ABOUT THIS BLOG

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DIABETES

Six years on: delivering the Diabetes National Service Framework (16th February 2010)
The Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF) set out the first ever set of national standards for the treatment and care of people with diabetes. The report reviews the development and delivery of diabetes services and identifies the progress made over the past six years towards meeting the Diabetes NSF.
Report

DIET/NUTRITION

National Diet and Nutrition Survey (9th February 2010)
The findings of a UK dietary survey, published by the Food Standards Agency, suggest that the nation is eating less saturated fat, trans fat and added sugar than it was 10 years ago. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is the first comprehensive survey of people’s eating patterns since 2001, when the survey was last carried out.
Survey

DRUGS

Guidelines and information on anthrax infection for health professionals and drug users (February 2010)
As a result of the 2 cases of anthrax in injecting drug users, the Health Protection Agency have produced a number of resources with advice for health professionals and drug users/workers.
Resources

FINANCE

NHS reference costs 2009/10: collection guidance (17th February 2010)
This document outlines the mandatory requirements for the 2009-2010 reference costs collection. It updates and supersedes previous costing guidance. It should be read in conjunction with the latest version of the NHS costing manual.
Document

NHS Costing Manual 2009-2010 (17th February 2010)
This manual sets out the principles and practice of costing to be applied in the NHS. It is not just designed to support the production of the National Schedule of Reference Costs, and through this, the national tariff, but should also be used in developing and monitoring service and financial frameworks, as well as developments in and the monitoring and implementation of National Service Frameworks.
Manual

GENERAL PRACTICE

A survey of general practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the prevention and management of alcohol-related problems: an update of a World Health Organization survey ten years on (February 2010)
The aim of this study, from the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC), was to assess the current knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs concerning brief alcohol intervention and to examine whether these had changed over the last ten years and in light of recent health policy initiatives.
Report

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Integrating Health and Social Care Budgets. A case for debate (15th February 2010)
Over the last decade, Britain’s public services have faced a number of challenges related to a changing population profile, growing demands from more assertive users, and the need for a more sustainable model of delivery. The UK’s huge fiscal deficit will now add the most pressing and complicated challenge of all: cutting expenditure on public services while maintaining quality and user satisfaction.

This paper opens a debate around the prospects for a more innovative, more responsive model of public services for groups of users with complex needs. This model revolves around integrating healthcare and social care budgets. The paper analyses the policy landscape, the key determinants of modern public services and the main financial aspects of integrated budgets. It recognises that there are two different approaches to integrating budgets – an ‘individually-centred’ approach and a ‘system-centred’ approach – and argues that the best way to create a more responsive and financially effective service model is to combine the two.
Paper

HEALTH INEQUALITIES

Fair Society, Healthy Lives - The Marmot Review (11th February 2010)
According to this report most people in England aren't living as long as the best off and spend longer in ill-health. Fair Society, Healthy Lives proposes a new way to reduce health inequalities. The main recommendations are:

• Giving every child the best start in life
• Enabling all children, young people and adults to maximize their capabilities and have control over their lives
• Creating fair employment and good work for all
• Ensuring a healthy standard of living for all
• Creating and developing sustainable places and communities
• Strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention

Report

Sustainable Development: The key to tackling health inequalities (12th February 2010)
The Sustainable Development Commission's (SDC) contribution to 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives (2010) The Marmot Review' finds measures such as active travel, promoting green spaces and healthy eating will yield co-benefits for both health and carbon emissions and warns opportunities for healthy, low-carbon living should be distributed in ways that favour people with low incomes and so help to reduce their vulnerability to ill-health.
Report

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Achieving Efficiency Improvements in the Health Sector through the Implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (16th February 2010)
This report presents an analysis of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries efforts to implement information and communication technologies (ICTs) in health care systems. It provides advice on the range of policy options, conditions and practices that policy makers can adapt to their own national circumstances to accelerate adoption and effective use of these technologies.
Report

