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.
Protecting young people from alcohol related harm (14th July 2009)This report reviews a number of work-based projects focused on preventing under-age access to alcohol, improving compliance with The Licensing Act 2003 and reducing the burdens of alcohol-related harm on society.
Report
End of life care strategy: first annual report (14th July 2009)In July 2008 the Department of Health published the End of life care strategy - promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life. This report sets out progress over the first year.
Annual Report The National Suicide Prevention Annual Report of progress in 2008 (10th July 2009)The report highlights progress made on a number of specific initiatives during 2008 as well as outlining some key issues for 2009. The suicide rate continues to fall and is now the lowest rate on record. In addition, there has bee a further fall in the rate of suicide amongst young men under the age of 35. There has also been a further reduction in suicides amongst mental health in-patients and in prisons. We cannot afford to be complacent however. Previously periods of high unemployment or severe economic problems have had an adverse effect on the mental health of the population and have been associated with higher rates of suicide. PCTs and other front-line agencies are aware of the situation and continue to identify and support vulnerable individuals wha are at risk.
Report
New online portal for cancer researchers unveiled (17th July 2009)The National Cancer Research Institute's free online cancer research portal, ONIX, has launched to the public today.
ONIX (ONcology Information eXchange) enables scientists and clinicians to search through and access internation research data held online - to improve the flow of cancer research information between individuals, institutions and organisations.
Information
Website Skin Cancer Website (July 2009)The South West Public Health Observatory has launched a website which aims to equip health professionals with information to promote skin cancer prevention and early diagnosis.
Website
Safeguarding Children - A review of arrangements in the NHS for safeguarding children (16th July 2009)The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today (Thursday) urges NHS trusts to respond to the tragic death of Baby P by delivering major improvements in compliance with measures to safeguard children. It is publishing a review of child safeguarding in the NHS, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health as part of the response to the case of Baby P, now known as Peter.
Based on a detailed survey of 392 NHS trusts, the findings indicate that a majority of organisations had the right people and systems to help protect children. But they highlight worrying shortfalls in the numbers of staff up to date with mandatory training, designed to help them identify and respond to concerns.
Report Coercion and Consent - monitoring the Mental Health Act 2007-2009. The Mental Health Act Commission Thirteenth Biennial Report 2007-2009 (19th July 2009)The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today (Sunday) sets out its main concerns about the care provided to people detained under the Mental Health Act. It is releasing the final biennial report from its predecessor regulator, the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC), covering the two-year period to 1 April 2009.
The report shows that during its visits to services and meetings with patients, MHAC found examples of people receiving effective treatment in appropriate and safe environments. But it also indicates that there is variation across services.
Report
Sexual abuse and therapeutic services for children and young people. The gap between provision and need (20th July 2009)A huge shortfall in therapy is leaving thousands of sexually abused children struggling to recover from their ordeal, a new NSPCC report reveals.
Each year at least 55,000 sex abuse victims face behavioural and mental health problems because of a post-code lottery in therapeutic services.
There is only one support programme for every 25,000 children living in the UK and many areas provide no therapeutic provision for sexually abused children at all.
Executive summary
Signs for Improvement: Commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm (15th July 2009)This guidance is designed to direct commissioners in areas where tackling alcohol harm is an identified priority, to the resources and guidance, which will assist them in commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm in their local community. It offers ways to improve commissioning, looking at each World Class Commissioning competency and all stages in the commissioning cycle.
Guidance World Class Commissioning Website (July 2009)A new website has been set up for the support and development of world-class commissioning. The site, which is hosted by NHS Networks and supported by the Department of Health, contains news, policy, guidance and other resources for commissioners against each of the 11 competencies. A discussion forum for sharing views and intelligence on key issues will be started later this month and the aim is to build a comprehensive database of good practice.
Website
Evidence for transforming community services (10th July 2009)The Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) at the University of Birmingham analysed over 18,000 studies to examine the evidence for a range of community services. This independent research was commissioned by the Department of Health to underpin the guidance within the 6 transformational guides and for information purposes all the studies are available on the links below.
Report
Proposed work programme and scales of fees 2010/11 and indicative fee proposals for 2011/12 and 2012/13 (6th July 2009)The Audit Commission is consulting on its proposed scale of fees for 2010/11 and the indicative fees for 2011/12 and 2012/13.
