MedWorm: Primary Care Trusts

NHS dental service - live pilot practices and pilot types

The Kings Fund - Health Management Specialist Collection — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:01:14 +0100

The latest list of dental practices participating in the dental contract pilot scheme, indicating their primary care trust and pilot type, is available. Seventy pilot sites are now live around England, each trialling a different model. The list contains live pilot practices and pilot types information. List of practices and pilot schemes Department of Health - news (Source: The Kings Fund - Health Management Specialist Collection)

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In United Kingdom, Clinical Pathology Laboratories Must Transform to Help Primary Care Physicians Achieve Improved Patient Outcomes

Dark Daily — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:32 +0100

Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine (FiLM) attracted another record crowd of clinical laboratory managers and pathologists DATELINE—BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Healthcare in the United Kingdom is undergoing a host of reforms. Consequently, medical laboratories in this country are scrambling to evolve in ways that allow them to serve the new line-up of primary care trusts and hospital trusts, [...] (Source: Dark Daily)

Competition panel highlights GP conflict concern

HSJ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:37:00 +0100

A primary care trust has been criticised by the Cooperation and Competition Panel for giving GPs leading roles in a decision to close a rival primary care centre. (Source: HSJ)

Letters on PCT and SHA staff transfers sent today

HSJ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:36:00 +0100

Primary care trust and strategic health authority staff across England are today being sent letters explaining where their function is to be transferred to in the restructured NHS. (Source: HSJ)

PCT staff letters to omit passage on clarity

HSJ — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:04:00 +0100

Official letters to be sent to primary care trust staff about the future of their jobs this month have undergone a change in wording, with passages discussing an ongoing lack of clarity removed from the text. (Source: HSJ)

Nearly 95% Of Clinical Commissioning Groups Ready To Take On Commissioning Budgets In April, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0100

According to BMJ Careers, In April 2012, 94.2% of the emerging clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England will be able to take on primary care trust commissioning budgets as they passed the strategic health authority (SHA) risk assessment of their configuration. Just 5.8% of groups were rated as "red" in a risk rating system that measures 4 areas relating to the size of the commissioning group, practice engagement, and shape, while 94.2% of groups were rated as "amber" or "green... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Update to fees consultation for 2012-13 begins

NHS Networks — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The services provided by NHS primary care trusts have reduced significantly over the last year, and fees for the other three organisations were disproportionately affected by changes CQC made to our last fees scheme. Our aim in consulting is to ensure that the fees these providers pay are proportionate to the services they deliver and the costs of their regulation. Members of the public, organisations affected and other stakeholders are invited to take part in the consultation online. The consultation will run from 23 January to 20 February 2012. (Source: NHS Networks)

Doubts cast over size of topline public health budgets

HSJ — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:19:00 +0100

Warnings have already been sounded that the £2.2bn funding due to be ringfenced for councils to spend on public health will be insufficient for them to achieve better results than primary care trusts. (Source: HSJ)

Information needed about PCT estate charitable assets

NHS Networks — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

David Flory, deputy NHS chief executive, has written to PCT cluster chief executives requesting information by 17 February 2012. Read the letter Charitable assets relating to the PCT estate and related assets and the donated assets addendum to the announcement of 4 August 2011, on the future ownership and management of estate in the ownership of primary care trusts in England. (Source: NHS Networks)

Telehealth failure a cautionary tale for U.S.

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:45:21 +0100

Source: Sara Jackson, FierceHealthIT Content: “Getting docs engaged and on-board with telehealth may take more than education. It may take cold, hard cash. That’s the object lesson this week from a story about one segment of England’s burgeoning telehealth/remote patient monitoring program. Not getting physician buy-in has forced one primary care trust–the local care coordinating agency [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

Forty-one commissioning support services are proposed

HSJ — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

The 50 primary care trust clusters could set up as many as 41 commissioning support services nationwide, an HSJ investigation has revealed. (Source: HSJ)

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Public health transition

NHS Networks — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Professor Sally Davies, chief medical officer, and Carolyn Downs, chief executive Local Government Association, wrote to all Primary Care Trusts and local authorities in England highlighting the publication of the new local public health system: Transition planning for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and Local Government Transition Guidance on Public Health Workforce Matters (Source: NHS Networks)

CCG case studies: patient and public engagement (PPE)

NHS Networks — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The aim was for each emerging CCG and primary care trust to widen community participation. In a new series of PPE case studies, four of these CCGs are now sharing their experiences and lessons learned. Two focus on social media and technology, and two look at running a citizens’ jury. (Source: NHS Networks)

Exclusive: national company to take over PCT estate

HSJ — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:50:00 +0100

A new national property company is to be set up by the government to manage the primary care trust estate, HSJ understands. (Source: HSJ)

Ministers must slow down to avoid another Mid Staffs

HSJ — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:55:00 +0100

What did the newly minted coalition government describe in May 2010 as “a champion for patients”? The answer, of course, was primary care trusts. (Source: HSJ)

Clinical commissioning behind schedule and risking 'suspended animation'

HSJ — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:15:00 +0100

Clinical commissioning is behind schedule in many areas with the transfer of staff from primary care trusts stalled and just over a year remaining before the NHS’s structural overhaul is supposed to be complete. (Source: HSJ)

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Extra funding for PCTs to help discharge patients from hospital

NeLM - News — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News The Department of Health has announced the availability of an additional £150m fund to be allocated to Primary Care Trusts in England, for immediate transfer to local authorities for investment in social care services which also benefit the health system. This additional investment is aimed to reduce the pressure on health services by discharging patients from hospital more quickly and provide effective ongoing support for people in their own homes. An additional £20 million will be allocated to the Disabled Facilities Grant for 2011/12, to help more people with a disability to access the aids and adaptations they require to live independently at home, saving them from an unnecessary stay in hospital or going into reside...

