Quality and safety news - 13 December 2012

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News highlights are:

Audit Commission: 2013/14 fees and work programme. The Audit Commission is consulting on its 2013/14 proposed work programme and scales of fees. The consultation closes on 8 February 2013.

Care Quality Commission (CQC): More people are waiting longer to see a doctor or nurse at A&E departments. The results of the latest CQC survey show that patients are waiting longer to see a doctor or nurse at A&E departments in NHS hospitals. The results show that a third of respondents waited more than 30 minutes before they saw a doctor or nurse (an increase from 29 per cent in 2008 and 24 per cent in 2004). A third of patients also said they spent more than four hours in A&E (up from 27 per cent in 2008 and 23 per cent in 2004).
RCN: Accident and emergency: ‘a system under strain’.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS): Consultation on new draft Autism Strategy launched. The Northern Ireland Health Minister has launched a document for public consultation aimed at achieving improved outcomes, services and support for people with autism, their families and carers. Responses to the consultation are invited by 15 March 2013.

DH: Compassion in practice. Nursing, midwifery and care staff: our vision and strategy. A new three year vision and strategy aimed at building a culture of compassionate care for nursing, midwifery and care staff has been launched. The vision is based around six values - care, compassion, courage, communication, competence and commitment, known as the six c's, and aims to embed them in all nursing, midwifery and care-giving settings throughout the NHS and social care to improve care for patients.
RCN: Employers ‘must support CNO’s strategy’. The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for England’s three-year vision and strategy for nursing needs to be supported by appropriate education and training, and adequate resources, the Royal College of Nursing said today. Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary welcomed the CNO’s emphasis on high quality, compassionate care for patients and said the RCN’s Principles of Nursing Practice, developed with members and patient groups, echoed much of the CNO’s vision.
BBC 4 Woman’s Hour: Compassion and empathy. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN, appears in the episode for 5 December as part of an 11 minute discussion about the strategy.
BBC: Daily Politics. Janet Davies, Director of Nursing and Service Delivery at the RCN appears in  this episode of Daily Politics as part of a panel discussion about compassionate care following the Chief Nursing Officer’s vision for nursing.

DH: Government publishes final report on Winterbourne View Hospital. The government has published its final report into the events at Winterbourne View Hospital and has set out a programme of action to transform services so that vulnerable people no longer live inappropriately in hospitals and are cared for in line with best practice.
Video: Norman Lamb on Winterbourne View hospital report.
Letter outlining NHS and local government response to Winterbourne review. 
RCN: RCN supports Winterbourne View recommendations. The RCN is committed to working with the relevant organisations to deliver change. The RCN will also work with independent sector providers to ensure health care assistants receive support and guidance in delivering the best possible patient care.
BBC Health: Winterbourne View scandal: Government rethinks use of hospitals.

DH: GP contract proposals outlined. The proposed changes will see GPs rewarded for earlier diagnosis and better care of dementia patients and putting a sharper focus on improving the lives of patients with long term conditions.     

DH: Department seeks views on new protections if care providers fail. Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb today launched a 12 week consultation on new measures to protect people who rely on care services in the event of provider failure. The consultation closes on 1 March 2013.

DH: ‘Christmas to remember’ campaign. The campaign is a joint digital campaign from Number 10, Department of Health and Alzheimer’s Society. It aims to raise awareness of dementia and encourage people to take appropriate action if they spot signs of the condition in family or friends over the festive season. 

Dr Foster: Fit for the future: Hospital Guide 2012. The Guide covers health trusts in England. In addition to publishing traditional mortality indicators, this year’s Hospital Guide highlights information on the vital link between quality and efficiency. 
RCN: Dr Foster report highly credible, says RCN. The latest Dr Foster Annual Health Guide reveals an increasingly fragmented health service, with many hospitals under huge pressure because of poorly resourced community services, the RCN has said.
Guardian: Hospital beds nearly all occupied, say government figures.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW): Kate Chamberlain appointed Chief Executive. Dr Kate Chamberlain has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). Dr Chamberlain will take over from Dr Peter Higson who will retire at the end of the year.

NHS Commissioning Board: First GP groups given green light to take control of NHS budgets. Local clinicians have been given the green light to take control of the NHS budget in 34 areas of the country. They are the first of 211 CCGs that will from 1 April 2013 be responsible for up to £65 billion of the £95 billion NHS Commissioning Board budget.
Guardian: First GP-led clinical commissioning groups approved.
RCN: RCN disappointed at absence of nurses on commissioning boards. The Royal College of Nursing has expressed disappointment that some clinical commissioning groups (CGCs) appear to have been authorised without the presence of anyone from the nursing profession on their board.

NHS Commissioning Board consults on specialised services. All patients requiring treatment from a specialised service, are to have access to the same standard of service and the same clinical policy wherever they live.  The nature and extent of this specialised care are subject to a consultation which closes on 18 January 2013.

Welsh Government: Consultation to collect views about whether a Public Health Bill is needed in Wales. The Welsh Government is seeking views about the potential role of legislation in helping to make further improvements to overall health in Wales. This also aims to start a debate about whether new legislation would provide an effective way of making further progress in key areas. The consultation closes on 20 February 2013.  
 
Welsh Government: Funding for NHS Wales to maintain quality of care. Release of contingency funding for the health service to help meet unprecedented pressures and maintain quality of care has been announced by Health Minister Lesley Griffiths as part of the NHS Mid Year Review.