The report from the Taskforce on the health aspects of violence against women and children (11th March 2010)An independent taskforce was set up to identify the role and response of the NHS in relation to violence against women and children and to make recommendations on what more could be done to meet their needs.
The Taskforce report makes recommendations around improving the early identification of victims; enhancing the quality of and access to services; raising awareness of violence against women and children; training and development; and partnership working.
Report Interim government response to the Taskforce report (11th March 2010)This document provides the Government's interim response to the report of the independent Taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). It sets out initial responses to each of the recommendations of the Taskforce and next steps.
Report
Together we can end violence against women and girls: a strategy (25th November 2009)This cross-government strategy sets out a range of actions for the police, councils, the NHS and other government departments across three key areas: prevention, provision and protection.
StrategyIt only takes a minute girl - women's perceptions of cervical screening in Blackpool (26th November 2009)This report is the first part of a larger project to increase coverage of cervical cancer screening in Blackpool. Approximately 32% of eligible women between the ages of 25-34 years, living in Blackpool have never attended for cervical smear test. The project aimed to find out what young women aged 25-34 years in Blackpool value and want. Some of the recommendations arising from the focus groups are:
- Display messages through a wide range of media
- Create a website to provide more information
- Set up "Facebook" group
- Open up well woman clinics/sexual health services as drop-in for smears
- Consider the possibility of making the walk-in centre more flexible
- Attempt to overcome perceptions of poor treatment by reviewing the whole service experience
- Reflect on how best to create a positive service experience
Summary
National Bowel Cancer Audit 2009 (October 2009)The information Centre has published the National Bowel Cancer Audit which presents findings on data collected for both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 reporting periods, and includes patients with a diagnosis date from 1 April 2006 to 31 July 2008. Among the recommendations are:
- Trusts should establish mechanisms for reviewing their audit data and ensure maximum data completeness of the essential dataset
- All bowel cancer patients should be seen by a clinical nurse specialist
- Trusts and Networks should review their 30 day post operative mortality rates and explore significant variance from Network and national figures
- Trust Service Improvement or Clinical Governance teams should utilise the draft National Bowel Cancer Audit local action plan in support of their service improvement, clinical governance and cancer peer review activity
- Networks and Cancer Service Commissioners should use the findings of this report and its recommendations to support monitoring, review and contracting activity in relation to bowel cancer services.
Executive Summary
Report National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit 2009 (October 2009)Figures from this audit reveal that just under half of women (48%) are being offered immediate breast reconstructive surgery when they have a mastectomy. 21% of women having a mastectomy as part of their treatment for breast choose to have the procedure.
Audit Reviewing the Lung Cancer Plan: Are we emerging from the shadow of lung cancer>? (2nd November 2009)The NHS is still failing lung cancer patients, according to the results of the first national review of lung cancer services, published today (2 November 2009) by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition. Despite headway in UK lung cancer prevention, disease awareness and screening, key areas such as diagnosis, treatment rates and access to specialists are still ‘woefully inadequate’ say the UK’s leading lung cancer experts.
Report
Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda (9th November 2009)Despite considerable progress in the past decades, societies continue to fail to meet the health care needs of women at key moments of their lives, particularly in their adolescent years and in older age. These are the key findings of the World Health Organization (WHO) report Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda.
Report
Vitamin supplementation in pregnancy (SAC Opinion Paper 16) (19th October 2009)The scope of this paper, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is to examine the evidence for supplementation with vitamins in pregnancy within the UK; it will not elaborate on their use in low- and middle-income countries in which other health benefits might occur.
Paper Location, Location, Location. Making choice of place of birth a reality (26th October 2009)Offering women choice of where to give birth is government policy across the UK as it is proven to have a positive effect on birth outcome. However this report, published by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), has found that over 95% of women in the UK are not able to choose where to give birth.
Press Release
Final Report and related documents
Access to healthcare abroad (2nd October 2009)This leaflet tells you about how you can get healthcare in other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).
It covers:
- leisure or business trips;
- planned treatment;
- living abroad;
- working abroad;
- studying abroad.
Leaflet NHS Continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care: public information booklet (30th September 2009)This leaflet gives a summary of information for the public on NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care, including details of what an individual should do if they think they may be eligible.
