HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

With there not being another Bulletin until the beginning of November I thought that I should do an “extra” as the Annual Health Check has been published today.

The Annual health check 2007/08 (16th October 2008)
The results of this year's annual health check showed further improvements in performance by many trusts. In 2005/06 when the annual health check was introduced only 2 trusts scored "Excellent" for both the quality of their services and their use of financial resources. Last year it had risen to 19 and this year 42 out of 391 trusts scored "Excellent" in both categories.
Full Report
North West Regional Summary
Directory of Performance Ratings
Complete Data Set
Raising the Standard
Search for an Organisation
Press Release

ANNUAL LEAVE

Please note that I am on annual leave for a week when the next Bulletin is due, so it will be distributed w/c 3rd November 2008.

Thanks

ALCOHOL

The impact of alcohol in Greater Manchester: quarterly report August 2008 (new to website 7th October 2008)
This report provides data including: Details of latest reports on consumption; Details on alcohol-related road accidents, fires and hospital admissions; Local alcohol-related police incident data and details of offenders in contact with the probation service; Details on underage test purchasing and alcohol treatment; and Examples of local initiatives to address alcohol-related harm.
Report

Investigating drinking behaviours and alcohol knowledge amongst people resident in the Linacre and Derby wards of Sefton: an evaluation of the It’s Your Choice intervention. Final report (August 2008)
In order to address the high levels of alcohol consumption and related harm in Linacre and Derby, Sefton PCT co-ordinated the It’s Your Choice intervention. This aimed to raise awareness of the negative consequences of excessive alcohol use, units, and safer ways to drink alcohol. It provided information through formats such as posters, a telephone helpline, and information booklets. This report details the final analysis.
Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTER

National Cancer Survivorship Initiative Newsletter - Autumn 2008, Issue 1 (2nd October 2008)

Third Sector Update and News - Issue1, September (8th October 2008)

NHS Resilience Newsletters (10th October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 40 (3rd October 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 41 (10th October 2008)

CSIP Telecare eNewsletter - September 2008 (7th October 2008)

CANCER

Lung Cancer in the North West (September 2008)
This report evaluates trends in lung cancer in the North West of England with particular focus on the epidemiology and treatment of lung cancer, and future impact of the smoking ban. The report builds upon and expands on previously published work on lung cancer in Cheshire and Merseyside, and covers the whole of the North West.
Report

CARE/CARERS

Reducing gender inequalities to create a sustainable care system (2nd October 2008)
Women mainly provide family care, but as women’s economic opportunities increase they will not continue to bear the costs of providing care unaided. To create a sustainable care system, care and carers must be better supported and more highly valued to involve more men in caring and reduce gender inequalities.
Document

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP) National Conference - 18th June 2008. Summary Report (8th October 2008)
The updated Child Health Promotion Programme (CHPP), Pregnancy and the first five years of life, was launched by the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) on 17th March 2008. To help support implementation of the Programme a national conference was held on 18th June. The conference was for commissioners of children's services, senior clinical and/or service leads for children and families from PCTs and Local Authorities, as well as national and regional leaders and stakeholders.
Report

Young people and territoriality in British cities (14th October 2008)
Territoriality among young people has been identified in some previous studies as a source of social exclusion and disadvantage and as one of the roots of gang behaviour. It has also begun to be recognised by policy-makers working to improve young people’s life chances and to promote safer communities. This research focuses on understanding territoriality in its own right and examines: what territoriality is, how it is experienced by young people and who is involved; the origins of territoriality in disadvantaged places; the impacts of territoriality on young people’s lives; the range of projects which aim to deter or counteract territorial behaviour; and the public policy implications of recognising territoriality as an important social force in disadvantaged places.
Report
Findings

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Early Years Consultant’s Handbook (8th October 2008)
Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide information, advice and training to their early years workforce, and early years consultants should be at the forefront of delivering this.
Consultants are key players in ensuring that a local authority's quality improvement strategy is implemented in all settings in a way that impacts on the lives of children and their families, offering measured support in inverse proportion to success. This requires strong leadership and partnerships with settings across the maintained and private, voluntary and independent sectors, as well as with other children's services providers. This handbook offers some tools and information which early years consultants will find useful in carrying out this important role.
Handbook

COMMISSIONING

How to Achieve World Class Commissioning Competencies. Practical tips for NHS Commissioners (7th October 2008)
Developed by over 100 stakeholders, this publication sets out practical tips for achieving the competencies. It includes sources of advice and has information for each competency along with the supporting evidence required.
Publication

World Class Commissioning Programme - September update (9th October 2008)
Letter from Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning, to SHA Chief Executives and Directors of Commissioning, with a monthly progress report on the world class commissioning programme.
Update

Invest to Save. Improving outcomes in cardiovascular disease. A guide for practice-based commissioners (7th October 2008)
This guide for practice-based commissioners highlights the strong evidence base for focusing on both prevention and treatment in primary care. It provides practice-based commissioning (PBC) consortia with a clear framework for implementing a systematic approach to managing risk and managing disease.
Guide

Adolescent Health Primary Care Service Framework (10th October 2008)
The latest Primary Care Service Framework which is focused on Adolescent Health is now available. The purpose of this Primary Care Service Framework is 􀂃 to equip commissioners, providers and practitioners with the necessary background knowledge, service and implementation details to deliver a safe, high quality, integrated adolescent health service in primary care; and as a means of improving patient’s health and quality of life by providing patient-centred, systematic and integrated support.
Framework

The Commissioning Cycle (October 2008)
The Information Centre have produced an interactive information map for every stage of the Commissioning Cycle. The Commissioning Cycle diagram is also available to download as a PDF.
Interactive Commissioning Cycle
Commissioning Cycle Diagram

COMMUNITIES

Neighbourhood management beyond the pathfinders: A national overview (6th October 2008)
The report provides an overview of how neighbourhood management activity has been extended beyond the pathfinder areas into other neighbourhoods. It includes a summary of the national evidence base about the nature of neighbourhood management and the findings of a new national survey of local authorities about the extent of neighbourhood management and the different models emerging. It draws on summaries of ten new case studies of neighbourhood management initiatives, illustrating the range of practices.
Report

