18 WEEKS PROGRAMME

18 weeks performance sharing and choose and book appointment slots (20th August 2008)
Arrangements for 'performance sharing' for 18 weeks as set out in the Operating Framework for 2008/09 have been confirmed. This will alter the published performance of providers, and will be used in Health Care Commission performance assessments. Guidance on addressing insufficient appointment slots on Choose and Book has also been published.
Letter
Spreadsheet

ALCOHOL

Alcohol in Business and Commerce Survey: Workplace Alcohol Questionnaire - 2007 (18th August 2008)
To investigate the impact of alcohol on the workplace and how strategies can be developed to help tackle this, Health@Work commissioned the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University to conduct a research study examining workplaces in Liverpool. The research study was conducted in three parts: a telephone survey of 302 businesses in Liverpool, face-to-face interviews with representatives from ten companies involved in the survey and an employee survey.
Report

ANNUAL REPORTS

Department of Health Audit Committee 2007-08 annual report to the Departmental Board (20th August 2008)
2007-08 Annual Report of the Audit Committee.
Annual Report

Expert Advisory Group on AIDS Annual Report 2007 (26th August 2008)
This report from the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) covers the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) is an advisory non-departmental public body which is non-statutory. It was established in 1985 with the following terms of reference: 'To provide advice on such matters relating to HIV/AIDS as may be referred to it by the Chief Medical Officers of the Health Departments of the United Kingdom'.
Annual Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

The Quarter: quarter 1, 2008-2009 (27th August 2008)

National Register of Social Housing Bulletin - Spring 2008 (12th August 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 33 (15th August 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 34 (22nd August 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 35 (29th August 2008)

CARE/CARERS

New Deal for Carers: deliberative events (15th August 2008)
In addition to the ideas tree the Department of Health ran nine regional events during September and October 2007. The outcomes of the consultation and work from the four task forces were considered at three deliberative events - two for adult carers and one for young carers in November 2007.
Event details
Executive Summary of the deliberative events
Final Report
Appendix 1 - Adult Carers deliberative event
Appendix 2 - Young Carers deliberative event

Care, support, independence: stakeholder events toolkit (1st September 2008)
The Government is undertaking an extensive period of engagement between May and November 2008 about the long-term future of England’s care and support system. As part of the engagement process, the Government wants to involve stakeholders in discussions about how the system can meet the challenges of the future. Materials have been developed to help organisations to lead discussions with colleagues and other people in their networks so that their opinions can inform the debate.
Toolkit

ARTICLE - Self reported receipt of care consistent with 32 quality indicators: national population survey of adults aged 50 or more in England (August 2008)
This article assesses the receipt of effective healthcare interventions in England by adults aged 50 or more with serious health conditions. It showed that there was a large gap between recommended care and care that is actually received.
Article

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) media pack (August 2008)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is part of the Government's wider scheme, laid out in the Children's Plan and Every Child Matters, to give all children the best possible start in life. Introducing statutory standards for childcare for 0- to 5-year-olds gives every child the right, regardless of their background, to play, have fun and develop safely when they are looked after outside of their home. It means that parents can relax, safe in the knowledge that their children will get the same excellent standards of learning and care, regardless of the type of setting they attend.
Media Pack

‘Fun and Freedom’ (28th August 2008)
Children have identified freedom, socialising with friends and active outdoor fun as vital to play in a new report published by Play England and the children’s commissioner for England. For most children, freedom, physical activity and areas that encourage them to socialize were crucial elements of good play provision. An opportunity to engage in active, outdoor play was the most consistent request. However, barriers to play still exist and many children raised concerns about road traffic, bullying, peer-racism, stranger danger and negative adult attitudes.
Report

COMMISSIONING

Value People Now: Transfer of the responsibility for the commissioning of social care for adults with a learning disability from the NHS to local government and transfer of the appropriate funding (21st August 2008)
This letter and annex set out the existing policy and legal framework for the transfer of learning disability social care funding and commissioning from the NHS to local authorities with effect from 1 April 2009. The annex provides guidance on what is covered, what PCTs and LAs need to do and the timescale for the transfer. The proposed transfer was set out in Valuing People Now.
Publication
Annex A Easy Read Version

Interim report of the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision: letter from the Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, to Chairs of Primary Care Trusts (22nd August 2008)
An Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision was established by the Department at the beginning of 2008, with the aim of identifying the barriers to the implementation of the NICE fertility guideline and helping PCTs move towards the implementation of the guideline. The group is due to report in 2009, and has issued an interim report with recommendations, including that consideration be given to a clear clinical pathway and a national tariff for regulated fertility services.
Letter
Interim Report

Managing urgent mental health needs in the acute trust: a guide by practitioners, for managers and commissioners in England and Wales (August 2008)
This document describes the characteristics of a good acute mental health service. It sets out clearly and firmly the principles and standards that should be applied to any acute medical and surgical service.
Document

