Sustainable Development Unit: Bulletin No 65

Sustainable Development Unit Bulletin No 65  

Case Studies

Energy – Princess Alexandra Hospital – Harlow, Solar Panels.

Teleconferencing - NHS Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.

Waste - The Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust Hospital

Audit Commission: NHS Quality Accounts 2010/11

NHS Quality Accounts Providing External Assurance:  Findings from auditors at NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.

The briefing summarises findings from auditors' reviews of quality accounts at 91 NHS acute and mental health trusts. It also summarises the Audit Commission's audit practice reviews of quality reports at 52 (out of 136) foundation trusts.

The aim of this report is to help providers improve their quality accounts and support auditors in reviewing the arrangements that underpin their production.

Department of Health Weekly Bulletin No 231

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/files/2012/01/Week-Issue-231.pdf

Accelerating Release of Surplus Public Sector Land

NHS Chief Executives are being reminded of how the initiative to accelerate the release of public sector land for development can assist in disposing of surplus land.

The NHS has one of the single largest estates in England. Given its size and constant change, the NHS will own land that is no longer required, nor likely to be needed for health service purposes in the future.

Read the letter Accelerating the release of public sector land for development from David Flory, Deputy NHS Chief Executive.

The initiative was announced on 8 June 2011 by the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government. The disposal strategy – land for housing has already identified enough surplus land to deliver 11,000 new homes. 



www.cftconsulting.co.uk

NHS Annual Statement of Fire Safety Issued for 2011

The annual statement of fire safety recently issued covers the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 and is due for completion by 24 February 2012.

A letter sent to Chief Executives reminds them of the need to complete, sign and return the 2011 annual statement.

The purpose of the annual statement is to assure the Department of Health and the Care Quality Commission that the risk to patients, visitors and employee’s arising from the threat of fire is being effectively managed.

Read the letter on the annual statement of fire safety management 2011 and view the annual statement form for completion.

NHS Pension Scheme - Interactive Slide Pack

An interactive slide pack published in response to the Heads of Agreement on the proposed scheme design for the NHS Pension Scheme is available to view. The pack is to give staff guidance.

The review of NHS Pension Scheme Interactive Briefing Pack (PowerPoint slide pack – click open to view. 623Kb) includes information on the following topics:

• Government case for reform 
• changes to the NHS Pension Scheme 
• existing benefits 
• considering opting out 
• pension choice exercise 
• useful website links.

View NHS pensions ‘heads of agreement’ reached for the agreement, verification of cost of preferred scheme design and Andrew Lansley’s Written Ministerial

Guidance Supports the Delivery of the NHS Operating Framework 2012/13

The published planning guidance supports the delivery of the NHS Operating Framework 2012/13 and provides more detail on accountability arrangements.

The integrated approach to planning and assurance between the Department of Health and the NHS for 2012/13 includes:

• the indicative planning timetable 
• content of the submission 
• overview of the indicators process 
• overview of the milestones process 
• overview of assurance narrative and red, amber,green rating on each primary care trust cluster plan. 

Strategic health authority cluster submissions on plans for 2012/13 are due in two stages: the first submission due on 27 January 2012, with the final submission due on 5 April 2012.

Read the letter on planning and assurance in 2012/13 from David Flory