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13 - 19 November 2007
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A Weekly Bulletin of Professional News, Guidance and Policy for Primary Care
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Word Version
Headlines...
- New RCGP Chair and Vice Chairs Appointed .....
- College Presents Honorary Fellowships and Awards at AGM
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- Alcohol Health Alliance Launched .....
- Improving Care of Patients with Chronic Respiratory Conditions
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Guidance featured in Seven Days is uploaded weekly to the
RCGP Non-Clinical Guidance Database for General Practice.
Professional
News
New RCGP Chair and Vice
Chairs Appointed
Professor Steve Field has been
elected Chair of the RCGP and will hold the post for three years.
He has long involvement with the College and spearheaded the
introduction of the first GP training curriculum, which came into
force in August 2007. He is the Regional Postgraduate Dean for NHS
West Midlands Workforce Deanery, Honorary Professor of Medical
Education at the University of Warwick, and Honorary Professor of
the School of Medicine at the University of Birmingham. Throughout
his tenure he will continue to work as a GP Partner at the Bellevue
Medical Centre in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Professor Field has appointed Dr
Clare Gerada and Dr Hasmukh Joshi as his Vice Chairs. Dr Gerada has
been a GP in Lambeth since 1991 and specialises in managing
patients with heroin and cocaine addiction. Dr Joshi is a part-time
GP in South Wales, an examiner for the College’s membership exam,
and a lead assessor on the GMC’s Fitness to Practise Panel.
RCGP Appoints New Chair and Vice
Chairs (RCGP Press Release)
College Presents Honorary
Fellowships and Awards at AGM
The College held its AGM at the
Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in London on Friday 16 November. RCGP
President, Professor David Haslam, chaired the meeting and
Professor Richard Hobbs, Head of Primary Care and General Practice
at the University of Birmingham, presented the James Mackenzie
Lecture on heart failure diagnosis and management. Five Honorary
Fellowships - the College’s most prestigious award, given annually
for outstanding work in the field of general practice - were
awarded to:
- Dr Donald Berwick, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
in Boston, Massachussetts
- Angela Coulter, Chief Executive of
the Picker Institute Europe, a charity working with patients,
professionals and policy makers to promote the patients’
perspective at all levels of healthcare policy and practice.
- Professor David Kerr, Rhodes
Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics at the
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Oxford University
- Dr Luis Pisco, a senior GP working
in the Portuguese health system, with a long-term interest in
quality improvement.
- Mr Malcolm Wright, Chief Executive
of NHS Education for Scotland and Chair of the Institute of
Healthcare Management for Scotland
RCGP Awards Honorary Fellowships
(RCGP Press Release)
Other awards were presented to:
- Dr Ann McPherson (George
Abercrombie Award) for meritorious literary work including the
Oxford General Practice Series “Women’s Health”.
- Dr Carol Blow, Dr Nav Chana, Dr
Mei Ling Denney, Dr Kamila Hawthorne, Dr Neil Munro, Dr Sue Rendel,
Dr Amar Rughani and Dr David Sales (nMRCGP Foundation Medal) for
remarkable work done in relation to the development of the new
assessment process, the nMRCGP.
- Dr John Holden (President’s Medal)
for promoting the aims and objectives of the College. His interests
include significant event analysis and quality initiatives in
primary care.
- Dr Mei Ling Denney, Mr Richard
Wakeford and Dr Kalpana Sharma (Paul Freeling Award) for innovative
work in the field of vocational training for general practice.
- The Mansfield Medical Centre,
Coventry (Patient Participation Award) for developing a project to
run “Self Care for You” courses over an 18 month period, offered at
different times of the day to suit participant’s needs.
- International Travel Scholarships
were given to Dr Chris Jary for improving access to primary care in
rural Uganda; Dr Sofia Askari for studying newborn practices at a
midwifery led unit in India and in the community in the UK; and Dr
Hamish Tait for the development of services for AIDs patients in
rural North Cameroon.
GPs Receive Awards for Outstanding Contributions to
General Practice (RCGP Press Release)
Contributors Sought for
RCGP News
The first issue of the College’s
monthly newspaper “RCGP News” will be published in January 2008,
and contributions are now being sought from RCGP members and GPs.
Articles can cover a wide range of issues including clinical,
non-clinical, serious or humorous. Interested individuals with
stories or ideas should contact rcgpnews@rcgp.org.uk.
Restrictions Lifted on Training for Overseas
Doctors
The Court of Appeal has ruled that
DH proposals restricting overseas doctors from undertaking training
posts in the NHS are unlawful. UK medical graduates will now face
greater competition, as a very high volume of applications to
specialty training are expected in 2008 following this decision.
The DH and Home Office intend to challenge this ruling.
