Weekly news
Released on 15/02/2010
Events Diary
2 March
NHS QIS
National Clinical Governance Conference: Tomorrow’s World
Glasgow Hilton
Conference programme will focus on HAIs and patient safety. Registration open January 2010. See flyer at www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/files/Flyer_Conferenceabstract.pdf.
4 March
IHM Scotland
How to increase your power and influence
9.30am-4pm, Dunblane Hydro
Hilary Robertson of Double Loop Development presents a one day workshop aimed at
developing the skills and techniques required by managers to increase their power to affect decision-making and change in their
organisations and to improve the influence they have with colleagues and partners. Links directly to the IHM Milestone ‘Role of the
Enterprise Manager’.
22 April
IHM Scotland
Leading great teams
9.30am-4pm, Holiday Inn East Kilbride
Joyce Brown of Balkello Consulting presents a one day workshop looking at critical aspects of team functioning and giving guidance in dealing with team conflict. For managers at all levels who wish to take stock of their team’s functioning and plan for improvements. See flyer for details.
This week in Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is in recess for one week, returning on 22 February.
Government consults on self directed support
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on its draft national strategy for self directed support (formerly known as direct payments). The aim of the strategy is to take forward to personalisation of health and social care, support the empowerment of individuals, promote equality of opportunity and contribute to improving health and well-being and tackling health inequalities.
The consultation is open until 7 May. www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/05133942/0
International experts support minimum pricing
Four international public health experts have sent an open letter to Members of the Scottish Parliament, urging them to support the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. Dr Peter Anderson, advisor to the European Commission and WHO; Prof Thomas Babor of the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Prof Sally Casswell
Director of the Centre for Social and Health Outcome Research and Evaluation at Massey University, New Zealand; and Prof Robin Room, Professor of Social Research in Alcohol, School of Population Health at The University of Melbourne write that, “Overall, the evidence of effectiveness of price increases in reducing alcohol consumption is very strong. There is therefore good reason to believe that minimum pricing will reduce the amount of drinking, particularly the hazardous drinking, that is linked to cheap alcohol.”
The letter, which was distributed via Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) concludes, “Our advice is that Scotland should implement a minimum price for alcoholic beverages, along with a strong evaluation of its effects. We look forward to the results of such an action, which will provide Scotland with concrete evidence as a basis for future policy, and will also put Scotland in a position to lead and advise the world on this important initiative.”
NHS Scotland Quality Strategy launched
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has launched a national strategy to improve the quality of care. The aim of the Quality Strategy is to recognise that the patient's
experience of the NHS is not just about the speed of treatment but also the quality of the care they receive. For the first time, the quality of care provided by the NHS will be measured through the experience of patients and the information will be used to drive up standards.
The key elements of the strategy are:
· Caring and compassionate treatment
· Clear communication and explanation
· Effective collaboration with the clinician
· Clean and safe care environment
Continuity of care Clinical excellence
The work of the Patient Safety Programme and the Healthcare Associated Infection taskforce will also be
integrated into the Quality Strategy.
All NHS boards are to be asked to identify steps they can take to improve the quality of care they give.
Opportunity for practices: testing Lean improvement in primary care
IHM industry partners Atos Origin Alliance are seeking two Scottish GP practices with whom they can work part time over a two to three week period to test the outcomes of deploying Lean tools and techniques in a primary care environment, as part of a demonstrator pilot. Lean
techniques are increasingly used across the NHS to deliver combined improvements in quality and efficiency.
Although Lean’s use is often associated with acute
settings, Atos Origin Alliance believes that it can also
provide considerable benefits with primary care, including GP practices.
The practices involved would benefit from Atos’ consulting experience and support at no financial cost, although a staff member from each part of the business would be required to take part in workshop sessions during the
period of the pilot.
Further information is provided in the PowerPoint
document attached with the Update. Interested practices should contact IHM Scotland business manager Hilary
Iannotti on 01292 440395 or 07866 251053 or at hilary.iannotti@btinternet.com by 26 February.
Increase your power and
influence at work
‘How to increase your power and
influence’ is a one day workshop, taking place at Dunblane Hydro on 4 March.
Participants will learn how to maximise their impact on decision-making processes within their organisations and improve their ability to influence and persuade
colleagues and partners. The content of the workshop will link directly to the IHM Milestone ‘Role of the Enterprise Manager’ and will draw on examples used in the Milestone.
This workshop is of direct relevance to the majority of health and social care
managers in Scotland, who are now
working within partnerships of increasing depth and complexity and, while working to improve service quality and the patient experience, are often also juggling the different priorities and cultures of a
variety of professional groups and
organisations. Participants will understand how power and influence operate within and between organisations and the role that individuals can play both in affecting the decision-making dynamic and
influencing its outcome.
The day’s activities will help to develop and apply a range of skills and techniques to enable the effective use of their own power and influencing abilities when it comes to key shared decisions about the service planning, management and
budgets.
The workshop is open to all managers, regardless of formal participation in the Milestone programme or IHM
membership, although IHM members will receive a discount on the cost of the workshop.
To book your place, return the booking form attached with the UPDATE or contact Hilary Iannotti at
hilary.iannotti@btinternet.com for more information.