LEADERSHIP

National Leadership Council: Resources for Ambassadors (published 7th January 2010 new to website 16th February 2010)
National Leadership Council (NLC) members and associates have an important role as ambassadors for the NLC and for leadership within the NHS. In order to support this role, this toolkit provides the resources to help members and associates communicate the work of the NLC, and to be advocates for 'leadership for a purpose'.
Resources

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

North Yorkshire County Council's telehealthcare improves quality of life (11th February 2010)
North Yorkshire County Council has turned to telehealthcare as a way to defuse the demographic timebomb. The council has already trialed it early in two areas as part of its drive for more cost effective healthcare.
Information

MENTAL HEALTH

Measuring what counts (11th February 2010)
This paper is based on a seminar organised jointly by Sainsbury Centre and the Department of Health in 2009.

It argues that public services do not routinely collect data on mental health inequalities and that the information they do collect is not used to its full potential.

It calls for better information to be collected and used to measure inequalities in mental health and the life chances of people with mental health problems.
Paper

A problem shared is a problem halved? Dementia: learning opportunities from Europe (3rd February 2010)
This report, published as a literature review and policy brief, comes at a time of growing awareness of dementia at the UK and EU level

The report argues that:

• There is still widespread disparity in the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with dementia across Europe.
• Discrimination, ignorance and prejudice of dementia is rife.
• All EU countries will need to prioritise spending on dementia and reconcile need, want and value for the public purse in the coming years.
• There is increasing evidence to show early diagnosis coupled with effective early interventions and services are cost effective. Not only in terms of net savings, but in terms of the positive social outcomes for the patients’ families and caregivers.
• The identification of modifiable risk factors that prevent dementia or slow its progression must be a priority, this includes preventative factors such as a healthy diet, promoting physical and cognitive activity and controlling cardiovascular risk factors. Such investments in preventative measures would also improve general public health.
• National Action Plans like the National Dementia Strategy launched in England in 2009 are increasingly considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of policy interventions across Europe. However dementia specific actions and programmes are not in themselves a panacea, if problems in the wider health and social care arena are not addressed.
• There is an increasingly important role for the European Union Institutions to foster, promote and stimulate collaboration between EU Member States.

Press Release
Report

NHS

Review of the Mary Seacole Scholarship Awards (11th February 2010)
This review provides a robust evaluation which demonstrates that the Mary Seacole Scholarship Awards remains fit for purpose and are achieving its intending goal which are to enhance the development of future leaders in the NHS and improve black and minority ethnic patient experience
Review

Access to health services for military veterans: priority treatment (9th February 2010)

This letter advises of the guidance in place to ensure that military veterans receive priority access to NHS secondary care, for any conditions which are likely to be related to their service subject to the clinical needs of all patients.
Information

Delivering same-sex accommodation: self declaration (8th February 2010)
This letter introduces the declaration process for all providers of NHS funded care. Monitor will be introducing similar reporting requirements for NHS Foundation Trusts. The accompanying information has been developed to help provider organisations to determine their position.
Information

Major trauma care in England (5th England 2010)
There is unacceptable variation in major trauma care in England depending upon where and when people are treated, according to a National Audit Office report published today. Care for patients who have suffered major trauma, for example following a road accident or a fall, has not significantly improved in the last 20 years despite numerous reports identifying poor practice, and services are not being delivered efficiently or effectively.
Report

Learning from the best: what the NHS needs to do to implement high quality care for all (15th February 2010)
A new Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) paper, written in conjunction with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, sets out how the NHS can learn from high performing health organisations in the delivery of quality. The paper draws on discussions at a two-day seminar which brought together NHS leaders and researchers to explore the evidence from a range of international and UK studies.

