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Changes to the NHS Pension Scheme April 2022
As you may be aware there are some important changes to the NHS Pension Scheme which could affect members from April 2022.
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/show-me/staff-news-my-download/changes-nhs-pension-scheme-april-2022
Advice to patients and families during the consultants’ industrial action
https://dchs.nhs.uk/news/advice-patients-and-families-during-consultants-industrial-action
Friends of Buxton Hospitals
Contact the Friends of Buxton Hospitals
https://dchs.nhs.uk/join-us/volunteer-with-us/friends-buxton-hospitals
Open event spotlights Walton Hospital’s upcoming diagnostic service
https://dchs.nhs.uk/news/open-event-spotlights-walton-hospitals-upcoming-diagnostic-service
Files
Missing from Known Address Policy (P71)
The purpose of the Missing Children and family Alert (MCFA) process is to locate pregnant women and children who have disappeared from view following an undisclosed change of address and for whom there may be concerns about child welfare in respect of unmet need, vulnerability or abuse. Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government 2018) identifies that all children should be safeguarded and have their welfare promoted. This Policy is aimed at DCHS Services that hold a child caseload.
Implementation of National Guidance Policy (P44)
All patients should have fair access to high quality care which is based on clear evidence of best practice. There are many examples of documents issued either by the Department of Health or bodies such as the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which set out the requirements for organisations to follow either as mandatory targets or as best practice guidance and professional advice. This policy sets out the process for the dissemination and implementation of national guidance within Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHSFT). This policy aims to provide a clear process to ensure that national guidance for example NICE, Care Quality Commission Reviews, or NHS Improvement, are appropriately disseminated implemented and monitored across the organisation.
Management of Under Nutrition in Adults (G43)
The aim of the guidelines is to ensure effective patient centred oral nutrition support in Derbyshire by promoting a fortified diet and appropriate, effective ONS prescribing.
Witness Destruction of Controlled Drugs (S34)
This Procedure is to formally record the process to be undertaken in order for the Trust Accountable Officer for Controlled Drugs to authorise named people to witness the destruction of stock controlled drugs.
Blood Pressure Measurements Guidance (G26)
The aim/purpose of these guidelines is to provide all clinical staff who undertake blood pressure measurements with a guide on how to select the right device and correctly undertake and document blood pressure measurements.
Local Decontamination Of Reusable Medical Devices-Dental and Podiatry Services (P16)
The aim of this policy is to detail the practices and principles for the local decontamination of reusable medical devices, with reference to podiatric services.
Adult Nutrition Food and Hydration Policy (P50)
This policy aims to improve the nutrition and hydration of all adult patients cared for by staff working throughout Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHSNHSFT) including those with special/therapeutic dietary requirements. It explains how patients who are at nutritional risk can be identified, how nutritional status may be improved, what support there is from members of the multidisciplinary team and how support and training can be accessed. The major challenge for community hospitals and staff working within the community will be meeting the nutritional requirements of patients who are nutritionally vulnerable; hence much of this policy is based around nutrition support. By achieving the care in the Policy, it will allow the Trust to meet a number of voluntary and mandatory standards including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 14: Meeting nutrition and hydration needs (2015), The Hospital Food Standards Panel’s report on standards for food and drink in NHS Hospitals (2014), NICE - Nutrition support in adults. Quality standard 24 (2012) and the British Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) – The Nutrition and Hydration Digest: Improving Outcomes through Food and Beverages Services 2nd Edition (2017) Whilst this Policy focuses primarily on nutrition, as an important nutrient, water cannot be overlooked. Detailed information on assessing and maintaining patients hydration needs can be found in the Appendix
2021_10_07_public_board_meeting_pack.pdf
DCHS October 2021 Public Board meeting agenda and papers
Managers Informal Conversation Guide (DCHS) V2_.pdf
Managers Informal Conversation Guide Mandatory staff Covid-19 vaccinations (DCHS) V2 (with updated links)
Advance Decisions Policy
It is a general principle of law and medical practice that adults have a right to consent to or refuse treatment. The courts have recognised that adults have the right to say in advance that they want to refuse treatment if they lose capacity in the future, even if this results in their death. A valid and applicable advance decision to refuse treatment has the same force as a contemporaneous decision. This has been a fundamental principle of the common law for many years and is now set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into force in 2007 supported by the Code of Practice to the Act. Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust aims to achieve a more balanced partnership between patients and healthcare professionals and acknowledges that it is the right of every adult patient with capacity to determine whether or not to accept medical treatment. In addition, it is the right of every adult patient to express views about their future care and treatment. The primary responsibility lies with the patient (the maker) to write an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT). The Trust endorses the good practice of staff, set out in national guidance and professional standards to provide information to and general support for patients who wish to write an ADRT. The Trust always encourages patients who wish to discuss their plans for future care and will provide advice to patients and support to advance care planning by helping to coordinate care and communicate plans. In addition, it is supportive of those patients who present with an advance decision and where this is valid and applicable, comply with that specific decision. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s Consent Policy and aims to raise awareness and give guidance to staff about advance decisions.