Register with a GP practice of your choice – pilot announced

NHS Networks — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The one year pilot will begin in April 2012 and will be subject to an independent evaluation. It allows patients for the first time to choose whether to register with a practice close to their workplace or home, without worrying about practice boundaries. The primary care trusts (PCTs) involved in the scheme pilot are Westminster, City and Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Manchester, Salford and Nottingham City. GP practices in these PCT areas will join the pilot on a voluntary basis. The areas selected have high numbers of commuters travelling into the area each day, and one of the sites, Nottingham, is an existing 111 pilot site. (Source: NHS Networks)

[News] Primary care trusts refuse to play NICEly

The Lancet Oncology — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In the UK, NICE recommends the drugs that are cost effective for the NHS through evidence-based technology appraisals. However, a report by GP magazine suggested that 33 of 71 primary care trusts (PCTs) have separate lists of drugs that they will not fund for use in primary or secondary care (termed blacklisting), 19 of which are recommended by NICE. That suggestion seems misplaced, at least for cancer drugs. Cambridgeshire PCT was singled out in the report for blacklisting erlotinib, trabectedin, and mifamurtide. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

PCT and SHA staff to be told their 'expected destination' on 31 January

HSJ — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:10:00 +0100

All primary care trust and strategic health authority staff should receive a personal letter telling them “the expected destination (or destinations) of their current function” in the new commissioning system, the Department of Health has said. (Source: HSJ)

Health MOTs to be offered by local authorities

Telegraph Health — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:30:28 +0100

Free health checks for over-40s are to be offered by local authorities from April 2013 after primary care trusts are abolished, it was reported today. (Source: Telegraph Health)

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Public health needs new 'business model'

HSJ — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:56:00 +0100

Public health professionals will need to “radically” change their approach to working with others when they move from primary care trusts to local authorities, a group of specialists has advised. (Source: HSJ)

Children, Families and Maternity December bulletin

NHS Networks — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The CFM bulletin has over 4,000 subscribers from children’s leads for primary care trusts in England and other directors of children’s services, to individuals and healthcare workers all with an interest in the policy area of children and maternity healthcare. (Source: NHS Networks)

Under NHS Reforms GPs Who Have Taken Over Budgets From PCTs Sliding Millions Into The Red, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0100

Financial evaluations demonstrate that GPs who have taken over budgets from PCTs under the Government's NHS reforms are sliding millions into the red. According to a Pulse analysis of financial data reported by CCGs across 55 primary care trusts, two-thirds of shadow clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) reporting figures are currently missing their financial targets. The analysis raises questions over the GPs capacity to save costs and deliver planned savings... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

GP patient survey results

NHS Networks — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The responses provide information about patients’ experiences for primary care trust (PCTs) and for other patients when they access local services. A sample of registered patients in England was invited to take part during July to September 2011 by Ipsos MORI. (Source: NHS Networks)

Primary care trust allocations for 2012-13

NeLM - News — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News The revenue allocations for primary care trusts (PCTs) for 2012-13 have been announced. The total investment in local NHS services for 2012-13 is £91.6 billion an increase of £2.5 billion or 2.8%: It includes: . £87.5 billion in recurrent revenue allocations to PCTs including an additional £150 million for reablement (assistance regaining independence if daily living skills are lost through illness or injury), an increase of £2.5 billion. . £4.1 billion in allocations for primary dental services, pharmaceutical services, general ophthalmic services, and to support joint working between health and social care. To provide the NHS with financial stability in a year of transition, the weighted capita...

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PCTs to receive flat 2.8pc increase next year

HSJ — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:11:00 +0100

Primary care trusts will receive the same allocation in 2012-13 as this year, plus an across the board 2.8 per cent increase, the Department of Health has announced. (Source: HSJ)

NHS trust installs Honeywell patient monitoring technology

Hospital Management — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust in the UK has successfully installed Honeywell's multipatient monitoring technology in residential care homes in the region to decrease avoidable hospital admissions, the trust has announced. (Source: Hospital Management)

Readmissions above target limit at Halton and St Helens

HSJ — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:36:00 +0100

PERFORMANCE: The primary care trust latest performance report shows 8.65 per cent emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge, against a target of less than five per cent. (Source: HSJ)

Greater support for local government in new public health role

NHS Networks — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The announcement comes as latest research highlights the value of public health action and shows that the majority of public health interventions recommended by NICE are highly cost effective. The findings are of particular importance for local authorities as they prepare to take over the role of commissioning public health services from primary care trusts from April 2013. The briefings will raise awareness and provide information about the existing evidence-based recommendations and evidence reviews from NICE that local government can call upon when commissioning public health services. (Source: NHS Networks)

Primary Care Trust Prescribing Data - July to September 2011

The IC : Prescriptions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:50:18 +0100

This release contains data for the quarters April - June 2008 to July - September 2011. Other quarters will be added subsequently. Note that there hav... (Source: The IC : Prescriptions)

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PCTs take easy option on AQP

HSJ — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:27:00 +0100

More than half of primary care trust clusters have chosen community adult hearing services as one of the areas they will open up to competition under any qualified provider, leading to accusations PCTs have taken the easy option. (Source: HSJ)

NHS Wirral announces first ever private maternity deal

Nursing Times Breaking News — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:23:00 +0100

A primary care trust has become the first in the country to sign a contract with a private company to provide maternity care. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Information Centre publishes statistics on PCT prescribing (July to September 2011)

NeLM - News — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Information Centre Area: News This data release form the NHS Information Centre contains the latest data on Primary Care Trust prescribing, for the quarters April-June 2008 to July-September 2011. The data is being made available via a tool called iView which will allow users to manipulate and extract data. Readers will need to create an account with the NHS IC in order to use iView. Details on how to create an account can be accessed via the link below. (Source: NeLM - News)

Clinical commissioning - the ethical implications

Clinical Risk — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The Health and Social Care Bill proposes clinically led commissioning. The new Clinical Commissioning Groups will become statutory bodies and replace the old primary care trusts. This primary legislation will transfer accountability for health care spending to clinicians who will have a duty to meet the health needs of a population as well as balance a budget. This change gives rise to a number of ethical issues which are explored in this article. (Source: Clinical Risk)

Sally Gainsbury: shifting the goalposts on NHS spending

HSJ — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:06:00 +0100

One of the more intriguing lines in last week’s NHS operating framework is about how primary care trust recurrent allocations for 2012-13 will be reviewed in the light of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s inflation forecast. (Source: HSJ)

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Guide rates best and worst hospitals in 2011

NHS News Feed — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:15:00 +0100

The Daily Telegraph has today revealed the findings of the latest Dr Foster Hospital Guide. The guide, published annually, closely scrutinises a range of healthcare data to measure hospital performance and detect trends that could save lives. As well as listing the hospital trusts in England that score above and below average on a range of different mortality measures, this year’s guide also found that: The rate of patient deaths in England is 20% lower than it was 10 years ago, in part because of improved hospital care. For certain conditions, patients admitted to hospital at the weekend are less likely to get treated quickly and have a higher chance of dying. Hospitals that perform certain operations infrequently pose a significantly greater risk to patients than those which c...

