NEWS - APRIL 2019
2019 IOLANTHE MIDWIFERY TRUST AWARD - ELSIE GAYLE, a Director of HAPIA
Dr Jacque Gerrard, Iolanthe’s new Chair of the Trustees, announced the midwives and students who have gained awards from the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust.
Jacque said the judges had been, 'impressed at the sheer volume of entrants and quality of projects from midwives and student midwives.'
“The Iolanthe/RCM Jean Davies Award for addressing health inequalities is to go to both:
* Catherine Collins, (Northumbria University) who will be using her funding to undertake a PhD exploring the maternity experiences of women who have been trafficked into the UK.
* Elsie Gayle, (University of Wolverhampton/Mimosa Midwives Practice) who will put on a conference aimed at ameliorating the root causes of black maternal and perinatal mortality, learning from international expertise in reproductive justice.
Congratulations to all our award winners and we look forward to seeing the results of your projects! Also, thank you to everyone who applied and if you were unsuccessful in 2019 please do apply next year.”
Dr Jacque Gerrard, Iolanthe’s new Chair of the Trustees, announced the midwives and students who have gained awards from the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust.
Jacque said the judges had been, 'impressed at the sheer volume of entrants and quality of projects from midwives and student midwives.'
“The Iolanthe/RCM Jean Davies Award for addressing health inequalities is to go to both:
* Catherine Collins, (Northumbria University) who will be using her funding to undertake a PhD exploring the maternity experiences of women who have been trafficked into the UK.
* Elsie Gayle, (University of Wolverhampton/Mimosa Midwives Practice) who will put on a conference aimed at ameliorating the root causes of black maternal and perinatal mortality, learning from international expertise in reproductive justice.
Congratulations to all our award winners and we look forward to seeing the results of your projects! Also, thank you to everyone who applied and if you were unsuccessful in 2019 please do apply next year.”
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust is a charity which aims to promote and improve the care of mothers, babies and families through awarding grants and fellowships in support of midwifery education, practice and research.
CONSULTATION - GMC
Doctors are being asked for their views on how they should collect and reflect on feedback from their patients, in a consultation launched by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Feedback from patients, as well as from colleagues, is part of the supporting information doctors need for revalidation, but independent reviews have shown that the processes for collecting this feedback need to be improved. As a result, the regulator is now consulting on proposed changes to its guidance on getting and using feedback.
We’re consulting on some proposed changes to how doctors collect and reflect on patient feedback as part of their revalidation.
To take part, you can:
Choose the relevant tab below and have your say by the 23 July 2019.
We recommend you read our revised guidance before you complete the consultation.
https://www.gmc-uk.org/about/get-involved/consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-our-revalidation-requirements-for-patient-feedback#patients
Doctors are being asked for their views on how they should collect and reflect on feedback from their patients, in a consultation launched by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Feedback from patients, as well as from colleagues, is part of the supporting information doctors need for revalidation, but independent reviews have shown that the processes for collecting this feedback need to be improved. As a result, the regulator is now consulting on proposed changes to its guidance on getting and using feedback.
We’re consulting on some proposed changes to how doctors collect and reflect on patient feedback as part of their revalidation.
To take part, you can:
- Answer the questions aimed at doctors and those who have knowledge of our revalidation requirements
- Answer the questions for patients, carers and members of the public.
Choose the relevant tab below and have your say by the 23 July 2019.
We recommend you read our revised guidance before you complete the consultation.
https://www.gmc-uk.org/about/get-involved/consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-our-revalidation-requirements-for-patient-feedback#patients
HEALTHWATCH ENGLAND - PRIORITIES FOR 2019 - 2020 ... 1 page
The Plan outlines what Healthwatch England wants to achieve this year.
* Support you to have your say
* Provide a high quality service to you
* Ensure your views help improve health and care
* Organisation management
The Plan outlines what Healthwatch England wants to achieve this year.
* Support you to have your say
* Provide a high quality service to you
* Ensure your views help improve health and care
* Organisation management
FULL FIBRE CONNECTIVITY - NHS
All NHS organisations will get the fastest broadband, which will improve the range and quality of digital healthcare services offered to patients.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced plans to upgrade every hospital, GP practice and community care service to full fibre connectivity. Almost 40% of NHS organisations are using slow and unreliable internet supplied through copper lines, which restricts the ability to offer digital services to patients.
