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MAY 2012

Promoting the NHS Organ Donor Register with Facebook (16 May 2012) - Facebook has joined the drive for more organ donors by developing an initiative allowing users to state their intention to become an organ donor and share that choice with others via their profile timeline. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the UK Organ Donation organisation is collaborating with Facebook UK so that in addition to allowing users to share their intentions with friends and family, those who have n ot yet officially joined the ODR can do so easily using NHSBTs Facebook registration page.

2012 CEM Research Grants (16 May 2012) - Applications are now invited for the 2012 CEM research grant application cycle. Consideration will be given to projects up to £10,000.00. Guidelines and application forms are available on the Research Grants page: https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Shop-Floor/Research/Research Grants

Hard copy applications must be received before 17:00 on Friday 27 July 2012.
Applications will be reviewed at the October meeting of the College’s Research and Publications Committee.

New standards set for emergency care of children and young people (3 May 2012) - Developed by the Intercollegiate Committee for Standards for Children and Young People in Emergency Care Settings, the revised edition of Standards for Children and Young People in Emergency Care Settings provides healthcare professionals, providers and service planners with measurable and auditable standards of care applicable to all urgent and emergency care settings in the UK.

The 2012 edition reflects changes in the way care is delivered: there is a new chapter focusing on mental health and substance misuse and the document takes a 'pathway' approach to aid a multi-professional workforce. Most importantly, this edition shifts from making recommendations to setting standards, giving healthcare professionals the guidance they need to provide the best service for children and young people along the care pathway.

http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/emergencycare

 

APRIL 2012

Launch of newsletter for EM trainees (30 Apr 2012) - EMTA has published the first of a hopefully quarterly newsletter aimed at keeping EM trainees updated on trainee related issues and the work of EMTA. See the EMTA news page

24/7 consultant-delivered care a ‘must’ for effective NHS, says new report from the RCPCH (30 April 2012) - Patients would receive far better care if they had access to a senior doctor (consultant) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, says a report published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

The report, Consultant Delivered Care: An evaluation of new ways of working in paediatrics, shows that if consultant delivered care (CDC) models (face-to-face consultant-led care for children up to 24 hours a day requiring acute care) are implemented, it will improve quality of care, ensure good handovers and improve communication with patients and their families. http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/cdc

Information Sharing between EDs and CSPs to tackle violence (26 April 2012) - To determine the level of engagement in data sharing, the Department of Health is currently conducting an audit to see whether EDs are collecting and sharing data with local partners. Please help by completing this survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dataevaluation2012nhs

The Combined Royal Colleges Medal 2012 - Call for nominations (20 April 2012) - the Combined Royal Colleges Medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to photography and/or its application in the service of medicine and surgery. Any person of any nationality, whether a member of The Society or not, or organisation is entitled to submit work or to be nominated for the Award. The winner will be announced at an Awards ceremony to be held in London on 6 September 2012. See here for further details

HPA/CEM Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance System - EDSSS (16 Apr 2012) - The Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance System (EDSSS) is a new syndromic surveillance scheme which has been developed by the HPA in collaboration with the College of Emergency Medicine. This national sentinel surveillance system monitors daily emergency department (ED) attendances in England for key morbidities.

Launch of the CEM Quality in Emergency care Dashboard (QED) (11 Apr 2012) - The College's Quality in Emergency care Dashboard (QED) project is being launched on Thurs 12th April at midday on the ENLIGHTENme website at http://www.enlightenme.org/dashboard

This is an important strategic initiative for the College. The QED aims to collect data that is most relevant to the care we deliver in the ED so that it can be used for local benchmarking, appraisal (revalidation) and in discussions with commissioners. See here for more details

Essentials of Patient Safety (4 April 2011) - the second edition of Prof Charles Vincent's book Patient Safety was published in 2010.  He has now adapted some material from the book to produce  a short version which is free to use for any non-commercial purposes . We hope this may be helpful as an introduction for anyone interested in patient safety or for those teaching courses. http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/about/institutes/patientsafetyservicequality/cpssq_publications/

March 2012

Academy survey on less than full time working (28 Mar 2012) - Please take a few minutes to complete this survey designed to identify whether consultants, SAS doctors and trainees working less than full time (LTFT) are experiencing difficulties in working LTFT: if so how frequent are these difficulties, what type of difficulties are commonly encountered,  and how (or if) they are resolved. Many thanks https://www.rcpworkforce.com/se.ashx?s=253122AC3FC24E78 

NPSA releases latest Organisation Patient Safety Incident reporting data (England) (27 Mar 2012) - http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/organisationdata

CEM Simulation Faculty Course, 9th July 2012, Bath - Are you delivering simulation training? Do you want to enhance the learning in your simulation sessions? Then this is the course for you. The focus is on maximising the education benefit of simulation training through effective debriefing. This course is principally run as small group workshops with loads of opportunities to practice debriefing. Download Flyer for details

Big variation in deaths and hospital admissions due to injury across England (26 Mar 2012) - The rates of people killed and admitted to hospital due to injury differs dramatically from one
local authority to another. These are the findings from the Injury Profiles, a new online data
tool launched today by the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) on behalf of
Public Health Observatories in England. www.injuryprofiles.org.uk

Latest NPSA Rapid Response Reports and MHRA Medical Device Alerts (26 Mar 2012)

Latest Newsletter from National End of Life Care Programme (26 Mar 2012) - This issue highlights acute care issues. Download this edition. To subscribe, visit http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/ 

CEM Corporate Plan 2012-2015 (26 Mar 2012) - The College has published a strategic plan outlining aims and objectives for 2012-2015. We have produced it to share our objectives with our stakeholders. For our Members and Fellows it shows where our main priorities lie. Our other stakeholders such as patients, the public, Departments of Health and NHS organisations will also be interested in our priorities.

