New Documents Bulletin

ABOUT THIS BLOG

2010-03-19T09:04:00.002+00:00

This bulletin highlights recently produced documents that have appeared on websites. The aim is to trawl the web and produce a fortnightly review of what is found (coverage may not be comprehensive). All links are correct at time of publishing. Some documents are large and may take time to open so please be patient when waiting for links to open. If a link is incorrect please email me and I will correct the link and send you the document.

Please note that this is the last issue of this bulletin. Thank you for subscribing. I hope that you've enjoyed reading it as well as finding it useful.

The archive of the bulletin will remain on this website - http://newdocumentsbulletin.blogspot.com/

ALCOHOL

2010-03-19T09:03:00.000+00:00

Developing choice in peer-support (March 2010)
This manual aims to provide guidance to alcohol services and others working with alcohol misusing clients as to how they can help the establishment and development of SMART Recovery groups in their area.
Manual

Peer-support briefing (March 2010)
A briefing about peer-support and the need for greater options to be made available to people with an alcohol problem.
Briefing

Opinions on the impact of alcohol on individuals and communities: findings from the Big Drink Debate. Appendix C: perceptions of alcohol-related incidents and underage binge drinking (5th March 2010)

Tables, by local authority, with the percentages of respondents' perceptions of violent incidents that are alcohol related and binge drinking.
Tables

Evaluation and Review of Tier 4 Alcohol Treatment Services in the Cumbria and Lancashire Alcohol Network (14th March 2010)
The Cumbria and Lancashire Alcohol Network (CLAN) commissioned the Centre for Public Health (CPH) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to review and evaluate current tier 4 alcohol treatment services in Cumbria and Lancashire. The review determined service provision in the areas within Cumbria and Lancashire using local and national evidence, including the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS).
Executive Summary

ANNUAL REPORT

2010-03-19T09:02:00.000+00:00

On the state of public health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Office 2009 (15th March 2010)
The Chief Medical Officer today published his annual report 2009. The report draws attention to major health challenges requiring immediate action and details progress made in key areas identified in previous annual reports. The annual report addresses the benefits of physical activity, preparation for cold weather to reduce health risks, treatment for rare diseases, grandparenting and health, and the link between climate change and health.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

2010-03-19T09:01:00.000+00:00

Trust Practice Health Update 35 (16th March 2010)

Health Update 35 (16th March 2010)

FSA eNews March 2010 (17th March 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 9 (5th March 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 10 (12th March 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin Edition 60, March 2010 (March 2010)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin Issue 92, March 2010 (8th March 2010)

NHS Design Champions Newsletter Issue 1, March 2010 (10th March 2010)

CANCER

2010-03-19T09:00:00.000+00:00

Manual for Cancer Services 2008: Cancer Research Network Measures (12th March 2010)
This revised Manual of Cancer Services is an integral part of the NHS Cancer Plan, Cancer Reform Strategy and modernisation of cancer services. It will support quality assurance of cancer services and enable quality improvement.
Document

National Cancer Patients' Experience Survey Programme 2010 (10th March 2010)
This letter informs that the Review of Central Returns Steering Committee (ROCR) have approved a national survey of cancer patients' experiences in all Trusts who offer adult acute cancer services . This survey is highlighted as a priority in the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11, section 2.24.
Information

Exceptional Progress? Assessing the progress made in improving access to treatment for people with rarer cancers (15th March 2010)
This new report from the Rarer Cancers Forum has highlighted continuing problems for people with rarer cancer in accessing treatment.

Key report findings:

Although progress has been made in gaining access to treatment, with 8,750 more patients being given vital treatment, 16,000 have still been denied access to treatments that they may need.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) needs to improve drug assessment time periods – with the Institute taking 21 months to appraise new cancer drugs, rather than the 6 months which has been promised by ministers.

Additional Findings:

40% of patients described their PCT’s cancer policy as easy to understand
36% of patients cannot find vital procedures and policies on PCT websites
49% of patients were unclear about how quickly they would hear a decision on a request for treatment

Report

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

2010-03-19T08:59:00.000+00:00

Survey of NHS staff 2009 (17th March 2010)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have published the 7th annual survey of NHS staff. it provides trusts with information about the views and experiences of employees that can help to improve the working lives of staff and the quality of care for patients.

The 2009 survey provides 40 key findings about working in the NHS. Of these, 26 show improvements from 2008, two have deteriorated and eight have remained unchanged. A further four key findings are new to the survey in 2009.
Results

Regulating for better care (17th March 2010)
This is the first edition in the CQCs new 'regulating for better care' series.

This series looks at high quality care and improvements in health and social care following action by CQC.

The first edition focuses on improvements made by Ambulance Trusts after infection prevention and control inspections by CQC.
Publication

CARE/CARERS

2010-03-19T08:58:00.000+00:00

Regional factsheets on carers (4th March 2010)
The Department of Health has commissioned the Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE) at Leeds University to produce a set of 9 regional factsheets on carers. These factsheets include data on the number and characteristics of carers in each region as well as information about carer health and well-being.
Factsheets

Funding care: how can each generation pay its fair share? (12th March 2010)
A two-track approach could see each generation paying its own costs of care in later life.

Our present system of paying for care needs replacing. The big sticking point is finding extra funding which both covers the growing needs of an ageing population and shares the cost fairly between generations. This viewpoint:

proposes a phased two-track approach, with an initial charge on inheritance being gradually replaced by funds built up through extra National Insurance paid by younger age cohorts.
suggests such a broad sharing of costs among different generations, linked to ability to pay, could be presented as a fair and equitable settlement.

Document

Funding Social Care: what service users say (9th March 2010)
Service users often aren't involved in discussions about social care funding, yet they will be most affected by any changes to the current failing system.

In 2009, 18 adult social care service users were brought together to explore proposals for funding social care in the future. This Viewpoint reports their views, including:

Service users feel that a false divide between social care and health care is perpetuated by conflicting funding arrangements.
Almost all service users consulted think general taxation is the best way to fund social care.
Service users reject any withdrawal of existing universal disability benefits, such as the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, to fund means and needs tested social care.

Document

CONFERENCE - Putting everyone first: making personalisation work for older people and mental health service users (17th March 2010)
This London conference from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) on 10 June focuses on how to make personalisation work for older people and people that have mental health problems.

The key themes running through this event are:

Recent and new guidance on personalisation in both Older people and Mental health fields that has been developed by the NDTi for the Department of Health
How will commissioning deliver the personalisation agenda, at strategic and operational levels.
What co-production really means and how to make it happen
How support planning and person-centred approaches are key to making personal budgets real

Information

Securing good care for more people. Options for reform (16th March 2010)
Social care has never been higher on the political and policy agenda, and the need for fundamental reform has been universally recognised.

In 2006, The King’s Fund commissioned Sir Derek Wanless to review the funding of social care for older people. That review proposed a ‘partnership model’ in which costs were shared between the state and the individual. Since then, the momentum for change has gathered pace. Securing Good Care for More People updates the original review and concludes that a revised version of the ‘partnership model’ is the fairest way of funding social care in the future. This would see the state guaranteeing to pay 50 per cent of everyone’s care costs and matching every £2 contributed by individuals with a further £1.
Report

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

2010-03-19T08:57:00.000+00:00

The Government's Response to Lord Laming: One Year On (March 2010)
The purpose of this short report is to provide an overview of progress against Lord Laming’s recommendations and set out future priorities. The report summarises the progress and sets out how the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit will seek to make a difference over the coming year. The Unit’s priorities have been developed alongside practitioners and key stakeholders.
Report

COMMISSIONING

2010-03-19T08:56:00.000+00:00

Currency options for the Healthy Child Programme: Transforming Community Services (11th March 2010)
Community services have historically been funded on block contracting arrangements, making it difficult for commissioners to identify what services are being delivered and pay for them appropriately. The publication, Currency and pricing options for community services (DH, January 2009) signalled the need to develop more effective ways of paying for services which reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which reflects local priorities.

This latest publication is a tool for commissioners of community services that contribute to the first five years of the universal Healthy Child Programme (HCP). Commissioners can use this to develop a more transparent approach to paying for these services. The development of better ways of paying for services will reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which promotes the aims and outcomes of the HCP.
Document

World Class Commissioning - March 2010 update (18th March 2010)
Monthly progress report on the World Class Commissioning Programme
Update

Successful Commissioning: How to secure value for money through better financial relationships with third sector organisations (17th March 2010)
The National Audit Office has launched this online guide which focuses on those aspects of the commissioning process that are most likely to affect financial relationships with third sector organisations. It looks at how commissioners can help the third sector to deliver services and outcomes that represent value for money. The main characteristics of the guide are that it:

clearly sets out the main issues for effective financial relationships with third sector organisations;
makes use of existing guidance in an accessible and practical way, and;
dispels some of the ‘myths’ that exist around commissioning with the third sector.

Guide

PRESENTATIONS - Commissioning for health services. Your questions answered. (18th March 2010)
The presentations from this event, that was held on 17th March 2010 at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes, are now available.
Presentations

Valuing people now: transfer of funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities from the NHS to local government: final returns 2010/11 by 31 March 2010 (18th March 2010)
From April 2009, funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities transferred from the NHS to local authorities. This letter to PCT and Local Authority lead commissioners gives guidance on implementation and requests final returns for 2010/11 by Wednesday 31 March 2010.
Documents

COMMUNITIES

2010-03-19T08:55:00.000+00:00

EVENT - Better together, building healthy communities in hard times (15th March 2010)
The Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) are running an important one-day event aimed at supporting NHS practitioners and partners in promoting community cohesion in the current financial climate. The event, to be held on 19th May 2010, will be chaired by Sir John Egan.

The event will look at:

tackling health inequalities through building social capital in the downturn
implementing the Marmot Review (from both a Local Authority and Primary Care Trust perspective)
building resilience and promoting healthy communities by adopting a lifecycle approach

Information

COMMUNITY SAFETY

2010-03-19T08:54:00.000+00:00

National Support Framework. Reducing Reoffending, cutting crime, changing lives (11th March 2010)
The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have published guidance on the new duty for Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) across England and Wales to reduce reoffending. From 1 April 2010 CSPs will have a new duty to formulate and implement a strategy to reduce reoffending by adults and young offenders and probation will become the sixth statutory partner of CSPs.

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England and Local Health Boards (LHBs) in Wales are statutory partners on CSPs
and can play a critical role in helping to reduce reoffending by targeting health resources at those individuals in local
communities who need them most. This may or may not include individuals already in contact with the criminal
justice system. Areas where health services have a role in community safety include:

tackling the misuse of alcohol, drugs and other substances (see section 6, Pathways out of offending), specifically through commissioning and providing appropriate health services
identifying and providing advice and support for victims of domestic or sexual abuse
providing health advice or treatment for people who put themselves or others at risk (for example, through their use of drugs or alcohol)
working with other local partners to help prevent problems occurring in the first place.

