HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Improving services for substance misuse - Commissioning drug treatment and harm reduction services (7th May 2008)
Healthcare watchdogs today (Wednesday) are calling for a continued drive to improve drug addiction treatment, to ensure services are delivered consistently across the country. A report released today by the Healthcare Commission and the National Treatment Agency (NTA), shows results from the second of three annual reviews to assess the performance of substance misuse treatment services. Focusing specifically on how services are commissioned and harm reduction service provision, the findings reveal the majority of services are performing well within acceptable levels across these categories.
Click here for Report
Click here for Related Documents

National NHS patient survey programme - Survey of adult inpatients in the NHS 2007 (14th May 2007)
More patients are rating the care provided by NHS hospitals as “excellent”, according to a survey published today by the Healthcare Commission. In the biggest survey of patients staying overnight in English NHS hospitals, 42 percent of respondents gave their care the top possible rating, up from 38 percent in 2002 and an increase from 41 percent in the last survey. The survey also shows that satisfaction with overall care remains high with the proportion of patients saying their care is “good”, “very good” or “excellent” at 92 percent.
Click here for the Report and related documents

HOMELESSNESS

Joint working between Housing and Children’s Services: Preventing homelessness and tackling its effects on children and young people (12th May 2008)
The purpose of this guide is to help the managers of Children's Services and Housing Authorities in both single tier and two tier authorities to plan and deliver changes for children, young people and families. It is aimed at senior managers in housing and children's services.
Click here for the Guide

Youth homelessness in the UK: A decade of progress? (9th May 2008)
There have been significant policy developments across the UK to address youth homelessness in recent years, most particularly the extension of priority need groups and a new emphasis on the prevention of homelessness. This study, the first UK-wide review of youth homelessness for a decade, explores whether these changes have been effective and recommends key priorities for future action.
Click here for Report
Click here for Findings

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Government Response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights: A Life Like Any Other? Human Rights of Adults with Learning Disabilities (9th May 2008)
The Government introduced the Human Rights Act to make rights drawn from the European Convention on Human Rights enforceable in our domestic Courts. The Government recognises that it is often the most vulnerable in our society, such as people with learning disabilities, who have the greatest need for protection and promotion of their rights under the Human Rights Act and Disability Discrimination legislation. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (the Committee) published its report 'A life like any other? Human rights of adults with learning disabilities' on 6 March 2008. This memorandum sets out the Government response to the conclusions and recommendations in that report.
Click here for the Report

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council - corporate assessment (6th May 2008)
St Helens Council is performing strongly, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission. The inspectors found that the Council is improving services for local people through effective leadership, reliable systems and strong partnerships.
Click here for the Report

LAC (DH)(2008) 2 Demonstrating how to deliver stroke care for adults in the community (7th May 2008)
This Circular gives information about the scope and purpose of new funding which the Department of Health is making available to all councils with adult social services responsibilities in England to demonstrate how to deliver stroke care for adults in the community.
Click here for the Circular

LONG-TERM CONDITIONS

The National Service Framework for Long-term Neurological Conditions: national support for local implementation 2008 (6th May 2008)
This document is the product of collaboration between DH, Care Service Improvement Partnership (CSIP) and the Third sector, and gives an overview of resources, tools and initiatives that are/will be available to support local implementation of the NSF.
Click here for the Document

Wish You Were Here? (May 2008)
This report, from Asthma UK, highlights the divide in the UK of service provision and inequalities in asthma control.
Click here for the UK Report
Click here for the England Report
Click here for Hospital admissions by PCT 2006-2007 under 14 years old
Click here for Hospital admissions by PCT 2006-2007 all ages
Click here for Good Asthma Services Checklist - England

MEDICAL STAFF

Understanding Doctors - Harnessing Professionalism (8th May 2008)
Social and technological changes are challenging doctors, causing many to rethink their role, the way they practise and the nature of their professionalism. What does the future hold? The Royal College of Physicians and the King's Fund convened 10 events around England and Wales where doctors and other health professionals discussed their changing roles as clinicians, as managers and as members of multidisciplinary teams. Understanding Doctors: Harnessing professionalism presents the opportunities and challenges for doctors in their own words. Their strong and thoughtful views will make a significant contribution to the debate on the future of the profession.
Click here for the Document

