NICE

Therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence (interventional procedures consultation) (30th June 2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is examining transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence and will publish guidance on its safety and efficacy to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Institute's Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee has considered the available evidence and the views of Specialist Advisers, who are consultants with knowledge of the procedure. The Advisory Committee has made provisional recommendations about transabdominal artificial bowel sphincter implantation for faecal incontinence. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation

Lung cancer (non-small cell) - erlotinib (appraisal consultation) (4th July 2008)
The Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of erlotinib and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its fifth meeting to consider both the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of erlotinib. Closing date for comments is 25th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Click here for the Evaluation Report

Breast cancer (advanced or metastatic) - lapatinib (appraisal consultation) (7th July 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a single technology appraisal (STA) of lapatinib (in combination with capecitabine) and provide guidance on its use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted by the manufacturer and the views put forward by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and by the clinical specialist and patient expert representatives nominated for this appraisal by non-manufacturer consultees and commentators. The Committee has developed preliminary recommendations on the use of lapatinib. Closing date for comments is 28th July 2008.
Click here for the Consultation
Click here for the Evaluation Report

Osteoporosis - secondary prevention including strontium ranelate: final appraisal determination (8th July 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide for the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women and submitted it to the Institute. The FAD has been sent to the formal consultees for this appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the Institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales. Closing date for comments is 21st July 2008.
Final Appraisal Determination
Expert comments on the ACD
Consultee and commentator comments on the ACD
Response to consultee, commentator and public comments on the ACD

Osteoporosis - primary prevention: final appraisal determination (8th July 2008)
After considering the feedback from consultation, the Appraisal Committee has prepared a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) on alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene and strontium ranelate for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women and submitted it to the Institute. The FAD has been sent to the formal consultees for this appraisal who have 15 working days to consider whether they wish to appeal against it. Subject to any appeal by consultees, the FAD may be used as the basis for the Institute's guidance on the use of the appraised technology in the NHS in England and Wales. Closing date for comments is 21st July 2008.
Final Appraisal Determination
Expert comments on the ACD
Consultee and commentator comments on the ACD
Response to consultee, commentator and public comments on the ACD

Sedation in infants, children and young people: scope consultation (11th July 2008)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Sedation in infants, children and young people for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Registered stakeholders for the Sedation in infants, children and young people guideline are invited to submit comments on the scope and may suggest clinical questions that could be answered in the guideline. Closing date for comments is 8th August 2008.
Click here for Draft Scope
Click here for Comments Proforma

Latest Implementation Tools (9th July 2008)

Perioperative hypothermia (inadvertent)
Click here for Audit Support
Click here for Implementation Advice

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Children, Schools and Families Committee - The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Children’s Plan: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2007-08 - Fourth Special Report of Session 2007-08 (7th July 2008)

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Flooding: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 - First Special Report of Session 2007-08 (8th July 2008)

Health Committee - Dental Services - Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 (2nd July 2008)
Click here for Vol. I
Click here for Vol. III

Work and Pensions Committee - The role of the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive in Regulating Workplace Health and Safety: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2007-08 - Third Special Report of Session 2007-08 (2nd July 2008)

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Stronger Voice, better care - Local Involvement Networks (LINks) explained (8th July 2008)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) have been introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence local health and care services. Backed up by certain powers, LINks aim to: provide everyone in the community – from individuals to voluntary groups - with the chance to say what they think about local health and social care services; give people the chance to influence how services are planned and run; feedback to services what people have said about services so that things can be improved. This document explains more about LINks and how you can make your voice heard by getting involved. This publication supersedes previous versions of the 'LINks explained'.
Click here for the Report

PRISONS/PRISON HEALTH

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (July 2008)
Our prison population is at its highest ever. Of the 82,000 prisoners in England and Wales it is estimated that nine out of ten have one or more mental health disorders. Although treatment of mental illness in prison has improved over the past decade, mental healthcare is not given the attention it deserves. The rates of mental illness among prisoners suggest that the Prison Service has become a catch-all social and mental healthcare service, as well as a breeding ground for poor mental health.
Click here for the Document

PHARMACY

Community pharmacy and alcohol-misuse services: a review of policy and practice (8th July 2008)
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB’s) Policy Development Unit commissioned this paper to assess the feasibility of community pharmacy-based services for alcohol misuse, and to identify how such services would fit with government alcohol policies in the three GB countries.
Click here for the Paper

POVERTY

A minimum income standard for Britain: what people think (1st July 2008)
While politicians from all parties are committed to tackling relative poverty, the debates lack a robust definition of a minimum income standard (MIS), below which people’s incomes should not fall. This study devised a minimum income standard for Britain based on what members of the public said, and shows the cost of covering basic goods and services for different household types. The project blends the best elements of the two main methods that have been used to develop budget standards in Britain in recent years. It reconciles the views of experts with those of ordinary people, allowing budgets based on social consensus to be tested against expert knowledge and research. As such, the MIS represents a new and important tool for informing social policy in order to promote fairness and well-being in Britain.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Findings