Guidance

COMMUNITY SERVICES

2010-03-19T08:53:00.000+00:00

Co-operative PCTs - the future of the NHS? (11th March 2010)
Three years ago a former nurse and a speech therapist, who held senior positions in their Primary Care Trust (PCT), lifted the nursing and therapy teams out of the PCT and set up a new, employee-owned, not for profit business.

This story reports their new business model showing that the future of health care could be co-operative.
Information

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

2010-03-19T08:52:00.000+00:00

Personal Care at Home Consultation: The Government Response (12th March 2010)
This is the Government response to the consultation document entitled Personal Care at Home: A consultation on proposals for regulations and guidance. Annex B to the Government response is published as a separate document. A series of stakeholder engagement events, hosted by the Central Office of Information (COI), formed part of the consultation and a report of these events, produced by COI, is published alongside the Government response.
Consultation Response

A better future: a consultation on a future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions. The Government Response (9th March 2010)
During the summer of 2009 the Department of Health consulted on a strategy for adults with autism in England. This is the government response to that consultation.
Consultation Response

Changes to the NHS Constitution: Government response to the consultation on new patient rights (8th March 2010)
The Department of Health published a consultation on new patient rights on 10 November 2009. The consultation closed 5 February 2010.

Over 8,000 people responded to the consultation which involved both local engagement activities carried out by PCTs, and a national consultation process. Following the consultation, a revised NHS Constitution has been published, including a new right to start non-urgent treatment within 18 weeks, and to see a specialist where cancer is suspected within 2 weeks of referral, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer a range of alternative providers where this is not possible. This new right comes into effect on 1 April 2010.
Consultation Response

A consultation on the revision of guidance on the ordinary residence provisions in the National Assistance Act 1948; and on the draft Ordinary Residence Disputes (National Assistance Act 1948) Directions 2009, the Ordinary Residence Disputes (Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc. Act 2003) Directions and the Ordinary Residence Disputes (Mental Capacity Act 2005) Directions 2009 (5th March 2010)
This is the Government Response to this consultation that ran from 21st April to 17th July 2009.
Government Response

New Horizons: Towards a shared vision for mental health - report on responses to the consultation (17th March 2010)
New Horizons: report of public consultation: the full response to the public consultation which opened in July 2009 and set out a vision for the future of mental health care in England. It describes the consultation process, summarises responses, and sets out the Government’s response.
Consultation Response

Age equality in health and social care. A report on the consultation (9th March 2010)
In April 2009, the then Secretary of State for Health asked Sir Ian Carruthers OBE (Chief Executive of NHS South West) and Jan Ormondroyd (Chief Executive of Bristol City Council) to consider what the new measures on age in the Equality Bill would mean for health and social care. The report of their review was published in October 2009 and made twenty-eight recommendations

DH published a consultation paper on 23 November 2009 which invited views on the review’s non-legislative recommendations and DH’s proposals for taking them forward. The consultation closed on 15 February 2010. DH also published an Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, and invited comments on these. Four consultation events were held across England which provided an opportunity to discuss the proposals in the consultation paper.

Over two hundred people attended the consultation events, and around ninety written responses were made to the consultation paper. In general, the responses were supportive of the proposals.
Consultation Response

CONSULTATIONS

2010-03-19T08:51:00.000+00:00

The Health Care Workers (Duty of Co-operation) Regulations 2010 (5th March 2010)
The Department of Healthare consulting on draft regulations which will impose duties on designated bodies, including employers and contractors of health care workers, in all sectors, and regulatory bodies, relating to sharing information about the conduct or performance of health care workers to protect patient safety. The regulations require appropriate safeguards in place when relevant information is shared.

Closing date for comments is 4th June 2010.
Consultation

Consultation on the de-authorisation of NHS Foundation Trusts (3rd March 2010)
Section 15 of the Health Act 2009 introduces new sections to the National Health Service Act 2006 concerning the de-authorisation of NHS foundation trusts.

Under the revised Act, either:

Monitor can consider de-authorising an NHS foundation trust which is seriously failing to comply with its terms of authorisation or any requirement(s) imposed on it under any enactment; or
the Secretary of State for Health may write to Monitor requesting that Monitor consider the de-authorisation of an NHS foundation trust.

In both cases, the de-authorisation decision must be based on guidance published by Monitor, and the revised Act requires Monitor to consult on this guidance before publishing.

This consultation document sets out Monitor's proposed approach and guidance on the criteria for de-authorisation.
Closing date for comments is 26th May 2010.
Consultation

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

2010-03-19T08:50:00.000+00:00

Advancing health: examples of the work of the Chief Medical Officer for England, 1998-2010 (14th March 2010)
This report summarises Sir Liam's work during his time as Chief Medical Officer. It gives an overview of the Chief Medical Officer's role and describes some of the advances that have been made during Sir Liam's term in office.
Report

DIRECTIONS

2010-03-19T08:49:00.000+00:00

The Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities (Waiting Times) Directions 2010 (8th March 2010)
These Directions come into force 1st April 2010.
Directions

DISABILITIES

2010-03-19T08:48:00.000+00:00

Sharing the learning: user-led organisations action and learning sites 2008-2010 (17th March 2010)
This guide describes the background to establishing the user-led organisations action and learning sites, and provides a snapshot of the good practice resources resulting from this project.
Guide

Disabled children's services national indicator 2009-10: Primary Care Trusts reports (March 2010)
A collection of disabled children's services national indicator reports setting out findings for each primary care trust (PCT) area for which there was sufficient response from parents to the 2009-2010 survey to measure parental satisfaction of services for disabled children.

Each report provides indicator and sub-indicator scores, as well as analysis of parents' comments relating to services in each of the following areas: health, education, and care and family support.

There are also comparison Excel spreadsheets for PCTs which allow for easy comparisons between local areas.
Reports

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

2010-03-19T08:47:00.002+00:00

Cases of tuberculosis continue to increase (16th March 2010)
Provisional figures released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the UK have increased by 5.5%, from 8,679 reported in 2008 to 9,153 in 2009.

The figures, released in the agency's annual TB newsletter ahead of World TB Day on 24th March, show the main burden of this infection is still in London with 3,476 cases reported in 2009, accounting for 38% of the UK total. The West Midlands region reported the second highest number of cases, accounting for 11.3% of cases. A rise in cases was seen in eight out of nine regions. Nearly three-quarters of cases occur in people born outside the UK.
Information

DOCTORS

2010-03-19T08:46:00.001+00:00

Fitness to practice audit report. Audit of health professional regulatory bodies' initial decisions (15th March 2010)
The profession and the public can be confident that ensuring patient and public safety is at the core of all the fitness to practise decisions made by the General Medical Council, an audit by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) finds.

The audit, the first of its kind undertaken by the CHRE, found that the GMC's processes and procedures for cases involving doctors whose fitness to practise is in doubt are "effective" and are "dealt with in a timely manner". Patient and public safety, and maintaining public confidence in doctors, are the highest priorities for the GMC's operations.
Report

DRUGS

2010-03-19T08:45:00.000+00:00

Tackling problem drug use (4th March 2010)
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) into government action to tackle problem drug use has concluded that there has been good progress in a number of areas, including an increasing number of problem drug users in effective treatment and an increasing number leaving treatment free from dependency.
Report

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

2010-03-19T08:44:00.000+00:00

Gateshead - Paddle Your Own Canoe (15th March 2010)
Paddle Your Own Canoe (PYOC) was a project by Wayout in Gateshead (WinG), an organisation that specialises in conducting personal development courses through adventure education. The course aimed to improve the mental health and well-being of people over 50 years old. It was funded by Communities for Health.
Information

Care and support for older people and carers in Bradford (16th March 2010)
This study explored the needs, aspirations and expectations of older people and family carers from a range of ethnic communities in Bradford, regarding both formal paid care and help from family, friends and neighbours.

The study found that:

Irrespective of cultural or ethnic background, older people shared expectations about caring relationships and access to services, as well as similar experiences of service delivery.
There was a strong sense that services were run more for the convenience and budgets of service providers than for the benefit of the individual older person.
Across all groups there was a desire for flexible, tailored services. Older people wanted more say in how and where they lived, the quality of their food, and who provided 'that bit of help' in their homes.

Report

FINANCE

2010-03-19T08:43:00.000+00:00

Healthy Balance. A review of public health performance and spending (11th March 2010)
This briefing, from the Audit Commission, estimates that £21 billion of NHS funds has been allocated in 2009/10 on the basis of health inequalities. Despite the health of the nation improving overall, health inequalities has proved a stubborn area to address.

It highlights some of the variation in success among different localities, particularly for teenage pregnancies. Despite the sums of money allocated, it is not always clear how much has been spent on improving health inequalities and what the impact has been. It is hard to see an obvious link between spending and improvement, or get any clear view of value for money.

Briefing

Statements on Internal Control (SICs) 2009/10: disclosures guidance (published 1st February 2010 new to website 4th March 2010)
Clarification on how and where organisations should make disclosures or qualifications on their Statement on Internal Control (SIC) about risk management and review processes being in place for the full year, gaps in assurance frameworks, NHS Pension Scheme compliance and significant control issues for 2008/09.
Information

FUEL POVERTY

2010-03-19T08:42:00.000+00:00

The Long Cold Winter: Beating fuel poverty (15th March 2010)
More and more people are being plunged into fuel poverty as energy prices rise and government programmes to tackle this major social problem fail to keep up with the scale of the challenge.

This report, from ippr, reviews the current policy landscape on fuel poverty and asks where policy should go next, if fuel poverty is to be addressed effectively in the UK.
Report

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

2010-03-19T08:41:00.000+00:00

Ready to go? Planning the discharge and transfer of patients from hospital and intermediate care (12th March 2010)
Good practice professionals guide for health and social care.
Guidance

Leading the way through social enterprise: the Social Enterprise Pathfinder Programme evaluation (4th March 2010)
In 2006, the Department of Health established the Social Enterprise Pathfinder Programme to better understand social enterprise in health and social care. The programme followed 26 social enterprises and examined what factors appear to be early indicators for success and outlined the challenges in delivering health and social care services.

