HSE Report: Cleaning Firm Fined Over Porter's Death At Royal Bolton Hospital.

A national cleaning company has been fined £175,000 after a hospital porter was killed by an industrial waste compactor in Bolton.

Peter Bonomy's neck was broken when the lid on the large metal container slammed down on him at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth in 2006.

His employer, ISS Mediclean Ltd, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found the company had allowed porters to load the waste compactor in an unsafe manner.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/coi-nw-40iss.htm

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

DoH Bulletin 241

On the agenda this week: the Secretary of State writes to all NHS staff following the Royal Assent of the Health and Social Care Bill this week, the Prime Minister announces a new challenge on dementia and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement introduces the NHS Patient Feedback Challenge.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-week-issue-241/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

The Month: Special Bulletin 52

This special issue of ‘the month’ carries a detailed letter from NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson on the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill and what the new Act means to the NHS now and from 2013/14.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-month-special-march-2012/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

Guidance On Future Ownership And Management Of PCT Owned Estates

The guidance published does not cover existing arrangements, but provides guidance on accounting implications of the transfers of primary care trust (PCT) estate taking place upon PCT abolition.

Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament. PCTs will be abolished in April 2013, requiring the development of new policies in respect of the PCT estate.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/guidance-future-ownership/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

DoH Bulletin 240

On the agenda this week: the 2011 NHS Staff Survey results are published with a summary plus full report for all trusts, the Department confirms £10 million of funding for children’s hospices, and the first national lung cancer campaign is announced, aiming to encourage people with a persistent cough to visit their GP and raise public awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-week-issue-240/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

The Chancellor of the Exchequer: Just A Sixth Of H&S Regulation To Be Left Untouched

The Chancellor has promised that 84 per cent of health and safety regulation will be scrapped or improved, according to this year’s Budget.  

Last year, in its response to the Löfstedt review, the Government said it is committed to reduce health and safety regulation by more than half. The latest figure announced in the Budget takes into account last year’s Red Tape Challenge, which asked the public and business for their suggestions on which laws could be amended, or revoked entirely.

http://www.shponline.co.uk/news-content/full/just-a-sixth-of-h-s-regulation-to-be-left-untouched

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

NHS Staff Survey Results: Stress Remains High Among Nursing Staff

Nearly a third of health-care workers suffered from work-related stress last year, prompting speculation that on-going organisational change in the NHS is having a detrimental impact on employee well-being. Findings from the ninth annual NHS staff survey revealed that 30 per cent of NHS staff reported they had experienced stress related to their jobs last year – a rise from 29 per cent in 2010 – while, among ambulance staff, the figure hit 34 per cent. The latter are also more at risk from physical violence. Overall, 8 per cent reported experiencing physical violence from patients, their relatives, or other members of the public in 2011 – but this figure shot up to 20 per cent among ambulance-trust employees, and 12 per cent among staff in mental-health trusts……

http://www.shponline.co.uk/news-content/full/stress-remains-high-among-nursing-staff

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

HSE Report: Demolition Firm Sentenced Over Asbestos Danger

A demolition firm has been sentenced after knocking down a building in the Lake District containing hundreds of asbestos ceiling tiles, putting the lives of workers and local residents at risk.

IBT Contracting Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after carrying out the work at a former photography factory in Staveley near Kendal during August and September 2011, despite not having a licence to remove asbestos.

Kendal Magistrates' Court heard IBT had been given a survey by the owners of the site ahead of the work taking place, which stated that the building contained 166 square metres of asbestos ceiling tiles.  But the company failed to arrange for a licensed contractor to remove the tiles safely, and instead released deadly asbestos fibres into the air during the building's demolition.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/coi-nw-75ibt.htm http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

DoH. Results of 2011 NHS Staff Survey Published.

The results of the 2011 NHS staff survey have been published today. A total of 250,000 NHS staff were invited to participate by postal questionnaire. We received responses from 134,967 staff, a response rate of 54%

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/nhsstaffsurvey/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/  

Pay Circular On Agenda For Change - Pay Rates From 1 April 2012

The NHS Employers organisation has published the new pay rates for staff on Agenda for Change contracts, effective from 1 April 2012.

The Government has confirmed that staff earning up to £21,000 per year will receive a flat rate pay increase of £250 from 1 April 2012. Other staff will be subject to the two-year pay freeze announced in the emergency budget in June 2010.  

http://www.nhsemployers.org/Aboutus/latest-news/Pages/PayCirculaOonAgendaForChangePayRatesFrom1April2012.aspx

Monitor: FT Bulletin

In this bulletin:

• Health and Social Care Bill 
• The new provider licence Compliance Framework 2012/13 
• Annual plan review 2012/13: forward plan strategy document 
• Whistleblowing
• Detailed guidance on external assurance on quality reports 2011/12

http://www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/home/news-events-and-publications/our-publications/browse-category/guidance-foundation-trusts/monthl-5

HM Treasury: Hutton Review Of Fair Pay In The Public Sector

Will Hutton has published the Final Report of his Independent Review into Fair Pay in the Public Sector, along with his recommendations to the Government.

He was commissioned by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor in June 2010, to make recommendations on promoting pay fairness in the public sector by tackling disparities between the lowest and the highest paid in public sector organisations. Mr Hutton has now presented recommendations for a Fairness Framework for Senior Public Service Pay.

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/indreview_willhutton_fairpay.htm

DoH Bulletin 239

On the agenda this week: discussions over the remaining details for the new NHS Pension Scheme have been published in Proposed Final Agreement

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-week-issue-239/

HSE Report: Countryside Firm Sentenced Over Strimmer Death.

A countryside management firm has been sentenced over the death of a father-of-four in Barrow-in-Furness, who was struck by a piece of metal that flew off a strimmer at high speed.

Tony Robinson, 37, from Ulverston, died after a link from a chain, spinning at around 300 miles an hour on a petrol strimmer, became detached and struck him on the back of the neck, causing fatal injuries at Ramsden Dock in Barrow on 8 February 2010.

ThreeShires Ltd, which specialises in ecological and forestry work, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation into Mr Robinson's death found the work had not been planned or carried out safely.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/coi-nw-69threeshires.htm

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DoH Bulletin 238

In this week’s edition, read about the Secretary of State’s NHS Constitution announcement about changes to whistleblowing and the setup of a new expert group chaired by Professor Steve Field.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-week-issue-238/

DoH Press Release: Extra Funding to pay for New Health Equipment and Buildings.

More than £330 million of extra funding will be spent on providing state of the art equipment and facilities to improve services for patients in England, the Prime Minister David Cameron announced today.

Hospitals around the country will get funding for facilities and services such as:

• urgent care facilities, including operating theatres and a new accident and emergency department 
• CT scanners and ultrasound equipment 
• a new paediatric unit and a dedicated women and children’s unit 
• improved maternity services and equipment, including a new labour suite and ultrasound equipment improved cancer care and screening, increasing women’s access to breast screening equipment

http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2012/03/06/330m-to-give-2m-patients-better-care/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/  

HSE Report: One In Five Construction Sites Fail Safety Inspections

One in five construction sites failed safety checks during the first five days of an intensive inspection initiative in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited a total 167 sites in the two counties between 20 and 24 February, but 32 were found to have working practices that could put workers at risk.

The inspections were carried out as part of a month-long drive across Great Britain to improve health and safety in one of the country's most dangerous industries. Inspectors are targeting sites where refurbishment or repair work in being carried out, with the aim of reducing the risk of death, injury and ill health.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/coi-nw-17results.htm

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

DoH Bulletin 237

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/03/the-week-issue-237/