The announcement supports ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan to expand and improve online access to NHS services. Under the plan:
Upgrading broadband will provide the fast, more reliable connections necessary for video consultations and sharing high-definition images at speed.
All NHS organisations will get the fastest broadband, which will improve the range and quality of digital healthcare services offered to patients.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced plans to upgrade every hospital, GP practice and community care service to full fibre connectivity. Almost 40% of NHS organisations are using slow and unreliable internet supplied through copper lines, which restricts the ability to offer digital services to patients.
The announcement supports ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan to expand and improve online access to NHS services. Under the plan:
- Every patient will get the right to choose a ‘digital first’ approach to primary healthcare, meaning that more of the 307 million patient consultations with GPs each year would in future be offered online, through video consultation, as well as face to face
- Hospital outpatient clinics will also be redesigned with more ‘virtual clinics’ involving video consultations with consultants and nurses, supplemented by face-to-face appointments where necessary
- Cloud-based patient records will help clinicians access crucial information, including high-resolution images, anywhere in the country, improving patient safety and speeding up appointments
Upgrading broadband will provide the fast, more reliable connections necessary for video consultations and sharing high-definition images at speed.
ACCELERATED ACCESS COLLABORATIVE - AAC . National Innovation 'unit'
A new national “unit” is being established, with its own “Chief Executive”, to oversee innovation and medicines, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.
The unit ”will have an integrated innovation and medicines senior management team… [and] bring together the coordination of medicines policy, commercial agreement and broader innovation policy and delivery”, the press release said.
The concept resembles NHSX, the “unit” formed earlier this year, at the behest of the health and social care secretary, across the DHSC, NHSE and NHSI to lead on technology, which also has a chief executive despite not being an organisation.
The innovation unit will house the “accelerated access collaborative”, which was set up last year, along with an “accelerated access pathway”, with the aim of improving access to breakthrough treatments.
The AAC panel decides on products to fast track through the NHS approval process, and has so far selected 12.
A new national “unit” is being established, with its own “Chief Executive”, to oversee innovation and medicines, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.
The unit ”will have an integrated innovation and medicines senior management team… [and] bring together the coordination of medicines policy, commercial agreement and broader innovation policy and delivery”, the press release said.
The concept resembles NHSX, the “unit” formed earlier this year, at the behest of the health and social care secretary, across the DHSC, NHSE and NHSI to lead on technology, which also has a chief executive despite not being an organisation.
The innovation unit will house the “accelerated access collaborative”, which was set up last year, along with an “accelerated access pathway”, with the aim of improving access to breakthrough treatments.
The AAC panel decides on products to fast track through the NHS approval process, and has so far selected 12.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE COMMITTEE, PARLIAMENT ... 2 pages
NHS Long-Term Plan: Legislative Proposals: Final Evidence Sessions to be held on Tuesday, 30 April 2019 and Wednesday, 01 May 2019.
Following its report last year on Integrated care: organisations, partnerships and systems, the Health and Social Care Committee is scrutinising the legislative proposals put forward to support the implementation of the NHS Long-Term Plan. The inquiry is focusing on the detailed proposals published by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
NHS Long-Term Plan: Legislative Proposals: Final Evidence Sessions to be held on Tuesday, 30 April 2019 and Wednesday, 01 May 2019.
Following its report last year on Integrated care: organisations, partnerships and systems, the Health and Social Care Committee is scrutinising the legislative proposals put forward to support the implementation of the NHS Long-Term Plan. The inquiry is focusing on the detailed proposals published by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL DATA OPT-OUT
This guidance goes through the steps necessary to achieve compliance with the national data opt-out policy, by March 2020, when all health and care organisations in England must comply.
--- these, below, are only extracts -- Ruth Marsden, Director and HAPIA North
Patient Communications
You should update your privacy notice materials, and include a declaration to state when your organisation is compliant with national data opt-out policy, to comply with the Information Standard.
See recommended content to include in your organisation’s website and privacy notice.
