1. Agenda For ChangeOne area in the negotiations where we are held up concerns payments for out of Hours Working or On Call. it is clear that the DoH is unaware of the range and level of payments received as well as the criteria on which they are paid. In recent years Amicus has won a number of local deals which substantially improved the gross pay of members, particularly in Pathology but also in other areas. With payment levels up to £20,000 per annum it is important that we negotiate terms through A for C which reflect this as much as possible. part of the payment would be made up of extra hours and this will be dealt with under overtime pay but the remainder relates to the unsociable hours worked or hours waiting. In order to bring some information into the discussion we have a meeting with the DoH on 28th Feb. Our existing information is sparse and incomplete. Would you urgently let Colin Adkins, Researcher (colin.adkins@amicus-m.org.uk) have information on your arrangements asap. We need to know: The annual level of payments; Overtime hours worked - per year What periods are covered What is the cycle of cover If we have insufficient information to persuade the DoH of our case, it is those providing 24 hour cover who will suffer.
One area in the negotiations where we are held up concerns payments for out of Hours Working or On Call. it is clear that the DoH is unaware of the range and level of payments received as well as the criteria on which they are paid. In recent years Amicus has won a number of local deals which substantially improved the gross pay of members, particularly in Pathology but also in other areas. With payment levels up to £20,000 per annum it is important that we negotiate terms through A for C which reflect this as much as possible. part of the payment would be made up of extra hours and this will be dealt with under overtime pay but the remainder relates to the unsociable hours worked or hours waiting.
In order to bring some information into the discussion we have a meeting with the DoH on 28th Feb. Our existing information is sparse and incomplete. Would you urgently let Colin Adkins, Researcher (colin.adkins@amicus-m.org.uk) have information on your arrangements asap. We need to know:
If we have insufficient information to persuade the DoH of our case, it is those providing 24 hour cover who will suffer.
2. Working Hours
Compliance with the Working Time Regulations will rightly and in compliance with Amicus-MSF policy, be a condition of any payment system in future.
A for C will establish standard working hours for all staff. We shall need to ensure that excessive and particularly structured overtime, is minimised. The Working Time Directive provision for the 48 hour opt-out is likely to be removed from the November 2003 and following a complaint from Amicus-MSF compensatory time arrangements tightened up. Many existing work patterns are already unacceptable and strictly illegal, many more will become illegal in near future.
We need, as a matter of some urgency, to ensure that existing arrangements which provide periods of continuous rest of less than 11 hours are changed.
3. Annual Whitley pay claims
The claims for the Family of Psychology and Professional and Technical Staffs A (Clinical Scientists, Biochemists and Physicists) have now been submitted. All significant groups of Amicus MSF membership have now tabled claims. A chart detailing where we are in the negotiating process is attached. This will be updated on a regular basis until Advanced Letters have been issued.
4. Amicus MSF raises MTO Job Evaluation concerns
Amicus MSF has written to the management side of the Job Evaluation Working Party expressing concern over the benchmarking exercise for Medical Technical Officer occupations. The letter is available on the Health Section website or from Colin Adkins, e-mail address above.
5. Key Worker Housing
Further information on the starter home initiative is available on www.housing.dtlr.gov.uk. Go to Home, then A-Z index and type S. Some colleagues have expressed concern over the spread of professions covered. We can confirm that the first colleagues to benefit have included MLSOs at the John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford.
6. Clearing That Backlog
A colleague in North Yorkshire is looking for information on special agreements reached on clearing work backlogs particularly in Cytology. This is over and above traditional forms of work e.g. overtime. Please send any further information to Colin Adkins details above.