Neighbourhood management pathfinders: final evaluation report, people, places, public services: making the connections (6th October 2008)
This report draws together findings from an extensive evaluation of neighbourhood management pathfinders conducted between 2002 and 2008 including household survey analyses, interviews and case studies. This evaluation report provides a final statement of how neighbourhood management has been delivered by the pathfinders and of what has been achieved.
Report

CONSULTATIONS

Consultation on the European Commission’s proposals for a Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (8th October 2008)
On 2 July 2008 the European Commission published a draft Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. This draft Directive seeks to clarify and codify existing European Court of Justice case law on when a patients can exercise their freedom to obtain health services to which they are entitled to in the UK, in another European Union Member State. The draft Directive also proposes that the Commission should co-ordinate across, or issue guidelines on, Member States in some areas of healthcare. The Directive is currently subject to negotiation. This consultation seeks to inform the UK Government’s negotiating position on the draft Directive and seeks views on the impacts the Directive could have on UK health systems. An initial impact assessment including an equality screening template on the Directive are also published. Closing date for comments is 3rd December 2008.
Consultation
Partial Impact Assessment

Consultation on a National Framework for Assessing Children and Young People’s Continuing Care (2nd October 2008)
Consultation document on proposals for a National Framework for assessing children and young people’s continuing care. The Framework is intended to assist Primary Care Trusts to apply a consistent and transparent approach to assessing the healthcare needs of children and young people and to work jointly with local authorities to provide services in the light of those needs. This Framework will apply in respect of children and young people under the age of 18 years. Closing date for comments is 31st December 2008.
Consultation
Impact Assessment

Improving the value of drug treatment systems - draft assumptions (13th October 2008)
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) has been asked by the Government to develop a model of drug treatment systems, and a related tool, that can help commissioning partnerships in delivering the best possible outcomes from the available resources for their treatment systems. The NTA is asking for comments on the draft assumptions behind the proposed model. The 12 week consultation begins on 13th October 2008 and finishes on 5th Jan 2009.
Consultation

DENTAL

Government’s response to the Health Select Committee Report on Dental Services (7th October 2008)
The House of Commons Health Select Committee published its report on Dental Services on 2 July 2008. This Command Paper sets out the interim Government response to the conclusions and recommendations in the report. The Committee’s report included 41 conclusions and recommendations. In this response the conclusions and recommendations are addressed in the same numerical order, for ease of reference, as they appear on pages 61-66 of the report. Some are grouped together where they respond to the same issue. Elsewhere there are cross-references to previous responses.
Paper

Guidance for use of the NHS identity in dental practices (10th October 2008)
New guidance has been produced for PCTs and providers of NHS dentistry. This is part of a wider strategy to introduce the NHS identity at all levels of primary care to increase visibility of, and to improve access to, the full range of NHS services.
Guidance
Technical guidance

HTM 01-05: Decontamination in dental practice (14th October 2008)
This guidance has been produced to reflect a reasonable and rational response to emerging evidence around the effectiveness of decontamination in primary care dental practices and the possibility of prion transmission through protein contamination of dental instruments.
Guidance

DIET/NUTRITION

CLIC Sargent’s Fit to Eat guidance for children and young people undergoing treatment for cancer (1st October 2008)
Letter drawing attention to the 'Fit to Eat' guidelines and related NHS guidance and initiatives with links to the guidance.
Information

Changes in food and drink advertising and promotion to children: a report outlining the changes in the nature and balance of food and drink advertising and promotion to children, from January 2003 to December 2007 (13th October 2008)
This report sets out the current restrictions for broadcast and non-broadcast media; the findings of the Thomson Intermedia research on overall food and drink advertising spend across a range of media, child-themed ad-spend and TV viewing figures; and the output of the Food and Drink Advertising and Promotion Forum.
Report

DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Zoonoses Report 2007 (9th October 2008)
Zoonoses are diseases and infections which are transmitted naturally between animals and humans. The report brings together data and information published from various sources throughout 2007 and draws on information from humans, food, feed and animals, providing comparable data from previous years. It covers the major food and water-borne zoonoses (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Vero cytotoxin producing E. coli O157 (VTEC O157)and Cryptosporidium), and the main notifiable zoonotic diseases of animals including bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, rabies, West Nile Virus, BSE and Avian Influenza.
Report

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

Delivering 14-19 Reform: Next Steps (13th October 2008)
This document from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, presents a clear picture of their overall 14 to 19 reform programme in terms of progress to date, further developments since 2005 and their wider objectives for every child aged 0 to 19 and beyond as set out in the Children’s Plan.
Report
Summary

Learning together to be safe: a toolkit to help schools contribute to the prevention of violent extremism (October 2008)
This toolkit responds to calls from schools for more practical advice. It is the product of discussions with young people, teachers, police, community representatives, and local authorities across the country. The toolkit is aimed at schools leaders for use in staff training, reviewing school practice and developing partnership working. It is for all schools, primary and secondary, across England. The Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS) will be distributing a version adapted for further education colleges.
Toolkit

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Health and Care Services for Older People: Overview report on research to support the National Service Framework for Older People (2nd October 2008)
This report summarises the key findings from a group of 16 studies commissioned by the Policy Research Programme under the ‘Older People’s use of services’ Research Initiative. The aim of the initiative was to inform and assess the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People (2001).
Report

Primary Concerns. Older people’s access to primary care (October 2008)
Older people are the main adult users of most NHS services and their day-to-day experience of the NHS is with primary care and community services - with their GP, pharmacist, chiropodist, dentist and community or practice nurse. The sad truth is that these services sometimes let older people down. This report injects the voices of older people into the debate about reform of primary and community care. It outlines findings from research commissioned by Age Concern in order to inform both national health policy and local NHS commissioners and service providers. The research gathered evidence of older people's experiences for the services they use most often and those where access is known to be a problem.
Report

