Week of 2^nd June Contents Major Developments Links to information on recent major developments. The Week Ahead Upcoming business in Westminster. This Past Week Links to the business of both houses that has taken place over the last week. Including Ministerial and Prime Ministers Questions, debates in both houses and in Westminster Hall, links to written statements and answers and details of other Parliamentary bodies. DH, NHS and other agencies Links to the main news from the Department of Health and the NHS, the Healthcare Commission, Monitor and other relevant bodies. Including topical health issues, links and recent publications. APHG and Website Information from the APHG including: News on forthcoming events, links to our own site, and access to constituency health data. Useful Links Links to other health pages.

Major Developments (29^th May – 2^nd June)

APHG Seminar: Managing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

APHG will hold a meeting on Wednesday 7^th June looking at Managing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. The group will hear from Dr Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease; Professor David Wood of Imperial College; and Professor David Haslam, the National Clinical Advisor to the Healthcare Commission about what is being done to tackle cardiovascular disease in the UK. Click here to read more about the meeting.

NHS Achieves Mixed Results on Cancer Targets

Statistics released by the Department of Health show that 98.9% of people with suspected cancer are being treated within a maximum 31 days of diagnosis, over the target of 98%. Also, 91.1% of people who are urgently referred by their GP begin treatment within 62 days, against the target of 95%. Click here to read more.

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The Week Ahead (5^th – 9^th June)

Monday 5^th June

House of Lords: Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Ageing: Scientific Aspects (First Report, HL Paper 20)—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Sutherland of Houndwood]

House of Commons: NHS Redress Bill [HL] - Second reading

House of Commons: Public Accounts Select Committee: An evidence session for the inquiry into the Paddington Health Campus scheme will be held: Evidence to be heard from: Hugh Taylor CB, Department of Health; Julian Nettel, St Mary's NHS Trust; Bob Bell, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust; Dr Gareth Goodier, North West London Strategic Health Authority; and Jack Pringle, Royal Institute of British Architects.

Wednesday 7^th June

House of Commons: At the end of the sitting: Adjournment: Willie Rennie MP: Asthma services.

House of Commons: Science and Technology Select Committee: Inquiry into Scientific advice risk and evidence: how Government handles them: Evidence to be heard from: Chief Scientific Advisers from the Home Office, Dept for International Development and Dept for Transport; and the Head of Government Economic Services.

APHG Seminar: Managing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Speakers: Professor Roger Boyle, DH National Director for Heart Disease; Professor David Wood, Imperial College; and Professor David Haslam, National Clinical Advisor, Healthcare Commission. Chair: Dr Richard Taylor MP.

Thursday 8^th June

House of Commons: At the end of the sitting: Adjournment: David Winnick MP: Contract for building work at the NHS Manor Hospital, Walsall.

House of Commons: Health Select Committee: The third evidence session on Workforce Planning will take place. Evidence to be heard from: The British Medical Association; UNISON; NHS Employers; Professor Dame Carol Black, President, Royal College of Physicians; George Blair, Managing Consultant, Shared Solutions; Mark Britnell, CEO, University Hospitals Birmingham; and Dr Karen Bloor, University of York.

Friday 9^th June

Parliament is not sitting on Friday.

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This Past Week (29^th May – 2^nd June)

OTHER PARLIAMENTARY BODIES

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE

The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament. It reports to the Public Accounts Committee and is totally independent of government. The role of the NAO is to audit the accounts of all central government departments, agencies, and other public bodies, reporting to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which they have used public money.

There was no news from the National Audit Office this week.

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Department of Health and National Health Service

Key issues from the Department of Health and NHS

For the latest information from the Chief Medical Officer on Bird Flu and Pandemic Influenza, click here.

Wednesday 31^st May

Extended Choice Network launched

The government has officially launched the extended choice network – a new extended list of hospitals and clinics that NHS patients can choose from when referred for treatment by their GP. Since 1 January this year, NHS patients have had the right to choose from a list of at least four providers when they need hospital treatment. But now, that choice has been extended nationally to include NHS Foundation Trusts and, over the next few months, independent sector treatment centres. Click here to read more.