This document highlights some of the key findings of the evaluation, which the Department of Health hope will be helpful for those who are currently involved in setting up a social enterprise to deliver health and social care services.
Report

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2010-03-19T08:40:00.000+00:00

Progress in implementing the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety' (15th March 2010)
This document summarises the progress the Department of Health has made in implementing the White Paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century'.
Document

Invisible Patients, Report of the Working Group on the health of health professionals (5th March 2010)
Invisible Patients specifically focuses on the health issues facing regulated health professionals and identifies some priorities for addressing them. It looks at how ill health in health professionals may affect their professional practice, the difficulties they face in seeking help and the role of the health profession regulatory bodies.
Report

HEALTH SERVICES

2010-03-19T08:39:00.000+00:00

Older People's Experiences of Falls Prevention Services (24th February 2010)
In a new survey of over 1,000 patients from the Royal College of Physicians, three-quarters (76% - 767 of 1,028 total respondents) felt that their experience of falls prevention services had been positive.

However, among the 24% of respondents reporting a less than positive experience, the majority of issues were related to communication between patients and healthcare professionals, and many of the physical exercise programmes described in the results were not evidence-based, which limits their effectiveness.

Key findings:
At least 3 out of 4 people from the total sample group:

Knew why they had been referred to the service (95%)
Felt they had been seen quickly enough to help with their recovery (78%)
Felt they received a thorough health check up (85%)
Felt they had been involved in deciding what actions should be taken after being seen (80%)
Were fully satisfied that good communication took place (85%)
Found it easy or fairly easy to travel to appointments (76%)
Were asked about their experiences of losing their balance or falling (84%)

Report

HOUSING

2010-03-19T08:38:00.000+00:00

How can we make the housing market more stable for vulnerable households? (5th March 2010)
Two different perspectives on the kinds of reforms needed to provide long-term, secure housing for the people least able to afford it.

These Viewpoints were commissioned as part of the JRF Housing Market Taskforce programme, which aims to address the root causes of instability in the UK housing market. They are aimed at stimulating debate.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), argues that the UK's 'obsession with home-ownership' creates social and economic divisions and instability, and we need a more balanced approach to different kinds of tenure. Philippa Stroud, co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice and formerly Director of the Conservative Party's Social Justice Policy Group, believes that life tenancies and the benefits system have combined to create social immobility, worklessness and dependency, and that social housing should be the first step on the ladder to home ownership.
Document

IMMUNISATION

2010-03-19T08:37:00.000+00:00

Pandemic H1N1 Vaccine Uptake Figures for England by SHA and PCT (18th March 2010)
The Department of Health have published preliminary data on vaccinations given up to 28 February 2010 at the SHA and PCT/Trust levels.

For each SHA and PCT, the % uptake of one dose of the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix by people in clinical risk groups (including pregnant women) and children aged six months to under five years (Tables 1 & 2). % uptake is the (number vaccinated / number eligible to receive vaccine and registered) x 100%.

For each SHA and Trust (Tables 3 and 4):

the number of Front Line Healthcare Workers (HCWs)
the number of HCWs that have received one dose of the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix
the % uptake – (number HCWs vaccinated / number HCWs) x 100%

Information

Guidance for the 2010/11 Human papillomavirus vaccination programme (17th March 2010)
Information on the HPV vaccination programme for 2010/11.
Information

INFANT FEEDING

2010-03-19T08:36:00.000+00:00

Report of the Independent Review Panel conducting the Independent Review of the Controls on Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (11th March 2010)
In 2007, Dawn Primarolo, then Minister for Public Health, established a review of the effectiveness of new controls in the new Infant Formula and Follow on Formula Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/3521). These controls aimed to reduce confusion for parents between infant formula for exclusive feeding of babies during the first months of life and follow on formula for babies aged six months and over. The independent panel of experts was asked to "Assess whether the new controls on the way in which follow on formula is presented and advertised have been effective in making clear to parents/parents to be and carers that advertisements for follow on formula are meant only for babies over six months and are not perceived or confused as infant formula advertising, which is prohibited". The Minister for Public Health has published the Panel’s report and will publish her response to the report’s findings and recommendations as soon as possible.
Report

INFORMATION

2010-03-19T08:35:00.000+00:00

The truth is out there. A discussion paper (5th March 2010)
This discussion paper looks at how the public sector can improve information made available to the public. It follows the Audit Commission's publication in November 2009, Nothing but the truth, that looked at the reliability of facts and figures used by public service providers and decision-makers such as councils and health trusts, social workers, doctors and police.

The next document in their 'Truth' series, 'The truth is out there' poses questions such as 'What information will capture the public’s imagination?' and 'How will the public know what information to trust?'
Paper

JOINT WORKING

2010-03-19T08:34:00.000+00:00

Putting our heads together: what makes senior joint posts work? (17th March 2010)
As the downturn begins to pressurise public services and an ageing population continues to exacerbate the burden of long-term conditions, many health and social care organisations are beginning to look afresh at how working together might be a solution.

With the integration agenda rising in prominence once again, we surveyed some of the prominent figures who embody the strengths and challenges of closer joint working: senior leaders whose posts cut across the traditional boundaries between health and local government. Based on these interviews, this discussion paper looks at the factors that help and hinder success in a joint post and what local and national leaders can learn from this.
Document

Building a safe and confident future: implementing the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force (17th March 2010)
A joint implementation plan from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in partnership with the Social Work Reform Board.
Document

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

2010-03-19T08:33:00.000+00:00

LASSL(DH)(2010)1: Provisional Grant Allocations for the Personal Care At Home Grant for 2010/11 (12th March 2010)
The purpose of this circular is to advise local authorities of their provisional grant allocations for the Personal Care at Home grant from 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011. This grant will be paid via Area Based Grant (ABG).
Information

Ordinary residence: guidance on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services, England (5th March 2010)
This guidance provides information and advice to local authorities (and certain other bodies) on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services.

The guidance anticipates the coming into force of section 148 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 which is expected to come into force on 19 April 2010. The guidance is effective from this date. Therefore, on 19 April 2010, this guidance will replace the existing ordinary residence guidance contained in LAC(93)7. From this date, LAC(93)7 will be revoked.
Guidance

Top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care (February 2010)
Local authorities spend about £18 billion each year on adult social care including £11.6 billion on external providers. Millions could be saved each year through more effective and collaborative commissioning, including better procurement of services.

Local authorities are under pressure to reduce expenditure on, and the cost of, adult social care. At the same time, services users and carers expect high-quality services. Members need to understand how services can be improved and how they can be delivered more efficiently.

This guide – one of a series of member guides on procurement – provides tips on how your authority can make savings through better commissioning of adult social care.
Guide

MATERNITY/MIDWIFERY

2010-03-19T08:32:00.000+00:00

Maternity and Early Years - Making a good start to family life (16th March 2010)
The Government has today announced the launch of a strategic vision for the further transformation of maternity services and early years services. “Maternity and Early Years - Making a Good Start to Family Life”

The document has been developed jointly by the Department of Health, The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, drawing on the views of mothers and fathers, children’s centre staff, local health practitioners and children.
Document

MENTAL HEALTH

2010-03-19T08:31:00.000+00:00

Paths to Personalisation - A whole system, whole life framework (16th March 2010)
Published today by the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU) Personalisation in Mental Health Programme, this guide has been produced to help all those involved understand how things will need to be done differently to make personalisation a reality for people with mental health needs. This is a whole system guide, so hopefully it will give some information, guidance and signposts for people, whoever and wherever they are. The guide provides information about what personalisation means for mental health services and supports, offers examples of what needs to be in place to make things work, and provides pointers to good practice and sources of advice and information.
Guide

3 Briefing papers published by PSA16 programme (15th March 2010)
The Public Service Agreement 16 programme have published the following 3 briefing papers:
Improving housing and employment opportunities for people with mental health problems
Employment and Mental Health
Work recovery and inclusion: employment support for people in contact with secondary mental health services
Documents

Life Story Network (7th March 2010)
The National Life Story Network was launched at a conference in Leeds on 12th February. The network provides a national forum (www.lifestorynetwork.org.uk) to support the use of Life Story work among people with mental illness including dementia.

Life Story is a growing area of interest in policy and practice relating to the care of people. The Network has been promoted and supported by an independent steering group, with representation from a range of national and regional partners, including the Dignity in Care (DH) campaign, the National Dementia Strategy, Mental Health Foundation and the National Mental Health Development Unit.
Information

Blurring the Boundaries. The convergence of mental health and criminal justice policy, legislation, systems and practice (16th March 2010)
This report, from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health demonstrates that a convergence is taking place between mental health and criminal justice legislation, policy, systems and practice. The report summarises both the benefits and the risks of convergence. It is intended to inform policy-makers and practitioners about where convergence can be useful and where caution is required.
Report

NHS

2010-03-19T08:30:00.000+00:00

General Election - Guidance (11th March 2010)
Two letters have been produced to provide chief executives with information on handling the General Election period, once it starts. It includes links to previous guidance and advice.
Letter for Arms Length Bodies
Letter for NHS Trust AND PCT

The handbook to the NHS Constitution for England (8th March 2010)
This Handbook is designed to give NHS staff and patients all the information they need about the NHS Constitution for England. It outlines the roles we all have to play in protecting and developing the NHS and will help you understand our rights, pledges, values and responsibilities.
Document

Getting the most out of PROMs. Putting health outcomes at the heart of NHS decision-making (11th March 2010)
More than 100 years ago Florence Nightingale suggested a health-related outcome measure for her patients: relieved, unrelieved and dead. Despite the developments in medical technology since then, attempts to measure the positive outcomes of health care have been slow in coming. An important step forward was made in 2009 when the English NHS began collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for four elective procedures.

The aim of this report, from the Kings Fund, is to provoke and encourage thinking about the wide range of ways in which PROMs data can be used to inform decisions. It draws on Bupa’s example to discuss how providers can use PROMs data to improve clinical performance. It also offers practical advice for commissioners in using PROMs data to assess value for money and decide how to purchase health care systems.
Report

Rising to the challenge: health priorities for government and the NHS (11th March 2010)
The document sets out what the NHS Confederation see as the major priorities facing the NHS, what they think NHS leaders can do now to help develop the system and enhance patient care, and what a new government will need to do post-election to facilitate this and create the necessary conditions for progress.
Document

The NHS Constitution for England (8th March 2010)
This Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. All NHS bodies and private and third sector providers supplying NHS services are required by law to take account of this Constitution in their decisions and actions.
Document

Guidance on the attribution of NHS non-commercial Research costs, Support costs and treatment costs (ReSeT Guidance) (15th March 2010)
This document clarifies the distinction between the three categories of costs associated with non-commercial research studies: Research Costs, NHS Support Costs and Treatment Costs. It is supported by two annexes – Annex A provides an exemplar set of common activities that have been attributed to the three specific cost categories and Annex B provides a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The first section of the FAQs relates to FAQs that are generic across the United Kingdom and the second section to country specific questions. These Annexes will be updated on a regular basis and users need to ensure that they have the latest version (please refer to individual Health Department websites for their country specific FAQs).
Document

NHS TRUSTS

2010-03-19T08:29:00.000+00:00

A&E Serious Youth Violence Data Sharing Initiative (16th March 2010)
This area of the Department of Health website is dedicated to the above initiative.

The aim of the initiative is to support and encourage A&E Departments to work with police and other local agencies to understand more about serious youth violence in their community. This initiative has been developed building on the work achieved through the Home Office Tackling Knives and Serious Youth Violence Action Programme (TKAP). This covers targeted police action to tackle a minority of young people from 13-24 years old who commit serious violence, regardless of the weapon involved.

On these pages you will find resources to help develop local data sharing initiatives; evidence and case studies of the impact; and networking opportunities with others doing similar work.
Information

NICE

2010-03-19T08:28:00.000+00:00

Consultation Documents (5th March 2010-18th March 2010)
NICE are now consulting on the following:

Barrett's oesophagus - ablative therapy: draft guideline consultation - closing date 7th April 2010

Nocturnal enuresis in children (bedwetting): guideline consultation - closing date 6th May 2010

Hypertension (update): scoping workshop, consultation and final scope - closing date 8th April 2010

Social and emotional wellbeing - vulnerable children at home: consultation on the draft scope - closing date 13th April 2010

Social and emotional wellbeing: early education and daycare: consultation on the draft scope - closing date 13th April 2010

Spasticity in Children: draft scope consultation - closing date 9th April 2010

Psoriatic arthritis - etanercept, infliximab & adalimumab (review): appraisal consultation document - closing date 8th April 2010

QOF Indicators in development - closing date 11th April 2010

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: scope consultation - closing date 16th April 2010

Growth failure (in children) - human growth hormone (HGH) (review): final appraisal determination - closing date 1st April 2010

Latest Implementation Tools (11th March 2010)
Tools to aid implementation of latest guidance:

CG93 Donor Breast Milk Banks: audit support, costing tool and slide set

TA186 Rheumatoid arthritis - certolizumab pegol: audit support and costing tool

TA185 Soft tissue sarcoma - trabectedin: audit support and costing tool

PH23 School-based interventions to prevent smoking: slide set and costing tool

IPG331 Cytoreduction surgery followed by hyperthermic intraoperative peritoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis (replacing of IPG116): audit support

IPG332 Surgical correction of hallux valgus using minimal access: audit support

Therapeutic endoscopic division of epidural adhesions (review of IPG88): audit support

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

2010-03-19T08:27:00.000+00:00

Health Committee - Social Care - Third Report of Session 2009-10 (12th March 2010)
Vol I
Vol II

Joint Committee of Human Rights - Equality and Human Rights Commission - Thirteenth Report of Session 2009-10 (15th March 2010)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Any of our business? Human Rights and the UK private sector: Government and Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2008-09 - Eleventh Report of Session 2009-10 (8th March 2010)

Committee of Public Accounts - Equality and Human Rights Commission - Fifteenth Report of Session 2009-10 (4th March 2010)

Committee of Public Accounts - Improving Dementia Services in England - an Interim Report - Nineteenth Report of Session 2009-10 (16th March 2010)

Committee of Public Accounts - The Decent Homes Programme - Twenty-first Report of Session 2009-10 (18th March 2010)

PRIMARY CARE

2010-03-19T08:26:00.000+00:00

Primary Care and Emergency Departments: report from the Primary Care Foundation (8th March 2010)
In May 2009 the Department of Health commissioned the Primary Care Foundation to study the impact of using primary care within or alongside Accident and Emergency. The report highlights that use of primary care clinicians in Accident and Emergency departments can benefit patients where services are integrated and clinicians work together.

The findings of this report are being developed into a guide for commissioners on use of primary care clinicians with Accident and Emergency departments and this guide will be available soon.

This report will be of interest to NHS chief executives and their commissioning colleagues.
Report

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

2010-03-19T08:25:00.000+00:00

Cancer Awareness and Early Diagnosis Programme funding (8th March 2010)
Letter announcing funding for 2010/11 to develop or build on existing services/interventions that aim to promote early diagnosis of cancer, and inviting proposals from primary care trusts by 28 April 2010.
Information

NHS Pharmaceutical Services - Transfer of the Global Sum to PCT Allocations (10th March 2010)
The attached letter draws attention to important considerations in managing funding for NHS services provided by community pharmacies and appliance contractors, following devolvement of the centrally held funding to PCTs from 1 April 2010.
Information

New value for money (VfM) profiles launched (17th March 2010)
The Audit Commission has launched new value for money (VfM) profiles for PCTs, fire and rescue authorities, police authorities and councils. These are more user-friendly, have a clearer focus on VfM, track levels of spend to assess the impact of improvements, and compare spend and performance to other bodies.
Information

PUBLIC HEALTH

2010-03-19T08:24:00.000+00:00

Review of Public Health Regulation (11th March 2010)
The nature of Specialist and Director of Public Health roles are key to the current and future public health function; with high visibility and importance to tackling core challenges such as disparities in health, health protection and lifestyle burdens. Assurance and confidence in public health specialist practice is therefore of great importance. This review seeks to increase the confidence of both the public and professionals as to standards of competence, performance and conduct of the public health workforce.
Information

Technical Briefing 7: Measuring smoking prevalence in local populations (10th March 2010)
This briefing provides brief overviews of potentially useful sources of local-level smoking data, option appraisals for local-level surveillance of smoking and pointers to help local organisations meet their local smoking prevalence information needs
Briefing

Behaviour change training delivered across Cheshire and Merseyside: mapping programmes and exploring processes (15th March 2010)
Behaviour change interventions have the potential to produce a significant impact on major causes of mortality and morbidity. This research focuses on behaviour change training programmes which aim to develop the knowledge and skills of staff so that they are better equipped to help people change health-related attitudes and behaviour.
Report

Top tips for commissioners and providers of behaviour change training programmes (15th March 2010)
Behaviour change training programmes aim to develop the knowledge and skills of the public health workforce leaving them better equipped to help change health related attitudes and behaviours. Commonly used forms of behaviour change interventions are brief interventions, brief advice, motivational interviewing and social marketing.

These Top tips aim to support the commissioning and delivery of effective behaviour change training programmes across Cheshire and Merseyside. They include recommendations developed from the findings of research which mapped behaviour change training programmes and explored their delivery and commissioning across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Document

Much achieved: More to do. Reducing Health Inequalities in Knowsley. (4th March 2010)
This document is a review and a position statement in relation to health inequalities in Knowsley. It looks at the progress which has been made in Knowsley over the past 10 years in reducing health inequalities. The current challenges are assessed, and recommendations are made for the future.
Document

QUALITY

2010-03-19T08:23:00.000+00:00

The NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention challenge: an introduction for clinicians (11th March 2010)
This booklet has been published to support clinical teams and NHS organisations to meet the quality and productivity challenge and provides ways in which NHS clinicians can all get involved in shaping the response locally. It is important that clinicians start to discuss with colleagues how to continue to improve the quality of care provided, and do so more efficiently. Clinicians can listen to patients and work closely with managers to make sustainable improvements.
Booklet

RESEARCH GOVERNANCE

2010-03-19T08:22:00.000+00:00

Governing health services research: is it working? (15th March 2010)
Research governance is an issue that constantly troubles members of the Health Services Research Network (HSRN), who feel that a system that has been set up to deal with clinical research unfairly places an excessive level of regulatory burden on much lower risk health services research, which is largely non-clinical and non-invasive.

As part of HSRN’s programme of work looking at this issue, they commissioned Mary Dixon Woods and Karen Yeung to write this viewpoint to help them understand and provide some questioning of how the current system operates.
Report

SEXUAL HEALTH

2010-03-19T08:21:00.000+00:00

Enhanced Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cheshire and Merseyside 2008 (12th March 2010)
Report commissioned by the Cheshire and Merseyside Sexual Health Network on behalf of the area's primary care trusts for assessing local epidemiology and to measure performance targets in order to improve monitoring, planning and interventions for sexual health promotion and treatment and care services.
Report

SOCIAL EXCLUSION

2010-03-19T08:20:00.000+00:00

Inclusion Health (11th March 2010)
A new short study, Inclusion Health, outlines how improvements in health care for the most excluded groups in society can be accelerated to ensure high quality services are available to all.

Some of the key actions include:

Establishing a Chair in Inclusion Health providing professional and academic leadership within the sector.
Embedding inclusion health in undergraduate training for all nurses, doctors and dentists.
Publishing new Inclusion Health commissioning guidance, which will set out how the needs of socially excluded groups can be better assessed and met;
Describing and promoting effective models of prevention and promotion for socially excluded groups.
Enhance existing processes and incentives to encourage service innovations and improvements for socially excluded groups.

Report

STATISTICS

2010-03-19T08:19:00.000+00:00

Provisional Monthly Hospital Episode Statistics for Admitted patient care and outpatient data, April 2009-November 2009 (9th March 2010)

NHS Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activities - January 2010 (10th March 2010)

Clinical Dental Report, England and Wales: Quarter 3 and Quarter 4, 2008/09 - Experimental Statistics (11th March 2010)

Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times - January 2010 (18th March 2010)

NHS Referral to Treatment Waiting Times - January 2010 (18th March 2010)

GP National Patient Survey - Q1, Q2 and Q3 2009-10 aggregated results (18th March 2010)

NHS Staff Earnings - estimates, October 2009 to December 2009 (18th March 2010)

SUBSTANCE MISUSE

2010-03-19T08:18:00.000+00:00

Young People's Drug and Alcohol Treatment at the Crossroads (24th February 2010)
The drug and alcohol treatment system needs to be more flexible if it is to effectively meet the needs of older teenagers and young adults developing substance misuse problems, according to a new DrugScope report.

The charity’s 'Young people’s drug and alcohol treatment at the crossroads 'report draws on consultations with over 150 professionals who support young drug and alcohol users, as well as the views of service users themselves, from across England. It finds that the drugs causing most problems for young people are cannabis and alcohol, with many also using a range of substances including cocaine, ketamine, GBL and ‘legal highs’ such as mephedrone.
Report
Summary
Press Release

Drug and alcohol treatment in the North West of England 2008/09 (15th March 2010)
This publication details the results of the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) in the North West of England during 2008/09. The NDTMS was introduced in April 2001 to collect data on all clients in contact with structured treatment services (i.e. high threshold tier 3 and 4 services as defined by the Models of Care, see National Treatment Agency [NTA] 2002). To take into account the recent developments in NDTMS monitoring and reporting, this report provides an overview of the NDTMS data for the region and has been divided into the following sections:

Problematic Drug Users (PDU) and all drug users (aged over 18) in effective structured drug treatment
Individuals in contact with structured drug treatment
Young People (under 18) in contact with structured drug and alcohol treatment
Individuals in contact with structured alcohol treatment.

