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