Global health partnerships: the UK contribution to health in developing countries – the Government response (15th March 2008)
This document is the formal Government response to Lord Crisp's report on the UK contribution to health in developing countries.
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Global Tuberculosis Control 2008. Surveillance, Planning, Financing (17th March 2008)
The Global tuberculosis control 2008, released today by WHO, finds that the pace of the progress to control the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic slowed slightly in 2006, the most recent year for which data were available. The new information documents a slowdown in progress on diagnosing people with TB. Between 2001 to 2005, the average rate at which new TB cases were detected was increasing by 6% per year; but between 2005 and 2006 that rate of increase was cut in half, to 3%.
Click here for the Full Report (large file)
Click here for the Summary
Click here for the individual Chapters
High Impact Healthy Workplace Interventions: Case Studies of Good Practice (7th March 2008)
The Government’s Health, Work and Well-being Executive commissioned research on case studies of workplace good practice by PA Consulting Group in 2007. Interviews were undertaken with nine organisations that are considered to be adopting good practice for staff health and well-being. The cases demonstrated a range of health and well-being interventions and the organisational and individual benefits. There is no ‘right answer’ in terms of well-being interventions, but the report illustrated ways for organisations to find the best approach for them.
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A third or fourth degree tear following childbirth – information for you (6th March 2008)
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced this patient information for peer review. Closing date for comments is 4th April 2008. All comments should be sent to Lucy Arnold larnold@rcog.org.uk
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Thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth – information for you (6th March 2008)
The RCOG have produced this patient information for consumer pilot. Closing date for comments is 2nd May 2008. All comments should be sent to Lucy Arnold larnold@rcog.org.uk
Click here for the Leaflet
Click here for the Questionnaire
Volunteering in the Public Services: Health and Social Care (10th March 2008)
This report is the first in a series examining the role of volunteers and volunteering in public services. It identifies a largely untapped source of volunteers in service users. It argues that they could make an enormous contribution as volunteers in health and social care because no one understands what it is like to have a condition like a person who has it themselves.
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Government Response to the Commission on the Future of Volunteering (10th March 2008)
This document sets out the Government's response to a number of recommendations from an independent report on how the public, third and private sectors can ensure that volunteering remains in the DNA of society.
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The Sure Start Journey – A Summary of Evidence (5th March 2008)
This document is intended to help Sure Start centre leaders reach out to all families, especially the most disadvantaged, and to ensure that parents and children are offered the highest quality and most effective services.
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National Stroke Strategy easy access version (14th March 2008)
This booklet is a shorter version of the full-length National Stroke Strategy. It tells you about most of the points in the full-length Strategy but in less detail. The main chapter headings in this booklet are the same as in the full-length Strategy to make it easier to compare the 2 versions if you want to.
Click here for the Easy access version
Click here for the Full Document
Local Pharmaceutical Services – guidance notes (10th March 2008)
LPS Permanence allows PCTs to enter into LPS contracts without requiring prior approval of the Secretary of State for Health and provides PCTs with flexibility to make LPS arrangements in response to local needs within timetables of their own choosing. This guidance document provides information on aspects of LPS and the commissioning process and may be of use to those PCTs that wish to use LPS.
Click here for the Guidance Notes
A guide to receiving direct payments from your local council – a route to independent living (March 2008)
This guide offers advice to people who are thinking about or who are already getting direct payments from their local council social services department. We have tried to make it as accurate and helpful as possible, but you should still check the information for yourself. This is particularly important for legal issues. The guide contains information on where you can go for extra help.
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An ageing population: Education and practice preparation for nursing students learning to work with older people. A resource pack for nursing students (6th March 2008)
This resource pack is a result of a joint project between the RCN and Age Concern England (ACE) following negative reports regarding the standards of nursing care for older people who are inpatients in acute hospitals. The resource considers the education and practice preparation of nursing students in the context of an ageing population and its aim is to promote the need for leadership, effective mentoring, best practice and positive images of nursing older people. It contains ideas and resources which can be used by nursing students, including organisation and government websites.
Click here for the Resource Pack
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (adults) – drugs: Appraisal consultation document (3rd March 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a multiple technology appraisal of epoprostenol, iloprost, bosentan, sitaxentan and sildenafil and provide guidance on their use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of epoprostenol, iloprost, bosentan, sitaxentan and sildenafil. Closing date for comments is 20th March 2008)
Click here for the Consultation
Pregnancy (rhesus negative women) – routine anti-D: Appraisal consultation document (7th March 2008)
The Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a multiple technology appraisal of routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis for women who are RhD negative (review of NICE technology appraisal guidance 41) and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis for women who are RhD negative. Closing date for comments is 1st April 2008.
