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29 August - 3 September 2007
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A Weekly Bulletin of Professional News, Guidance and Policy for Primary Care
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Word Version
Headlines...
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RCGP Launch “eportfolio” .....
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Guidance on the Destruction of Controlled Drugs .....
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Improving Standards of Care for Osteoporosis and Falls .....
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Patients Satisfied with Out-of-Hours Care in Scotland .....
Guidance featured in Seven Days is uploaded weekly to the
RCGP Non-Clinical Guidance Database for General Practice.
Professional
News
RCGP Launch
“eportfolio”
The RCGP has launched a new
web-based resource – the eportfolio – to enable GP trainees to
record details and achievements at all stages of specialty
training. Users should logon with the email address and password
created when registering with the College. Trainers and educational
supervisors will be sent these details by email. For further
information please contact eportfolio@rcgp.org.uk.
eportfolio
(RCGP Website)
Images Capture Devastating
Effect of Smoking
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has
revealed 15 images that will appear on tobacco packs from autumn
2008, warning against the devastating effect of smoking. The
pictures were selected following a consultation in 2006.
Picture Warnings on Tobacco Products
(DH Press Images)
New “President’s Award” for
Excellence in Primary Care
The NHS Alliance has unveiled a new
prize as part of its “Acorn Awards”, which are presented annually
to recognise excellence in areas of primary care that get little
acknowledgment. The new “President’s Award” is an open category
prize, introduced to reward outstanding work that does not fit into
existing award categories. Teams that can demonstrate exceptional
patient care coupled with resource management, proven achievement,
and innovative thinking are encouraged to apply. For further
information, contact Pat Goodall at p.goodall@nhsalliance.org
or on 01246 410707. The closing date for applications is 14
September 2007.
New NHS Alliance “President’s Award”
(NHS Alliance Press Release)
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Clinical
News
Opticians Given Powers to
Prescribe Independently
Under new Government plans,
Optometrists will be able to prescribe medication for conditions
such as dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis. The move will provide
patients with a faster, more convenient service, ending the need to
be referred to a GP. Prescribing guidelines will be produced by the
College of Optometrists and qualified practitioners will have to
register with the General Optical Council.
Prescriptions from Your High Street
Opticians (DH Press Release)
Parents Urged to Immunise
Children Against Measles
Following a recent increase in the
number of cases of measles, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is
urging parents to get their children immunised with MMR before
returning to school in September. Notable increases have been seen
in communities with low vaccine uptake and in people returning from
other countries. Small outbreaks have also occurred in primary
schools.
Book Your Back to School MMR Jab (HPA
Press Release)
Guidance
Witnessing the Destruction
of Controlled Drugs (CDs)
The DH has published guidance on
changes to the role of Accountable Officers for CDs (people who are
responsible for the safe, appropriate and effective management and
use of these drugs). An amendment to the Misuse of Drugs
Regulations 2001 permits Officers to authorise people or groups of
people to witness the destruction of CDs following appropriate
training. Anyone directly involved with a GP practice (i.e. a
practice pharmacist or someone authorised to supply CDs, such as a
clinical governance lead) should not be nominated to witness
destruction of the drugs in their own surgery.
Guidance on the Destruction of Controlled Drugs - New
Role for Accountable Officers (DH Guidance)
Managing Deaths During an Influenza Pandemic
The Home Office has issued draft
guidance on managing a potentially large numbers of deaths during a
pandemic influenza outbreak. The document is aimed at those
preparing local contingency plans and covers topics such as death
certification. Views are being sought from health professionals and
faith communities on the practicalities of the proposals; whether
new or additional measures would be beneficial; if further guidance
would be of use; and if there are any concerns about the suggested
ways of working.
Comments should be emailed to
massfatalities.queries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
by 30 November 2007.
Planning for a Possible Influenza Pandemic: a framework
for planners preparing to manage deaths (Home
Office Consultation Document)
In a similar but separate
development, findings from “Exercise Winter Willow” – an evaluation
of the UK’s preparedness for an influenza pandemic – have been
published. A core planning team; with representatives from the DH,
Cabinet Office and the Health Protection Agency; set out the
parameters of the investigation. Over 5,000 people participated
from a large number of organisations including government, industry
and the voluntary sector. Results identified specific areas for
improvement including crisis management; data gathering and
reporting; public information and communication; and policy
development.
Exercise Winter Willow: lessons
identified (DH Document)
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England
Announcements
Improving Standards of Care
for Osteoporosis and Falls
An assessment of care standards for
osteoporosis and falls has been published by the Information Centre
for health and social care (IC). It suggests that service quality
could be improved by incorporating these conditions into the
Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). Research also highlighted
high levels of achievement in prescribing appropriate drugs to
people with osteoporosis. However, less success was observed in
other areas, such as the recording of patient assessments and/or
referrals.