ETHNICITY

The housing and neighbourhood impact of Britain’s changing ethnic mix (7th October 2008)
Housing pressures in British cities partly result from the net migration of people to Britain over the past ten years. Immigration has also changed the nature of minority ethnic communities, while long established minority ethnic communities are changing with successive generations. What does recent research tell us about the nature of these changes, and their impact on policy and practice in housing and neighbourhood renewal?
Document

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Practical Guidance: Destruction of requested information (October 2008)
The Information Commissioner has published guidance reminding public authorities when information that is or may be subject to a request for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, can be destroyed. For example, it is permissible to destroy information in accordance with a data retention policy, but not good practice to do if a freedom of information has been submitted.
Guidance

Model Publication Scheme 2009 (October 2008)
The Information Commissioner has published a new model publication scheme for public authorities (central and local government, health, education etc) subject to the Freedom of Information Act and which relevant bodies will be encouraged to adopt from 1 January 2009. Enforcement measures will be supplemented by spot checks from February 2009.
Publication

GENERAL PRACTICE

Addressing Health Inequalities. A guide for general practitioners (October 2008)
The RCGP Health Inequalities Standing Group has launched Addressing Health Inequalities: a guide for general practitioners, a booklet which offers evidence-based examples of how GPs can positively influence health inequalities amongst their local population as practitioners, commissioners and community leaders.
Guide

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Review of health and social care burdens (3rd October 2008)
On 4 September 2008, the Lifting the Burdens Task Force, an independent body established by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, published their review of health and social care burdens. The review considered the burdens placed on local government as a result of its relationship with the Department of Health, and made a number of recommendations to address issues raised. The Department's formal response to that review has now been published.
Letter
Department of Health commentary on Task Force recommendations
Lifting the Burdens Task Force report and recommendations

Feeding back? Learning from complaints handling in health and social care (10th October 2008)
A report out today by the National Audit Office found that navigating complaints systems is not straightforward, particularly for health service users, and handling some complaints takes too long. There is little sharing of lessons from complaints or evidence that services are improving as a result. Some 133,600 NHS and 17,100 social care complaints were received in 2006–07. In a representative survey of adults in England, around one in seven people using NHS and social care services in the past three years have in some way been dissatisfied with their experience. But only five per cent of those who were dissatisfied with the NHS and 32 per cent who were dissatisfied with social care went on to make a formal complaint.
Report
Summary
Results of omnibus survey of health and social care service users
International review of complaints handling in health and social care

HEALTH PROTECTION

Emissions from compact fluorescent lights (9th October 2008)
New research by the Health Protection Agency has shown that some energy saving compact fluorescent lights can emit ultraviolet radiation at levels that, under certain conditions of use, can result in exposures higher than guideline levels. The Agency and Government Departments are calling on the European Union, relevant product standards bodies and the lighting industry to consider how product standards for lights can be tightened up.
Information

HEALTHCARE

Human Rights in Healthcare - a Framework for Local Action (7th October 2008)
The Department of Health, the British Institute of Human Rights and 5 NHS Trusts have worked in conjunction to produce this framework to assist NHS trusts to develop and apply human rights based approaches (HRBAs) in their organisations to improve service design and delivery.
Short introduction

Framework

Human Rights in Healthcare project - final evaluation report 2008 (7th October 2008)
In November 2007 Ipsos MORI was commissioned to conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of human rights based approaches in the five NHS organisations participating in the Human Rights in Healthcare project. Ipsos MORI published the results of the evaluation in July 2008.
Report

HOUSING

Making a difference: supported lodgings as a housing option for young people (1st October 2008)
Local authorities and their partners are making considerable inroads into the task of meeting the Government's target of eliminating the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds, except in an emergency and then for no more than six weeks. By 30 June 2008 the number staying in bed and breakfast had fallen from approximately 1,000 in September 2006 to 420, 160 of whom had been placed for more than six weeks. Supported lodgings services have played an important role in this in some areas, and Communities and Local Government has supported a number of new services in 2007-08. The aim of this guide is to inform and support local authorities' planning and commissioning of supported lodgings within the context of strategies to tackle youth homelessness. It is based on a review of supported lodgings services in 17 local authority areas in England, and of data collected through the Supporting People programme.
Guide

MENTAL HEALTH

Out of the shadows? A review of the responses to recommendations made in “Pushed into the Shadows: young people’s experience of adult mental health facilities” (October 2008)
Primary care trusts and mental health trusts have some way to go if they are to meet the Government’s target to ensure no children or young people are inappropriately placed on adult mental health wards by 2010, the Children’s Commissioner for England today says today. Out Of The Shadows?, a joint report from 11 MILLION, led by the Children’s Commissioner for England, YoungMinds and Very Important Kids (VIK), says that although some authorities are making good progress, others still have some way to go. The report follows on from 11 MILLION’s report of January 2007, Pushed Into The Shadows, which outlined the appalling treatment many children and young people with mental health problems have had to endure when placed on adult mental health wards.
Report

Policies and Practices for mental health in Europe (10th October 2008)
This report, published by World Health Organisation, provides data not hitherto available on mental health policy and practice across the European Region. It also highlights important information gaps. Policies and practices for mental health in Europe allows for country to country comparisons on indicators such as numbers of psychiatrists, financing, community services, training of workforce, prescription of anti-depressants and representation of users and carers. Data for the 42 Member States involved was obtained from ministries of health.
Report
Fact Sheet
Briefing document
Key Points
PowerPoint presentation

How should services meet the needs of people with Down Syndrome who develop dementia? (October 2008)
People with Down syndrome are living longer. They also develop dementia, particularly Alzheimers, much earlier than others. As a result there is a growing need to promote appropriate assessment and care planning, and to ensure that housing and support services recognise and respond to the particular needs of those individuals with Down Syndrome who are living with dementia.
Publication