MENTAL HEALTH

Attitudes to Mental Illness 2008 Research Report (8th May 2008)
Since March 1993, the Department of Health has placed a set of questions on TNS’s Face-to-Face Consumer Omnibus about public attitudes towards mental illness. From 1993 to 1997 the questions were asked on an annual basis and then every third year up until 2003. Since 2007 the survey has again been carried out annually. The surveys serve as a benchmark, enabling measurement of whether attitudes are improving or worsening over time.
Click here for Report

Code of Practice: Mental Health Act 1983 (7th May 2008)
This revised Code of Practice has been prepared in accordance with section 118 of the Mental Health Act 1983 by the Secretary of State for Health after consulting such bodies as appeared to him to be concerned, and laid before Parliament. The Code will come into force in November 2008.
Click here for Code of Practice - revised 2008
Click here for Summary of changes from current Code

NHS

GDS and PDS Statements of Financial Entitlements (9th May 2008)
Amended GDS and PDS Statements of Financial Entitlements came into force on 1 April 2008 which give effect to the financial increases for 2008-09. In accordance with the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommendations announced on 7 April, gross contract values are increased by 3.4% and the pay elements by 2.2%. The Seniority Scheme which was intended to be for two years only has been extended to continue payment to those performers currently eligible and include new entrants to the scheme up to 31 March 2009. In practice the 2008/9 adjustment will be factored into the monthly payments by the NHS BSA on a national basis. The PCT must not itself, therefore, adjust the amounts that it has loaded into the NHS BSA’s payments on line systems by these adjustments.
Click here for GDS SFE April 2008
Click here for PDS SFE April 2008

Our NHS Our Future: NHS Next Stage Review - Leading Local Change (9th May 2008)
Lord Darzi was asked by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health to lead the NHS Next Stage Review in July 2007. His interim report in October set out a vision for a world class NHS that is fair, personal, effective and safe. The Review has been led locally by clinicians in each NHS region. Seventy-four local clinical working groups, made up of some 2000 clinicians, have been looking at the clinical evidence and engaging with their local communities. They have developed improved models of care for their regions to ensure that the NHS is up to date with the latest clinical developments and is able to meet changing needs and expectations. ‘Leading Local Change’ sets the context for these local visions and the principles which will guide their implementation.
Click here for Report

NICE

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia additional assessment: second consultation (8th May 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) have been asked by the Department of Health to develop technical patient safety solutions to address specific patient safety problems or harms. A technical patient safety solution is an intervention that has a demonstrated ability to prevent or reduce harm to patients. A technical patient safety solution is a focused intervention that is intended to be used alongside existing care pathways. Closing date for comments is 5th June 2008.
Click here for Consultation Document
Click here for Systematic Review
Click here for Economic Model
Click here for Specialist Advice

Total wrist replacement (interventional procedures consultation) (24th April 2008)
Arthritis causes swelling and damage to the cartilage and bone around the joints, including the wrist. If drugs are unable to relieve the pain and improve the range of movement of the affected joints, surgery may be needed. Total wrist replacement aims to create an artificial wrist joint consisting of metal implants attached to the end of the arm and to the hand, separated by a spacer to allow movement of the hand. Closing date for comments 23rd May 2008.
Click here for Consultation

Promoting physical activity for children - consultation on the evidence (12th May 2008)
NICE was asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop guidance on physical activity, play and sport for pre-school and school-age children in family, pre-school, school and community settings. Closing date for comments is 9th June 2008.
Click here for Consultation

Identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying prematurely: consultation on the additional evidence (12th June 2008)
NICE was asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop guidance for the NHS and other sectors on what works in driving down population mortality rates in disadvantaged areas where risk of early death is higher than average. Closing date for comments is 10th June 2008.
Click here for Consultation

Latest implementation tools (14th May 2008)