David Cameron, we have a few questions for you…

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:01:02 +0100

From Piers Morgan to Polly Toynbee, Jemima Khan to Jarvis Cocker – David Cameron takes questions from public figures who want answersHear what the PM has to say in our audio interactiveDavid Mitchell, comedianDo you wish you were less posh?"[Laughs] No. You can't change who you are. For a long time I thought my full name was 'The Old Etonian David Cameron'. I had parents who gave me a wonderful start in life, who sacrificed a lot to give me a great education. So I don't ever want to change – I don't want to drop my accent or change my vowels. I am who I am."Piers Morgan, TV presenterIf you could relive one moment in your life, excluding births of children and marriage, what would it be?"God, that's a really good question. Piers, why don't you ever ask really good questions li...

General Pharmaceutical Services in England, 2001-02 to 2010-11

The IC : Pharmacies — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:44:14 +0100

SummaryThis publication shows information about services provided by community pharmacies in England in contract with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to di... (Source: The IC : Pharmacies)

Offering HIV Testing in an Acute Admission Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne – A Pilot Study

Journal of Infection — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:05:45 +0100

There are an estimated 22,000 people living in the UK with HIV who are unaware of their diagnosis. Late diagnosis in Newcastle remains a problem and in 2008, 60% of new diagnoses had a CD4 count CD4 2/1000. Newcastle Primary Care Trust has an HIV prevalence of 3-4/1000. We undertook a prospective audit offering HIV testing to all general medical admissions attending the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) to assess feasibility, acceptability and point prevalence. (Source: Journal of Infection)

PCTs to be monitored to protect against public health cuts

HSJ — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Primary care trusts will be monitored to ensure they are maintaining “appropriate” investment in local public health services during the transition to council control. (Source: HSJ)

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CCG staffing must be 'commensurate' with delegated budgets

HSJ — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:10:00 +0100

Primary care trust clusters will have to demonstrate they are allocating staff to clinical commissioners at levels that are “commensurate” with the budgets they have taken over. (Source: HSJ)

Doctors are told not to prescribe vital drugs because they are 'too expensive'

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:23:53 +0100

More than a quarter of primary care trusts are telling doctors not to prescribe vital treatments including those for cancer even though they have been recommended by NICE, the NHS rationing body. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

CCG staff assignment to accelerate despite redundancy fears

HSJ — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:20:00 +0100

Primary care trusts will be told to assign more staff to clinical commissioning groups to prevent a lack of support hindering CCG development. (Source: HSJ)

PCT public health spending revealed

HSJ — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0100

Primary care trusts spent just 4.6 per cent of their total funding allocation on public health last year, analysis by HSJ suggests. (Source: HSJ)

Rise in PCTs reporting above-average costs

HSJ — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0100

The past financial year saw a sharp rise in the proportion of primary care trusts reporting above-average costs for providing NHS services, new Department of Health figures show. (Source: HSJ)

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[Articles] Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) of women experiencing domestic violence with a primary care training and support programme: a cluster randomised controlled trial

LANCET — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryBackgroundMost clinicians have no training about domestic violence, fail to identify patients experiencing abuse, and are uncertain about management after disclosure. We tested the effectiveness of a programme of training and support in primary health-care practices to increase identification of women experiencing domestic violence and their referral to specialist advocacy services.MethodsIn this cluster randomised controlled trial, we selected general practices in two urban primary care trusts, Hackney (London) and Bristol, UK. (Source: LANCET)

Fertility treatment bans reversed by PCTs

HSJ — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A number of primary care trusts which imposed tight restrictions on infertility treatment have now reversed the policy. (Source: HSJ)

Lansley to announce 'ban' on minimum waiting times

HSJ — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:05:00 +0100

The health secretary is to announce a “ban” on primary care trusts setting minimum waiting times for procedures, with the threat of “removing the chair of the PCT” if it is broken. (Source: HSJ)

Clusters ordered to begin stocktake of 75,000 service contracts

HSJ — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:25:00 +0100

Primary care trust clusters will have to complete a detailed stocktake of their 75,000 service contracts by the end of March 2012, in preparation for transferring them to successor commissioning bodies the following year. (Source: HSJ)

Low opt-out for UK SCR roll-out

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:01:00 +0100

Source: Charles Wright, eHealthCentral Content: “A fascinating factoid emerging from the news that NHS Darlington has become the first English primary care trust to complete roll out of the Summary Care Record: only 1.66 per cent of patients opted out of the scheme. The statistic is likely to add weight to calls by consumer health [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

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Politics is bad for our health | Jonathan Waxman

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0100

Cancer survival rates in the NHS are excellent. But without costly meddling they could be even betterA new piece of research linking survival rates from cancer with investment levels in treatment has shown that the NHS provides excellent value for money. Indeed, between 1979 and 2006, of the 10 countries assessed (which also included Germany, the US, France and Japan), survival rates in England and Wales were found to have improved the most, making this the most cost-efficient health service in reducing cancer mortality.So how come the health service has done so well, when all we seem to hear is bad news about cancer treatment? Why, when our politicians proclaim that the NHS is performing poorly, does the objective evidence suggest the opposite?In my 35 years' working as a clinician I have...

Fraudulent Or Unregistered Nurses Work At Hundreds Of UK GP Practices

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:00:00 +0100

There could be nearly two hundred unregistered or fraudulent nurses working in GP (general practitioner) practices throughout the United Kingdom, according to a new report issued by the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council). The Council is preparing a letter to be sent to primary care trusts urging practices to properly check nurses' registrations. Nurses should be registered with the profession's regulator. Recently, authorities arrested a woman in Kent for allegedly pretending to be a registered, qualified nurse... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

DH signals new delays to commissioning support procurement

HSJ — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Most clinical commissioning groups will be unable to bring in major new support services to replace ex-primary care trust staff until early 2014, new Department of Health guidance indicates. (Source: HSJ)

A right to die or a right to live? Discontinuing medical treatment.

British Journal of Nursing — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article explores the decision in the case of W v M, S and an NHS Primary Care Trust [2011] EWHC 2443 (Fam) in which an application to withdraw feeding from a woman in a minimally conscious state was rejected by Baker J in the Court of Protection. The article places the case in the context of the development of case law concerning the withdrawal of treatment from patients lacking decision-making capacity, where death will be the inevitable consequence of the withdrawal of treatment after the decision in Airedale NHS Trust v Bland. It questions whether nearly two decades after the Bland decision there is scope for the boundaries of the decision to withdraw treatment from patients in 'futile' conditions to be reconsidered by the Supreme Court. PMID: 22068006 [PubMed - in process] (So...