NHS

Auditors’ Local Evaluation 2007/08. Summary results for NHS trusts and primary care trusts (2nd October 2008)
The Auditors' Local Evaluation (ALE) assesses how well primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS trusts manage and obtain value for money from their financial resources. ALE was introduced in 2005/06 and the overall picture is one of significant improvement over the three years assessed.
Briefing
Summary

Preparations for Winter (9th October 2008)
This letter from Lyn Simpson, Director of NHS Operations, outlines the Department of Health's expectations about preparations for winter, information reporting and communications and encloses a good practice guide on timely handover of patient care produced by NHS South West based on their learning and experience.
Letter
Good Practice Guide

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme: Instructions and guidance for the NHS (10th October 2008)
This document provides information and guidance to NHS organisations on the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which replaces the current Hospital Travel Costs Scheme.
Document

NICE

Low back pain: consultation on the draft guideline (1st October 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Low Back Pain 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. The full version describes the evidence and views that have been considered, and sets out the provisional recommendations that have been developed. The (NICE) short version presents the provisional recommendations only with some brief supporting information. Closing date for comments is 26th November 2008.
Draft full guideline
Full guideline appendices (A-F)
Draft NICE guideline
Consultation comments proforma

The revised NICE public health process and methods manuals: consultation on the 2008 drafts (1st October 2008)
The Centre for Public Health Excellence (CPHE) at NICE has carried out a review of the 'Process' and 'Methods' manuals for public health guidance. These documents describe the process and methods for developing public health intervention and programme guidance of NICE. Closing date for comments is 2nd January 2009.
CPHE Methods Manual
CPHE Process Manual
Methods Manual Comments Proforma
Process Manual Comments Proforma

Contraceptive services for socially disadvantaged young people: consultation on the draft scope (13th October 2008)
NICE was asked by the Department of Health to develop guidance on the provision of contraceptive services in appropriate settings for socially disadvantaged young people (up to the age of twenty five). All registered stakeholders for the above public health programme guidance are invited to comment on the draft scope. Closing date for comments is 10th November 2008.
Draft scope
Comments Form

Chronic heart failure (Partial update): draft scope consultation (13th October 2008)
NICE have been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Chronic heart failure (partial update) 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 this 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 14th November 2008.
Draft scope
Comments Form

Breast cancer (advanced or metastatic) - lapatinib (appraisal consultation 2) (14th October 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 met 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 4th November 2008.
Consultation
Evaluation report

Diarrhoea and vomiting in children under 5: consultation on the draft guideline (14th October 2008)
A clinical practice guideline on Diarrhoea and vomiting in children 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. The full version describes the evidence and views that have been considered, and sets out the provisional recommendations that have been developed. The (NICE) short version presents the provisional recommendations only with some brief supporting information. Closing date for comments is 8th December 2008.
Full version
Appendices to full version
NICE version
Comments proforma

Latest implementation tools (8th October 2008)
Stroke
Audit Support

Identifying and supporting people most a risk of dying prematurely
Costing Statement
Slide Set

IPG274 Autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation for improved glycaemic control after pancreatectomy
Audit Support

Influenza (prophylaxis) - amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir
Cost Template
Audit Support

CG69 Respiratory tract infections
Audit Support

Induction of labour
Audit Support

CG73 Chronic kidney disease
Costing Template
Slide Set

Venous thromboembolism - dabigatran
Costing Statement
Audit Support

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Costing Template
Slide Set

OBESITY

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A toolkit for developing local strategies (6th October 2008)
This toolkit is to help PCTs and Local Authorities plan, coordinate and implement comprehensive strategies to prevent and manage overweight and obesity. It provides information and tools including useful statistics, practical initiatives, evidence of effectiveness, checklists, frameworks and examples of good practice. It is an update on the previous toolkit Lightening the Load: Tackling Overweight and Obesity: A toolkit for developing local strategies. There are new tools that provide a breakdown of the cost of obesity to every PCT. Other new tools include research from the upcoming Change4Life campaign that provides insight into families views on diet and activity.
Toolkit

Social and environmental interventions to reduce childhood obesity: a systematic map of reviews (October 2008)
This report describes a systematic map of existing research reviews relating to social and environmental interventions aimed at reducing or preventing obesity and overweight. Its focus is on research which has included children and young people.
Report
Summary

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic flu guidance for environmental health practitioners (2nd October 2008)
This guidance explains how environmental health practitioners working in local authorities, health services or private sector settings, in the course of their daily work, can protect themselves, their colleagues and their families, and inform, advise and support others to prevent the spread of flu.
Guidance

PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS

Joint Committee on Human Rights - Scrutiny of Mental Health Legislation: Government Response to the Committee’s Sixteenth Report of Session 2007-08 - Thirty-second report of session 2007-08 (13th October 2008)

Committee of Public Accounts - NHS Pay Modernisation: New contracts for General Practice services in England - Forty-first report of session 2007-08 (9th October 2008)

PATIENT SAFETY

Significant Event Audit (2nd October 2008)
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has launched new guidance for general practice teams enabling them to learn from patient safety incidents and “near misses”. The new Significant Event Audit (SEA) guidance aims to improve the quality and safety of patient care in general practice.
A quick guide to conducting an SEA
SEA Guidance for Primary Care Teams

POVERTY

The Sixth Annual Report on Fuel Poverty (2nd October 2008)
This report presents the statistics for the numbers in fuel poverty across the UK for 2006, and provides an update on the actions taken across and outside Government to tackle fuel poverty. Also published for the first time as part of the report is a detailed statistical annex which provides comprehensive analysis of the 2006 figures and projects forward the position for fuel poverty in 2007 and 2008.
Report

Child poverty: the stats. Analysis of the latest poverty statistics (October 2008)
This briefing, from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), examines the latest available income poverty and material deprivation data to show which groups of children experience poverty. It also looks at where policy has got to and what more is needed to tackle child poverty.
Briefing