Identify who produces and/or is responsible for creating patient materials and managing patient communication channels, and work with them to decide how to inform patients appropriately. Consider your organisation’s website if you have one, and work with patient groups such as Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in GP practices and the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) in NHS Trusts.
Check existing stocks of the ‘Your NHS Data Matters’ printed materials, order more if needed, and make sure they are available in public spaces.
Consider creating and publishing a register of approved requests for data disclosures, if you do not already do so. With the processes in place for considering requests for data disclosures and whether national data opt-outs apply, this provides greater transparency for your patients.
Full info can be seen here:
This guidance goes through the steps necessary to achieve compliance with the national data opt-out policy, by March 2020, when all health and care organisations in England must comply.
--- these, below, are only extracts -- Ruth Marsden, Director and HAPIA North
Patient Communications
You should update your privacy notice materials, and include a declaration to state when your organisation is compliant with national data opt-out policy, to comply with the Information Standard.
See recommended content to include in your organisation’s website and privacy notice.
Identify who produces and/or is responsible for creating patient materials and managing patient communication channels, and work with them to decide how to inform patients appropriately. Consider your organisation’s website if you have one, and work with patient groups such as Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in GP practices and the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) in NHS Trusts.
Check existing stocks of the ‘Your NHS Data Matters’ printed materials, order more if needed, and make sure they are available in public spaces.
Consider creating and publishing a register of approved requests for data disclosures, if you do not already do so. With the processes in place for considering requests for data disclosures and whether national data opt-outs apply, this provides greater transparency for your patients.
Full info can be seen here:
PAY DEAL ROW BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND NHS ENGLAND
Highlighted [red] in the text below to show local authorities get the funding [unringfenced] that they are supposed to allocate to their Local Healthwatch and Local Healthwatchs are supported by their ‘host’, a social enterprise. Keep an eye on this issue!
SUMMARY
A row has broken out between the Government and NHS England over £50m funding for NHS staff pay.
The money is due to be paid this year for the annual pay rise promised by the government to staff in NHS public health services, like sexual health, health visiting and school nursing.
But both the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are refusing to fund it, leaving the providers of these services – mostly NHS community and mental health trusts – facing large gaps in their income.
Ministers committed last year that the government would fund the pay rise deal they agreed for Agenda for Change staff – covering more than one million NHS staff – including for those working on public health services which are commissioned by local authorities.
In 2018-19, the DHSC gave the money to all relevant providers. But, for 2019-20, money for the uplift of NHS services was put into tariff prices and NHS England’s annual funding pot.
In an argument behind closed doors, the DHSC is saying NHS England should also fund the pay rise for public health staff. But NHS England is arguing this is not its responsibility and the government does not fund it to do so. This is estimated to be worth £50m. It leaves a standoff. Several social enterprises and private providers are also affected.
[The DHSC has also missed a deadline to publish its mandate which formalises its requirements of and funding for NHS England.]
NHS Providers said ministers had promised the Commons in March and June 2018 they would fully fund the pay deal including for NHS community services staff delivering local authority public health contracts.
DHSC spokesman said: “We are aware of the timing pressures, and hope to be able to communicate specific arrangements as soon as possible. The Agenda for Change deal included funding for eligible organisations who deliver public health services commissioned by Local Authorities, and this funding will be made available to the system.”
NHS England did not comment.
Highlighted [red] in the text below to show local authorities get the funding [unringfenced] that they are supposed to allocate to their Local Healthwatch and Local Healthwatchs are supported by their ‘host’, a social enterprise. Keep an eye on this issue!
SUMMARY
- Row over funding for pay rise in public health NHS services
- DHSC says NHS England should fund, but NHSE says is not within its remit
- Several trusts face tipping into financial problems through missing income
- Comes amid delayed mandate and row over control of public health budgets
A row has broken out between the Government and NHS England over £50m funding for NHS staff pay.
The money is due to be paid this year for the annual pay rise promised by the government to staff in NHS public health services, like sexual health, health visiting and school nursing.
But both the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are refusing to fund it, leaving the providers of these services – mostly NHS community and mental health trusts – facing large gaps in their income.
