ABOUT THIS BULLETIN

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.

18 WEEKS PROGRAMME

SUS (Secondary Uses Service) Pilots: Sharing the learning (February 2009)
The SUS pilot and early adopter organisations have published emerging lessons as they go through the process of changing their systems to deliver a weekly submission of 18 week referral to treatment data to SUS to support the commissioning and sustained delivery of 18 weeks.
Document

ACCIDENTS

Accidents and Child Development (February 2009)
Every year, some two million children are seen at hospital Accident and Emergency Units after suffering an unintentional injury. Around 250 children die each year as the result of accidents. These stark facts give an indication of how great a challenge parents, carers and practitioners face in trying to keep children safe.

This guide addresses particular issues related to child safety and focuses on the actual experiences of field workers. Its aim is to share the experiences of practitioners with a wider audience so that effective interventions can be publicised, so that common pitfalls can be avoided.
Guide

ALCOHOL

ARTICLE - Alcohol Portrayal on Television Affects Actual Drinking Behaviour (4th March 2009)
New research, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, shows for the first time a causal link between exposure to drinking models and alcohol commercials on acute alcohol consumption. It showed that people who watched films and commercials in which alcohol drinking featured prominently consumed, on average, 1.5 glasses more alcohol than those who were watched films and commercials with no alcohol portrayl.
Article

Alcohol Treatment in Cheshire and Merseyside 2007/08 (26th February 2009)
This publication details the results from the Alcohol Treatment Monitoring System (ATMS) in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2007/08. The report provides information on the number and profile of individuals in contact with specialist alcohol treatment in Cheshire and Merseyside during 2007/08.
Report

ANNUAL REPORT

NHS London Annual Report 2007/2008 (February 2009)
This report notes key achievements and statistics as well as giving the annual report and accounts for NHS London
Annual Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS

The Quarter: quarter 3, 2008/09 (4th March 2009)

National Council for Palliative Care Newsletter - No. 1 (March 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 7 (20th February 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 8 (27th February 2009)

Health Protection Report Vol. 3 No. 9 (6th March 2009)

Dignity Champions Newsletter Issue 9 - February 2009 (March 2009)

Housing with Care Matters - February 2009 (February 2009)

The month: issue 18, February 2009 (26th February 2009)

CANCER

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

CARE/CARERS

Individual budgets pilot projects: impact and outcome for carers (26th February 2009)
This research is one of two reports to inform development of personal and individual budgets. The first, published on 21 October 2008, examined the impact of individual budgets on service users. This report, published 26 February 2009, was commissioned by the Department of Health to examine the impacts on and outcomes for carers.
Report

Options for care funding: What could be done now? (4th March 2009)
Many experts, the public and the Government agree that the UK needs a new care funding system: evidence shows that the present system is unfair, unclear and unsustainable. This summary updates a Solutions produced in 2007, and suggests four costed, fairer and more sustainable methods of funding including:

• equity release, allowing older homeowners to pay for home-based care by deferring the costs until their home is sold;
• higher capital limits for care home fees to help those with modest assets;
• doubling the personal expenses allowance for people living in care homes supported by local authorities; and
• restructuring help for people in nursing homes, breaking down the barrier between health and social care.

Summary

Supporting Carers to Care (26th February 2009)
This report, from the National Audit Office, has found that although the majority of carers who receive benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are satisfied with the support they receive, at least a fifth have difficulties in applying for Carer's Allowance.
Report

COMMISSIONING

A Better Return: setting the foundations for intelligent commissioning to achieve value for money (January 2009)
Based on research by nef (the new economics foundation), the National Programme has published this report on how spending on public services can be directed to achieve the best return for communities, the environment and the public purse.
Report
Appendix

Clinical commissioning: our vision for practice-based commissioning (4th March 2009)
This document sets out a vision for clinical commissioning, the hallmarks of successful clinical commissioning, the support and entitlements that practice-based commissioners can expect, and the principles underpinning vibrant, productive partnerships between PCTs and their clinical communities. It includes a covering letter to GPs.
Guidance