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Respiratory tract infections guideline: consultation (11th March 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Respiratory tract infections is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for the Respiratory tract infections guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. Closing date for comments is 8th April 2008.
Click here for the Full guideline
Click here for the Appendices to full version
Click here for the Comments proforma
Chronic kidney disease: consultation (11th March 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Chronic Kidney Disease is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. Closing date for comments is 11th March 2008.
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Click here for the NICE guideline
Click here for the Evidence tables
Click here for the Comments proforma
Cochlear implants: 2nd appraisal consultation document (14th March 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a multiple technology appraisal of cochlear implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness, and provide guidance on their use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of cochlear implants. Closing date for comments is 8th April 2008.
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Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis – Clinical Guideline CG64 (17th March 2008)
This guidance covers the protection of patients who are at risk of infective endocarditis, specifically adults and children or who have previously had infective endocarditis. It also covers people at risk because of medical procedures.
Click here for the NICE Guidance
Click here for the Appendices
Click here for the Quick Reference Guide
Click here for Understanding NICE
Assessing design quality in LIFT primary care buildings (10th March 2008)
This briefing paper summarises the findings of CABE research into the design quality of new health buildings provided under the local improvement finance trust (LIFT) programme. The research is based on a survey of 20 primary care buildings built under the first three waves of the LIFT programme between 2002 and 2006. It highlights areas for close consideration and recommendations for improvement.
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Click here for the Summary
An independent NHS: What’s in it for patients and citizens? (12th March 2008)
This report, written by David Levy for the Picker Institute, is the first analysis that has looked at the potential value of independence from the point of view of the public, rather than politicians, clinicians or NHS management. The report argues that greater independence for the NHS from the government could be of benefit to patients and citizens if a Public Value approach is applied.
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A review of 26 mental health homicides in London committed between January 2002 and December 2006 – A report for NHS London (13th March 2008)
As part of the process of establishing the new SHA, NHS London carried out an audit of the status of investigations into homicides committed between 2002-2006 by patients receiving mental health care. The audit identified 26 homicides committed between January 2002 and December 2006 by individuals known to mental health services where the perpetrator had been convicted of the offence but where no independent investigation had been commissioned. NHS London moved swiftly to set up an independent review. The purpose of this review is to build on the internal investigations already completed by mental health trusts by identifying common themes and issues. NHS London will use this information to improve the quality and consistency of mental health services across London.
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Independent investigation of serious patient safety incidents in mental health services good practice guidance (13th March 2008)
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) today launched guidance aimed at improving and standardising the approach to independent investigations into serious patient safety incidents in mental health services. This document describes the three main stages of the independent investigation process. It examines the initial service management review, internal NHS mental health trust investigations and Strategic Health Authority independent investigations. It also looks at how NHS organisations can support the victims of serious incidents and how to support staff.
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Making Recovery a Reality (17th March 2008)
This paper says mental health services need to change radically to focus on recovery. They need to demonstrate success in helping service users to get their lives back and giving service users the chance to make their own decisions about how they live their lives.
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The Countdown to Equality (12th March 2008)
The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action has launched the Countdown to Equality to reduce the number of men dying from prostate cancer and to improve the experience of those who develop it. The Charter's new calls are focussed in four key areas: Significantly reduce the number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer which has already spread; Improve the cancer experience of men with prostate cancer to at least the level reported for other common cancers; Level up clinical outcomes across the country so that all NHS services match the current best; and Plan effectively to deliver world class prostate cancer services in the future.
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Men's Health Forum launches new training programme (4th March 2008)
The Men's Health Forum has launched a new training programme designed to help professionals from all fields reach that so-called 'hard to reach' group, men. Courses include: Introduction to Men's Health; Men, Mental Health and Suicide; Men and Sexual Health; Working with Young Men; and Promoting Men's Health in the Workplace
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Introducing Clinical picture History Assessment Plan Sharing information(CHAPS) to handover (12th March 2008)
A tool to improve handover in maternity units at Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.
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ARTICLE: More in hope than expectation: Women’s experience and expectations of pain relief in labour: A review (14th March 2008)
The results of this review showed that although women had ideal hopes of what they would like to happen in labour concerning pain relief, control and decision making, , expectations are often very different from the experience.
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Moving beyond sponsorship: Interactive toolkit for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry (5th March 2008)
In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy for medicines. To encourage joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry it recommended that the Department would develop an interactive toolkit to support this. The purpose of this toolkit is to: encourage NHS organisations and staff to consider joint working as a realistic option for the delivery of high-quality healthcare; and provide the necessary information and have easy access to the tools which will help to enter into joint working.
Click here for the Toolkit
Home Information Pack Area Trials: Research report (6th March 2008)
This report presents the main research findings from eight area trials of home information packs, which ran from November 2006 to April 2007.
