The September edition of the Words Worth Reading Ltd newsletter is now available to download

The September edition of the Words Worth Reading Ltd newsletter is now available to download.

The autumn has begun, the nights are drawing in but we are keeping busy here in the Words Worth Reading Ltd office.  Our editorial team have been working with both students and writers and we have launched our IGT remote audit service for healthcare professionals. 

To get the latest news about business, healthcare, jobs, writing, student life, and to find out what the Words Worth Reading Ltd team have been up to, download this month's newsletter from our website by clicking here.

Monitoring of controlled drugs: The CQC calls for continued vigilance

The sixth annual report into the management of controlled drugs was published by the CQC last month. The report warns that whilst the arrangements for monitoring controlled drugs have worked well, continued vigilance is needed to make sure this good practice continues.

In 2013, changes were made to the regulations governing controlled drugs to align them with the new NHS guidelines.

The report details the progress made in implementing regulations introduced in response to the Shipman Inquiry which found ineffective monitoring had allowed Dr Harold Shipman to divert supplies of diamorphine to kill many of his patients without being detected.

New systems and processes are being rolled out across the NHS and while this is happening, the CQC Chief Executive, David Behan warns that it is vital that vigilance is maintained to ensure the safety of patients.

The CQC is looking at the governance arrangements for controlled drugs in primary medical services now that they are the regulator for these services.

The report outlines trends within the prescribing of controlled drugs and has made five key recommendations. These include:

·      Health and social care professionals must ensure they know the mechanism for reporting controlled drug concerns.

·      CDAOs must ensure contact details on the CDAO register are accurate.

·      Effective systems developed at the local level for secure gathering, sharing and recording of intelligence relating to concerns about safe management of controlled drugs should be preserved and transferred into the new NHS structure.

·      CDAOs must be aware of their continuing responsibilities for good governance and safe use of controlled drugs to ensure monitoring and vigilance.

·      During 2013, the CQC must incorporate providers’ governance arrangements for controlled drugs into its inspection model for primary medical services.

To download the full report, click here.

Image: e-MagineArt.com

Source: www.cqc.org.uk

The CQC Inspection Listening Events Take Place This Month

During the month of September, the first four inspections to be carried out using the CQC's new approach will take place. The inspections will be led by the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards. 

These inspections will each include a public listening event to ensure the views of patients and the local community are properly heard. The 18 trusts involved in the first wave of inspections met with Sir Mike and other CQC representatives in August to talk through the new model and the process the inspections teams will be using.

The first four listening events will be held for people who want to share their experiences of:

• Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, on 17 September
• Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, on 19 September
• Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, on 24 September
• The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, on 26 September.

The CQC would like to hear from anyone who has received care from these trusts. They would like to know about your experiences, share feedback on how improvements need to be made at the trust and share with you how the new inspections will be carried out.

Your views and experiences will then be used by the inspectors to determine which areas to look at during the inspections.

If you are a healthcare professional and would like help with your CQC registration, Words Worth Reading Ltd has a wealth of experience to support you through the process. 

Image: Must Be Art, Flickr