PRISONS/PRISON HEALTH

The problems and needs of newly sentenced prisoners: results from a national survey (13th October 2008)
This report presents information derived from interviews conducted shortly after reception into prison with a representative sample of nearly 1,500 newly sentenced adult prisoners. It is the first report from a major longitudinal survey of prisoners – 'Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction' – which has several aims, including the collection of data on the problems and needs of prisoners; the interventions they receive while in prison; and outcomes upon release. The national survey looks at issues such as physical and mental health problems; accommodation and employment pre-custody; qualifications; and drug and alcohol use. Data are presented on a number of sub-groups of prisoners, including female offenders, those serving short sentences and young offenders.
Report

Positive Practice Positive Outcomes: A handbook for professionals in the criminal justice system working with offenders with learning disabilities (8th October 2008)
This handbook provides guidance on supporting vulnerable people within the Criminal Justice System and is designed to be read by criminal justice professionals and others working with the Criminal Justice System, including Health and Social Care Professionals.
Handbook

PUBLIC HEALTH

Including diverse groups of children and young people in health promotion and public health research. A review of methodology and practice (30th September 2008)
The need for diversity in research is increasingly recognised by researchers, funders and other stakeholders. This report presents the findings of a methodological study on the inclusion of diverse groups of children and young people in health promotion (HP) and public health (PH) research.
Report
Summary

SMOKING/TOBACCO

Beyond Smoking Kills (7th October 2008)
A new report published by Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) endorsed by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) calls on the Government to introduce tough new measures to protect children and reduce inequalities. The report, Beyond ‘Smoking Kills’: protecting children, reducing inequalities, is a landmark publication reflecting on 10 years of progress since the launch of the first ever Government white paper on smoking and recommending a comprehensive plan for the next 10 years.
Report
Executive Summary

SOCIETY

Why are fear and distrust spiralling in twenty-first century Britain? (9th October 2008)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundations (JRF’s) recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ‘social evils’ on the theme of ‘distrusting and fearful society’. Anna Minton argues that the cause of growing fear and distrust is visible physical inequality and segregation in the environment, combined with a commercially driven media with a vested interest in promoting fear.
Publication

What and who is it we don’t trust? (9th October 2008)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundations (JRF’s) recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ‘social evils’ on the theme of ‘distrusting and fearful society’. Shaun Bailey looks at relationships between individuals, the state and community, and the effects these relationships have on our daily lives that may lead us not to trust.
Publication

STATISTICS

Incidence and Mortality Statistics for Cancer Networks across the UK (7th October 2008)

One Year Survival Trends (including One Year Cancer Survival by Cancer Networks), England 1985-2004 (7th October 2008)

Mortality Target Monitoring - update to include data for 2007 (7th October 2008)

Report on the National Patient Choice Survey, May 2008 and provisional headline results of the July 2008 survey (13th October 2008)

GP Extended Opening Hours, Commissioners in England, September 2008 (14th October 2008)

Diagnostics waiting times and activity data: month ending 31st August 2008 (8th October 2008)
Commissioner based
Provider based

Community Care Statistics 2007-2008: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care for Adults, England - Provisional Council Data (7th October 2008)

Personal Social Services expenditure and unit costs: England 2007-08 Provisional Council Data (7th October 2008)

Drug treatment activity in 2007/08 (2nd October 2008)
Statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System 1 April 2007-31 March 2008
Statistical Release
Numbers in contact with drug treatment 2007/08
Retention rates 2007/08

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Taking the long term view: the Department of Health’s strategy for delivering sustainable development 2008-2011 (8th October 2008)
It is vital that the Department of Health commits to the issue of sustainable development for the long-term. The case for doing so is clear; they must ensure that by delivering better care and well-being for present generations, they are also ensuring that they are contributing to a strong and healthy society for generations of the future. This replaces “Delivering Sustainable Development DH Action Plan 2007/08”.
Document

WORLD HEALTH

World Health Report 2008 (14th October 2008)
The World Health Report 2008, launched today, critically assesses the way that health care is organized, financed, and delivered in rich and poor countries around the world. The WHO report documents a number of failures and shortcomings that have left the health status of different populations, both within and between countries, dangerously out of balance.
Full Report
Summary
Introduction & Overview

18 WEEK PROGRAMME

SUS Pilots: Sharing the Learning (September 2008)
The Secondary Uses Service (SUS) pilot and early adopter organisations have published emerging lessons as they go through the process of changing their systems so that they can submit 18-week Referral To Treatment data to SUS. This will be in the Commissioning Data Set version 6 format to support the national SUS 18-week reporting application.
Documents

ALCOHOL

Alcohol Profile for the Liverpool City Region (18th September 2008)
The North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO) provided up-to-date, evidence-based research support to the Liverpool City Region Health is Wealth Commission, which was established to examine the growing gap between the City Region’s booming economic performance and its worsening public health status and to look at why this might be happening, and to make recommendations as to what might be done to help improve the situation. One of the Commission's key themes was alcohol, and so NWPHO produced this summary report profiling the impact of alcohol-related harm in the area to assist the Commission in producing such recommendations. The full Report of Health is Wealth is available in this Bulletin under Public Health.
Document

ANNUAL REPORTS

NICE Annual Report 2007/08 (September 2008)
The report describes how NICE is making more guidance available more quickly. For example, more single technology appraisals are being produced closer to the point at which they become available in the NHS. In addition, 2007/08 saw the introduction of a ‘short’ clinical guideline process which helps NICE respond faster to urgent NHS questions relating to a specific part of any given care pathway.
Annual Report

BULLETINS/NEWSLETTER

NHS Choices update edition 3, September 2008 (19th September 2008)

FSA News 80 September 2008 (18th September 2008)

The Month: issue 13, September 2008 (29th September 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 38 (19th September 2008)

Health Protection Report Vol. 2 No. 39 (26th September 2008)