7. GUIDANCE FOR AMICUS MSF SECTION REPRESENTATIVES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVANCED BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST PRACTITIONER GRADES IN CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
INTRODUCTION On 12th October 2001 the DOH issued AL(PTB)2/2001 that created the Advanced Biomedical Scientist Practitioner grade in Cervical Cytology. The advice below is the Union’s guidance how this post should be implemented to avoid local variations distorting a National agreement. AMICUS does not have a view on the professional elements required for staff to progress to this grade, but we do support the work in this area conducted by the IBMS and the Royal College of Pathologists on the need for high standards, training and further qualifications. If difficulties are being experienced by colleagues in relation to the new professional qualifications, standards and training it should be relayed to our colleagues in the IBMS.
INTRODUCTION
On 12th October 2001 the DOH issued AL(PTB)2/2001 that created the Advanced Biomedical Scientist Practitioner grade in Cervical Cytology. The advice below is the Union’s guidance how this post should be implemented to avoid local variations distorting a National agreement.
AMICUS does not have a view on the professional elements required for staff to progress to this grade, but we do support the work in this area conducted by the IBMS and the Royal College of Pathologists on the need for high standards, training and further qualifications. If difficulties are being experienced by colleagues in relation to the new professional qualifications, standards and training it should be relayed to our colleagues in the IBMS.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Would colleagues please keep my office informed when this Advance Letter is actioned by employers, as well as any local attempts to move away from the above guidelines.
Should there be significant difficulties MSF will ask for a meeting with the Department of Health to press for the above guidelines to be issued formally.
STEVE SLOAN SECRETARY TO THE MSF PATHOLOGY OAC Telephone 02090 869219 E-mail steve.sloan@amicus-m.org
8. DoH Communication Bulletins
Below are copies of two recent Communication Bulletins from the Department of Health. The second bulletin inparticular shows examples of new ways of working given below show the value of breaking down many of the traditional barriers in health care. Too few of these examples obviously involve professions for which Amicus-MSF is responsible. We need to think hard about examples which demonstrate the changes which our therapist/psychologists, scientists and community nurses have already introduced and areas where we are able to do more.
COMMUNICATIONS BULLETIN 15 February 2002
This bulletin is produced by the Department of Health’s NHS Communications Team. It aims to keep communications staff in the NHS informed about services that are being developed and updated to support communications activity in local NHS organisations. It is distributed weekly.
The NHS Syndication Service on www.nhs.uk/syndication
This is a web-based service offering a database of editorial material that can be used in local publications and publicity. Material can be used in its entirety or adapted to include more localised examples of good practice and comments. It also provides a link to the NHS photo library.
The website can also be used to send news to the communications team which can often be published in other publications, such as NHS Magazine.
The latest additions are:
The syndication service can also be accessed on nww.nhs.uk/syndication
If you have any technical problems accessing the site contact 0845 650 4865
Modernisation in Action
The editorial team also compiles a fortnightly list of good practice case studies. The current list is attached. We would like to hear your news and good practice. News and good practice details can be sent to: NHS-news@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Shifting the Balance - Communications
The importance of good communications throughout the NHS was highlighted in a paper issued on 13 February to chief executives at a conference with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health and the NHS chief executive.
The need to improve communications systems across the NHS and social care is at the core of Shifting the Balance of Power. The paper identifies the needs, functions and accountability arrangements of communications in different NHS organisations. It also begins to look at how social care can be better involved and supported as care trusts begin to come on stream.
All communication leads in the NHS may wish to be aware that this document now exists and has been issued to chief executives. You may want to know what the implications are for your organisation and you may wish to discuss these with your chief executive in due course.
It would also be helpful if you could reproduce Rebuilding Public Confidence in the NHS - the news article listed above – in your staff communications.
The full paper is available on www.doh.gov.uk/shiftingthebalance/communications/index.htm
This bulletin was produced by:
Chris Hewitt Communications manager Department of Health 15/02/2002
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Modernisation in action
Case studies – 15 February 2002
A one-stop assessment service has been established in A&E at Worthing Hospital involving physiotherapists, occupational therapists and a social worker. This is cutting the number of unnecessary admissions. Older patients, in particular, with minor injuries such as fractures, cuts or bruises, are benefiting. Before they would have been admitted to hospital and then assessed. Now the assessment team can put in place the support to allow them to return home from A&E freeing up hospital beds. Older people also recover faster in their own home environment. 30 hospital admissions were avoided in the team’s first month.
