Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy: For better, for worse? (November 2008)This National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report highlights the process of care of patients who died within 30 days of receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). It takes a critical look at areas where the care of patients might have been improved. Remediable factors have been identified in the clinical and the organisational care of these patients.
Report
Executive Summary
Slides
Self assessment checklist for trusts
Other presentations and to order a hard copyControl of pain in adults with cancer – a national clinical guideline (November 2008)This guideline from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) provides recommendations based on current evidence for best practice in the management of pain in adult patients who have cancer. It excludes treatment of pain in children under the age of 12 years.
GuidelineNew measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004 (18th November 2008)Revised UGI, urology, breast and lung measures accompanying the Manual for Cancer Services.
Cover letter
UGI measures
Urology measures
Breast measures
Lung measures
Equality impact assessment
PL/CMO/2008/8, PL/CNO/2008/8: Recognising Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – ‘Think CO’ (13th November 2008)The Chief Medical Officer issued a joint letter with the Chief Nursing Officer, to encourage health professionals to raise awareness of the risk of CO poisoning. There are approximately 50 accidental deaths and over 200 cases of recorded non-fatal injuries per year in the UK from CO poisoning.
Letter
Equality Impact Assessment
Developing the use of MDS-RAI reports for UK care homes (21st November 2008)The MDS-RAI (the Minimum Data Set Resident Assessment Instrument) is a standardised assessment system developed by interRAI used internationally to raise standards of care in long-term care homes. Implementation in the UK has been sparse and currently there are no well-established demonstration sites for use in long-term care (although Cheshire has adopted and successfully implemented the MDS-HC (the Minimum Data Set Home Care) for community care). Successful implementation of the MDS-RAI requires a methodical approach and commitment: it is a way of developing best practice that goes far beyond just gathering information about care needs. This project aimed to develop an implementation process model for MDS-RAI use in three UK care homes through an iterative and collaborative process.
Report
Findings
What is a Children’s Trust? (19th November 2008)A summary leaflet has been produced setting out what Children's Trusts are, what they do, and the role the NHS has to play in them. New developments include a Commissioning Support Programme available to all Children's Trust partners and the new Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO), which will draw together evidence to support Childrens' Trusts improve cross-sector service delivery.
Leaflet
Equality impact assessment: World class commissioning assurance framework, World class commissioning of primary medical care guidance (21st November 2008)This report provides an in-depth assessment of the impact of the World class commissioning assurance framework and the related World class commissioning of primary medical care, on the six key equality dimensions of race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
ReportThe role of the Primary Care Trust board in world class commissioning (18th November 2008)This document forms part of the wider WCC board development programme. It provides an update on the role and purpose of the PCT board in the context of world class commissioning.
DocumentWorld Class Commissioning Programme – October Update (14th November 2008)Monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme.
UpdatePutting prevention first – vascular checks: risk assessment and management – next steps guidance for primary care trusts (13th November 2008)Putting prevention first, published in April 2008, outlined proposals for a system of vascular checks to be carried out in primary care. This document has been developed in consultation with PCT commissioners, those who will be carrying out the checks and the Learning Network, which has been set up to share learning across the NHS on vascular risk assessment and management. It draws on some real life case studies and examples of how PCTs have already implemented vascular checks in their areas. It provides practical tools to support commissioning and links to existing resources and guidance.
GuidancePerson-centred commissioning – now (28th October 2008)This document explores some examples of what is working well nationally in learning disability commissioning - and how that learning could be used to develop a person-centred commissioning pathway for the future. No one area claims to have everything right, but each example shows a part of the pathway being implemented successfully, and within a person-centred approach. Ajibola Awogboro, Adults Commissioning and Business Service Manager at Greenwich Council, described the document as: "Useful for commissioners, especially to focus them on developing action plans for the way forward."
Document
Vascular checks economic modelling technical consultation – response summary (13th November 2008)This document provides a summary of the main points raised by the respondents during the technical consultation and details how we are taking these points further.
Summary of responses
Technical consultation document: Economic modelling for vascular checksThe Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) draft Regulations 2008: consultation report (14th November 2008)A summary response to the public consultation on the draft regulations setting out proposals for the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (Appointment, Procedure etc.) Regulations 2008.