Information standard to close the communication gaps in end of life care (22 Mar 2012) - The End of Life Care Co-Ordination: Core Content Information Standard sets out and describes a core dataset of key information which is required to support the provision of safe and high quality care. http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/strategy/strategy/coordination-of-care/end-of-life-care-information-standard

Ultrasound training (22 Mar 2012) - Contact your regional ultrasound training co-ordinator and find out more at https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Training-Exams/Training/Ultrasound training

The route to success in end of life care - achieving quality in ambulance services (15 Mar 2012) - Ambulance services are a key player in end of life care team, NHS guide concludes
Ambulance services could support more people in achieving ‘a good death’ and reduce unnecessary or unwanted hospital admissions and treatment, according to the latest in a series of practical guides co-ordinated and published by the National End of Life Care Programme.  The guides aim to improve care for people nearing the end of life in a variety of settings while making best use of available resources. http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/publications/rts-ambulance

EM Operational Handbook (Way Ahead) - Highlights (14 Mar 2012)

Latest CEM e-Newsletter (9 Mar 2012) - Please note log-in is required to download

National Review of Asthma Deaths (9 Mar 2012) - For a 12-month period from 1 February 2012, every death from asthma in the UK will be reviewed systematically and will be subject to an in-depth multidisciplinary confidential enquiry. Click on the link to the left for an update or visit the RCP website to learn how to get involved: http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/national-review-asthma-deaths

Get ready for Revalidation! (8 Mar 2012) - Revalidation is imminent; see our checklist of supporting information for apprasial and preparation so you can be ready.

Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (8 Mar 2012) - New guidance from the GMC makes clear that doctors have a duty to act when they believe patient safety is at risk, or when a patient’s care or dignity is being compromised. The guidance explains when doctors need to raise concerns and advises on the help and support available to them, including how to tackle any barriers that they may face. http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp

Leadership and management for all doctors (8 Mar 2012) - New guidance from the GMC aimed at helping doctors understand their responsibilities in relation to employment issues; teaching and training; as well as planning, using and managing resources.

New website launched for doctors with health concerns (8 Mar 2012) - The General Medical Council is launching Your Health Matters, a new website for doctors who may be concerned about their own health or that of a colleague. The website provides case studies showing doctors with a range of health concerns, a testimonial from a doctor who has gone through fitness to practise procedures, and a range of advice on the process.

Your Health Matters also provides detailed information about what happens to doctors who are referred to the GMC where the concerns relate to their health.

For more information, go to www.gmc-uk.org/doctorshealth

The Benefits of Consultant Delivered Care (8 Mar 2012) - The most comprehensive and focused review into the benefits to patients of consultant delivered medical care has been published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC).

NHS Medical Director's Clinical Fellow Scheme (8 Mar 2012) - this scheme gives junior doctors the opportunity to spend time in a dedicated out-of-programme experience to develop their skills in leadership, management and health policy.  Participating doctors work within a host organisation in roles that typically include policy work, analysis, strategy and project management. Applications for the 2012-13 intake are now open. Closing date for applications: 5pm, 22 March 2012. For more information and application packs go to: http://www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes (6 Mar 2012) The latest round is now open for entries.  The list of challenges includes:
 
•         Emergency Care – right place, first time
•         Reducing avoidable use of Primary Care
•         Improved Diagnostic Investigation
•         Reducing Falls and Falls Injuries
 
As you know the recent Chief Executive’s report ‘Innovation Health and Wealth’ – increased its commitment to the NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes as part of a wider effort to encourage better spread and diffusion of innovation and new ideas.
 
Applications will be received up until the 1st June and details can be found at:   www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk

Notice about College EGM to discuss the Health and Social Care Bill (5 March 2012) Login to view document

Crowding in the Emergency Department (2 Mar 2012) - The College has published this best practice guideline to assist managers and clinicians who are trying to reduce crowding in their hospital Emergency Departments. The guideline explains the causes and consequences of crowding. This guideline offers suggestions to reduce the effects of crowding and improve the safety of an Emergency Department.  CEM clinical guidelines

Payments by Results 2012/13 (1 Mar 2012) - The final 2012-13 Payments by Results package has been published by the Department of Health in England. This comes into effect from 1st April 2012. There are five Emergency care tariffs for services delivered in EDs and minor injury units (MIUs), spread over 11 HRG classifications based on investigation and treatment. In addition, best practice tariffs have been introduced for a number of emergency clinical scenarios. The aim is to promote management of these scenarios on a same day basis in an ambulatory emergency care manner. See Casemix - how your ED is paid for a summary and link to full details

 

February 2012

Job vacancy - Membership and Finance Administrator (G4) (29 Feb 2012)

Latest issue of NPSA Signals (28 Feb 2012) - Emerging issues from national review of serious patient safety incidents

Doctors needed! Help test assessment tools (27 Feb 2012) - The Academic Centre for Medical Education at UCL is working with the GMC to review Fitness to Practise procedures and update the assessments to ensure each assessment is fair to the doctor being assessed.