Pam Lelliott, communications manager, 01903 285186
Community paramedics based in rural health centres are speeding up response times to patients in remote areas and creating closer links to primary care. About 20 community paramedics have been set up by East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust. While the paramedics are waiting for emergency calls, they can assist GPs and practice nurses in the surgery with blood tests, ECGs, flu vaccinations and other inoculations.
East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust 01603 424255
Bristol patients would normally have to travel to Bristol Royal Infirmary to see a skin disorder specialist. Each week a consultant dermatologist meets with a GP from the Bristol South and West Primary Care Group to assess which patients can be treated at a local health centre. The GPs can diagnose and perform minor surgery at the centre. The practice nurse can treat minor skin conditions and educate patients and other staff about skin conditions. This is providing faster and more convenient services.
Avon Health Authority communications manager Jan Tyrell 0117 900 2549
A cardiac rehabilitation programme run by two specialist nurses at Basildon Hospital is rebuilding patient confidence after heart surgery. Patients attend twice weekly sessions for four weeks during which time they learn exactly what they can or cannot do. They can exercise, have their blood pressure monitors and get advice from a dietician, pharmacist, counsellor or another specialist.
Diane Dukelow, who had a heart attack at the age of 33 has been able to rebuild her life after heart surgery because of the rehabilitation programme.
Pat Trinnaman, communications manager, 01268 533911
Healthcare assistant pay has been linked to a national vocational qualification framework which can ultimately lead to sponsorship for nurse training at Scarborough Hospital in North Yorkshire. A similar scheme has been developed for nurse cadets who choose not to do A levels at school but go into the NHS to gain NVQs with direct access to nurse training after two years. This is benefiting recruitment and retention.
Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 01723 368111
Patients in Somerset no longer have to wait weeks for an appointment with qualified mental health staff now that mental health nurses have established roles as link workers with GP practices in Somerset. Patients attending surgery have direct access to those professionals and the link workers can also provide consultancy advice to other staff not trained in mental health work.
The length of stay for patients needing hip and knee replacements at Gateshead Healthcare Trust has been cut from 13 days to four days with no readmissions. This was achieved using a senior physiotherapist, a nurse practitioner and an occupational therapist to carry out a one-stop pre-assessment of the patients needs after imminent surgery. A home visit was also arranged by the occupational therapy service. Following surgery, a member of the team would co-ordinate discharge, making sure all support services were in place before discharge. Patient satisfaction with the speed of discharge was very high and there was no knock-on effect to GP services. District nurse and social services’ involvement was also reduced.
Elaine Lott, project manager, 0191 403 6012
Evidence is showing that introducing flexible working practices is have a positive effect on the retention of staff in the NHS. Kings College Hospital, London, has introduced part-time working, temporarily-reduced or staggered hours, job sharing, annual hour contracts, working from home, phased return to work, career breaks, special leave and personalised annual leave arrangements. As a result, turnover rates have fallen and the number of vacancies has also dropped.
King’s Healthcare NHS Trust, 020 7737 4000
Suspected cancer patients are all being seen within two weeks by a specialist at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. This is the target set under The NHS Plan. 639 patients were seen within two weeks between October and December last year.
This included all cancers, including those of the breast, brain and stomach.
Most patients are receiving their treatment within one month,
Derek Weekes, communications, 0121 247 3247
A ward housekeeping project has been set up at Rotherham Hospital to ensure patients get the right care and comfort, including clean wards and good food. 12 ward housekeepers have been chosen for one surgical ward, one medical ward and a ward for medicine for the elderly. They have also been given new lilac uniforms with a lilac and white-striped tabard.
Ayub Siyra, communications, 01709 307286
Compiled by Chris Hewitt
Chris.hewitt@doh.gsi.gov.uk