PUBLIC HEALTH

Fit for purpose, Fit for practice - the public health workforce for the 21st Century (1st July 2008)
These are the presentations from the above event that was held at the JJB Stadium, Wigan on 10th June 2008.
Click here for the Programme

Planning for a ‘fit for purpose’ workforce

NHS healthcare workforce Public Health Resource and Workforce Planning Tools

Competence based public health workforce planning

Practical Workforce Planning

Using the PHSCF to map competences

Resources and Workforce Planning Tools

Public Health Workforce Development Pilot

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2007-08. Presented pursuant to section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (7th July 2008)
The report covers research and development work carried out by or on behalf of any government department in relation to equipment that might increase the range and independence of older and disabled people.
Click here for the Report

RURAL

Exploring Service Needs and Access in Rural Areas Following a Stroke (11th July 2008)
This pilot study looks at services for stroke survivors in the Hereford and Worcester area.
Click here for the Document

SCREENING

09:22Impact assessment of a national screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysms (7th July 2008)

SEXUAL HEALTH

Rapid Sexual Health Needs Assessment: Knowsley Primary Care Trust (3rd July 2008)
Report looking at sexual health needs, demands and services and a gap analysis for Knowsley Primary Care Trust.
Click here for the Report

Sexually transmitted infections and young people in the United Kingdom: 2008 report (15th July 2008)
The Health Protection Agency has reported a 6% increase in the total number of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in 2007 compared to 2006. While just one in eight of the population are aged 16 to 24 years old, this age group accounts for around half of all newly diagnosed STIs in the UK - 65% of all chlamydia (79,557 of 121,986), 55% of all genital warts (49,250 of 89,838) and 50% of gonorrhoea (9,410 of 18,710) infections diagnosed in GUM clinics last year.
Click here for the Report

SMOKING/TOBACCO

Forever cool: the influence of smoking imagery on young people (6th July 2008)
This report, from the BMA, calls on the UK Governments to introduce a range of tough measures aimed at reducing young people’s exposure to positive images of smoking.
Click here for the report

SOCIAL CARE

Evaluation of the new social work degree qualification in England (8th July 2008)
In 2004 DH commissioned a three-year research project to evaluate the effects of the policy change in social work education and the move from a 2 year Diploma to a 3 year honours degree as the professional qualification in social work. The work was undertaken by three teams of researchers from Glasgow School of Social Work, Sharpe Research and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit at Kings College. The core research agenda was to evaluate the impact of the new three-year social work degree on the quality and quantity of recruits to the professional social care workforce.
Click here for Volume 1 - Findings
Click here for Volume 2 - Technical Appendix

How to achieve dignity status in care homes (3rd July 2008)
Document from Manchester City Council outlining the Dignity Daisy standards.
Click here for the Document

STATISTICS

GP extended opening hours, June 2008 (8th July 2008)

Diagnostic tests waiting times and activity data: month ending 31st May 2008 (9th July 2008)
Click here for Commissioner based
Click here for Provider based

SUBSTANCE MISUSE

The 2007 user satisfaction survey of Tier 2 and 3 service users in England (June 2008)
The 2007 survey reveals some significant group differences in terms of satisfaction with drug treatment, although the vast majority of service users were generally satisfied with their drug treatment, viewed the treatment they received in positive terms and agreed that drug treatment had made a difference in their lives.
Click here for the Document

The 2007 user satisfaction survey of Tier 4 service users in England (June 2008)
The vast majority of respondents were generally satisfied with their treatment, viewed it in positive terms and agreed that it has had a positive impact on their lives.
Click her for the Document

TRANSPORT

The value of new public transport in deprived areas: who benefits, how and why? (9th July 2008)
Regeneration strategies for deprived areas are currently under review. To date there has been little if any direct evaluation of the contribution of transport services to local regeneration. This study evaluates the benefits – both monetary and quality of life – of transport services to the people who use them and to the local practitioners responsible for the wider regeneration of these neighbourhoods.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Findings

WOMEN'S HEALTH

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

Bulletin

There won't be a New Documents Bulletin this week due to the library being moved.

The next Bulletin will be out next week and from then on it will be a fortnightly Bulletin.

ANNUAL REPORTS

The Patient Information Advisory Group (PIAG) Annual Report 2006-07 (18th June 2008)
This is the fifth annual report of this group.
Click here for Annual Report
Click here for Annexes

Annual Report on Freedom of Information in Central Government 2007 (18th June 2008)
This report looks at the operation of the Freedom of Information Act in central government in 2007, bringing together quarterly statistics and analysing longer term trends.
Click here for the Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 26 (27th June 2008)