The proposals recognise the financial pressures that public bodies are facing in the current economic climate, so the Commission has decided to double the previously announced subsidy to local government bodies to cover the one-off element of the cost of transition to new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
The Commission has brought forward the annual consultation on fees with the aim of publishing the final fee scales by the end of October. This is to help audited bodies take account of our proposals when they set their budgets and medium-term financial planning.
Closing date for comments is 4th September 2009.
Consultation Essence of care: a consultation on the reviewed original benchmarks (20th July 2009)Essence of Care is a versatile and structured system of benchmarks widely used in various health settings. The Department of Health (DH) has taken the opportunity with the launch of the new benchmark on pain to review all of the material to ensure the system continues to reflect best practice. The revision followed the same format as that for devising the benchmarks themselves, via focus groups whose membership comprised people receiving care, carers and staff. The DH are now ready to consult more widely. Closing date for comments is 2nd October 2009.
Consultation Essence of care: a consultation on a new benchmark on pain (20th July 2009)Essence of Care is a versatile and structured system of benchmarks widely used in various health settings. Essence of Care benchmarks are developed by stakeholders from focus groups that will use them. A focus group made up of carers, patients and professionals have met to review the benchmarks and this has led to a proposed new benchmark for pain management. The revision followed the same format as that for devising the benchmarks themselves, via focus groups whose membership comprised people receiving care, carers and staff. Closing date for comments is 2nd October 2009.
Consultation Consultation on the revision of the Fair Access to Care Services guidance to support councils to determine eligibility for social care services (14th July 2009)This paper is a consultation carried out by the Department of Health on the revision of the statutory guidance providing local authorities with a framework to determine individual eligibility for social care – the “Fair Access to Care Services” guidance. The draft revised guidance now put to consultation aims to reset the eligibility criteria framework within the policy context of personalisation and prevention set out in the cross-sector agreement for the transformation of adult social care - Putting People First. In light of the independent review undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) on the application of eligibility criteria, the draft revised guidance also aims to support councils to implement eligibility criteria in a way that is as fair, consistent and transparent as possible, taking into account the needs of the wider community as well as individual need for support.
Consultation
Shaping the future of care together (14th July 2009)
Shaping the Future of Care Together sets out a vision for a new care and support system. The Green Paper highlights the challenges faced by the current care system and the need for radical reform, to develop a National care service that is fair, simple and affordable for everyone.
Within the Green Paper, it sets out a number of consultation questions and asks everyone to provide their views about how they think Government can make this vision a reality and develop a care and support system fit for the 21st century. Closing date for comments is 13th November 2009.
Consultation Health protection regulations: a consultation (8th July 2009)A consultation on draft health protection regulations to be made under the amended Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, to continue the process of modernising health protection legislation in England. The regulations cover requirements for notification of disease caused by infection or contamination by chemicals or radiation, to allow prompt investigation and response; evidential requirements and safeguards for people who might be subject to a JP order under the amended Act; and updated local authority powers to protect public health.
Closing date for comments is 30th September 2009.
Consultation Three digit number to access non-emergency health care (9th July 2009)Following a major review of NHS services in 2007/8, the NHS Next Stage Review Final Report, High Quality Care For All, committed the Department of Health (DH) to explore the benefits of introducing a new, memorable, three-digit telephone number to help people find the right local service to meet their non-emergency but urgent, unplanned care needs.
The DH asked the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to undertake a public consultation exercise on the introduction of a 3DN to support access to non-emergency health care in January 2009. Ofcom is responsible for allocating three digit numbers in the UK and ensuring this limited resource is put to best use. Ofcom confirmed that it would undertake a consultation, which has now been published. Closing date for comments is 20th August 2009.
Consultation Consultations begin on guidance to doctors on research and making and using recordings of patients (8th July 2009)Doctors are being asked for their views on three pieces of draft General Medical Council (GMC) guidance.
- Good practice in research
- Consent to research and
- Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients
will update GMCs existing publications:
- Research: the role and responsibility of doctors (2002) and
- Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients (2002)
Closing date for comments is 25th September 2009.
