Global health partnerships: the UK contribution to health in developing countries – the Government response (15th March 2008)
This document is the formal Government response to Lord Crisp's report on the UK contribution to health in developing countries.
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Global Tuberculosis Control 2008. Surveillance, Planning, Financing (17th March 2008)
The Global tuberculosis control 2008, released today by WHO, finds that the pace of the progress to control the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic slowed slightly in 2006, the most recent year for which data were available. The new information documents a slowdown in progress on diagnosing people with TB. Between 2001 to 2005, the average rate at which new TB cases were detected was increasing by 6% per year; but between 2005 and 2006 that rate of increase was cut in half, to 3%.
Click here for the Full Report (large file)
Click here for the Summary
Click here for the individual Chapters
High Impact Healthy Workplace Interventions: Case Studies of Good Practice (7th March 2008)
The Government’s Health, Work and Well-being Executive commissioned research on case studies of workplace good practice by PA Consulting Group in 2007. Interviews were undertaken with nine organisations that are considered to be adopting good practice for staff health and well-being. The cases demonstrated a range of health and well-being interventions and the organisational and individual benefits. There is no ‘right answer’ in terms of well-being interventions, but the report illustrated ways for organisations to find the best approach for them.
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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
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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
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Volunteering in the Public Services: Health and Social Care (10th March 2008)
This report is the first in a series examining the role of volunteers and volunteering in public services. It identifies a largely untapped source of volunteers in service users. It argues that they could make an enormous contribution as volunteers in health and social care because no one understands what it is like to have a condition like a person who has it themselves.
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Government Response to the Commission on the Future of Volunteering (10th March 2008)
This document sets out the Government's response to a number of recommendations from an independent report on how the public, third and private sectors can ensure that volunteering remains in the DNA of society.
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The Sure Start Journey – A Summary of Evidence (5th March 2008)
This document is intended to help Sure Start centre leaders reach out to all families, especially the most disadvantaged, and to ensure that parents and children are offered the highest quality and most effective services.
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National Stroke Strategy easy access version (14th March 2008)
This booklet is a shorter version of the full-length National Stroke Strategy. It tells you about most of the points in the full-length Strategy but in less detail. The main chapter headings in this booklet are the same as in the full-length Strategy to make it easier to compare the 2 versions if you want to.
Click here for the Easy access version
Click here for the Full Document
Local Pharmaceutical Services – guidance notes (10th March 2008)
LPS Permanence allows PCTs to enter into LPS contracts without requiring prior approval of the Secretary of State for Health and provides PCTs with flexibility to make LPS arrangements in response to local needs within timetables of their own choosing. This guidance document provides information on aspects of LPS and the commissioning process and may be of use to those PCTs that wish to use LPS.
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A guide to receiving direct payments from your local council – a route to independent living (March 2008)
This guide offers advice to people who are thinking about or who are already getting direct payments from their local council social services department. We have tried to make it as accurate and helpful as possible, but you should still check the information for yourself. This is particularly important for legal issues. The guide contains information on where you can go for extra help.
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An ageing population: Education and practice preparation for nursing students learning to work with older people. A resource pack for nursing students (6th March 2008)
This resource pack is a result of a joint project between the RCN and Age Concern England (ACE) following negative reports regarding the standards of nursing care for older people who are inpatients in acute hospitals. The resource considers the education and practice preparation of nursing students in the context of an ageing population and its aim is to promote the need for leadership, effective mentoring, best practice and positive images of nursing older people. It contains ideas and resources which can be used by nursing students, including organisation and government websites.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (adults) – drugs: Appraisal consultation document (3rd March 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a multiple technology appraisal of epoprostenol, iloprost, bosentan, sitaxentan and sildenafil and provide guidance on their use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted 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 epoprostenol, iloprost, bosentan, sitaxentan and sildenafil. Closing date for comments is 20th March 2008)
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Pregnancy (rhesus negative women) – routine anti-D: Appraisal consultation document (7th March 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 multiple technology appraisal of routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis for women who are RhD negative (review of NICE technology appraisal guidance 41) 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 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 routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis for women who are RhD negative. Closing date for comments is 1st April 2008.
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Respiratory tract infections guideline: consultation (11th March 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Respiratory tract infections is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for the Respiratory tract infections guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. Closing date for comments is 8th April 2008.
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Click here for the Appendices to full version
Click here for the Comments proforma
Chronic kidney disease: consultation (11th March 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Chronic Kidney Disease is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. Closing date for comments is 11th March 2008.