CANCER

Improving patients’ experience of prostate cancer care (September 2008)
In England, improvement of cancer services is a policy priority, and improving patients’ experience of cancer care is an important element of this policy. National surveys of patient experience of cancer care have shown that patients with prostate cancer report less positive experiences of care than patients with other cancers. strategies to improve patients’ experience of prostate cancer care are being implemented at national and local levels. However, we still lack good quality information in this area about patients’ as well as carers’ experience of care. This summary is based on research conducted by a team led by Richard Baker at the University of Leicester (Baker et al. 2007) and commissioned by the NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation Programme (SDO). It is for any health professionals interested in improving the quality of care for patients with prostate cancer and their carers, including clinicians, policy makers, health managers and those in the voluntary sector.
Research Summary

CARE/CARERS

Calculating a fair market price for care: A toolkit for residential and nursing homes (3rd edition) (17th September 2008)
Updated study to calculate reasonable fees, based on the operating costs of efficient care homes for older people in England. The demands resulting from an ageing population means that more care homes will be needed in the future. However, most public sector funding agencies do not currently offer fees that are sufficient to encourage care home operators to invest in new capacity for state-funded clients. Calculating a fair market price for care offers a transparent and evidence-based mechanism for working out what such fees should be, based on the costs borne by care homes in the financial year 2008/09. Updates for the third edition include: A new and simplified approach to working out ‘floor’ and ‘ceiling’ fair fees; New staff input and other cost benchmarks derived from a survey of major corporate operators of care homes in 2008; and A downward revision in the target rate of return on capital from 13% to 12%.
Report

What future for care? (18th September 2008)
Care is a contentious policy concept. Numbers of people needing care are rising. Radical change is planned for care policy to increase choice and control through ‘personalisation’. A new conceptual framework is now needed to take forward policy and practice for the twentyfirst century if people’s rights and needs are to be met.
Document

Does anyone care about fairness in adult social care? (25th September 2008)
This Viewpoint reviews some of the key proposals in adult social care of the last ten years from an equity perspective. It uses the analysis to argue that we can develop practical policies that are informed by clearly stated equity principles which serve to ensure that the most disadvantaged groups of people are treated more fairly.
Document

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Literature review of children and young people’s gambling (26th September 2008)
This review was commissioned to summarise international evidence about: children and young people’s participation in different types of gambling activities; their motivations to gamble; the prevalence of problem gambling among children; and the harms caused to children by gambling (including in later life). It also briefly summarises the regulatory frameworks in place to protect children across a range of international jurisdictions and makes recommendations for further research.
Review

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Development of a Survey on Services for Disabled Children (25th September 2008)
This report sets out a feasible and effective methodology for a survey to measure a Disabled Children’s Services Indicator and an approach to its calculation and reporting. The project involved focus groups comprising government policy leads, disability lobby groups and parents of disabled children. In addition, telephone interviews were held with staff in local authorities and primary care trusts and desk research was carried out looking at appropriate survey designs and sample frames.
Full Report
Brief

COMMISSIONING

ARTICLE - Shopping for Services (September 2008)
This article, recently published in Health Management, helps PCT commissioners and managers on both sides of the procurement process understand what’s involved in commissioning and contracting for services.
Article

NHS Supply2Health (September 2008)
NHS Supply2Health is an online resource that advertises opportunities to provide Part B clinical services commissioned by the NHS in England. NHS Supply2Health lets you search for opportunities for Part B clinical services announced by NHS service commissioners in England and find information about NHS contracts awarded for Part B clinical services in England. From 30th September 2008 it will be mandatory for all PCTs to use NHS Supply2Health and each PCT will be required to have at least two people certified to use the system.
Website
Primary Care Contracting Training Resources

Integrated commissioning to improve care and dignity (September 2008)
Strengthening the commissioning process in social care is a top national and local priority. Warrington Borough Council has made a concerted effort to use commissioning to lever improvement in services by adult social care providers and to increase dignity for service users, as defined by the Department of Health’s Dignity Challenge.
Document

COMMUNITIES

Evidence Gathering: Housing in Multiple Occupation and possible planning responses - Final Report (26th September 2008)
This report provides the outcome of an evidence gathering exercise which was undertaken to review the problems caused by high concentrations of houses in multiple occupation. This has been highlighted as a problem in a number of towns and cities across the country. 'Studentification' of university towns is a real concern especially during the summer months when neighbourhoods are left dormant because too many properties (Houses in Multiple Occupation, HMOs) in one area are rented to groups of students. The independent research sets out a series of cross cutting measures that could tackle and stop the complex causes and symptoms of concentrated student neighbourhoods. The measures include new planning mechanisms and the widespread adoption of a number of the best common sense local solutions that can be easily adopted.
Report

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Does Neighbourhood Watch reduce crime? (17th September 2008)
Considering such large investments of resources and community involvement in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, it is important to ask whether it is effective in reducing crime. Therefore, this report reviewed all available studies evaluating the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch programmes in reducing crime. The publication summarises the findings of this review and discusses policy implications.
Document

‘What Works’ to tackle alcohol-related disorder? (17th September 2008)
This guide aims to provide guidance about ‘What works?’ for borough Community Safety Partnerships, the London ASB Joint Action Group and the London Community Safety Partnership. It outlines the nature and extent of alcohol-related ASB, the tools and powers being used to tackle these issues and the effectiveness of such interventions.
Guide

CONSULTATIONS

Consultation on public, patients’, and other interested parties’ views on additional uses of patient data (17th September 2008)
NHS Connecting for Health are gathering people’s views to help them make important decisions about the ways the NHS can use information it collects about patients. Such patient data is mainly used to provide care and treatment but can also have additional uses such as research, auditing the quality and safety of care, management planning, etc. This consultation is focusing on additional uses. Closing date for comments is 12th December 2008.
Online Version Questionnaire
Email Version Questionnaire
Paper Version Questionnaire
Support Information
Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Flagship or Flagging? The impact of Pension Credit five years on (26th September 2008)
More than half of older people are cutting back on essentials such as heating and food, and one in 10 of the poorest pensioners have been forced into debt by the rising cost of living, according to a new report by Age Concern. With a third of those eligible still missing out on the Government’s flagship benefit Pension Credit five years since its introduction – the charity is calling for urgent government action to increase take-up. To overcome the deeply ingrained barriers to claiming benefits, Age Concern wants the Government to introduce a new system of automatic payments as soon as possible – an idea supported by seven in 10 older people – and reform the benefits system to help the poorest pensioners cope with their escalating household bills.
Document