Report

VETERANS

2010-03-19T08:17:00.000+00:00

Health and Social Outcomes and Health Service Experiences of UK Military Veterans: a summary of the evidence, November 2009 (9th March 2010)
Each year approximately 24,000 men and women leave the British Armed Forces and return to civilian life. This report reviewed the available evidence on the health and social outcomes, and the health experiences, of former members of the Armed Forces.

Key findings included that, whilst in general the health of the veteran community is comparable with that of the general population, rates of heavy drinking are more prevalent among both serving and ex-serving personnel. The study also identified barriers to accessing healthcare for both groups, especially the stigma of admitting a need for help, with veterans reporting an additional problem of not knowing where to go for help. The authors also made several recommendations for further research.
Report

VOLUNTEERING

2010-03-19T08:16:00.000+00:00

Volunteering: involving people and communities in delivering and developing health and social care services (16th March 2010)
This strategic vision for volunteering, developed following extensive consultation, sets out to enhance the profile of volunteering; highlight its potential in terms of health, well-being and addressing health inequalities; and promote good practice across the health and social care system.
Document

WOMEN'S HEALTH

2010-03-19T08:15:00.000+00:00

The report from the Taskforce on the health aspects of violence against women and children (11th March 2010)
An independent taskforce was set up to identify the role and response of the NHS in relation to violence against women and children and to make recommendations on what more could be done to meet their needs.

The Taskforce report makes recommendations around improving the early identification of victims; enhancing the quality of and access to services; raising awareness of violence against women and children; training and development; and partnership working.
Report

Interim government response to the Taskforce report (11th March 2010)
This document provides the Government's interim response to the report of the independent Taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). It sets out initial responses to each of the recommendations of the Taskforce and next steps.
Report

ABOUT THIS BLOG

2010-03-04T14:06:00.000+00:00

This bulletin highlights recently produced documents that have appeared on websites. The aim is to trawl the web and produce a fortnightly review of what is found (coverage may not be comprehensive). If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this Bulletin, please send an email to library.pct@sthk.nhs.uk. All links are correct at time of publishing. Some documents are large and may take time to open so please be patient when waiting for links to open. If a link is incorrect please email me and I will correct the link and send you the document.

For those that are receiving this through an email or through a third party you can view the original Bulletin at http://www.newdocumentsbulletin.blogspot.com/ and also sign up to receive the Bulletin by RSS.

ALCOHOL

2010-03-04T14:05:00.000+00:00

Alcohol: Minimum Pricing and Licensing Powers. Expected outcomes and recommended local actions for Merseyside (2nd March 2010)

Following the Liverpool Shadow Safer Healthier Communities Board meeting on 28th October 2009, the Board requested information on alcohol minimum pricing and utilising licensing powers, drawing upon national and regional learning. This paper details the information used for the summary paper sent to the Board. It focuses on specified recommended local actions and measurable expected outcomes, such as lives saved and reductions in hospital admissions. The paper has incorporated learning from Greater Manchester, Blackpool, Scotland, Our Life and Drink Wise NW.
Paper

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

2010-03-04T14:04:00.000+00:00

MINDSPACE: Influencing behaviour through public policy (2nd March 2010)

MINDSPACE: Influencing behaviour through public policy was a joint commission by the Cabinet Office and the Institute for Government. It shows how the latest insights from the science of behaviour change can be used to generate new and cost-effective solutions to some of the current major policy challenges, such as reducing crime, tackling obesity and climate change.

Document

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

2010-03-04T14:03:00.000+00:00

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 7 (19th February 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 8 (26th February 2010)

Telecare LIN eNewsletter February 2010 (2nd March 2010)

The month: issue 30, February 2010 (1st March 2010)

CNO Bulletin, Issue 85, February 2010 (24th February 2010)

Medical directors bulletin, Issue 101, February 2010 (2nd March 2010)

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

2010-03-04T14:02:00.000+00:00

Review of health care in care homes (22nd February 2010)
The Care Quality Commission's review of health care in care homes has now commenced.
This review will look at whether adults of all ages living in care homes have:

choice and control over their health care;
equal access to NHS services;
good quality health care provided by the care home when needed

Information

Results of Outpatient department survey 2009 show significant improvements have been made (25th February 2010)
Patients’ experiences of outpatient care and treatment are improving, according to results published today from the Outpatients department survey 2009.

The survey, conducted between July and October 2009 had a response of over 72,000 adult outpatients from 163 acute and specialist NHS trusts in England. It’s the third survey of its kind with previous national surveys conducted in 2003 and 2004.
Report

CARE/CARERS

2010-03-04T14:01:00.000+00:00

At a glance 21. Personalisation briefing. Implications for people with autistic spectrum conditions and their family carers (February 2010)

This "At a Glance" briefing examines the implications of the personalisation agenda for people with autistic spectrum conditions.

Briefing

COMMISSIONING

2010-03-04T14:00:00.000+00:00

Primary Care Service Framework: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (February 2010)

This new framework has been prepared to assist commissioners in implementing NICE guideline 71, identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Framework

CONSULTATIONS

2010-03-04T13:59:00.000+00:00

Review of access to the NHS by foreign nationals (26th February 2010)
This consultation provides the public and others with the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to the charging Regulations for overseas visitors requiring hospital treatment and the recovery of any charges, and also initial thinking around possible future introduction of health insurance for some visitors. This may also be of interest to UK nationals/residents.

Closing date for comments is 30th June 2010
Consultation

Consultation on a Strategy for Services for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England (23rd February 2010)
Since 2005 the Department of Health (DH), the NHS, patients, clinicians and other key stakeholders have been working together to identify the best ways to improve care and outcomes for those with COPD and to reduce the overall prevalence of the disease.

The DH aim to produce a strategy that will:

ensure that everyone diagnosed with COPD receives equitable, responsive, high quality and effective provision of health and social care services from the right person, at the right time, in the right place, that are cost effective and provide good value for money for taxpayers.
advise how local communities can prevent people getting COPD, understand the risks of having poor lung health, secure improvements to the diagnosis and care of people with the disease, and reduce health inequalities.
support people with COPD and their carers by offering practical advice and education on managing their disease.

Closing date for comments is 6th April 2010.
Consultation

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010 (25th February 2010)
The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010 document sets out how the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) want to build on the existing Teenage Pregnancy Strategy to strengthen its delivery in all local areas and make further progress towards halving the under 18 conception rate and improving outcomes for teenage parents and their children. The Strategy aims to give young people the knowledge and skills they need to delay early sex until they are ready, to ensure they are able and confident to access and use effective contraception when they do become sexually active, and to provide effective support for teenage parents. Success depends on the contribution from a range of agencies. The DCSF welcome your views to help inform the next phase of the Strategy.

Closing date for comments is 20th May 2010.
Consultation

Adult Social Care. A consultation paper (24th February 2010)

This consultation, published by the Law Commission, contains their detailed proposals for law reform.

Provisional proposals include:

establishing a core set of overarching principles to guide social care decisions;
introducing a single and explicit duty to assess individuals’ needs;
a duty on local authorities to provide community services for all those eligible;
the introduction of a single duty to assess the needs of any carer;
a statutory duty on local authorities to investigate when they suspect that vulnerable adults are being abused or neglected.

Closing date for comments is 1st July 2010.
Consultation

Revalidation: the way ahead (1st March 2010)
The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched a major consultation on proposals for a new process of medical regulation to assure patients, employers and other healthcare practitioners that licensed doctors are up to date and fit to practise. The process is called revalidation. In future, all licensed doctors will need to revalidate on a regular basis if they wish to keep their licence to practise.

Closind date for comments is 4th June 2010.
Consultation

Your choice of GP practice: a consultation on how to enable to register with the GP practice of their choice (4th March 2010)

This consultation is seeking views from the public, from healthcare professionals and from other staff working in the NHS on new proposals that give patients a much greater choice of GP practice.

The consultation sets out the different options for organising healthcare for patients, and the potential implications of their choices if the current system of GP practice boundaries is removed.

It has been developed following a period of initial engagement with NHS colleagues, GPs, practice managers, and professional and patient groups.

Closing date for comments is 28th May 2010.

Consultation

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

2010-03-04T13:58:00.000+00:00

Consultation on proposed tobacco control regulations for England (under the Health Act 2009): Summary of consultation responses (26th February 2010)
On 26 February the Department of Health (DH) published "Consultation on proposed tobacco control regulations for England (under the Health Act 2009): Summary of consultation responses" the Government’s response to the consultation that was carried out between 12 October 2009 and 4 January 2010 on four sets of proposed tobacco control regulations:

displays of tobacco products
regulating tobacco product prices lists and labels
specialist tobacconists
prohibiting tobacco sales from vending machines

This report is a summary of the 544 consultation responses received from a wide range of stakeholders, the views they expressed and the DH responses to the points raised.

Consultation Response

NHS waiting times statistics publications produced by the Department of Health. Response to consultation on proposals to discontinue current data collections on inpatient and outpatient waiting times (24th February 2010)
This document is a response to a recent consultation on the future of the publication of inpatient and outpatient waiting times statistics.
Consultation Response

DIET/NUTRITION

2010-03-04T13:57:00.000+00:00

Government response to the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board end of year progress report (25th February 2010)
The Government's response to the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board's end of year report on implementation of the Nutrition Action Plan, published in 2007.
Document

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion on health claims published (25th February 2010)
The EFSA has published its second batch of opinions on a wide variety of health claims submitted by food businesses from across the UK and other EU member states.
Report

FSA E-news Issue 1 February 2010 (22nd February 2010)
Anyone interested in nutrition and healthy eating can get the 'buzz' of the latest news as it is published, following the launch of a new electronic newsletter from the Food Standards Agency.

FSA News, the Agency’s monthly newsletter, which has been going since 2001, has been re-launched as an electronic publication, FSA e-News. This means that readers will be able to get the news emailed direct to their computers as soon as it has been published.
Newsletter

DISABILITIES

2010-03-04T13:56:00.000+00:00

Fulfilling and rewarding lives: the strategy for adults with autism in England (3rd March 2010)

The first autism strategy for England will kick-start fundamental change in public services helping adults with autism to live independent lives and find work.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability and although some people can live relatively independently, others will have high dependency needs requiring a lifetime of specialist care. There are approximately 400,000 adults with ASC in England, around half of whom have a learning disability.

Published on 3 March 2010, the strategy sets a clear framework for all mainstream services across the public sector to work together for adults with autism.