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Click here for the NICE guideline
Click here for the Evidence tables
Click here for the Comments proforma
Cochlear implants: 2nd appraisal consultation document (14th March 2008)
The Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE or the Institute) to conduct a multiple technology appraisal of cochlear implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness, and provide guidance on their use to the NHS in England and Wales. The Appraisal Committee has had its first meeting to consider both the evidence submitted 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 cochlear implants. Closing date for comments is 8th April 2008.
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Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis – Clinical Guideline CG64 (17th March 2008)
This guidance covers the protection of patients who are at risk of infective endocarditis, specifically adults and children or who have previously had infective endocarditis. It also covers people at risk because of medical procedures.
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Click here for the Appendices
Click here for the Quick Reference Guide
Click here for Understanding NICE
Assessing design quality in LIFT primary care buildings (10th March 2008)
This briefing paper summarises the findings of CABE research into the design quality of new health buildings provided under the local improvement finance trust (LIFT) programme. The research is based on a survey of 20 primary care buildings built under the first three waves of the LIFT programme between 2002 and 2006. It highlights areas for close consideration and recommendations for improvement.
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Click here for the Summary
An independent NHS: What’s in it for patients and citizens? (12th March 2008)
This report, written by David Levy for the Picker Institute, is the first analysis that has looked at the potential value of independence from the point of view of the public, rather than politicians, clinicians or NHS management. The report argues that greater independence for the NHS from the government could be of benefit to patients and citizens if a Public Value approach is applied.
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A review of 26 mental health homicides in London committed between January 2002 and December 2006 – A report for NHS London (13th March 2008)
As part of the process of establishing the new SHA, NHS London carried out an audit of the status of investigations into homicides committed between 2002-2006 by patients receiving mental health care. The audit identified 26 homicides committed between January 2002 and December 2006 by individuals known to mental health services where the perpetrator had been convicted of the offence but where no independent investigation had been commissioned. NHS London moved swiftly to set up an independent review. The purpose of this review is to build on the internal investigations already completed by mental health trusts by identifying common themes and issues. NHS London will use this information to improve the quality and consistency of mental health services across London.
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Independent investigation of serious patient safety incidents in mental health services good practice guidance (13th March 2008)
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) today launched guidance aimed at improving and standardising the approach to independent investigations into serious patient safety incidents in mental health services. This document describes the three main stages of the independent investigation process. It examines the initial service management review, internal NHS mental health trust investigations and Strategic Health Authority independent investigations. It also looks at how NHS organisations can support the victims of serious incidents and how to support staff.
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Making Recovery a Reality (17th March 2008)
This paper says mental health services need to change radically to focus on recovery. They need to demonstrate success in helping service users to get their lives back and giving service users the chance to make their own decisions about how they live their lives.
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The Countdown to Equality (12th March 2008)
The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action has launched the Countdown to Equality to reduce the number of men dying from prostate cancer and to improve the experience of those who develop it. The Charter's new calls are focussed in four key areas: Significantly reduce the number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer which has already spread; Improve the cancer experience of men with prostate cancer to at least the level reported for other common cancers; Level up clinical outcomes across the country so that all NHS services match the current best; and Plan effectively to deliver world class prostate cancer services in the future.
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Men's Health Forum launches new training programme (4th March 2008)
The Men's Health Forum has launched a new training programme designed to help professionals from all fields reach that so-called 'hard to reach' group, men. Courses include: Introduction to Men's Health; Men, Mental Health and Suicide; Men and Sexual Health; Working with Young Men; and Promoting Men's Health in the Workplace
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Introducing Clinical picture History Assessment Plan Sharing information(CHAPS) to handover (12th March 2008)
A tool to improve handover in maternity units at Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.
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ARTICLE: More in hope than expectation: Women’s experience and expectations of pain relief in labour: A review (14th March 2008)
The results of this review showed that although women had ideal hopes of what they would like to happen in labour concerning pain relief, control and decision making, , expectations are often very different from the experience.
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Moving beyond sponsorship: Interactive toolkit for joint working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry (5th March 2008)
In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy for medicines. To encourage joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry it recommended that the Department would develop an interactive toolkit to support this. The purpose of this toolkit is to: encourage NHS organisations and staff to consider joint working as a realistic option for the delivery of high-quality healthcare; and provide the necessary information and have easy access to the tools which will help to enter into joint working.
Click here for the Toolkit