Renal NSF Consultation Questions – Answer
Template
We invite you to comment on the developments from Welsh Assembly
Government to tackle renal disease in Wales. When responding, please state
your name, title, and on whose behalf you are responding.
The National Assembly for Wales intends to publish the responses to this
document. Normally, the name and address (or part of the address) of its
author are published along with the response, as this gives credibility to the
consultation exercise. If you do not wish to be identified as the author of your
response, please state this expressly in writing to us.
Name:
Catherine Griffin – Project Manager
Pam Hall – Programme Director
Address:
6th Floor, Churchill House, Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
E-mail:
catherine.griffin@pmuw.wales.nhs.uk
Who you represent:
Corporate Health Information Programme – established by
the Information Services Division of the Welsh Assembly
Government
1. Do you agree with the standards we have chosen?
No comment
2. Do you think they will effectively tackle renal disease in Wales and
improve the quality of renal care?
No comment
3. When writing the key interventions which underpin each standard, every
attempt has been made to ensure each one is clear, specific, and
measurable to enable effective audit. Are there any key interventions
which you do not consider meet the above criteria? If so, how would you
suggest a form of wording that would improve the key action?
No comment
4. Do you consider they could be achieved in your area over time?
No comment
5. Do you have any other comments that you would like to make about this
document?
Pages 12, 15, and 20:
From experience of looking at other NSF’s it is fair to say that the
development of a dataset will not enable the monitoring of the NSF in its
entirety. The dataset will be patient level and therefore it is likely that a
separate audit tool to monitor the more qualitative aspects of the NSF will
be required. For example, data on patients won’t tell you whether an
organisation has set up a ‘transition policy and programme’ (Key
intervention 1 from Children’s standard 10). Therefore it should be stated
throughout that the development of a dataset will contribute towards the
monitoring of the NSF. It may also be worth mentioning the possible
development of an audit tool to accompany to ensure all key interventions
and standards of the NSF can be monitored.
Another point to note is that the document doesn’t state that there will be a
central collection of the dataset. We recommend this is included, as this
explicitly states the planned course of action, whereas in the past datasets
have been introduced but with no central data collection there is no benefit
to the Assembly / wider Service.
Page 22:
“Define information management systems” – not sure exactly what is
meant by this…perhaps this is a reference to point 4 on page 28? May
need clarifying more explicitly
Pages 28 and 30:
I wasn’t aware that an “integrated All Wales information system” was on
the horizon – presumably this is something likely to be implemented via
Informing Healthcare? Also, there is a difference between developing a
dataset and developing an “integrated all-Wales information system”.
Clarity is needed here to explain that this information system development
is about the introduction of clinical systems to support direct clinical care,
which will also eventually be the systems from which the dataset can be
derived. It also needs to be clear here and throughout the document that in
the short term, if the dataset is to be in place by March 2008, then the
dataset will be derived from existing systems (and is therefore likely to be
less comprehensive than it will be in future).
6. How would you like to see the NSF standards document presented? e.g.
loose leaf binder, one complete publication as a bound book, split
publications e.g. each separate module as a booklet, or adult and
children’s sections
No comment
7. Which of the key interventions do you think will have the biggest impact on
renal disease and the services to diagnose and treat?
No comment
8. The key interventions are going to be implemented over time. Which of the
key interventions do you think are the most urgent for implementation?
Please give specific reference.
No comment
9. What ideas do you have to ensure patients and the Multidisciplinary Renal
Team are involved in influencing implementation, the setting up of renal
networks and the work of the Renal Advisory Group?
No comment
10. Do you have any ideas about how developments at Welsh Assembly
Government level on renal disease can be communicated to you more
effectively?
No comment
11. What ideas do you have to ensure patients can be involved to help
organisations to make their service better?
No comment
12. Can you foresee any barriers to the implementation of these standards? If
so, are there any actions which the Welsh Assembly Government should
take to overcome these barriers?
Page 15:
Note that although it is relatively easy to publish a dataset, there may be
barriers to ensuring it is used effectively by 2008 as there may be a lack of
advanced IT infrastructure across Wales resulting in the inability of
organisations to supply this dataset centrally. An impact analysis would
need to be conducted to assess this fully.
Finally, in terms of barriers to implementation, there is a need to identify
and allocate the financial resources required to ensure the creation of the
dataset and corresponding national database. There will also be a need to
ensure that Trusts have sufficient resources to collect the dataset, as early
indications from England suggest that their dataset (which we are likely to
implement) is going to be a significant data collection burden on Trusts.
In support of the implementation process and programmes of action
being developed, there are a series of groups looking at different
aspects: finance, workforce and information.
13. Are there aspects of implementation you think these groups should be
addressing that these groups are not currently considering?
No
14. What programmes of action to support implementation do you think are
needed?
Work will be needed on the development of the dataset by the Renal
Information Sub Group (once England has published theirs in early 2007)
which will have to go through the Welsh Information Governance
Standards Board (WIGSB) for eventual approval.
Furthermore, ongoing dialogue with those developing or procuring the All
Wales information systems to ensure that these new information systems
implemented are capable of providing the dataset in future.
The NSF website has recently been reviewed and updated.
15. How useful is the website to you and your organisation?
No comment
16. Could it be improved to meet your and your organisations requirements
more effectively?
No comment
17. What would enable you to share your knowledge and your examples of
best practice with others through the website?
No comment
Other issues
18. Can you think of any important issues we may have missed out?
No
Please forward your response no later than 16 JUNE 2006 to:
Renal NSF Consultation
Major Health Conditions and Clinical Support Services Team
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Fax: 029 20825010
E-mail: renal.nsf@wales.gsi.gov.uk