Consultation report
Original consultation
Chemotherapy Services in England, ensuring quality and safety: a report from the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group, draft for consultation (12th November 2008)The aim of this report is to bring about a step change in the quality and safety of chemotherapy services for adult patients with either solid cancers or haematological malignancies. The report sets out a framework for planning and monitoring services based on a care pathway model and the actions that need to be taken by commissioners and providers to ensure high quality care. Closing date for comments is 4th February 2009.
Covering letter
Consultation document
Improving the process of death certification in England and Wales: overview of programme (20th November 2008)This document provides a general overview of the Death Certification Programme and an update on current progress.
Document
InformAll Database (November 2008)The InformAll Database is a searchable database with information on allergenic foods which has been developed with funding from the European Union.
Database
Putting prevention first: vascular checks risk assessment and management – impact assessment (14th November 2008)Vascular diseases include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. A significant amount of vascular morbidity and mortality could be prevented through primary prevention and early detection of these diseases. A universal risk assessment and management programme could significantly increase uptake of the preventative interventions, and offers a real opportunity to reduce health inequalities.
Impact AssessmentNational COPD Audit 2008 (19th November 2008)The Royal College of Physicians has reported that NHS services for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have improved over the past five years but the quality of services offered varies considerably and often falls short of national quality standards. This is the main finding of the latest national audit into the acute care of COPD. The disease is the fifth biggest killer in the UK, the second most common cause of emergency admission to hospital and one of the most costly in-patient conditions treated within the NHS. The National COPD Audit 2008 measures what progress has been made into the care of the condition since the last audit in 2003.
Report
Other Information
Anti-Bullying Guidance for Schools (17th November 2008)The National Healthy Schools Programme and 11 Million launched this new guidance to coincide with National Anti-Bullying week. The guidance takes a honest look at the problem of bullying and how it affects children and young people, drawing together key evidence on anti-bullying including research by academics at the University of York conducted for the Children’s Commissioner for England.
Guidancee-Bug (18th November 2008)As part of a new campaign to control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections, children are to be taught in schools about prudent antibiotic use and the importance of good hygiene. "e-Bug", a European Commission (DG-SANCO) sponsored project, developed by the Health Protection Agency and European partners, is an educational resource that will be available for schools in Europe, including the UK, to use from next year (2009/2010).
Website
Equality impact assessment: summary tool and guidance for policy makers (18th November 2008)Equality impact assessment (EqIA) is the process by which the DH seeks to meet its legal requirements in conjunction with the DH Single Equality Scheme (SES) and to narrow the health inequalities that exist in England between people from different ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, men and women (including transgendered people), people with different sexual orientations, people in different age groups, and people with different religions or beliefs. Policymakers must screen all new (and eventually, all existing) policies for their impact on people from each of these groups.
Summary Tool
Vital Signs Monitoring Return (VSMR) – Commissioner based (21st November 2008)This VSMR – commissioner based, associated with stroke has been published by the Department of Health’s stroke website.
DocumentBest practice guidance for Your guide to local health services (20th November 2008)This best practice guidance presents items for inclusion in Your guide to local health services to help primary care trusts ensure that patients receive local information about primary care trust services.
Letter
GuidanceSocial Enterprise – Making a difference: a guide to the Right to Request (20th November 2008)The ‘right to request’ is part of a bigger vision for the future of the NHS as set out in High Quality Care For All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report published in June 2008. This recognised that we will only succeed in placing quality at the heart of everything we do if frontline NHS staff are given the freedom to use their talents to find innovative ways to improve quality of care for patients. It identifies the need to enable NHS services everywhere to best respond to the needs of their local communities and the need for a new accountability. This guide aims to support NHS staff who are thinking of taking up the ‘right to request’ and setting up a social enterprise to deliver healthcare services to NHS patients, free at the point of delivery.
Guide
Summary leaflet
Workshops
Improving health and work: changing lives (25th November 2008)Improving health and work: changing lives, published on 25 November 2008, is the Government’s response to Working for a Healthier Tomorrow (published March 2008), Dame Carol Black’s Review of the health of Britain’s working age population. The initiatives set out in this Response are designed to contribute to the health and well-being of the working-age population, their families and communities, and to benefit Britain’s economic performance overall.
Report
Working for a Healthier Tomorrow
Feedback events on the new single complaints system (25th November 2008)From 1 April 2009 a single complaints system will cover all of health and adult social care services in England. A number of events will be taking place in December 2008 to allow NHS and adult social care complaint /customer service managers, patient advice and liaison service staff and the public to comment and offer their views on the proposed new complaints arrangements.
