FT Bulletin 21 October 2015
Published 21 October 2015
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2015
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1. For action
1.1 National price caps for agency staff: do you agree with our proposals?
We, along with the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), are seeking your views on our proposals to introduce caps on the total amount NHS trusts and foundation trusts can pay per hour for all types of agency and bank staff.
Please tell us what you think of the proposed design and implementation of price caps by completing our survey by 5pm on Friday 13 November.
We will consider all responses to the consultation and decide whether, when and how to implement the price caps.
If you have any trouble accessing the survey, or any questions relating to the consultation or proposed rules, you can email agencyrules@monitor.gov.uk.
1.2 Enquiries about your 7 day services data
NHS England will soon publish the national baseline of the 7 day services clinical standards in acute care, including your recent data return, via the NHS Improving Quality Self-Assessment Tool.
NHS England plans to publish the full dataset on their website on 27 October and the key site level indicators on the My NHS website on 3 November.
We anticipate there will be public interest in this, and you may wish to consider how you will respond to enquiries ahead of the publication dates.
It is likely that this national baseline exercise will be carried out on a 6-monthly basis. More information will be available at the time of publication.
2. For information
2.1 Potential to improve elective care productivity by up to 20%
Our new report, a result of close collaboration with service providers, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the British Orthopaedic Association, looks into the efficiency and productivity of ophthalmic and orthopaedic services in the NHS and abroad.
We identify 9 opportunities where elective teams can concentrate their efforts to maximise quality and efficiency. Improvements in these areas could improve productivity by 13 to 20%.
For more on our findings, read our report and supporting case studies.
2.2 Transforming costing: programme update
We had a great response to our call for case studies and we’re now working through these in detail to set out the local and national benefits for investing in patient level costing staff, processes and software.
As a result, our publication on the value for money of patient level costing will now publish early 2016. If you have experience of patient level costing benefiting patients and your organisation to contribute, please email costing@monitor.gov.uk.
You can keep up to date with the latest news on our costing transformation programme by signing up to our bi-monthly costing newsletter. Please email costing@monitor.gov.uk to subscribe.
2.3 Monthly financial data reporting deadlines
Since July, we’ve been collecting financial data from all foundation trusts on a monthly basis. We’ve had requests from senior finance staff to publish the deadlines by which you are expected to submit data for the remainder of this year.
| Reporting period: 1 April to: | Deadline is 12pm on: |
|---|---|
| Month 6 (to 30 September) | 30 October 2015 |
| Month 7 (to 31 October) | 20 November 2015 |
| Month 8 (to 30 November) | 18 December 2015 |
| Month 9 (to 31 December) | 29 January 2016 |
| Month 10 (to 31 January) | 19 February 2016 |
| Month 11 (to 28 February) | 18 March 2016 |
| Month 12 (to 31 March) | 29 April 2016 |
For more information about monthly financial data reporting, please email compliance@monitor.gov.uk.
2.4 Additional guidance on special measures
For more information on the decision-making process where trusts and foundation trusts have not made significant improvement despite an extended period in special measures, see the new addendum to the guidance we jointly published with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the TDA.
2.5 Performance of the foundation trust sector in Q1 2015/16
The first performance report for 2015/16 shows that foundation trusts are under pressure from an increased demand for care and a ‘worst in a generation’ financial position. For the second successive financial year, the sector has recorded a deficit (-£445 million) in the first quarter.
3. Webinars
3.1 A&E delays: method, findings and next steps
Thursday 22 October 2015
1pm to 2pm
Who is it for?
Anyone interested in and/or working in the healthcare sector, and the following roles within foundation trusts, NHS trusts and independent providers:
- clinicians
- NHS analysts
- strategy, operations and business development directors/equivalent
- think tank healthcare researchers
- academics
Why join?
To hear an outline of the method and key findings on A&E delays last winter and next steps being explored by us and the wider sector to prevent A&E delays this winter. Register for this webinar to:
- find out how we analysed A&E performance and developed evidence based policy
- gain an understanding of our key findings
- find out what Monitor and other arm’s length bodies are doing to support much challenged emergency care systems through the Emergency Care Improvement Programme (ECIP)
- ask questions about the report during our Q&A
Register for this webinar now.
3.2 The temporary staffing challenge in the NHS
Thursday 29 October 2015
11am to midday
Who is it for?
- management accountants
- operational and service managers
- NHS finance directors
- directors of HR
- directors of nursing
Why join?
In this joint webinar with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), we will talk about how we are working with providers and partners to tackle the temporary staffing challenge.
We will cover:
- managing unit costs/price capping
- increasing the supply of staff
- how we are supporting providers through our Agency Intensive Support Team
Register for this webinar now.
4. Events
4.1 Board Induction Day
Monitor’s offices, Waterloo, London
Thursday 12 November 2015
Who is it for?
