News story: NHS-funded nursing care rate for 2017 to 2018

The reduction follows a review of agency costs by Mazars LLP in 2017

Registered nursing care for eligible nursing home residents is funded by the NHS, with the standard weekly rate per patient currently set at £156.25. This was a 40% increase on the 2015 to 2016 rate following an earlier review of the overall rate by Mazars in 2016.

In announcing the 40% increase last year, the government committed to further review the contribution of agency staff costs to the rate. In line with Mazars’ latest evidence on agency costs, the government will now reduce the agency cost component of the rate by £3.29 to allow for lower agency costs. This reduction is partially offset by an uplift in the remainder of the rate by 1.7% to reflect overall nursing wage pressures.

These rates are based on the best evidence currently available to the Department of Health on the costs of providing nursing care in the sector.

The Department of Health plans to consult on the introduction of a regional rate of NHS-funded nursing care ahead of future rate change announcements.

Methodology

The headline agency cost reduction calculated by Mazars (on page 4 of their report) has been uprated based on a 1% uplift. The Department of Health has decided that for the non-agency component of the rate, a 1.7% uplift for overall changes in staffing costs should be applied for a full year (this approach is based on recommendations from the Mazars 2016 review).

The Department of Health has therefore taken the agency rate on page 15 of the most recent Mazars report and applied a consistent 1.7% methodology for 6 months of the year. This is because the agency data runs to September 2016 (see page 35 of report). This ensures the uprate methodology for both the agency and non-agency component of the rate is on a consistent basis, and uprated to April 2017 for overall estimated changes in staffing costs.

The higher rate of NHS-funded nursing care will be reduced to £213.32 per week, the same percentage decrease as applied to the standard weekly rate (this is only relevant for those people who were already on the higher rate in 2007 when the single band was introduced).



EU funding to support jobseekers in Powys

The funding will support the new Workways+ Powys project, which will be delivered by Powys Council and PRIME Cymru. It will target out-of-work people aged 54 and over.

Workways+ Powys will run for three years and help people looking to start their own business; return to work or hoping to take part in volunteering opportunities to improve their skills and confidence.

It will offer support with jobseeking and interview skills; help with CV writing and the chance to gain vocational qualifications and take part in work experience placements.

Around 50 volunteer mentors will be recruited and trained to provide one-to-one mentoring to people looking to return to work in Powys as part of the project.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: 

“EU funding is making a huge contribution to boosting the skills and prospects of people in Wales through projects like Workways, as well as apprenticeships, traineeships, graduate programmes and schemes to help young people pursue careers in STEM industries.

“I’m very pleased to announce this further investment, which will fund important services and new opportunities for people in Powys to get back into work and develop new careers.”

David Pugh, chief executive of PRIME Cymru said. 

“We are delighted to be working with Powys Council on this truly innovative approach to supporting mature individuals who have so much to offer both Powys and the economy of Wales as a whole. 

“This project will be one of the very first in Wales dedicated to supporting this age group back into economic activity.” 



Yemen urgently needs a ceasefire, a political settlement and food aid – Emily Thornberry

Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the
publication of a UN report showing that Yemen has moved closer to famine, said:

“Yemen urgently needs a ceasefire, a
political settlement, and food aid. It does not need more bombing.

“Britain must stop selling billions of
pounds’ worth of arms to Saudi Arabia. This is only prolonging the conflict. We
are providing the means for the Saudis to continue a war which has been shown
to include the aerial bombardment of farming land, fishing boats, and ports
that provide access for desperately-needed humanitarian aid.”



Airspace Consultation

I recently wrote to the Transport Secretary to request a consultation event on airspace changes should be held in Wokingham. I have now received the enclosed reply from the Secretary of State.



Press release: Public consultation for Rivenhall incinerator

Two drop-in sessions are being held in Coggeshall and Silver End to explain and discuss a proposal for an Integrated Waste Management Facility on the former Rivenhall Airfield site in Essex.

Following the Environment Agency’s decision in December 2016 to refuse Gent Fairhead & Co. Ltd’s application for an Environmental Permit to operate the facility, they have submitted a new application.

Environment Agency staff will be at public drop-ins to discuss the proposals with people and explain their role in permitting and regulating this type of facility. The sessions are:

Monday 20 March, 2pm to 7pm, Silver End Village Hall, Broadway, Silver End CM8 3RQ

Friday 31 March, 2pm to 7pm, Christ Church, Stoneham Street, Coggeshall CO6 1UH

They will explain what will happen and how people can be involved during the consultation and decision-making process. Officers from Essex County Council will also be on hand to answer planning-related questions.

An Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency needs to be in place before the plant can start operating. Environmental Permits contain specific conditions and emission limits that must be complied with while the plant is operating.

The Environment Agency’s role is to consider the environmental impacts the plant could have on human health, air, water, land, habitats and species of animals and plants. It also looks at noise levels, energy efficiency and the sustainability of the plant.

The first application was refused last year because the company had failed to demonstrate that the design of the waste plant would use Best Available Techniques (BAT) to reduce emissions and their impact on the environment. In particular, the company failed to demonstrate that the proposed incinerator stack height was BAT.

Frank Saunders, Team Leader at the Environment Agency said:

Gent Fairhead & Co. Ltd’s revised proposals include a change to the height of the incinerator stack. We encourage local people to come to the drop-ins to find out more about the latest proposals. We’d like to hear their thoughts and concerns to make sure we consider local representations in our decision making process.

The consultation period on this permit application started on 9 March and closes on 13 April 2017.

At the drop-ins people will be able to see the full application and make comments on it.

Further copies of the application (EPR/FP3335YU/A001) will be available at the Environment Agency offices, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Kelvedon CO5 9SE, as well as the public libraries in Coggeshall and Kelvedon.

It is also available on GOV.UK:here

Comments on the permit application should be sent to the Environment Agency’s National Permitting Service in Sheffield at either the postal or email address below, or submitted online here

Environment Agency, Permitting and Support Centre, Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue
Sheffield S9 4WF

Or by email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk