Easy Peezy!Surelines Limited has successfully helped innovative company Funnelly Enough Ltd with their Drug Tariff Part IX application and it has been announced that their flagship product the Peezy mid-stream urine collection system has just been approved for Drug Tariff Listing by NHS Prescription Services. The multiple Award winning urine collection system will be available throu...
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Sep
6
Urine Testing Made Dignified and Efficient
Sep
6
FLU SEASON 2010
REMINDER – INFLUENZA VACCINES – FLU SEASON 2010As some deliveries for this season are due to commence this month, may we remind our members to ensure that they have read our article on page 2 of last month’s newsletter entitled – Vaccine Cold Storage. Alternatively please visit the Dispex Blog page article of our website posted August 16th or download t...
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Sep
6
National Prescribing Centre Newsletter
Tough DecisionsThe National Prescribing Centre has produced its first edition of a newsletter entitled "Tough Decisions".For more information or to read the Newsletter please click here....
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Aug
31
Wholesaler Fuel Surcharges
Wholesaler Fuel Surcharges AAH: £12.50 monthly Alliance: Varies monthly, linked to AA fuel price survey which can be found here: www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel Phoenix: £12.50 monthly Two sites = two fees. All three companies do this DTP lines only will be excluded BUT dispensing...
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Aug
31
A Common Mistake
A Common Mistake Predatory Pharmacy Applications are not only a threat to the viability of Dispensing Doctor Practices but they are also a great cause of angst amongst Dispensing Practice staff. It has been reported to us that on several occasions, in the past and once more recently, some dispensing practices have fallen into a trap. We will straightaway say these dispensing pr...
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Aug
16
FLU SEASON Is Your Medical Fridge Compliant
Is Your Medical Fridge Compliant?You will be aware of the National Patient Safety Agency’s- Rapid Response Report dated 21st January 2010, which gave NHS organisations that hold vaccines requiring cold storage until 21st July 2010 to ensure they are fully compliant with nationally recognised procedures regarding vaccine storage.Do you…….. maint...
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Aug
2
Links to DH Live Consultation Documents
Transparency in outcomes - a framework for the NHS http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_117583Liberating the NHS: Giving power to local people http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_117722Liberating the NHS: Increasing democratic legitimacy in health http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_117586Liberating the NHS: Commissioning...
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Jul
29
Price Match Pledges from Just Care Medical
Just Care Medical are providing our members with a One Stop Shop for all your practice needs. They offer you leading brand products such as Welch Allyn, Lec, Seca, Omron and many more as well as your daily consumables at highly competitive prices, which offers you excellent value without compromising on quality. Plus if,within 7 days of purchasing a product from Just Care Medical yo...
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Jul
22
Peezy Now Available on Prescription
Now available on prescription: radically improved mid-stream urine collection system from Peezy is now available as a device listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.Existing systems of urine sampling, are archaic and undignified, especially for antenatal, very young, very old, and disabled patients. Evidence reveals that up to 30% of all samples reaching the laboratory are contaminated and ...
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Jul
21
Drug Tariff Website Reworked
Surelines' Drug Tariff information website and resource has recently benefited from a complete overhaul and has now been relaunched at the following web address - http://www.drugtariff.com/The new clean look and user-friendly interface makes this a major resource for those looking for well-explained information about the Drug Tariff....
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Jul
19
Government Launches Health Outcomes Consultation
The Department of Health has launched a full consultation and engagement process on how they should develop the NHS Outcomes Framework. This follows on from the White Paper which was published last week entilteld: Equality and Excellence: liberating the NHS .For more information on the Consultation click here...
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Jul
14
Upcoming Surelines Training Courses
Surelines Training CoursesFor a full list of Surelines' upcoming courses please click here to download the entire list.Dispex members receive discounts on courses where indicated....
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Jul
13
DH White Paper Published Read it Here
The Coallition Government yesterday announced that every GP practice will have commissioning responsibility written into its contract by April 2013.Download the DH White Paper - Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS here ...
