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4 - 20 August 2007
	A Weekly Bulletin of Professional News, Guidance and Policy for Primary Care

Professional	Clinical	England	Wales
Scotland	Northern Ireland

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Headlines...

• RCGP Recruits for Leadership Programme ..... 
• Your Opportunity to Engage with Key Speakers .....
• Revised Contract Guidance for Salaried GPs .....
• Writing References for Colleagues .....

Guidance featured in Seven Days is uploaded weekly to the RCGP Non-Clinical Guidance Database for General Practice.

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Professional

News

RCGP Recruits for Leadership Programme

 

Enrol now for next Leadership Programme starting in September 2007. The one year programme aims to help GPs develop leadership skills and provides a unique learning opportunity to focus on the issues that matter most to grassroots doctors. Participants are required to attend four residential weekends and three tutorial days, and will receive around four hours additional learning per week. A personal online tutor will be assigned to each person for confidential feedback and support. For more information and to obtain an application form please email leadershipprogramme@rcgp.org.uk.

 

RCGP Leadership Programme (RCGP Website)

 

Your Opportunity to Engage with Key Speakers

 

Delegates attending the College’s inaugural Annual Conference have the opportunity to pose questions to the keynote speakers in advance of the conference via the delegates’ area of the conference website.

 

Keynote speakers include the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson; Sir Liam Donaldson; Tony Jewell; Michael McBride and Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officers for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; Chris van Weel, President of WONCA; Sir Alan Langlands, Principal of the University of Dundee; Rebecca Stevens, first British woman to climb Everest; Mayur Lakhani, RCGP Chairman and Steve Field, RCGP Chair Elect.

 

The conference will be held from Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 October 2007 at the EICC in Edinburgh and will be chaired by Niall Dickson of the King’s Fund. To book your place, view a full programme, and to find out how easy it is to get to Edinburgh, visit the conference website at www.rcgpannualconference.org.uk.

 

Views Sought on Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) Inquiry
 
The Parliamentary Health Select Committee announced an inquiry into MMC and its implementation through the Medical Application Training System (MTAS), taking into account the findings of the ongoing independent inquiry into MMC led by Professor Sir John Tooke. A call for written evidence has been issued focusing on the areas listed in the document MMC Inquiry Questions. The RCGP will be submitting comments and welcomes views from College Members. Responses should be faxed to Saqib Ahmad on 020 7589 3145 or emailed to sahmad@rcgp.org.uk by 24 September 2007.
 
Response made by the RCGP to the Tooke Inquiry into MMC (29 June 2007)

 

Mental Health Services for the Elderly Deemed Inadequate

 

Services for older people with mental health problems are inadequate according to findings from the final report of the UK inquiry into mental health and wellbeing in later life. It reveals that two-thirds of depressed elderly patients never discuss their condition with their GP, and of the third that do, only half are diagnosed and treated. The report makes 35 recommendations on improving care including the use of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) to incentivise GPs to tackle under-diagnosis and under-treatment of late life depression.

 

Improving Services and Support for Older People with Mental Health Problems (Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later Life Inquiry, Final Report)

 

Specialist Library on Ethnic Minority Health
 
A comprehensive collection of current knowledge about the health care needs of black and minority ethnic (BME) groups has been launched by the NHS Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health (SLEH), part of the National Library for Health. The free resource is run by the UK Centre for Evidence in Ethnicity Health and Diversity at Warwick University Medical School and the Mary Seacole Research Centre at De Montfort University. It contains online guidance, policy development, patient information and CPD, with the aim of helping health care professionals provide culturally sensitive care.
 
Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health (National Library for Health)

Guidance

Revised Contract Guidance for Salaried GPs

 

Revised guidance for Salaried GPs has been issued by the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee (GPC), to provide a more detailed explanation of the minimum terms and conditions of the GMS contract. The principles in the document apply to the four countries of the UK and to those employed by an Alternative Provider of Medical Services (APMS), a Primary Medical Services (PMS) practice or those employed before 1 April 2004. The document covers salary range, pension contributions, arrangements for protected time for CPD, and maternity leave benefits. Further information should be sought from the BMA on 0870 6060 828 or at askBMA@bma.org.uk (BMA members only) or via Local Medical Committees (LMCs). 

 

Focus on Salaried GPs (GPC Guidance)

 

MDU Advice on Dilemas in General Practice

 

A booklet of real life cases referred to the MDU and the responses provided by their legal advisers and specialist claims handlers has been published by the organisation. It contains 12 general practice based situations including disclosing a patient’s HIV status and a potential breach of confidentiality relating to electronic patient records. Whilst the information is for general interest, the MDU advises practitioners to seek professional advice if faced with similar situations.

 

Cautionary Tales and Advice (MDU Publication)

 

Writing References for Colleagues

 

The GMC has issued guidance outlining doctors’ responsibilities when writing references for colleagues. It acts as supplementary advice to the principles outlined in ‘Good Medical Practice’ (that only honest, justifiable and accurate comments should be provided when writing reports or references about colleagues) and in ‘Management for Doctors’ (that doctors must be honest and objective when appraising or assessing colleagues’ performance or providing references). This guidance explains how to comply with these principles and outlines what can be included in references. Doctors are urged to seek advice from their medical defence organisation or professional association (such as the BMA) with any further queries.