World class commissioning for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs (SLCN): invitation to become a commissioning pathfinder (9th March 2009)
As part of a wider programme of work around services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, applications are sought for commissioning pathfinders to test ways of improving how these services are commissioned and the outcomes for children and young people using them.
Application Pack

Practice-based commissioning budget guidance for 2009/10 (February 2009)
PCTs are responsible for ensuring that practices receive an indicative budget that reflects the needs of their population as accurately as possible. This allows a practice to access a 'fair share' of the resources available to the whole of the PCT for its patients. The Department of Health (DH) has updated the toolkit that can be used to determine weighted capitation indicative budgets at practice level. This is part of the DH ongoing commitment to refine the methodology and improve accuracy. To accompany the toolkit they have also produced guidance.
Guidance

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Transforming Community Health Services Briefing (2nd March 2009)
Transforming community health services has become a key priority for many NHS organisations over the last year and many organisations are beginning to consider the workforce aspects of the transformation programme.

This briefing, based on a study into staff attitudes towards transferring to new organisational models, looks at the barriers and incentives to change, and examines insights from staff in organisations that are further forward in the transformation process.
Briefing

COMPLAINTS

Listening, responding, improving: a guide to better customer care (26th February 2009)
From the 1st April 2009, there will be a single approach to dealing with complaints. It will give organisations the flexibility they need to deal with complaints effectively. It will also encourage a culture that seeks and then uses people’s experiences to make services more effective, personal and safe.

The guide ‘Listening, Responding, Improving’ has been developed to help complaints professionals work with colleagues to make their organisations better at listening, responding and learning from people’s experiences.
Guidance

Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009 (February 2009)
These Regulations cover complaints made from 1 April 2009 in relation to local authority social services and the NHS and include the designation of responsible persons, complaints procedures, those entitled to bring a complaint, time limits and cooperation between responsible bodies where complaints affect them both.
Regulations

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

Mental Capacity Act (Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring and Reporting; and Assessments - Amendment) Regulations 2009 - response to the consultation (23rd February 2009)
This document is the post-consultation report for the consultation paper, 'Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Standards: consultation on the Mental Capacity (Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty: Monitoring and Reporting) and (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence (Amendment) Regulations 2009 Safeguards which was published on 19 December 2008.
Consultation Response

General Osteopathic Council (Consitution) Order 2008 consultation report (20th February 2009)
The General Osteopathic Council (Constitution) Order was published in draft for consultation between 15 August and 7 November 2008. This report provides information on the outcome of that consultation.
Consultation Response

Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009: consultation report (9th March 2009)
A summary response to the public consultation on the draft Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009.
Consultation Response

General Optical Council (Constitution) Order: consultation report (9th March 2009)
The General Optical Council (Constitution) Order 2009 was published in draft for consultation between 15 August and 7 November 2008. This report provides information on the outcome of that consultation.
Consultation Response

CONSULTATIONS

Tackling race inequalities: a discussion document (24th February 2009)
The Government is seeking views on priorities for its future work and strategy to tackle race inequalities. They are interested in hearing peoples' views on a range of issues. This publication sets out a series of questions on their future approach for people to consider and reply to. Closing date for comments is 18th May 2009.
Consultation

Topic selection process for technology appraisals: a consultation document (2nd March 2009)
The Department of Health (DH) and National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have worked together to identify how the NICE topic selection process can be streamlined and shortened. The proposed process will reduce the time it takes to refer non-cancer drugs to NICE by at least 3 months and will mean that drugs will routinely be referred to NICE more than a year before they receive a licence for use in the UK. Closing date for comments is 22nd May 2009.
Consultation

Health Technical Memorandum 01-01 Decontamination of reusable medical devices Parts B, C and D (4th March 2009)
The consultation document Health Technical Memorandum 01-01 “Decontamination of reusable medical devices” has been produced as a best practice guide on the use of decontamination equipment used to reprocess reusable medical devices.