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Jul
12
No Charges for Northern Ireland Prescriptions
Latest News From 1 August 2010, any patient who presents an NHS prescription form originating from Northern Ireland (coded HS21CS) will not pay a prescription charge for any items on that form that are dispensed in England. Following the abolition of prescription charges in Northern Ireland on 1 April 2010, a new prescription form (coded HS21CS) has been produced in Northern Ir...
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Jul
9
The NHS Shake Up Read What the Papers Say
Fundholding to be Transferred to GPs in the NHS Shake Up?PCTs are likely to be pruned down in terms of size and responsibility and commissioning is handed over to GPs according to reports here.The Daily Telegraph online reports on this also here.Daily Mail online report can be found here.Please see your next Dispex Newsletter for further details and comments on the proposed cha...
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Jul
1
Interested in Opening a Pharmacy
Pharmacy Forum 2010 Attend Pharmacy Forum to find out all you need to know about opening a Pharmacy or protecting your current dispensing rights.This renowned conference returns for another year with a raft of talks with all you need to know.Dispex members get discounted prices on event attendenceContact Keira at Surelines on 0844 873 0144 for more details....
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Jun
30
Are Your Dispensers on the Right Course
DSQS Training Requirements - Are Your Dispensers on the Right Course? The Dispensing Services Quality Scheme has been in place since 2006 and many dispensing doctors have already signed up to participate in this scheme with their respective PCTs. One of the key requirements of the DSQS is dispenser training. It is of paramount importance to ensure that your dispensers undertake the corre...
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Jun
29
Emergency Budget Summary
Emergency Budget June 2010Emergency Budget June 2010 – A Summary by Cotton's Accountants - www.cottonsaccountants.co.ukGeorge Osborne opened his very own Pandora's Box today. We now have a clearer idea of his public expenditure cuts and tax changes. This update provides an initial summary of some of the tax changes. We will provide more detail as it becomes available. The upda...
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Jun
28
IMPORTANT Drug Tariff price changes July 2010
Losartan and Ropinirole Price Changes – July 2010 Drug Tariff Losartan 100mg/Hydrocholorthiazide 25mg was £16.18 now £7.22Losartan 50mg/Hydrocholorthiazide 12.5mg was £12.80 now £5.35Losartan 100mg was £16.18 now £4.64Losartan 12.5mg no change in priceLosartan 25mg was £16.18 now £4.53Losartan 50mg was £12.80 now &poun...
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Jun
17
News Roundup and Links
News RoundupIMPORTANT DRUG TARIFF UPDATELercanidipine 10mg and 20mg tablets and Losartan 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets will be Category M from July 2010 and NOT Category A as published in the monthly Drug Tariff preface. Click here for more details. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley sets out his ambitions for patient safety - click here for more details The NH...
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Jun
16
Supporting Diabetes Week 13 to 19th June 2010
Dispex and Spirit Healthcare are supporting the National Diabetes Week by offering FREE sample meters to your diabetic patients to trial. CareSens N blood glucose testing strips offers potentially massive savings to the NHS as their strips are approximately £2 cheaper per month to the NHS and where it is clinically appropriate for the patient to be self-testing it must make s...
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Jun
2
Revalidation Rollout Halted
Pulse reports that the Government has called a halt to the rollout of the revalidation program and Andrew Lansley has ordered that pilots be extended until 2012.Click here to read the full story....
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Jun
1
UPDATED Any changes to prescription charges will be delayed until the Autum
A report into prescription charge exemption for those with long term conditions which was lead by Professor Ian Gilmore has been published today.The document can be read by clicking here.Further comment has been made here by Onmedica - any changes to the prescription charge will be delayed until the Autmn....