To do this, they are holding validation events for new assessment material and are looking for interested and fully registered doctors to participate. The day will involve taking a written test of knowledge and a 12 station OSCE and will last from 10:00am – 4:30pm at the Clinical Assessment Centre, Archway. To be eligible, you must be FY2 to Consultant level, and have worked in the specialty for at least four months within the last year. Volunteers can only take this test once for each specialty. Download the flyer to see dates

All volunteers will receive feedback about their own performance. The day provides valuable insight into how the GMC assesses referred doctors and is also excellent examination practice for those about to do postgraduate exams. Participants will receive an honorarium of £350 plus (standard class) travel expenses and lunch. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/dome/gmc/pilot_information

Opportunities with the Judicial Appointments Commission (8 Feb 2012) - In February, the commission will have some positions for medical members and are looking to recruit those who are medically qualified and registered with the GMC.

This is an opportunity to use their medical knowledge and experience to consider evidence and, together with the judge, decide appeals against decisions of the Department for Work and Pensions relating to Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. The role involves enabling all parties, some of whom are among the most vulnerable in society, to have a fair hearing. Visit http://jac.judiciary.gov.uk/selection-process/selection-exercises/forthcoming/1649.htm for more information.

BMA 2012 Research Grants (8 Feb 2012) - Applications are invited from medical practitioners and/or research scientists and are for either research in progress or prospective research.

The 2012 research grants are now to apply for online on the BMA website. The application deadline is 16 March 2012 at 5pm.

Subject specifications for each grant vary. For example, in 2012, research areas range from rheumatism and arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer to the uptake of preventative measures and the use of information and communication technologies in medicine.

For more information on the grants on offer in 2012 and details of how to apply, please see: www.bma.org.uk/researchgrants

 

JANUARY 2012

Time for work for the benefit of the wider NHS (23 Jan 2012) - a copy of the letter to all NHS organisations from the four CMOs, Sir Bruce Keogh and the GMC asking employers to look favourably on requests from doctors for absence to undertake national work of benefit to healthcare systems across the UK.The letter helpfully specifically refers to work for Royal Colleges.

ICEM Conference in Dublin, 27-30 June - Registration and abstract submission is open (9 Jan 2012)

New Year Appeal towards fitting out of 7-9 Bream’s Buildings (5 Jan 2012)

 

DECEMBER 2011

CEM e-newsletter to Fellows and Members - download latest issue (22 Dec 2011)

Emergency Medicine Operational Handbook (The Way Ahead) (20 Dec 2011) - The latest issue of the Way Ahead is now available. This guidance is for clinicians, managers and commissioners involved in the delivery of Emergency Medicine in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. 

CEM Safer Care Newsletter - download latest issue (16 Dec 2011)

CQC quick guide to whistleblowing - raising concerns about your work (15 Dec 2011) - this quick guide has been written for health and care professionals that need to raise a concern about their workplace. It gives you helpful advice on speaking out about poor care and what protection you will have from the law if you do.
http://www.cqc.org.uk/public/news/quick-guide-raising-concern-about-your-work

GMC Fitness to Practise conference - Responding effectively to concerns about doctors (Friday 9 December, Church House Conference Centre, Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3NZ) - At this conference, the GMC will:

  • Explain the changes being made to GMC processes following an investigation.
  • Ask how the GMC can maintain transparency if a doctor accepts a sanction without a hearing.
  • Talk about how the new Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service might change the way that hearings are run. 
  • Consider how to balance the needs of sick doctors against GMC responsibility to protect patients.

View the programme and register: https://registration.livegroup.co.uk/fitnesstopractise/

Breaking the mould without breaking the system: new ideas and resources for clinical commissioners on the journey towards integrated 24/7 urgent care (1 Dec 2011) - This report has been published by the Primary Care Foundation in partnership with the NHS Alliance. This resource is designed to offer ideas and inspiration to everyone responsible for commissioning urgent and emergency care in the UK, in particular, the new clinical commissioning groups in England.

 

NOVEMBER 2011

International Dimensions of Emergency Medicine Work - This event is for those interested in undertaking EM work internationally.

Friday 24 February 2012 (0945-1700). Download the flyer for details and programme

CEM Fellows & Members can register here (log in, then select 'View/book an event', then 'new bookings')

New local guidelines available (29 Nov 2011) - The ED team at Newham University Hospital has kindly shared a number of protocols which are available for others to download from the local guidelines section. https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Shop-Floor/Clinical Guidelines/Local Guidelines

ED design toolkit (29 Nov 2011) - The Design Council has published a toolkit for NHS managers, clinicians and designer and healthcare planners who want to develop and deliver a better service in effective and inspiring environments. It will help you understand how to use design to develop integrated QIPP plans and improve performance against ED clinical quality indicators http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/AEtoolkit/ 

Substance Misuse Detainees in Police Custody: Guidelines for Clinical Management (4th edn) (28 Nov 2011) - The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published updated guidance on the acceptable minimum standards for the assessment of drug- and alcohol-dependent individuals and treatment interventions for forensic physicians. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr169.aspx

See related guidance in our Police liaison section

CRASH 2 trial published in Lancet (28 Nov 2011) - Results of the CRASH-2 study shows that tranexamic acid should be given as early as possible to bleeding trauma patients. The College and Department of Health urge Emergency Departments to translate the results into clinical practice.