Older People’s Experiences of Falls and Bone Health Services (England) (18th September 2008)
A Royal College of Physicians (RCP) survey of 40 patients in England who had attended a falls clinic following a fall shows that while patients felt the clinics had helped them, they were not always sure about the purpose of the clinic and how it related to their own needs. This misunderstanding leads to patients not continuing with exercises and other activities which could help prevent another fall. In addition, patients were not always given the results of health tests or told about ways of reducing their risk of falling again, and were often unaware of what services were available.
Survey
Summary

GOVERNMENT

Government response to the House of Lords European Union Committee Report on Increasing the supply of donor organs within the European Union, 17th Report of Session 2007-08 (17th September 2008)
The Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to the House of Lords European Union Committee Report. The Committee’s report provides an excellent body of evidence as work towards a European Directive in the area of organ donation proceeds. It also provides support for the implementation of the Organ Donation Taskforce Report recommendations published in January 2008.
Document

GUIDANCE/GUIDELINES

Flu immunisation campaign: local information pack (19th September 2008)
Support and guidance on raising awareness of the annual flu immunisation campaign running from September to December 2008. The pack contains advice, materials, and features to get the message out quickly and easily. It will be updated at a later date once supporting materials for the national campaign have been finalised, and these will be available for use locally.
Guidance
Press release templates
Patient letter templates

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment (18th September 2008)
One of the main recommendations from the April 2007 expert working group report was that all hospitalised patients receive a VTE risk assessment upon admission to hospital. The VTE Implementation Working Group, with input from stakeholders and key partners have developed a VTE risk assessment for use in all hospitals.
Risk Assessment

HEALTHCARE

Human rights in healthcare: reports from learning events (30th September 2008)
Reports from three human rights in healthcare learning events held nationally. The reports provide an overview of the learning event and highlights key learning and discussion from the event.
Liverpool Event
Birmingham Event
Southwark Event

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION

Not just a matter of time. A review of urgent and emergency care services in England (26th September 2008)
The Healthcare Commission today (Friday) calls for a new drive to improve the system for delivering urgent and emergency care across England. The call comes as it publishes a major review covering all urgent and emergency services, which for the first time assesses how the whole system works together. The review includes ambulance services, A&E, out-of-hours GP services, NHS Direct, urgent care provided by GPs, and urgent care centres including walk-in centres and minor injuries units.
Report
Press Release
Documents

HIV AND AIDS

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (19th September 2008)
This document provides updated guidance on occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from the UK Chief Medical Officers' Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) issued in February 2004 and the interim update following the withdrawal of Viracept (nelfinavir) published in July 2007. It should be read in conjunction with local needlestick injury policy.
Guidance
Equality Impact Assessment

New Guidelines for HIV testing and areas where wider HIV testing policies should be considered (18th September 2008)
New guidelines from the British HIV Association (BHIVA), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) and the British Infection Society (BIS) aiming to increase the offer of HIV testing to ensure fewer people go undiagnosed have been welcomed by the Health Protection Agency. The guidelines recommend that wider HIV testing should be considered in those areas of the country where the numbers of undiagnosed infections are likely to be greatest. To assist planning by Trusts, the Health Protection Agency is releasing information from its HIV surveillance systems showing those places where undiagnosed infections are concentrated.
Guidelines

HOUSING

Housing in England 2006/07: A report based on the 2006/07 Survey of English Housing (18th September 2008)
This report is based on information from the 17,849 households interviewed for the Survey of English Housing (SEH) in the year beginning April 2006. It also contains some analysis of housing-related data from the Labour Force Survey and the Family Resources Survey.
Report

In brief: The need for a common language to describe older people’s housing (26th September 2008)
A discussion paper from phase one of the Towards a Common Currency project noted that elderly people are often confused by the definitions and descriptions used to describe housing and other support. In this part of the project researchers discovered that most social housing landlords did not give sufficiently detailed descriptions of housing developments or schemes to elderly people or those acting on their behalf.
Brief
Report

In brief: The housing, care and support needs of South Asian elders (24th September 2008)
This research project looks at some of the practical challenges that South Asian elders face in meeting their housing and support needs. The project also captures some of the positive work being done by voluntary and community organisations, local authorities and housing associations on their behalf. This Innovation and Good Practice report for the Housing Corporation makes recommendations for policy makers and providers for the long term benefits of all concerned.
Brief
Report

Government response to the Communities and Local Government Committee’s report: The Supply of Rented Housing (18th September 2008)
This report contains the Government responses to 66 recommendations made by the CLG Select Committee in areas of housing covering: the experience of tenants; the social rented sector; the private rented sector, and housing providers.
Report

Developing and sustaining mixed tenure housing developments (25th September 2008)
This Round-up evaluates the strategic and policy context for housing development and neighbourhood renewal. The authors argue that integrating different housing tenures is an important prerequisite for developing ‘housing of choice’, but that there are many other aspects of sustainable communities which need to be given equal weight.
Document

INCAPACITY BENEFIT

Incapacity Benefit Profile for the Liverpool City Region (18th September 2008)
The North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO) provided up-to-date, evidence-based research support to the Liverpool City Region Health is Wealth Commission, which was established to examine the growing gap between the City Region’s booming economic performance and its worsening public health status and to look at why this might be happening, and to make recommendations as to what might be done to help improve the situation. One of the Commission's key themes was incapacity benefit, and so NWPHO produced this summary report profiling incapacity benefit in the area to assist the Commission in such recommendations. The full Report of Health is Wealth is available in this Bulletin under Public Health.
Report