Key messages from Chris Ham's paper, include: the need for an integrated approach, with quality as the business strategy; alignment across organisations - the emphasis being whole system thinking and working; and stable and sustainable leadership, which is dispersed throughout organisations and which emphasises strong clinical leadership.
Paper

NICE

Consultation documents (4th February-18th February 2010)
NICE are now consulting on the following:

Contraceptive Services for socially disadvantaged young people: consultation on the evidence - closing date 8th March 2010

Tuberculosis - hard to reach groups: consultation on the draft scope - closing date 9th March 2010

Imatinib-intolerant chronic myeloid leukaemia - dasatinib and nilotinib: appraisal consultation document - closing date 2nd March 2010

Diabetic foot problems - inpatient management: draft scope for consultation - closing date 9th March 2010

Renal cell carcinoma (second line metastatic) - everolimus: appraisal consultation document - closing date 2nd March 2010

Diabetes - liraglutide: appraisal consultation document - closing date 5th March 2010

Looked after children: consultation on the draft guidance - closing date 14th April 2010

Pregnancy and complex social factors: guideline consultation - closing date 12th April 2010

Weight management in pregnancy and after childbirth: consultation on draft guidance - closing date 18th March 2010

Latest Implementation Tools (10th February 2010)
Tools to aid implementation of latest guidance

CG92 Venous thromboembolism - reducing the risk: audit support, costing tool, guide to resources and slide set

OBESITY

Change4Life one year one (17th February 2010)
This document reports on the first twelve months of the Change4Life campaign. Change4Life, which launched to the public in January 2009, is the social marketing part of the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives cross-governmental strategy for England. In its first year, Change4Life focused on those families with children aged 5-11, who were at greatest risk of becoming overweight or obese. One year on reports back on how Change4Life has performed against the targets set out in the Change4Life marketing strategy, together with what had been learned about using marketing to influence behaviour one year on.
Report

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza vaccination programme (18th February 2010)
Letter from Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience and Professor David Salisbury CB, Director of Immunisation to NHS Chief Executives with an update on the influenza vaccination programme
Information

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza vaccination programme (18th February 2010)
Letter from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer containing an update on the influenza vaccination programme.
Information

PATIENT SAFETY

Neonatal services urged to follow new gentamicin safety guidance (15th February 2010)
New guidance, produced by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and NHS organisations across England and Wales, has been issued aimed at ensuring safer systems are in place to care for newborn babies needing treatment with gentamicin.

The publication of this Patient Safety Alert follows reports received by the NPSA of 507 patient safety incidents between April 2008 and March 2009 relating to the use of the intravenous antibiotic.
Guidance

Adding insult to injury - NHS failure to implement patient safety alerts (16th February 2010)
Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA), the independent charity which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident, has today published results of its research into NHS bodies' failure to implement patient safety alerts issued by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).
Press Release
Report
Case Studies

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

GP out of hours services: letter from David Nicholson (4th February 2010)
This letter announces the publication of the report 'General practice out-of-hours services: project to consider and assess current arrangements'
Letter

General practice out-of-hours services: project to consider and assess current arrangements (4th February 2010)
In June 2009, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) began an investigation into the provision of out-of-hours primary care services in five PCTs by Take Care Now (TCN). The CQC’s enquiry was prompted by the tragic death of a patient in February 2008 after he was administered 100mg of diamorphine by a locum doctor from Germany. In October 2009, the CQC issued an interim statement on this investigation, which prompted David Colin-Thomé to write to PCTs, and the Minister of State for Health, Mike O’Brien, to ask the Department of Health to jointly lead a short piece of work to review the local commissioning and provision of out-of-hours services.
Report

Delivering Quality in Primary Care: Performers Lists - Language Knowledge (4th February 2010)
Interim guidance to PCTs in England to assist in making decisions about whether or not a doctor has sufficient knowledge of English to be included on the local performers list.
Guidance

Commissioning Health. A comparison of English Primary Care Trusts. Preliminary statistical analysis (February 2010)
This report, based on preliminary research which brings together a range of economic analysis methods, compares the efficiency of the English PCTs in producing a valued output; the health of their populations, in relation to the costs expended, as measured through programme budgeting data.

