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14 July 2008
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A Weekly Bulletin of Professional News, Guidance and Policy for Primary Care
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Word Version
Headlines...
- Analysis of Registrar Performance in New RCGP Licensing
Assessment .....
- Views Sought on NHS Co-Payment Policy Review .....
- Network Promotes the Use of Telecare and Telehealth in Managing
Long-Term Conditions .....
- Payment Allowances for GP Trainers .....
Guidance featured in Seven Days is uploaded weekly to the
RCGP Non-Clinical Guidance Database for General Practice.
Professional
News
Analysis of Registrar
Performance in New RCGP Licensing Assessment
The College has published results on performance in its new
assessment, which was launched in August 2007. A high pass rate was
achieved by candidates undertaking the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)
and the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) components of the new
membership exam – the nMRCGP. The percentage of entrants who passed
each on the first attempt was 85.5% and 81.3% respectively.
It is still too early to offer a
full analysis of GP registrar performance, as no candidate has
completed the new ‘run through training’ at present, therefore no
data exists on the Work Place Based Assessment.
Full Summary of GP Registrar Performance in New
Assessment (RCGP Website)
The results of the summer 2008
round of the MRCGP (the College’s membership exam which is being
phased out and superseded by the nMRCGP) have been published on the
RCGP website.
MRCGP Exam Results – Summer 2008 (RCGP
Website)
Views Sought on NHS Co-Payment Policy
Review
Professor Mike Richards, National
Clinical Director for Cancer, is undertaking a review of policy
relating to patients who choose to pay for drugs not funded by the
NHS. Views are now being sought from interested groups and
individuals to inform the evaluation, which will make
recommendations on how policy could be clarified or improved.
Comments should be sent to additionaldrugsreview@dh.gsi.gov.uk
by 22 August 2008.
Significant Event Audit Masterclass
A one-day accredited masterclass on
the Significant Event Audit (SEA) will be held in Leicester on 18
September 2008. It will be hosted by the Clinical Audit Support
Centre, in conjunction with Dr Christine Johnson from the National
Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). Content will cover an in-depth guide
to the SEA process, advice on selecting suitable cases for audit;
and suggestions on engaging staff in the procedure. All delegates
will receive a comprehensive course folder, including templates for
reporting and writing up significant events. To reserve a place,
please email info@clinicalauditsupport.com.
Significant
Event Audit Masterclass (Clinical Audit Support
Centre Website)
Conference for Women in Medicine
The Medical Women’s Federation –
which aims to advance the personal and professional development of
women in medicine – will hold its autumn meeting on 14 November
2008 in London. The programme will cover issues such as the
European Working Time Directive, problems with flexible training,
and pregnancy and maternity issues. Register
online for the event or contact
admin.mwf@btconnect.com
for further information.
Reaching the Work-Life Balance - Autumn 2008
Meeting (Medical Women’s Federation Website)
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Clinical
News
Network Promotes the Use of
Telecare and Telehealth in Managing Long-Term
Conditions
A new network has been established
to explore the use of telehealth and telecare in supporting
patients with long-term conditions. The Whole Systems Demonstrator
Action Network (WSDAN) will ensure that best practice from pilot
sites in Kent, Cornwall and Newham is shared among experts. The
initiative is being run by the King’s Fund and the Care Services
Improvement Partnership, and is backed by DH funding. An
accompanying website offers access to published evidence on the use
of these technologies, and you can
register with the WSDAN to receive
electronic news updates about their work.
Online Resource
on Telecare and Telehealth (WSDAN Website)
Review of NHS Services for Patients with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS)
Findings from an audit of NHS
services for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been
published by the RCP and the MS Trust. Service quality was measured
against standards outlined in NICE guidance from 2003; and results
show that while access to specialist neurological services has
improved, long delays from GP referral to diagnosis still exist -
with 50% of all patients waiting over 20 weeks.
National Audit of Services for People with
MS (RCP and the MS Trust Report)
Guidance
Advice on Prescribing Opioids
The National Patient Safety Agency
(NPSA) has advised doctors to follow opiod prescribing guidance,
after five recorded deaths and 4,200 dose-related incidents
(associated with the use of this medication) between January 2005
and June 2008. It reminds doctors to confirm the dose of any recent
opioid use by the patient; ensure any increase in dose is safe;
become familiar with the correct use of this medication; and
recognise common side effects and symptoms of overdose.
Concerns Over Incorrect Use of Powerful Pain
Killers (NPSA Website)
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England
Announcements
Payment Allowances for GP Trainers
The Secretary of State for Health,
Alan Johnson, has issued directions on the payment of allowances to
GP Trainers. They came into force on 11 July 2008 and apply to
England only.
Strategic Health Authorities and GP Registrar
(Amendment) Directions 2008 (DH Document)
Data on Surgery Survival Rates Published
To facilitate patient choice, the
NHS has published data on national survival rates for the four most
common operations in England - abdominal aortic aneurysms (elective
and emergency), elective hip replacements and knee replacements.
