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7 April 2008
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A Weekly Bulletin of Professional News, Guidance and Policy for Primary Care
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Word Version
Headlines...
- Views Sought on Revision to “Good Medical Practice for GPs”
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- Extended Role for Pharmacists in Treating Sickness and
Promoting Good Health .....
- Interventions for Behaviour Change in Low-Income Groups
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- Details of the 2008/2009 Influenza Immunisation Programme
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Guidance featured in Seven Days is uploaded weekly to the
RCGP Non-Clinical Guidance Database for General Practice.
Professional
News
Views Sought on Revision to
“Good Medical Practice for GPs”
The College is consulting on its
revised guidance “Good Medical Practice for GPs” – which is due for
publication this summer. The original version, issued in 2002, is
based on the structure of the GMC’s “Good Medical Practice” and was
written to contribute to the process of revalidation. The update is
required as the context and delivery of general practice has
changed, along with the proposed structure of revalidation. Members
are encouraged to comment on this important document by sending
responses to responses@rcgp.org.uk
by 2 May 2008.
Link to Consultation Document (RCGP
Website)
Members’ Views Welcome on All Current
Consultations (RCGP Consultation Web Page)
Extended Role for
Pharmacists in Treating Sickness and Promoting Good
Health
Pharmacists are set to provide
greater frontline care following the publication of a new
Government White Paper. It outlines how they will complement the
work of GPs in promoting health and preventing sickness; prescribe
for minor ailments; support those with long-term conditions; and
prevent illnesses through additional screening and advice.
Pharmacy in England: building on strengths - delivering the
future (White Paper, The Stationery Office
Website)
RCGP Chair, Professor Steve Field
said: “We welcome the Paper and support the extended role of
pharmacists in healthcare promotion and prevention - but we must
remember that pharmacists are not doctors and patients need to
understand the difference. We must also acknowledge that this is
not a time saver for GPs but an enhancement of the work of primary
healthcare teams. By involving pharmacists in preventative
healthcare and screening, GPs will actually be busier as we will be
identifying more patients who might otherwise slip through the
net.”
Full RCGP Response to the White Paper
(RCGP Website)
Checks to Prevent Heart
Attacks and Strokes
Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, has
announced a new national programme to identify the risk of vascular
disease in people aged 40 to 74. Patients will undergo a number of
checks - including height, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol
measurements; resulting in a personal assessment report calculating
the level of risk and how it can be reduced. The programme is due
to start in 2009/2010.
Putting Prevention First - Vascular Checks: risk
assessment and management (DH
Document)
In response to this announcement,
RCGP Chair, Professor Steve Field said: “The College supports the
Government’s move to help prevent vascular diseases. We are pleased
that the emphasis is moving towards preventative measures rather
than just patching people up when they are ill.”
Full RCGP Response to Announcement on Vascular
Screening (RCGP Website)
GP Contract Changes in
Force
Changes to the GP contract for
2008/2009 came into force on 1 April. The main addition (in
England, Scotland and Wales) is the inclusion of an extended hours
access Directed Enhanced Service (DES). Primary Care Organisations
(PCOs) and GPs are not expected to start providing this service
until final guidance is published.
Changes to the GP Contract (Joint
Statement from NHS Employers and the BMA)
Licence to Practise Planned
for 2009
The GMC has announced that Licences
to Practise will be introduced in late 2009, when all relevant
legislation has been put in place. This will be a critical step in
the development and implementation of revalidation - meaning that
doctors wishing to practise in the UK will have to be registered
with the GMC and hold a licence to practise.
Licences to Practise (GMC
Website)
Brinnington Health Centre
Achieves Quality Practice Award (QPA)
Brinnington Health Centre was
presented with a QPA for excellence in primary care. The practice
is only the third in Cheshire to receive the award, which takes 18
months to achieve and places high demands on the skills and input
of the entire practice team. Staff are required to submit a
portfolio of written evidence against 23 sets of criteria, which
include health promotion, patient and public involvement, and team
working.