The key message for policy makers is that all PCTS are performing at a similar level and there would need to be considerable action at system level to achieve significant change in the efficiency of PCTs.
Report

Chemotherapy Services in the Community: a Guide for PCTs (18th February 2010)
Chemotherapy Services in the Community provides a guide to PCTs on the potential to develop chemotherapy services in the community. It will help each PCT, together with their Cancer Network, to consider whether there are further opportunities to devolve chemotherapy from cancer centres and cancer units to community settings while maintaining safety and quality and delivering an efficient service.
Guidance

PUBLIC SERVICES

Personalisation and the social care 'revolution': future options for the reform of public services (29th January 2010)
The Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) has recently launched a new policy paper entitled Personalisation and the social care 'revolution': future options for the reform of public services.

The paper written by Simon Duffy, Director of the Centre for Welfare Reform, John Waters, of In Control and HSMC's Professor Jon Glasby, introduces the concept of personal budgets as 'Conditional Resource Entitlements' (CREs) - a means of targeting resources towards those who are eligible, but with specific conditions attached. The authors suggest personal budgets, if framed as a form of CRE, can form part of a wider strategy for welfare reform which places emphasis on promoting citizenship and personal responsibility.
Paper

STATISTICS

NHS Cancelled Operations, quarter ending 31 December 2009 (12th February 2010)

Accident and Emergency Activity - Quarter ending December 2009 (12th February 2010)

NHS Diagnostics Waiting Times and Activities - December 2009 (10th February 2010)

Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England 2010 (10th February 2010)

Dental Commissioning Monitoring - October-December 2009 (9th February 2010)

Hospital Episode Statistics: Admitted patient care - provisional monthly HES for admitted patient care, outpatient and Accident & Emergency data, April-October 2009/10 (9th February 2010)

NHS Referral to Treatment Waiting Times - December 2009 (18th February 2010)

Direct Access Audiology Waiting Times - December 2009 (18th February 2010)

Sickness Absence Rates in the NHS - July-September 2009, Experimental Statistics (18th February 2010)

NHS Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times Statistics for England - Annual Report 2009 edition (18th February 2010)

Vital Signs Monitoring - report on Primary Care Trust performance against plans to address selected health priorities relating to the NHS Operating Framework - December 2009 (17th February 2010)

Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) PCT Performance Data from VSMR - Quarter ending December 2009 (17th February 2010)

THIRD SECTOR

Third Sector Strategic Partner Programme 2010/2011 (1st February 2010)
The Department of Health are now inviting applications for the Department of Health (DH) Third Sector Partner Programme for 2010-11.

They are seeking to extend the DH Third Sector Strategic Partner Programme to reach and engage with third sector organisations working in and with:

• Mental Health organisations
• Women’s Sector organisations
• Carers organisations
• Armed Forces and Veterans Charities
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organisations
• Offender Health and Social Care organisations

Closing date for applications is 12th March 2010
Information

ABOUT THIS BLOG

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.

AUDIT

Annual audit letters 2008/09 (29th January 2010)
The Audit Commission publish annual audit letters to enhance the openness and transparency of the audit process, for which they have overall responsibility. Annual audit letters summarise key matters arising from the yearly audit in clear language for executives and stakeholders.
Audit letters

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 3 (22nd January 2010)

Health Protection Report Vol. 4 No. 4 (29th January 2010)

DH Care Networks Telecare eNewsletter - January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

User-Led Organisation Action and Learning Newsletter, Winter 2009/10 (2nd February 2010)

The month: issue 29, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

AHP Bulletin, Issue 75, January 2010 (26th January 2010)

Children, Families and Maternity e-bulletin, edition 59 (February 2010)

Medical Directors Bulletin, Issue 100, January 2010 (2nd February 2010)

Social Care Bulletin, Issue 13, January 2010 (3rd February 2010)

CANCER

An evaluation of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative test community projects: report of the baseline patient experience survey (20th January 2010)
43% of cancer survivors responding to a recent survey conducted by the Picker Institute Europe said they would have liked more information and advice, 75% did not have, or did not know if they had a care plan and 75% reported not knowing who to contact for advice out of hours.

