E m e r g i n g I s s u e s Emerging Issues
CHANGES TO THE CSA
T T
he Child Support Agency (CSA) handed over responsibility for the assessment and collection
of child maintenance payments to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) on 1 Nov 08. For most people who are already paying or receiving maintenance payments there is little change. However, for those coming into their clutches anew things will be slightly different. For further details go to
www.csa.gov.uk
CCF OPEN THEIR RANKS
he Ministry of Defence have announced that existing Combined Cadet Forces (CCF)
at Independent Schools are to allow pupils from neighbouring State Schools to join their ranks thereby allowing more young people to get a taste of military life. The Under Secretary of State for Defence, said, “More school children will now have the opportunity to feel the benefits of the cadet system, building discipline, respect and professionalism.”
Register to Vote – Now is the Time...
S 4
ervice personnel and their families are one of the groups least likely to be on the
electoral register and therefore
unable to cast their vote when it comes to election time.
With two planned elections next year and the possibility of a General Election being called at any time, personnel are being urged to act now.
An electoral registration day is taking place at many units to allow registration on the spot. If you have missed out or require more information go to www.aboutmyvote.
co.uk where you can also find a downloadable registration form.
FORCES AUCTION
HEALTHCARE COMMISSION REVIEW
F
or the first time, the Surgeon General has invited the Healthcare Commission to
undertake a review of the Defence Medical Services’ (DMS) Clinical Governance processes. The review started in July 2008 and a full report will be published in March 2009.
WEBSITE
www.ForcesBid.co.uk is an initiative by Service personnel and has been created to raise money for Help for Heroes & Big Salute. By buying, selling or swapping new and used items such as: military uniforms, consumer electronics, antiques and more, you can help. The site also allows individuals and businesses to advertise. Please spread the word.
New legislation enables the Commission to review the military since it had always fallen outside their remit. Now that the legislation is in place, the DMS can be subjected to the same type of independent audit as the NHS and other publicly-funded healthcare providers. This means that every aspect of medical provision to Serving personnel and, where appropriate, their dependent family members, will be reviewed, with the aim of driving quality improvement and ensuring the best possible patient safety. It will also enable the DMS to highlight best practice. For more information: www.
healthcarecommission.org.uk.
The RAF FF will continue to monitor this review and will help publicise the findings when the report goes public. If anyone reading this has concerns or issues relating to the RAF’s delivery of medical care to serving personnel and their eligible dependants, do not hesitate to get in touch so that we can capture that evidence for subsequent reports.
Free Christmas Packet Service
T Winter 2008
here is a pre-Christmas free postal packet service for delivery to authorised overseas operational locations. The
service is being operated by the British Forces Post Office and will operate from 7th Nov 08 to 5th Dec 08 only.
Relatives and friends in the UK and at BFPO addresses worldwide may send packets to named Service personnel and MOD deployed civilians. Packets are limited to 2kg in weight. For full details go to the British Forces Post Office website at
www.bfpo.mod.uk
SSAFA HOLIDAYS FOR CHILDREN 2009
R
egistration has opened for the SSAFA Forces Help 2009 UK Children’s holidays. These
holidays offer children whose lives have been touched by disability and additional needs a chance to have fun and gain confidence. The holidays are available for the dependant children of serving Regular or Reserve personnel. If you are interested in being a volunteer please also use the contact overleaf.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
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