NEWS - JANUARY 2016
CUT TO FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PHARMACIES
Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's English Pharmacy Board Sandra Gidley has been talking to the BBC about the cut to funding for community pharmacies which hit the media today. Here's what she said in full:
“The RPS is extremely concerned about the announced funding cut for community pharmacy. It believes the proposed scale of the reduction in support for the service has the potential to adversely impact patient care. We also believe the cuts are short sighted, coming just as phenomenal pressures on other parts of the NHS mean that community pharmacists are now seen as an accessible source for advice, helping people stay well through treating them for many minor ailments and health conditions.
“When providing medicines for some patients, particularly those with long-term health conditions, pharmacists often need to talk to people to check things with them and answer any questions they may have about their medications. To ensure safety and effectiveness they also need to ensure patients understand exactly how their medicines should be taken.
“With ever growing pressures on GP surgeries and hospital A&E departments, an integrated community pharmacy network is key to ensuring people have access to the healthcare they need. People now regularly go to their community pharmacist for flu jabs, health checks and for preventative therapies such as weight management and stopping smoking. All this patient-focused clinical support goes a long way to ease the growing pressure on GP surgeries and hospital emergency departments.
“There is a very real concern within the profession that the Government is attempting to cut the cost of the community pharmacy service without considering the real value we provide to patients and the public. Government must consider the capacity that the community pharmacy network provides to relieve pressures on GPs and A&E.”
Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's English Pharmacy Board Sandra Gidley has been talking to the BBC about the cut to funding for community pharmacies which hit the media today. Here's what she said in full:
“The RPS is extremely concerned about the announced funding cut for community pharmacy. It believes the proposed scale of the reduction in support for the service has the potential to adversely impact patient care. We also believe the cuts are short sighted, coming just as phenomenal pressures on other parts of the NHS mean that community pharmacists are now seen as an accessible source for advice, helping people stay well through treating them for many minor ailments and health conditions.
“When providing medicines for some patients, particularly those with long-term health conditions, pharmacists often need to talk to people to check things with them and answer any questions they may have about their medications. To ensure safety and effectiveness they also need to ensure patients understand exactly how their medicines should be taken.
“With ever growing pressures on GP surgeries and hospital A&E departments, an integrated community pharmacy network is key to ensuring people have access to the healthcare they need. People now regularly go to their community pharmacist for flu jabs, health checks and for preventative therapies such as weight management and stopping smoking. All this patient-focused clinical support goes a long way to ease the growing pressure on GP surgeries and hospital emergency departments.
“There is a very real concern within the profession that the Government is attempting to cut the cost of the community pharmacy service without considering the real value we provide to patients and the public. Government must consider the capacity that the community pharmacy network provides to relieve pressures on GPs and A&E.”
PARTICIPATION IN COMMISSIONING IN PRIMARY CARE
NHS England is developing detailed and bespoke frameworks for participation in primary care commissioning, one of several areas in which greater participation by patients and the public is seen as key to fulfilling the aims of the NHS Constitution.
The primary care commissioning guidance is being developed for NHS England, but should be of interest to CCGs, particularly those that have already assumed full responsibility for primary medical care under co-commissioning arrangements.
NHS England is seeking comments on the draft from NHS England staff, CCG Primary Care Commissioners, patients and the public, and providers, including the voluntary and community sector.
Having read the document, please complete the following short questionnaire and return it by email to [email protected] as soon as possible, and at the latest by Friday 12 February 2016. All feedback received by this date will be considered and incorporated as appropriate into the framework, which will be presented to NHS England’s Commissioning Committee (a sub-committee of the Board) for approval in March 2016.
https://www.networks.nhs.uk/networks/news/feedback-wanted-primary-care-commissioning-participation-guidance
NHS England is developing detailed and bespoke frameworks for participation in primary care commissioning, one of several areas in which greater participation by patients and the public is seen as key to fulfilling the aims of the NHS Constitution.
The primary care commissioning guidance is being developed for NHS England, but should be of interest to CCGs, particularly those that have already assumed full responsibility for primary medical care under co-commissioning arrangements.
NHS England is seeking comments on the draft from NHS England staff, CCG Primary Care Commissioners, patients and the public, and providers, including the voluntary and community sector.
Having read the document, please complete the following short questionnaire and return it by email to [email protected] as soon as possible, and at the latest by Friday 12 February 2016. All feedback received by this date will be considered and incorporated as appropriate into the framework, which will be presented to NHS England’s Commissioning Committee (a sub-committee of the Board) for approval in March 2016.
https://www.networks.nhs.uk/networks/news/feedback-wanted-primary-care-commissioning-participation-guidance
GUIDE TO PRODUCING HEALTH INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
59 pages This resource aims to help anyone who communicates with children and young people about their health improve what they do, and shares practical advice as well as examples of current best practice in the field. |
REGIONAL EVENTS ON THE TOPIC OF PATIENT CHOICE
Have you ever been an outpatient, or know someone who has?