Strategy

DRUGS

2010-03-04T13:55:00.000+00:00

UK Drug Situation: UK Focal Point on Drugs. 2009 Edition (2nd March 2010)
The structure and content of this annual report are pre-determined by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to facilitate comparison with similar reports produced by the other European Focal Points. Ten chapters cover the same subjects each year, and three further chapters, giving in-depth information on selected issues, change from year to year.
Report

Powder cocaine: how the treatment system is responding to a growing problem (1st March 2010)

One in 10 drug users entering treatment in England are seeking help for addiction to powder cocaine, a rise of four per cent in four years, according to new research for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).

More than a third of them are aged 18-24, and they are much more likely to come from a broad range of social backgrounds than the typical heroin users who traditionally form the majority of those in treatment.
Press Release
Report

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

2010-03-04T13:54:00.000+00:00

Change in Wellbeing from Childhood to Adolescene: Risk and Resilience (February 2010)

The wellbeing of children in the UK is currently of major public and Government interest. In 2003, the Government’s vision for childhood wellbeing was articulated in Every Child Matters (ECM), a national agenda to build services around the needs of children and young people. The ECM framework identified five outcomes as important for child wellbeing: being healthy; staying safe; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution and achieving economic wellbeing.

This report uses secondary data analysis to examine changes in wellbeing within the framework of risk and resilience. It focuses on children’s psychosocial wellbeing, looking at four different aspects: emotional, behavioural, social and subjective school wellbeing,

Report

FOUNDATION TRUSTS

2010-03-04T13:53:00.000+00:00

Northern Governors Events 2010 (23rd February 2010)
The Audit Commission have announced two free seminars in the North of England for foundation trust and aspiring foundation trust governors. The dates are:

14th April 2010 - Newcastle
27th April 2010 - Warrington

Information

Quality accounts 2 (25th February 2010)

The Foundation Trust Network has launched a publication on the practical elements of producing quality accounts, including engagement and assurance.

Publication

GOVERNMENT

2010-03-04T13:52:00.000+00:00

Putting health in the policy picture: review of how health impact assessment is carried out by Government departments (25th February 2010)
Putting Health in the Policy Picture is a summary of an in-depth study of how Health Impact Assessments are carried out across government departments.
Report

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

2010-03-04T13:51:00.000+00:00

Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of young women aged 20-24 with abnormal vaginal bleeding (3rd March 2010)

Following a review of the cervical screening age by the Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS) in May 2009 (at which members unanimously agreed that the screening start age should remain at age 25), the committee has produced new guidance for primary care on the management of young women who present with gynaecological symptoms.

The guidance was produced by a multi-disciplinary group, including professionals, patients and the voluntary sector.

Guidance

HEALTH RECORDS

2010-03-04T13:50:00.000+00:00

Guidance for access to health records requests (22nd February 2010)
DH guidance on access to health records for both living and deceased individuals.
Guidance

HEALTHCARE

2010-03-04T13:49:00.000+00:00

Revision of professional roles and quality improvement. A review of the evidence (26th February 2010)
This report, from the Health Foundation, considers the impact of professional role revision on quality of care and outcomes. It focuses on two types of changes to professional roles:

Substitution – exchanging one type of professional for another.
Supplementation – extending the range of service provision within one health delivery system.

This report focuses on the revision of roles between doctors and:

advanced practice nurses such as nurse practitioners, specialist nurses, clinical nurses and practice nurses
physician assistants pharmacists
allied healthcare professionals such as physical therapists (referred to as physiotherapists in this review), speech and language therapists, dietitians and paramedics.

The report finds that there is no detrimental effect of revising or extending the roles of non-medical professionals, and in some cases there is a positive effect on the quality of patient care.
Report

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

2010-03-04T13:48:00.000+00:00

Under Pressure. Tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population (18th February 2010)
Councils face the challenge of an ageing population as public spending reduces. This report, from the Audit Commission, says most councils do not know enough about the costs of their ageing population. They may also miss the savings that could flow from preventive services and better work with other organisations.
Report

The social determinants of health and the role of local government (3rd March 2010)

This collection of articles assesses what local government can do to tackle the social conditions that lead to health inequalities. Written by distinguished practitioners and academics, the publication builds on the recent Marmot Review report, 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives'.

Some of the articles are deliberately challenging and provocative. Some of them present a picture of what is already happening in local government. Some look to what more local authorities could do, either with additional powers or by using their existing powers and remit. All will challenge and extend your current thinking.

Documents

MANAGEMENT

2010-03-04T13:47:00.000+00:00

Report of the Advisory Group on assuring the quality of senior NHS managers (24th February 2010)
Following publication of the Next Stage Review report, the Department of Health asked Ian Dalton, Chief Executive of North East Strategic Health Authority, to chair an Advisory Group on Assuring the Quality of Senior NHS Managers.

The Advisory Group’s work to develop proposals to further raise the standards of senior NHS managers was supported by research undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers. This was commissioned, following a tendering exercise, to provide an independent evidence base to inform the group’s work.
Report

MENTAL HEALTH

2010-03-04T13:46:00.001+00:00

Relational security (1st March 2010)
The Department of Health has developed a suite of materials to assist people who work in secure mental health services to understand the concept of relational security. In February 2010 following ten regional training events (see presentation below), these materials were introduced to all medium secure services in England. An evaluation of the impact of these materials at service level will be complete in April 2010 informing any further rollout of this and related material across the wider secure system.
Documents

Realising the benefits: IAPT at full roll-out (25th February 2010)
Realising the Benefits details the next steps in the move towards the full roll out of Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services. The guidance provides support for established and developing services, focusing on quality standards and analysing the progress that has been made in rolling out services to date.
Guidance

ARTICLE: 'I want to be bipolar'...a new phenomenon (March 2010)
Writing in the March 2010 edition of The Psychiatrist, London based psychiatrists Dr Diana Chan and Dr Lester Sireling have identified a new and unusual phenomenon – people diagnosing themselves with bipolar disorder.

They believe the trend is linked to increased public awareness of the disorder, as well as the willingness of celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Robbie Williams and Carrie Fisher to talk about their personal experiences of mood disorders.
Article

NHS

2010-03-04T13:45:00.000+00:00

Robert Francis Inquiry report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (24th February 2010)
Robert Francis QC has today published his Inquiry report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. His Inquiry followed concerns about standards of care at the Trust, and an investigation and report published by the Healthcare Commission in March 2009. Robert Francis has heard evidence from patients, their relatives and staff to inform his report and the 18 recommendations he makes. The Department of Health and the Trust Board has accepted the recommendations of the Inquiry in full.
Report and other related documents

Working it out: employment for people with a mental health condition (3rd March 2010)
The link between employment and positive mental health is an issue of great importance for the NHS, both in terms of supporting service users to recover from mental health conditions and for improving staff productivity. Between 10 per cent and 16 per cent of people with a mental health condition, excluding depression, are in employment. However, between 86 and 90 per cent of this group want to work. Meaningful work is integral to recovery.

Employers who take steps to improve the management of mental health at work can help to improve staff productivity and save money. As the NHS enters a challenging period for future funding, reducing the costs of staff sickness absence and driving up productivity are critical. This Briefing outlines the key themes from recently launched government policies in this field and sets out actions for the NHS, as both an employer and service provider.
Briefing

The Heart of the Matter: patient and public engagement in today's NHS (22nd February 2010)

This report says that patient and public engagement (PPE) must become integral to the operation of every NHS organisation.

The heart of the matter: patient and public engagement in today's NHS asks questions about the future of PPE in an ever-changing NHS and sets out:

what good engagement looks like

the legal framework for PPE

the importance of having a culture of engagement

where the NHS has got to on PPE

how Local Involvement Networks (LINKs), membership schemes and working with local government contribute to PPE.

Report

Protecting and Improving the NHS. (22nd February 2010)

This paper sets out the Liberal Democrats commitments to the NHS in three main areas:

Protecting and improving the NHS
More control over healthcare
Quality care for all patients

Paper

Information

The impact of the NHS market. An overview of the literature (1st March 2010)

NHS ‘internal’ or ‘quasi’ market policies in England have aimed to promote competition among providers in the hope of replicating the benefits markets have been known to bring about in the private sector: decreases in cost, and increases in efficiency, quality, innovation, and provider responsiveness. This briefing, from CIVITAS, presents the results of a large-scale literature search on the effectiveness of these policies over the past 20 years.

Document

Free web seminar - Demand and Capacity (3rd March 2010)

Expert on Call is a monthly online seminar which is open to all NHS staff, provided by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, where leading thinkers in the NHS Institute and beyond share their insights from research or product development via Webex.

The next Expert on Call electronic seminar Mike Davidge, will talk about why variation in both the demand for services and their supply can cause havoc and outline some practical ways of dealing with this, and will be of interest to anyone at any level who is interested or engaged in quality improvement or wants to develop new ways of working which are effective and sustainable.

The seminar will take place on Thursday 18th March 2010.

Information

NICE

2010-03-04T13:44:00.000+00:00

Consultation documents (19th February 2010 - 3rd March 2010)

NICE are now consulting on the following:

Photodynamic therapy for Barrett's oesophagus: Interventional Procedures Consultation Document - closing date 23rd March 2010

Transperineal temlate biopsy of the prostate: Interventional Procedures Consultation Document - closing date 23rd March 2010

Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage in non-valvular atrial fibrillation for the prevention of thromboembolism: Interventional Procedures Consultation Document - closing date 23rd March 2010

Extracranial to intracranial bypass for intracranial atherosclerosis: Interventional Procedures Consultation Document - closing date 23rd March 2010

Stapled transanal rectal resection for obstructed defaecation syndrome: Interventional Procedures Consultation Document - closing date 23rd March 2010

Motor neurone disease - non-invasive ventilation: draft guideline for consultation - closing date 23rd March 2010

Caesarean section (update): scope consultation - closing date 24th March 2010

PSHE: consultation on the evidence - closing date 24th March 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis - drugs for treatment after failure of a TNF inhibitor: appraisal consultation document - closing date 24th March 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis - tocilizumab: appraisal consultation 3 - closing date 25th March 2010

Leukaemia (chronic lymphocytic, relapsed) - rituximab: final appraisal determination - closing date 18th March 2010

Myelodysplastic syndromes - azacitidine: final appraisal determination - closing date 18th March 2010

Crohn's disease - infliximab (review) and adalimumab: final appraisal determination - closing date 18th March 2010

Interventional Procedures Guidance IPG333. Therapeutic endoscopic division of epidural adhesions (24th February 2010)
Endoscopic epidural procedures are used to treat lower back pain, particularly when radiculopathy is present. The epidural space is examined with an endoscope and further interventions may then be performed, such as mobilising spinal adhesions or administering drugs to inflamed tissue.
Guidance

Interventional Procedures Guidance IPG332. Surgical correction of hallux valgus using minimal access techniques (24th February 2010)

Hallux valgus is a deformity of the big toe. The big toe tilts outwards, crowding the smaller toes, and a bony lump (called a bunion) appears on the inside of the foot.