QPA Award for Cheshire Health Centre
(RCGP Website)
New PMETB Chair and Revised
Fees for Certification
PMETB has announced that Professor
Stuart Macpherson will be the new Chair of the Board. He is
Postgraduate Dean for Medicine for the South East of Scotland and
will replace Professor Peter Rubin from October of this
year.
In a separate but related
development, new fees for certification came into effect on 1 April
and further details can be found on the
PMETB website.
Taking Action on Climate
Change
The BMA is calling on health
professionals to be proactive in fighting the effects of climate
change in its new publication “Health Professionals Taking Action
on Climate Change”. Infectious diseases such as malaria could
increase with higher temperatures and warmer climates could see an
increase in skin cancers, sunburn and sunstroke. This report lists
a number of practical recommendations that professionals can take,
at home or at work, to reduce their negative impact on the
environment.
Practical
Measures for Climate Change (BMA Report)
Recommendations: what can health professionals
do? (Report Recommendations)
Corporate Manslaughter and
Homicide Act in Effect
The main provisions of the
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into
effect on 6 April and apply to the whole of the UK. It means that
NHS Trusts face the risk of prosecution for corporate manslaughter
if a patient dies as a result of gross negligence.
Statutory Duty to Notify
Coroner of Relevant Deaths
Changes have been made to the draft
Coroners Bill for England and Wales, following a consultation to
refine several policy areas. It now includes a provision for
registered medical practitioners to notify the coroner of relevant
deaths as a statutory duty.
Coroners Bill: changes made following
consultation (Ministry of Justice
Publication)
Return to top
Clinical
News
Interventions for Behaviour
Change in Low-Income Groups
A new paper examining how to
encourage people to adopt healthy behaviours has been published by
the King’s Fund. It is the second in the “Kicking Bad Habits”
series and looks at interventions targeted at low-income groups
including quitting smoking, healthy eating and exercise. It notes
that providing patient information and encouraging people to set
goals are effective techniques.
Low-Income
Groups and Behaviour Change Interventions (King’s
Fund Paper)
Raising Awareness of
Benefits of Breastfeeding
National Breastfeeding Awareness
Week (NBAW) is a nationwide, annual DH event, taking place between
11 to 17 May. It aims to help women recognise their right to
breastfeed; boost breastfeeding-friendly places; and highlight the
fact that this is the healthiest feeding option for babies. Young
mothers (aged 16 to 25 years) will be able to sign up to a consumer
campaign - Breast Buddy – and receive an information pack with
useful support numbers. GPs will be offered promotional material –
such as pens, key rings and fridge magnets – to help raise
awareness among mothers. The Breastfeeding Helpline is 0844 20 909
20.
National Breastfeeding Campaign 2008 (NHS
Breastfeeding Website)
Increase in HIV Cases in
Gay Men
Latest figures from the Health
Protection Agency (HPA) show a continued increase in the rate of
HIV among gay men; with an estimated 6,840 new cases diagnosed in
the UK in 2007. Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV Surveillance, has
issued a statement reinforcing the safe sex message and encouraging
gay men to be tested for the disease at least annually. New cases
of heterosexual transmission remained constant – with an estimated
690 new diagnoses in 2007 compared with 730 in 2006.
Current Figures on HIV
Transmission (HPA Release)
Positive Impact of Football
on Mental Health
The Football Association (FA) has
teamed up with the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) to
promote the positive impact of playing football on mental health.
Along with a number of other football organisations, they will
develop a network of projects to encourage the use of the sport in
improving mental health.
Football
and Mental Health (FA Website)
Guidance
Reducing the Risk of
Blood-Borne Infection when Travelling Abroad
The DH has published a leaflet on
avoiding blood-borne infections when travelling abroad. It advises
people to stay away from activities such as tattooing and
body-piercing (as studios abroad may not operate to the same
hygiene standards) and to practice safe sex.