Download letter to the specialty from K Willett and M Cooke

Download the CRASH-2 results from the Lancet: http://www.lancet.com/crash-2

CEM Patient Safety Award (21 Nov 2011) - CEM wishes to celebrate and publicise those initiatives within the Emergency medicine community that have made a significant contribution to patient safety.

The CEM Patient Safety Award will be awarded annually to an individual or hospital team that can demonstrate evidence of improved patient safety as a direct result of an innovation within their Emergency Department. 

Shortlisted teams will be invited to present their work at a patient safety session held at the autumn CEM conference, starting in 2013.  

The Role of Emergency Medicine in Organ Donation: Report of a Workshop held on 4 October 2011 - This document reports on a workshop held between representatives of Emergency Medicine, critical care, Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation and transplantation surgery. The report makes several recommendations on the role of EDs.

New online self management support resource centre (21 Nov 2011) - The Health Foundation has launched a new online self management support resource centre. The resource centre provides information and practical tools that can be adopted and adapted locally to enable services and health professionals to develop their own self management support programmes.

It builds on learning from the Health Foundation’s Co-creating Health programme and a wide range of national and international evidence. It’s a good starting point to learn more about what self management support is, how it can be implemented and the business case for commissioning.

Find out more by visiting www.health.org.uk/sms

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week starts 21 November 2011 - Approximately 4,000 people attending EDs each year are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Visit www.covictim.org for resources and event details publicising awareness of CO poisioning.

Download the latest press release and visit this news article which highlights what the campaign is trying to prevent.

Interested in Medical Leadership? (11 Nov 2011) - Membership of the newly established Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management is now open to all doctors, secondary-care dentists, and medical students.

The Faculty has been set up to bring doctors together for support around leadership and management issues and to advocate the importance of these skills within and beyond the profession.

Benefits of membership include access to an annual national conference, online resources and the chance to get involved in shaping the future of healthcare. For more information about the Faculty and membership, visit www.fmlm.ac.uk/membership

How can design reduce violence and aggression in Emergency Departments? - Join a series of live webinars on Friday 18 November and learn from designers and researchers who’ve developed new solutions that improve the patient experience and help reduce violence and aggression in EDs.
 
10.00-11.00: The design process
Presented by Design Associates Colum Lowe and Neal Stone
 
12.00-13.00: Insights on violence and aggression in A&E
Presented by ethnographic researchers Becky Rowe and Martin Bontoft
 
14.00-15.00: Generating design solutions tailored to your A&E
Presented by the Reducing violence and aggression in A&E design team
 
A year long project run by the Design Council and commissioned by the Department of Health asked designers to design new systems and services that could help make the experience of visiting EDs less stressful and frustrating.
 
These webinars will give you a chance to find out why design is a process that can help shape patient-centered and cost-effective services and environments. Register now for these free webinars

Establish SEPSIS as a medical emergency and a clinical priority for the NHS (2 Nov 2011) - Sepsis is a hidden killer. It claims 37,000 U.K lives annually- more than breast, bowel and prostate cancers combined. The majority of cases arise in the community. Simple, timely interventions including antibiotics and intravenous fluids can halve the risk of dying, yet are delivered in fewer than 1 in 7 cases in the U.K at present. Early sepsis treatment is cost effective, reducing hospital and Critical Care bed days for patients. Establishing sepsis as a medical emergency and a clinical priority for the NHS is likely to save at least 10,000 extra lives per year, and yield annual savings to the NHS of over £170M. Please support this initiative by signing an online e-petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/19602

 

OCTOBER 2011

Providing pre-transfusion blood samples for police - CEM position statement (24 Oct 2011)

Introducing NHS 111 (19 Oct 2011) - Download an introductory leaflet for details of the new service

Healthy Working UK website (19 Oct 2011)- This site provides access to information, guidance and training on the management of health and work and can be found at www.healthyworkinguk.co.uk

Download the latest Press Release from the Summary Care Record and Healthspace Programme (13 Oct 2011) - which details how several organisations representing patients with various Long Term Conditions are advocating that their members request that their GPs put additional information onto their SCRs, which will be of value to clinicians treating them in an emergency.  This advice is being endorsed by Health Minister, Simon Burns and by NHS Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh.

CEM Job Vacancy - Conference & Events Organiser (7 Oct 2011)

CEM Job Vacancy - Finance Manager (6 Oct 2011)

Latest issue of NPSA Signals (5 Oct 2011) - Emerging issues from national review of serious patient safety incidents http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/type/signals/

Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report: Issue 20 (3 Oct 2011) - Articles of particular interest to emergency medicine practitioners include the COMEAP UK Air Quality Index, The Global Lead Challenge and Thunderstorm asthma. http://www.hpa.org.uk/chemicals/reports

Helping to reduce prescribing errors by developing standards for the design of hospital in-patient prescription charts (3 Oct 2011)

Refurbishment work at Breams Buildings gets underway

(3 Oct 2011)

Refurbishment work at the new College headquarters is underway. Partitions are being removed and preparations are being made for the refurbishment of the heating and ventilation system.  The refurbishment of the lift has been commissioned.  The works are two weeks into the programme now and so far are on target.  The estimated completion date is projected to be the middle of January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2011

Chair sought for new tribunal service for doctors (28 Sept 2011) - The GMC has launched a major recruitment campaign to find the Chair for a new tribunal service that will manage all fitness to practise hearings for doctors.

