£50 MILLION
CENTRAL BUDGET
FOR SPECIALIST
PALLIATIVE CARE:
ANALYSIS OF
CANCER NETWORK
REPORTS ON
USE OF
ALLOCATION AT
SIX MONTHS
(NOVEMBER 2003)
1. Allocation of funds to the voluntary sector (VS)
Networks committed to allocating to VS as per investment plans
32 out of 32 (100%)
Networks reporting delays in making allocations to VS
22 (69%)
Networks reporting minor delays
12 (38%)
Networks reporting more serious delays
10 (31%)
Networks expecting to have made all allocations to VS by end December 2003
8 (25%)
Reasons for delay in allocating funds include: funds still to be released by PCT/SHA (14 Networks); local discussions/planning still ongoing (7); funding given in instalments (2); no specific reasons given (4)
Footnote: Two of the 34 Networks did not receive their
allocations until late in the year and were therefore excluded
from this initial monitoring exercise.
2. Progress in recruiting additional specialist palliative care consultants and cancer nurse specialists and opening additional specialist palliative care beds at six months compared with proposals in original Cancer Network investment plans (England total)
Specialist palliative care consultants
Cancer nurse specialists
Specialist palliative care beds
WTE staff prior to original
plan
Additional WTE proposed
in original plans
Changes to original plans at 6 months
Additional WTE appointed
by 6
months
Additional WTE proposed
in original plans
Changes to original plans at 6 months
Additional WTE appointed
by 6
months
Additional beds proposed
in original plansChanges to original plans at 6 mths
Additional beds opened to date
184.97 (191.87)*
70.43
66.28 + 2 SpRs & 1 extra
session
20.52
(31%)
+ 2 SpRs
& 1 extra
session
162.15
N/A
70.15
(43%)
86
+ 6
(total 92)
18 (20%)
* 191.87 = headcount
2. Reasons given for problems/delays in recruiting additional staff
Unable to attract applicants
9
Re-organisation of services caused recruitment delays
1
Job description still being worked on
4
More planning or discussions required
6
Still advertising
16
3. Slippage
Networks reporting increase in slippage
23 (72%)
Networks specifically reporting that slippage is protected for specialist palliative care
19 (59%)
Networks reporting additional allocations to voluntary sector from slippage
12 (38%)
Networks reporting funding Gold Standards Framework from slippage
9 (28%)
Networks reporting funding Liverpool Care Pathway from slippage
10 (31%)
Other uses for slippage reported: equipment/IT; literature/audio-visual;
education/training/information; patient/carer support involvement;
syringe drivers; bereavement support; OT/other staff appointments;
psychology sessions; moved to capital, including for voluntary
sector; NICE initiatives; capacity planning/needs assessment etc;
breathlessness clinics; website development; Hospice at Home development.