Information
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it – respiratory and hand hygiene campaign (24th November 2008)The second phase of this communications campaign began on 24 November 2008 and runs until early 2009. It aims to encourage the public to practise correct respiratory and hand hygiene when coughing and sneezing, to prevent the spread of germs particularly during the cold and flu season. The 2008/2009 campaign particularly targets mothers with children under 11 years of age, as influencers within the family.
Campaign
How well are acute trusts following the hygiene code? (24th November 2008)This publication describes the Healthcare Commissions findings from 51 inspections of acute NHS trusts (about 30% of the acute sector) to assess their performance regarding cleanliness and infection control. The Healthcare Commission praised NHS trusts for showing increasing commitment to reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, the NHS must maintain the pressure, because the spotchecks revealed gaps in many trusts’ systems.
Publication
No One Left Out – Communities ending rough sleeping (18th November 2008)This is a 15-point action plan, which has been developed with leading rough sleeping charities, to prevent rough sleeping, and to support those already there to rebuild their lives away from the streets. The plan calls on communities to get more involved in supporting those in their area at risk of rough sleeping.
Action PlanRough Sleeping 10 Years On: From the streets to independent living and opportunity: Analysis of responses to discussion paper (18th November 2008)In April 2008 Communities and Local Government published the discussion paper Rough Sleeping 10 years on: From the streets to independent living and opportunity, to inform development of an updated government strategy. These documents report on the responses we received to this discussion paper. The quality of the responses to the discussion paper was very high, and some clear themes emerged.
Executive Summary
Ultra Executive Summary
Costs and outcomes of an extra-care housing scheme in Bradford (17th November 2008)The aim of this study was to assess as accurately as possible the comparative cost before and after residents moved to a new extra-care housing scheme in Bradford. The importance of extra-care housing in the current policy context is illustrated by the level of financial investment. Each year since 2003 the Department of Health has provided capital funding to support its development. However, there is a lack of evidence about the potential, the costs and benefits, and consequently the cost-effectiveness, of extra-care housing.
Report
FindingsHousing choices and issues for young people in the UK (18th November 2008)This review has been written ahead of the forthcoming Housing Reform Green Paper, which will include a focus on the improved provision of housing services and options for young people. The review provides a context for considering the changing nature of young people’s housing transitions in recent decades and highlights some of the most pressing housing-related issues facing young people in the UK today.
Report
FindingsEnglish House Condition Survey – 2006 Annual Report (25th November 2008)The English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is a long-standing survey reporting every five years since 1971 to 2001 and annually since 2003. It monitors the condition and energy performance of housing in England. The report was based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings comprising a detailed non-intrusive physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment to its environment), and an interview with the householder.
Report
Transfer of Learning Disability Social Care Funding and Commissioning from the NHS to Local Government (19th November 2008)In August 2008, a letter was sent to all PCTs and Local Authorities seeking the transfer of commissioning responsibility from PCTs to Local Authorities with respect to non- health care related expenditure for people with Learning Difficulties. This letter gives an update and specifically advises PCTs and Local Councils as to what the DH are looking for from the December 1st return.
Letter
Healthy Communities Ipsos MORI survey results (20th November 2008)In the summer of 2008, the Healthy Communities Programme commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct a survey of local authority chief executives and senior staff to assess how councils are responding to the health improvement agenda. A total of 400 interviews were conducted with staff in 265 authorities.
SurveyImproving Public Access to Toilets: Guidance on Community Toilet Schemes and SatLav (19th November 2008)This guidance is for local authorities and partnerships wishing to set up a community toilet scheme. It provides an overview of the community toilet scheme developed by the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and a case study of the SatLav text messaging service operated by Westminster City Council, which makes use of mobile phone technology to help the public locate their closest accessible toilets.
Guidance
Implementing the Tooke Report: Department of Health update (14th November 2008)Professor Sir John Tooke led an inquiry into Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) that culminated in a final report, Aspiring to Excellence, published in January 2008. The Secretary of State for Health gave his formal response to that report the following month. Subsequent to those publications, the Parliamentary Health Select Committee (HSC) published the findings of their own inquiry into MMC in May. One of the HSC recommendations was that the Department of Health should publish an updated response to the 47 recommendations in Sir John’s original report. The Department agreed to that HSC recommendation and our updated response is published here.