Under local or general anaesthesia, one or more small cuts are made to insert bone-cutting instruments. These are used to remove the bunion and to divide one or more of the bones of the front of the foot. The divided bones may need to be stabilised with wires, screws or plates. The aim is to correct the tilting of the big toe. The operation is monitored by X-rays or an endoscope (a telescope for looking inside the body). Compared with standard (open) surgery, this procedure uses smaller cuts to the foot and X-rays or endoscopy to see inside the foot.
Guidance

Interventional Procedure Guidance IPG331. Cytoreduction surgery followed by heyperthrmic introperative peritoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis (24th February 2010)

Peritoneal metastases commonly result from the regional spread of gastrointestinal, gynaecological and other malignancies. Peritoneal carcinomatosis is an advanced form of cancer associated with short survival and poor quality of life, which may lead to bowel obstruction, ascites and pain.

This procedure was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute. A laparotomy is performed under general anaesthesia and all gross tumour is removed along with the involved organs, peritoneum and tissue. The surgery includes:

removal of the right hemicolon, spleen, gall bladder, parts of the stomach, greater omentum and lesser omentum
stripping of the peritoneum from the pelvis and diaphragm
stripping of tumour from the surface of the liver
removal of the uterus and ovaries in women
removal of the rectum in some cases.

Guidance

Technology Appraisal Guidance TA185. Trabectedin for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (24th February 2010)

Trabectedin is recommended as a possible treatment for people with advanced soft tissue sarcoma if:

treatment with anthracyclines and ifosfamide has failed, or
they cannot tolerate anthracyclines and ifosfamide, or
anthracyclines and ifosfamide are unsuitable.

The manufacturer of trabectedin has agreed to a 'patient access scheme', which means that when a person needs more than five trabectedin treatments, it provides the sixth and any further trabectedin treatments to the NHS free of charge.
Guidance

Technology Appraisal Guidance TA186. Certolizumab pegol for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (24th February 2010)

Certolizumab pegol is recommended as a possible treatment for people with rheumatoid arthritis who:

have already tried methotrexate and another disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), usually for at least 6 months,and
have severe 'active' rheumatoid arthritis, as assessed by arheumatologist on two separate occasions

People who are treated with certolizumab pegol should normally also be given methotrexate. If methotrexate does not suit them, they may be given certolizumab pegol on its own.
Guidance

Clinical Guidelines CG93. Donor breast milk banks: the operation of donor breast milk bank services (24th February 2010)

The advice in the NICE guideline covers:

How milk banks should recruit, screen and support women who donate breast milk
How milk banks should handle and process the breast milk they receive from donors.

It does not specifically look at:

How donated breast milk is used after it leaves the milk bank
The care and treatment of babies who receive donated breast milk
How mothers should handle and store breast milk for their own babies.

Guidelines

Public Health Guidance PG23. School-based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children (24th February 2010)

This guidance is for all those responsible for preventing the uptake of smoking by children and young people aged under 19. This includes those working in the NHS, local authorities, education and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It may also be of interest to children and young people, their parents or carers and other members of the public.

The five recommendations include the following advice:

The smoking policy should support both prevention and stop smoking activities and should apply to everyone using the premises (including the grounds).
Information on smoking should be integrated into the curriculum. For example, classroom discussions could be relevant when teaching biology, chemistry, citizenship and maths.
Anti-smoking activities should be delivered as part of personal, social, health and economic (PHSE) and other activities related to Healthy Schools or Healthy Further Education status.
Anti-smoking activities should aim to develop decision-making skills and include strategies for enhancing self-esteem. Parents and carers should be encouraged to get involved and students could be trained to lead some of these programmes.
All staff involved in smoking prevention should be trained to do so.
Educational establishments should work in partnership with outside agencies to design, deliver, monitor and evaluate smoking prevention activities.

Guidance

NURSING

2010-03-04T13:43:00.000+00:00

The Nursing Roadmap for Quality: a signposting map for nursing (3rd March 2010)

The Nursing Roadmap for Quality has been designed help nurses and their teams understand the elements of the quality framework that relate to nursing practice.

The purpose of the document is to:

inform nurses and their teams of their role in supporting quality improvements against the seven elements of the quality framework
provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for key resources, which nursing teams can use to further demonstrate their added contribution to quality
reinforce the need for nurses to identify ways to reduce waste and repetition, by contributing to the quality and productivity challenge.

Document

NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

2010-03-04T13:42:00.000+00:00

Front line care: Report by the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England (2nd March 2010)

The Commission was established in March 2009 to explore how the nursing and midwifery professions could take a central role in the design and delivery of 21st century services in England. It built on Lord Darzi’s 2008 report of the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, and considered all branches of nursing as well as midwifery, in all settings, services and sectors within and outside the NHS. This report endorses important existing directions of travel and identifies new ones, and where necessary proposes to accelerate the pace of change. It adds new thinking about how best nursing and midwifery can support service users, families and local communities.
Report

PARENTING

2010-03-04T13:41:00.000+00:00

Food Standards Agency (FSA) reminds parents of advice on making up infant formula (25th February 2010)
The Agency is reminding parents and childcarers who use powdered infant formula to use hot water to make up a feed. Formula powder isn’t sterile, so occasionally it could contain harmful bacteria, which could make babies ill. Using water that is 70°C, or higher, will kill any harmful bacteria in the powder.

Recent research funded by the Agency has confirmed the importance of using hot water to make up powdered formula. But some parents aren’t aware of this advice and may use cold water, or boiled water that has been cooled for longer than half an hour.
Information

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

2010-03-04T13:40:00.000+00:00

Science and Technology Committee - Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy - Fourth Report of Session 2009-10 (22nd February 2010)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Children's Rights: Government Response to the Committee's Twenty-fifth Report of Session 2008-09 - Tenth Report of Session 2009-10 (3rd March 2010)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Legislative Scrutiny: Crime and Security Bill; Personal Care at Home Bill; Children, Schools and Families Bill - Twelfth Report of Session 2009-10 (2nd March 2010)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Legislative Scrutiny: Children, Schools and Families Bill; other Bills - Eighth Report of Session 2009-10 (19th February 2010)

Committee of Public Accounts - Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis - Tenth Report of Session 2009-10 (23rd February 2010)

PAYMENT BY RESULTS

2010-03-04T13:39:00.000+00:00

Confirmation of Payment by Results (PbR) arrangements for 2010-11 (22nd February 2010)
The road-testing of the 2010-11 tariff and draft guidance concluded on 22 January 2010. No changes have been made to mandatory tariff prices or trim points following road-test. Details of changes have been made to some other elements of the tariff information spreadsheet.

The 2010-11 PbR guidance has been clarified in a number of areas, in response to feedback received at road-test.
Guidance

Code of conduct for Payment by Results: from 1 April 2010 (22nd February 2010)
This Code of Conduct (the Code) is aimed at all commissioners and providers, including those from the independent sector - and other bodies with regulatory and/or performance management responsibilities - operating within the PbR system, but without prejudice to any future Government decision on extending the scope of PbR. Its purpose is to establish the principles that should govern organisational behaviour under PbR and set expectations as to how the system should operate. In this way, the Code of Conduct should minimise as well as guide the resolution of disputes under PbR.
Guidance

PHARMACY

2010-03-04T13:38:00.001+00:00

Pharmaceutical industry competitiveness and performance indicators (25th February 2010)
Series of indicators of the competitiveness of the UK as a location for research-based pharmaceutical companies to do business; and of the performance of the UK-based industry in taking advantage of the opportunities open to them.
Documents

Exporting medicines for profit (25th February 2010)
David Nicholson has written to highlight that exporting medicines for profit jeopardises both patient care, and the terms of NHS contracts for medicines. Trusts holding a wholesale dealer's licence are also bound by Regulations relating to the supply of medicinal products. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Keith Ridge, is writing in parallel to hospital chief pharmacists.
Letter

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

2010-03-04T13:37:00.000+00:00

Active Travel Strategy (22nd February 2010)
The Department of Health and Department for Transport have jointly published a new Active Travel Strategy. The strategy highlights plans to put walking and cycling at the heart of local transport and public health strategies over the next decade. The guiding principles for the strategy are that walking and cycling should be everyday ways of getting around – not just for their own sake but also because of what they can do to improve public health, tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions and improve the local environment.
Strategy

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

2010-03-04T13:36:00.000+00:00

Easements to quality and outcomes framework (QOF): patient experience indicators 7 and 8 (24th February 2010)
Dear colleague letter which provides advice for PCTs on calculating the easements to the thresholds for Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators PE7 and PE8 contained in the Directions on the swine flu (H1N1) vaccination agreement for clinical priority groups.
Letter

Monitoring use of money to implement End of Life Care Strategy - PCTs (25th February 2010)

Templates to monitor how the additional money provided to help implement the End of Life Care Strategy in 2009/10 is being invested have been issued to SHA and PCT Directors of Finance.

Templates

PROVIDERS

2010-03-04T13:35:00.000+00:00

Piloting Quality Accounts for primary care and community services providers (22nd February 2010)
NHS North East and NHS East Midlands are working with a range of providers across general practice, dentistry, community Healthcare services provision, out of hours and urgent care provision and community pharmacy to pilot Quality Accounts in 2010.

This pilot aims to explore how Quality Accounts for these providers could best develop. An evaluation of these reports will help inform the direction of any requirements relating to the production of Quality Accounts by primary care and community services providers.

The framework for the testing has been developed in discussion with those involved. The document is aimed at those undertaking the pilots, but may also be of interest to others.
Publications

PUBLIC SERVICES

2010-03-04T13:34:00.000+00:00

Oneplace National Overview Report (24th February 2010)
This report looks at the findings from the first year of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). It is published by the six inspectorates responsible for assessing local public services in England - the Audit Commission, Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty’s Inspectorates of Constabulary, Prisons and Probation, and Ofsted.

The report concludes that local public bodies need to learn from each other and work more closely together if they are to improve services and increase value for money.
Report

SOCIAL CARE

2010-03-04T13:33:00.000+00:00

Priotising need in the context of Putting People First: a whole system approach to eligibility for social care - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, England 2010 (25th February 2010)
This guidance is issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and replaces Fair access to care services - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care which was issued in 2003. This guidance will need to be applied from April 2010.
Guidance

The role of culture and sport in supporting adult social care to deliver better outcomes (1st March 2010)

This publication, produced in partnership with the National Culture Forum, is designed to enable better understanding of, and engagement with, the social care sector. It is intended to help improve the lives of older and vulnerable people by engaging with the right partnerships and with strategic commissioning processes, and explaining better the contribution the sector can make.