The information comes from the Healthcare Commission's statistics
on cardiac survival and has been uploaded on the NHS Choices
website, as part of the ‘hospital scorecard’ facility.
In a related development, the DH
has published findings from its Health Informatics Review, which
explores how information can be used effectively across the DH and
NHS, to deliver improved, safer care to patients.
NHS
Choices Publishes Surgery Survival Rates (NHS
Choices Website)
Health Informatics Review (DH
Report)
Best Practice in Delivering Care Closer to
Home
A new document, which aims to
inform commissioners of emerging best practice in shifting care
closer to home, has been issued by the DH. It includes a brief
section on successful Practice Based Commissioning (see page
27).
Delivering Care Closer to Home: meeting the
challenge (DH Document)
New Health Service for London’s Doctors
The Hurley Group – an NHS primary
care service encompassing five GP practices - will deliver a new
health programme for doctors and dentists with physical, mental
health or addiction problems. The initiative will start in the
autumn and provide referrals for specialist assessment and
treatment where necessary. Dr Clare Gerada, RCGP Vice-Chair, will
lead the central London based scheme. To receive updates about the
service, register your interest in the Practitioner Health
Programme by visiting www.php.nhs.uk.
Leaflet Clarifies Role of Local Involvement Networks
(LINks)
A new patient leaflet, issued by
the DH, explains how people can influence the delivery of health
services through Local Involvement Networks (LINks). It describes
the aims and objectives of the LINKs, who can join them, reasons
for getting involved, and how to find more information. The
Networks comprise individuals and community groups, who work
together to bring about improvements in local health care
services.
Stronger Voice, Better Care (DH
Patient Leaflet)
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Wales
Announcements
Childhood Vaccination Uptake Rates
Published
The latest childhood vaccination
report, published by the National Public Health Service (NPHS) in
Wales, shows that 88% of two year old children had received their
first dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine as at 31
March 2008; and 79% of five year olds had received their second
dose of the jab. Variations in uptake rates were observed across
the country.
Vaccine Uptake in Children in Wales - Annual Report
2008 (NPHS Website)
New Online Resource to Improve Health at
Work
A new website - Healthy Working
Wales (HWW) - has been launched to help employers
and health professionals improve health at work and support those
returning to employment following illness. It includes a dedicated
section for GPs, developed by Cardiff University with the support
of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Health
and Work Advice for GPs and Health Professionals
(HWW Website)
Parliamentary News
NHS Redress Measure Receives Royal Ascent
The Queen has approved the NHS
Redress Measure in Wales, giving patients fairer and more equal
access to compensation should something go wrong with their NHS
care. Welsh Ministers will now develop regulations on managing
certain clinical negligence claims without the need for legal
action. Emphasis will be placed on thorough investigation and fair
redress, such as apologies, remedial treatment or financial
compensation where appropriate. The new arrangements will undergo
widespread consultation in early 2009, involving clinicians,
patient groups and Community Health Councils.
Proposed NHS Redress (Wales) Measure
2007 (National Assembly for Wales Website)
Report on Cross-Border Provision of Health
Services
The Welsh Affairs Committee has
published an interim report on the provision of cross-border health
services between England and Wales. It outlines a set of criteria
to help the NHS meet the needs of cross-border patients. Report
recommendations include the need to “border proof” policy developed
in both countries, to make sure procedures in one jurisdiction do
not have unintended consequences for patients in the other; and
where services are accessed by people outside the administrative
boundary, efforts should be made to engage them in local health
care delivery, regardless of their place of residency.
Provision of Cross-Border Health Services for
Wales (House of Commons Welsh Affairs
Committee)
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Scotland
Announcements
Changes to the Pregnancy and Newborn Screening
Programmes
The Public Health and Wellbeing
Directorate of the Scottish Government has issued a “Dear
Colleague” letter outlining changes to the pregnancy and newborn
screening programmes. NHS Education Scotland, in conjunction with
NHS National Services Scotland, will co-ordinate the education and
training of health professionals involved in the schemes; while NHS
Health Scotland will produce screening information for
patients.
Amendments
to the Pregnancy and Newborn Screening Programmes
(Scottish Government “Dear Colleague Letter)
Health Impact of Smoking and Alcohol Consumption During
Pregnancy
BMA Scotland has issued a briefing
paper on smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its
effects on the unborn child. It notes that one in every seven
babies requires some form of specialist care in Scotland and states
that the two main reasons for this are premature birth and low
birth weight – smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy
increases the risk of both factors. Recommendations outlined in the
document include the creation of smoking cessation outreach
programmes for those on low incomes and the need for consistent
Government advice on alcohol consumption during pregnancy. To
obtain a copy of this publication, please contact the BMA Press
Office on 07768005850.
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Northern Ireland
Announcements
No announcements
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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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