Document
Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review (18th November 2008)The independent CAMHS Review was commissioned to look at how mainstream and universal settings are meeting the educational, care and support of children and young people at risk of and experiencing emerging emotional, behavioural, psychological and mental health problems. The Review has looked at how CAMHS are meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable children, with complex and challenging needs to ensure that they are delivered in a more integrated way.
ReportTargeted Mental Health in Schools Project (November 2008)This guide supports the strategic integration of all agencies involved in the delivery of child and adolescent mental health services (including schools) so that they can work together to deliver flexible, responsive and effective early intervention mental health services. It is for everyone involved in deciding which services to deliver in their Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) pathfinder project, including headteachers, commissioners in the local authority and primary care trust (PCT) and TaMHS project managers.
Guide
The potential impact of an opt out system for organ donation in the UK: an independent report from the Organ Donation Taskforce (17th November 2008)This independent report from the Organ Donation Taskforce about the potential impact of changing to an opt out system of consent provides an in-depth examination of this complex question. The Taskforce has had discussions and engagement with academics, health professionals, members of the public, organ recipients, families of donors and faith leaders and the report reflects the wide range of views heard.
Report
Supporting information
Help build a better health and social care service: Local Involvement Networks (LINks) explained (20th November 2008)Local Involvement Networks (LINks) have been introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence local health and care services. This document explains more about LINks and how the public can make their voice heard by getting involved. It supersedes previous versions of “LINks explained”.
DocumentCarbon monoxide: Are you at risk? (13th November 2008)Accidental exposure to carbon monoxide kills more than 50 people each year in England and Wales. It is a poisonous gas that you can’t see, taste or smell and is released when a carbon-containing fuel – such as gas, oil, coal, coke, petrol or wood – doesn’t burn fully because there is not enough air available. Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated room or water heaters, fires or cookers, are the main sources.
LeafletSure Start: ‘Tis the season to be careful (20th November 2008)This leaflet for parents, produced jointly by the DCSF and the Child Accident Prevention Trust, highlights the potential dangers to children in the home over the Christmas period.
Leaflet
Agreement reached on 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) Negotiations (19th November 2008)Letter confirming that the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Department of Health have reached agreement on the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) from 1 January 2009.
Letter
London Children: Our Future Capital (20th November 2008)This document, London's Children: Our Future Capital, contains details of a new joint target for tackling child poverty in London and identifies the priorities and actions that will accelerate progress towards this goal. The document is an interesting and informative read for any organisation that works with children and families, including local authorities, health services, employment services, housing providers, children's centres and childcare providers. It explains what each of these partners can do to play their role in ending child poverty, and why it is essential that we all work together to achieve more for London's children.
Document
A review of the use of offending behaviour programmes for people with mental health problems (12th November 2008)Offending behaviour programmes (OBPs) aim to change the way offenders think in order to change their offending behaviour. This review finds that many programmes are poorly adapted to the needs of people with mental health problems and that they fail to address the most common causes of offending, such as lack of a home and lack of a job. The review calls for programmes to be made more accessible to prisoners with mental health problems and relevant to people's lives.
Review
Health Impacts of Education: a review (4th November 2008)This review, from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, is the fourth in a series and illustrates how education impacts on health. It shows how education influences health through a range of interconnecting pathways and identifies the ways in which social, economic and cultural differences within the population impact on the experience of and outcomes from education with subsequent implications for health.
Review
Sexually transmitted infections in black African and black Caribbean communities in the UK: 2008 report (4th November 2008)Figures released in this report by the Health Protection Agency show that almost half (42%) of all African individuals diagnosed with HIV in the UK are missing out on the benefits that come from early diagnosis including improved life expectancy, because they are diagnosed late – that is, after a point at which treatment should have started.
Report
Presentation
Population tobacco control interventions and their effects on social inequalities in smoking (November 2008)Reducing social inequalities in smoking and its health consequences is a public-health and political priority: the Department of Health has a specific target to reduce the prevalence of smoking in „manual groups from 32% to 26% by 2015. This project sought to pilot, develop and demonstrate a method which could synthesise the evidence on effective interventions to reduce smoking-related health inequalities, but would also be applicable to interventions to reduce inequalities in other areas of health.
Report
GP referral for clinical genetics services (13th November 2008)Letter on possible confusion about the application of the Department's guidance on first out-patient appointments following GP referral to a consultant for clinical genetics services.
Letter