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Early evaluation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (14th August 2008)
This study was commissioned to provide an early evaluation of some of the measures of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The report focuses on the three measures of the Act that were implemented during the evaluation period: making common assault an arrestable offence*; making it an arrestable, criminal offence to breach a non-molestation order; and extending the civil law on domestic violence (to ensure cohabiting same-sex couples have the same access to non-molestation and occupation orders as opposite sex couples, and non-molestation orders are available to couples who have never cohabited).
Report

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Response to the consultation on regulations for Local Involvement Networks (LINks) (13th August 2008)
The Department of Health has published a response to a consultation it held on the draft regulations for Local Involvement Networks (LINks). The draft regulations set out how LINks’ powers would work in practice and the consultation asked a number of specific questions. The publication summarises the consultation results and the Governments response to the views expressed.
Response

Independent evaluation report of Improving health, supporting justice: a consultation document (26th August 2008)
This is an independent evaluation of inter governmental consultation document, Improving Health, Supporting Justice, which focuses upon the health and social care services for those individuals who have offended or are at risk of offending. This report will form part of the evidence set for the developing national Offender Health and Social Care Strategy, that is likely to be published in spring 2009.
Response

CONSULTATIONS

The General Osteopathic Council (Constitution) Order 2008 - A paper for consultation (15th August 2008)
This draft orders sets out a proposed constitution for the GOsC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office for council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office. The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 was made on 9 July. It makes a number of changes to the constitutional arrangements for the General Osteopathic Council. Instead of the constitutional details of the GOsC being set out in the Osteopaths Act 1993, these details must now be set out in a separate Constitution Order made by the Privy Council. This paper considers the proposed constitution of the General Osteopathic Council. Closing date for comments 7th November 2008.
Consultation document
Draft Constitution Order
Draft Appointment Directions
Response Questionnaire

The General Optical Council (Constitution) Order 2008 - A paper for consultation (15th August 2008)
This draft orders sets out a proposed constitution for the GOC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office for council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office. The Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 was made on 9 July. It makes a number of changes to the constitutional arrangements for the General Optical Council. Instead of the constitutional details of the GOC being set out in the Opticians Act 1989, these details must now be set out in a separate Constitution Order made by the Privy Council. This paper considers the proposed constitution of the General Optical Council. Closing date for comments is 7th November 2008.
Consultation Document
Draft Constitution Order
Draft Appointment Directions
Response Questionnaire

Consultation on direct payments regulations (19th August 2008)
Direct payments are crucial to achieving the Government's aim to increase independence, choice and control for service users and their carers through allowing them the opportunity to arrange their own personalised care. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 extends the availability of direct payments to those people who lack the capacity to consent to their receipt. In addition, the government is also reviewing the current exclusions to receiving direct payments for those people who are subject to various provisions of mental health legislation in light of the modernisation of mental health law brought about by the Mental Health Act 2007. The Government is now consulting on regulations relating to these two changes. Closing date for comments is 11th November 2008.
Consultation Document
Easy Read Consultation Document
Consultation Response Template
Draft Statutory Instrument
Impact Assessment

Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths - delivering the future - proposals for legislative change (27th August 2008)
The Pharmacy White Paper (Pharmacy in England: Building on Strengths – delivering the future) was published on 3 April 2008. This consultation document, Building on Strengths - delivering the future – proposals for legislative change, fulfils the commitment to publish fuller information on a number of proposals for structural change and consult on them. The document discusses a number of changes and levers which the Department believes are needed in both the medium and longer-term to transform delivery and to align pharmaceutical services within the wider reform programme. Closing date for comments is 20th November 2008.
Consultation

A European Health Service? (August 2008)
The European Commission has published legal proposals on patients' rights to receive healthcare in other European countries. This consultation outlines the key issues covered and seeks views from NHS organisations on the likely implications for the NHS. Comments should be received by 14 November 2008.
Consultation

DIABETES

Five years on: delivering the diabetes national service framework (20th August 2008)
The Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF) set out the first ever set of national standards for the care of people with diabetes. This report highlights progress over the first five years of the NSF Delivery Strategy; marking the half-way point of the implementation period.
Report

DISABILITIES

Counting the costs (28th August 2008)
Families with disabled children are struggling with soaring cost of living and some families are going without basic food and heating. These are the findings of Counting the Costs, a survey and report from Contact a Family, the charity for families with disabled children. Key findings include: One in six disabled children lives in a household struggling to afford food and heating; Almost half of families have borrowed money from friends and family, with one in five using the cash to pay their heating bills; and One in 14 children with a disability or medical condition is living under threat of losing their home. Contact a Family surveyed almost 800 parent carers in the UK about their financial situation in the current economic crisis.
Report

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Changing economic circumstances in childhood and their effects on subsequent educational and other outcomes (26th August 2008)
The detrimental effects of poverty on children’s development are well established: children growing up in poverty, especially persistent poverty, do less well at school, have poorer health and often end up in poorly paid jobs or unemployment as adults. Moreover, a lack of income can mean that children are unable to participate in social activities in the same way as their better-off peers are able to do. However, it is the nature and size of the link between changes in family income and income related measures on the one hand and child outcomes on the other, particularly educational and behaviour outcomes, that form the essence of this report.
Report