It is also intended to introduce adult social care providers – particularly commissioners – to the opportunities and benefits of the culture and sport sector.

Publication

STATISTICS

2010-03-04T13:32:00.000+00:00

NHS cancer waiting times figures, October to December 2009 (26th February 2010)

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting times figures, January 2010 (26th February 2010)

NHS inpatient and outpatient waiting: elective admission events occurring during the quarter ending December 2009 (26th February 2010)

Mandatory surveillance of MRSA Bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile - January 2009 to January 2010 (3rd March 2010)

GP Earnings and Expenses Final Report 2007/08 (3rd March 2010)

Diabetes Inpatient Activity, England - Length of Stay, Day-cases & Readmissions by Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) chapter 2007-08 (2nd March 2010)

Congenital Anomaly Statistics, England and Wales (Series MB3) - No. 23, 2008 (2nd March 2010)

Critical care beds - England, January 2010 (25th February 2010)

Patient experience PSA scored updated to include results from the 2009 outpatient survey (25th February 2010)

Genito-Urinary Medicine Access Monthly Monitoring - December 2009 (25th February 2010)

Attribution dataset GP registered populations 2009 (24th February 2010)

Health Statistics Quarterly - No 45 Spring 2010 (24th February 2010)

Health Expectancies at birth and age 65 in the United Kingdom - 2005-2007 (24th February 2010)

NHS Dental Statistics for England - Quarter 2: 30 September 2009 (23rd February 2010)

STRATEGIC HEALTH AUTHORITY

2010-03-04T13:31:00.000+00:00

Monitoring use of money to implement End of Life Strategy - SHA's (25th February 2010)

Templates to monitor how the additional money provided to help implement the End of Life Care Strategy in 2009/10 is being invested have been issued to SHA and PCT Directors of Finance.

Templates

Priority review of long term conditions care planning and PSA target (4th March 2010)

Letter to Strategic Health Authorities on information needed to report to the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit on progress against the commitment, made in High Quality Care for All, to offer everyone with a long term condition a personalised care plan.

Information

WORKFORCE/WORKPLACE

2010-03-04T13:30:00.000+00:00

NHS Job Evaluation Handbook 3rd edition (22nd February 2010)

Produced by the NHS Staff Council Job Evaluation Group, this is the comprehensive guide on job evaluation (JE) for organisations, including mainstreaming JE, resolving issues on blocked matching and evaluating jobs, weighting and scoring, band ranges and how to use job profiles.

Document

ABOUT THIS BLOG

2010-02-18T17:31:00.000+00:00

This bulletin highlights recently produced documents that have appeared on websites. The aim is to trawl the web and produce a fortnightly review of what is found (coverage may not be comprehensive). If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this Bulletin, please send an email to library.pct@sthk.nhs.uk. All links are correct at time of publishing. Some documents are large and may take time to open so please be patient when waiting for links to open. If a link is incorrect please email me and I will correct the link and send you the document.

ALCOHOL

2010-02-18T17:30:00.000+00:00

Children, Young People and Alcohol (16th February 2010)
The Youth Alcohol Action Plan (June 08) committed to delivering a social marketing campaign targeting parents and young people to discourage harmful drinking amongst under-18s. This piece of quantitative research was undertaken to inform this work, specifically to: link the usage of, and attitudes towards alcohol; quantify potential audience segments; establish a baseline to measure progress in changing behaviour; and to link data to the DCSF Families-Segmentation.
Publication

Safe. Sensible. Social. Alcohol: Test Purchasing - Innovative Practice (15th February 2010)
Young people are being increasingly innovative in their methods of obtaining alcohol. These include: Proxy Sales (where an adult will buy alcohol on behalf of a young person) and Off-Licences only selling to young people who are known to them.

This booklet sets out case studies that highlight the innovative practice under way in Local Authorities to tackle issues around test purchasing. It is intended to encourage LAs to be similarly creative in their approach to tackling underage drinking.
Booklet

Safe. Sensible. Social. Young people, alcohol and positive activities (15th February 2010)
To include young people, who have been drinking in positive activities raises some challenges, but to simply leave young people outside and at risk of getting into trouble or vulnerable to becoming victims themselves is simply not an option.

This guide aims to give those working with young people practical advice and tools to ensure they – and those they work with – are equipped to deal with this real issue.
Guide

ANNUAL REPORTS

2010-02-18T17:29:00.000+00:00

National Quality Board annual report (8th February 2010)
The annual report sets out the many ways in which the Board has worked over the last year to support frontline staff to improve quality and to ensure the health system is aligned around quality.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

2010-02-18T17:28:00.000+00:00

Health Protection Report Vol 4 No 5 (5th February 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol 4 No 6 (12th February 2010)

GP and Practice Team Bulletin, Issue 91, February 2010 (11th February 2010)

CANCER

2010-02-18T17:27:00.000+00:00

The Cost of Cancer (17th February 2010)
The UK currently has a cancer death rate 6% higher than the European average. However if the survival rates were improved in England to a level commensurate with the best in Europe, on a cumulative basis by 2020, 71,500 lives could be saved and total costs could be reduced by £10 billion.

This report, from Policy Exchange, highlights late diagnosis, poor survival rates for older people and those in deprived communities, and relatively poor take up of new treatments and technologies as being the most likely causes behind the UK’s comparatively high mortality rate. Key recommendations include the Department of Health identifying and adopting the best practice in cancer services from high-performing European countries, focusing resources where largest reductions in mortality can be achieved and focusing on cancer prevention strategies.
Report

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

2010-02-18T17:26:00.000+00:00

The state of health care and adult social care. A look at the quality of care in England in 2009 (10th February 2010)
In their first annual report to parliament, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) says that people need health and social care services that are more joined-up and person-centred.

Services have steadily improved overall but rising demand and pressure on finances make reform essential. The CQC applaud overall improvements over recent years, but caution that some services were lagging behind the pack and that there were areas of common concern across health and social care, notably keeping people safe and staff training.
Report

CARE/CARERS

2010-02-18T17:25:00.000+00:00

Self care reduces costs and improves health - the evidence (February 2010)
This report, from the Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company, reviews existing literature on self-management, as well as conducting their own research through questionnaires, focus groups and in-depth interviews to provide examples of how economically beneficial the Expert Patients Programme (EPP) could be for the NHS.
Report

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

2010-02-18T17:24:00.000+00:00

Clinical Governance and adult safeguarding: an integrated process (11th February 2010)
The 'Report on the consultation on the review of No Secrets' (DH 2009), highlighted that adult safeguarding systems were under developed within the NHS. Respondents argued that there is a need to clarify the relationship between adult safeguarding, adverse incident reporting, patient safety, and complaints.

The guidance and flow chart has been developed to encourage organisations to establish local robust arrangements to ensure that adult safeguarding becomes fully integrated into NHS systems.
Guidance

COMMISSIONING

2010-02-18T17:23:00.000+00:00

World Class Commissioning - January 2010 (4th February 2010)
Monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme
Update

Commissioning for quality - delivering national priorities (15th February 2010)
The demands on commissioning are greater than ever before as primary care trusts are relied upon by policymakers and taxpayers to improve health and health services, assure quality and deliver value for money in an NHS faced with more stringent financial circumstances and increasing public scrutiny.

This Briefing highlights some actions commissioners can take to ensure they secure best value for patients and taxpayers when commissioning for two NHS priorities in 2010/11: delivering same-sex accommodation (DSSA) as part of the thrust towards high-quality care; and improving cleanliness and further reducing healthcare associated infections (HCAI).
Briefing

Commissioning GP out-of-hours services (10th February 2010)
Following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of out-of-hours patient David Gray, a number of recommendations have been made which are of relevance to Primary Care Trusts. This Briefing summarises these and the PCT Network’s recent activity around this issue.

Please note that only PCT Network members can access this document.
Briefing

An evaluation of mental health service user involvement in the re-commissioning of day and vocational services (11th February 2010)
This is a Sainsbury Centre evaluation report on the process of involving people who use services in the re-commissioning of their day and vocational services.

This report provides insight into what worked during re-commissioning day and vocational services. Full of quotes from the people involved, it should help anyone wishing to embark on the re-commissioning of day and vocational services in their own area.
Report

World class commissioning - February 2010 update (18th February 2010)
Monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme.
Update

COMMUNITIES

2010-02-18T17:22:00.000+00:00

Improving health outcomes in deprived communities: Evidence from the New Deal for Communities programme (11th February 2010)
This report forms part of the National Evaluation of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme. It examines interventions designed to improve health outcomes for NDC residents, and explores their subsequent impact. It draws on in-depth case study research in four NDC areas, as well as programme and national level outcome data. The report also looks at the sustainability of the NDC approaches, and draws lessons for both central government and local regeneration partnerships.
Report

COMMUNITY SERVICES

2010-02-18T17:21:00.000+00:00

Transforming Community Services: The assurance and approvals process for PCT provided community services (5th February 2010)
The NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 set a requirement for proposals for future forms of PCT-provided community services to be agreed with SHAs by 31 March 2010.

Building on Enabling new patterns of provision, further guidance has been published that aims to support:

PCTs as they develop proposals for the future shape of their community services;
SHAs in their role to assure PCT proposals for community provider organisational form.

Guidance

CONSULTATIONS

2010-02-18T17:20:00.000+00:00

Consultation on options for improving information on the labels of alcoholic drinks to support consumers to make healthier choices in the UK (15th February 2010)
The Government is launching a UK wide consultation on 15 February 2009 to consider how best to improve unit and health information for consumers on alcohol labels, whether through a renewed and strengthened voluntary agreement or a mandatory requirement through legislation under the Food Safety Act. The consultation is being launched jointly by the Department of Health, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Closing date for comments is 9th May 2010.
Consultation

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

2010-02-18T17:19:00.000+00:00

Response to the consultation on: The Health and Social Care Act 2008 code of practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infection and related guidance, and prevention and control of infection in care homes (10th February 2010)
A public consultation on The Health and Social Care Act Code of Practice for health and social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance and a supporting document on prevention and control of infection in care homes ran between 13 August 2009 and 6 November 2009. This document provides an overview of the consultation process; the responses received, and the Department's reply and actions taken
Consultation Response

Framework for quality accounts: a response to consultation (5th February 2010)
The framework for Quality Accounts, a consultation on the proposal ran from 17th September to 10th December 2009. This document provides the Department of Health’s official response to the consultation and informs the regulation and DH toolkit for 2009/10 Quality Accounts.
Consultation Response