On the agenda this week: David Behan announces his departure
from the Department of Health to take up the role of Chief Executive at the
Care Quality Commission, the British Medical Association calls upon its members
to take industrial action, and the Social Enterprise Investment Fund reopens
for applications.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Structural Reform Plan
The Department has published the June monthly progress
report on its Structural Reform Plan.
The publication is part of a commitment across Government to
promote transparency and accountability and to allow people to check that
departments are meeting their commitments.
Surveys Published On Public Perceptions Of The NHS And Social Care, And NHS Staff Attitudes
The Department of Health (DH) has published two separate
surveys, one on the public perceptions of the NHS and social care, and the
other on NHS Staff attitudes. Fieldwork for both surveys took place towards the
end of 2011.
Public Perceptions of the NHS and Social Care is a regular
survey that provides a useful check on public sentiment and experience relating
to the NHS and social care. The study has been running at regular intervals
since spring 2000. It is commissioned by DH and conducted by Ipsos Mori. The
results of the study form an overall picture, as perceived by the public, of the
NHS and social care. Core questions are asked in each wave of the survey, but
there is flexibility that allows us to ensure that the survey reflects the most
current issues facing the NHS.
This survey complements other major surveys commissioned by
DH but is unique in the fact that it focuses on the general public, rather than
patients only, and therefore provides an independent view on how key NHS and
social care issues are regarded by the public.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Directions On The Transfer Of Patient Safety Function To The NHS Commissioning Board Authority
These Directions came into force on 1 June 2012.
The Directions to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)
have been amended to reflect the transfer of the NPSA’s patient safety function
to the NHS Commissioning Board Authority (NHS CBA) on 1 June 2012. The Directions to the NHS CBA have been
amended to reflect the Authority’s responsibility, from 1 June 2012, for the
patient safety function previously undertaken by the NPSA.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Guidance On Planning For Property And Estates Transfers Issued
The Department of Health has set out the actions, and
timing, required from Primary Care Trusts to prepare for the transfer of
property to successor bodies on 31 March 2013.
The key steps for PCTs in the run up to transition are to:
- identify all property and legal charges that will need to be transferred and recorded in Property Transfer Schemes
- identify all other assets, rights and liabilities that will need to be transferred and recorded in Property Transfer Schemes. This will include identifying not only assets held such as equipment and IT but also identifying options, overages, grant agreements, development agreements, warranties and guarantees given.
- provide any other information that is essential to the transfer of ownership of estate to facilitate operation and management without causing disruption to services provided.
- transfer estate without disruption to services provided.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_134521
Serious Fire-Safety Breaches Cost ASDA
National food retailer Asda Stores Limited has been ordered
to pay more than £55,000 in fines and costs for committing serious fire-safety
breaches at a store in Berkshire.
Appearing at Reading Crown Court on 6 June, the firm pleaded
guilty to two charges brought under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order
2005. The case had received an earlier hearing in February at Reading
Magistrates’ Court, but was referred to the Crown Court, where a number of
further charges were brought into account.
Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) brought the charges
following an inspection of Asda’s store in Cippenham, near Slough, by
fire-safety officers on 24 June 2010. The court heard that the breaches
presented a serious and life-threatening risk, not only to the staff who worked
in the store but also to customers and other members of the public.
Counsel for the prosecution, William Clegg QC, told the
court that the inspection, which was carried out following a complaint,
identified serious breaches to fire-safety regulations, including:
- two fire-exit doors chained and locked shut;
- obstruction of fire-escape routes;
- combustible items obstructing fire-exit doors and escape routes; and
- fire-exit doors wedged open.
The court also heard that the company had previously been
served with a caution in July 2000 for two contraventions relating to other
fire-safety regulations.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
NHS Trust Saves £82k on Gas Bills
The Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust saved thousands
of pounds on its gas bills this year after its supplier billed the energy
consumption incorrectly. The Trust was
apparently charged double for the gas for one of its buildings, according to
the energy management bureau from TEAM which spotted the mistake. It says the
Trust saved £82,104 on its bill for the Isaac Maddox House, which sits next to
the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.
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