Thursday 1^st June

New web forum for NHS community matrons

The Community Matrons Network, a confidential internet discussion forum is now available for community matrons (CMs) to share ideas and good practice. The Network offers CMs a secure area to discuss this newly developed role. With over 100 CMs already registered to the network, it is hoped that the network will enable CMs to communicate more freely with each other. Click here to read more.

Friday 2^nd June

NHS hits one target for cancer waiting times but misses another

The NHS Cancer Plan, published in 2000, set out two targets for cancer waiting times, due to be met from January this year:

• all patients diagnosed with cancer should begin treatment within a maximum of 31 days of the diagnosis (decision to treat); and
• all patients with cancer who have been urgently referred by their GP should begin treatment within a maximum of 62 days of that GP referral.

Statistics released by the Department of Health show that 98.9% of people with suspected cancer are being treated within a maximum 31 days of diagnosis, over the target of 98%. Also, 91.1% of people who are urgently referred by their GP begin treatment within 62 days, against the target of 95%. Click here to read more.

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Independent Regulators

The Healthcare Commission and Monitor are independent bodies responsible to Parliament for regulating different elements of health care provision. See below for details of the key issues from both:

Key issues from the Healthcare Commission

There was no news from the Healthcare Commission this week.

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Key issues from Monitor

Thursday 1^st June

More NHS foundation trusts authorised

Five more NHS trusts have been authorised by Monitor to begin operating today as NHS foundation trusts. They are:

• Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
• The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Southend University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This brings the total number of NHS foundation trusts to 40. Click here to read more.

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APHG and Website

Forthcoming Meetings

Wednesday 7^th June

APHG SEMINAR: MANAGING THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Speakers: Professor Roger Boyle, DH National Director for Heart Disease; Professor David Wood, Imperial College; and Professor David Haslam, National Clinical Advisor, Healthcare Commission.

Chair: Dr Richard Taylor MP

Cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of death in the UK and accounts for around 238,000 deaths every year and is also a significant cause of ill health. It is estimated that it contributes to 34 per cent of premature deaths in men and 25 per cent in women. Such statistics demonstrate the importance of identifying and treating patients who already have cardiovascular disease and those who are at risk.

This seminar will consider what is being done to combat cardiovascular disease in the UK, what be achieved at a primary care level, and how effective government and clinical targets are in managing the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Wednesday 14^th June

CHRONIC PAIN POLICY COALITION – OFFICIAL PARLIAMENTARY LAUNCH

Speakers: Dr Beverly Collett, President, British Pain Society; Baroness Rennie Fritchie, Chair, Chronic Pain Policy Coalition; Dr Bill Gunnyeon, Chief Medical Adviser, Department of Work and Pensions; Patrick Hall MP, Secretary, Associate Parliamentary Health Group

The Chronic Pain Policy Coalition is to be formally launched at an event in the Attlee Suite of the House of Commons.  Building on several successful events held by the Associate Parliamentary Health Group, the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition brings together patient groups, healthcare professionals, healthcare companies, major employers and parliamentarians who share a desire to improve the prevention, treatment and management of chronic pain in the UK.

Wednesday 28^th June

APHG BRIEFING: THE NHS IT PROGRAMME: AN UPDATE

Speaker: Richard Granger, Chief Executive, Connecting for Health

Chair: Sandra Gidley MP

Connecting for Health, the ambitious NHS IT programme, aims to provide an integtrated and efficient IT system that will support patents and professional in delivering care in the health service. APHG has provided regular briefings on the IT Programme over the last 4 years – for this briefing Richard Granger, Chief Executive of NHS Connecting for Health, will be providing a progress update on the implementation of the programme.

Website Links

To access our own site, containing information on past and present meetings and access to constituency health data, click here.

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Useful Links

NHS

The National Health Service Website.  Contains details of local NHS services and information on how the NHS works.

Healthcare Commission

The Healthcare Commission’s website. Includes information on their role, plus details of reports & investigations that they have carried out.

NHS Direct

Information and links on health issues, including self-help and in depth information on various topics such as breast cancer, depression and diabetes. 

Dr Foster

Source of information on UK health services, including NHS and Private Healthcare available by area, and comparisons across the UK.

Monitor-Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts

Monitor’s website includes information on its role, the makeup of its Board and Management Team, the Public Register of NHS Foundation Trusts and its latest press releases.

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