Leading the charge for change? An HSJ Summit review

HSJ — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:56:00 +0100

Each year, HSJ hosts an annual policy summit for the most influential people in health. This year, we asked NHS primary care trust staff side lead Alyson Brenchley to attend and record her impressions. (Source: HSJ)

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North East PCTs mull region-wide commissioning support

HSJ — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Primary care trusts in the NHS Tees cluster are planning to form a commissioning support organisation with others in the North East, which could extend across the whole of the region and even move into Yorkshire. (Source: HSJ)

TCS social enterprise transfer faces legal challenge

HSJ — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:25:00 +0100

A judge has ordered a primary care trust to halt the planned transfer of its provider arm to a social enterprise, pending the outcome of a High Court hearing. (Source: HSJ)

IVF: Single women get £3k fertility treatment for free but couples forced to pay

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:31:17 +0100

Nearly a fifth of Primary Care Trusts will offer the fertility treatment to women even if they are not married or in a long-term relationship but couples in certain areas are turned down because of cuts. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Improving MMR coverage in Birmingham

BMJ Online First — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Achieving herd immunity in an ethnically mixed deprived area is a realistic goal.1 Between 2004 and 2006, the Heart of Birmingham primary care trust increased measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Guidance 'misconstrued' as commissioners restrict drugs

HSJ — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:48:00 +0100

Primary care trusts are “misconstruing” official drugs guidance in order to restrict access to treatments, a coalition of patient bodies has warned. (Source: HSJ)

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Personal health budgets: early experiences of budget holders - fourth interim report

NeLM - News — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News Personal health budgets are being piloted in English primary care trusts (PCTs) between 2009 and 2012. This evaluation report looks at the early experiences of a small sub-sample of budget holders and their representatives. It reports in-depth interviews with 58 people from 17 PCTs, around three months after the offer of a personal health budget, about their experiences of personal health budgets so far. The fourth interim independent evaluation report on the programme has been published by the personal health budgets evaluation (PHBE) team. (Source: NeLM - News)

DH ruling puts paid to rotating chairs in the East

HSJ — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The South Essex primary care trust cluster is planning to make £300m of savings in the next four years, so it probably does not want to be playing musical chairs with its board. (Source: HSJ)

CCG support vision will calm anger but spark controversy

HSJ — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:20:00 +0100

Last week Sir David Nicholson summoned the 51 primary care trust cluster chief executives to a meeting at which he set out how they should address the challenges ahead. The audience listened dutifully, but the tension in the room was palpable. (Source: HSJ)

Ethics briefings

Journal of Medical Ethics — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Social factors and the allocation of scarce resources The NHS does not ordinarily take social factors into account when considering the allocation of scarce resources. In 2011, this approach was subject to judicial review on behalf of Mr Condliff, a morbidly obese former policeman. Mr Condliff had a body mass index of 40 and, due to underlying medical conditions, was deemed ineligible for open bariatric surgery. The surgery can be undertaken laparoscopically, but North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), in whose catchment area Mr Condliff lives, does not ordinarily provide the surgery to patients with a body mass index of below 50. The PCT does, however, allow for patients to make claims for exceptional treatment by means of an individual funding review. In relation to such a review t...

Review of fees for applications to provide pharmaceutical services

NeLM - News — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News The NHS Act 2006 allows Primary Care Trusts to charge for NHS pharmaceutical applications under regulations that came into force in April 2008. These specified the type of applications and the level of fees that would be payable. During the passage of the Health Bill 2006 the Government agreed that review of this agreement would be carried out within eighteen months following introduction. After consultation this document provides an overview of the responses that have been received and outlines actions the Government is going to take. (Source: NeLM - News)

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CCGs should not be bullied on size, says Clinical Commissioning Coalition

NeLM - News — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Alliance Area: News The National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) and NHS Alliance Clinical Commissioning Coalition has said that Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), not Primary Care Trust (PCT) clusters or Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), should decide their appropriate size. The Clinical Commissioning Coalition is working with the Department of Health to look at how small a CCG might reasonably be and how small CCGs can meet the requirements for future National Commissioning Board authorisation. The Clinical Commissioning Coalition is urging CCGs to use the configuration gateway and resist pressure from PCT clusters and SHAs. (Source: NeLM - News)

Service Line Reporting Versus Patient-Level Information and Costing Systems: Which is the Most Useful Approach?

Hospital Management — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:26:03 +0100

This white paper states that future success is not based on primary care trusts generating the financial data themselves, but how effectively trusts can engage clinicians and managers to accept an...Post to:Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon (Source: Hospital Management)

PCTs ordered to adopt single cluster board model

HSJ — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:18:00 +0100

Primary care trust clusters must have a single board, executive team and chair, the Department of Health has said. (Source: HSJ)

Doctors pushed into using 'cheap' eye disease drug

the Mail online | Health — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:22:28 +0100

A Daily Mail investigation reveals that, despite safety fears, dozens of primary care trusts have told consultants to use Avastin rather than Lucentis to treat an eye disorder that can lead to blindness. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

GP surgery recommends private treatment to patients after cutbacks

BMJ Online First — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

A GP surgery in Yorkshire is being questioned by the local primary care trust after writing to patients to propose they use private care for some minor procedures, which the doctors claim the NHS... (Source: BMJ Online First)

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Sally Gainsbury: in theory, the reality could be even worse

HSJ — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Let us start, as we hacks are so fond of doing, with the bad news. The Department of Health’s first quarterly report for 2011-12 reveals primary care trusts are planning to take savings worth £3.1bn out of acute care this financial year alone. (Source: HSJ)

Commissioning support costs for CCGs emerging with variations

HSJ — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:32:00 +0100

Indications have emerged of planned expenditure on commissioning support. London primary care trusts are predicting costs of £16 per head of population – £5 more than their counterparts in Coventry and Warwickshire, HSJ has learned. (Source: HSJ)

Postcode Lotteries in Public Health - The NHS Health Checks Programme in North West London

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The implementation of an NHS cardiovascular screening program in North West London Primary Care Trusts varies in terms of screening approaches and other important aspects, indicating a postcode lottery effect which may be even greater at a national level. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Providing integrated care won't be easier for CCGs, study suggests

HSJ — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Clinical commissioning groups will find it no easier than primary care trusts to provide integrated care unless they are able to overcome perverse incentives, a report has found. (Source: HSJ)

Increasing competition in NHS is hampering commissioning

BMJ Online First — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The government needs to rethink some of its key policies if England’s new clinical commissioning groups are to be better at providing integrated care than their primary care trust predecessors, a new... (Source: BMJ Online First)

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Transfer of public health services to councils in doubt

HSJ — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Many local authorities are not ready to take on public health budgets and responsibility from primary care trusts, according to research exclusively shared with HSJ and sister title Local Government Chronicle. (Source: HSJ)

CCGs will be liable for PCT redundancy costs

HSJ — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0100

Clinical commissioning groups will be liable for the cost of making primary care trust staff redundant if they use non-NHS suppliers of commissioning support, HSJ understands. (Source: HSJ)

NHS Information Centre report: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Key Performance Indicators (IAPT KPIs) Apr 2011 - Jun 2011

NeLM - Mental Health — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: The NHS Information Centre Area: News The NHS Information Centre has published Key Performance Indicators for the "Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)" programme for the period April to June 2011. The report showed that (taken directly from source): . 42% of those who completed treatment under the programme during the period were no longer 'at caseness' - i.e. no longer showing measurable symptoms of depression or anxiety disorder at their last therapy session. . Recovery rates for those who completed treatment varied between Primary Care Trusts (PCTs); ranging from seven per cent in one PCT to 63% in another. This may be associated with the roll out of the programme, as some sites started delivering services more recently than others. ....