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May
27
PNA Regulations Come Into Force
The regulations for the requirement of Primary Care Trusts to produce PNAs came into force on the 24th May 2010.Click here for the regulations.There was an excellent talk at Dispex 2010 on this subject by Paul Burns - click here for the presentations...
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May
25
Queens Speech on Healthcare
Please click the link below for more detailshttp://www.number10.gov.uk/queens-speech/2010/05/queens-speech-health-bill-50617...
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May
24
BMA Responds to Coallition Government
Please click here to read the response....
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May
21
CareSens N Savings for the NHS
Surgeries and PCTs are switching to CareSens N in order to maximise savings on the consumable test strips. In a large PCT or surgery the savings of nearly £2 per month per patient can be staggering. For Dispex members we are pleased to announce an exclusive 17.5% discount from NHS list price for CareSens N Blood Glucose Monitoring Strips.NHS list price of &...
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May
21
If You Are Looking for a Pharmacist Then Read This
A Genuine TestimonialDear DavidWith your help, we have just completed the process of finding a Superintendent Pharmacist for our business. I had initially intended to manage the process of recruiting in the usual way, placing adverts, shortlisting then interviewing.However, an adviser of mine suggested we try headhunting as a cost effective alternative. Your company was recomm...
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May
20
News Roundup
News Roundup The Department of Health announces new ministers – for more information click here Professor Dame Sally Davies is to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer temporarily until a substantive appointment is made – click here for more details Hunt begins for new Director of NHS Employers – for more information please click here...
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May
20
Coalition Releases Programme for Government
Full details can be found hereNHS information starts on page 24....
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May
5
A Member Query on the Dispensing Fee Scale
Question - Dear Dispex, I thought that the dispensing doctor dispensing fee was due to increase on 1st April after the one off bite of a 8.7% lower fee for the last 6 months of 09/10 to bring a 4.9% reduction for the last NHS Year. I had understood that this fee was due to ‘revert’ by some 7p on 1st April 2010. Answer - Dr David Baker reports that a DH spokesw...
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Apr
29
SHA Guidance Published
Guidance for Strategic Health Authorities to involve users in their strategic planning has been published by the Department of Health and is available here to download and view....
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Apr
29
More Information Regarding Changes to the Global Sum
Information regarding the prescription charge income devolution has been published by NHS Primary Care Commissioning and can be downloaded here....
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Apr
29
Pulse Reports PCTs Will Squeeze GP Drug Budgets
More information can be found here....
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Apr
22
Prescription Sorting Update
We have just had a Dispex member querying the new prescription sorting arrangements for expensive items from NHS Prescription Services which states that items with an NHS cost of over £100 and "specials" must be sorted seperately from other prescription forms for sending to NHS Prescription Services.We have just spoken to NHS Prescription Services who have informed u...
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Apr
14
Seasonal Flu Expected to be Worse This Year
Experts speaking at the European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases warned that this winter's seasonal flu is likely to be worse than last year and that it requires a larger uptake of flu vaccine.Click here for more details...
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Apr
13
Dispex Responds to Generic Substitution Proposals
Dispex has responded to the proposals laid out to bring in some form of generic substitution.Please click here to read the full response....
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Apr
1
Clopidogrel and Pantoprazole Drug Tariff Prices Drop and April Generics
The Drug Tariff price of Clopidogrel 75mg tablets in packs of 30 has fallen from £29.01 [March 2010 Drug Tariff] when it was listed as a Category A generic to £10.90 [April 2010 Drug Tariff] where it is now listed as a Category M generic.April 2010 Drug Tariff reads:Clopidogrel 75mg tablets Pack 30 1090 Category MPantoprazole has also dropped in the April 2010 Drug...
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Mar
29
7 YEARS PEACE OF MIND
7 YEARS PEACE OF MIND No Pharmacy To Open Against You! We can guarantee for very rural dispensing practices(provided the law and its interpretation does not change)that a pharmacy will not open near you and “steal” your dispensing business from either your main surgery or a branch surgeryFOR 7 YEARS For confidential details and condition...