The establishment of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) is a key part of the GMC's plans to develop a modern and efficient adjudication service that has the confidence of both doctors and patients.

The tribunal service will be operationally separate from the rest of the GMC in order to create a clear distinction between the GMC's roles in bringing proceedings against doctors and in running hearings. To find out more visit: http://www.gmc-uk.org/news/10559.asp

Protocols for discharge into police custody and when to contact police if patients abscond from the ED (26 Sept 2011)

Latest CEM e-newsletter (16 Sept 2011)

Security in the ED (15 Sept 2011) - Find out more about the work of NHS Protect, which provides support and direction in matters relating to NHS security management

New local guidelines (15 Sept 2011) - New protocols  for CDU care have been added, including a comprehensive procedural sedation guide and audit tool. In this section you can share discharge advice, local guidelines and proformas with other EDs, who are welcome to download and adapt them for local use.

NPSA releases Organisation Patient Safety Incident reporting data (England) (13 Sept 2011) - The number of patient safety incidents in England that occurred between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011 and were submitted to the NPSA by 31 May 2011 was 565,153, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to the previous reporting period (1 April 2010 to 30 September 2010.)

Migration Advisory Committee report: Revised shortage occupation list includes EM Consultants and Middle-Grades (12 Sept 2011)http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/september/32-mac-revised

Need to find a clinical guideline? (9 Sept 2011) - The external guidelines page has been revised to make it easier for you to find clinical guidelines by topic. Click on the link above to go to this page

Take part in the Living well with dementia challenge (8 Sept 2011)  - One in three of us who live to 65 will have some form of dementia before we die. The Design Council and the Department of Health want you to rethink life with dementia. A million people in the UK will be living with the condition by 2021. Take part in the Living well with dementia challenge

You give: time + your team + your ideas
You get: a slice of £360,000K + professional support

Design Council challenges are an opportunity to use your skills in a new area, whilst making a real difference to people’s lives.
Interested? Find out more and meet potential partners at www.designchallenges.ning.com

CfWI publication: Shape of the Medical Workforce; Informing Medical Training Numbers (2 Sept 2011) - The purpose of this report is to provide information that will help commissioners, providers and others to plan the number and type of training places for medical specialists for 2012 and beyond.

RCPCH Publication ‘The Physical Signs of Child Sexual Abuse’ (2 Sept 2011) - the RCPCH has been working on updating the above publication to ensure it reflects the best available evidence. The initial update, involving repeating the literature search, is now complete and you can view an interim statement summarising the findings.

Provisional Accident & Emergency Quality Indicators for England. Experimental Statistics by provider for April 2011 (1 Sept 2011) EXTERNAL LINK

Summary Care Record (1 Sept 2011) - visit this page for a summary of progress on the introduction of summary care records and their impact on Emergency Departments in England.

 

AUGUST 2011

AGM 2011 - The 2011 Annual General Meeting of the College will be held 22nd September 2011 (9.00am – 10.00am) at the CEM Conference being held at The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2JR

NHS Leadership Framework (24th August 2011) - the NHS Leadership Framework was launched on the 29th June 2011. It provides a consistent approach to leadership development for staff in health and care irrespective of discipline, role or function (clinical and non-clinical), and represents the foundation of leadership behaviour throughout the NHS. Full details of the Framework can be found at www.nhsleadership.org

Are you interested in working overseas? Put 24th February 2012 in your diary for this College event: International Dimensions of Emergency Medicine Work. This event will be held in London and will explore the many aspects of international EM. Details to follow.

Presentation on the Quality Indicators from the Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (23rd August 2011) - this is being used in presentations to Acute and Foundation Trusts, PCTs and commissioning groups. Please note this replaces the previous versions posted in May and March.

Delivering the five A&E clinical quality indicators in Foundation Trusts (23rd August 2011) - An extract from Monitor's latest monthly bulletin to FTs.

Courses of interest (22nd August 2011) - Find courses of interest to Emergency Medicine doctors taking place throughout the UK

National Recruitment to Intensive Care Medicine in August 2012 (19th August 2011) - Joint statement by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans, August 16 2011

Guidance for commissioning integrated urgent and emergency care – A ‘whole system’ approach (19th August 2011) - The RCGP Centre for Commissioning has published guidance for commissioners setting out what must be addressed through clinical commissioners’ strategic planning, and includes practical examples of how services can be redesigned.

Written by Dr Agnelo Fernandes, one of the Centre’s National Clinical Commissioning Champions and RCGP lead for urgent care, this publication outlines the requirements for good urgent and emergency care.