The Invisible Men: finding and engaging with the male partners of street sex workers

Journal of Men's Health — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:18:49 +0100

Abstract: Men, in general, remain less likely than women to seek medical care, and are only half as likely as women to undertake preventive health visits and/or screening tests. There is a great need to increase men's health awareness and reduce this significant gender disparity. Furthermore, marginalised and socially excluded men rarely access health services, even though the reasons for their social exclusion, particularly drug and alcohol dependency, invariably mean that their need for health interventions is greater than in the normal population.The Open Doors Sexual Health Service has been working with female street sex workers (SSWs) in the London Borough of Hackney since 2006, in order to help them address their physical, psychological and social needs. Open Doors is based in, and p...

CCGs setting spending priorities urged to 'be brave'

HSJ — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Most primary care trust commissioners believe they have struggled with setting priorities for health spending in their area, according to a new research report. (Source: HSJ)

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More dementia patients accessing new memory services

Nursing in Practice — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:31:00 +0100

A voluntary survey of primary care trusts suggests 951 people per PCT on average accessed new memory services in 2010/11, compared to 605 in 2008/09 (Source: Nursing in Practice)

Primary Care Trust Prescribing Data - January to March 2011

The IC : Prescriptions — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:58:24 +0100

This release adds data for January to March 2011. PCT Prescribing already contains data for the quarters April - June 2008, July - September 2008, Oct... (Source: The IC : Prescriptions)

Primary Care Trust Prescribing Data - April to June 2011

The IC : Prescriptions — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:58:24 +0100

SummaryThis release contains data for the quarters April - June 2008 to April - June 2011. Other quarters will be added subsequently.Note that there h... (Source: The IC : Prescriptions)

South Central trusts reveal underlying cash problems

HSJ — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:00:00 +0100

A collective report from the pleasingly named SHIP primary care trust cluster – Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth – gives a snapshot of the South Coast’s state of affairs. (Source: HSJ)

Primary Care Trust Prescribing Data - April to June 2011

NeLM - News — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Information Centre Area: News This data release form the NHS Information Centre contains the latest data on Primary Care Trust prescribing. The data is being made available via a tool called iView which will allow users to manipulate and extract data. Readers will need to create an account with the NHS IC in order to use iView. Details on how to create an account can be accessed via the link below. (Source: NeLM - News)

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How did clinical circumstances change?

BMJ Online First — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0100

After all those legal arguments and the expense,1 success has come to Mr Tom Condliff at last. The primary care trust is quoted as saying, “The request and the new supporting medical evidence was... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Coventry PCT tenders for a new provider of primary medical services for vulnerable groups

HSJ — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:31:00 +0100

COMMERCIAL: A new provider for primary medical services for groups including the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees is being sought by the primary care trust. (Source: HSJ)

New medical director for West Mercia Cluster

HSJ — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:10:00 +0100

WORKFORCE: A new medical director has been appointed to the West Mercia cluster of primary care trusts. (Source: HSJ)

PCTs told to provide accounts for cash transferred to councils

HSJ — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:23:00 +0100

Primary care trusts have been told to report how funding transferred to councils for integrated health and social care activities is being spent. (Source: HSJ)

2011 National NHS staff survey

NHS Networks — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Sir David Nicholson has written to all chief executives in NHS trusts, foundation trusts and primary care trusts in England. The letter provides information on how trusts can prepare for the launch of the survey in late September. (Source: NHS Networks)

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New skin cancer drug approved

NHS News Feed — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:45:00 +0100

A new skin cancer drug has been approved for use in Europe, several newspapers have reported today. The drug, called ipilimumab (brand name Yervoy), has been dubbed a “wonder drug for skin cancer” on the front page of the Daily Express. The Daily Mail calls it the “first real advance” in skin cancer treatment since the 1970s. Newspapers have given varying estimates of how much the drug will cost. The Daily Mail says it will cost £18,000 per course, while The Daily Telegraph puts the total cost at around £75,000 per patient. Why is the drug in the news now? The drug ipilimumab has just been granted ‘marketing authorisation’ by the European Commission, meaning that the drug can be sold throughout the European Union. The European Commission has made this decision based on the...

South Coast trusts forecast 2011-12 performance, predict £77m overspend

HSJ — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:52:00 +0100

Trying to predict the future for the NHS is always difficult, as there always seems to be a reorganisation or a winter crisis just round the corner. However, primary care trusts in Sussex have given it a go. (Source: HSJ)

When big isn't beautiful: lessons from England and Scotland on primary health care organisations.

Med J Aust — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dunbar JA Abstract United Kingdom primary care trusts resembled the primary health care organisations (PHCOs) that have been proposed for Australia - for example, Medicare Locals. They resulted in a loss of innovation, creativity, motivation and morale among general practitioners and other front-line staff. English primary care trusts are being abolished and £80 billion will be handed over to GP commissioners. Management theory and practical experience shows repeatedly the dangers of reorganising into larger units. Lessons for Australia are to defer deciding on the size of PHCOs until their purposes are clear, to enshrine the principle of subsidiarity, and to opt for networking of the current Divisions of General Practice over mergers. So far, debate on the functions and...

NHS Evidence expert commentary: GP prescribing for heart disease

NeLM - News — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Evidence Area: News The August edition of 'Eyes on Evidence', the free monthly e-bulletin from NHS Evidence covering major new evidence as it emerges with an explanation about what it means for current practice, includes an expert commentary on the results of a cross-sectional study that sought to assess the odds of prescribing recommended coronary heart disease (CHD) drugs by age, sex, ethnicity, social deprivation, and co-morbidity. The study, published in the Journal Ethnicity & Health in April 2011, involved a total of 10,993 patients aged ?35 years with CHD, from two East London Primary Care Trusts. The authors report high levels of prescribing for people with CHD overall, however lower rates were seen in women, Black African/Caribbean patients ...