So, whilst it’s extremely encouraging to note that 85% of patients said their follow up care was ’excellent’ or ‘very good’, there is clearly much work to do ensure all receive care that is truly patient-centred.
Press release
Survey

CARE QUALITY COMMISSION

'Count me in' census 2009 (21st January 2010)
This report finds that the NHS, councils and wider community bodies should work together to improve preventative services to ensure that they meet the mental health needs of people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.
Report

CARE/CARERS

Integrated care pilots expansion (2nd February 2010)
Following successes in the original 16 ICPs the programme has been expanded to encourage and facilitate the sharing of knowledge amongst a wider range of stakeholders nationally and identify further innovative initiatives. The Department of Health are now inviting sites to send us their completed self-assessment forms in order to join the expanded community. Further guidance on the submission process is detailed within the tool documentation.
Documents

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Giving children a healthy start (3rd February 2010)
This report assesses the local implementation of national policy from 1999 to 2009 on the health of children from birth to five years of age in England. It examines local service planning and delivery, including priority setting, and how local bodies can improve service delivery and access for vulnerable groups such as black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, lone and teenage parents. The report discusses the impact of government funding on health outcomes for the under-fives; how effectively local bodies manage their resources; and the extent to which they are providing good value for money. It provides recommendations for national and local bodies, as well as examples of notable practice.
Report

Small steps towards a healthier life (2nd February 2010)
The Food Standards Agency has officially launched SmallSteps4Life – an interactive website to motivate young people to take simple steps towards improving their health and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom.
Information

Promoting the emotional health of children and young people: guidance for Children's Trust partnerships, including how to deliver (January 2010)
The emotional health of children and young people is increasingly recognised as being fundamental to the wellbeing and future prospects of individuals and communities. Emotional health is nurtured primarily in the home, but we know that practitioners and services can and do make a difference.

This non-statutory guidance is for directors and assistant directors of children’s services, directors of public health, commissioning managers in local authorities and Primary Care Trusts. It aims to help Children’s Trust partners to develop a strategic approach to improving the emotional health of children and young people, in line with the aims of NI 50.
Guidance

COMMISSIONING

Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (21st January 2010)
New Standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are now available to support the commissioning and provision of high quality care for STIs across all settings.
Standards

Final report of the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision (28th January 2010)
Following the issue of its interim report in 2008, and the publication of a commissioning aid in June 2009, the final report of the independent expert group on commissioning NHS infertility provision is now available to download below. Key points include:

• the development of a national tariff for regulated fertility services
• a project to share information on local prices and tariffs on an anonymised basis to help PCTs assess whether their local prices are a fair reflection of the national pattern
• sharing information gained from research to help commissioners
• the availability of support for commissioners from expert patients

Report

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Consultation report on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010 (28th January 2010)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010 were published in draft for public consultation between 1 September 2009 and 23 November 2009. This report summarises responses received to the consultation.

Subject to Parliamentary approval it is anticipated these Regulations will come into force on 6 April 2010.
Response

Reforming the Medical Statement. Government response to the consultation on draft regulations: The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) (29th January 2010)
Between 28 May 2009 and 31 August 2009 the Government undertook a consultation on draft regulations that will support the revised medical statement. The aim is for the revised medical statement to allow a doctor to consider not only whether their patient is unfit for work, but also whether their patient may be able to do work based on the doctor’s assessment of the patient’s health condition; it also simplifies the suite of medical statements.

The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and the Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 come into effect on 6 April 2010.

This document describes the comments made by respondents and provides the Government’s response.
Response

PbR data assurance framework consultation for 2010/11 onwards (28th January 2010)
The Audit Commission launched a consultation on the Payment by Results (PbR) data assurance framework for 2010/11 onwards in Autumn 2009. This document is the response to the consultation.
Response

CONSULTATIONS

Charging arrangements for residential social care: consultation on issues concerning the current charging arrangements for residential social care (29th January 2010)
The Department of Health began a 12 Week consultation on 29 January 2010 concerning the charging arrangements for residential social care. Views are sought on proposed amendments to the residential charging arrangements suggested by a stakeholder group. The consultation will close on 23 April 2010.
Consultation

Sex and Relationships Education Guidance (25th January 2010)
The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the draft document, Sex and Relationships Education Guidance. This document provides guidance to maintained primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) in England on all matters relating to SRE, including how good quality SRE can be planned and delivered, how to develop an SRE policy and how to support the health and social needs of all pupils with regard to sex and relationships. It is relevant to all staff, particularly senior managers and those responsible for co-ordinating, teaching and supporting the delivery of SRE. Headteachers and governing bodies are required by law to have regard to the guidance.