Newly appointed chairs and chief executives of NHS foundation trusts who have not had prior experience of Monitor’s foundation trust assessment process.
Why attend?
Come along to our free event and find out about the following areas that will help you in your role:
- our role, including an overview of pricing and competition
- the NHS foundation trust legal framework
- the regulatory regime: including the risk assessment framework and enforcement processes
- quality and quality governance
- foundation trust governance, including working effectively with governors
- current issues in the NHS
Places are limited so if you would like to enquire about a place or be kept informed of future dates, please contact mel.baldwin@monitor.gov.uk.
4.2 Strategy in practice workshops - additional dates added
- London - Tuesday 17 November 2015
- Leeds - Wednesday 2 December 2015
Who is it for?
- NHS foundation trust and NHS trust strategy leads
- NHS foundation trust and NHS trust staff with an interest in developing strategy
Why attend?
We will draw on our strategy development toolkit, as well as real life examples, to give you the knowledge, tools and resources to lead the strategic planning process and to develop a robust plan for your organisation.
Places are limited. We encourage you to secure your place to the event now.
4.3 Optimising referral to treatment pathways for planned care in the North of England
- Harrogate - Friday 6 November 2015
- Bolton - Friday 20 November 2015
Who is it for?
Commissioners, providers and members of clinical networks in the North of England.
Why attend?
Monitor, the TDA and NHS England are holding 2 x 1 day events focusing on the delivery of Referral to Treatment (RTT) pathways for improved patient experience and outcomes.
The agenda will cover tools and shared learning across a number of key areas including cancer, diagnostics and mental health - focusing on the need to deliver patient-focused pathways.
We will also clarify the implications of the recent changes to RTT operational standards and reporting arrangements, as well as explain the key themes from the updated guidance published on 1 October 2015 and the associated mental health guidance on the new access and waiting time standards.
Book your place on NHS England’s website:
4.4 Securing competition clearance for NHS hospital mergers
London
Monday 23 November 2015
8:15am to 10am
Who is it for?
Senior leaders of foundation and NHS trusts, including chairs, chief executives, non-executive directors and strategy directors.
Those who are considering or have recently completed a merger will find this event particularly useful.
Why attend?
Monitor and The Health Foundation will discuss what can be learnt from the Competition & Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision to clear the planned merger between Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS NHS Foundation Trust.
Senior leaders from the merging foundation trusts, the CMA and Monitor will share their experience of the review process; what worked well and what they would do differently in the future. There will also be time for questions to the panel.
4.5 Making improvements in mortality
London
Thursday 26 November 2015
Who is it for?
NHS foundation trust and NHS trust medical directors and nursing directors.
Why attend?
This free full-day event will focus on the forthcoming national mortality review. Mike Durkin, Director of Patient Safety at NHS England, will deliver the keynote speech.
Colleagues will share their experiences and talk about the approaches they’ve taken with case note reviews and the use of care bundles, in improving care and reducing avoidable mortality.
We encourage you to attend this engaging and informative event and you can sign up to secure your place now.
4.6 NHS Providers Annual Conference
Birmingham
10 to 11 November 2015
Who is it for?
- board members
- senior managers
- clinicians from NHS foundation trusts and trusts
Why attend?
New ways of working across local health and social care systems and the best ways to innovate and improve will be debated at the conference. NHS leaders will discuss the latest health policy developments and reflect on progress a year after the publication of the NHS Five Year Forward View.
Jim Mackey, chief executive designate of NHS Improvement, will speak at a plenary session at 3pm on 11 November.
Monitor staff speaking include:
- Nick Ville, Policy Director, on enabling a local health economy approach to transformation
- Miranda Carter, Executive Director of Provider Appraisal, on exploring board leadership and accountability
5. External updates
5.1 The Competition & Markets Authority: data requirements for foundation trusts treating private patients
In April, new regulations from the Competition & Markets Authority’s (CMA) Private Healthcare Market Investigation came into force, requiring both independent and NHS providers of privately funded treatment to publish better information on private healthcare options.
The CMA has asked foundation trusts to provide this information immediately. If your foundation trust provides any private treatment and is not already in contact with the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN), please email info@PHIN.org.uk or call 020 7307 2862.
5.2 NHS England: new guide to biosimilar medicine for finance directors
NHS England has developed a guide to help finance officials, in both commissioning and provider organisations, learn about biosimilar medicines and how they are used in the NHS. The guide also provides information about competition in the biosimilar medicine industry which can help inform finance and procurement decision-making.
6. Get in touch
6.1 Our latest job opportunities
For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.
6.2 Queries or feedback
If you have any queries about the information in this bulletin, please contact your relationship manager at Monitor.
6.3 News alerts
You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service and receive relevant information direct to your inbox.
6.4 Publications
All of our publications are available to download from our publications section.