[Viewpoint] Public health in England: an option for the way forward?

LANCET — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

It was clear as soon as it was announced that UK Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's unexpected decision to subject the National Health Service (NHS) in England to revolutionary change would have profound consequences for public health. The White Paper, Healthy lives, healthy people, proposes that the public health function currently based in Primary Care Trusts be fragmented (). Some elements will move to the Department of Health, to a division called Public Health England, while others will move into local government. (Source: LANCET)

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Twenty Healthy Living Pharmacy pathfinder sites announced

NeLM - News — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: PSNC (Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee) Area: News The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has announced that following a competitive process, 20 areas, representing 30 primary care trusts (PCTs), have been selected to become Healthy Living Pharmacy pathfinders. Healthy Living Pharmacy Pathfinder Sites are expected to inform the future direction of travel for community pharmacy. The aim of the pharmacy organisations is for at least 100 community pharmacies to become Healthy Living Pharmacies by end of March 2012. Further details, including a list of the sites, can be found via the link below. (Source: NeLM - News)

Media Watch: deliberate delays report provokes fury in the press

HSJ — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The furore over the Cooperation and Competition Panel’s report suggesting primary care trusts were making patients wait longer in the hope they would die or go private was going strong when the weekend papers went to press. (Source: HSJ)

Suffolk community services to be more independent

HSJ — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:46:00 +0100

STRUCTURE: Suffolk Community Healthcare will “revise” its governance arrangements after a review found it needed to be more separate from the primary care trust. (Source: HSJ)

Lansley condemns commissioners as 'cynical' over choice restrictions

HSJ — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:52:00 +0100

Health secretary Andrew Lansley today said primary care trusts “game the system” to “delay treatment”, in response to the Co-operation and Competition Panel’s investigation of choice in elective care. (Source: HSJ)

Two thirds of primary care trusts are cutting referrals, shows survey

BMJ Online First — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Two thirds of primary care trusts in England are restricting referrals for treatments they judge to be non-urgent or of low clinical value, and one third have expanded the list of procedures they... (Source: BMJ Online First)

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Private hospital spend varies widely, study shows

HSJ — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:30:00 +0100

Significant variations exist in the proportion of work primary care trusts commission from independent sector providers, a study shared with HSJ reveals. (Source: HSJ)

Dental commissioning experiencing mixed fortunes BDA survey finds

NHS Networks — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

The research reflects a shifting landscape for primary care trusts, in which more than a quarter (28 per cent) of those questioned said that their commissioning functions had merged with those of other PCTs. Although a very small proportion of respondents (eight per cent) of those questioned reported that clustering had had a negative impact on their ability to respond to local needs, most did not, reporting no change or a positive impact or saying that they did not know what the effect of clustering had been. (Source: NHS Networks)

Do you hate the Russians more than you love your children?

BMJ Online First — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Two arguments are commonly rolled out as to why we shouldn’t oppose the bill. One is that we must embrace it because it promises to rid us of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities,... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Charity campaign saves specialist nurse post

Nursing Times Breaking News — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:41:00 +0100

A charity has declared victory in its campaign to secure a specialist nurse for West Sussex after local GPs had advised a primary care trust to put recruitment to the post “on hold”. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Private providers demand end to DH 'bureaucracy'

HSJ — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Private healthcare providers are calling for a review of the recent transfer of their Department of Health contracts to primary care trusts, saying the negotiations were an “enormous waste” of time and money. (Source: HSJ)

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Use of deprivation of liberty safeguards varies by region, NHS Information Centre report shows

NHS Networks — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Applications are generally made by a care home or hospital to the responsible local authority or primary care trust (PCT). According to the report, the number of applications varies by region in England, with the East Midlands recording the highest number of applications and the North East recording the lowest. (Source: NHS Networks)

NHS Bristol uses phones for telehealth

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:01:58 +0100

Source: Shanna Crispin, e-Health Insider Content: “NHS Bristol is to take advantage of mobile technology as it rolls out a new telehealth service to patients with long-term conditions. The primary care trust has signed a contract with technology company Safe Patient Systems for its Mobile Patient Care service.” Article Shanna Crispin, e-Health Insider, 20 July 2011 (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

NHS management is misleading GPs about commissioning, DH adviser says

HSJ — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:06:00 +0100

A Department of Health adviser has said NHS national management, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts are misleading GPs about commissioning policy. (Source: HSJ)

National lead for medicines use says QIPP is not being hijacked for cost cutting

NeLM - News — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: PharmaTimes Area: News In an interview with PharmaTimes Magazine, Peter Rowe, the national lead for medicines use and procurement within the Department of Health's (DH) quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) programme has called into question rumours that QIPP was "being hijacked for cost cutting". Recently concerns have been raised that the quality of services in the NHS will suffer due to the cuts being made in the drive to meet QIPP's £20 billion efficiency savings by 2014. Mr. Rowe told PharmaTimes that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are not reducing the drugs budget as a cost-cutting move under the QIPP programme. PharmaTimes refers to a survey by Pulse magazine earlier this year, which reported that over 50% of PCTs have allegedly increased the numbe...

Commissioning brain drain ‘stripping assets’

HSJ — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

HSJ research reveals for the first time the extent of the brain drain caused in the past year by paying off primary care trust managers - half of whom were either clinicians or experts in commissioning and finance. (Source: HSJ)

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East of England raises concerns in accountability reviews

HSJ — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The East of England has been doing its annual round of accountability reviews at its primary care trusts. As well as South West Essex, Great Yarmouth and Waveney have had a visit. (Source: HSJ)

Sir David sets out single commissioning vision

HSJ — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:03:00 +0100

NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has jump-started development of the reformed commissioning system, publishing details of his emerging national board and telling primary care trust clusters to follow a “single operating model” for the next two years. (Source: HSJ)

Lung cancer survival 'depends on where you live' as more die of the disease in the North

the Mail online | Health — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:14:30 +0100

The report has identified a threefold difference in mortality rates with Liverpool Primary Care Trust recording the highest and Herefordshire the lowest. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

A full blooded market system: at what cost to the NHS?

