Weekly News
Released on 15/06/2009
Events Diary
16 & 17 June
Scottish Government Health Directorates
NHS Scotland Event 2009: Working Together For A Healthier Scotland
SECC, Glasgow
See www.nhsscotlandevent.com for programme and booking.
3 September
IHM Scotland
Resolving Conflict
9.30-4.30, Airth Castle Hotel
1 day workshop with Joyce Brown. See attached flyer for details and booking.
8, 15 & 16 September
IHM Scotland
Employment Law
Castle Douglas, Perth, Inverness
Afternoon seminar with employment law expert, Roy Drummond. See flyer for details.
6 & 7 October
IHM Scotland
Annual Conference: Preparing for the Future
Airth Castle Hotel
Keynote speaker: Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing. Delegate registration now open at http://www.hfevents.co.uk/ihm2009; conference programme attached with the Update. Book now to secure your place.
This week in Parliament
Wednesday
17:00 Member’s Business: John Lamont (Con, Roxburgh & Berwickshire) - Dispensing GP Practices in Rural Communities
That the Parliament recognises the important role of dispensing GP practices in remote and rural communities across Scotland; acknowledges the high level of patient satisfaction with these practices; is concerned about the process of the community pharmacy application in Chirnside, which has failed to properly involve the affected GPs or take account of the views of the local population; is aware of the current inquiry on dispensing under consideration by the Public Petitions Committee, and therefore welcomes the British Medical Association’s calls for the pharmacy regulations to be reviewed.
Dr Richard Simpson (Lab, Mid Scotland and Fife): Dispensing GP Practices in Rural Communities—As an amendment to the motion in the name of John Lamont, leave out from "acknowledges" to end and insert "recognises the integral role that dispensing plays in the structure and function of many dispensing practices; notes the stated intention of the Scottish Government to review the provision of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 in respect of public consultation, and more generally calls for the whole process to be reviewed to include requirements to (a) notify any dispensing practice that may be affected, (b) ensure that the patients served by such practices and the communities are fully consulted, (c) include an independent evaluation on the effects upon the stability and service provisions by that practice, (d) ensure that any determination by the appropriate committee on any application should take into account the effects upon practices affected and (e) ensure that the practice itself, not just the area medical committee, is able to make representations to the board committee determining applications for pharmacy services."
Thursday
11:40 General Questions
Patricia Ferguson (Lab, Glasgow Maryhill): how many portions of fresh fruit and vegetables do patients in hospitals operating a cook-chill system receive on a daily basis; Michael McMahon (Lab, Hamilton North & Bellshill): will the capital projects planned in NHS Lanarkshire’s A Picture of Health modernisation programme be completed in the timescale agreed when the proposals were first approved.
12:00 First Minister’s Questions
Chief Inspector of Healthcare Environments appointed
Susan Brimelow has been announced as Scotland’s first Chief Inspector of the Healthcare Environment. She will design and lead a new programme of announced
hospital inspections, which will be piloted this summer before beginning in September.
Ms Brimelow joins the inspectorate from the Care
Commission where she was Director of Healthcare Regulation. Her previous posts included Deputy Director of Nursing at North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Director of Nursing and Quality at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate will operate independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS Boards which it will inspect but, for administrative
purposes, is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. The inspections will focus on:
· Infection control practice (from screening to discharge)
· Hygiene and cleanliness standards
· Waste management
· The fabric of the building and accommodation
· Standards of essential equipment
· Access arrangements for visitors.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Through a programme of planned and random visits, the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate's stringent independent regime will ensure the public can have confidence in the care provided in our hospitals.
"Getting the right person at the helm was crucial, and I'm sure Susan's strategic vision and strong leadership will benefit the inspectorate immensely.
"I look forward to seeing the inspection regime get underway. I'm sure the public will also welcome the opportunity to raise any concerns with the inspectorate.”
Influenza A (H1N1)
updates
The Scottish Government is now issuing daily update briefings on the developing situation with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. These, along with supporting advice and information, can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/AvianInfluenza/mexicanswiuneflu.
IHM launches free coaching register
Coaching is an increasingly popular method for individual managers or teams to work through problems or issues,
focus on a particular skill that they want to develop, or to plan how to achieve a specific goal. The Institute of Health Management has launched a new free service to help managers navigate all the
coaching services now available and choose the right coach to fit their own personal needs and situation.
The online IHM Coaching Register allows you to look at and compare the
experience, approach, style and cost of coaches from across the UK. All the coaches on the register have a coaching qualification, at least 100 hours of
experience and proper supervisory
arrangements in place.
The web pages provide advice and
information about what coaching is and how it could work for you, how to
approach the business of finding a coach and make sure that you’ve got the right one for you. See the flyer attached with the Update for further details, or go to www.ihm.org.uk/Coachingandmentoring/coachregister.
Men’s Health Week 2009
National Men’s Health Week, organised by the Men’s Health Forum, begins today and runs until 21 June. The purpose of the week is to raise the profile of men’s health, change men’s health-related behaviour, increase their willingness to access health care and reducing the risks they take with their health, and to promote men’s awareness of wider lifestyle issues that can have an impact on health.
Men’s Health Week-related events are taking place in NHS locations across Scotland. See www.mhfs.org.uk/mens_health_week.php for details.