Court of Appeal Judgment Letter (British and
Irish Legal Information Institute Website)
Government and Industry
Responsibilities in Promoting Health
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics
has published a report reviewing the responsibilities of
government, industry and others in promoting health. It outlines
how the state can help people lead a healthy life and reduce
inequalities. It considers different public health measures and
makes recommendations on infectious disease, obesity, alcohol and
tobacco, and fluoridation of water.
Public Health: ethical issues (Report
from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics)
Alcohol Health Alliance
Launched
The RCGP is part of a
new coalition - Alcohol Health Alliance UK - to help combat
the rise in alcohol-related diseases. It proposes evidence-based
solutions to facilitate harm reduction and calls on decision makers
to address these problems. It brings together a variety of
organisations and vows to campaign for treatment and prevention
funding; increased alcohol taxation; and a lower drink driving
limit (to meet the EU standard of 0.5g/l).
New
Coalition Calls for Tougher Measures on Alcohol
(Royal College of Physicians Press Release)
GMC Upgrades
Website
The GMC has updated its website to
enable doctors to apply for registration online (ID checks are
still required) and book appointments with registrations
consultants electronically. It has improved the navigation of
“MyGMC” - a special password-protected website where doctors update
their details and pay fees.
New Web Features for Doctors (GMC
Website)
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Clinical
News
Diabetes Prescribing Varies
Across PCTs
Analysis of prescribing in England
shows that 28.4 million items were prescribed to treat diabetes in
2006, according to data published by the Yorkshire and Humber
Public Health Observatory. It reports that an estimated 2.4 million
people have diabetes, of which 500,000 were undiagnosed. It noted
considerable variation in drug expenditure across PCTs; and
highlighted that human insulin analogues are rapidly replacing
cheaper isophane and soluble insulins.
Prescribing for Diabetes in England
(Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory Website)
Guidance
NICE Reminds GPs About Lung
Cancer Referral
NICE is supporting lung cancer
awareness month this November by highlighting its 2005
recommendations on referral, diagnosis and treatment of patients
with the disease. It states that patients with swelling of both the
face and neck (caused by an obstruction in the jugular veins) or
stridor (a harsh sound made when breathing in) should be referred.
It also advises urgent referral for patients:
- Who are coughing up blood
persistently, are smokers or ex-smokers, and are aged 40 years and
older
- With a chest x-ray showing signs
of lung cancer or with a normal chest x-ray where the GP strongly
suspects lung cancer
- With a history of asbestos
exposure and a chest x-ray showing signs of lung cancer.
NICE Supports Lung Cancer Awareness
Month (NICE Website)
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England
Announcements
Overview of DH Action on
Urgent and Emergency Care
The DH has published a report
following its consultation on the direction of travel for urgent
care, summarising the key issues raised and the actions being taken
forward. It covers the work done in areas such as accessing
medicines in settings other than primary care; the electronic
transfer of patient information to GP out-of-hours providers; and
working with the RCGP to identify how to respond to urgent
requests. Further work will be considered within the NHS Next Stage
Review in June 2008.
Urgent and Emergency Care - Key Areas Highlighted by
the Consultation and Related Work (DH
Website)
GPs Vital to National
Service Framework (NSF) for Children
A report reviewing progress against the NSF for Children, Young
People and Maternity Services has been published by the DH. It
outlines key policy milestones, progress to date, and the major
challenges and opportunities ahead. It calls for collaboration
between those involved in setting policy, commissioning and
providing services. It notes that:
- In a typical year the average
pre-school child will see their GP six times and that doctors are
in a unique position to identify vulnerable children and families
at an early stage.
- The primary care team is crucial
to the delivery of the Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP) and
the NSF
- GP out-of-hours services should
adopt the same standards of care for children and young people as
emergency departments
- Family practitioners could
introduce age-appropriate treatment though commissioning and the
management of their healthcare resources.
Review of Progress Against the NSF for Children, Young
People and Maternity Services 2004 (DH
Document)
Parliamentary News
Bill to Enhance Patient
Safety and Improve Public Health
The Health and Social Care Bill has been published and includes
measures to:
- Establish the Care Quality Commission - a new health and adult
social care regulator with powers to inspect, investigate and
intervene where hospitals are failing to meet safety and quality
requirements
- Reform professional regulation - creating a new independent
adjudicator to make independent decisions about whether individual
professionals should remain in practice; and appointing Responsible
Officers to oversee the conduct and performance of doctors at local
level
- Allow cash grants to be made available to pregnant women in
their final stage of pregnancy
- Update existing public health protection legislation - to
provide a comprehensive set of public health measures to prevent
and control the spread of serious diseases caused by infection and
contamination
Health and Social Care Bill Published
(DH Press Release)
Government Responses on Electronic Records and European
Workers in the UK
The Government has published responses to the following report
and directive this week:
- House of Common’s Health Select
Committee Report on the Electronic Patient Record (published on 13
September): the findings were welcomed by the Government, who
agreed that implementation is a “long journey best managed by a
staged and piloted development”; reaffirmed its view that solid
progress had been made with the National Programme for IT; and
recognised that continuing effort is needed to engage with
frontline NHS staff and communicate plans to the public.
