NHS News - March 2004.
In partnership with Health Direction

England - Local PCT News

Durham Dales PCT - Online GP Appointments
Durham Dales PCT is in the early stages of piloting a new system whereby patients can book appointments with their GP via the internet. The system is operating in Bishopgate Medical Centre, and two further practices are investigating its introduction.

East Devon PCT - Tele-Dermatology Service
The PCT's nurse-led tele-dermatology service has won an "Innovations in Best Practice" award. The service is based in the community hospitals and linked to a consultant dermatologist at the the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust.

East Yorkshire PCT - CHI Notable Practice
February's CHI report praises an innovative diabetes toolkit on CDrom, a successful minor ailments pilot, the funding of NVQs for healthcare assistants and the redesign of the stroke service to create a new care pathway and personal patient health record.

Gateshead PCT - CHI Notable Practice
February's CHI report praises the falls pilot for older people, the PCT prescribing team's repeat prescribing guidelines, the work of practice pharmacists and the PCT's "Notebuster" audit process. The PCT's smoking cessation service is also mentioned. [click here to read more]

Kennet and North Wiltshire / West Wiltshire PCTs - Joint Chief Executive
The Boards of both PCTs are discussing a proposal to appoint a joint Chief Executive. There were plans for neighbouring Swindon PCT to run Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT as a "franchise" but these have been abandoned. [click here to read more]

Newbury and Community PCT - New Community Hospital
The new West Berkshire Community Hospital opened on the 1st March, combining and replacing the services previously provided by the Newbury and Sandeford hospitals. It comprises 60 beds, with a large day surgery unit supported by two operating theatres.

North and East Cornwall PCT - Falls Referral Pathway
North and East Cornwall PCT is launching its Falls Referral Pathway in March. People in the area who have suffered a fall, or who work with those who are at risk of falling, will be invited to attend so that they are aware of the help that is available.

North Bradford PCT - New Community Hospital
The new community hospital in Bradford will provide intermediate care for patients recovering from illness and surgery. There is also an outpatient clinic for musculo-skeletal conditions, and plans to introduce ENT and cardiology sessions in the future. [click here to read more]

South Birmingham PCT - Young Person's Expert Patient Pilot
South Birmingham PCT is piloting an Expert Patient Project for young people aged between 14 and 16 with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis and obesity. This is the first such scheme in the country for young people.

South East / South West Oxfordshire PCTs - Joint PEC
South East and South West Oxfordshire continue to work towards a single management structure. The boards have now been asked to consider and approve the establishment of a single Professional Executive Committee across both PCTs with effect from Feb 2004.

Walsall PCT - Obesity Clinic for Children
The Healthy Lifestyle Clinic in Walsall, Britain's only NHS clinic tackling childhood obesity, opened in January. There are 35 children at the clinic and a further 10 on the waiting list. The majority of children are between 9 and 14 years old. [click here to read more]

Wandsworth PCT - Mental Health Survey
"Well-being in Wandsworth" is a project being run by the PCT's public health team which aims to assess the mental health of the local population. Patients attending GP surgeries over a two-week period will be asked to complete a short questionnaire. [click here to read more]

West Hampshire NHS Trust - CHI Notable Practice
The CHI praises the CMHT at Winchester Prison, the memory assessment service, the eating disorder unit, the flexibility of the elderly mental health day hospitals, collaboration with Southampton University and a Mention2Martin scheme for contacting the CE

Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT - CHI Notable Practice
February's CHI report praises the Bridlington Eye Assessment project (a GP-led research/screening project for over-65s), daycase community hospital admissions for intravenous therapy and blood transfusions, and support for staff undertaking extra training .

Wales - Local Health Board News

Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust - Maggots on Prescription
The Biosurgical Research Unit (BRU) at the NHS Trust has been researching the use of sterile maggots to treat infected and necrotic wounds, and GPs are now able to prescribe them to treat patients in the community.

Ceredigion and Mid-Wales NHS Trust - Mobile Texting Service
The School Nursing Service in Ceredigion is piloting a mobile phone texting service at Cardigan Secondary School which aims to give confidential advice and information to young people. The pilot will run until July 2004. [click here to read more]

Merthyr Tydfil LHB - Launch of National Reporting and Learning System
The National Patient Safety Agency has launched a National Reporting and Learning System across England and Wales and Merthyr Tydfil LHB, which has been running its own local scheme for the past two years, was the first LHB in Wales to send in a report. [click here to read more]

Swansea NHS Trust - Morriston Hospital Cardiac Unit
Morriston Hospital's Cardiac Unit will only be dealing with emergencies this week in order to give the cardiac team a break following a period of intense pressure. The unit was opened in 1997 and was Wales's second Cardiac Centre.

Scotland - Local NHS News

NHS Borders - Macmillan Palliative Care Pharmacist
Scotland's first Macmillan Palliative Care Pharmacist is based at Borders General Hospital. Aileen Scott-Aiton works with patients in both acute and primary care services, and helps implement NHS Borders' new guidelines on pain control in cancer patients.

NHS Grampian - Supervised Methadone Programme
There are high levels of opiate or benzodiazepine misuse in the north east of Scotland. Some community pharmacists in Aberdeen provide needle exchange and methadone dispensing services, and one has estimated that methadone represents 50% of his NHS income. [click here to read more]

NHS Greater Glasgow, NHS Tayside, NHS Argyll and Clyde - Accessing Healthcare Pilots
Pilot projects are to be set up in three NHS Boards to improve healthcare for those in Scotland's poorest communities. Evidence shows that those in deprived areas do not access healthcare services at the same rate as their most affluent neighbours. [click here to read more]

NHS Lanarkshire - Falls Prevention in Nursing Homes
NHS Lanarkshire is sending a copy of "Stay On Your Feet" to all nursing and residential homes in the Monklands area. This follows studies showing that a large percentage of older people admitted to hospital from care homes had suffered a fall or fracture. [click here to read more]

Scotland - £3.5m Dermatology Funding
The Scottish Executive has announced £3.5m funding for dermatology in Scotland. It will provide additional services, make better use of primary and secondary healthcare staff, expand the role of GPswSI and develop telemedicine links with specialists.

Northern Ireland - Local NHS News

Northern Group LHSCG - Chronic Disease Management Team
A new Chronic Disease Management Team is being formed to work alongside GPs and health care professionals in Derry. The team will include a dietician, podiatrist and clinical psychologist, and will initially provide support for people with diabetes. [click here to read more]

Northern Ireland - Community Pharmacy
The new community pharmacy strategy for Northern Ireland, "Making it Better", has been launched in Belfast. Under the new programme, pharmacists will be able to dispense repeat prescriptions and prescribe and manage treatments for chronic diseases.

Northern Ireland - Eating Disorders Survey
Following a report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists which found that service provision for eating disorders in Northern Ireland was "woefully inadequate", researchers have been commissioned to undertake a survey of what services are needed. [click here to read more]

Southern Health and Social Services Board - Falls Prevention
Southern H and SSB has formed a "Falls Prevention Project Team" and launched a new Falls Prevention Framework. The Board has previously funded a number of falls prevention projects in each Trust area including the Older Person's Enablement Project (OPEN). [click here to read more]

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