Patient Choice; Have you been referred for an outpatient appointment – what do you know about your right to choose?
Initial research has shown that when patients are referred for an outpatient appointment, they quite often do not know that they have the right to make choices about where the appointment takes place and which consultant lead team treats them.
NHS England’s Patient Choice Unit is holding a series of regional patient engagement events to find out what patients know about their legal rights to choice and how they would like to receive information about their outpatient appointment options. The findings from these events will inform improvements to the national patient choice programme and will help to shape a national awareness raising campaign.
We would like to invite the public, patients and carers to take part in these events and share your knowledge, understanding or experience of patient choice with us. We want your views on how we could increase awareness and the uptake of choice within the NHS.
The events will take place between 10.30 and 2.30 on the following dates in the locations below. If you would like to take part in one of these events, please register via the relevant links below:
· 18 February 2016, London: ... ... www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/993
· 19 February 2016, Birmingham: ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/994
· 22 February 2016, Leeds: ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/995
· 24 February, Southampton: ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/996
· 25 February, Bristol: ... ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/997
· 29 February, Newcastle: ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/998
· 03 March, Peterborough: ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/999
For more information please contact Oliver Wilkinson [email protected] / 0113 825 1448.
All reasonable travel expenses will be covered and lunch will be provided.
Have you ever been an outpatient, or know someone who has?
Patient Choice; Have you been referred for an outpatient appointment – what do you know about your right to choose?
Initial research has shown that when patients are referred for an outpatient appointment, they quite often do not know that they have the right to make choices about where the appointment takes place and which consultant lead team treats them.
NHS England’s Patient Choice Unit is holding a series of regional patient engagement events to find out what patients know about their legal rights to choice and how they would like to receive information about their outpatient appointment options. The findings from these events will inform improvements to the national patient choice programme and will help to shape a national awareness raising campaign.
We would like to invite the public, patients and carers to take part in these events and share your knowledge, understanding or experience of patient choice with us. We want your views on how we could increase awareness and the uptake of choice within the NHS.
The events will take place between 10.30 and 2.30 on the following dates in the locations below. If you would like to take part in one of these events, please register via the relevant links below:
· 18 February 2016, London: ... ... www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/993
· 19 February 2016, Birmingham: ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/994
· 22 February 2016, Leeds: ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/995
· 24 February, Southampton: ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/996
· 25 February, Bristol: ... ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/997
· 29 February, Newcastle: ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/998
· 03 March, Peterborough: ... ... ... http://www.events.england.nhs.uk/all/999
For more information please contact Oliver Wilkinson [email protected] / 0113 825 1448.
All reasonable travel expenses will be covered and lunch will be provided.
Exclusive: GOVERNMENT 'DOWNGRADES' INDEPENDENCE OF PATIENT CHAMPIO BODY: HEALTHWATCH ENGLAND EMASCULATED
By: Will Hazell - 18 January 2016
The role and independence of the NHS's official patient champion organisation is being 'downgraded'.
A series of government changes to Healthwatch England include making its Chief Executive report internally to the Care Quality Commission rather than, as at present, directly to the Department of Health. The organisation has seen both its Chair and Chief Executive leave in recent months, and the moves have sparked concern from former Health Minister, Norman Lamb.
Investigation has found:
HWE was created by the Health Act 2012 as a Statutory Committee of the CQC, but the coalition government said at the time it should be independent, and gave it direct reporting lines to the DH. Its role is to champion the patient and consumer interest nationally, and support local Healthwatch branches.
Norman Lamb said: ‘It goes against the purpose of the legislation in having a strong public voice in the system’. A senior source, with knowledge of the changes now being made, said they represented a significant re-interpretation of the Act. They could potentially reduce Healthwatch England’s control over its resources, and limit its ability to decide its own agenda, the source said.
Another well placed senior NHS source, said the organisation was now being “embedded” in the CQC and the changes felt like a “downgrading”. Norman Lamb, who as Care Minister until last year, was the DH’s ministerial point of contact with HWE, said he was concerned by the changes.
“It’s hard to escape a… sense that this does amount to a downgrading of the organisation… and, therefore,
potentially a diminished voice of the patient and public in the system,” he said. “Even if it’s not against the 'letter
of the law', it goes against the purpose of the legislation in having a strong public voice within the system.”
Mr Lamb said he suspected the changes were an attempted “rationalisation” of Healthwatch England with the CQC in a bid to save money.
