 1 October.
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/
NHSPensionSchemeReview/Age/DefaultRetirementAgeConsultation/
Pages/DefaultRetiremenAgeConsultation.aspxCVD screening to be launched in Wales
People in Wales at high-risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) will be targeted as part of a prevention scheme under development.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1023693/CVD-screening-launched-Wales/Hundreds of NHS Direct advisers set to work from home
GPs have raised concerns over plans by NHS Direct to re-locate hundreds of nurse advisers from its call centres to drive down costs. The organisation is seeking to decentralise the service by having at least 100 home workers in place by next March 2011, in the first stage of a plan to increase productivity and make cuts of £28 million.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126874&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_240810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35719883GPs need chaperone policy to protect themselves
GPs should ensure their practice has a chaperoning policy in place as a means to helping to protect doctors from allegations of improper behaviour, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has recommended.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1023628/
GPs-need-chaperone-policy-protect-themselves/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicPlans to Improve the Quality of Primary Care (Scotland)
Scottish Government plans to ensure patients are treated with increasing respect, compassion and efficiency are being rolled out to GPs and other primary care services. Delivering Quality in Primary Care sets out how community services will implement the NHS Quality Strategy - the blueprint for improving the quality of care delivered by the NHS. Endorsed by organisations including the RCGP, the plans have been developed after engagement with primary care practitioners. They set out a number of actions designed to improve the quality of patient care including improving access for patients; implementing the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in Primary Care; ensuring more effective partnerships between different primary care professionals; and improving communication between primary and secondary care.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/08/19100508New dawn for commissioning as GPs start taking hold of budgets
Pulse Exclusive: Practices across England are starting to take responsibility for their share of £80bn of NHS budget ahead of crucial negotiations over how commissioning will be written into GP contracts, a Pulse investigation reveals.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126850&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_230810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35716495Patient survey flaws could undermine performance review
Variations in the way surveys are completed could undermine attempts to develop performance benchmarks, researchers have warned. The timing and method of administration of questionnaires affects the way patients evaluate the service they received, according to a study published in Primary Health Care Research and Development.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1023369/
Patient-survey-flaws-undermine-performance-review/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicAdvanced access GP appointment systems 'no longer acceptable in 2010', BMA warns (Wales)
GP leaders have called on the profession to stamp out the ‘unacceptable’ practice of reserving same-day appointments and making patients call in the morning for appointments that day. The previous Government introduced the 'advanced access' programme to provide patient-sensitive booking systems with a balance of both quick appointments and pre-bookable appointments. But because of the pressure to meet the requirements practices would often only make same-day appointments available on that same morning, leading to frequent complaints and frustration for patients.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126829&
cid=Latest_headlines_2_180810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35703396Headlines w/c 16th August 2010
GMS budget slashed by £3.6m in Northern Ireland
Practices in Northern Ireland face a £10,000 drop in income this year following a £3.6m cut in GMS budgets, the BMA has said. Northern Ireland GPC chairman Dr Brian Dunn said local GPs were ‘dismayed’ at the cut to the GMS budget, outlined by the assembly government’s health minister Michael McGimpsey and due to come in with immediate effect. Dr Dunn estimates the average practice will lose up to £10,000 of their income from cuts to enhanced services and locum costs.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1021855/GMS-budget-slashed-36m-Northern-Ireland/New guidance given on care record violence markers
The NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) has launched new guidance on the use of markers on patients’ care records, which alert NHS staff to the risk of physical violence or aggression, either from the patient or someone associated with them, when they treat certain individuals. Staff who work in the NHS have a right to work in a safe and secure environment. Procedures for placing a risk of violence marker on electronic and paper records introduces important safeguards to make sure that personal records are only marked where there has been a reported incident or evidence of violent or aggressive behaviour.
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/3137.aspxGP consortiums set to ramp up referral management schemes
Up to a third of GPs’ referrals face being rejected by their local commissioning consortium in the ‘Arctic’ financial conditions predicted for the NHS, according to a new report by the King’s Fund.