Ministers committed last year that the government would fund the pay rise deal they agreed for Agenda for Change staff – covering more than one million NHS staff – including for those working on public health services which are commissioned by local authorities.
In 2018-19, the DHSC gave the money to all relevant providers. But, for 2019-20, money for the uplift of NHS services was put into tariff prices and NHS England’s annual funding pot.
In an argument behind closed doors, the DHSC is saying NHS England should also fund the pay rise for public health staff. But NHS England is arguing this is not its responsibility and the government does not fund it to do so. This is estimated to be worth £50m. It leaves a standoff. Several social enterprises and private providers are also affected.
[The DHSC has also missed a deadline to publish its mandate which formalises its requirements of and funding for NHS England.]
NHS Providers said ministers had promised the Commons in March and June 2018 they would fully fund the pay deal including for NHS community services staff delivering local authority public health contracts.
DHSC spokesman said: “We are aware of the timing pressures, and hope to be able to communicate specific arrangements as soon as possible. The Agenda for Change deal included funding for eligible organisations who deliver public health services commissioned by Local Authorities, and this funding will be made available to the system.”
NHS England did not comment.
GOVERNMENT IN DEFAULT OF THE LAW - NHS DEADLINE
Letter to Stephen Hammond, MP, Minister of State for Health, Department of Health ... 2 pages
HWE: Putting Patient Voices at the Heart of the NHS, March 2019 ... 6 pages
The Government has, for the first time, failed to publish its requirements of the NHS by the deadline set in law. The Health Act 2012 requires the Government’s Mandate for the NHS to be laid before Parliament “before the start of each financial year”. It must specify “the objectives [NHS England] should seek to achieve in the exercise of its functions during that financial year”, as well as its funding for the year.
The Department of Health and Social Care has not given a reason for the unprecedented delay, but Brexit has dominated Parliament’s and government’s agenda in recent months. Conservative members, including the health and social care secretary, are also focused on an anticipated party leadership race.
Healthwatch England, which must be consulted on each year’s Mandate, submitted its views to the
Government last month (see attached ). It called on the “department to back the work of the clinical standards review [NHS England’s review of NHS targets] and outline a clear expectation that new performance measures will need to be fully tested with service users”.
The public champion organisation also asked for the Mandate to emphasise involving people in NHS decision-making, learning from feedback and complaints, public confidence in new technologies, and listening to what people want from the NHS workforce.
Letter to Stephen Hammond, MP, Minister of State for Health, Department of Health ... 2 pages
HWE: Putting Patient Voices at the Heart of the NHS, March 2019 ... 6 pages
The Government has, for the first time, failed to publish its requirements of the NHS by the deadline set in law. The Health Act 2012 requires the Government’s Mandate for the NHS to be laid before Parliament “before the start of each financial year”. It must specify “the objectives [NHS England] should seek to achieve in the exercise of its functions during that financial year”, as well as its funding for the year.
The Department of Health and Social Care has not given a reason for the unprecedented delay, but Brexit has dominated Parliament’s and government’s agenda in recent months. Conservative members, including the health and social care secretary, are also focused on an anticipated party leadership race.
Healthwatch England, which must be consulted on each year’s Mandate, submitted its views to the
Government last month (see attached ). It called on the “department to back the work of the clinical standards review [NHS England’s review of NHS targets] and outline a clear expectation that new performance measures will need to be fully tested with service users”.
The public champion organisation also asked for the Mandate to emphasise involving people in NHS decision-making, learning from feedback and complaints, public confidence in new technologies, and listening to what people want from the NHS workforce.
FEWER CCGs
According to documents published by NHS England, [Procedures for clinical commissioning groups to apply for constitution change, merger or dissolution - April 2019 ] CCGs across the country face ‘constitution change, merger or dissolution’ from as early as April 2020.
This comes after the NHS long-term plan, published in January, revealed that integrated care systems (ICSs) would be rolled out across England by 2021, 'growing out of the current network of sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs)'.