Evaluation of Standards of Care for Osteoporosis and
Falls in Primary Care (IC Report)
Quarter of Pupils Smoke,
Drink Alcohol or Take Drugs
According to statistics published
by the IC, 55% of secondary school pupils drink alcohol, 39% smoke
and 24% take drugs. Key findings showed that:
- Around a quarter (27%) of pupils
smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs, however, only 4% had done all
three.
- The proportion of regular smokers
(those who smoke at least once a week) remained unchanged since
2003, at 9%. However, the proportion who had never smoked rose from
47% in 1982 to 61% in 2004, and remained at this rate in 2006.
- Although more than half of the
respondents had tried at least one alcoholic drink in their
lifetime, the number of pupils who had never drunk alcohol rose
from 39% in 2003 to 45% in 2006.
- The prevalence of drug use
declined from 20% in 2001 to 17% in 2006
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use in Young People in
England (IC Report)
Sessional GPs Reminded of
Performers List Regulations
Londonwide LMCs has issued a
reminder to Sessional GPs that they must comply with the Performers
List Regulations 2004. Doctors are advised to ensure they are on
the Performers List of one PCT in England; not to resign from one
List (if changing PCTs) until they are added to the new one; to
inform the PCT of any changes to information supplied on their
original application form within seven days (such as change of
address); and to be aware that they risk being removed from the
List if they have not worked in the PCT’s area in the past 12
months.
Supporting European GPs
Working in London
The London Deanery is proposing to
create a support group for London based GPs who trained in European
countries (other than the UK). The idea will be discussed at a
meeting on 5 September in the President's Room at the Queens Club,
Barons Court (London). If you would like to attend or wish to
obtain further information, contact Dr Thelma Thomas at tthomas@londondeanery.ac.uk
or on 07850 419 321.
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Wales
Announcements
Health Data in New User-Friendly Format
A new web-based interactive mapping
tool, which presents health data in a user-friendly graphical
format, has been developed by the Health Information Analysis Team
(HIAT) at the National Public Health Service (NPHS). It enables
users to select from a series of topics, such as the number of
smokers in a specific area along with comparative rates across the
country. Two versions of the map provide information at the Local
Authority level and small area level.
Interactive Mapping Tool (HIAT Resource)
Views Sought on Pandemic
Influenza Guidance
Comments are being sought on draft
guidance designed to help NHS Trusts develop plans to respond to an
influenza pandemic. The consultation closes on the 1 October and
views should be emailed to: william.whiteley@wales.gsi.gov.uk
on the response form (at the end of the draft guidance
document).
Preparing NHS Trusts for Pandemic
Influenza (Welsh Assembly Government Draft
Guidance)
New Public Mental Health
Network
An All Wales Public Mental Health
Network is to be created by the Wales Centre for Health. Its remit
is to share learning, develop evidence based practice and increase
public and professional understanding of mental health. A Board
will guide its development and will include representatives from
the mental health promotion arena.
All
Wales Public Mental Health Network (NHS Wales
Press Release)
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Scotland
Announcements
Patients Satisfied with Out-of-Hours Care
NHS Boards must develop new ways of working in order to sustain
24-hour patient care, according to Audit Scotland’s review of
out-of-hours services. It notes that 95% of surgeries opted out of
providing 24-hour care for patients, as part of the new GP
contract, passing responsibility to NHS boards. The report has not
assessed the impact of opting out on patient care (since it was
introduced alongside other changes) but does highlight that
although 80% of patients are satisfied with out-of-hours services,
only 10% of doctors think care has improved under the new
arrangements.
Primary Care Out-of-Hours Services (Audit
Scotland Report)
Benchmarking Information Governance and Data
Quality
The Scottish Executive has disseminated a “Dear Colleague”
letter to Chief Executives of NHS Boards and GMS Leads, to announce
the introduction of a Directed Enhanced Service (DES) on
Benchmarking Information Governance and Data Quality Standards in
GP Practices. To participate in the DES, GP practices must comply
with a basic list of standards for information governance and
implement an action plan on improving data quality. The DES will
run from 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and is a one-off
arrangement.
Dear
Colleague Letter (Scottish Executive)
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Northern Ireland
Announcements
Draft Code on Protecting
Service User Confidentiality
A draft code for protecting the
confidentiality of service user information has been issued by the
Privacy Advisory Committee (PAC). It aims to help healthcare staff
make decisions about the use and disclosure of patient information.
It includes scenarios such as drug company employees accessing GP
patient records. It is now available for public consultation and
comments should be sent on a
response form to ppipm.ppipm@setrust.hscni.net
by 9 November 2007.
Code of Practice on Protecting the Confidentiality of Service
User Information (PAC Consultation)
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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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