Good practice in research and Consent to research consultation
Making and using visual and audio recordings of patients consultation
Delivering Better Oral Health An evidence-based toolkit for prevention - second edition (13th July 2009)The first edition of Delivering Better Oral Health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention was published in September 2007.
The fundamental messages of the first edition have not been changed, but there have been updates to the lists of toothpaste fluoride content and sugar-free medicines. There are also amendments to the dietary and alcohol sections. The second edition will be sent to all general dental practitioners, and we hope that dentists will share it with their teams in order to improve delivery of prevention within the dental practice
Document
Safeguarding Disabled Children: Practice guidance (9th July 2009)This practice guidance makes clear that disabled children have exactly the same human rights to be safe from abuse and neglect, to be protected from harm and achieve the Every Child Matters outcomes as non-disabled children. Disabled children do, however, require additional action.
Guidance
Response to Independent Review of evidence regarding selection of techniques for the suppression of Legionella in water supplies of hospitals and other healthcare premises (16th July 2009)The Department of Health commissioned an Independent review of evidence in relation to legionella and other water borne infections in January 2009.
Report
Improving access, responding to patients: a how to guide for GP practices (June 2009)Practice Managers are leading advocates of new ways of working and are at the front line of establishing truly patient-focused services.
'Improving access, responding to patients: a how to guide for GP practices' celebrates some of these examples. It brings together good practice from around the country along with the benefits and drawbacks of different systems, services and approaches, with top tips and step-by-step guides to support practices respond to the ever growing needs and expectations of their patients.
Guide
Third Sector Investment Programme: Innovation Excellence and Service Development Fund 2010-11 - information pack for third sector organisations (20th July 2009)This document provides third sector organisations with information about the Third Sector Investment Programme’s Innovation Excellence and Service Development Fund.
Guidance
Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis (15th July 2009)Too many people with rheumatoid arthritis are not being diagnosed or treated quickly enough, and some services for people with the disease are not coordinated enough, according to a report published today by the National Audit Office. Delay in treatment is detrimental to patients’ health, their quality of life and, with three quarters of people of working age when diagnosed, the economy. The estimated cost to the economy of sick leave and work-related disability for people with rheumatoid arthritis is £1.8 billion a year.
Report Improving Eye Health Services (17th July 2009)This document is part of the ongoing Primary Care and Community Strategy to support the NHS in relation to World Class Commissioning and focuses on eye health services. It provides practical advice on how PCTs can: assess their current performance; identify their vision for the future and commission services that meet the needs of their local communities.
Guidance
Happiness Matters: Homeless people's views about breaking the link between homelessness and mental ill health (July 2009)Despite the many improvements to mental health services in the past decades, St Mungo's believes that still, even now, homeless people with mental health problems do not get the services they need. This report looks at access and barriers to services and support for mental health, the impact of drink and drugs, and emotional wellbeing.
Report
Executive Summary
Fairer contributions guidance: calculating an individual's contribution to their personal budget (14 July 2009)This guidance supplements the current fairer charging guidance. This new guidance provides councils with a model for calculating a person's contribution to their personal budget. Councils providing personal budgets should implement this section 7 guidance by March 2010.
Guidance Climate change and health: making the links (20th July 2009)The ancient Greeks and the Victorians both made the link between the environment and disease. In the 21st century, climate change poses the biggest threat to public health. Chief Executive of the UK Public Health Association, Angela Mawle, argues that local authorities are key to creating the right environment for the nation’s health.
Article
A Future Vision for Mental Health (7th July 2009)This report sets out a new vision for the future of mental health and well-being in England. Based on four principles, it outlines the priorities the Future Vision Coalition believe should underpin mental health policy for the next decade.
Report The Bradley report and the Government's response (Briefing 38) (21st July 2009)The Bradley Report made 82 recommendations to improve the treatment of people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system. The Government's response accepted almost all of the recommendations in full or in principle.
This briefing paper examines these reports in terms of the mental health of offenders. It is our assessment of and response to their recommendations.
Briefing Paper Moving on Up (June 2009) ‘Moving on up’ reveals the barriers that are preventing patients with mild or moderate depression from accessing exercise on prescription. They include funding constraints within local government and primary care trusts, and that many GPs simply aren’t aware that exercise schemes are available in their area.
Report