MENTAL HEALTH

In the Dark: The Mental Health Implications of Imprisonment for Public Protection (18th September 2008)
People sentenced to imprisonment for public protection (IPP) have high rates of mental ill health and are getting inadequate help to put their lives back on track, says a major report published today by Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. The report finds that IPP prisoners are much more likely than other prisoners to have mental health problems. Being on IPP appears to be making this worse because of the uncertainty and hopelessness it creates.
Report

The 2007/08 national survey of investment in mental health services (29th September 2008)
This is the sixth annual report presenting the results of the finance mapping exercise carried out as part of the autumn review process. It provides details of the level of investment in adult mental health services in England for 2007/08 and compares it with the reported results in the five previous years.
Report

Reference Guide to the Mental Health Act 1983 (17th September 2008)
The aim of this guide is to set out the main provisions of the Act and the associated secondary legislation, as they will stand at 3 November 2008 (which is when the majority of the amendments made by the Mental Health Act 2007 take effect). The reference guide replaces the Memorandum on Parts I to VI, VIII and X of the Act last published by the Department of Health and the Welsh Office in 1998 (but the reference guide is only about the Act as it applies in England.
Guide

MIDWIFERY/MATERNITY

Oracle Children’s Study (19th September 2008)
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and the Chief Pharmaceutical Office (CPHO) issued letters regarding a report on the Oracle Children Study, which was published online today by The Lancet. This is a 7-year follow-up study of a randomised controlled trial of the use of erythromycin and/or co- amoxiclav for women presenting in premature labour.
PL/CMO/2008/6
PL/CNO/2008/6
PL/CPHO/2008/4

NHS

Letter from the Prime Minister to all NHS Staff (18th September 2008)
Gordon Brown has written an open letter to the NHS to congratulate them on their success in going beyond the Government’s target of halving MRSA bloodstream infections across England. As latest quarterly figures published today show, the number of MRSA bloodstream infections has fallen by 57% compared to the level in 2003/4 when the target was set. Alan Johnson also paid tribute to the tremendous efforts of NHS staff which have made this significant improvement in patient care.
Letter

NICE

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - Clinical Guideline CG72 (24th September 2008)
The advice in the NICE guideline covers: the care, treatment and support that children, young people and adults with ADHD should be offered; and how families and carers can support people with ADHD. It does not specifically look at: the treatment of children younger than 3 years and the treatment of conditions other than ADHD.
NICE Guideline
Full Guideline
Gull Guideline Appendices
Quick Reference Guide
Understanding NICE Guidance
Costing Template
Costing Report

Autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation for improved glycaemic control after pancreatectomy - Intervention Procedure Guidance IPG274 (24th September 2008)
Patients with chronic pancreatitis or some pancreatic tumours may require the surgical removal of all, or part, of their pancreas. As the pancreas is responsible for insulin production, surgical removal of the pancreas causes these patients to develop insulin-dependent diabetes. Autologous pancreatic islet cell transplantation involves the removal of parts of the patient's own pancreas (the islet cells, which are responsible for insulin production), after the pancreas has been removed. These cells are then inserted into the patient's liver to restart insulin production within the body.
Guidance
Understanding NICE Guidance
Audit Support
Consultation Comments

Balloon catheter dilation of paranasal sinus ostia for chronic sinusitis - Intervention Procedure Guidance IPG273 (24th September 2008)
Sinusitis occurs when air-filled cavities of the face (the sinuses) become inflamed. Balloon catheter dilation aims to help keep the sinus passages open and unobstructed by gently inflating a small balloon, which is introduced through the nose via a flexible tube.
Guidance
Understanding NICE Guidance
Consultation Comments

Chronic Kidney Disease - Clinical Guideline CG73 (24th September 2008)
The advice in the NICE guideline covers: the tests doctors should use to diagnose long-term kidney problems (chronic kidney disease); the best treatment and care for adults diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and when they should be referred to specialist renal services; and the general management of chronic kidney disease from a variety of causes including diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. It does not specifically look at the care of: children (aged under 16 years); people receiving kidney dialysis or who have had a kidney transplant; pregnant women with chronic kidney disease; and people with short-lasting damage to their kidneys.
NICE Guideline
Full Guideline
Full Guideline Appendices
Quick Reference Guide
Understanding NICE Guidance
Costing Report
Costing Template

Identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying prematurely - Public Health Intervention Guidance PH15 (24th September 2008)
This guidance aims to identify what works in driving down population mortality rates in disadvantaged areas, where risk of early death is higher than average, with particular reference to proactive case finding and retention and access to services. The recommendations have been developed for smoking cessation services and the provision of statins. Although the referral specified a focus on people in disadvantaged areas, the recommendations are relevant for all those who are disadvantaged, regardless of where they live.
Guidance
Quick Reference Guide (professionals)
Quick Reference Guide (public)
Costing Statement

Influenza (prophylaxis) - amantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir - Technology Appraisal TA158 (24th September 2008)
NICE has said that its recommendations about oseltamivir and zanamivir should not reduce efforts to give vaccination (also called the flu jab) to people for whom it is recommended in national guidelines. The guidance does not cover widespread epidemics. Oseltamivir and zanamivir are recommended to prevent flu if all of the following apply: The amount of flu virus going around is enough that if someone has a flu-like illness it is likely that it has been caused by the flu virus; The person is in an at-risk group (see page 4); The person has been in contact with someone with a flu-like illness and can start treatment within 36 hours (for zanamivir) or within 48 hours (for oseltamivir); and The person has not been effectively protected by vaccination.
Guidance
Quick Reference Guide
Understanding NICE Guidance
Audit Support
Cost Template

Venous Thromboembolism - dabigatran - Technology Appraisal TA157 (24th September 2008)
Dabigatran etexilate is recommended as a possible treatment to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism in adults who have surgery to replace their hip or knee joint.
Guidance
Quick Reference Guide
Understanding NICE Guidance
Costing Statement
Audit Support