Writing References (GMC Guidance)

 

Disclosure of Patient Information to PCTs

 

A new guideline on confidentiality and disclosure of patient identifiable information to PCTs for secondary purposes has been published by the BMA. It states that identifiable information should not normally be disclosed without patient consent – either explicit (where the patient has agreed that their data can be shared) or implied (where the patient knows how their data will be shared and that they can object to the disclosure but choose not do so). Practitioners who receive a request from their PCT are advised to consider whether consent can be obtained prior to disclosure. In some circumstances, consent is not obligatory because there is a statutory obligation to report the information or the disclosure is deemed to be in the public interest. This guideline advises on when and how to obtain consent, the obligations of PCTs/GPs and examples of disclosure requests.

 

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information to PCTs in Primary Care Settings (BMA Guidance)

 

Indemnity Cover for Canadian and American Patients

 

The Medical Protection Society (MPS) has sought to reassure its members about treating American and Canadian patients following a recent article in Pulse Magazine. Whilst the MPS does not offer indemnity cover for legal proceedings brought under US or Canadian law, it suggests that legal proceedings generally commence in the country where the alleged negligence occurred and states that US federal courts are reluctant to get involved in acts committed in other countries. The MPS advises GPs who have considered removing American and Canadian patients from their lists not to do so without first seeking advice from their medical protection organisation.

 

Indemnity Cover in Canada and US (MPS Advice)

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Clinical

Announcements

Contracts Awarded for the Supply of Pandemic Flu Vaccine

 

The Government has awarded contracts to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Baxter Healthcare for the production of a tailored pandemic flu vaccine. This agreement will ensure that the NHS has a guaranteed supply of the vaccine during a period of high international demand.

 

Advanced Supply Contracts for Pandemic Flu Vaccine (DH Press Release)

 

Training Module for Clostridium Difficile

 

A new online resource to help GPs, GP trainees and other NHS staff tackle Clostridium difficile has been launched by the DH and BMJ Learning. It shares the lessons learnt by the Royal Devon and Exter NHS Trust, who managed to control an outbreak of the infection, and highlights a patient’s experience of contracting the disease. The module contains educational video footage and a series of questions to assess the viewer’s understanding of the material and takes about 40 minutes to complete. It covers diagnosing and treating C. difficile; understanding the importance of hand hygiene in infection prevention; and exercising caution when prescribing antibiotics.

 

Clostridium Difficile Online Video Tool  (BMJ Learning, log-in required)

Guidance

Hepatitis C Leaflet Available in Different Languages

 

The DH leaflet ‘Hepatitis C – Your Questions Answered’ has been updated and published in an additional eight languages (Arabic, Bengali, French, Gujarati, Portuguese, Punjabi, Turkish, and Urdu). It provides information for patients with the virus and offers advice on how to reduce liver damage.

 

Hepatitis C - Your Questions Answered (DH Patient Information Leaflet)

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England

Announcements

First National Dementia Strategy

 

Government plans for the first ever national dementia strategy have been unveiled by Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis. A 12 month programme of work will now commence and focus on:

• Increasing public and professional awareness of dementia
• Ensuring effective services are available for early diagnosis and intervention on a nationwide basis
• Improving the quality of care for patients

As part of the strategy ideas such as information campaigns, specific training for staff and guidance on the care of people with dementia will be considered. 

Government Project to Produce the First Ever National Dementia Strategy (DH Strategy Document)

Online Resources for Practice Based Commissioning (PBC)

The BMA has published a two page document of weblinks to DH and GPC publications and guidance on PBC and wider commissioning. It is designed to help GPs and commissioners navigate their way around the vast amount of PBC information and keep up-to-date with the latest developments.

 

Practice Based Commissioning Resources (BMA Document)

 

Increase in Patients’ Awareness of Choice

 

Patients' awareness of choice over where they receive hospital treatment continues to rise according to results from the sixth national patient choice survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the DH. It contains views from 75,290 respondents referred for treatment in March 2007 and provides an overview of choice at national and PCT level. Key findings show:

• 48% of patients recalled being offered a choice of hospital for their first outpatient appointment (up from 45% in January 2007 and 30% in May/June 2006)
• 37% were aware of this choice before they visited their GP (up from 36% in January 2007 and 29% in May/June 2006)
• 36% of patients who were offered a choice of hospital were also offered a copy of the booklet ‘Choosing Your Hospital’ (up from 32% in January 2007 and 20% in May/June 2006)

Report on the National Patient Choice Survey - March 2007 (DH Report – includes provisional findings from the May 2007 survey)

 

Men More Successful at Quitting Smoking

 

Annual statistics published by NHS Stop Smoking Services show that men are more successful at quitting smoking compared to women (54% and 52% respectively at the four week follow-up), despite more women setting a date to quit. Figures also reveal that success at the four week follow-up increased with age, from 36% in the under-18s to 63% for the over-60s. Analysis of the data found that 83% of those setting a quit date received Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), 5% bupropion and 1% received both. Further data on smoking cessation in pregnant women, ethics groups and at PCT level are contained in the bulletin.

 

Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2006 to March 2007 (NHS Stop Smoking Services)

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Wales

Announcements

 

Health Minister Edwina Hart announced plans to help people living with long-term pain caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and migraines. The new Government strategy calls for the development of professional skills in the NHS, such as increasing the number of GPwSIs to act as regional pain advisors for primary care staff, and initiatives to ensure earlier assessment, diagnosis and management of patients. A public consultation on the document has been issued and the closing date for responses is 31 October 2007.

 

Service Development and Commissioning Directives for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain (Welsh Assembly Government Document)

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Scotland

Announcements

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Northern Ireland

Announcements

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