EMERGENCIES

Report on the lessons learned from the summer 2007 flooding experiences, from an Estates and Facilities perspective (18th August 2008)
During June and July 2007, unprecedented rainfall occurred across certain parts of England, causing serious flooding and disruption to the social infrastructure, including health and social care services. Whilst most of England was affected, there were three main areas of the country where the most impact upon the health and social care services provision was felt. These areas are Gloucestershire, East Yorkshire (Hull) and South Yorkshire (Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster). Whilst it is recognised that other parts of the country were significantly affected, e.g. Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, following discussions with colleagues at Strategic Health Authority level, it was envisaged that no additional lessons could be learned over and above those which should be identified by concentrating on the experiences of those involved in the three areas above.
Report

FAMILIES

Exploring Disability, Family Formation and Break-up: Reviewing the evidence (26th August 2008)
The overall aim of the project is to assess patterns of family formation and change where families include a disabled adult or a disabled child and the primary focus is on family units which include a dependent child. The research involves assessing currently available literature and conducting data analysis to explore the experience of relationship breakdown in families which include a disabled person, and examining whether there are associations that can be highlighted between disability experiences and relationship transitions. The research seeks to enable Government to build strategies which better support disabled adults and parents of disabled children, particularly in relation to employment roles and additionally, in relation to carer and childcare related needs. The analysis has wider implications for policies concerning flexible leave arrangements in relation to childcare, disability experiences and caring and for support for lone-parents.
Report

GENERAL PRACTICE

Practice based commissioning GP practice survey (29th August 2008)
This is the fourth quarterly practice survey, covering a sample of practices from each primary care trust (PCT), conducted between June and August 2008. The aims of the survey are to get feedback from practices on their perception of the support offered by their PCT and on the clinical and financial engagement of practices with PBC. The survey is part of a group of indicators that will be assessed together to give a picture of PBC implementation.
National Summary of Results
Detailed Results for Primary Care Results

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Department of Health central purchase and distribution of the British National Formularies (8th August 2008)
Guidance for NHS organisations ordering supplies of the British National Formularies.
Guidance

Guidance on the diagnosis and management of PVL associated Staphylococcus aureus infections (PVL-SA) in England: Report prepared by the PVL sub-group of the Steering Group on Healthcare Associated Infection (22nd August 2008)
This guidance was prepared by a sub-group of the Steering Group on Healthcare Associated Infections at the request of the Department of Health and replaces the interim guidance drafted by the Health Protection Agency working group in 2006. It is based on expert opinion following review of the literature and experiences of colleagues in the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada. The guidance is intended to provide easily accessible advice on the recognition, investigation and management of PVL-Staphylococcus aureus cases.
Guidance

Ambulance guidelines: reducing infection through effective practice in the pre-hospital environment (29th August 2008)
In the pre-hospital environment, there are three key high-risk areas for the transfer of infection: Direct transfer through the hands of clinical practitioners; Invasive devices; The emergency environment. This document explains how the risk of infection can be reduced by adhering to best practice in: Hand hygiene; The use of personal protective equipment; Aseptic technique; Working in the pre-hospital environment.
Guidelines

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Services for young people and adolescents - supplementary report to the national audit of specialist inpatient healthcare services for people with learning difficulties in England (21st August 2008)
This is part of a suite of material that the Healthcare Commission has produced to support the findings from the national audit of specialist inpatient healthcare services for people with learning difficulties in England, carried out in 2007. This report provides supplementary details on the findings of the audit that relate specifically to specialist services for young people and adolescents. This should be read alongside the full report of the audit.
Report
National Audit

HIV AND AIDS

HIV and AIDS in the North West of England 2007 (14th August 2008)
This is the twelfth annual report of the North West HIV/AIDS Monitoring Unit, presenting data on HIV positive
individuals accessing treatment and care in the North West Region.
Full Report
Executive Summary
County Database

HOUSING

In brief: The link between housing and drug treatment outcomes (29th August 2008)
In 2004 the Audit Commission pointed out an over-emphasis on treating drug addiction and a lack of emphasis on providing the support necessary to bring order to chaotic lives. The connection between drug misuse and homelessness is a strong one but despite this, agencies and commissioners who support homeless drug users often work in isolation from each other. The Clean Break project focused on how housing and drug treatment services can work together more effectively and makes recommendations for future improvements.
In brief
Clean Break Final Report

Housing aspirations and shared ownership (29th August 2008)
Shared ownership allows a household to buy a share of their home (typically between 25% and 75%) and pay an affordable, but not social/regulated, rent on the remainder (usually to a housing association). In this paper, shared ownership is considered as distinct from schemes such as Open Market HomeBuy, which involves an equity loan, and from the right to buy, which involves an outright purchase but at a discount.
Paper

Social Housing and Worklessness: Qualitative Research Findings (26th August 2008)
In his recent review of the future role of the social rented housing sector, John Hills (2007) observed that levels of worklessness within the social rented sector are disproportionately high, even when taking into account the relatively high levels of disadvantage apparent among the tenant base. This report presents the key findings to emerge from a study commissioned by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that set out to explain the relatively high levels of worklessness apparent within the social rented sector.
Report