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Developing safety nets for home-owners (5th March 2008)
This report explores how safety nets for home-owners could be improved by introducing the Sustainable Home-Ownership Partnership (SHOP) and a Housing Tax Credit. As mortgage repossessions rise to levels not seen since the last housing market slump in the mid-1990s, interest in improving the safety nets for home-owners is growing. This report considers: how SHOP could replace the existing safety nets with a partnership of borrowers, lenders and the government; how SHOP would be structured and funded, which risks would be covered by it, whether it would be compulsory and how it could be phased in; and how a Housing Tax Credit could complement SHOP by protecting home-owners who suffer a reduction in income without becoming unemployed as well as providing work-incentives for unemployed home-owners.
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Click here for the Findings
Tackling antisocial behaviour in Scotland: An action framework for social housing practitioners and governing bodies (March 2008)
A practical guide to tackling antisocial behaviour, focusing on policy and practice in Scotland. Tackling antisocial behaviour is a key activity for housing organisations across the UK. This ‘action framework’ focuses specifically on Scottish policy and practice. It uses a systematic process approach towards tackling antisocial behaviour organised in seven photocopiable core tasks. Designed to develop staff awareness, and strategic planning and monitoring, it can also form the basis of in-house training programmes.
Click here for the Guide
National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit. A national audit of provision and outcomes of mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery for women in England and Wales. First Annual Report of the National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit 2008 (7th March 2008)
Only one in ten of women with breast cancer are getting access to reconstruction surgery at the time of their mastectomy, despite recommendations from the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2002 that it should be available to all. These are the early findings of the National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit, published today by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the NHS Information Centre on behalf of the Healthcare Commission.
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Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. A report on regulation activity from 1st November 2006 to 31st December 2007 (March 2008)
The Healthcare Commission today calls on NHS and independent sector hospitals to ensure they are not exposing patients to the dangers of unnecessary radiation through x-rays, CT scans and other procedures. In the first report of its type, the Commission analyses 329 incidents reported to it during the 14 month period from November 2006 to December 2007 under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (2000).
Click here for the Report
High Impact Changes for Health and Social Care (14th March 2008)
A new CSIP publication has been launched today featuring an inspirational collection of organisational initiatives which are changing health and social care services and the lives of people who use them. These initiatives are organised around the seven positive outcomes for people using health and social care services identified in the Government Green Paper Independence wellbeing and choice and the White Paper Our health our care our say. These were identified following a major consultation exercise informed by the expressed views of service users and carers across the country. They have been further reinforced by Putting people first (2007) and the 2008 Local Government Circular Transforming Social Care.
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Foot and Mouth Review: 2007 (12th March 2008)
Following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease identified in Surrey in August 2007, the Prime Minister asked Dr Iain Anderson to look at the Government's response to the outbreak (Dr Anderson chaired the previous Inquiry into the 2001 outbreak). The review found that many of the lessons identified in the 2002 Report had been acted upon and the performance, as a whole was improved. However there are a number of recommendations that need to be followed in future.
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Click here for the Notes of interviews
Click here for the Submissions
Working for a healthier tomorrow (17th March 2008)
Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, was commissioned in March 2007 by the Secretaries of State for Health and Work and Pensions to undertake a wide-ranging review of the health of Britain’s working age population. The purpose of this commission was to develop a baseline understanding of the health of working age people and the impact this has on government, the economy and society; and to make recommendations to Government and wider stakeholders on how to improve the health of the working age population.
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Provision of FP10 and FP10 (MDA) prescription forms by HM Prison Healthcare for released prisoners: guidance (for England only) (13th March 2008)
This guidance is to inform and support relevant offender health and NHS professionals, organisations and those who dispense prescriptions for released prisoners. The changes enable prisoners released from prisons and young offender institutions to be issued with an FP10 or FP10[MDA] prescription form to improve continuity of care on release.
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Evaluation of the GP Education Pilot: Health and work in general practice (5th March 2008)
This report evaluates a pilot programme that aimed to drive up professional standards in general medical practice in the area of health and work. The goal was to help general practitioners better handle sickness absence management and help patients return to work.
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UK Greenhouse gas emissions: measurement and reporting (15th March 2008)
The growing awareness of the challenge of climate change has led to much discussion in recent years of the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (ghgs). There are many issues associated with this agenda, and the NAO has reported on two of them last year (the accuracy of emissions forecasting and the use of cost-effectiveness analysis). But the ability to measure and report ghg emissions accurately is a fundamental requirement underpinning any form of analysis and forecasting. This briefing, produced for the Environmental Audit Committee, aims to throw light on this process.
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National Dementia Strategy Resources (6th March 2008)
The Department of Health has a new section on their website dedicated to the National Dementia Strategy.
