Economic Outlook
The New Coalition Government: programme for government (May 2010)
Following the election on 6 May, the new coalition government published its programme of key policies on 20 May 2010. Section 22 (pages 24 – 26) focusses on the NHS and proposals include: a real terms increase in health spending for each year of the Parliament; cutting NHS administrative costs by a third; strengthening the Care Quality Commission and developing Monitor into an economic regulator and establishing an independent NHS board. To access the document go to The Coalition: our programme for government.
Labour Research Department – Public sector pay (May 2010)
The LRD pay data (three months to April 2010) indicates that pay freezes in the private sector are on a downward trend (17% of settlements). For further information, go to http://www.lrd.org.uk/issue.php?pagid=1&issueid=1380.
Similarly, the Incomes Data Service found that for those settlements taking effect in April 2010, the percentage of pay deals involving a pay freeze had reduced from 36% to 25%. The public sector now accounts for over half of all deals involving pay freezes, e.g. consultants, GPs and dental practitioners - IDS press release.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development – public sector employment post election (April 2010)
The CIPD have stated that public sector employment could fall by 500,000 (10% of the total) – for further information click here. For information on how the UK unemployment rate compares to that of other European countries - CIPD news item.
The LGA launched its 2010 local government workforce strategy on 28 April, indicating that the numbers of directly employed staff are likely to fall due to financial pressures and organisational change.
Centre for International Competitiveness – The UK Competitiveness Index 2010
(April 2010)
The latest UK index which benchmarks the competitiveness of the regions and localities is now available. Click here for a summary and click here to access the full document.
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National Policy and Developments
Department of Health – Announcements (May 2010)
Details of the new ministers and their portfolios are now available from the DH website.
Criteria for NHS service change have also been published.
Department of Health – NHS continuing healthcare practice guidance (April 2010)
This guidance is aimed at practitioners and others with responsibilities in NHS continuing healthcare and provides practical support on the National Framework, including good practice. Click here access the document.
The NHS Confederation – Harnessing the benefits of the independent sector: priorities for the next government (April 2010)
This report from the NHS Partners Network identifies policy changes required to help the independent sector in delivering quality healthcare services. See further NHSPN Briefing.
Children, Schools and Families Committee – Young People not in Education, Employment or Training
(April 2010)The Committee report published on 8 April calls for radical change and the establishment of an overall strategy for 16 – 24 age group. Click here to access the report.
The Sutton Trust –– Education Mobility in England (April 2010)
Undertaken by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, the latest Sutton Trust report on educational mobility as an indicator of social mobility suggests that England lags behind many other developed countries. For further information: summary and report.
Department for Communities and Local Government - 2008/09 Citizenship Survey (April 2010)
This report provides information on charity giving and volunteering and is part of the latest survey in a series which began in 2001. A key finding from the report is that 26 per cent of people in England participated in formal volunteering at least once a month (down from 29 per cent in 2005). For further information,
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1547056.pdf.
Skills for Health published in April 2010 a report on volunteering in the health sector –
The Hidden Workforce: Volunteers in the Health Sector in England.
Care Quality Commission – Registration
From April 2010, new standards of quality and safety are gradually being introduced across health and social care in England. All 378 NHS trusts had to be registered by 1 April 2010. To find out more about the registration status of individual providers, go to CQC registration.
The CQC has published its equality and human rights scheme covering a three year period until March 2013. CQC scheme
House of Commons Health Committee – Commissioning report (March 2010)
The Health Committee reviewed in its report the impact of the provider / purchaser split and the commissioning process. To access the report - click here.
In March 2010, the King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust published Where next for commissioning in the English NHS?
House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Progress in improving stroke care (March 2010)
PAC identified demonstrable progress in improving stroke care since its first report in 2006 and the impact of the act F.A.S.T campaign. However, it makes a series of recommendations on how services can be enhanced, including developing the evidence base for post-hospital services. Report.
Policy Exchange – Future Foundations: towards a new change of culture in the NHS (March 2010)
This report advocates a change of culture and increased autonomy for foundation trusts. Five key changes are identified including developing real competition and the pricing framework. To access the report:
http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications/publication.cgi?id=184.
