NHSLA - NEWS

All workshops planned for 2010/11 in support of the NHSLA standards and assessments have now been delivered. Copies of the materials used at these events can be found under Risk Management presentations. Information about other opportunities for learning and support in relation to the NHSLA risk management programme is available on the Events page.

2010/11 CNST Maternity Standards released

The CNST Maternity Standards for assessment from 1 April 2010 and related documents have been released. There is an updated Evidence Template and revised Guidelines for completing the spreadsheet. In addition, some new Template Documents have been created to assist maternity services in writing their own documents to manage risk but there is no requirement for them to be used.

New and revised template policy documents available

New and revised template policy documents to support the 2010/11 NHSLA risk management standards and assessment process for all types of healthcare organisations are now available. The templates are designed to assist organisations in writing their own documents to manage risk but there is no requirement to use any of them. New template documents to support the CNST maternity standards will be released in March.

Use of PMETB information - Assessment of criterion 2.4. Supervision of medical staff in training of the NHSLA acute standards

The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) has determined each local education provider’s level of compliance with its requirements for trainee support which will be used to inform the assessment of criterion 2.4. Supervision of medical staff in training of the NHSLA acute standards in 2010/11. A note summarising how PMETB evidence will be used to inform the levels assigned and the process for organisations to request a review of their level, together with a table detailing the criteria and evidence used to assign each level are available. Organisations will be advised of the level assigned to them early in 2010/11.

NHSLA Press Statement - Claims against Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

The NHSLA has issued a Press Statement announcing its intention to deal ‘fairly and speedily’ with claims arising from events considered by the Independent Inquiry into care provided by Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

NHSLA launches new risk management initiative linked to claims

In response to an increase in the number of claims received and payments made, the NHSLA has decided to introduce a new risk management initiative aimed at ensuring that organisations are learning from their own claims and, where appropriate, the knowledge gained is shared with the wider NHS. Information about the initiative can be found in a letter sent to the Chief Executives of all NHS healthcare organisations on 2 February 2010.

2010/11 NHSLA Risk Management Standards and associated documents released

The following NHSLA risk management standards, for assessment from 1 April 2010, have been released:

· NHSLA Risk Management Standards for Acute Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Independent Sector Providers of NHS Care

· NHSLA Risk Management Standards for Mental Health & Learning Disability Trusts

· NHSLA Risk Management Standards for Ambulance Trusts

Section 8 of the Acute etc manual and section 7 of the Mental Health and Learning Disability and Ambulance manuals provide information on the significant changes made to the standards since the previous version.

An updated Handbook to support the standards has also been released together with revised Guidelines for completing the Evidence Templates which have been updated as follows:

· Acute Evidence Template - 2010/11

· Primary Care Trust Evidence Template - 2010/11

· Independent Sector Evidence Template - 2010/11

· Mental Health & Learning Disability Template - 2010/11

· Ambulance Evidence Template - 2010/11

Template Policy Documents to support the latest standards and assessment process will be posted on the NHSLA website prior to the end of March 2010.

The revised CNST maternity standards manual for 2010/11 and related documents will be published at the end of March 2010.

13 employees progress to the next stage of the Hubbub leadership development programme

The Authority is delighted that 13 of our employees have progressed to the selection stage of the Hubbub’s accelerated leadership development programme. The Hubbub is an innovative talent management collaboration between seven Department of Health sponsored organisations, the NHS Litigation Authority, the NHS Business Services Authority, NHS Blood & Transplant, the Health Protection Agency, the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, the General Social Care Council and the public health service of NHS South West. The next stage for candidates will be an assessment and development centre, devised in consultation between the seven partner organisations and Adapt, our specialist contractors and based on the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework.

Liability cover in the event of a flu pandemic

The Department of Health has issued a document which describes the provisions in place regarding indemnity cover for staff working during times of pandemic influenza in England which can be found via the following link: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_109559. This document complements existing guidance, answers frequently asked questions and, wherever possible, directs readers to more substantive guidance. The arrangements by which staff are, or may be, indemnified for their actions largely depends on who they are employed by and this document expands upon this principle, detailing some specific points of note.

All staff employed by members of the NHSLA schemes, including authorised volunteers, are treated as being “engaged” by the member for the purposes of CNST and as “relevant persons” for LTPS, where those staff are working for the NHS in support of other NHS bodies and (provided that this is on a non fee-paying basis in the case of LTPS) other healthcare organisations.

NHSLA launches its Document Transfer System

NHSLA launches its Document Transfer System - click here to find out more.

NHS victory in key Hartley case

NHS victory in key Hartley case

In April 2009, the Newcastle Employment Tribunal gave its ruling on the key case of Hartley v. Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT, Secretary of State for Health and Others. This rejected the claimants’ contention that Agenda for Change breached anti-discrimination legislation, and constituted a significant victory for the NHS, the Department of Health and the union signatories to AfC.