Avoiding Infection when Travelling
Abroad (DH Publication)
Return to top
England
Announcements
Details of the 2008/2009
Influenza Immunisation Programme
A “Dear Colleague” letter on the
influenza immunisation programme for 2008/2009 has been circulated
by the DH. It contains information on vaccine supply and target
groups; and is aimed at GP practices taking part in the programme.
It highlights the need to increase uptake among NHS staff and those
in clinical risk groups aged 65 and under. The collection and
reporting of national data will be coordinated by the HPA and
guidance on the requirements will be issued by the end of June.
The Influenza Immunisation Programme
2008/2009 (DH “Dear Colleague” Letter)
Patients' Forums Cease to
Exist
Patients' Forums ceased to exist on
31 March, under provisions in the Local Government and Public
Involvement in Health Act. They will be replaced by Local
Involvement Networks (LINks) and Local Authorities have until
September 2008 to ensure an organisation is in place to set-up and
run the LINk in their area. The Networks will work with existing
voluntary and community sector groups, as well as interested
individuals, to promote public and community influence in health
and social care.
Local Involvement Networks (DH Press
Release)
Return to top
Wales
Parliamentary News
Consultation on Proposed
Changes to NHS Structure
The Welsh Assembly is consulting on
its proposals to overhaul the structure of the NHS in the country –
aimed at further reducing bureaucracy and improving patient care.
Areas for consultation include transferring the management and
provision of community services from NHS Trusts to Local Health
Boards; revising the model for providing shared services (such as
procurement and some legal services); and abolishing the internal
market. Responses should be sent on a dedicated
form to sianmarie.james@wales.gsi.gov.uk
by 25 June 2008.
Consultation Paper on the Re-structure of NHS Services
in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government
Website)
Return to top
Scotland
Announcements
Prescription Charge
Reduced
As of 1 April, prescriptions costs
in Scotland were reduced from £6.85 to £5.00. Prescription
Prepayment Certificates (PPC) also decreased from £98.70 to £48.00
for 12 month coverage and from £35.85 to £17.00 for four months.
Further reductions are planned to ensure charges are abolished by
2011.
Reduction
in NHS Prescription Charges (Scottish Government
Website)
Enhanced Protection for NHS
Staff
Modifications to the Emergency
Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 also came into force on 1 April,
following approval by the Justice Committee in January. The Act
makes it an offence to assault or impede those who provide
emergency services and has now been extended to cover GPs, other
doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community.
Better Protection for NHS Staff (Scottish
Government Press Release)
Return to top
Northern Ireland
Announcements
Prescription Costs Remain
the Same
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey,
has announced that prescription charges will remain at £6.85 this
year. He is currently looking at a range of options for future
charges, following a review by the Northern Ireland Executive.
Health Minister Announces Freeze on Prescription
Charges (Northern Ireland Executive Press
Release)
Posters to Raise Awareness
of Allergies
A poster campaign to raise
awareness of severe allergies has been launched by the Northern
Ireland Medicines Governance Team, in conjunction with the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Two
posters have been developed – one aimed at health and social care
staff and the other at patients – and they will be distributed to
primary care practices and outpatient clinics shortly.
Minister and Chief Medical Officer Back Allergies
Awareness Campaign (Northern Ireland Executive
Press Release)
Launch of Emergency Care
Records Project
A new Emergency Care Record Project
has been launched in Northern Ireland to facilitate the diagnosis
and treatment of patients attending Accident and Emergency and
out-of-hours services. It is based on a successful system in
Scotland, where key information from patients’ medical records
(held by GP practices) is made available to out-of-hours and
Accident and Emergency staff. The scheme will run in the Southern
Health and Social Care Trust over the next few months, before being
rolled out across the country.
Northern Ireland Emergency Care
Record (Northern Ireland Executive Press
Release
Return to top
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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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