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Recruiting your workforce
Incomes Data Services – NHS CEs pay (April 2010)
IDS figures indicate that Chief Executive pay in the NHS rose by 6.9% in 2008/09. For further information - IDS press release.
UK Commission for Employment and Skills – National Employer Skills Survey for England 2009 (March 2010)
The UKCES has published the key findings from the latest national employer skills survey and provides information on a wide range of topics including recruitment, skills gaps and upskilling. To access the report, go to http://www.ukces.org.uk/tags/report/national-employer-skills-survey-for-england-2009-key-findings-report
National Council for Voluntary Organisation – The UK Civil Society Almanac 2010
The latest edition of the almanac includes a chapter on workforce. It indicates that voluntary organisations employ 668,000 people and that between 1999 and 2008 the voluntary sector workforce increased by 23%. Click here for further information.
Health & Safety Executive – Stress – Line Manager Competency Indicator Tool
The HSE, in association with CIPD and Investor in People, has designed a tool to help managers to assess whether they have the behaviours identified as effective for preventing and reducing stress at work. Tool.
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Developing your workforce
Department of Health – Modernising Scientific Careers: The England Action Plan (April 2010)
Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward (February 2010) set down the key deliverables from the Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) programme and a commitment for each country in the UK to develop action plans.
The England Action Plan can be accessed here.
Health & Safety Executive – Self-reported work-related illnesses and workplace injuries 2008/09
The latest national statistics produced by HSE from the Labour Force Survey indicate that 29.3 million working days were lost in 2008/09. For further information, go to - http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/0809/hubresults.htm.
The Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (OPRA) based at the University of Manchester has been collecting information on occupational disease and work related conditions since 1996 –
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/oeh/research/thor/schemes/opra
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement / Academy of Medical Royal Colleges – Medical Chief Executives in the NHS (April 2010)
This report looks at the facilitators and barriers facing doctors in becoming NHS chief executives. Report.
Chartered Management Institute – Employee survey on management (April 2010)
According to a new survey only seven per cent of employees think that senior staff in their organisations are empowering. For further information on the survey and a CMI online application to assess strengths and weaknesses, go to http://www.managers.org.uk/news/employees-give-scathing-report-uk-management.
The King’s Fund – How many managers are there in the NHS? (April 2010)
For some key facts about NHS managers, go to - http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/general_election_2010/key_election_questions
/how_many_managers.html.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – effective employment engagement
For a range of practical guidance for employers, go to Business Link.
Royal College of Nursing – New foundations: the future of NHS trust providers
(April 2010)
The RCN Policy Briefing 05/2010 provides feedback from its members on how foundation trusts are performing in three areas: engaging with patients, the local community and staff in developing services and strategy; using their independence and supporting nurses in providing high quality care. Briefing.
NHS Employers – KSF review
The NHS Staff Council has broadly accepted the recommendations of the independent review of the KSF undertaken by the Institute of Employment Studies. A further update including additional work needed will be presented to the Council in July 2010. For further information: NHS Employers.
Skills for Care – QCF update
For the latest information on qualification development, including dementia, being taken forward by SfC - http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/qcf.
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Quality and productivity
The King’s Fund – A High Performing NHS? A review of progress 1997 – 2010
(April 2010)
The report assesses how the NHS has performed over the last 13 years across eight areas including access, safety, patient experience and efficiency. It identifies important achievements, e.g. reduction in waiting times, but identifies unwarranted variations in access and increased health inequality. Three challenges are noted: financial (in the context of declining productivity), demographic change and public health issues.
To access -
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/a_highperforming_nh.html.
The King’s Fund has also published:
• Health priorities for an incoming government (April 2010).
• With the Nuffield Trust – Where next for integrated care organisations in the English NHS? (March 2010).
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research – California Nurse Staffing Study
This study looks at nurse to patient ratios and the impact on patient surgical mortality comparing California with two other states. For further information -
http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/chopr/Pages/default.aspx.
