Health Secretary Explains New Health And Social Care Act

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has set out what the Health and Social Care Act will mean for four key health and care organisations and their staff – clinical commissioning groups, NHS foundation trusts, NHS trusts and local authorities.

He explains there are two simple principles at the heart of the Act – that patients should share in every decision about their care and those responsible for patient care should have the ‘freedom and power to lead an NHS that delivers continually improving care’.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_133419

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

DoH Bulletin 242

In this week’s edition, read about the Secretary of State’s letters to health and social care providers, highlighting the new powers and freedoms in the Health and Social Care Act. Also, see the publications section for a number of guidance updates. Happy Easter!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/04/the-week-issue-242/

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

Sustainable Development Unit: Case Studies- Food Waste Management at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

To help save money, improve sustainability and to meet future legislation Stockport NHS Foundation Trust near Manchester has replaced its food macerators with two food waste digesters. 

The Trust’s onsite food waste digester uses a bio-enzymatic formula. It turns food waste into grey water, which then passes through the system’s filter and into the drains.  Section: Waste

http://www.sdu.nhs.uk/publications-resources/case-studies.aspx

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/  

Sustainable Development Unit: Case Studies- Solar Panels at Princess Alexandra Hospital

The roof of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex now has what is believed to be the largest array of solar panels currently in the NHS. The hospital which serves a quarter of a million patients, over five sites has been working on projects exploring the potential to save money and C02 since 2006.  Section: Energy And Carbon Management

http://www.sdu.nhs.uk/publications-resources/case-studies.aspx

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

Sustainable Development Unit: Case Studies- 30% Water Savings at Barts Health NHS Trust

Since the scheme began Barts and The London NHS Trust has reduced its overall water consumption by more than 30%, saving 100 million litres of water in three years.  Section:  Buildings - Designing The Built Environment

http://www.sdu.nhs.uk/publications-resources/case-studies.aspx

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

Arrangements For Planning And Responding To Incidents And Emergencies

The document describes changes being made in health emergency preparedness resilience and response to reflect the new health system that will be established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This will create appropriate structures and functions in the NHS Commissioning Board, Public Health England and with directors of public health in local authorities.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_133353

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/   

NHS Performance Framework – Implementation Guidance Available

The NHS Performance Framework sets out the Department's approach to identifying underperforming NHS organisations and stipulates when intervention should occur in such organisations.

This implementation guidance is designed to support the application of the Framework. Specifically it:

• informs NHS organisations of the criteria against which their performance will be assessed – underpinned by the NHS Operating Framework and input from regulators, as well as the frequency of assessment and escalation measures.
• informs Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) as the regional system managers and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) as the local commissioners of NHS services of when they should intervene to address poor performance
• informs the NHS as to how performance management will be aligned and integrated with the Tripartite Formal Agreement (TFA) monitoring process for NHS trusts, both in terms of scoring and escalation.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_133373

http://www.cftconsulting.co.uk/