The influential think tank predicts many consortiums will establish tight peer-to-peer controls over individual practice's referrals, which could mean GPs having every decision to refer having to be approved by their consortium leaders.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126770&
cid=Latest_headlines_2_120810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35687853Commissioning challenge laid bare as analysis reveals PBC cost £250m more than it saved
Pulse Exclusive: The huge challenge GPs will face in taking on £80bn of NHS budget has been laid bare by a Pulse investigation finding practice-based commissioning has cost hundreds of millions more than it has generated in savings. Across the 100 trusts, £290m was spent on PBC since its launch in 2005 – on managerial support, data management, incentive payments and support from private companies – yet only £133m was saved. Extrapolated across the 152 PCTs in England, PBC was likely to have cost £441m and saved £198m – a deficit of £243m.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=35&storycode=4126761&
cid=PBC_story_110810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35685287#Ten top tips for managing poor performance in general practice
This document offers practical advice to commissioners responsible for dealing with cases of poor performance in general medical practices. If you are considered to be a poor performing practice, read this guide now.
http://www.pcc.nhs.uk/uploads/medical/2010/08/
top_ten_tips_for_managing_poor_performance_in_general_practices.pdfTalks between GP groups fail to bring consensus over commissioning plans
Frantic behind-the-scenes talks are being held between national GP groups in a seemingly impossible bid to reach some consensus over the Government’s plans for commissioning. Organisations including the RCGP, the NHS Alliance, the National Association for Primary Care and the Family Doctor Association have been meeting to try to thrash out common ground, as the Government consultation on the plans splits the profession. However there are huge differences to resolve, with some senior NHS Alliance figures now calling for the Government to shelve its plans to scrap all PCTs by April 2013, claiming that some trusts should be allowed to remain in place, if not permanently, at least until GP commissioning groups have proved themselves capable of taking over.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126787&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_130810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35691024NICE announces new quality standards
NICE will develop nine new quality standards in its latest step towards the planned 150-strong library. Standards for clinical areas such as breast cancer, diabetes and chronic heart failure will join three existing standards covering stroke, dementia and venous-thromboembolism (VTE) prevention.
The standards will be developed in 2010/11 after they were referred to NICE by the DoH.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1022052/NICE-announces
-new-quality-standards/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicPCT managers to offer consortia GP commissioning support
A DoH scheme that encourages PCT staff to set up social enterprises will be open to PCT managers hoping to provide commissioning support to GP consortia, it has been confirmed.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1022182/PCT-managers-offer
-consortia-GP-commissioning-support/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicPatient survey to become optional as phase-out begins (in Scotland)
Pulse Exclusive: GPs north of the border will be able to opt-out of the patient survey this year, after the Scottish Government decided to scale back the controversial scheme and make it optional. The move means that GPs who achieved maximum QOF points on the controversial PE7 and PE8 access indicators last year will be able to opt out of the survey this year and continue to receive their full QOF access funding.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126806&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_160810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35696044Opposing commissioning plans would be 'disastrous' for general practice, GPs warned
Senior GPs have urged the profession not to turn their backs on the Government’s radical White Paper reforms, with one GP leader warning it would be ‘utterly disastrous’ if GPs fail to engage with the plans.
The call to arms follows last week’s launch of a major joint consultation exercise between the RCGP and the NHS Alliance, who will host a series of regional talks to harness grassroots opinion to the commissioning plans, and help inform responses to the official Government consultation which ends in October.
The RCGP – which is also running a separate consultation with members on the more general principles put forward in White Paper - has urged GPs to come forward ‘in their thousands’ to make their voices heard.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126809&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_170810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35699246Government to scrap Audit Commission
News has leaked out that ministers are to scrap the Audit Commission and transfer its audit arm to the private sector. According to a memo leaked to the Financial Times, communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles will formally announce his intention to disband the Commission tomorrow.
http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/6163/
government_to_scrap_audit_commissionReferral management centres criticised
Providing GPs with more information about referrals would be a more effective strategy for cutting costs and improving quality than setting up referral management centres, according to the King’s Fund. An investigation by the think-tank found that referral management centres were failing to deliver savings and that some schemes could undermine quality by delaying access to specialists or misdirecting referrals.