To find out about research in the UK involving nurses, midwives and health visitors
go to the Academy of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Research (UK) - http://www.researchacademy.co.uk (mentorship programme – http://www.researchacademy.co.uk/mentors).
Royal College of Physicians – medical cover at night
This research indicates a wide variation in medical cover across hospitals in England and Wales. The study will be published later in the year but for information on some key findings and to read the abstract, go to http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/media/Press-releases/Pages/21-April-2010-large-variations-in-medical-cover-in-Hospitals-at-night.aspx.
The NHS Information Centre – Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs)
PROMs measure quality from the patient’s point of view and currently cover the following four areas: hip replacements, knee replacements, hernia and varicose veins. The first data set (based on pre-operative questionnaires and participation rates) was released in April 2010 and will be published on a monthly basis. For further information on PROMs go to: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/services/patient-reported-outcomes-measures-proms and the HES online PROMS monthly summary.
The King’s Fund – Accounting for Quality to the Local Community (April 2010)
From April 2010, NHS service providers (acute, mental health, learning disability and ambulance) are required to publish Quality Accounts and this report examines, through focus group activity, how plans are meeting the objective of increasing accountability by making more information available to the public. See further: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/quality_accounts.html.
The Centre for Public Scrutiny has published a report on accountability in the public sector – Accountability Works (April 2010).
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Good practice
Care Quality Commission – 2009 NHS Inpatient Survey (May 2010)
The CQC has published the results of the latest inpatient survey.
For further information - click here.
NHS Employers – GP and Pharmacists guides
NHS Employers (together with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the GP Committee of the BMA) has published these two guides to increase understanding of each profession’s respective discipline and improve primary care services. These can be accessed at http://www.nhsemployers.org/PressReleases/2010/Pages/
GPpharmacistguideslaunched.aspx.
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement – Health and Social Care Awards 2010
The awards are open to any team across health and social care in England. There are six categories (Success in Partnership Working; Acute Care; Primary Care and Community Based Integration; Excellence in Commissioning; Mental Health and Wellbeing and Support for Independence) based on the four core principles of QIPP. The deadline for applications is 18 June 2010. For further information: http://www.institute.nhs.uk/hsca/national.aspx.
Picker Institute Europe – Invest in Engagement website
This website is a comprehensive review of best evidence from across the world on patient engagement and public involvement.
It can be accessed at http://www.investinengagement.info.
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement launched the Patient Experience Online Network in February 2010 and this can be accessed at http://www.institute.nhs.uk/share_and_network/pen/welcome.html.
The Foundation Programme – new guides published
The FP is a two year generic training programme which sits between medical school and specialist/general practice training. The new editions of The Foundation Programme Curriculum and the Foundation Programme Reference Guide come into effect in August 2010 –
http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/news/story/new-editions-of-fp-documents-to-be-used-from-august-2010.
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Regulation
Nursing and Midwifery Council – Advice and information for employers of nurses and midwives (April 2010)
This NMC publication provides information on: employer responsibilities; how to use and check the NMC register of nurses and midwives; what steps should be taken during the recruitment process; what is meant by fitness to practice and the procedures which should be gone through when considering making a fitness to practice referral. Document
General Medical Council – revalidation consultation
Revalidation is the name given to the new process of medical regulation intended to ensure that doctors are up to date and fit to practice. The GMC consultation ends 4 June 2010 – http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/licensing/5786.asp.
Nursing and Midwifery Council – review of Midwives Rules and Standards
The current Rules and Standards were published in 2004 and will remain unchanged until the end of 2011. The NMC is consulting on the proposed changes to the Midwives Rules. The deadline for responses is 23 July 2010. http://www.nmc-uk.org/Press-and-media/Latest-news/Help-shape-the-new-Midwives-Rules--/.
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Other news
Calendar check
This website has been developed to support charities promote their events and to avoid dates clashing - http://www.calendarcheck.co.uk/events/index.php .
I-volunteer
http://www.i-volunteer.org.uk – is a social networking site for volunteering connecting charities, volunteer managers and volunteers.
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