Leaflet Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): what it means for your long-term health (1st October 2009)This patient information leaflet has been published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Information
Management of unscheduled bleeding in women using hormonal contraception (9th October 2009)The guideline was produced by Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Clinical Effectiveness Unit in collaboration with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Guideline
Health and public sector professionals to help improve health services for victims of domestic violence (11th September 2009)Health and public sector professionals are being asked for their views on how the NHS can improve its services for women and girls who have been victims of violence and sexual assault.
Health and public sector professionals will be asked for their views on areas including:
- Service delivery - early identification, access to healthcare services, staff awareness and attitudes maximising NHS resources
- Service commissioning – needs assessment, NHS commissioning, joint commissioning, commissioning from non-NHS providers
- Partnership working – information sharing, service level agreements and protocols, collaborative service delivery
Press Release
Taskforce page
Keep on the road for longer (28th August 2009)If you're aged 50 or over then keeping your body in good condition is important. Taking full advantage of health checks and services, where they are available, could help keep you up and running for longer.
A range of health checks and services are available locally, ranging from eye tests to flu vaccinations. Combining these with keeping physically active, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight will help you increase your chances of enjoying a healthy and happy later life. The old adage, “prevention is better than cure” is as true today as it has ever been.
This leaflet gives details of current entitlements and services you may be able to access, and when.
Leaflet About MRSA: information for people going into hospital - easy read (27th August 2009)This is an easy read version of a leaflet called MRSA screening: a positive result. This leaflet is for people who need to go into hospital for an operation or other treatment who are carrying the MRSA germ.
Leaflet Identifying unhealthy kidneys: what do I need to know about proteinuria? Information for patients (26th August 2009)This leaflet aimed at patients explains the meaning of proteinuria, cases, signs and tests to determine proteinuria. It also covers how to manage diabetes and high blood pressure with proteinuria.
This is part of a pack of information on proteinuria testing. Information sheets for GPs and labs have been published on the Department of Health website.
Leaflet Managing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Information for you (2nd September 2009)The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have produced this patient information leaflet which explains all about PMS and how to manage it.
LeafletUmbilical cord prolapse in late pregnancy - Information for you (2nd September 2009)The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have produced this patient information leaflet which explains what a cord prolapse is and what to do.
Leaflet
Ovarian cancer: key messages for health professionals (27th February 2009)Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in women after lung, breast and bowel cancer. In the UK 6,800 women are diagnosed every year but, to put this in perspective, the average GP sees only one case of ovarian cancer every five years. This is an update to the Cancer NSF for ovarian cancer for health professionals. The update is split into 3 sections - Who is most at risk?; What you should do if you suspect ovarian cancer; and New evidence on symptoms to help you recognise ovarian cancer.
Update Cervical Screening factsheet - FAQs (20th February 2009)This fact sheet contains frequently asked questions about the NHS National Cervical Screening Programme.
Factsheet ARTICLE - Million Women Study shows even more moderate alcohol consumption associate with increased cancer risk (24th February 2009)According to this article from Cancer Research UK, women who regularly have one or two alcoholic drinks a day increase their risk of cancers of the breast, liver and rectum and in women who also smoked it increased the risk of cancers of the mouth and throat.
Article
Standards for Gynaecology. Report of a Working Party (June 2008)
This Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist working party has worked with the professional societies to agree these standards which are applicable to gynaecological services everywhere and which they believe will facilitate development of equitable, safe and high-quality services.
Click here for the Standards
Evaluation of Early Medical Abortion (EMA) Pilot Sites - Final Report (9th May 2008)
This Evaluation report was commissioned by the Department of Health to assess the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of early medical abortions (EMAs) in non-traditional settings, and to help establish a protocol to cover the elements and processes required for the delivery of a safe EMA service in non-traditional settings.
Click here for the Report
A third or fourth degree tear following childbirth – information for you (6th March 2008)
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced this patient information for peer review. Closing date for comments is 4th April 2008. All comments should be sent to Lucy Arnold larnold@rcog.org.uk
Click here for the Document
Thrombosis in pregnancy and after birth – information for you (6th March 2008)
The RCOG have produced this patient information for consumer pilot. Closing date for comments is 2nd May 2008. All comments should be sent to Lucy Arnold larnold@rcog.org.uk
Click here for the Leaflet
Click here for the Questionnaire
