WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

NAO:  Not making the most of the Golden Hour - There is unacceptable variation in major trauma care in England depending upon where & when people are treated, according to a National Audit Office report. 

Care for patients who have suffered major trauma (for example following a road accident or a fall) has not significantly improved in the last 20 years despite numerous reports identifying poor practice and services are not being delivered efficiently, or effectively.

Survival rates vary significantly from hospital to hospital, with a range from 5 unexpected survivors to 8 unexpected deaths per 100 trauma patients, reflecting the variable quality of care.  The NAO estimates that 450 to 600 lives could be saved each year in England if major trauma care was managed more effectively:
* Only one hospital has 24/7 consultant care  
* Major trauma care is not co-ordinated and there are no formal arrangements for taking patients directly for specialist treatment or transferring them between hospitals.
* A significant number of patients that need a CT scan do not receive one
* Not enough patients who need a critical care bed are given one
* Access to rehabilitation services varies across the country
Press release ~ NAO: Major trauma care in England ~ Regional Trauma Systems: Guidance for Commissioners ~ Improving acute care for major trauma patients ~ Afghanistan MERT

CRC:  It’s pretty, but often far, far from the health service - The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has given cancer patients in rural areas the chance to comment on their experiences.  Insights from patients, their families & from service providers suggest that living in the countryside can affect the quality of cancer care.

There are particular challenges associated with running awareness campaigns & screening services in rural areas and difficult or costly journeys to hospital place extra strain on patients.  The provision of care for discharged cancer patients remote from health services and with poor public transport is a further concern.
Press release ~ CRC: Insights from users and providers of cancer care in rural England: Summary report ~ A Rural Diagnosis: healthcare in rural areas ~ CRC 65 - Darzi Analysis: Access to, and quality of, healthcare in rural England ~ CRN 77: Three Market Town Healthcheck Stories ~ CAX 181: Messages from Parish Plans and Market Town Healthchecks ~ Cabinet Office & DH Call for Evidence: Primary health care and social exclusion project ~ CRC 68 - Public health issues: preventive health services in rural areas ~ CRC: Healthcare in Rural Areas ~ Rural Health Good Practice Toolkit ~ Institute of Rural Health ~ A profile of Rural Health in Wales ~ Rural Health Planning for Wales - improving service delivery across Wales ~ CRC: Our NHS, Our Future: a rural response ~ Defra-commissioned database of good practice in rural health and wellbeing

MPA:  The ‘wheels of justice’ start to slowly grind - The Metropolitan police Authority (MPA) has issued a statement regarding ‘Action following Commander Dizaei verdict’ (see press release).

The MPA’s Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee (PSCSC) is responsible for both senior officer discipline and police pension forfeiture.  Following the verdict in the Commander Dizaei case, the IPCC has sent its report to the MPA.  The PSCSC will now set in train the appropriate course of actions.
Press release ~ Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee – Pension forfeiture

CLG:  Alternative means of funding for the third sector - Communities Secretary John Denham has said that the ‘unique skills & community benefits of the third sector must not be overlooked by councils looking to improve local public services’.  Many third sector organisations bid to deliver community based local services, but Ministers are concerned that too many lack the technical skills or are too small scale to win contracts for council run projects.

The Government has launched a new community enterprise strategic framework to help more local groups set up successful local social enterprises.  The public sector is facing a period of constrained expenditure and with philanthropic donations slowing it is vital that community enterprises can raise their own finances.  The strategic framework reinforces the commitment to explore new innovative ways to independently raise funds.

As part of Putting the Frontline First the Government proposed piloting Social Impact Bonds as a new way of funding the third sector to provide services.  This has the potential to radically change how government funds the third sector, by rewarding social investors for work, which reduces future social costs.  CLG is actively testing the feasibility of a pilot in Leeds.
Press release ~ Community Enterprise Strategic Framework ~ Putting the Frontline First ~ Social Impact Bonds ~ Social Finance Ltd ~ New Local Government Network

MoD:  Is it enough when compared to an MP’s resettlement payout or civil compensation? - The MOD has published the results of the comprehensive review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.  The review found several areas where the Scheme could be improved.  All the members of the Independent Scrutiny Group unanimously endorsed the Review’s recommendations. 

The Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to implement all the recommendations made.  Implementation of the Review will involve legislation, which will take time to deliver.  Changes however will exceptionally apply to all those who have received compensation under this Scheme, going back to 2005.
Press release ~ Armed Forces Compensation Scheme ~ The Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) ~ Injured soldier's father attacks MoD payout ~ Soldier fury as MoD civil servant paid £202,000 compensation for office injury ~ Government response to ‘RAF Typist’ compensation ~ MPs' golden goodbyes

MoD:  Ensuring that they are not just ‘cast aside’ - Soldiers who are sick or injured will be given enhanced support to help them successfully return to duties or transition into civilian life under new plans announced by the MoD.  The Army Recovery Capability (ARC) will take soldiers from the point of injury or illness through to their return to duty or into a successful & supported civilian life.

Under the ARC, educational, occupational & welfare support will be delivered to soldiers in a military environment.  The scheme will be delivered in partnership with the Service charities the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, as well as other Government Departments.  See also NAO item in ‘General Reports and Other Publications’ section.
Press release ~ Defence Medical Services ~ Medical Support to Personnel Injured or Sick on Operations ~ Defence Medical Welfare Services ~ Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre Feasibility Study ~ Defence Military Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court ~ Royal Centre of Defence Medicine ~ Service charity Combat Stress ~ Service Personnel Command Paper ~ UK's first Army Recovery Centre opens

DH:  Can we afford to do anything about it now, even if (in the longer term) it could save money? - A major report on tackling health inequalities for the next 10 years & beyond has been ‘welcomed’ by the Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham. 

Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London was asked by the Government to provide a clear set of short, medium & long term objectives to inform how health inequalities can be dramatically reduced.

Fair Society, Healthy Lives is an analysis of health inequalities in England today and it identifies key areas for future action.  It will help set the direction beyond current targets, for the next 10 years & beyond.
Press release ~ Marmot Review ~ Tackling Health Inequalities: 10 Years On (DH, 2009) ~ DH: Health inequalities ~ Acheson report on health inequalities and Health Inequalities ~ Health Select Committee – Health Inequalities ~ National Statistics: Health Inequalities Decennial Supplement ~ Health of Scotland’s population - Health Inequalities ~ European Portal for Action on Health Equity ~ NICE: public health guidance ~ NICE related press release

DCSF:  Stretched to breaking point - All local authorities will be required to provide short breaks for parents & carers who look after a disabled child, under plans announced last week by the government. 

Short breaks from their caring responsibilities can & do make a vital difference to parents’ lives and the lives of their children. Short break services include day-time or overnight care in or out of the home.

The public consultation (closes on Monday 26 April 2010) will, if agreed, mean all local authorities are required to provide short break services for parents who care for disabled children. 

The short break provision has already proved popular with parents & carers with a significant increase in uptake in both the pathfinder authorities and those authorities that rolled out provision in 2009.  Final guidance & regulations should be published in September 2010.
Press release ~ Consultation on Draft Regulations, and Associated Statutory Guidance, for Local Authorities to Provide Short Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children and Young People ~ Aiming High for Disabled Children ~ Table of Local Authority Allocation ~ Shared Care Network – The Short Breaks Charity ~ Council for Disabled Children ~ Preventing Social Exclusion of Disabled Children and Their Families ~ Family Fund ~ Support groups for parents of disabled children : Directgov

Forthcoming Event: Gartner Business Process Management Summit, 1-2 March, London - At the Gartner BPM Summit, you’ll get the pragmatic guidance you need to create and sustain a best-in-class program of your own. Together, we’ll focus on organizational change, IT and business collaboration, pattern recognition and emerging best practices—a unique 360-degree approach that every successful BPM program is built on. Best of all, you’ll be an active participant in a collective learning experience that will yield personal and professional benefits for years to come.

Hot Topics covered at the Summit:
 
    People and Change Management
    BPM and Cloud Computing
    BPM and Applications Strategy
    Complex Event Processing
    Optimization & Simulation
    Going Enterprise-Wide with BPM
    Patterns and Pattern-Based Strategy


Click here to find out more and to register.
 
For information on other forthcoming public sector events please click HERE to visit the WGPlus Events Calendar.

Gartner Business Process Management Summit - 1-2 March 2010, London image.
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