http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/6164/
referral_management_centres_criticisedPCT deficits will leave GP commissioning 'doomed to fail'
PCT debts are likely to transfer to GP consortia when the profession takes on commissioning, top GPs have warned. Starting off with millions of pounds worth of deficits will mean GP-commissioning is doomed to fail, a raft of organisations have warned. The NHS Alliance say the issue will become a ‘deal breaker’ in deciding whether GPs embrace the plans.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1022776/
PCT-deficits-will-leave-GP-commissioning-doomed-fail/Headlines w/c 9th August 2010
First Darzi centre facing closure as PCTs look to save cash
A PCT is proposing to close its Darzi centre just 18 months after it opened, in the hope its closure will save £800,000 a year.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/News/MostRead/1020535
/First-Darzi-centre-facing-closure-PCTs-look-save-cash/Firms to bid to run GP consortia if they fail
GP consortia are 'odds-on' to fall into deficit and be taken over by private firms when they take on commissioning, according to one leading GP.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/News/MostRead
/1020480/Firms-bid-run-GP-consortia-fail/Extended hours set to disappear as PCTs review funding
Almost two-thirds of GPs offering extended hours will stop next year if PCTs remove funding, with over half of trusts considering withdrawing local funding in light of the Government’s scrapping of national access targets, Pulse can reveal. Health secretary Andrew Lansley recently announced his intention to abolish the national target for 50% of practices in each PCT to provide extended hours as part of his bonfire of NHS targets.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126748&
cid=Latest_headlines_1_090810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35677038NICE committee raises QOF HbA1c target
NICE has raised the QOF HbA1c target in patients with type 2 diabetes up to 7.5% from 7% - conceding that there is sufficient ‘uncertainty’ about patient safety to justify the move.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126743&
cid=Latest_headlines_2_060810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35672116White Paper – College Seeks Views on Four Further Consultations
The RCGP is currently seeking Members' views on the broad proposals outlined in the White Paper. A further four consultation documents have now been published by the Department of Health (England) and provide the detail behind the main White Paper. The RCGP is now seeking views on each of these documents and is seeking comments by 20 August 2010. Links to the College’s online response forms can be found below:
- Commissioning for patients. To respond click here
- Transparency in outcomes - a framework for the NHS. To respond click here
- Increasing democratic legitimacy in health. To respond click here
- Regulating healthcare providers. To respond click here
DoH announces review of Dr Foster Intelligence
The DoH has announced that the future of Dr Foster Intelligence, one of the UK's main providers of health information, is under review.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1021200
/DoH-announces-review-Dr-Foster-Intelligence
/DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicGeneral Medical Council Calls for Evidence on the Role of Doctors in Child Protection
The General Medical Council (GMC) is asking doctors, other health professionals and wider stakeholders to submit evidence about doctors' roles and responsibilities in child protection work. Submissions will help the working group understand the difficulties doctors can face and identify areas where additional guidance would be of value. The call for evidence will be open until 24 September 2010. The working group will then develop draft guidance and a major public consultation will be held next year, which will allow everyone with an interest in child protection the opportunity to comment on the draft guidance. Responses can be made online.
http://www.gmc-uk.org/news/7514.aspLaunch of New NHS Website for Young People with Cancer (England)
A new NHS website offers 19-24 year-olds, recently diagnosed with cancer, an informed choice in their place of care. Commissioned by the National Cancer Action Team, the website aims to highlight the availability of choice between treatment in an adult cancer unit or in one of 13 principal treatment centres in England that provide age-appropriate cancer services. GPs are encouraged to raise awareness of this service for young people with cancer.
http://www.nhs.uk/young-cancer-care/Pages/index.aspxStakeholder Views Sought on the Strategic Direction of Public Health Wales
Public Health Wales is seeking views to help develop its strategy over the next five years. The outcome of the engagement process will be a document agreed by the Public Health Wales Board which sets out its vision and mission, strategic objectives, values and priorities.
