Provider bulletin: 29 November 2017
This weekly newsletter is sent to NHS providers' chairs, chief executives, finance, medical and nursing directors, HR directors, and board secretaries.
For action
Use 2016/17 reference cost data to identify how you can improve efficiency
We have now published 2016/17 reference costs (the average unit cost to the NHS of providing defined services to NHS patients in England in a given financial year). They allow you to compare your performance with others and identify opportunities to make improvements.
You can also login or register at the Model Hospital to view your 2016/17 reference cost data and other associated data returns. Over the next year we will refresh data for over 1400 metrics across more than 30 compartments.
Help your teams improve care for babies, mothers and families
Together with Health Education England and e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) , we've developed a new e-learning programme with modules on four clinical areas:
- respiratory conditions
- hypoglycaemia
- jaundice
- asphyxia (perinatal hypoxia–ischaemia)
An additional module also focuses on the importance of keeping mother and baby together.
This programme is part of our wider work to reduce avoidable causes of harm that can lead to infants born at term being admitted to a neonatal unit.
Sign up with e-LfH to access the free training.
What senior executives have learned from recent NHS mergers
We have published updated lessons learned and recommendations from three recent NHS mergers.
The findings, a joint publication with Cass Business School, are distilled from existing research and interviews with senior executives from providers.
They cover all elements of the merger process – from strategic rationale to cultural integration – and offer practical advice for both planning and implementation.
Plan your transactions and investments in line with our new regulatory assurance process
We have published new guidance to consolidate and supersede previous transactions guidance issued by Monitor and the Trust Development Authority.
It aligns our transaction review process to the integrated NHS England and NHS Improvement process for supporting commissioners and providers looking to procure and bid for complex contracts.
It also:
- outlines how you should approach funding transactions in the context of ongoing constraints on capital funding
- shares the key learning points from previous mergers and acquisitions
- outlines the support we can offer, such as legal
guidance and guidance on navigating a Competition and Markets Authority review
If your trust has started a transaction process under the previous guidance from Monitor, we will continue to work with you under this plan.
Medical directors: workforce productivity templates
A new annual productivity template has been sent to all acute and specialist acute providers' medical directors to collect data concerning non-consultant grades, doctors in training and physician associates.
The deadline for returning this has now passed so please return your completed template to nhsi.clinicalworkforce@nhs.net.
Regional updates
London update
Grenfell Tower: prioritised access to mental health services
Please help us ensure that survivors of the Grenfell fire, and individuals who are bereaved or otherwise affected by the incident, are prioritised appropriately. This includes where they present to services outside the geographical area closest to the Grenfell Tower.
The London Post-Incident Support Pathways for Adults and Children confirm that individuals most closely affected by an incident should be prioritised appropriately and offered a timely response. This may mean prioritising their care over those on routine waiting lists.
Please email London NW mental health lead jane.wheeler2@nhs.net if you have any queries.
Chairs networking event
Friday 19 January 2018, London
This event is for chairs to discuss
issues and challenges and network. Steve Russell, our London Executive Regional Managing
Director, will provide a regional update followed by a Q&A session.
To register or find out more please email keely.howard1@nhs.net.
North update
Chairs networking event
Friday 2 February 2018, Leeds
This event is for chairs to discuss issues and challenges and network. Lyn Simpson, our North Executive Regional Managing Director, will provide a regional update followed by a Q&A session.
To register or find out more please email keely.howard1@nhs.net.
Midlands and East update
Chairs networking event
Wednesday 31 January 2018, Leicester
This event is for chairs to discuss issues and challenges and network. Dale Bywater, our Midlands & East Executive Regional Managing Director, will provide a regional update followed by a Q&A session.
To register or find out more please email keely.howard1@nhs.net.
Updates from our partners
NHS Digital Academy open for applications
NHS digital leaders of the future can now apply to train at the NHS Digital Academy. Set up to develop leaders who can drive the information and technology transformation of the NHS, the Academy will provide a year long world class digital health training course to chief clinical information officers, chief information officers and aspiring digital leaders.
Commissioned by NHS England, the Academy is delivered by a partnership of Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh and Harvard Medical School.
The closing date for applications is 5 January.