BMJ Online First — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

The current plans to reform the NHS have, with some justification, been described as the biggest shake up of the service since its creation. Abolishing primary care trusts and transferring... (Source: BMJ Online First)

'Most lung cancer deaths' in city

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:18:43 +0100

Liverpool Primary Care Trust has the highest mortality rate for lung cancer in the country, according to a new report. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

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Establishing an opportunistic catch up immunisation service for children attending an acute trust in London

Archives of Disease in Childhood — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Vaccination rates in London are significantly lower than in the rest of the UK, especially for MMR vaccine. MMR uptake in London ranges from 50 to 75% compared with 80–90% nationally.1 Our aim was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an opportunistic immunisation service for children attending the paediatric outpatient department (OPD) at the Royal Free Acute NHS Trust (RFH). We are not aware of any UK acute paediatric department currently routinely offering such a service.2 3 Methods Funding was obtained from Barnet and Camden Primary Care Trusts and senior RFH staff supported development of the service. Trust policies, guidelines and checklists were developed. The service was aimed at children >1 month behind immunisation schedule. A combined information leaflet/questi...

North-South heart death 'divide'

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:03:59 +0100

Deaths through heart disease are highest in the north west of England, according to a survey of primary care trusts. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

PCT legacy shows 'significant improvement' despite challenges

HSJ — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Primary care trusts have overseen improvement and were further “maturing” before their abolition was announced, an NHS Confederation report says. (Source: HSJ)

Survey concludes that NHS leaders struggling to improve services due to financial pressures

NeLM - News — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Confederation Area: News According to a report by the NHS Confederation, a major survey of NHS leaders by the Picker Institute has concluded that leaders are fighting to improve services in the face of unprecedented financial pressures. But most believe that access to care will decline and that cuts in local authority budgets will lead to more people needing healthcare services. The survey involved 287 chairs and chief executives from 243 different organisations, including acute trusts, primary care trusts, ambulance trusts, mental health trusts and independent sector NHS providers. Please see link below for the NHS Confederation report; access to the Picker Institute survey results was not available at the time of posting. (Source: NeLM - News)

NHS resource allocation: a question of funding?

British Journal of Nursing — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: McHale J Abstract The article explores the implications of using human rights principles as a basis to challenging a resource allocation decision by a primary care trust in the courts. It explores the implications of the recent decision in R (Condliff) v North Staffordshire NHS Trust [2011] and the prospects for development of future litigation. PMID: 21841679 [PubMed - in process] (Source: British Journal of Nursing)

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Care in the community: what would happen if the lights went out?

British Journal of Community Nursing — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This article reports on a student nurse project carried out on a community placement in respect to patients dependent on medical devices in the event of power cuts. The project was designed to identify relevant literature to establish what emergency and preparatory procedures and protocols are in place in a primary care trust for this type of emergency and to identify what action a nurse in the community should take to ensure the safety and welfare of their patients if a there was a prolonged power failure. The literature and knowledge of community staff for the correct procedures to follow in the event of a power cut in the community established that there was some cause for concern, and identified that a loss of power to a patient with a medical device poses a serious risk. Recommendatio...

Seven trusts and two primary care trusts finished 2010-11 in deficit, DH says

HSJ — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:27:00 +0100

Two primary care trusts and seven trusts finished the year in deficit, according to figures released by the Department of Health. (Source: HSJ)

Scandal of elderly patients unable to read or drive as half of NHS trusts restrict cataract operations

the Mail online | Health — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:58:57 +0100

Many primary care trusts say patients must reach a certain threshold of vision loss before they are treated, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

NHS Confederation and Networks publish annual reviews

NeLM - News — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Confederation Area: News The following annual reviews are available via the NHS Confederation website: . NHS Confederation Annual Review 2010-11 . Ambulance Service Network annual review 2010-11 . Mental Health Network annual review 2010-11 . Primary Care Trust Network Annual Review 2010-11 . SDO Network 2010/11 Annual Summary . NHS Partners Network Annual Summary 2010-11 Please see the links below for details. (Source: NeLM - News)

The right-to-request primary care trust: one year on

HSJ — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A year ago, City Health Care Partnership became the first social enterprise to ‘go live’ through the right-to-request scheme. On its first anniversary, chief executive Andrew Burnell reports on how they are getting on. (Source: HSJ)

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Royal wedding weekend linked to trebled demand for morning-after-pill

Nursing Times Breaking News — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:20:00 +0100

Demand for the morning-after pill trebled during the royal wedding celebrations, a primary care trust has said. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Nicholson: PCT clusters to survive as arms of Commissioning Board

HSJ — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Primary care trust clusters will commission GP services and oversee new clinical commissioning groups from April 2013, it was confirmed this week. (Source: HSJ)

King's Fund project report: Explaining variations in primary care trusts' spending on cancer services

NeLM - News — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: King's Fund Area: News Given the wide and persistent variation in spending on cancer services, this project led by the King's Fund aimed to identify and quantify sources of variation in primary care trust (PCT) cancer spending and provide PCTs and cancer networks with a systematic way of framing decisions about the appropriate share of their total budgets to spend on cancer services. (Source: NeLM - News)

Noel Plumridge: breaking up is hard to do

HSJ — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 06:40:00 +0100

Hanging on to the title deeds of the community estate must have seemed such a neat idea last year, as primary care trusts pondered the future of their soon to be departing provider arms. (Source: HSJ)

Andrew Lansley: NHS reform consultation 'not a PR exercise'

Telegraph Health — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:07:30 +0100

All Primary Care Trust will be gone by 2013 Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told GPs as he dismissed accusations that the Government's listening exercise had just been for show. (Source: Telegraph Health)

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Can financial incentives for improvements in healthcare quality enhance identification of COPD in primary care?

Thorax — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health issue, as it leads to patients missing out on appropriate preventive and therapeutic interventions.1–3 The ratio of diagnosed/predicted COPD prevalence differs widely between Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), suggesting that there are unacceptable variations in care.4 A National Clinical Strategy for COPD is to be launched in the UK in 2010 and there is an urgent need for evidence to support strategies to increase the identification of patients, particularly those with early disease. In 2008 a locally enhanced service (LES) for COPD was introduced by NHS Kensington and Chelsea (K&C), giving general practitioners a small financial incentive for each individual screened and a larger payment for each patient...

Rarer Cancers Foundations publishes progress report on the Cancer Drugs Fund

NeLM - News — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: Rarer Cancers Foundation (RCF) Area: News The Rarer Cancers Foundation (RCF) has published a progress report on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), representing the first comprehensive evaluation of its impact of on patients. The report notes that 93 of 151 Primary Care trusts (PCTs) responded to the audit, and that 4,717 exceptional case applications were submitted to them between April 2007 and December 2010. In total 2,778 were approved and 1,578 were rejected. The rate of applications increased substantially at the end of 2010, most likely due to the fact that many Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) required clinicians to submit exceptional case applications to PCTs before considering reimbursement from the CDF. The approval rate dropped dramatically ove...