Closing date for comments is 19th April 2010
Consultation

Support for All: Families and Relationships Green Paper (20th January 2010)
This Green Paper sets out a wide range of measures to support all families as they bring up their children and to help families cope with times of stress and difficulty. The proposals recognise that while all families need some help, there are families in our society with complex needs and others who require additional - and sometimes non-negotiable - support.

Closing date for comments is 21st April 2010.
Consultation

Assessments of quality in 2010/11. Our proposals for the assessment of commissioners and providers of health and adult social care(2nd February 2010)
This consultation, from the Care Quality Commission, looks at their proposals for assessing quality in 2010-11 and beyond. The consultation details how they propose to assess the quality of:

• Councils as commissioners
• PCTs as commissioners
• NHS trusts and PCTs as providers
• Adult social care organisations as providers

Closing date for comments is 27th April 2010.
Consultation

DIET/NUTRITION

Citizens' forum findings on front-of-pack nutrition labelling (28th January 2010)
The Food Standards Agency has published the latest report of people's views on food labels and their awareness and understanding of front-of-pack nutrition labelling. This is part of a nationwide series of 'citizens' forums' set up to establish a dialogue with the public on food.
Report

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Can equity release help older home-owners improve their quality of life? (28th January 2010)
Around a million older home-owners have at least £100,000 of housing equity, yet they can’t afford the practical help they need to enjoy a good quality of life at home.

This Solutions document reveals how JRF has been working with local authorities, the equity release industry, voluntary bodies and relevant government departments to develop equity release packages that help older people access funds without threatening their entitlement to benefits.
Summary

END OF LIFE CARE

Delivering better care at end of life. The next steps (27th January 2010)
The document includes papers given at the Sir Roger Bannister Summit at Leeds Castle in November 2009 and an account of the debate generated. The summit, organised by The King's Fund covered issues including commissioning, hospice and hospital care, quality markers and challenges for providers. It identified 10 critical actions to help the successful implementation of the government's End of Life Care Strategy. This document should be invaluable for those seeking to improve the quality of the care offered to patients at the end of life.
Document

GENERAL PRACTICE

Reforming general practice boundaries (26th January 2010)
Reforming the way in which GP practice boundaries divide primary care services between patients is an attractive prospect for politicians and the general public.

The current government in England has stated that it intends to remove these boundaries altogether, while the Conservative Party has declared that patients should be able to register with the practice most convenient to them.

This review, from the British Medical Association (BMA), explores the many consequences and potential opportunities that implementing this proposal presents.
Document

The Future of General Practice in Northern Ireland (20th January 2010)
This strategy has been developed by the BMA(NI) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP(NI)) on the future of general practice.
Strategy

HEALTH

Health Effects of Exposure to Ultrasound and Infrasound (1st February 2010)
The independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which reports to the Health Protection Agency, has reviewed the latest scientific evidence on the health effects of ultrasound (frequencies above 20 kilohertz) and infrasound (below 20 Hz).

The report finds that the available evidence does not suggest that diagnostic ultrasound affects mortality of babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The evidence also does not suggest any effect on childhood cancer risk. There have, however, been some unconfirmed reports suggesting possible effects on the developing nervous system - for instance, on handedness of the child.