The consultation seeks comments on the revised guidance, which has been updated to take account of changes in policy; of guidance provided by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); and of European Standards. Closing date for comments is 29th May 2009.
Consultation

Together we can end violence against women (6th March 2009)
This consultation is intended to raise awareness and to generate debate on what more could be done together to end violence against women, and overcome its far-reaching effects. Closing date for comments is 26th June 2009)
Consultation

DISABILITIES

Supporting disabled parents: a family or a fragmented approach? (24th February 2009)
This report, from Commission for Social Care Inspection, finds that many councils do not fully support disabled parents and their children. Disabled parents are a diverse group of people and include parents with:

• physical and/or sensory impairments
• learning disabilities
• mental health needs
• drug and alcohol related problems
• long term medical conditions

Report
Summary

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Violence against women opinion polling - February 2009 (6th March 2009)
Results from the Ipsos Mori poll of telephone interviews with people in England and Wales regarding their opinions on violence against women.
Results

DRUGS

The primary prevention of Hepatitis C among injecting drug users (25th February 2009)
The findings in this report conclude that a single intervention may not, alone, be sufficient to prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The evidence suggests that a combination of Opiate Substitution Therapy (OST) and the provision of Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) may be the most effective way of reducing HCV incidence among active injecting drug users (IDU).

This report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, is being published concurrently with and complementary to public health guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on Needle and Syringe programmes: providing people who inject drugs with injecting equipment.
Report

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Managing resources in later life (27th February 2009)
An ageing population continues to be of policy concern, in relation to meeting the needs of older people now, and for future welfare provision. This research explores how older people plan, use and value the different resources available to them. Resources are broadly defined, to explore the relative value of different structural, social and individual resources and how they interlink. This holistic overview highlights the complexity of older people’s lives, the variety of resources that people draw on to help manage change and the work involved in maintaining continuity and preventing change.
Report

EQUALITY

Improving opportunity, strengthening society: a third progress report (24th February 2009)
Launched in January 2005, Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society sets out the Government's commitment to create strong cohesive communities in which every individual, whatever their racial or ethnic origin, is able to fulfil their potential through the enjoyment of equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities.

This report provides information on progress to increase race equality and community cohesion. It outlines progress that is being made towards achieving race equality in the key public services and in building community cohesion.
Report

FOOD SAFETY

Microbiological Quality of Salad Vegetables and Sauces from Kebab Take-away Restaurants (5th March 2009)
A new report published today reveals that 5% of salads and sauces served in kebab takeaway restaurants contain "unsatisfactory" (4.7%) and "unacceptable" (0.4%) levels of bacteria.

The study was carried out by the Health Protection Agency, LACORS (the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) and local councils. The aim was to identify potential risks to consumers and controls that can improve food safety.
Report

An Assessment of the Microbiological Safety of Ready-To-Eat Dried Seeds from Retail Premises in the UK with a focus on Salmonella spp. (25th February 2009)
A recent study carried out by the Health Protection Agency and LACORS (Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) has revealed the presence of Salmonella and E. coli bacteria in a small number of ready-to-eat dried seed samples.

Seeds, such as sesame, sunflower, pumpkin and poppy, are frequently eaten as snack foods or incorporated into meals without further cooking. The study was therefore undertaken to explore the microbiological safety of these products as they would be eaten by consumers.
Report

GENERAL PRACTICE

Good Medical Practice - Pandemic Influenza (March 2009)
To help doctors be clear about what the General Medical Council (GMC) will regard as good practice during a pandemic, they have prepared a revised version of Good Medical Practice. In this version some of the usual requirements – such as participating in appraisal and performance review - have been lifted. Other requirements, such as the duties to act honestly, are unchanged. In many cases, the GMC have recognised the pressures and restrictions that may accompany a pandemic by adding qualifying clauses to the guidance, recognising that constraints on time and other resources may limit doctors’ ability to provide detailed information or help for patients.
Guidance