Malcolm Alexander, a Board Member of Healthwatch Hackney, who sat on the DH Programme Board that created
Healthwatch, said he thought the moves were designed to “undermine” Healthwatch England’s independence.“
Can you imagine the next [Healthwatch England] Chair… in front of the television cameras saying the organisation
that I’m accountable to, the CQC, is not up to the job … impossible isn’t it?” Mr Alexander said he worried about
Healthwatch England’s future, in light of the changes to its senior staff. “To lose the Chair and Chief Executive of an
organisation is a good way of chopping the head off an organisation,” he said.
Former Health Minister, Lord Howe, in a Lords debate on Healthwatch England in November 2012, stressed it would be able to “act independently… in a very real sense” because it would “set its own strategic priorities, separate from the CQC; it will have its own operational and editorial voice, again separate from the CQC; and it will develop its own business plan and take responsibility for managing its own budget”.
A Healthwatch England spokeswoman said: “Healthwatch England’s role as patient champion is written into statute. “Our sole focus is to report the views and experiences of people who use health and social care services across the country – this will not change as we continue to deliver our statutory functions.”
A CQC spokesman said the changes would not affect HWE’s “statutory remit, responsibility to speak out and act on behalf of people who use services, or how local Healthwatch work with CQC”.
A DH spokeswoman confirmed the changes were taking place, but said they were “small governance changes” which would not alter HWE’s statutory functions.
By: Will Hazell - 18 January 2016
The role and independence of the NHS's official patient champion organisation is being 'downgraded'.
- HSJ investigation establishes Healthwatch England's role and independence have been 'downgraded'.
- Healthwatch England's Chair and Chief Executive have left in recent months - the Chief Executive will be replaced with a 'National Director'.
- Its leaders will report to the CQC instead of direction to the Department of Health
- Norman Lamb says patient voice 'diminished' by changes.
A series of government changes to Healthwatch England include making its Chief Executive report internally to the Care Quality Commission rather than, as at present, directly to the Department of Health. The organisation has seen both its Chair and Chief Executive leave in recent months, and the moves have sparked concern from former Health Minister, Norman Lamb.
Investigation has found:
- Healthwatch England is, for the first time, reporting to the CQC, rather than directly to the Department of Health
- Healthwatch England’s Chair will become accountable to the CQC Chair
- The DH has decided not to replace Katherine Rake - who stood down as Healthwatch England Chief Executive earlier this month - with a new Chief Executive
- Instead, the DH is recruiting a “National Director” who will directly report to the Chief Executive of the CQC
- The executive team responsible for supporting the HWE Committee, is to be “embedded” in the CQC’s organisational structure. Previously it was separate.
HWE was created by the Health Act 2012 as a Statutory Committee of the CQC, but the coalition government said at the time it should be independent, and gave it direct reporting lines to the DH. Its role is to champion the patient and consumer interest nationally, and support local Healthwatch branches.
Norman Lamb said: ‘It goes against the purpose of the legislation in having a strong public voice in the system’. A senior source, with knowledge of the changes now being made, said they represented a significant re-interpretation of the Act. They could potentially reduce Healthwatch England’s control over its resources, and limit its ability to decide its own agenda, the source said.
Another well placed senior NHS source, said the organisation was now being “embedded” in the CQC and the changes felt like a “downgrading”. Norman Lamb, who as Care Minister until last year, was the DH’s ministerial point of contact with HWE, said he was concerned by the changes.
“It’s hard to escape a… sense that this does amount to a downgrading of the organisation… and, therefore,
potentially a diminished voice of the patient and public in the system,” he said. “Even if it’s not against the 'letter
of the law', it goes against the purpose of the legislation in having a strong public voice within the system.”
Mr Lamb said he suspected the changes were an attempted “rationalisation” of Healthwatch England with the CQC in a bid to save money.
Malcolm Alexander, a Board Member of Healthwatch Hackney, who sat on the DH Programme Board that created
Healthwatch, said he thought the moves were designed to “undermine” Healthwatch England’s independence.“
Can you imagine the next [Healthwatch England] Chair… in front of the television cameras saying the organisation
that I’m accountable to, the CQC, is not up to the job … impossible isn’t it?” Mr Alexander said he worried about
Healthwatch England’s future, in light of the changes to its senior staff. “To lose the Chair and Chief Executive of an
organisation is a good way of chopping the head off an organisation,” he said.
Former Health Minister, Lord Howe, in a Lords debate on Healthwatch England in November 2012, stressed it would be able to “act independently… in a very real sense” because it would “set its own strategic priorities, separate from the CQC; it will have its own operational and editorial voice, again separate from the CQC; and it will develop its own business plan and take responsibility for managing its own budget”.