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/news/16817The Future of General Practice in Scotland: A Vision
RCGP Scotland has launched a consultation on a vision document for the future of general practice in Scotland. It focuses on the quality and core values of general practice and includes chapters on six key areas: The essence of general practice; patients; quality; professional development; health inequalities; and academic general practice.
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/councils__faculties/rcgp_scotland.aspxNHS Advice Service for Public Health Launched
A new one-stop health advice service for the public has been launched. NHS Inform is a three-tiered service, featuring a phone line, website and face-to-face advice. It will bring trusted health information from all sections of the NHS together for the first time. The new service will include general information on medical conditions, answers to commonly asked health questions and a calendar of health events.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/08/03091901NHS £86m website spend confusing
The NHS spends up to £86m a year on thousands of websites that are difficult to find, confusing for patients and which do not meet their needs, according to research commissioned for a Department of Health report.
Research for the NHS Digital Communications Review, conducted by communications agency Precedent and leaked to the Health Service Journal, found 2,873 nhs.uk websites that were in use and more than 1,000 other nhs.uk sites that were no longer active. A total of 287,300 web pages were accessible and Google listed 56 million pages within the nhs.uk domain.
http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/6139
/nhs_£86m_website_spend_confusingGPs and PCTs told to lead change
GPs and primary care trust managers need to start developing solutions for GP commissioning now, according to joint advice issued by the National Association of Primary Care and the NHS Confederation’s Primary Care Trust Network.
http://www.napc.co.uk/images/stories/napc-library
/gp_commissioning_napc_pctn%20final.pdfHeadlines w/c 2nd August 2010
Flu jabs from CSL and Pfizer not for under fives, DoH warns
Influenza vaccines manufactured by CSL Biotherapies and Pfizer Vaccines should not be given to children aged under five in the coming flu season, the DoH has warned. These vaccines have been associated with a higher-than-expected risk of febrile convulsions in children, the DoH in England’s director of immunisation has warned in a letter sent out to GPs.
Professor David Salisbury said data from Australia show there has been a higher than expected increase in febrile convulsions in children related to the use of Fluvax (manufactured by CSL Biotherapies).
Fluvax is the same product that will be marketed in the UK for the 2010/11 influenza vaccination season by Pfizer as Enzira and by CSL Biotherapies as a generic influenza vaccine.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1019399/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicGPs given green light for mass Summary Care Record opt-out
The Information Commissioner's Office has given GPs the green light to begin a mass opt-out of their patients from the Summary Care Record. The UK's information authority ruled that practices will not face any action if they chose to automatically stop their patients’ records being uploaded, provided they inform them of what they are doing first.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?
sectioncode=35&storycode=4126690&c=2MPs to investigate GP commissioning in White Paper
Key questions are to include:
- How will commissioners access the information and clinical expertise required to make high quality decisions about the shape of clinical services?
- How will GPs engage with their colleagues within a consortium and how will consortia engage with the wider clinical community?
- What will be the role of the NHS Commissioning Board?
- Will the new arrangements safeguard current examples of good practice?
- Who will drive innovation during the transitional period?
- How will transitional costs (redundancy etc) be minimised?
The deadline for submitting written evidence is noon on 6 October. The White Paper consultation closes on 11 October.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1019155/MPs-investigate-GP-commissioning-White-Paper/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicOpportunity to Share Views on White Paper with the Department of Health
The RCGP, through a dedicated webpage, is now seeking Members' views on the broad proposals outlined in the White Paper and is inviting comments on a number of specific questions. Views should be sent to liberatingthenhs@rcgp.org.uk. The deadline for comments is 20 August 2010.
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/liberating_the_nhs/
respond_to_rcgp_consultation.aspxNHS chief announces instant power shift from PCTs to GPs
The NHS chief executive has signalled a dramatic shift of power from PCTs to GPs will start with immediate effect, instructing managers that local GPs must sign off all their commissioning decisions from now on.