There are just 44 STPs and NHS England has previously said these could evolve into ICSs. The long-term plan said there would be typically 'a single CCG for each ICS area', with CCGs set to become 'leaner, more strategic organisations'. This suggests that England’s 191 commissioning groups could be cut by more than 75% to match the number of STPs.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/procedures-for-clinical-commissioning-groups-to-apply-for-constitution-change-merger-or-dissolution/
According to documents published by NHS England, [Procedures for clinical commissioning groups to apply for constitution change, merger or dissolution - April 2019 ] CCGs across the country face ‘constitution change, merger or dissolution’ from as early as April 2020.
This comes after the NHS long-term plan, published in January, revealed that integrated care systems (ICSs) would be rolled out across England by 2021, 'growing out of the current network of sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs)'.
There are just 44 STPs and NHS England has previously said these could evolve into ICSs. The long-term plan said there would be typically 'a single CCG for each ICS area', with CCGs set to become 'leaner, more strategic organisations'. This suggests that England’s 191 commissioning groups could be cut by more than 75% to match the number of STPs.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/procedures-for-clinical-commissioning-groups-to-apply-for-constitution-change-merger-or-dissolution/
LIST OF APPGs RELATING TO HEALTH ... 1,161 pages
- Information and advice about All-Party Parliamentary Groups
- Introduction
- Information and advice about All-Party Parliamentary Groups
- Country Groups
- Subject Groups
BETTER CARE FUND - LATEST FUNDING
The Better Care Fund (BCF) will provide financial support for Councils and NHS organisations to jointly plan and deliver local services.
This document (12 pages) sets out the agreed way in which the BCF will be implemented in financial year 2019 to 2020.
The Better Care Fund (BCF) will provide financial support for Councils and NHS organisations to jointly plan and deliver local services.
This document (12 pages) sets out the agreed way in which the BCF will be implemented in financial year 2019 to 2020.
GP PARTNERSHIP REVIEW
44 Pages
This document is the final report of an independent review into the partnership model of general practice, as commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in 2018.
The partnership model, wherein GPs operate as self-employed independent contractors, has underpinned general practice since before the establishment of the NHS, and is thought to be a major component of the success of English general practice.
However, in recent years we also know that partnerships have become less popular with GPs.
44 Pages
This document is the final report of an independent review into the partnership model of general practice, as commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in 2018.
The partnership model, wherein GPs operate as self-employed independent contractors, has underpinned general practice since before the establishment of the NHS, and is thought to be a major component of the success of English general practice.
However, in recent years we also know that partnerships have become less popular with GPs.
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) MEDICINES, NOT PRESCRIPTIONS, FOR THOSE IN CARE HOMES
5 pages
People living in care homes – frequently asked questions ...
These frequently asked questions have been developed to support Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to implement the NHS England prescribing guidance for people living in Care Homes.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines/conditions-for-which-over-the-counter-items-should-not-routinely-be-prescribed/conditions-for-which-over-the-counter-items-should-not-routinely-be-prescribed-in-primary-care-implementation-resources/faqs/
5 pages
People living in care homes – frequently asked questions ...
These frequently asked questions have been developed to support Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to implement the NHS England prescribing guidance for people living in Care Homes.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines/conditions-for-which-over-the-counter-items-should-not-routinely-be-prescribed/conditions-for-which-over-the-counter-items-should-not-routinely-be-prescribed-in-primary-care-implementation-resources/faqs/
HEALTH EDUCATION ENGLAND (HEE) CHAIR, SIR DAVID BEHAN - FRAGMENTATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
New Chair of HEE, Sir David Behan, said he has been surprised at how “fragmented” the world of education and training is and how many organisations have a stake in the future and current workforce.
As well as needing to do something about the fragmentation of workforce development, Sir David said the “other fragmentation which has been critical is the separation of service planning, workforce planning and financial planning”. He called for collaboration between arm’s-length bodies, universities and employers.
Sir David also set out the advantage for having HEE as an independent statutory body with its own budget.
It was revealed in October last year that HEE was to become accountable to NHSI.
New Chair of HEE, Sir David Behan, said he has been surprised at how “fragmented” the world of education and training is and how many organisations have a stake in the future and current workforce.
As well as needing to do something about the fragmentation of workforce development, Sir David said the “other fragmentation which has been critical is the separation of service planning, workforce planning and financial planning”. He called for collaboration between arm’s-length bodies, universities and employers.