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Mar
29
No Change in English Prescription Charges
English prescription charges are to remain static for 2010-11.More details can be found here....
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Mar
23
News Roundup
NICE invites stakeholders to comment on 2011/12 QOF click hereClass 3 Drug Alert click hereAn update on World Class Commissioning click hereHandbook for NPC associates available to download click hereNew designs transform patient's dignity in secondary care click here...
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Mar
11
Public Consultation on Patient Choice Launched
Health Secretary Andy Burnham has published plans to give patients the ability to choose their GP Practice of choice in a new consultation. Click here for more details. ...
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Mar
11
Directed Enhanced Services Changes for 2010 to 2011
Directed Enhanced Services Changes for 2010 to 2011 have been published - click here for more details...
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Mar
8
Novartis priority supply procedure
Novartis priority supply procedureThere are currently shortages of several medicines from a number of manufacturersin the UK, including Letrozole (Femara®)”To help customers to obtain stock Novartis has established a Patient Priority SupplyProcedure for exceptional situations where Novartis medicine cannot be supplied inthe first instance from their wholesale partners – A...
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Feb
26
Setting up a Pharmacy
Question - We have been recently sent unsolicited details of a company that would set up a pharmacy on our surgery site with rental and a premium to the practice if successful. Is this worth looking at? Answer - Why invite a “cuckoo into the nest” that you may have to “live with” for 25 years? Much better to explore other pharmacy options yourself.Y...
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Feb
26
World Class Commissioning Update
Click below for the February update on World Class Commissioninghttp://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_112670.pdf ...
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Feb
15
For the Attention of the Practice Nurse
CareSens N offers savings to the NHS and is a genuine win-win and we commend this to all our members.Dispex is pleased to announce an exclusive discount on CareSens N Blood Glucose Monitoring Strips which is available ONLY to members who order via the Dispex office.For further details of the discount available please login to the members' only area or phone Claudette on 01604 8...
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Feb
4
February 2010 Generic Prices and Dispex One Discounts
Now available inside the members' only login area - login for more details or for further information email sales@dispex.net...
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Jan
18
PPRS Price Changes UPDATED
UPDATE - the first set of PPRS Price Drops is available inside the members' login area inside the Downloads and Documents Section > Information folder.NEW - Fully interactive spreadsheet of price drops whcih can be sorted by company, product etc has now been uploaded to the Downloads and Documents > Information folder.Comment to follow shortly. ...
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Jan
5
Generic substitution consultation goes live
The documents can be downloaded from the DH website here:http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_110517Comment to follow soon....
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Dec
23
Some January 2010 Drug Tariff Category Changes
The January 2010 sees a few products moving from Category M to Category A with associated price changes as follows:Buprenorphine 2mg sublingual tablets sugar free pack of 7 price falls from £7.74 to £7.40Buprenorphine 8mg sublingual tablets sugar free pack of 7 price falls from £20.54 to £20.41Calcium and Ergocalciferol tablets pack of 28 price falls fro...
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Dec
22
Some Drug Tariff Changes for February 2010
Please note that the following strengths of topiramate are moving from Category C to Category A effective from 1st February 2010.All the following are in packs of 60. Topiramate 100mg tabs Topiramate 15mg caps Topiramate 200mg tabs Topiramate 25mg caps Topiramate 25mg tabs Topiramate ...
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Dec
15
First month most likely to be when a patient discontinues medication
A large US study has found that patients are most likely to stop their medication in the first month of treatment. The study claims that pateints who are "medication naïve" are more likely to discontinue treatment than those who are "medication experienced". Patient medication compliance is linked to health literacy according to...
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Dec
15
Category M Prices for January 2010 released
Below is a snapshot of the biggest price falls for January 2010 as a percentage of October 2009 Drug Tariff price.Full figures can be found inside the members' login area.If you have forgotten your login details or if there is anything else you would like to see inside the members' only login area then please email enquiries@dispex.net Drug NamePack Size October 2009 Drug Tari...