In a letter to managers and senior staff, NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson says that all service changes should be signed off by consortia, or other GP representatives if consortia have not yet formed. PCTs will have to amend their proposals if it does not have the support of local GPs.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1019591/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicGPs must engage secondary care and public for commissioning success
Commissioning will only be successful if GPs fully engage secondary care and the public, the chairman of the BMA has said. In a letter to GPs, BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum outlines that while the White Paper offers doctors an opportunity to ‘take more control over their working lives and the design of services for their patients’, they will only improve services if they work together in partnership.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/
1019569/GPs-engage-secondary-care-public-commissioning-success/
?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicNICE potential indicators for 2011/12 QOF set to provide good quality patient care
A new ´menu´ of potential indicators for the 2011/12 Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF), published today, will improve GP patient care and help reduce health inequalities. The new 2011/12 NICE menu for QOF offers a range of important topics including mental health, diabetes and dementia. Each proposed clinical and health improvement indicator for primary care is evidence-based, reflects good practice and no barriers to implementation have been identified.
http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/QOF2011-12.jspGPs urged to review procedures for meningitis
GP practices could be liable for millions of pounds in damages unless they revamp their procedures for managing patients with suspected meningitis, the Medical Defence Union has warned.
The advice comes after a review of cases by the MDU found those involving a missed diagnosis of meningitis were the most costly.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=4126708&
cid=Latest_headlines_3_030810&sp_rid=NDE0NjI2ODIxMAS2&sp_mid=35661435PCTs target GP services for funding cuts
PCTs are set to slash GP services, slim down urgent care and put pressure on referral and prescribing rates to cut costs. PCTs across England outlined the plans in operating and strategy reports for 2010/11. Plans to reduce GP contract spending – likely to mean pressure on enhanced services and PMS deals – will increase pressure on practices hit hard by PMS contract reviews this year.
http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/1019911/
PCTs-target-GP-services-funding-cuts/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromHealthcareRepublicProtecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Scotland)
On 30 November 2010, the Scottish Government will introduce a new membership scheme to replace and improve upon the current disclosure arrangements for people who work with vulnerable groups.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/
Young-People/children-families/pvglegislation/GP care satisfaction rates (Scotland)
Ninety per cent of patients rated the overall care provided by their GP surgery as 'good' or 'excellent' according to new figures released today. The findings were included in the first GP Patient Experience Survey National Report published by the Scottish Government. More details at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2010/07/27104550Birmingham SCR scare proves false
The vast majority of the Summary Care Records identified as out-of-date are actually up-to-date, an investigation has discovered. An NHS investigation has found that the problem was caused by EMIS GP systems incorrectly logging SCRs as out-of-date.
http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/6125/
birmingham_scr_scare_proves_falseGP and Practice Team Bulletin - July 2010
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Bulletins/GPbulletin/DH_118051Public health: why GPs need to see the full picture
Public health needs to move out of the lecture hall and into the living room, according to Anne Milton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary (Public Health), speaking at The King’s Fund last week. She is right in one sense. Public health is everybody’s business; it is shaped in part by the actions and behaviours that we undertake every day at home, at work, at play. But it is also more than that.
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/public_health_why.htmlThe White Paper: The challenge for NHS leaders
The scale of the challenge facing NHS leaders in pushing through the major reforms outlined in the recent White Paper, against the backdrop of current financial constraints, is unprecedented.
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/the_white_paper_the.htmlNew Regulations for the Notification of Infectious Disease in Wales
New regulations for the notification of infections in Wales have now come into force. Doctors in Wales have a statutory duty to notify a 'proper officer' of the Local Authority of suspected cases of certain infectious diseases (notifiable diseases) and also cases where a patient is infected or contaminated (by chemicals or radiation for instance) in such a way that may cause significant harm to others. These obligations also extend to the notification of suspected disease, infection or contamination in a person who has died. The new regulations extend this list further and now include diseases such as Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and Legionnaires disease. A guidance document explaining the notification requirements on registered medical practitioners is available from the Welsh Assembly Government website.
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/protection/communicabledisease/
legislation/regulations/;jsessionid=GysLMLLbvmnvTHVkVQTv8Hr6LQzLC8G7G4
vpgFYpY99JhK2vJsKd!-1351106478?lang=enIssued by First Practice Management
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