John Heyworth,  President of The College of Emergency Medicine, welcomes this paper:

'The College of Emergency Medicine welcomes this important guidance. The axis between commissioners and the Emergency Department is fundamental. Urgent and emergency care must be an absolute priority on the commissioning agenda, with active involvement of the local Emergency Medicine clinical lead to ensure discussions are optimally informed. Better access to primary care for extended periods throughout the week combined with a truly joined up ED / urgent care facility, with common training and governance, will ensure a simpler, cohesive system with clinical and cost benefits, providing consistent high quality safe patient care 24 / 7. Tariffs must drive improvements in the ED , particularly much more EM Consultant and senior clinician provided care recognising the challenges of the casemix of the majority of patients attending. For the public, urgent and emergency care is the shop window of the NHS - we must deliver the care they expect and deserve.'

CEM Press Statement - Waiting times in EDs (15th August 2011) - Following the publication of data from the Department of Health that suggests that the number of people waiting more than four hours in Emergency Departments in England has nearly doubled in the past year, the College of Emergency Medicine has issued the following quote:

“Relaxation of the 4 hour target to 95% of Emergency Department patients being treated and admitted or discharged within four hours was supported by The College of Emergency Medicine as strict adherence to the previous target (98%) was distorting patient care and placing clinicians under immense pressure. 

Whilst today’s figures do show that the number of people waiting more than four hours in Emergency Departments in England has increased, over 20 million patients visit Emergency Departments each year in England with the vast majority of these being seen in less than four hours. 

Optimising patient care in Emergency Departments is not achieved by just reducing waiting times, which is why a set of new Quality Indicators was introduced in April this year.  These indicators include measures of time, together with markers of quality and safety, designed to drive better patient care in all Emergency Departments. The indicators will retain focus and support for the development of emergency care to the high standard our patients expect and deserve.” - Dr John Heyworth, President of the College of Emergency Medicine

Alison Gourdie Memorial Fund 2011 (8th August 2011) - Applications are sought for this award. Follow link for details and an application form

Quality Indicators in Foundation Trusts (5th August 2011) - An open letter from the College President following discussions with Monitor.

Consultant Sign-Off Audit (5th August 2011) - Updated guidance on the forthcoming audit.

Clinical Excellence Awards 2012 (4th August 2011) - Latest developments and guidance on applying.

Clinical guideline use in the Emergency Department (4th August 2011) - Guidance on the availability, usefulness and applicability of clinical guidelines of relevance to Emergency Medicine in the United Kingdom (UK).

New Paediatric Emergency Medicine section (4th August 2011) - The College is very pleased to announce some new web pages about Paediatric Emergency Medicine which we hope will help trainers, trainees and potential future EM trainees. Follow the link above. The information provided includes:

  • Availability of PEM sub-speciality training (map of UK with useful info on departments)
  • How to apply for sub-speciality training (in an FAQ format)
  • Options for timetabling the 12 months WTE  (in an FAQ format)
  • Examples of consultant job plans for EM consultants with sub-speciality recognition for PEM
  • Useful links and resources

 

JULY 2011

Recommended Requirements for Doctors applying for Middle Grade posts in Emergency Medicine (29th July 2011)

Recommended Requirements for Locum Consultant posts in Emergency Medicine (29th July 2011)

Management of blood exposure in police officers (22nd July 2011) - Professor Matthew Cooke (National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care) has published an open letter to the NHS to clarify existing policy on the need for officers to receive assessment, and any necessary initial post exposure prophylaxis treatment, following exposure to blood of other persons (Click on link above)

Call for nominations: CEM Vice-President (22nd July 2011) - Nominations are sought from Fellows of the College who wish to stand for election to the position of Vice-President.
Nominations must be signed by two Fellows, and by the applicant. Please include a personal statement of no more than 300 words. Nominations close on the Wednesday 17th August and should be returned to the College office by post, fax or email (for the attention of Gerardine Beckett gerardine.beckett@collemergencymed.ac.uk).

Dignity in practice: an exploration of the care of older adults in acute NHS trusts (5th July 2011) - Report from the NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation programme. EXTERNAL LINK

GMC consultation on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors (5th July 2011) - The GMC have developed draft guidance on this important and sensitive issue to help doctors feel confident in raising and acting on concerns about the safety and welfare of children and young people. You can read the draft guidance and questionnaires and take part in the consultation online at www.gmc-uk.org/childprotection. The consultation will run until Friday 14 October 2011.

 

JUNE 2011

NCEPOD: call for study proposals 2011 (30th June 2011) - NCEPOD is inviting organisations or individuals to submit original study proposals for consideration as possible forthcoming studies. Study proposals should be relevant to the current clinical environment and have the potential to contribute original work to the subject.

Those wishing to submit a study proposal should complete the study proposal form and return it to NCEPOD by 30th September 2011. Click on link above to the NCEPOD website.

NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes – you’ve still got time to join the winning team... (27th June 2011) - The NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes are awards given to NHS organisations across the country to recognise and reward those who have proven that they can deliver more for less, and sustain and improve the quality of care for patients. Closing date 14 August 2011.

They would really like to hear from you in relation to finding innovative solutions for delivering treatment and care in the following areas:

  • Earlier cancer diagnosis.
  • Increasing independence for those with kidney failure.
  • Better management of pregnancy.
  • The reduction of MSSA and/or E.coli bactraemias across a health economy.
  • The reduction of waste associated with prescribing practice.
  • Ensuring that people seeking urgent and emergency care receive the best care at their first attendance.
  • Reducing avoidable attendances at GP surgeries and other Primary Care settings.