Are you a victim of the IVF postcode lottery?

Gurgle — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:06:28 +0100

A new report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infertility has found that Nearly three-quarters of NHS trusts are denying women IVF treatment. The report goes on to warn that most Primary Care Trusts have imposed strict rul . . . (Source: Gurgle)

Three-quarters of health trusts refuse couples IVF treatment and some have blanket ban

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:35:09 +0100

It warns that most Primary Care Trusts have imposed strict rules on who is allowed treatment, with some refusing to fund it altogether. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Health Secretary sues Servier for overcharging the NHS for blood pressure medication

NeLM - News — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: Daily Mail Area: News According to a report by the Daily Mail, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is suing Servier for £220 million, on the basis that the company has overcharged the NHS for blood pressure medicines. The report notes that Servier's patent on perindopril ran out in 2001, but that Servier paid rivals millions not to make generic versions. The Health Secretary is now 'spearheading' legal action at the High Court with ten strategic health authorities and 147 primary care trusts to reclaim the £220 million that the NHS is believed to have been overcharged between 2001 and 2007. (Source: NeLM - News)

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North Yorkshire and York faces ongoing financial difficulties

HSJ — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:06:00 +0100

North Yorkshire and York is one of the most financially troubled primary care trusts in the country. (Source: HSJ)

Clusters slow to share staff and savings plans

HSJ — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0100

Significant variations in the way primary care trusts and clusters are carrying out their roles are highlighted in an HSJ analysis. (Source: HSJ)

Clusters to be given single operating model under DH plans

HSJ — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:44:00 +0100

The Department of Health is set to impose a single operating model on primary care trust clusters in order to maintain a grip on NHS finances, HSJ can reveal. (Source: HSJ)

How should dentists prescribe, store, order and dispose of controlled drugs?

NeLM - Medicines Q and A — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Source: North West Medicines Information Centre Area: Evidence > Medicines Q & A Private prescriptions Dentists must use the private prescription form FP10PCD* when prescribing Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs. A dentist can prescribe privately any Schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug on an FP10PCD form, as long as it meets the dental needs of the patient. Pharmacists may challenge private controlled drug prescriptions if they feel that the controlled drug has no recognised dental use. FP10PCD forms should be obtained from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), even if the dentist has no NHS contract with the PCT. NHS prescriptions The standard FP10D** prescription form should be used to prescribe controlled drugs. Dentists can only prescribe controlled drugs included in the DPF list (e.g. temazepam...

Managing resources in NHS dentistry: using health economics to inform commissioning decisions

BMC Health Services Research — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

DiscussionThe recent announcement by government regarding the proposed abolition of Primary Care Trusts may pose challenges for the research team regarding their engagement with the research study. However, whichever commissioning organisations are responsible for resource allocation for dental services in the future; resource scarcity is highly likely to remain an issue. Wider understanding of the complexities of priority setting and resource allocation at local levels are important considerations in the development of dental commissioning processes, national oral health policy and the future new dental contract which is expected to be implemented in April 2014. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)

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The psychosocial experience of parents receiving care closer to home for their ill child

Health and Social Care in the Community — Sun, 29 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

AbstractCurrent health policy in England regarding the management of childhood illness advocates for care to be delivered as close to home as possible. The aim of this article is to report findings from a qualitative component of a larger study evaluating models of care closer to home (CCTH) for children and young people who are ill. The focus is on parents’ psychosocial experience of receiving CCTH for their ill child. A qualitative case study design was used, with four Primary Care Trusts in England as the case study sites. In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 27 parents and one extended family caregiver of children using CCTH services within the case study sites. Interviews were conducted face‐to‐face and audio‐recorded with permission. Data were collecte...

[News] Concerns about the future of UK cancer networks

The Lancet Oncology — Sat, 28 May 2011 15:13:32 +0100

More than two-thirds of general practitioners (GPs) believe that they will require specialist advice if they are to effectively commission cancer services, according to a new report by the Cancer Campaigning Group (CCG), a coalition of UK cancer charities. NHS Cancer Networks—of which England has 28—currently offer such advice. They work across Primary Care Trusts, bringing together experts to make decisions about developing treatment within a certain area. But the Department of Health has not guaranteed funding beyond April, 2012. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

MMR vaccinations: which places have the best and worst rates?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:15:51 +0100

With MMR vaccinations down, and measles cases up, what's happening across England?• Get the dataMMR vaccinations are down and now new data shows that more than 330 cases of measles have been reported in the first three months of 2011 – nearly as many as the whole of last year.Vaccines and immunisation generally have become a hot topic, following the Andrew Wakefield controversy over the safety of MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella) vaccine. Perhaps as a result of the furore, in some areas less than a third of children are vaccinated by the time of their fifth birthday.Data from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveals 334 confirmed cases of measles to the end of April in England and Wales, compared with 33 cases for the same period last year, and 374 in all of 2010.The numbers are still q...

Derby social enterprise values RCN input

Royal College of Nursing - UK - Regional News — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:17:18 +0100

Staff working at the Derby walk-in centre transferred to Derbyshire Health United (DHU) earlier this month (June) as part of the divesting of community healthcare services by local primary care trust NHS Derby City. (Source: Royal College of Nursing - UK - Regional News)

Information for action: a method to inform HIV shared care planning in primary care at the PCT level

Sexually Transmitted Infections — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Increasing HIV patient numbers, emerging comorbidities and an ageing patient population support the need for HIV shared care service delivery models in the UK.1–3 The British HIV Association recommends that HIV patients register with a general practitioner (GP) and disclose their status, but the limited data available suggest disclosure is variable.4 5 Successful shared care planning depends on understanding the local HIV-infected population and the proportion of HIV infections disclosed to GPs. To support emerging GP consortia, a method similar to the data extraction for Quality and Outcomes Framework6 was used to estimate the proportion of HIV infections disclosed to primary care and identify the size of individual-practice HIV-infected populations in Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PC...

Yorkshire trust reviews supplies spending

Nursing Times Breaking News — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:19:00 +0100

A primary care trust in South Yorkshire has responded to calls to reduce the amount paid out by the NHS on basic supplies by reviewing its spending habits. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

PCTs withholding consortia funding, claims NAPC

HSJ — Thu, 12 May 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Primary care trusts could be setting commissioning consortia up to fail by denying them development funding, the National Association of Primary Care has claimed. (Source: HSJ)

PCT clusters may survive as reform pressure builds

HSJ — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:03:00 +0100

A continued existence beyond 2013 for primary care trust clusters looked increasingly likely this week, as the health secretary’s NHS reforms came under huge political pressure. (Source: HSJ)