AGNIR concluded that there is no established evidence that diagnostic levels of ultrasound are hazardous. However, further research is needed to determine whether there are any long-term adverse health effects, especially following exposure of the unborn child.
Report

Warrington - using libraries to raise health awareness (21st January 2010)
Warrington Borough Council used Communities for Health (C4H) funding to run a health programme based in its libraries.
Information

Summary of insight research with middle aged adults (2nd February 2010)
Change4Life asked research company 2CV to carry out research to help inform a campaign aimed at adults. The research was carried out between July and October 2009 with middle aged men and women to investigate their habits and attitudes to diet, physical activity and weight status.
Summary

A liberal dose? Health and wellbeing: the role of the state (1st February 2010)
The role of the state in health and wellbeing is a complex and controversial issue. A difficult question for any government is how far to intervene in the choices and behaviour of individuals in order to promote their own, or others’, health. Good health is a vital ingredient of a good life – but so is freedom.

This report:

• sets out evidence for what the public think about this question;
• explores the key issues at stake and clarifi es principles for state intervention;
• suggests a new framework to guide decision making; and
• proposes a new narrative for future state intervention.

Report

Influencing public behaviour to improve health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report builds on current approaches, using the latest evidence from areas such as behavioural economics and psychology, to suggest ways in which the Government could become more effective in this area, to help people to make healthier choices where they wish to do so.
Report

Enabling effective delivery of health and wellbeing (1st February 2010)
This independent report offers recommendations to the Secretary of State on how better to enable the delivery of improved health and wellbeing. The terms of reference for this report requested an assessment of the current opportunities and barriers in delivery systems, to identify where practical changes could be made to improve effectiveness.
Report

HEALTH AND SOCIAL C ARE

Engaging and responding to your community: a brief guide to Local Involvement Networks (22nd January 2010)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area of England to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered.

This guide is for health and social care managers and explains more about LINks. It outlines how, through proactive engagement you can better understand the needs of your community. Working with your LINk should be a key part of commissioning, running and reviewing health and social care services.
Leaflet

IMMUNISATION

Annual HPV vaccine uptake in England: 2008/09 (29th January 2010)
A summary of HPV vaccination uptake across England at PCT, SHA and national level for the first year of the programme. This includes additional data from Devolved Authorities and comparisons with available international equivalent programmes.
Report

Changes to the Childhood Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (19th January 2010)
A letter to immunisation leads and coordinators to inform them of a replacement vaccine that will be introduced into the childhood routine immunisation programme in the spring.
Letter

Shingles vaccine moves a step closer (29th January 2010)
People aged between 70 and 79 could be offered protection against shingles for the first time as a vaccination programme moved a step closer the Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said today.

The move follows a recommendation made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that the vaccine should be offered to this age group if it can be bought at a price which makes the programme cost-effective.
Information

INFORMATION GOVERNANCE

Checklist for reporting, managing and investigating information governance serious untoward incidents (25th January 2010)
This document provides guidance for all NHS staff in managing information governance serious untoward incidents. It should be used in conjunction with previous issued guidance and local guidance issued by the SHAs.
Document

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Healthcare for people with learning disabilities: recommendations of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (27th January 2010)
The Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman's report, 'Six Lives', highlighted failings in health and social care services that led to premature and avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities. These letters from David Behan and Anne Williams to SHA chief executives and Directors of Adult Social Services respectively set out the action needed to respond to the recommendations set out in the 'Six Lives' report. Directors of Adult Social Services are reminded of the need to work in partnership with NHS colleagues when reviewing and reporting progress on implementation of the Ombudsmen's recommendations. SHAs are asked to report on progress by March 2010.
Letters

Valuing people now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities (20th January 2010)
The Department of Health have today issued a letter from the National Director for Learning Disabilities to Directors of Adult and Children's social Services and Chief Executives of Local Authorities, Trusts and SHAs. This is an update on the Valuing Employment Now resource pack and a reminder of the business case for investment in supported employment. Employment will remain a top priority.
Letter

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Sexuality - the new agenda (2nd February 2010)
“Sexuality – the new agenda” emphasises the need for a corporate approach to promoting equality. Once seen as a fringe issue of little relevance to the core business of local authorities, sexuality has been brought centre stage by recent legislative developments.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual equality is coming of age and can no longer be seen as an optional extra. Many successful initiatives have been undertaken by local authorities throughout England and Wales.