Performance Management of NHS ED Services Using the Clinical Quality Indicators (23rd June 2011) EXTERNAL LINK - Alan Hall, Director of Performance for NHS Finance, Performance & Operations, wrote to the NHS on 23 June 2011 with more detail on how the Department of Health will hold NHS trusts to account in 2011/12 in relation to the ED clinical quality indicators.

ED clinical quality indicators: best practice guidance for local publication (23rd June 2011) EXTERNAL LINK - The DH has set out best practice guidance for the presentation and publication of the ED clinical quality indicators.

Understanding when things go wrong - CEM Safer Care Workshop, Friday 2nd September 2011, Churchill House, London (23rd June 2011) - Join us for this workshop on how to maximise the learning from untoward events: The day will cover root cause analysis and introduce prospective hazard analysis – the workshop is open to teams of clinicians and managers.  Register online here

Guidance and resources for liaison with Police Constabularies (23rd June 2011) - a new set of resources for EDs including template protocols for local arrangements for the management of detainees requiring hospital treatment, suspected drug swallowers and detainees who are intoxicated.

The Data Vacuum in Emergency Care (British Journal of Healthcare Management 2011 Vol 17 No 1) - Download a recent article written by members of the CEM Informatics group that describes the current situation with respect to PbR, assesses the problems that currently
exist and describes an initiative by the College of Emergency Medicine to improve data collection and accuracy to inform commissioners and clinicians of the clinical activity that is occurring within Emergency Departments.

Government response to the NHS Futures Forum Report (21st June 2011) EXTERNAL LINK

New website for the Intercollegiate Board for Training in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine - http://www.ibtphem.org.uk (21st June 2011)

New website for the European Society for Emergency Medicine - http://www.eusem.org (21st June 2011)

CEM Doctoral Research Fellowships and CEM Research Grants (20th June 2011)

Payments to Clinicians from Pharmaceutical Companies - HMRC request for information (20th Jun 2011) - a letter for your information from the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) saying that they have been requested by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to provide information on all payments made to individual clinicians over the last two tax years. This issue was discussed at a recent meeting between AoMRC representatives and ABPI.

Revised CEM Expenses Policy & Procedures (17th June 2011) - Council yesterday agreed a new expenses Policy and Procedures. This will come into effect immediately.

Help shape the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) (16th June 2011) -
The FMLM is conducting research with an independent research agency to inform and guide the development of the new body. Doctors from all specialities and stages of their careers are invited to share their views and expectations of the new Faculty, in confidence. The online survey will run until 7 July and can be accessed at http://ashridge.orsl.co.uk/fmlm

Dial 111, is this the way forward? (15th June 2011) - The NHS Alliance Urgent Care Network has just published a discussion paper – A new approach to 111: Re-establishing general practice as the main route in to urgent care – which outlines the issues around the use and implementation of a new national number.

The objective of this discussion paper is to encourage primary care providers, patients and the government to engage in the discussion about how the new national number can be implemented within the current system to bring about efficiencies and better care for patients. See also the first interim report on the Evaluation of NHS 111 pilot sites

CEM Position Statement - HIV testing in the Emergency Department (13th June 2011)

New CEM best practice guidance - Management of Adult Patients who attend Emergency Departments after Sexual Assault and / or Rape (13th June 2011)

Safer Care Newsletter (8th June 2011) - the first issue of the College of Emergency Medicine’s Safer Care Newsletter, which is is for all EM physicians with an interest in patient safety in the Emergency Department.

New CEM Informatics section (6th Jun 2011) - The casemix and IT section of the CEM website has been revised and updated. In this section you will find information and guidance on datasets, payment by results and casemix.

 

MAY 2011

Latest CEM e-newsletter (26th May 2011)

Joint statement on the emergency care of older people (18th May 2011) - the College together with the BGS, RCGP, RCN and RCP have published a statement calling for the development and integration of care for older people.

Presentation on the Quality Indicators from the Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (16th May 2011)- this is being used in presentations to Acute and Foundation Trusts, PCTs and commissioning groups. Please note this replaces the version posted on 28th March.

The ED performance landscape (16th May 2011)

Example - Calculating the 95th percentile (16th May 2011)

(Below) Breams Buildings - The new CEM HQ. Anticipated moving date is Nov 2011.

NHS Evidence has now changed (11th May 2011) - Yesterday (10 May 2011) a new version of NHS Evidence – the service which provides health and social care professionals with access to quality-assured, best-practice information – went live. http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/
 
NHS Evidence now provides you with access to a broadened range of relevant and high quality information including the latest guidelines, high quality patient information, research uncertainties and other selected information across a wide range of conditions and specialties.

HPA Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report - Issue 19 (10th May 2011) - Articles of particular interest to emergency medicine practitioners include lessons identified in communicating with hospital emergency departments during chemical incidents, investigating refrigerant leaks in healthcare settings, and potential increasing risks from carbon monoxide from shisha pipes and toxins from the sea.  A searchable index of nearly 700 previous articles, including over 40 concerning chemical incidents and hospitals, is available at www.hpa.org.uk/chemicals/reports.