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Dec
14
End of NHS Prescription Services transitional arrangements
End of NHS Prescription Services transitional arrangements for dispensing doctorsNHS Prescription Services (NHS RxS) reminds dispensing doctor practices that December 2009 payment, for prescriptions dispensed in October, will be the first payment where they may be financially affected if a patient or their representative hasn’t correctly filled in the sections on a p...
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Dec
10
News Shorts
NHS Information Centre: General Pharmaceutical Services data published Click here for more information: http://www.psnc.org.uk/news.php/630/nhs_information_centre_general_pharmaceutical_services_data_published GPs believe Practice Based Commissioning is improving its impact on the patient experience and their local community by bringing care closer to patients, according ...
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Dec
9
Are You Confused About Your Reimbursement
In response to Dispex member requests we have placed two worked examples within the Information section of the Members' Only Downloads and Documents area which explain the reimbursement of expensive items.Login for further information.If you would like any further information please email enquiries@dispex.net ...
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Dec
1
PNA Consultation Goes Live
Click here to be taken to the DH Consultation: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_109354Further advice and information to follow....
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Nov
26
Clopidogrel Drug Tariff Price Falls
Clopidogrel 75mg tablets pack size 30 has dropped in reimbursement from £36.35 to £33.75.Please note clopidogrel 75mg pack 30 has also moved from Category C to Category A.December 2009 Drug Tariff prices will be uploaded to the members' section of this website in the next day or so....
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Nov
26
Ropinirole Moves to Category A
The December 2009 Drug Tariff preface announces that ropinirole tablets 1mg x 84, ropinirole tablets 250microgram x 12, ropinirole tablets 2mg x 84, ropinirole tablets 500microgram x 28 and ropinirole tablets 5mg x 84 are all moving from Category C to Category A with Drug Tariff price drops for all strengths....
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Nov
25
MeReC Monthly Number 20 Published
The very useful MerReC Monthly has been released and is available here...
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Nov
25
Summary Care Records Launched in London
These records, which contain key medical information, will be available wherever a patient is being treated. The Summary Care Records are being introduced across London now and access to them will be extended across England next year.Full information can be found on the Department of Health website here...
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Nov
24
Doctor Registration
Last month in our Newsletter we alerted you to the fact that all GPs must be registered with the General Medical Council. The GMC has put together some very useful documents to guide you through this process. Click this link to find out more about this: http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/index.asp ...
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Nov
23
Keep Watching the Drug Tariff
It has always been our advice that you monitor the Drug Tariff preface to keep up to speed with changes to the status of branded products either entering or leaving the Drug Tariff or changing status from Category C to either Category A or Category M. The October 2009 Drug Tariff saw a number of changes to the status and pricing of a number of products for example;
Ampicillin 125mg/5ml o...
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Nov
11
NHS Constitution and Patient Rights
The NHS Constitution seeks new rights for patientsThe Government has outline proposals to give patients the legal right to private treatment if the NHS cannot provide care in an agreed time frame – for example patients with cancer would have the right to be seen within two weeks and other patients would have the right to treatment within eighteen weeks.If the NHS is unable to ...
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Nov
11
DH Publishes Documents to Aid World Class Commissioning
The NHS East of England, NHS Primary Care Commissioning and the Department of Health has co-produced a set of documents to support the world class commissioning of services in prmary care and community service areas.The series of guidance and policy documents also has a number of useful toolkits which are available to download including for example a Diabetes Commissioning Toolkit.T...
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Nov
9
Care Quality Commission Judges NHS Trusts
The Care Quality Commission has published the performance ratings of the 392 NHS trusts in England which can be accessed by clicking here.
At the bottom of the page is a very useful Postcode location tool which can be used to find out the specific results for the performance of any healthcare related organisations in your area....
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