This publication aims to cover:

• service delivery and customer care
• community development and involvement
• local authority employees
• monitoring and evaluation.

Publication

Tackling Domestic Violence (28th January 2010)
About one in four women can become victims of domestic abuse. For many, the crime will go unreported and unnoticed. Three years ago Oxfordshire County Council and local partners decided more needed to be done to support women and their children. Their answer to the problem was the Domestic Abuse Champions Network.The scheme has created specialists in domestic abuse, in public and voluntary-sector organisations throughout the county.

There are now 250 trained champions from 35 different agencies. The champions include:

• police officers
• social workers
• housing staff
• midwives
• health visitors

Information

MEDICAL STAFF

NHS Practitioner Health Programme. Report on the first year of operation (29th January 2010)
A service launched last year for doctors and dentists who are suffering from health problems has been successful in treating clinicians.

New findings published today (29 January) reveal that 77 per cent of practitioners who were assessed and treated by the NHS Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) for health problems were able to stay in or return to work.
Report

MENTAL HEALTH

Legislation on hospital environments for young mental health patients (27th January 2010)
This letter from David Flory and CNO informs how from 1 April 2010 legislation places a duty on hospital managers to ensure that under 18s are treated in an environment in hospital which is suitable having regard to their age (subject to their needs).
Letter

Eager for Radical Change - New Horizons Roundtable (1st February 2010)
The New Horizons programme aims to revolutionise mental health care.

Leading figures from a variety of organisations with an interest in the agenda and people with direct experience of mental distress gathered recently at a roundtable convened by the Guardian, in association with the National Mental Health Development Unit, on behalf of the Department of Health. The debate focused on New Horizons, which replaces the 10-year national service framework for mental health.
Document

North West Mental Wellbeing Survey 2009 (25th January 2010)
The North West Mental Wellbeing Survey was undertaken in response to a growing need to understand more about positive mental health and wellbeing. With a total sample of 18,500 people across Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, the survey is the largest, most significant and detailed investigation of the region's mental health and wellbeing ever undertaken. It identified differences between local areas, with people from Warrington emerging as having the highest overall mental wellbeing score in the North West and people in Liverpool the lowest.
Summary
Full Report (very large document)

Dementia 2010. The prevalence, economic cost and research funding of dementia compared with other major diseases (3rd February 2010)
The Alzheimer's Research Trust commissioned the Health Economics Research Centre at the University of Oxford to produce a report on the economic cost of dementia to the UK, and the country's investment in research to find new treatments, preventions and cures.

The Oxford team's findings are astonishing. They show dementia to be the greatest medical challenge of our time.

• Over 820,000 people in the UK live with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
• Dementia costs the UK economy £23 billion per year: more than cancer and heart disease combined.
• Dementia research is severely underfunded, receiving 12 times less support than cancer research.

Report

Delivering same-sex accommodation in mental health and learning disability services (25th January 2010)
The provision of same-sex accommodation across the NHS is a visible affirmation of the health service’s commitment to respecting the dignity and privacy of those who use its services. Service users’ experience while in care relates significantly to ward culture, staff attitudes and gender sensitivity, as well as physical arrangements for gender separation.

This Briefing summarises existing national policy and good practice on same-sex accommodation, explains what support is available to organisations that need to make improvements, and sets out what both providers and commissioners can do to ensure same-sex accommodation becomes a reality for all.
Briefing

Postnote: Diagnosing Dementia (January 2010)
Dementia currently affects 700,000 people in the UK, yet only 1 in 3 cases receives a formal diagnosis from a doctor. Dementia costs the UK economy £17bn a year and is one of the main causes of disability in later life. A key aim of the Department of Health's 2009 National Dementia Strategy is early diagnosis. This is intended to improve quality of life through increased support, prevention of harm and reduction in care home admissions. This briefing outlines current diagnostic practices, research into newer tools and service provision proposals that aim to increase early diagnosis.
Briefing