To subscribe to the Report by email, please contact chapreport@hpa.org.uk. For 24-hour public health advice during chemical incidents, please contact the HPA on 0844 8920555.

 

 

Carbon Monoxide: protect your patients; protect yourself (10th May 2011) - A unique group is being formed by Lynn Griffiths, founder of the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness. The aim of the group is to ensure that best practice is followed by all professionals who might be the first contact point of carbon monoxide victims with health services.  
 
The charity is inviting ED staff to join a group that will meet twice yearly to discuss ways of raising awareness of carbon monoxide amongst professional colleagues. Any other interested parties are warmly invited to attend a brief inaugural meeting of the group on Tuesday 14 June at 1pm. The meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at the House Of Lords.
 
If you are interested in joining please contact Lynn Griffiths on 07715899296 or lynn@covictim.org.

Carbon Monoxide Information for Doctors (6th May 2011) - The Carbon Monoxide awareness campaign has set up a blog  - http://co-info.blogspot.com/ - containing background information for doctors about CO exposure. You can also download their information leaflet for patients here.

Save the date - CEM/IFEM Symposium: Quality & Safety in Emergency Care 15/16 November 2011 (4th May 2011) - The College is delighted to be hosting this international symposium on Quality and Safety in Emergency Care in conjunction with IFEM. Leading clinicians, researchers and academics from across the globe will be contributing to the symposium with the intention of developing an international consensus on quality and safety in emergency care. Please join us in London for this highly prestigious event being held at the British Museum. More details will appear on the CEM website soon.

 

APRIL 2011

NHS Networks (28th April 2011) - NHS Networks is a free resource dedicated to help people get together to share ideas and improve the health service for all those who work in and use it. EXTERNAL LINK

Triage position statement (26th Apr 2011) - CEM, ENCA, FEN & RCN have today jointly published a position statement on triage. The paper defines the activities of triage, initial assessment and streaming and indicates the added value of each to the patient pathway in the emergency /urgent care settings.

Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients (26th Apr 2011) - new guidance from the General Medical Council (GMC) for doctors about making recordings of patients.

Left - The new CEM HQ: Breams Buildings. Anticipated moving date mid Nov (tbc).

Bank holiday press release (15th Apr 2011) -  The College has released a press statement regarding the forthing period of multiple bank holidays.

Standards for the design of hospital in-patient prescription charts (13th Apr 2011) - The AoMRC, together with the RCN & RPS has developed standards for the design of in-patient prescription charts, using expert opinion and evidence.

Join the CEM Professional Standards Committee (11th Apr 2011)  - The College is seeking Fellows and Members to join the PSC. Follow the link for more information.

Emergency Life Support (ELS): teaching ALL children how to save a life (6th Apr 2011) - The Resuscitation Council (UK) is working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, supported by numerous organisations including CEM, to lobby Parliament to include ELS as a mandatory part of the national school curriculum. Find out how you can help to achieve this goal.

 

MARCH 2011

4th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Difficult Airway Society - Major Complications of Airway Management in the UK (30th Mar 2011) EXTERNAL LINK. See here for comments by Prof Jonathan Benger, CEM Emergency Airway Lead

Quality Indicators - Frequently Asked Questions (30th Mar 2011) EXTERNAL LINK

Urgent and Emergency Care Clinical Audit Toolkit (30th Mar 2011) - A learning tool to support the quality of urgent and emergency care services for patients has being launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Latest CEM e-newsletter (28th Mar 2011)

Presentation on the Quality Indicators from the Emergency Care Intensive Support Team (28th Mar 2011) - follow the link to this powerpoint being used in presentations to Acute and Foundation Trusts, PCTs and commissioning groups. Please note this is slightly revised from version posted on 25th March. LOG-IN REQUIRED

NPSA Signals Issue 6 (28th Mar 2011)

NHS Clinical Advisory Group on Major Trauma Workforce (25th Mar 2011) - The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) has published a national-level overview of the likely workforce pressure points in establishing Regional Trauma Networks (RTNs). It is intended to facilitate the successful foundation of RTNs over the next twelve months.

CEM HQ - update for Fellows and Members (15th Mar 2011) LOG-IN REQUIRED

Survey on the Role of the GMC in CPD (15th Mar 2011) - Please participate in this informal GMC survey exploring how they can help doctors plan, carry-out and evaluate CPD relevant to their practice.

Important update on PbR arrangements for 2011/12 (9th Mar 2011) - Please note this is a slightly amended version of the update originally published on 25th Feb 2011)

NHS never events list to be extended to 25 (8th Mar 2011)- An extended list of events that should never happen during care in the NHS has been unveiled by the DH in England, along with a powerful financial disincentive.

Sharing Best Practice - discharge advice for patients (8th Mar 2011) - The Best Practice subcommittee has established a section on the website where EDs can share discharge advice, local guidelines and proformas with other EDs, who are welcome to download and adapt them for local use.

CEM guide to the clinical quality indicators for EDs (2nd Mar 2011) - The College has published guidance on understanding and implementing the new quality indicators

CEM response to the Health and Social Care Bill (2nd Mar 2011)

 

The complete archive for the EMJ is now available to members at the site below:

http://emj.bmj.com/contents-by-date.0.dtl

Previous College statements

 

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