Sir David also set out the advantage for having HEE as an independent statutory body with its own budget.
It was revealed in October last year that HEE was to become accountable to NHSI.
CONNECTION TO THE NHS APP WILL BECOME MANDATORY FOR ALL GPs Connection to the NHS app will become mandatory for all GPs, including those already providing similar digital services, according to NHS England’s digital chief. The app will be a “universal offer” to all NHS patients.
The NHS app will link into the national e-referral system within 12 months, allowing patients to book an outpatient appointment.
NHS England has said it hopes to have all GP practices connected to the NHS app by July. About a third of GPs are already signed-up.
Both the NHS long-term plan and the recent GP contract include requirements for expanding digital primary care. But neither explicitly require GPs to connect to the NHS app.
Some CCGs already have contracts with other software suppliers that provide similar services, such as appointment booking, ordering repeat prescriptions or online triage.
An evaluation of the three-month pilot of the NHS app was due to be published on Monday. It shows the app is popular with patients for checking their GP records and ordering a repeat prescription, but some struggled with booking appointments.
Figures show that in the three months to 23 December last year, 3,193 patients had registered to use the app. Of those, only 337 appointments had been booked through the app, with 106 subsequently cancelled. Some patients complained their GP was not making enough appointments available for booking through the app.
After viewing their record, ordering repeat prescriptions was the most popular activity on the NHS app, with 662 orders placed.
Updated figures to the end of March, provided by NHS England, show the number of patients registered on the app has now grown to 7,350, with a further 18,000 still waiting for their GP to connect to the app.
The NHS app will link into the national e-referral system within 12 months, allowing patients to book an outpatient appointment.
NHS England has said it hopes to have all GP practices connected to the NHS app by July. About a third of GPs are already signed-up.
Both the NHS long-term plan and the recent GP contract include requirements for expanding digital primary care. But neither explicitly require GPs to connect to the NHS app.
Some CCGs already have contracts with other software suppliers that provide similar services, such as appointment booking, ordering repeat prescriptions or online triage.
An evaluation of the three-month pilot of the NHS app was due to be published on Monday. It shows the app is popular with patients for checking their GP records and ordering a repeat prescription, but some struggled with booking appointments.
Figures show that in the three months to 23 December last year, 3,193 patients had registered to use the app. Of those, only 337 appointments had been booked through the app, with 106 subsequently cancelled. Some patients complained their GP was not making enough appointments available for booking through the app.
After viewing their record, ordering repeat prescriptions was the most popular activity on the NHS app, with 662 orders placed.
Updated figures to the end of March, provided by NHS England, show the number of patients registered on the app has now grown to 7,350, with a further 18,000 still waiting for their GP to connect to the app.
EU TRAINED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CAN CONTINUE HERE ...
The Government has introduced legislation that means health and social care workers with professional qualifications from EU institutions can continue to practise in the UK after the country leaves the European Union.
The DHSC said this Legislation means up to 63,000 NHS staff and 104,000 social care workers who qualified in the EU, will continue to have their training accepted by all regulatory bodies, including the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Employment contracts will not need to be changed if the UK leaves without a deal, and staff will not have to reapply for their current positions after exit day, the Government confirmed.
The Government has introduced legislation that means health and social care workers with professional qualifications from EU institutions can continue to practise in the UK after the country leaves the European Union.
The DHSC said this Legislation means up to 63,000 NHS staff and 104,000 social care workers who qualified in the EU, will continue to have their training accepted by all regulatory bodies, including the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Employment contracts will not need to be changed if the UK leaves without a deal, and staff will not have to reapply for their current positions after exit day, the Government confirmed.
NHS DIGITAL
Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the appointment of NHSX’s chief executive Matthew Gould, a former diplomat and current government’s current digital tsar. He will start in the role over this summer and report to NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens and the health and social care secretary Matt Hancock.
DHSC has also pushed back the date NHSX will become “operational” from April to July, with staff in the meantime remaining within NHS England and the department.
Fresh details about the new joint venture unit include:
Many of these responsibilities currently sit within NHS England. In February, Mr Hancock said the unit would be a joint venture between NHS England and DHSC. Staff will continue to be employed by their existing organisations, but will work in NHSX teams.
Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the appointment of NHSX’s chief executive Matthew Gould, a former diplomat and current government’s current digital tsar. He will start in the role over this summer and report to NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens and the health and social care secretary Matt Hancock.
DHSC has also pushed back the date NHSX will become “operational” from April to July, with staff in the meantime remaining within NHS England and the department.
Fresh details about the new joint venture unit include:
- NHSX will have a chief technology officer, a new role that does not currently exist in either DHSC or NHS England.
- NHS suppliers and commissioning will have to “demonstrate” to NHSX that they met new IT standards for data security and interoperability when embarking on new digital projects. However, once signed off by NHSX, suppliers will not have to repeatedly demonstrate competency when selling into the NHS.
- NHSX will be responsible for making sure national digital services, such as the NHS app, work for IT suppliers wanting to plug into the product and local NHS organisations.
- It will be responsible for “reforming procurement” for tech products.
- It will develop digital care pathways to be deployed across the NHS
- From July it will enforce compliance with the new IT standards.
- It will set the national NHS cyber security policy.
- An early focus for NHSX will be working with national mental health and cancer teams within NHS England.
Many of these responsibilities currently sit within NHS England. In February, Mr Hancock said the unit would be a joint venture between NHS England and DHSC. Staff will continue to be employed by their existing organisations, but will work in NHSX teams.
THE NHS REGULATOR GIVES LIST TO PRIVATE PROVIDERS ... 2 pages
A list of NHS trusts which may need to outsource operations to reduce their waiting lists has been drawn up by regulators and given to private providers.
The list of NHS trusts has been distributed among providers such as Spire Healthcare, Care UK and Nuffield Health, to make them aware of potential opportunities.
The move has come in response to deteriorating performance against the 18-week referral-to-treatment pathway for non-urgent procedures.
Planning guidance issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement in February said additional funding would enable the overall waiting list to be “no higher in March 2019 than in March 2018”. The number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks should be halved by March 2019, it said.
If the planning guidance objectives are to be met, then many areas are likely to require support from private providers.
However, it is unclear to what extent local leaders will be pressured into outsourcing arrangements, because there have also been concerns about the cost to the NHS. There is already a high risk of the NHS overspending its revenue budget in 2018-19.
In a quarterly update published last week, NHSI said it was working with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network to ensure that outsourcing is “done as efficiently as possible”.
The list appears to be based on data returns submitted by Trusts following a drive by NHS England to ensure plans were in place to meet the objectives.
A list of NHS trusts which may need to outsource operations to reduce their waiting lists has been drawn up by regulators and given to private providers.
The list of NHS trusts has been distributed among providers such as Spire Healthcare, Care UK and Nuffield Health, to make them aware of potential opportunities.
The move has come in response to deteriorating performance against the 18-week referral-to-treatment pathway for non-urgent procedures.
Planning guidance issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement in February said additional funding would enable the overall waiting list to be “no higher in March 2019 than in March 2018”. The number of patients waiting more than 52 weeks should be halved by March 2019, it said.
If the planning guidance objectives are to be met, then many areas are likely to require support from private providers.
However, it is unclear to what extent local leaders will be pressured into outsourcing arrangements, because there have also been concerns about the cost to the NHS. There is already a high risk of the NHS overspending its revenue budget in 2018-19.
In a quarterly update published last week, NHSI said it was working with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network to ensure that outsourcing is “done as efficiently as possible”.
The list appears to be based on data returns submitted by Trusts following a drive by NHS England to ensure plans were in place to meet the objectives.
CQC FEES FROM PROVIDERS ... 20 pages
This legal fee scheme document will become effective on 1 April 2019.
A service provider will pay fees to CQC for the grant or subsistence of its registration under Chapter 2 of the Act or for reviews and performance assessments under Chapter 3 of the Act.
The fee will be calculated as described in paragraphs 1-10 of the attached.
This legal fee scheme document will become effective on 1 April 2019.
A service provider will pay fees to CQC for the grant or subsistence of its registration under Chapter 2 of the Act or for reviews and performance assessments under Chapter 3 of the Act.
The fee will be calculated as described in paragraphs 1-10 of the attached.