A Healthwatch England spokeswoman said: “Healthwatch England’s role as patient champion is written into statute. “Our sole focus is to report the views and experiences of people who use health and social care services across the country – this will not change as we continue to deliver our statutory functions.”
A CQC spokesman said the changes would not affect HWE’s “statutory remit, responsibility to speak out and act on behalf of people who use services, or how local Healthwatch work with CQC”.
A DH spokeswoman confirmed the changes were taking place, but said they were “small governance changes” which would not alter HWE’s statutory functions.
BETTER CARE FUND £1bn PAYMENT FOR PERFORMANCE SCHEME AXED
Ministers have axed the £1bn payment for performance element of the Better Care Fund (BCF) and mandated local targets for the reduction of delayed transfers of care.
Guidance published by the Department of Health last week also outlined a new process for centrally approving local plans, which aims to be more “streamlined” than the assurance process in the run-up to 2015-16. Councils and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be able to put more money into their shared local pots
The guidance also confirmed that the Better Care Fund fund – the Government’s flagship integrated care policy– will be worth at least £3.9bn in 2016-17, up from £3.8bn this year. Councils and CCGs will be able to put more money into their shared local pots, as they have been in 2015-16.
Under existing arrangements, some BCF cash can be held back in areas which fail to cut emergency admissions, and used to fund that activity. Next year, those national rules will be axed and councils and CCGs will be given more flexibility to agree local risk sharing agreements.
The Better Care Fund is the Government’s main policy for integrating health and social care.
Ministers have axed the £1bn payment for performance element of the Better Care Fund (BCF) and mandated local targets for the reduction of delayed transfers of care.
Guidance published by the Department of Health last week also outlined a new process for centrally approving local plans, which aims to be more “streamlined” than the assurance process in the run-up to 2015-16. Councils and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be able to put more money into their shared local pots
The guidance also confirmed that the Better Care Fund fund – the Government’s flagship integrated care policy– will be worth at least £3.9bn in 2016-17, up from £3.8bn this year. Councils and CCGs will be able to put more money into their shared local pots, as they have been in 2015-16.
Under existing arrangements, some BCF cash can be held back in areas which fail to cut emergency admissions, and used to fund that activity. Next year, those national rules will be axed and councils and CCGs will be given more flexibility to agree local risk sharing agreements.
The Better Care Fund is the Government’s main policy for integrating health and social care.
FLU IS HERE ...
Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) indicate flu is now circulating in the community, with increases seen for several indicators in particular influenza confirmed hospitalisations amongst younger adults.
Virus surveillance from the UK and elsewhere in Europe shows the strain A(H1N1)pdm09 is now the main seasonal flu virus.
The viruses characterised so far this season are well-matched to the vaccine strain.
Previous flu seasons dominated by A(H1N1)pdm09 suggest this strain particularly affects children, pregnant women, and adults with long term conditions like chronic heart disease, liver disease, neurological disease and respiratory disease in particular.
Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) indicate flu is now circulating in the community, with increases seen for several indicators in particular influenza confirmed hospitalisations amongst younger adults.
Virus surveillance from the UK and elsewhere in Europe shows the strain A(H1N1)pdm09 is now the main seasonal flu virus.
The viruses characterised so far this season are well-matched to the vaccine strain.
Previous flu seasons dominated by A(H1N1)pdm09 suggest this strain particularly affects children, pregnant women, and adults with long term conditions like chronic heart disease, liver disease, neurological disease and respiratory disease in particular.
COST OF OPERATIONS - PFI etc.
Letter: To The Rt. Hon. Lord Naseby, House of Lords - from Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for NHS Productivity (Lords)
4 pages
Letter: To The Rt. Hon. Lord Naseby, House of Lords - from Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for NHS Productivity (Lords)
4 pages
DEVOLUTION BILL - IMPACT ON THE NHS
Letter: To Liz McInnes, MP, House of Commons - from The Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt, MP, Minister of State for Community and Social Care.
4 pages
Letter: To Liz McInnes, MP, House of Commons - from The Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt, MP, Minister of State for Community and Social Care.
4 pages
ELIGIBILITY FOR NURSING CARE
Letter: To The Rt. Hon. Lord Hunt of King's Heath - from Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for NHS Productivity (Lords)
3 pages
Letter: To The Rt. Hon. Lord Hunt of King's Heath - from Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for NHS Productivity (Lords)
3 pages
GUIDELIES FOR ADVOCACY COMMISSIONERS
The LGA has worked in partnership with providers and commissioners of independent health complaints advocacy services to develop practice guidance for commissioning these important local services. See more at: http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/publications/-/journal_content/56/10180/7615285/PUBLICATION#sthash.yvO6f7fV.dpuf |