Click here for the Resources
The Age Agenda 2008 Public Policy and Older People (February 2008)
Care services could go from bad to worse in the next three years, according to a groundbreaking new ‘state of the nation’ report by Age Concern. The Age Agenda 2008 claims that without a big cash injection and radical reform of the system, the Government’s rhetoric on social care will fail to become a reality.
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Person or place-based policies to tackle disadvantage? Not knowing what works (7th March 2008)
A review of the effectiveness of policies introduced in Great Britain since 1997 to tackle employment, education and income disadvantage, focusing on policies that explicitly take account of people and places.
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Click here for the Findings
The DH Guide (13th March 2008)
This Guide was produced for all staff at DH, full-time, part-time, on secondment or contractors. It aims to help everyone make sense of DH. It may also be useful to those outside DH who wish to know more about how we operate but it should be read on the basis that it is written for staff internally. The attached Glossary will aid all readers where DH-specific terminology is used.
Click here for the Guide
Click here for the Glossary
The new dental contract: full of holes and causing pain? (6th March 2008)
This Patient Association report asked PCTs in England how they are responding to the new dental contract. It reveals that there is confusion not just amongst patients but also amongst PCTs regarding their commissioning role.
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Code of Practice for the Promotion of NHS Funded Services – Response to the Consultation Promotion Code (18th March 2008)
This code of practice sets out rules around promotional material issued by providers of NHS services to ensure that: the information patients receive is not misleading, inaccurate, unfair or offensive, that the brand and reputation of the NHS is protected, and that expenditure on promotional activity is not excessive.
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The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder: An evaluation (4th March 2008)
The Licensing Act 2003 came into effect on the 24th November 2005 and abolished set licensing laws in England and Wales. The aim was to liberalise a rigid system whilst reducing the problems of drinking and disorder associated with a standard closing time. This evaluation analysed recorded crime data in five case study areas. This was supplemented by survey data from local residents about their perceptions of crime and qualitative interviews with regulators and representatives from night time economy businesses. The findings suggest the overall volume of incidents of crime and disorder remains unchanged, though there are signs that crimes involving serious violence have reduced. There is, however, temporal displacement, in that the small proportion of violent crime occurring in the small hours of the morning has increased. Police, local authorities and licensees generally welcomed the new powers and the Act’s partnership philosophy.
Click here for the Main report
Unlocking the Talent of our Communities (5th March 2008)
This white paper sets out the Government's commitment to make changes that give people more local influence, control and ownership of local services, such as employment, health, education and transport.
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Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First (11th March 2008)
An examination of a community-based programme in Wales that aims to increase opportunities for community empowerment and potential influence over service providers. The research presents findings from nine case studies of Communities First partnerships to provide insights into the achievement of community empowerment. It considers: how far partnerships have developed and evolved to empower communities; the relationships communities have with other representative channels; the extent to which communities have influenced other agendas; and the overall impact of regeneration partnerships.
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Click here for the Findings
Neighbourhood identity: People, time and place (12th March 2008)
A study of how neighbourhood identity is formed and the implications this may have for area renewal policies. The study examines three neighbourhoods in Stirling, Scotland, and explores what it means to people to ‘come from’ each of these areas as a way of understanding issues of belonging and attachment to particular places.
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Click here for the Findings
Beyond Naturalisation: Citizenship policy in an age of super mobility (11th March 2008)
A research report for the Lord Goldsmith Citizenship Review. This report examines how a government committed to progressive notions of citizenship might respond to the fact that fewer people are willing to take up British citizenship or able to establish long-term roots within communities. In other words, the authors ask how government can promote citizenship among a population that includes growing numbers of non-citizens.
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Updated Child Health Promotion Programme (17th March 2008)
The new updated Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP): Pregnancy and the first five years of life was launched on 17th March 2008. It builds on the children’s National Service Framework and is intended to provide preventative services tailored to the individual needs of children and families, acting as a best practice guide for children’s services.
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The Children’s Commissioner’s findings and recommendations regarding the safeguarding of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the London Borough of Hillingdon (7th March 2008)
In a report released today, the Children’s Commissioner has revealed a number of concerns relating to young asylum seekers who are being denied the level of care and access to health and education provision as required by the Children Act 1989 and its associated regulations.
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Regulating Complementary Medical Practitioners – An International Review (March 2008)
Complementary medical practitioners may be a distinct minority in places such as Europe, North America and Australia, but in other countries the number of practitioners and the people who use their services are in the majority. Many practitioners practise without qualification or adequate training, and in response to this the World Health Organization has recommended that governments develop national policies that include regulation of practice, education, training and licensing. In this report the experiences of 16 countries in regards to this issue are reviewed.
Click here for the Review
Click here for the Case Studies, Annex and References