- The European Directive 2005/36/EC
- which makes it easier for qualified professionals to practise
their profession in European countries other than their own -
should have been transposed into domestic law by October 2007 by
all Member States. The Government has stated that the UK is bound
to transpose the Directive in a way which is compatible with
European law and has drafted implementation regulations. It will
monitor the situation and raise any operational problems with the
European Commission.
Government Response to Health Committee Report on the
Electronic Patient Record (DH Website)
Implementation of European Directive 2005/36/EC:
consultation results and the Government's
response (DH Website)
Consultation Responses to
Review of Public Health Act
The DH has published responses to
the consultation paper Review of Parts II, V and VI of the Public
Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, noting that the feedback has
shaped the Government’s intended policy, which is being taken
forward in the Health and Social Care Bill.
Review of Parts II, V and VI of the Public Health
(Control of Disease) Act 1984: report on
consultation (DH Website)
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Wales
Announcements
Improving Care of Patients
with Chronic Respiratory Conditions
Health Minister Edwina Hart has
unveiled guidance to improve the care of people living with chronic
respiratory conditions. It highlights the need to promote healthy
lifestyles; provide access to well trained professionals for
diagnosis and treatment; and offer seamless care through integrated
multidisciplinary teams.
Service Development and Commissioning Directives for
Chronic Respiratory Conditions (Welsh Assembly
Government Guidance)
Infection Control Measures
for GP Practices
A strategy document aimed at
reducing the number of patients with healthcare associated
infections (HCAIs) entering hospitals has been published by the
Welsh Assembly Government. It offers advice to healthcare
professionals in the community and calls on organisations
(including GP practices) to develop HCAI control policies that
incorporate regular audit and surveillance initiatives.
Healthcare Associated Infections: a community strategy for Wales
2007 (Welsh Assembly Government Publication)
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Scotland
Announcements
Data on Care of Depression,
Arthritis and Gastrointestinal Conditions
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
has published a clinical indicator report containing data on
depression, arthritis and gastrointestinal conditions. Clinical
indicators provide quantitative measures about specific aspects of
health at a particular time and are used to monitor and improve
service provision. This report shows that six in 100 women
consulted a GP for depression in 2005-2006 (double the rate for
males); that osteoarthritis consultations decreased between
1998-1999 and 2005-2006 (from 40 to 26 per 1,000 population); and
that consultation rates for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
increased with age.
Clinical Indicators 2007 (NHS Quality
Improvement Scotland)
Parliamentary News
New Procedure for Supplying
Medical Records for Criminal Proceedings
Changes to the procedure for
providing patients’ medical records for use in criminal proceedings
have been issued in a circular by the Primary and Community Care
Directorate of the Scottish Government. It advises that the NHS no
longer routinely provides original records for patients who are
still alive and that suitably authenticated copies are acceptable
in the first instance. It notes that the Crown reserves the right
to request original records in certain circumstances.
Provision
of Medical Records by NHS to Courts (Scottish
Government Circular)
Views Sought on Developing
Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Profession Prescribing
Services
The Primary and Community Care
Directorate of the Scottish Government is seeking views on a draft
strategy paper regarding the development of nurse, midwife and
allied health profession (NMAHP) prescribing in NHS. It provides a
framework and makes a set of recommendations on developing such a
service. Comments should be sent to Karen.wastle@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
by 1 February 2008.
Consultation on a Safe Prescription (Scottish
Government Circular)
Government Announce
Healthcare Funding
Health funding, announced in the
Government’s 2007 spending review, will be allocated as follows in
the NHS in Scotland:
- £350 million will be spent on
health improvement and better public health
- £30 million on improving flexible
access to primary care
- 97 million will be used to phase
out prescription charges
- £270 million will ensure nobody
waits longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment for
routine conditions by the end of 2011
Budget - What it Means for Health (Scottish
Government Press Release)
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Northern Ireland
Announcements
No announcements this week.
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Contact Us
RCGP Information Services can be contacted at:
Email:
info@rcgp.org.uk
Tel: 020 7581 3232 ext: 240
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Disclaimer
Seven Days uses third party information and neither endorses nor guarentees the accuracy or authenticity of these sources.
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