Irritable bowel syndrome
Click here for Bespoke tools
Click here for Audit support

Osteorthritis
Click here for Audit support

Rheumatoid arthritis (refractory) - abatacept
Click here for Costing statement
Click here for Audit support

Perioperative hypothermia (inadvertent)
Click here for Costing report
Click here for Slide set

Colitis (ulcerative) - infliximab
Click here for Costing statement
Click here for Audit support

Surgical management of OME
Click here for Audit support

Physical activity and environment
Click here for Guide to resources

Smoking cessation services
Click here for Implementation advice
Click here for Audit support
Click here for Bespoke tools

PARENTING

New Resource - especially for Dads’ (1st May 2008)
Hundreds of NHS hospitals, the British Armed Forces, major employers and local authorities are delivering the world’s first dedicated dads’ information service, launched today (Thursday 1st May 2008). The new service, which is free to the NHS, is a response to increasing involvement of fathers in children’s lives and their demand for reliable and accessible information on health and other issues.
Click here for the Website

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Children, Schools and Families Committee - Testing and Assessment - Third Report of Session 2007-08 (13th May 2008)
Vol. I
Vol. II

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Flooding - Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 (7th May 2008)
Vol. I
Vol. II

Health Committee - Modernising Medical Careers - Third Report of Session 2007-08 (8th May 2008)
Vol. I
Vol. II

Health Committee - Appointment of the Chair of the Care Quality Commission - Fourth Report of Session 2007-08 (12th May 2008)

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Legislative Scrutiny: Education and Skills Bill - Nineteenth Report of Session 2007-08 (13th May 2008)

Committee of Public Accounts - Improving Corporate Functions using Shared Services - Eighteenth Report of Session 2007-08 (8th May 2008)

PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS

Pandemic Flu Planning. Agreement on GP remuneration: Guidance note for Primary Care Trusts (8th May 2008)
Ministers have endorsed an agreement reached between NHS Employers and the BMA's General Practitioners Committee (GPC) on the maintenance of GMS practice income where GP practices are involved in responding to a pandemic influenza.
Click here for the Guidance Note

PUBLIC HEALTH

Our Life in the North West (7th May 2008)
A report by the Regional Director of Public Health 2008.
Click here for the Report

STATISTICS

Anti-social Behaviour Orders (8th May 2008)
By CJS area
By CDRP

Dental Reform Monitoring - January-March 2008 (8th May 2008)

STROKE

Bridging the quality gap (8th May 2008)
Stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK yet our stroke care lags behind other developed nations. The Health Foundation’s report Bridging the quality gap is a thorough exploration of the quality of our stroke care. Despite the national priority accorded to stroke, services in the UK are not as high quality as they should be.
Click here for the Report

WOMEN'S HEALTH

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

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

The Month: issue 8, April 2008 (1st May 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 18 (2nd May 2008)

CARE/CARERS

Common Core Principles to Support Self Care: A guide to support implementation (1st May 2008)
Skills for Health and Skills for Care have worked with key stakeholders, including people who use services and carers, to develop a set of ‘Common Core Principles to Support Self Care’. The principles capture best practice in order to support service reform and promote choice, control, independence and participation of people who use services.
Click here for the Document

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Review of the arrangement under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances - and related serves - to primary care (1st May 2008)
As the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances – and related services – to Primary Care, have remained largely unchanged for over 20 years the Department of Health (DH) considered it important to review them. During that time, advances have been made in product technology and in the services that dispensing contractors choose to provide. At this stage, no decisions have been made about any new arrangements. The review is ongoing and this sets out how the DH intends to conclude it.
Click here for the Response

DISABILITIES

Extending Inclusion - Access for disabled children and young people to extended schools and children’s centres: a development manual (2nd May 2008)
This new guide is designed to support the inclusion of disabled children in children’s centres and extended schools. Funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, it brings together learning and information for those managing and working in children’s centres, extended schools and those in local authorities and voluntary organisations working with them. It will support them in improving access and inclusion for disabled children, young people and their families. It also includes useful case studies.
Click here for the Guide